Capturing New Orleans

[Izver]

Hi,

Can somebody please give me some advice - It's early December, against AI, and I tried an amph. invasion for the first time, loaded units into Farragut's fleet, sailed past forts (got shot up a bit, but nothing serious) and debarked into the New Orleans. After taking heavy casualties, I captured the city. Now, my question is - what next? I assume that forts Philip and Jackson block the supply to my battered force in N. O. (am I right?) How should I reduce them? By sending units from N.O. by land? Or by sea (fleet is still in N.O.) By sending new invasion force from up north? (in that case maybe I should have planned three separate landings?) Or maybe I should have taken the forts first, and then land in N.O? It looks like the forts are empty - how big a force I need to capture them?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Nikola

[chainsaw]

Hi,

Now, my question is - what next?
Nikola

Two options I have used in the past:
1) Once you capture NO (New Orleans) take your best infanrty and artillery units (in terms of cohesion) back aboard the fleet and do another amphib on one or both forts. Make sure you have lots of artillery (60 pts +). Use the fleet to bomard the H*** out of the forts;

2) Second option is to invade NO with a smaller force and use the remainder to invade the forts at the same time. The only risk is that a human player may have a sizable garrison in the City and you may find yourself sitting on the levee outside the city for some time.

Don't walk your troops - use the mobility of your fleet to get you from point to point quickly.

I'm interested in hearing what other players have done...

[grenna]

I've taken New Orleans and the forts don't seem to hinder the supply of my forces. I've sent more troops into the port and then launch amphibuous invasions of the forts and they fall rather easily ( I can't remember if I assaulted them or just sieged them at first). I take one at a time, but it doesn't seem to be that crucial that you take them quickly.

Come to think of it, I didn't even need a large fleet to bombard them, but I did emply a small division with 2 artillery units. Maybe I was lucky, but the forts fell rather easily.
regards,
Gene

[Offworlder]

Interesting. But don't transport fleets get shredded before they reach NO? I mean I never attempted an amphibous assault (still new at the game) and I'm afraid that my forces would get shot up before reaching NO. (and I'm not just speaking of the forts around NO but even on the way there)

BTW do players use combat ships + transports or transport only fleets?

[johnnycai]

I believe taking NO first and then dealing with the forts next is the best way.
If you had taken the fort(s) first you would have lost the surprise element.
Use ships/amphib transport around there as its all swamp.
1 div. with 4+ arty's and a good commander should do the job in taking each forts. Cohesion and supply are key. Rest up and refill your wagons before attempting the assault.
The forts do not act as a blocade. You must blocade the two river zones that the NO harbour can exit to. But reb-held Baton Rough or Vicksburgh with arty would act as a supply block for any riverine supply from the Mississippi.
Its a bold move and be ready for the counter-assault.



Johnnycai

[johnnycai]

Interesting. But don't transport fleets get shredded before they reach NO? I mean I never attempted an amphibous assault (still new at the game) and I'm afraid that my forces would get shot up before reaching NO. (and I'm not just speaking of the forts around NO but even on the way there)

BTW do players use combat ships + transports or transport only fleets?

Yes, using transports will likely mean more hits sailing past the forts. I would use a fleet (or 2) with Farragut etc. for their evasion and bombard skills.

[Le Ricain]

Yes, using transports will likely mean more hits sailing past the forts. I would use a fleet (or 2) with Farragut etc. for their evasion and bombard skills.

Remember to use the evade combat button for your fleets. Use a fleet rather than just transports. That way, any punishment is spread out among your ships and not among your transports.

[Offworlder]

Thanks for the tips. I forgot Farragout and his abilities. I'll try to send in at least three divisions (have got ample transport capabilities) with some siege guns.

[KillCalvalry]

I think the advice here is good against the AI. You can always draw supply up the Atchifalaya (past Berwick, W. Baton Rouge), and back down. Taking the city first is wise, then the forts. The AI will leave you alone.

I would not recommend that, however, against the Living. A human could easily block the River at W. Baton Rouge. A human could have a whole bunch of guys attacking you in New Orleans, and draining your supply, quickly. And a human would probably not leave NO very undefended in the first place. Finally, a fleet of River Ironclads (and the south can build plenty by mid-'62, a good dozen anyway), will dominate your Ocean Fleet. This is the one spot where the CSA can have Naval Superiority, because he can build Ironclads anywhere on the Gulf and sail them to NO, you cannot get Ironclads there (unless you run EVERY fort on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, most unwise). Against a human, take the forts first. The saving grace is that the CSA will probably not attempt to take them back, that would involve a major commitment of effort on their part.

[Candew]

In my current game vs the AI (1.07f) I took a full division (555 strength) with plenty of artillery (no seige though), two supply wagons and led with a 4-4-4 division commander (Hancock?).

To my suprise, the AI had a pretty good sized force under command and waiting for me!

Each one of my attacks was repulsed and I lost the entire division, except for the artillery, supply wagons and the leader!

I was rather humbled by the experience and felt horrible for waisting all of those digitial lives. leure:

I could have taken two divisions with me and that is what I get for attacking piecemeal. I am now building up for another attempt, only this time I am bringing siege artillery with me and two whole divisions.

I can only imagine that my losses were a result of poor cohesion combined with horrible terrain (swamp).

[KillCalvalry]

Swamps are tough to assault in. I have noticed that the AI puts alot of troops at New Orleans, more than a human would maybe. I sailed there once and found a whole army on shore. I sailed away.

The biggest problem taking New Orleans isn't the forts, or the rebs, it's the swamps. If it was on dry-land, it would be easy. A big prize though, not just because of size, but it's tough to re-take.

Swamps also make Island No. 10 a real pain. If I were the rebs, I would build everything in a swamp!

[Brochgale]

Hi,

Can somebody please give me some advice - It's early December, against AI, and I tried an amph. invasion for the first time, loaded units into Farragut's fleet, sailed past forts (got shot up a bit, but nothing serious) and debarked into the New Orleans. After taking heavy casualties, I captured the city. Now, my question is - what next? I assume that forts Philip and Jackson block the supply to my battered force in N. O. (am I right?) How should I reduce them? By sending units from N.O. by land? Or by sea (fleet is still in N.O.) By sending new invasion force from up north? (in that case maybe I should have planned three separate landings?) Or maybe I should have taken the forts first, and then land in N.O? It looks like the forts are empty - how big a force I need to capture them?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Nikola

If its a human then you will probably get S!!!!!! As I would never leave NO without a fairly strong Garrison and I would have Back up at Baton Rouge just in case! Losing NO was not one of the CSAs better moments! I would also reinforce the forts just to be a pain to the yanks if nothing else it buys CSA a little bit of time to play with - did you check garrison sizes in Forts - I assume you did?Also I would try to waste my time taking back the forts - as CSA it is not a luxury we can afford - it would probably be insane to try so probably if I was playing Yanks I would take forts first! Oh and as csa I plug Delta with ironclads as someone else already suggested I believe!

[Kiwinomad]

As Union, I would have been much better off not trying to take NO. If the Confeds have a force there, you get stuck after a long battle, and are forced to waste more resources trying to keep the army supplied than the CSA need to spend to keep you contained.

Yes it's a blow to their morale and income, but I think I'd have been better off landing in Charleston and driving on Atlanta or Raleigh to link up with my main force (capturing and destroying what I could along the way). A mobile force will tie up more enemy resources and do more damage.

To me, NO is a red herring.

[Offworlder]

I actually got lucky vs AI coz with an early invasion (with Banks at its head). With 3 Divisions (including one with siege artillery headed by French, you know the artillerist guy) it was a piece of cake though I suspect that the fact that Ft Pickens has been valiantly holding out against CSA assaults must have drawn the best CSA forces in the area. Now I'm hoping to advance north and match the rather slow advance of Rosencrans from Cairo. Its been rather heavy going up till now in the central theatre...