How to conduct an amphibious assault?

[Brausepaul]

Hi,

I (USA) just tried an amphibious assault with the ultimate goal to take New Orleans, it ended in a clear disaster and my whole corps dispersed. What I did: I unloaded four brigades marines and an arty (commanded by a two-star general) unit next to the Eastern fort guarding New Orleans. The next round the units were already badly depleted. With no hope to get replacements and supply without holding a harbor I ordered them to attack the fort where I lost 2000 men and all the units.

So, what do I have to do to perform better? Do I have to bombard the fort? Assign some supply waggons to the corps? More marines?

[soloswolf]

From what I understand, Marines don't actually do anything for you here. Their ability helps you cross rivers faster only.

Now, to the fort. My first advice, come in from a pre-secured base on land. If you cannot do that, you need to seriously bring the thunder with your attacking force. (Particularly if you are going to assault it and not lay siege to it.) A very small force can hold out against your four regiments of marines and one battery of artillery.

If it is a standard garrison (fort arty. and one fort/line regiment) and you want it to drop in one turn, you will need at least a full division, probably more. Use your discretion based on what you have to spare, but bear in mind the fort will restrict your numbers, the point is to have more to shoe in once the first wave is repulsed.

And try to have wagons with your larger/important attacks as they give you a 10% fire bonus.

[Jabberwock]

Don't go for the forts at all. That goes for any forts except Donelson and Island #10. There is always a better way. (Donelson and Nashville should usually be attacked from Humphreys; there is no good solution for Island #10 except waiting for the right weather conditions to move in from Columbus).

Option 1: I personally like to take West Baton Rouge from White Lake, build a depot, and mount further amphibious operations from there. I think with the harbor/river reworks it may be required to build one at Berwick/Brashear as well to get the supplies flowing upstream. Transports are much cheaper than supply wagons for building the depots, but they don't provide you with a combat bonus, so bring both.

Option 2: You can also send a division or corps from Biloxi Bay across Duras and straight into New Orleans, but definitely take a marine or sailor with you if you try that route. They seem to improve movement across all kinds of damp terrain, and that reduces your cohesion loss. Supply wagons, artillery, and support units will slow you down. It's a big gamble with a big payoff. You may want to send a lone general in on passive/evade to scout the NO defenses first.

Option 3: Consider a landing at Macon or Athens in Georgia instead, with an eye towards taking Atlanta. There are no obstructions, torpedoes, or forts to prevent your transports from sailing right up those rivers. This can draw troops from the Eastern Tennessee theater or other reserves from across the southeast, and supplies are pretty scarce if you don't get to Atlanta, so leave the transports parked in the river as a retreat option. (You retreat into the river with a river move, then combine into a stack with the transports next turn.) You can also bring an extra transport full of loose militia and cavalry to take and hold all the undefended towns along your route. This goes for the Baton Rouge option as well, but then the loose troops are used to push forward into Louisiana while the main force circles back on New Orleans.

Option 4: a landing at Petersburg or Wilmington (from the Carolina Coast region) supports your operations in Virginia. However, it also puts your amphibious troops that much closer to the main rebel army. Watch out for those interior lines.

Option 5: Try to simultaneously drop several small forces along the Texas coast and rivers, while your West Coast troops move in from Tuscon, and a light division takes Galveston & Houston. It is difficult, but you can manage to eliminate the possibility of any Texas reinforcements.

[soloswolf]

I should say that I primarily play CSA and my fort storming begins and ends (sometimes never begins...) with Ft. Monroe.

[Coffee Sergeant]

Texas should be alot easier to take with the 1.09 update that eliminated the rail link between Texas and Louisiana.