Naval Warfare

[ahall0007]

Hi all. I'm new to the board and the game. One of the better computer/board war games I have seen.

I've played two campaigns with the full war and I can't get naval units to attack the opponents naval units. I've messed around with the different attack/defense modes and I still come up with nothing. Does anybody have any advice on this?

Another naval problem I am having is ships going unsupplied and losing them for this reason. Do I have to move them into ports?

Some non-naval questions. How do I build fortifications or forts?

Last question. If I invade the opponents capital and take it over, does that end the game? I was the union the first time and took over Richmond in the summer of 1862 without taking any other major objective cities and the game was over. This time around, I have not taken Richmond but I have taken Atlanta, Memphis, New Orleans, Norfolk, and am waiting to take out Richmond. I've trapped and destroyed Lee's whole force twice in both games and was somewhat disappointed that he didn't see that coming.

Thanks all. Your comments on this board have been very helpful to my learning.

[W.Barksdale]

I can't get naval units to attack the opponents naval units.

Hi and welcome! If you have your units on attack posture they should attack. One reason they may not is that the enemy fleet is able to evade combat. Check the turn summary.

Another naval problem I am having is ships going unsupplied and losing them for this reason. Do I have to move them into ports?

Yes when they get low on supply move them into port. They will resupply and do any repairs. Naval engineers will speed up repairs. A transport with the stack will keep them supplied a wee bit longer at sea.

How do I build fortifications or forts?

To build a fort gather 4 artillery units and 2 supply wagon units in a stack and click on the build fort special order. Note that you have to be in a city region to do this.

If I invade the opponents capital and take it over, does that end the game?

It all depends on your national morale and the enemies. Once you pass\drop a certain level you will have victory\defeat.

[ahall0007]

Thanks for the quick response.

So when an enemy ship has "evade" orders, there is not a way to track the ship(s) down? Even with a certain type of ship (aka blockade frigate) or anything of that gist?

[Jabberwock]

There is a chance every time you are in the same region, and one of you is in offensive posture, to attack. It is small. In the blockade and shipping boxes, you may attack without using offensive stance, so don't use it there. (It wears out the ships faster.)

Splitting up stacks into smaller groups may increase your chances of attacking, but smaller stacks do less damage and are more vulnerable. (YMMV)

Using intercept orders, by dragging your stack directly onto the enemy stack, seems to increase the chances of combat. It won't work if you are already in the same region, and it's dangerous, because enemy ships could run past a shore battery or fort with your ships following.

[vonRocko]

Hello! While we are on the subject. Could someone tell me if you could block a river with naval units,to prevent riverine movement from land units? Or is it possible to evade no matter how many ships you have in the river? It seems to me that 20 gunboats and ironclads would be able to block even the widest river.Nonetheless,enemy land units don't seem to even slow down and routinely sail past river fleets[in offensive modes] without interruption,and land whole divisions far upriver,past towns and forts[who sometimes fire and sometimes don't] without worries of supply. They even seem to get replacements when deep in enemy territory. Do difficulty settings play any part? Thanks to this forum,I learned so much of the game that I was able to whup the yankees in my first game.So I cranked up the difficulty and started a game as the union.I'm doing well with Richmond,Tennessee,and Missouri all under my control in late 62.But the rebs still send whole armies up river to Ohio and Illinois! I had to fight a 500+pwr army outside of Chicago and they always seem to be in supply?
Thanks
p.s. This is a great game

[Daxil]

4 elements block a river oif in defensive/offensive. This is neutralized if an enemy fleet is present.

[Gray_Lensman]

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[vonRocko]

Thanks Daxil, that was going to be my next question, but Gray Lensman is correct. I am referring to land units moving along a river. Is this preventable?

[Daxil]

This does not answer his question. You are referring to the interdiction of Land unit movement "across" rivers. He is asking why the game allows river movement of Land units "along" rivers, when these elements are present, a very good question.

Oh I didn't realize they did not block river movement. Obviously it's not very consistent if they can't, but can block "land marches" across rivers. Hopefully that's fixed.

Thanks Daxil, that was going to be my next question, but Gray Lensman is correct. I am referring to land units moving along a river. Is this preventable?

I'd guess it's based on the interdiction/evasio values. The more naval units present, the better your chance of interdiction.