Marines and sailors

[maqwyn]

What exactly will a marine or a sailor in a stack do for the stack? My searches do not seem to do much, sorry.

[Major Dilemma]

They provide the pontooner skill to the whole stack, enabling faster river crossing.

[maqwyn]

Thanks for the quick response. Do both offer the same skill or is a marine something different?

[Cdr. McBragg]

It's the same skill. Marines are just stronger in battle.

[Rafiki]

There are som other subtle differences too; the sailors use line infantry replacements, while marines use elite infantry, and you can combine the sailor with a single-element line infantry unit

[maqwyn]

Thanks everyone. I see it pays to have at least one with your units with all the rivers. Historically I don't remember the engineers playing a large part in river crossings but units depending on bridges and fords. However even an old dog can learn new tricks.

[Banks6060]

yeah...eventually it's ideal to have an engineer and sailor or marine unit with each of your Corps....especially as the Union (because you can afford it.)

However it's hard to find the money, manpower, and resources to use on these when there are so many more fun toys to play with .

[gchristie]

Were sailors ever considered as a requirement for sailing the ships, then once recruited combined with the ship unit in order to set sail?

[Rafiki]

No, ships have their own intrinsic manpower cost, representing the crews

(No need to make it more complicated than that )

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Major Dilemma]

Aside from faster rail repairs is there any benefit to including an engineer in your force?

[maqwyn]

I would think the would help with defenses, especially with earthworks and fortifications.

[soloswolf]

Aside from faster rail repairs is there any benefit to including an engineer in your force?

In their detailed profile, if you hover over their engineer symbol you will get a tool-tip detailing that they decrease the time it takes to achieve the next level of entrenchment.

[Mangudai]

Thanks everyone. I see it pays to have at least one with your units with all the rivers. Historically I don't remember the engineers playing a large part in river crossings but units depending on bridges and fords. However even an old dog can learn new tricks.

Pontoon bridges played a very big role. Sherman was especially fond of his portable bridges in the wagon train. Grant's forces build miles of boardwalk through the swamps around Vicksburg. Banks force did some creative bridging and damming during the Red River campaign.

[Rafiki]

[SIZE="6"]Indeed![/size] (This was too good an opportunity to let pass!)

Been dying to do that, haven't you

[dublish]

Pontoon bridges played a very big role. Sherman was especially fond of his portable bridges in the wagon train. Grant's forces build miles of boardwalk through the swamps around Vicksburg. Banks force did some creative bridging and damming during the Red River campaign.

Banks' force did some creative losing during that campaign as well.

Other good examples of the importance of pontoons: Burnside's attack on Fredericksburg was delayed for weeks because his pontoons weren't where they were supposed to be. Grant's bridge over the James allowed him to disengage and completely give Lee the slip prior to the siege of Petersburg.