CSS Virginia Sinks!

[cptcav]

I have successfully gotten the CSS Virginia sunk on its maiden voyage in two consecutive games. What am I doing wrong?

In my first game, I had it set to offensive and sent it out to engage the USS Monitor in Hampton Roads. Upon reaching Hampton Roads, Fort Monroe sinks the CSS Virginia.

In my second game, I set it to defend and place it on evasion sending it toward Baltimore. Again, upon reaching Hampton Roads, Fort Monroe sinks it.

At this point in time, it appears that all one can do is leave it in the James River, staying away from Fort Monroe, which seems very ahistorical.

Does anyone else have an alternative?

Thank you,
CptCav

[Chertio]

Not sure about unhistorical - the Virginia did all her fighting in the area on the ACW map named the James Estuary (the eastern end of which is actually the Hampton Roads). She never came within gunshot range of Fort Monroe (or of Fort Wool, another Union fort guarding the entrance to the Roads) as far as I know.

The area on the ACW map called "Hampton Roads" isn't, but the map has got to be a bit artificial on this scale anyway.

What to do with the Virginia? Put up the maximum evasion/avoid battle flags and get her back to Richmond so that when the Union put a ship or two into the James River to interdict river transport for their own fell purposes, they get an unpleasant surprise.

Or try to evade Fort Monroe and head south, given that the boat is unlikely to survive the attempt, but maybe worth a gamble.

Or capture Fort Monroe (easy-peasy unless the Union are ready to waste a lot of manpower defending it), problem solved.

[Chaplain Lovejoy]

In Lincoln and His Admirals, the author notes that the CSS Virginia could not make it to Richmond because her draft was too deep. The captain lightened the load as much as possible to raise her draft in order to make the retreat there, but it wasn't enough. He might have been able to lift the ship higher with even further lightening, but didn't think he had enough time to do so before the Yanks would close in and capture her. Thus she was scuttled.

[husky1943]

Hey cptcav,
Are you sure it would be a good idea to take her out into the Vaycapes? (that’s what we called the Virginia Capes – just beyond Hampton Roads). The chances of her sinking in the open ocean are way up there. Not to mention the fact that it would take half the Atlantic ocean just to turn her around.

[cptcav]

Hey cptcav,
Are you sure it would be a good idea to take her out into the Vaycapes? (that’s what we called the Virginia Capes – just beyond Hampton Roads). The chances of her sinking in the open ocean are way up there. Not to mention the fact that it would take half the Atlantic ocean just to turn her around.

That is where the Monitor and other Yankee ships were trying to blockade the river there. And, what else would I do with it?

Regards,
CptCav

[Jim-NC]

You could keep it next to Norfolk until you capture Ft. Monroe. If you try to run the guns, you get sunk most of the time (in my games I survived once - when I told it to move past the fort, and sailed to the Pamlico Sound). If you stop outside the fort, it tends to be suicide.

BTW, you can move an ironclad in the costal regions (all the way from Southern Texas to Massachusettes, and up into the river regions. So you could try to move it from Norfolk to say Wilmington.

[husky1943]

Ciao cptcav,
to be clear; I can understand that you would want to engage the fleet WITHIN Hampton Roads (those are protected waters). But, if you get close to the fort there, you are asking for trouble, and if you cleared the fort and got into OPEN waters (meaning ocean) the chance of even a slight mistrel would sink you. I would doubt (historically) that you could even clear the fort. Heck, they wouldn't have to try very hard, just aim low and skip the shot across the water hoping to hit you right at the waterline. AND you would be steaming at about 3 knots! If they holed you once, that could mean your engine is down, and then what?

[TheDoctorKing]

I have gotten the Virginia out of the Bay successfully a couple of times. The approach I take is to build a couple of gunboats or river transport ships who then stack with the Virginia, and the hits doled out by Fort Monroe are shared among the multiple targets. Then, you sail to Wilmington where you have placed a newly-built naval engineer, who fixes the damn thing. You link up with the other free ironclads (who have to sail past Fort Pickens - same procedure), and cruise around busting up Yankee close blockades.

I have to say that I've only rarely seen PBEM opponents try close blockades. I think it is not a very cost-effective proposition for them.

It's not been my experience that it is easy-peasy to take Fort Monroe. Most Union players will put several brigades of MIL into the fort, plus the stuff that starts there, plus the bombardment assistance of a good-sized Yankee fleet that is always sitting off-shore, makes Monroe very difficult to take. Unless you send your main field army, at which point even the deadly slow Yankees can make it to Richmond before you can get back from the end of the James peninsula.

[Colonel Dreux]

I take Fort Monroe by the end of 1861 or early 1862. I besiege it for a number of months and hit it with 4 siege artillery (build 2 Columbiads in VA or 1 Columbiad and 1 Siege mortar) commanded by Huger. Eventually the siege goes "red" and then I assault the fort with a division. Normally you take 1000+ casualties. Last time I did it it was only like 600.

Once you take Fort Monroe you can manouver the CSS Virginia around freely. Normally I stick it with the Plymouth and gunboats on the James. The Union can still sink it though if they bring a full fleet of ships though. So you have to be careful and use it wisely.

[Daxil]

I have gotten the Virginia out of the Bay successfully a couple of times. The approach I take is to build a couple of gunboats or river transport ships who then stack with the Virginia, and the hits doled out by Fort Monroe are shared among the multiple targets. Then, you sail to Wilmington where you have placed a newly-built naval engineer, who fixes the damn thing. You link up with the other free ironclads (who have to sail past Fort Pickens - same procedure), and cruise around busting up Yankee close blockades.

I have to say that I've only rarely seen PBEM opponents try close blockades. I think it is not a very cost-effective proposition for them.

It's not been my experience that it is easy-peasy to take Fort Monroe. Most Union players will put several brigades of MIL into the fort, plus the stuff that starts there, plus the bombardment assistance of a good-sized Yankee fleet that is always sitting off-shore, makes Monroe very difficult to take. Unless you send your main field army, at which point even the deadly slow Yankees can make it to Richmond before you can get back from the end of the James peninsula.

If you have 4 or more naval elements there it should block them 90% of the time.

[husky1943]

Maybe a good idea -

If you are playing the South, it might be a good idea to place a naval engineer in Portsmouth or Norfolk, and that way, everytime you run the Merrimac out, you can then repair her after the fight. Then you don't have to worry about taking her back up the James (and I understand that ain't going to happen).

[Colonel Dreux]

Maybe a good idea -

If you are playing the South, it might be a good idea to place a naval engineer in Portsmouth or Norfolk, and that way, everytime you run the Merrimac out, you can then repair her after the fight. Then you don't have to worry about taking her back up the James (and I understand that ain't going to happen).

There's a naval engineer locked into Norfolk with the CSA once you take it.