The three Florida Forts in Union control

[patryn8]

Florida Forts, the three in union hands. I can spare Bragg and Pemberton, in a strong division with supply to possibly take all three of these forts, will this in any way cause trouble for the union, or the trouble worth enough taking these three florida forts?

[runyan99]

Let me ask you. How do you think it will damage the Union war effort?

[Gray_Lensman]

deleted

[Spruce]

Nice beaches over there - but hardly the effort worth it ...

[PhilThib]

The only one worth a slight effort is San Augustine...because the Union may quickly make good use of it as a stepping point into Northern Florida (but this is less true when the North is AI-controlled )

[patryn8]

I would assume that it would hamper resupply of union shipping in the gulf blockade and I think that Ft. Pickens, if a depot were built in it that it would make a great staging point for union attacks as well. The two forts in the keys would be able to take hits on passing union ships.

[Adam the VIth]

Union forces out of Fort Pickens have been ranging as far as Atlanta in a recent game of mine -- that's AI control.

Pain in the butt, I've had as many as 20,000 men there in a winter to try and stomp them out -- but not working -- they brought in 2 divisions and I can't storm it without hideous losses.

So, it all depends -- if the Union stays quiet, not worth taking, but if you want to avoid what happened to me there, maybe worth the work early.

Ship your siege guns from Norfolk south the first winter and put a large artillery force there to batter them into submission. Bring the Gulf port navies in to help and maybe you can reduce them at low cost.

I'm actually happy the AI did this.....it is a good strategy ... nice to see it.

[Doomwalker]

My latest game I had to take Ft. Pickens vs the AI. The AI had roughly 30,000 troops there in 1862. Athena made several excursions into AL and GA, until my forces got them contained. It took me 6 divisions to finally take the fort.


The two "Keys" forts are usually last on my list, but they do get taken every chance I get.

[GShock]

There's a factor with these forts. If you can capture them it's hard for USA to send interceptors against your blockade runners in the gulf blockade box. The forts, now yours, will bombard them as they come.

[Doomwalker]

That is a good point Gshock, I need to rethink my strategy of waiting to take the "Keys" forts before Pickens.

[RELee]

There's a factor with these forts. If you can capture them it's hard for USA to send interceptors against your blockade runners in the gulf blockade box. The forts, now yours, will bombard them as they come.

I believe a boost in rep is in order here.

[GShock]

Clever eh? Now i only managed to capture ft Monroe once and imagine if i got the resources to take the Key forts! lol

[KillCalvalry]

How are you going to take the forts in the Florida Keys without Transports? You don't have enough lift capacity unless you build alot of brigs, and that is very risky to send troops to sea with Union control of the waves.

Ft Pickens is takeable. It can be a thorn, as Union troops can walk over into Florida from it.

[Doomwalker]

Ah yes Transport capacity is an issue, but that is what the British Intervention is for. My last two games, one on easy FI and the second on normal I had both English and French Fleet units. This made the oceans very deadly for the Union.