Ottoman Navy - love those galleys

**Miracle** · 03-26-2009, 19:45

Originally Posted by Didz

Yes, I noticed on the unit stats that Light Galleys have a firepower of 256 compared to a Brig's 76, so presumably much heavier cannon.

Originally Posted by Fondor_Yards

I'm not sure if they actually do, but their unit card also says they have a hull strength of 0.

These are almost certainly bugs.

The in-campaign and in-battle unit card stats are different. In a battle, Galleys have 0 Firepower and 1477 Hull Strength. In campaign, they have 256 Firepower and 0 Hull Strength.

They can also be incredibly hit-or-miss. A few galleys can KO an AF, 5th Rate with one volley. Or they can blow up at close range like suicide bombers and take down your ship with them. At other times they blow up at a safe distance away.

In any case, CA needs to fix naval unit card stats ASAP and re-examine galley balance. After all, both their unit cards say they mount, "light cannons."

**Marquis of Roland** · 03-27-2009, 00:43

Originally Posted by Miracle

In any case, CA needs to fix naval unit card stats ASAP and re-examine galley balance. After all, both their unit cards say they mount, "light cannons."

256 firepower has to be a typo then. I played with them a bit more last night and from the results there's no way they have 256.

**Didz** · 03-27-2009, 01:39

Just for the record, the AI does sometimes deploy its galleys in line abreast. It actually did it yesterday when I landed troops and seized the port of Algiers. The two light galleys forced to try and run my blockade as a consequence actually appeared in line abreast not line astern.

**Marquis of Roland** · 03-27-2009, 04:15

Originally Posted by Didz

Just for the record, the AI does sometimes deploy its galleys in line abreast. It actually did it yesterday when I landed troops and seized the port of Algiers. The two light galleys forced to try and run my blockade as a consequence actually appeared in line abreast not line astern.

Sometimes when you're sailing down their line they'll change from line astern to line abreast.

**crpcarrot** · 03-27-2009, 11:19

Originally Posted by Didz

Just for the record, the AI does sometimes deploy its galleys in line abreast. It actually did it yesterday when I landed troops and seized the port of Algiers. The two light galleys forced to try and run my blockade as a consequence actually appeared in line abreast not line astern.

oh thats cool :) ive been thinking if its somehting to do with who is attacking cos as far as i can remeber its always the AI attacking me.

wait a minute u mean the AI landing troops!! so i cant leave all those port cities unguarded now? :P

well with regard to galleys being usless i guess the AI doesnt use them to its advantage so they appear useless. the ability of the galley to be independatn of wind directions and highly menouverable is real advantage if used properly. of course this need a alot of micro managing and pausing

**Didz** · 03-27-2009, 12:31

Originally Posted by crpcarrot

wait a minute u mean the AI landing troops!! so i cant leave all those port cities unguarded now? :P

The AI most certainly does land troops from its fleets, I've watched it do it on a number of occassions. In fact, it was watching the AI do it that led me to grab the opportunty to copy it and seize its port in Algiers. It also works beautifully as a strategy for confounding the French in the Road to Independance campaign, a sloop with a unit of Rangers aboard can have them running up and down the coast instead of defending their target cities.

Originally Posted by crpcarrot

well with regard to galleys being usless i guess the AI doesnt use them to its advantage so they appear useless. the ability of the galley to be independatn of wind directions and highly menouverable is real advantage if used properly. of course this need a alot of micro managing and pausing

Well I'm not labelling galley's useless at at all, at least not yet. As you say there are advantages associated with being independant of the wind, the only factors which I'm not sure are modelled properly are the oared vessels ability to a) reverse (back water) and b) the inability of a sail ship to stop (heave to). Sailing ships can certainly heave to, but they can't stop, as soon as the pressure is released from their sails they begin to broach (turn into wind) and drift leeward (get blown downwind due to the pressure of the wind on their high sides. The only way to stop this is to anchor, which isn't possible in deep water, and even then the ship will swing on its anchor so that it is downwind and facing into wind from the anchor point. Bomb ketches who needed to be fixed in position to use their weapons actually deployed four anchors and a complex pulley system to keep them in place against the pressure of wind and tide. Galleys on the other hand have the ability to use their oars both as a sea anchor to hold them stationery, and as an adjustment device for maintaining position and turning on the spot if necessary.

Then of course there is the old problem of being becalmed which sailing ships have no real counter to and galleys actually prefer.

**Kobal2fr** · 03-27-2009, 13:39

Originally Posted by Didz

Well I'm not labelling galley's useless at at all, at least not yet. As you say there are advantages associated with being independant of the wind, the only factors which I'm not sure are modelled properly are the oared vessels ability to a) reverse (back water) and b) the inability of a sail ship to stop (heave to). Sailing ships can certainly heave to, but they can't stop, as soon as the pressure is released from their sails they begin to broach (turn into wind) and drift leeward (get blown downwind due to the pressure of the wind on their high sides. The only way to stop this is to anchor, which isn't possible in deep water, and even then the ship will swing on its anchor so that it is downwind and facing into wind from the anchor point. Bomb ketches who needed to be fixed in position to use their weapons actually deployed four anchors and a complex pulley system to keep them in place against the pressure of wind and tide. Galleys on the other hand have the ability to use their oars both as a sea anchor to hold them stationery, and as an adjustment device for maintaining position and turning on the spot if necessary.

Then of course there is the old problem of being becalmed which sailing ships have no real counter to and galleys actually prefer.

I'm afraid that's a no on both counts. Galleys & steamships can't back water (or at least, I haven't found the way), I don't think they heave to any faster than regular boats ; and sailing ships certainly can stop and stay in one spot forever, neverminding winds, currents or water depth. Hell, they can even pivot on said spot. I dare anyone to do that with anything floating :).

**Didz** · 03-27-2009, 14:31

Thats what I figured, so galley's lose out on both counts as far as ETW is concerned.

**anweRU** · 03-27-2009, 17:56

Off-topic but:

Originally Posted by Kobal2fr

Hell, they can even pivot on said spot. I dare anyone to do that with anything floating :).

Give me any modern cruise ship, large cargo ship or tanker, or luxury yacht, and I'll happily do it for you. Most have side ways water-jets to help maneuver in tight spots.

Some of the newest ships don't even have the traditional propeller on shaft arrangement, but electrical motors driving the propellers directly, and they are mounted on pylons under the ship. They can rotate sideways for a certain range of angles - don't know exactly how much.