Tips for Naval Battles?

[Flavius Gonzo]

Slaists, from the thread you sent me, the difference would be that with a single broadside, you would do less damage because more cannons would miss, but the morale penalty would be higher.

In my experience though, the raking tactic the AI employs with autofire on does seem to be more effective. I think I need to try this out more, I've been making a point of firing broadsides. Also, I haven't used Alt-+ at all yet, people seem to think that is worthwhile. Also, while I was paying attention to the wind, I wasn't putting an emphasis on maneuvering upwind of my opponent... I shall try this too.

Any other thoughts?

[Marquis of Roland]

Flavius, what do you typically do strategy-wise when you fight a fleet battle?

That TWcenter post, diagram 3 on #46; hard to pull off, and it creates a logjam (thats if you didn't forget to drop your anchor; otherwise you're whole fleet will be raked as well). When the enemy ships crash into yours, they will try to get around, and eventually end up with both ships' broadsides facing each other at point blank range. While probably already considerably damaged from being raked, anyone who plays H or VH knows an equivalent ship with even 2/3 the cannon of your own at point-blank range will sink your ship, and considerably damage her on medium. Any shot that misses (I know its point-blank but a few shots will always go astray) will hit your own ships. Also, once you attempt that maneuver, your fleet cohesion is effectively no more, so you can't use when fighting multiple fleets.

[Flavius Gonzo]

Well... biggest battle I've fought so far has only been like 5 on 5 or so; haven't been playing the game that long. Plus as I mentioned I am terrible at Naval battles anyway.

Strategy wise though for battles this big, I have been deploying line astern and trying to sail right in between the enemies fleet (in my experience, the AI deploys in at least 2 lines) to bring both broadsides of all my ships to bear. I've gotten absolutely destroyed this way (even playing on M!)

After everything I've read today, it seems that it hasn't been strategy problems for me so much as tactics -- need to use autofire, better group cohesion, alt-+ and such. Also, I just read that I need to anchor ships that are taking on water. This I think has been killing me.

Marquis -- what has worked best for you strategically? I'll hold off on trying #3 until I can at least get the hang of winning by just maneuvering the line into favorable position and letting the AI rake properly.

[anweRU]

Strategy wise though for battles this big, I have been deploying line astern and trying to sail right in between the enemies fleet (in my experience, the AI deploys in at least 2 lines) to bring both broadsides of all my ships to bear. I've gotten absolutely destroyed this way (even playing on M!)

Ahem, and you're asking why you're getting a beating? Getting shot from both sides must be doing wonders (!) for your crews' morale, not to mention the integrity of your ships' hulls.

Historically speaking, you should aim to cross the enemy line's T - this was the most effective naval battle tactic, used successfully as recently as 1945 by the USN against the IJN in the Battle of Surigao Straits. (of course numerical & technical superiority was the real winner, we had ~ 50 destroyers to their one, several dozen cruisers to their one, and either six or eight battleships to their two...)

[Flavius Gonzo]

Well, I think the reason I was getting pummeled with this strategy had more to do with the fact that I wasn't using autofire -- the AI was damaging my ships way more than I was his because most of the shots from my broadsides missed.

Do you really thing this is such a bad strategy in ETW though? I know that same strategy was used historically... the idea is that for even numbers your enemy can only fire half his cannons on the first pass, while if you split his line your own ships can fire both. The consequence is that the first ship in your line will be severely damaged. Hell though, I am certainly losing enough at sea so I am in no position to argue. I will try crossing the T instead.

Question: do cannonballs damage more if they're concentrated in ETW? EG, will 6 cannonballs hitting a hull over a span of 120 seconds do the same damage as 6 cannonballs impacting from different angles at the same time?

[Marquis of Roland]

Marquis -- what has worked best for you strategically? I'll hold off on trying #3 until I can at least get the hang of winning by just maneuvering the line into favorable position and letting the AI rake properly.

First off, this may sound very basic, but avoid getting hit as much as possible.

You want to try to avoid coming into the enemy's fields of fire, while trying to put as many of your ship's fields of fire on the enemy ships. Staying upwind (i.e. holding the weather gage), is very important because it gives you maneuverability while taking away the AI's, and that lets you pick when and where to close in to fire. Being downwind in this game is not so bad because the AI will always attack, but he'll have the same maneuverability as you. You're also forced to tack (turn your ship) away from the enemy, giving him a chance to rake (minor).

Don't sail down the enemy line exchanging broadsides at close range. In fact try to stay at long range (out of range is even better) whenever possible, except when the AI can't shoot at you (i.e. get behind or in front); that is the only time you should be at close range.

If your ships get too damaged on one side, turn your line so the fresh side is facing the enemy. Pay attention to wind direction when you are planning to do it.

And always have autofire on. You can fine tune by telling your ships to focus on a specfic target by clicking on it and pushing alt-right click (I think).

Sailing down each other's line trading broadsides did not work historically. Now historically, at the Battle of the Nile, the British sailed down both sides of the French line with the French firing broadsides on both sides of their ships, and guess what happened to the French? KABOOM!