need help with naval battles

**Hooahguy** · 07-10-2009, 00:35

ok, ive got a big problem. i suck REALLY badly at naval battles. lets just put it this way-
i had a 5th rate, a 6th rate, a sloop, and 6 brigs. i had to take on the Danish navy, which was then just a 5th rate, a 6th rate, 2 indiamen traders, and 2 brigs.

well, i sunk 4 of their ships. all of mine were sunk. 3 of them, in perfectly good shape, because they were too close to another ship, which got a full broadside from a danish ship, resulting in this:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read:

ok, so now the 2 danish ships have occupied my main port. im playing as Sweden btw.
so i assembled a fleet of 8 brigs as fast as i could, and now im about to do battle with a 5th rate and a 6th rate.

in need tips on how to beat a better force with my weaker force.
what i know is this: send one ship to the front of the enemy formation to block off their advance, and slow them down. dont send them to attack a ship, that will just get all your ships confused and there will be big crashes and explosions like above.
only use broadsides when the opportunity allows you to.
use grape shot when close up, to slow down the enemy and destroy his cannons.
also, when the

hits the fan, slow down the battle to better micro-manage.

anything else?

**Elmar Bijlsma** · 07-10-2009, 01:00

I found it best not to micro manage too much. Just stick to the line formation and let them come to you. If you then wrap your line around theirs in a manner that the lead ship gets to keep it's broadside pointed at the lead enemy, the lead ship will soon be outnumbered, outflanked and severely damaged. The combination of these morale modifiers should lead to a quick surrender, so the next enemy ship in line gets all the attention of your broadsides. That enemy won't like it any better.

Any ship of yours that gets badly damaged can break away from the line in the direction away from the enemy, thus seeking refuge behind his buddies who are in a better shape.Except for the last ship, who can't easily run and hide. Oh well, can't bring everybody home.

**lobo76** · 07-10-2009, 09:56

I found it best to have few powerful ships than many weak ships. The AI sent quite a big fleet of ships (filled up 1 row) ...but their most powerful was a sixth rate and a whole lot of sloops and Indiaman. I had ONE(1) galleon. I won.

For multiple versus multiple, usually I line up the ships in a row rather than a column (usually the default is the latter). Sail abreast towards the enemy fleet. As you get in range, turn all your ships sides ways to reveal your broadsides to them, and fire away. Their lead ship will be hit by 2-3 boardsides in the first salvo. The idea is to focus fire and kill the first one as soon as possible.

Remember that you have TWO(2) broadsides....always turn to expose the side that haven't fired. So, after that it is usually enough to just turn around and around (on the spot), constantly turning the side that haven't fired side to whatever enemy that happens to be in range.

**Didz** · 07-10-2009, 10:52

My system (which seems to work) is much simpler.

I just form my fleet into a double line ahead (en exchequer) with ships in the second line covering the intervals in the first.

I then position this double line to windward (up wind) and angle ready to run down on the enemy fleet (with the wind behind them).

When the battle opens I head for the lead ship of the enemy fleet, and try to cross ahead of it.

If I don't manage that then I basically manoeuvre my fleet so that my lead ship constantly has their lead ship in its target zone. Everything else I leave to the AI and 'fire at will'.

I only use 'dismantling shot' and 'grape' if I heavily outnumber the enemy and plan to board the enemy and go for some prize money. In any sort of challenging battle the only thing worth firing at is their hull.

[I second Lobo's comment - in naval battles weight is more important than numbers. You idea of swamping a 5th rate with brigs is a long shot and very expensive to boot. The first thing I would do is get a militia cavalry unit into that port and force the enemy to put back to sea. If you are lucky someone else will sink them, if not you need to research 5th rates before trying to take them on, unless you have fluyts or galleons.]

**Hooahguy** · 07-10-2009, 13:35

Originally Posted by lobo76

I found it best to have few powerful ships than many weak ships. The AI sent quite a big fleet of ships (filled up 1 row) ...but their most powerful was a sixth rate and a whole lot of sloops and Indiaman. I had ONE(1) galleon. I won.

well, im early in the game, so all i can get is brigs and sloops. ive been using my research time for military techs and enlightenment.

but thanks for all the help. i was able to defeat the Danish fleet with only losing one ship.
i got up close, taking advantage of my speed, and raked them with anti-personnel shot. one surrendered, the other sank.

**A Very Super Market** · 07-10-2009, 20:10

I presume you're playing in the Baltic. The answer is, spam galleys.

They are cheap, and easily produced, and completely expendable. You'll have to play each battle personally, because auto-balance will just make you lose. Spread them out in a line, and just move them forward until contact is made, and clear out the loose ones who aren't firing.

**Hooahguy** · 07-10-2009, 20:50

galleys? why galleys? an indiaman trader blows them out of the water. i sent a lone indiaman trader to the americas, to scout the areas out, and i was attacked by 3 galleys. i crushed them, only losing 4 cannons on my ship.