The Barbary Pirates penchant for the Bomb Ketch

[Fisherking]

Uh! They don’t seem to be the only ones spamming the things. The Mughals now seem to be some sort of naval super stars and they are building them too. I think Poland had one in a couple of different stacks also. I think they are becoming the in thing for the AI at the moment.

As a side note, I am starting to see 3rd rates showing up in AI fleets. I have seen a lot of 4th rates and 2nd rates too but now I am starting to see 3rd rates...hope they don’t start tossing out heavy 1st rates...

[sharkscott2]

As France I've had this exact bomb ketch problem. Every second turn 1 or 2 Bomb Ketches would come to blockade my southern port in france. I had to keep a small group of ships there just to fend them off each year. And yes, fought every battle, most in fast forward. I'd just like to see them adapt their tactic after 3 tries, send different ships, raid somewhere else. I suppose I could have adapted, put my war with Engliand and Austria on hold and sent a few armies to north africia.

[Hermann the Lombard]

I'd just like to see them adapt their tactic after 3 tries, send different ships, raid somewhere else.

Among other adaptations! I get tired of watching them sail into a particular Spanish port, burning it. Then the Spanish send a small stack to chase them off and the Barbary ships pop out. In the same turn the Spanish troops march back where they came from and in their turn the Barbary ships sail back in. Repeat ad nauseum.

In my current game the French sailed two ships into Greenwich and shut down the trade of Great Britain. Those two ships stayed there for at least ten years before the Brits sent a small stack to kick them out, at which point two British ships sailed up and destroyed them. Finally my (Russian) trade with Great Britain was restored after wasting a slot for 20+ turns.

[pockettank]

In my current game the French sailed two ships into Greenwich and shut down the trade of Great Britain. Those two ships stayed there for at least ten years before the Brits sent a small stack to kick them out, at which point two British ships sailed up and destroyed them. Finally my (Russian) trade with Great Britain was restored after wasting a slot for 20+ turns.

just a tip, if something like this happens put a navy of yours so the tips of the radius of your ships and the enemys are just barely touching, then move a single ship like a sloop or brig in between, they'll attack that single ship and your others will come in as reinforcements, then destroy the enemy and your allies port reopend.