Question about Ships

[ikiceman]

Hi, I'm new and I have a quick question about ships. I've been playing the campaign mode for a few days as the English. I've built a fleet of Caravels but I don't know how to use them to invade Ireland, Corsica, Sardinia and Malta, I can't seem to get my armies across the seas to invade them. Sorry for posting such a newbie question but I'd really appreciate any help.

[Qilue]

First, you need a line of ships from your province's port to the province where you want to invade.
Second, there can't be any opposing ships in between.

For example, say you want to invade french owned Brittany using an army in Wessex. First, Wessex must have a port. You will also need ships off it's coast line (in the channel). Finally, there can't be any french ships in the channel.

In invade Ireland from Wessex, you will need ships in the channel and in the irish sea.

[ShellShock]

Also, when you press the V key, it will colour code each sea area depending on whether you own it, or whether it is blocked by enemy ships. This makes it very easy to see if you have an unbroken chain of ships from one province to another.

[Adrian II]

Ikiceman, these questions keep popping up because the ***** manual from CA is confusing on the issue of ships and overseas transport. Fleets aren't very spectacular in MTW, but some day somebody will have to write a small, concise, cristal clear guide about it. The point is nobody managed so far without falling asleep.

Anyway, here's the gist of it. In order to transport armies overseas you need to have (1) a port in the country of departure and (2) a sea lane between country of departure and target country. A sea lane being: an uninterrupted chain of fleets (at least 1 ship in every sea) between province of departure and province of destination. There may be no enemy fleets in any of the seas along that lane; one enemy ship is enough to block it.

If you do, just click and drag your army onto the target country. The target need not have a port, but in that case your transport is considered an amphibious landing. Once committed to the target province, your troops will not be able to leave it by sea unless you build yourself a port there or move them over land to a province that has one.

If the target belongs to another nation, your landing is considered hostile and any ship belonging to the target nation stationed anywhere in your sea lane is considered to block your landing, even if that nation has so far been neutral.

The only exception is a rescue operation in which your overseas expedition is meant to support the army of an ally that is being besieged. If you are successful in helping him spring the siege, your rescue forces (or what is left of them) will be automatically returned to their country of departure and you will receive a “Thank You” note from your ally (which doesn’t mean he may not invade your territory and beat your garrisons to a pulp on the next turn). In case of defeat your remaining forces may come home only if they have an intact sea lane left by the end of the turn. If the port in the target province was destroyed during your landing, your entire force is considered dead or captured.

[Procrustes]

Good summary, AdrianII!

... If the port in the target province was destroyed during your landing, your entire force is considered dead or captured.

The only little thing I would add is that you can pretty much count on any port in a province you take - either by land or by sea - being destroyed. Once in a while they survive, but not often. Since your seaborne invasion force is likely to be stranded for a few years until you build a port, it's a bad idea to send your king or his heir apparent to lead that army.

Also, I think the V key to show open sea lanes only works if you have the Viking Invasion add-on. (Worth it!)

HTH,