Odd ships

[Wanderer588]

I couldn't think of a particularly good title for this thread but here's my question:

the game includes bomb ketches, rocket ships, and other odd ships...what's the point of bomb ketches and rocket ships (which historically were used for naval sieges and not ship to ship battles)if naval sieges are unavailable?

Don't get me wrong, it's amazing to see what a well placed mortal shell can do to an enemy ship if it slams into the deck or explodes among the sails, but honestly aren't they pretty much worthless?

I also think Carronade Frigates and Steam Frigates have too few guns to be considered frigates, neither of them having much more than Brigs in terms of cannon.

[Gunodd]

Rocket ships and bomb ketches both fire from the front of the ship. They have long range but little defense in close quarters. Think of them as support gunners for the bulk of your fleet. I've also wondered what the point is with Carronade Frigates...

Maybe rocket ships and bomb ketches were initially meant to be able to attack coastline cities, but it involved too much work on CA's behalf? I was always annoyed by not being able to release a broadside upon coastline cities.

[Wanderer588]

You and me both bud. Would have loved having a naval/land siege.

[thijser]

well rocket ships are very usefull against enemies who got full sails up especially if you have a few rocket ships because they will quickly light the sails on fire and that causes the whole ship to burn fast untill the ammunution blows up (shouldn't take long )

[Henry707]

You and me both bud. Would have loved having a naval/land siege.

Yes indeed. It would been great to be able to extend your naval power ashore by using bombardments or sending detachments of marines from the fleet. It would bring an extra dimension to the game above simply blockading if there was real raiding....

Henri

[GenWolfe]

A land and naval battle would be so awesome. You could row your men to the mainland giving them some nice covering fire from your ships. They really should have put this into the game. This could have helped me greatly in my battle against the Inuits.

[Ginaz]

Bomb ketchs and rocket ships are very situational and in my opinion, should only be used in fleets where you purposely need them (aka not have a fleet of regular rates and throw in a rocket/bomb ship for kicks).

I've tested several configurations and found that these ships shine when they are part of a 'light fleet' composed of brigs and sloops. Put 4 sloops and the rest be EITHER rockets or bomb ships (dont ever mix them) and you get a light, cheap fleet that can use speed and maneouverability of the sloops and the heavy firepower of the rocket/bomb ships (should they hit) to defeat much heavier ships. Of course, it all depends on the player's skill.

I use my light fleets to interdict enemy shipping and destroy the enemy trading ships. Sail a light fleet into the trade port, engage the ships.. use speed to avoid the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th/5ht/6th rate ships escorting them, smash the merchants (bombs and rockets bring them down very quickly) and then I have my ships disengage. the enemy fleet will leave the trade port on its own

You can also try a full-rocket ship fleet...expensive but rather hilarious to see the enemy line of ships catch fire by the 3rd salvo.

Carronades are the most powerful ships in this game bar none. I defeat heavy first rates with them. They are FAST, they have ungodly firepower (almost comparable to a 2nd rate) and you can easily compensate for their weak hulls and shorter range by using tactics. To date my best win was a single carronade defeating a heavy first rate, 2X second rates and 3 4th rates in a single engagement.

[GaMMwl]

Wicked! Going to try these tactics...

[thijser]

Yes indeed. It would been great to be able to extend your naval power ashore by using bombardments or sending detachments of marines from the fleet. It would bring an extra dimension to the game above simply blockading if there was real raiding....

Henri

it would however require a reprizing of the ships (we are now paying about 1000 for a single cannon or we can get about 32 for about the same price if we put them on board of a ship ...)

[Darthey]

Bomb-ketches and rocketships are the naval-games version of support weapons. Their actual use is very situational (as mentioned above), but they can be highly effective if used against enemy ships with low moral. The bombs can cause sudden casulties in the enemy crew, and any ship that catches fire suffers an instant moral penalty.

For their relatively low cost they can be very useful, but as small ships they will badly restrict the map-movement of your heavy fleets.