Fleet Composition

**Satyratron** · March 24, 2009, 02:02 AM

Whats your fleet strategy? do you just go for the biggest, baddest, ships? or do you balance speed and power?
currently my largest ship is the 4th rate. Im using small unit scale so im limited to 6 ships.

ive had some success using the 5th rate flagship escorted by 2 sloops and 3 6th rates. i distract with the sloops, disable with the 6's and board or sink with the flagship. i cant auto-resolve but if i go manual i can often overcome fleets with superior ships. however spanish galleons have been a pain in the ass cause spain likes to us them to spam me. Historically i think they tended to go for the bigger more hardy ship.

I'd like to hear everyones fleet composition strategies. whats the best fleet? what composition is effective and easy to replenish? Also what (if any) changes would you make to the ship classes?

**coman** · March 24, 2009, 02:29 AM

You're so unlikely to meet a uniform group after everyone's done with brigs and sloops. I find myself fighting the weirdest matches in the grand campaign.

I haven't played far enough in most campaigns to really play with anything larger than a second rate, which promptly sank after a broadside to the port waterline.

**Satyratron** · March 24, 2009, 04:12 AM

[quote=coman;4774103]You're so unlikely to meet a uniform group after everyone's done with brigs and sloops. I find myself fighting the weirdest matches in the grand campaign.

im interested in YOUR fleet composition not that of the various factions. also, i was wondering if the different factions ships stats vary as they do with line infantry.

**The_Dude** · March 24, 2009, 06:39 AM

mh, my fleest tend to grow over time but the majority still consists of 4th or 5th rates, i prefer maneuvaribility over firewpower. a 1st/2nd/3rd rate is no good in hunting down a routing 6th rate for example...

**coman** · March 24, 2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Satyratron

im interested in YOUR fleet composition not that of the various factions. also, i was wondering if the different factions ships stats vary as they do with line infantry.

No. Some ships are region specific however.

I generally take Admiral 3rd's with 2-3 3rd rates, 3-4 4th rates, 2 5th rates, 1 sixth to battle as a mid-game patrol fleet.

For line of battle, it's all thirds, with a picket group of 4ths. Never built a 1st rate.

**Mechstra** · March 24, 2009, 06:48 AM

In the early-mid game I scaled up, using a mix of fourth and fifth rates as a battle fleet with fifth and sixth rates raiding trade routes and escorting Indiamen on their way to trade areas. Once I could build proper ships of the line, I relegated my previous battle fleet to auxiliary duties and built groups of third rates with the occasional second rate as my line of battle.

**herb0815** · March 24, 2009, 11:10 AM

You should always have some frigates armed with carronade your fleet. They can disturb enemy formation and are devastating at close range when shooting from astern. One of mine carronade frigates even managed to blow up a 2nd rate.

**nepereta** · March 24, 2009, 11:23 AM

4th + 5th rates I build 3 4th rates pretty early. These + the starting 5s usually Pwn everything early on. I have started pulling the capped pirate ships fluyts & galleons into the service as well recently as heavy transports( now they aren't very economical for trade routes). They are fairly hefty in firepower I like having a 6th rate or smaller to chase down routers to add to the fleet. I use lots of the original sloops/ brigs for transport relays in controlled theatres. I figure they can always run and they are usually only carrying a years( 2-4) worth of produced troops.