Naval-Chain Shot etc

[ceff7711]

I have never used anything but the regular cannon shot in a naval battle. Is there a good reason/scenario where I should be using the other types to take out crew or sails?
Thanks

[Blaudonner]

When you have a big, evil battleship and attack a smaller faster ship, you need chainshot to demast the enemy. Otherwise he will rout and run away too fast for you to catch up with him and finish the job. Routed ships live to fight another day if they get away, and you don't want that.

[Mercury199]

The different types of shot have the following effects:

1) Round shot - blows big chunks out of the hull. Ultimately sinking the target vessel.
2) Chain shot - targets the sails. As poster above said this is ideal when engaging smaller more agile vessels. If you can successfully de-mast any ship it is pretty much dead in the water allowing you to engage from an angle which they cannot return fire, this, I have found is a particularly useful tactic for smaller naval encounters.
3) Grape shot - clears the deck of sailors/marines. Must be fired at fairly close range and will cause a loss of morale due to casualties. It is a good idea to make sure you have smashed a few holes in the hull to cause casualties on the lower decks too.

My personal strategy with naval combat is to fire a few volleys of round shot to knock out some cannon and get their heads down (win the firefight!). Then switch to chain to de-mobilise. Pick and angle that they can't return fire and blast away to your hearts content with grapeshot. This strategy is particularly effective for capturing vessels and not sending them to the bottom of Davy Jones' Locker!

I get particular pleasure from capturing vessels and using them to blockade that nations ports the next turn.

[Hurricane Brad]

If a have a clear advantage in a naval battle, I use chain shot to de-mast the enemy ships so that they can't escape. I can then blast them with grapeshot at my leisure since they can't really maneuver to fight back, they will usually surrender allowing me to capture their ship. Or you could board them. Either way, capturing ships is preferrable to sinking them since you get to keep the ship or get some prize money.