Bombarding island forts

[Justus2]

I am trying to destroy the fort (unit) at Ft. Pulaski, but when I attack with my Frigates, they seem to be damaging the underlying settlement, and doing no damage to the actual fort (unit) on top. The odds read 0:1(2)20%, but after multiple attempts it just seems to damage the settlement, and the fort is still strength 5. Am I missing something? I tried bringing Marines down as well, I can't offload into the hex with the fort there, and the amphibious transport attacks and gets hit with defensive fire, without weakening the fort. What am I missing?

[JAMiAM]

Gunboats.

[Justus2]

Gunboats.

Gunboats are more effective against forts? Why? They have the same attack/defense vs forts (3/3), and they only have half the strength, why would they make the difference?
(not trying to be argumentative, just trying to understand the mechanics)

[Platoonist]

Apparently, frigates in this game specialize in attacking city and port resources and gunboats in attacking units. Not sure of the reasoning.

[Justus2]

OK, thanks. I see after reviewing the stats again, Frigates have a Demoralization score, I assume this is what tells it to focus on the city?

[Platoonist]

Yeah, frigates can bombard a ground unit unprotected on a costal hex. They don't often accomplish much, but every little bit helps.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

As JAMiAM said, gunboats are your best bet against the forts.

Gunboats and River ships will always attack units in a targeted hex. Frigates and larger ships will attack a town or port first, and only have a 10% chance of hitting the unit inside.

- BNC

[Platoonist]

So I just did a Fort Pulaski take-down in my current solo game. I used the Federal gunboats Itasca and Michigan to knock the defense unit in the fort on Tybee Island to zero. Next turn I should get a DE asking me if I want to place a Union brigade on Fort Pulaski. Best answer is yes. You'll get a free (but immobile) unit there which blocks Savannah from pretty much ever being used for importing MPPs again. You don't need any marines to seal the deal.

Note that the nearby frigate Colorado in Beaufort can mount a probable 1:3 direct attack on the nearby defenses of Fort Walker as they are not situated in a fort or town but simply in a swamp hex with zero entrenchment value. Otherwise you would get the resource attack that frigates do instead.

Fort Pulaski Op.jpg (402.35 KiB) Viewed 1077 times

[Justus2]

Thank you, that makes things much clearer.

[Platoonist]

And here for reference is the no-brainer decision event on the next turn which follows the successful reduction of Pulaski. For 250 MPPs you never have to guard this particular Confederate mouse-hole again. Apparently, the unit isn't "free" as I thought, but it's placement is transport-cost free, instant, and in two installments of 125 MPPs it's still a bargain.

Fort Pulaski DE.jpg (308.46 KiB) Viewed 1061 times

[Reiver67]

Hi Platoonist

I love the ship counters - where did you get them?

[Justus2]

Thanks for the help, once I got the gunboats in place it worked like a charm! And I used the Marine unit and garrison Bde I had already loaded up to take Wilmington instead!

[Platoonist]

Hi Platoonist

I love the ship counters - where did you get them?

Oh, it was something I slapped together when I first got the game. The Scrabble tile look of the original Nato navy counters just wasn't cutting it for me. LOL. I've since replaced it with the kirk23 Blue and Grey mod.

[Bobo2025]

In the end, Gunboats are the ultimate weapon. Better for bombardment, better at combat, better at blockade and all that rock bottom prices.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

My opponent Gaming With The Colonel swarmed Fort Pulaski with 3 Frigates and and took it down. Talk about Lucky Strikes!
Here's a link to his video where he pulls this off. Obviously his odds are only 10% of hitting my fort https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97jv3t4dyfc&t=159s

Here's a link of the aftermath: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f50ERzJvRU&t=185s
I agreed not to watch his vids till we get deeper into the match for obvious reasons but one of my commenters (Dark Taboo) mentioned how lucky he was too, so I had to take a peek, all in the name of Science!

Here's a copy of his comments about this lol:
Dark Taboo, "'Hmmm...Well I think The Colonel got extremely lucky with his frigates taking down Fort Pulaski.
With out reveals he had a small chance per strike of actually hitting the fort. Frigates are designed to hit resources like towns. Gunboats hit combat units and forts better.
Yes...he got lucky!
Hmmm..update: .About those frigates. I tried to shell forts with frigates and it doesn't work out too well. Maybe the Colonel's cannoneers read Bible verses and anointed their cannon(balls) with holy water before firing away there outside Savannah in your match.
That place is ungodly anyways with all the voodoo, gambling, and whoring that goes on there. ♠"

[PvtBenjamin]

The Forts are far too weak, especially in key locations.

[OldCrowBalthazor]

The Forts are far too weak, especially in key locations.

I agree