How do you get Naval Initiative?

[XLegion]

Wow, what a game!! But the frustration level is beginning to set in a bit because I have yet to see any Union leader get naval initiative for an amphibious invasion. I realize you have to be in a coastal square with troops and you just have to 'wait it out'.

But I have started and re-started several games now making it until about January of 1863 and I have never seen a Union commander able to do an amphibious invasion. How is this done? I have read the manual but how do I increase the chances of getting naval initiative since I have never seen it.

[Erik Rutins]

"To perform an amphibious assault a unit must be attached to a leader with initiative and either: 1) start the turn linked to a theatre commander with initiative, or 2) start the turn in the same area as an army commander with initiative. A leader with amphibious initiative will have waves under their red initiative arrow in the unit pop-up box."

In other words, the best way to get amphibious initiative is to keep your unit commanders in a coastal region with an Army Commander that can get initiative. This works fine for me. Unit commanders on their own will not get it.

[Joel Billings]

Unit commanders can get naval initiative on their own, but only if linked to a Theatre Commander with initiative. If you have an AC and TC in Washington, and have some depots there, you should see some of your leaders with amphib initiative. All it takes is the AC to get initiative, or if he doesn't, if the TC gets initiative there's a good chance at least one of your Unit Commanders will have amphib initiative.

[Bearcat2]

Evidently, in Washington, you also have to have a transport in Washington. I have had good success with unit cmdr's in New York, Philly,[with transport in river] Boston, as long as the TC isi n Washington.

[Joel Billings]

You don't need to have a transport in Washington to move strategically or amphibiously from Washington, just a transport in one of the adjacent water regions.