Fleet & Ship Capture

[Russian Guard]

Was this a known quantity?

I've been playing England alot the last week.

Spain laid siege to Gibraltar, and I reacted by sending down an Army (via fleet) to oppose it.

The troops debarked and fought and defeated the Spanish, who retreated inland (can't remember the name of the province, it's due north of Gibraltar - Andalusia or some such).

Anyway I pursued the defeated Spanish Army into said Spanish province, and defeated them again. I hadn't even noticed, but there was no garrison there, and the Province immediately was striped as conquered by England.

BUT - the French and Spanish fleets that were in the port in that Province, were immediately turned to British color and were now mine to control. I have been happily sailing around the "Villeneuve" fleet and "Spanish" fleet for a number of months now.

Is this expected behavior? Will these fleets remain under English control even if the Spanish surrender to England at a later date?

[jimwinsor]

Oh yeah, "cutting out" expeditions, a very good way to build your navy. The "British 1805" strategy section in the rule book mentions this feature as well, so it is as designed.

[Russian Guard]

Excellent - thx. I suspected this was working as intended, but wanted to make sure.

[ericbabe]

Fleets in captured provinces should escape to sea unless they are blocked by an enemy fleet, in which case they are captured by the player who successfully besieged the province.

[Russian Guard]

Yes I had Cadiz blockaded, so it worked perfectly.

[carnifex]

I hadn't even noticed, but there was no garrison there,

there probably was but the AI used it in the field battle

[Russian Guard]

Thx, yes, that's surely the case. I had been sure there was a garrison there...