Matrix Games Forums

Hi folks,

I am new in this game and there are some points that I cant understand.
The first and most serious one is naval warfare: I cant make significant damage with ships, only against other ships. But usually get big losses also. I cant attack enemy submarines well, most ships inflict 0 damag on them, but get some damage if attack. I also have no idea how convoy attack exactly works. Is it enough to send ships/subs to somewhre on the convoy routes? Or better sending them to the convoy's start or destination point? Maybe better to attack ports from where the convys start?
Is there any use of navy against land units/subs? I have a lot of ships with the Allies but cant use against land units also cos they just get damaged. Max. bombing some infantry to make them a bit more tired. Seems to me those ships are totally useless at least in early game.

You're not really going to inflict much damage to submarines with ships other than destroyers and even they don't really shine until their ASW tech improves. To raid a convoy route of its MPPs you don't have to be directly on it. Adjacent will do as well and your sub must be in "hunt" mode. A surface ship must be in "raid" mode. Attacking the convoy origin ports won't do anything. In terms of fleet composition, subs are best against capital ships and convoy routes, destroyers are very effective against subs and they in turn can be easily dispatched by capital ships. Carriers with their range and spotting advantages are the most lethal ships to have in your fleet if you can afford them. Usually the Allies can.

Surface naval units are of rather limited use against land units. They do best bombarding them when they are not in a port or town. However, they do inflict a minor amount of readiness and morals damage and pick up a smidgen of experience in the process. Carriers are more useful in this regard as they can fly escort over land areas as well as strike.

Naval warfare in this game has always been a bit strange. One unit per hex makes naval battles seem unhistorical when whole fleets fought in areas even smaller than the hexes in the game. Also, surface ships regardless of class can only attack an adjacent hex which means that a destroyer has the same range as a battleship.

ORIGINAL: urbanov4

Hi folks,

I am new in this game and there are some points that I cant understand.
The first and most serious one is naval warfare: I cant make significant damage with ships, only against other ships. But usually get big losses also. I cant attack enemy submarines well, most ships inflict 0 damag on them, but get some damage if attack. I also have no idea how convoy attack exactly works. Is it enough to send ships/subs to somewhre on the convoy routes? Or better sending them to the convoy's start or destination point? Maybe better to attack ports from where the convys start?
Is there any use of navy against land units/subs? I have a lot of ships with the Allies but cant use against land units also cos they just get damaged. Max. bombing some infantry to make them a bit more tired. Seems to me those ships are totally useless at least in early game.

Hi,

Early in the game subs are v difficult to damage. If you are playing as allied, you need to upgrade anti sub warfare ASAP. This makes a big difference later on.

However, maritime bombers eat subs for breakfast. Invest in some of these early on and the subs won't be so much of a problem in home waters.

Surface ship battles will result in major damage. Expect to win a battle and then ship your fleet back to repair/refit.

Thanks for answers, I thought, some tech might make it better, but its a bit misterious till I haven't finished a complete game (what I will try ). Otherwise, I like the game concept, Commander:The great war is one of my favourits. Its ww1 and more or less similar to this one, but sorrily, it is very unbalanced (with only aircraft bombing possible to make other side surrender).
I hope, this series is more balanced and offer different strategies to both sides.
Anyway, does somebody play the WW1 sequel? Is it better, or more or less the same on an other field and time period?

ORIGINAL: urbanov4

Or better sending them to the convoy's start or destination point? Maybe better to attack ports from where the convys start?

You can blockade a port by placing two ships adjacent to the port hex. The port loses 1 point per turn. Bring the convoy source to 0 and it stops the convoy. If you gain naval superiority in the East, you can deprive Japan of the oil in the East Indies.

That tactic can be used against any port, not only convoy sources.

I believe if you drop the port below 4 the convoy is cut off. Note you can bombard it as well if you wish.

Blockades are excellent. South Africa, Australia, New Zealand is easy enough in the early years.