Naval Battles - How doe they work, really?

[unmerged(364820)]

I'm curious what we know about how naval battles work. Assume a British fleet of five ships attacks a French fleet of five ships. There are both "Big ships" and frigates in both stacks. How does the AI select which unit to attack, how the attack will proceed, and which unit to ignore? I'm assuming positioning has something to do with some of this.

I've done a few tests today and I'm noticing a kind of pattern. Once one of my ships (I'm the British ships) starts to take damage, the other ships in the stack are either ignored or don't take any damage at all. I end up losing a ship or two - almost always the same one, even if I replay the battle from a save - while my other ships take no damage at all.

Meanwhile, in the French stack, I notice that when a ship gets down to between 1 and 10%, it seems to stop taking damage. It's as if the AI moves the ship out of danger so as not to loose it, and other ships start to take damage. My navy doesn't do that.

Playing as Great Britain, I still end up losing only 1 or 2 ships while the AI looses 2 or 3 - but then the rest of the navy slips away to a port, making it impossible for me to destroy the navy.

I'm speculating that it has something to do with where the ship is in a stack and positioning, as well obvious factors like the ship's stats, but for one ship or two ships to take damage and others to be completely ignored - or to simply take no damage - seems odd. Also, it seems to be the third or fourth ship in the stack that takes the damage.

Any thoughts on this?

 

[Fede248]

I only know that my 40 russian ships cant beat 3 british ones...

 

[balooooooo]

I only know that my 40 russian ships cant beat 3 british ones...

You just have to be patient. Play past the end date until the British decide they need a larger land army. They completely disband the Royal Navy to fund it and never quite cotton on why they can't be moved anywhere. Then, my friend, the world is your oyster, ha, ha (evil laugh)

 

[Seelmeister]

I haven't had much experience of naval warfare yet in the game. As Prussia I learned quickly that naval ideas are important - Denmark obliterated my fleet in a battle where the navies and leaders were relatively closely matched.

As France, I've not really made a real go of lifting the UK's blockades yet, apart from in the Mediterrenean. I had to send my fleet out to open the strait between Italy and Sicily, and managed to pick of three British ships and sink the Sicilian fleet with minimal losses. I have also twice lifted the blockade of my ports in the south - the British fleets are generally isolated here and so you can afford to engage. I've found that a slight numerical and ship quality advantage has so far been enouh to ensure that I sink more ships than I lose, although it's usually only a ship or two difference.

This has all taken place inside the first four game years, and I think without choosing a single naval idea. I'll have to start paying closer attention to the damage taken, as I'd like to have a go against the main British fleets soon

 

[SAS]

I have beat many British ships by picking them off one by one as they sail around Brest.

 

[unmerged(703992)]

I have beat many British ships by picking them off one by one as they sail around Brest.

That's the very same tactic I'm using currently. I have 3 10 ship fleets based in Brest and Quimper, you can ambush with one fleet and if it's going badly get it out of the fight and another in before the Brits can sail away. It's 1815 in my game Britain now has a marginally smaller fleet than France, most of my admirals have been lucky enough to get combat boosts and I reckon in another year to two France shall rule the waves. In the meantime hit and run, while building up and always always withdraw as early as possible if it's going badly (better 1 month to repair than 8 months to build).

 

[Thanik]

Meanwhile, in the French stack, I notice that when a ship gets down to between 1 and 10%, it seems to stop taking damage. It's as if the AI moves the ship out of danger so as not to loose it, and other ships start to take damage. My navy doesn't do that.

I agree that low morale ships / units are harder target due to some kind of retreating in battle to avoid losses, or they got lower priority to attack.

Playing as Great Britain, I still end up losing only 1 or 2 ships while the AI looses 2 or 3 - but then the rest of the navy slips away to a port, making it impossible for me to destroy the navy.

1. I often land Wellington with army, and try to capture port -> and french/spanish navy go to other province to get better losses ratio.,nice thing when enemy got less garrison in city, or got army far away.
Anyway fighting against AI is hard thing, due to their annoying tactics



P.S. It is hard to tell how exactly naval battles work, becouse GB have all things to win -> morale, leaders and ideasm so when you guys have more experience with non GB naval battles please share with us.