Post by Deleted on Jan 30, 2015 23:50:03 GMT
This era is one of infantile globalised economies, as trade routes open up increasingly diverse and far flung markets, and overseas empires tap into the wealth of the New World and India, overseas trade has become increasingly important to the economies of almost all European nations. Naturally, the value of maintaining a strong navy, which ensures access to and protection of this trade has increased exponentially. A strong navy is not just a military tool, it is a diplomatic and economic tool and even a domestic tool, there to be used by an imaginative and entrepreneurial player. People grumbling over the prospect of an overseas war? Why not splash out on a fleet review to whip up patriotic favour. Those with navies can truly make the world their oyster, but navies also have specific wartime tasks:
Blockade:
A highly disruptive form of economic warfare, a fleet that is blockading an area can deny the target nation its trade and colonial income, potentially derailing its economy. Those under blockade will also suffer an unrest penalty in its coastal areas, depending on how important trade is to the national economy as people lose their livelihoods. Nations under completely blockade will also be unable to interact with their colonies nor embark on overseas campaigns. A colony that gets blockaded over a sustained period and gets no relief the mother country will seek a separate peace with its blockader, with all the attendant consequences. The blockader, like a besieger, is vulnerable to a concentrated attack from the outside given that they will be spread across the coast. However, if the blockader has expressed the intention of bringing an enemy to battle, it will not suffer that penalty should a blockaded fleet sally forth. Naturally, the larger the blockading force the more effective the blockade is, eventually the number of ships partaking in the blockade will reach a point where no further ships need to be committed, it has reached 100% efficiency. Finally, any military vessel can blockade, just be aware of the ships weaknesses and suitability when undertaking such a venture.
Interdiction of sea lanes:
Also known as guerre de course, this strategy is ideal for nations whose navies are smaller than their potential opponents and is best executed by frigates. Interdiction can target a nation’s overseas trade whereby the interdictor can seize a small portion of enemy overseas trade income through the capture and sale of merchant shipping of an enemy. However, interdiction is vulnerable to being shut down by a sizeable blockade or to destruction by a large patrol.
Patrol:
The staple role of frigates, patrol ensures that trade arrives unimpeded and ensures that merchantmen are protected. This is a way in which states can defend against guerre de course and remain vigilant against invasion. Frigates that are patrolling are also in a better position to defend transport ships which are undergoing supply operations. There is a risk with this method, however, the patrolling force could be vulnerable to a substantial battle fleet.
Battle posture:
The fleet manoeuvres as a large force to deliver a Mahanian decisive battle and thus gain command of the sea, or lose it entirely. The rules that govern a sea battle are the same as those which govern land battles. Once again, numbers of ships, types of ships involved and power ratings are important. Like in land battles and perhaps even more important in this instance, is the importance of naval organisation. This governs the ability of commanders to execute complicated fleet actions in the midst of battle, the ability of captains to fight in a manner which is independent but also complimentary to the overall battle, it also governs the quality of the sailors involved. Naval organisation does not just decide battles that are otherwise narrow, it plays an integral part of any engagement which should not be disregarded. Random events under control of the admins will also be important and perhaps decisive in a naval engagement. The most important of this is the weather. The weather can make naval engagements difficult or downright confusing, these events can range from stormy seas (which could well sink ships) to heavy fog (which can lead to embarrassing friendly fire occurrences or navigation issues). Several things can happen to ships during naval battles. First, ships can obviously sink, thus ending their ability to fight in the battle. Secondly, ships can break off from the engagement and no longer play a role in the fighting, this could either be due to a break in moral, or extreme damage done to the ship. Thirdly, ships can surrender. This situation allows the victor to make a few choices. A captured ship can be scuttled, thus leading it to be sunk. Or it can be towed back to port where it can be converted into a fighting ship to be used by victor, essentially a free unit. Or the ship can be sold for half its purchasing price, bringing in income for the nation.
Transport and supply:
This is an essential role for any nation fighting an overseas campaign. Firstly, the transporting of units is essential to get the overseas campaign underway to begin with. Dedicated transport ships can carry 1,000 troops at a time and land them in the desired area. From that point onwards these ships will then dedicated themselves to ferrying supplies back and forth to the army, these ships will need to be escorted for if they get attacked by a fleet and defeated the supply line will be severed.
Gunboat diplomacy:
This is the use of naval force to achieve economic, political or indeed wider military ends (ie. Forcing a state to remain neutral, make economic concessions.). Gunboat diplomacy is a very useful tool against NPC nations in trying to get them to make concessions. However, gunboat diplomacy does not have to be an act of war, players will have to remain aware that gunboat diplomacy is fundamentally about the way that the victim interprets it. This interpretation might lead to concessions, or it could lead to an opening of hostilities. As such, this form of naval power is allot more RP centric than the others, players will have to make it clear what they want out of such an action and how they go about doing it. With gunboat diplomacy, the devil is very much in the detail.
Blockade:
A highly disruptive form of economic warfare, a fleet that is blockading an area can deny the target nation its trade and colonial income, potentially derailing its economy. Those under blockade will also suffer an unrest penalty in its coastal areas, depending on how important trade is to the national economy as people lose their livelihoods. Nations under completely blockade will also be unable to interact with their colonies nor embark on overseas campaigns. A colony that gets blockaded over a sustained period and gets no relief the mother country will seek a separate peace with its blockader, with all the attendant consequences. The blockader, like a besieger, is vulnerable to a concentrated attack from the outside given that they will be spread across the coast. However, if the blockader has expressed the intention of bringing an enemy to battle, it will not suffer that penalty should a blockaded fleet sally forth. Naturally, the larger the blockading force the more effective the blockade is, eventually the number of ships partaking in the blockade will reach a point where no further ships need to be committed, it has reached 100% efficiency. Finally, any military vessel can blockade, just be aware of the ships weaknesses and suitability when undertaking such a venture.
Interdiction of sea lanes:
Also known as guerre de course, this strategy is ideal for nations whose navies are smaller than their potential opponents and is best executed by frigates. Interdiction can target a nation’s overseas trade whereby the interdictor can seize a small portion of enemy overseas trade income through the capture and sale of merchant shipping of an enemy. However, interdiction is vulnerable to being shut down by a sizeable blockade or to destruction by a large patrol.
Patrol:
The staple role of frigates, patrol ensures that trade arrives unimpeded and ensures that merchantmen are protected. This is a way in which states can defend against guerre de course and remain vigilant against invasion. Frigates that are patrolling are also in a better position to defend transport ships which are undergoing supply operations. There is a risk with this method, however, the patrolling force could be vulnerable to a substantial battle fleet.
Battle posture:
The fleet manoeuvres as a large force to deliver a Mahanian decisive battle and thus gain command of the sea, or lose it entirely. The rules that govern a sea battle are the same as those which govern land battles. Once again, numbers of ships, types of ships involved and power ratings are important. Like in land battles and perhaps even more important in this instance, is the importance of naval organisation. This governs the ability of commanders to execute complicated fleet actions in the midst of battle, the ability of captains to fight in a manner which is independent but also complimentary to the overall battle, it also governs the quality of the sailors involved. Naval organisation does not just decide battles that are otherwise narrow, it plays an integral part of any engagement which should not be disregarded. Random events under control of the admins will also be important and perhaps decisive in a naval engagement. The most important of this is the weather. The weather can make naval engagements difficult or downright confusing, these events can range from stormy seas (which could well sink ships) to heavy fog (which can lead to embarrassing friendly fire occurrences or navigation issues). Several things can happen to ships during naval battles. First, ships can obviously sink, thus ending their ability to fight in the battle. Secondly, ships can break off from the engagement and no longer play a role in the fighting, this could either be due to a break in moral, or extreme damage done to the ship. Thirdly, ships can surrender. This situation allows the victor to make a few choices. A captured ship can be scuttled, thus leading it to be sunk. Or it can be towed back to port where it can be converted into a fighting ship to be used by victor, essentially a free unit. Or the ship can be sold for half its purchasing price, bringing in income for the nation.
Transport and supply:
This is an essential role for any nation fighting an overseas campaign. Firstly, the transporting of units is essential to get the overseas campaign underway to begin with. Dedicated transport ships can carry 1,000 troops at a time and land them in the desired area. From that point onwards these ships will then dedicated themselves to ferrying supplies back and forth to the army, these ships will need to be escorted for if they get attacked by a fleet and defeated the supply line will be severed.
Gunboat diplomacy:
This is the use of naval force to achieve economic, political or indeed wider military ends (ie. Forcing a state to remain neutral, make economic concessions.). Gunboat diplomacy is a very useful tool against NPC nations in trying to get them to make concessions. However, gunboat diplomacy does not have to be an act of war, players will have to remain aware that gunboat diplomacy is fundamentally about the way that the victim interprets it. This interpretation might lead to concessions, or it could lead to an opening of hostilities. As such, this form of naval power is allot more RP centric than the others, players will have to make it clear what they want out of such an action and how they go about doing it. With gunboat diplomacy, the devil is very much in the detail.