Coastal Forts

[Hobbes]

A quick question for anyone that may have the knowledge - should it be possible to send a Union fleet of Ironclads and transports along the coast from Norfolk into the Santee river avoiding the CSA guns at forts such as Clark, Macon and Fisher?

I just tried this and got hit by some of the forts along the way but not all.
Is this realistic? How far off shore could Ironclads safely move?

Would they be able to make a journey as long as this and then stay in the Santee river in support of an amphibious invasion for a month or two as they are able to in the game?

Cheers, Chris

[Jabberwock]

Fort Clark was captured early and would've been easy to bypass if it hadn't been captured. Fisher and Macon wouldv'e been easy to bypass. It should be no problem for a monitor to move down the coast from about 3-10 miles out in most weather with help from a tug. Many of the gunboats were converted tugs. Historically there was a union controlled harbor and refuelling station at Beaufort, SC and another at Fernandina, FL for most of the war. This may not be the case in your game. Before those harbors were captured, there were some long and frequent runs by supply ships.

[Hobbes]

Fort Clark was captured early and would've been easy to bypass if it hadn't been captured. Fisher and Macon wouldv'e been easy to bypass. It should be no problem for a monitor to move down the coast from about 3-10 miles out in most weather with help from a tug. Many of the gunboats were converted tugs. Historically there was a union controlled harbor and refuelling station at Beaufort, SC and another at Fernandina, FL for most of the war. This may not be the case in your game. Before those harbors were captured, there were some long and frequent runs by supply ships.

Thanks Jab, more realistically then fleets not in an aggressive posture should not be fired on by forts in coastal areas unless they are moving into or out of a river or estuary. I suppose there would have to be a new terrain of deep or coastal river to be able to do this.

Cheers, Chris

[Jabberwock]

That idea (new river terrain) is being bounced around a few threads.