Sun Aug 28, 2011 9:40 pm
I believe the following is good info.
• Ports: Ports provide shelter for ships and if of sufficient size generate Supplies unless blockaded. Like cities, they have different size Levels (1 to 20) indicated by the dark blue box with a figure on the left-hand side. Fleets in Ports cannot be attacked. On the map, naval Units inside a Port are not displayed, but instead are indicated by a light blue box below the Port level box. Click on the Port basin to access the naval Units. Ports start as or can be upgraded to any of four categories:
o Anchorage: The most basic Level 1 Port, it generates 2 General Supply and provides ships with shelter from weather or naval attack. It does not require any Military Control to establish. An Anchorage upgrades to a Coaling Station.
o Coaling Station: Functions as an Anchorage but generates 4 General Supply and also provides refueling for naval Units, extending their range. It does not require any Military Control to establish. A Coaling Station upgrades to a Harbor.
o Harbor: A Harbor provides the benefits of a Coaling Station, can also repair existing ships and build new ones, and pulls, generates, and forwards Supplies.
o Naval Base: An expensive upgrade adding military facilities to a Harbor. These added naval yards, naval warehouses, and machine plants accelerate construction of naval Units and are also required to build late-game advanced warships.
A Port that is a Harbor or Naval Base can be extended in size from Level 1 up to Level 20, which proportionally increases generation of Supplies at that port, increases overall riverine transport capacity (for supplies or troops) by 1per level, repair speed, and total build weight that may be under construction. Shipyards located in ports may also spontaneously produce transport replacements, or a new Merchant Fleet using replacements if excess replacements accumulate. Large Naval Bases can have great strategic importance in both peace and war.