Launching an invasion on New Orleans

[rasnell]

I turn to my French spy, Pocus, and other rogues of the beta team, to advise my Union generals of the best strategy for attacking New Orleans.

I control nothing in the region. What are important tips for launching a beach landing, taking a heavily fortified port and getting through all of the Naval defenses that are likely?

Do I need to bombard and take the small forts leading up the mouth of the Mississippi to New Orleans are can I land at the swamp and try to get to New Orleans by land? Will artillery move in swamp?

Any info would be helpful.

[dinsdale]

I formed an infantry division, plus a few Marine regiments and sent them by sea under Pope. Didn't bombard, just ordered the landing and assault and the city fell immediately.

Since then though, the Confederates have been attacking almost every turn to try and take it back. I've snuck reinforcements in and am able to hold the city, but I've made no advance on any of the forts.

I'm completely boxed in as the Confderates seem to have plenty of troops in the surrounding areas, so it looks as though the only course of action is to hold on and hope that I bleed Rebel troops away from more productive use.

I set my fleets to evade when leaving or entering the area around NO.

[geronimo]

hmm were not forts with guns supposed to prevent fleet forcing in some scale: damage or move interdiction?

[caranorn]

Oh the Forts do just that, I had my invasion Fleet shot up a bit just moving from Fort Monroe to my staging base at Fort Pickens. Another lesson learned, don't use iron clads to provide your firepower to suppress those Forts, they will end up pretty worn from having to cruise off all the Forts along the way (ironclads being river going can only sail through coastal waters).

I definitely plan to assault at least one of the two river Forts first (it seems to be a safer approach to go through the Mississippi (the Confederates would have to march through the swamp to retake the Forts) rather then the bay.). But right now I'm still only at the buildup phase as my ships have to recover (those in good shape are currently providing defensive fire for Fort Pickens).

[Charleson]

I'm planning a dropping a corps sized stack on the Big Easy, though I hope to include an army HQ in it to avoid the independent detachment penalties. I'll let you all know how it turns out.

[rasnell]

Thanks, spies. I'm getting ready to go in. Need to build up the force and get everything coordinated.

[caranorn]

You know you can form a Corps back out East, load it on ships (or at least load ships onto the Corps), move down South and still have a working corps? Of course you won't get support from your Army commander, but you will have unrestricted Command.

[Rafiki]

That's gamey, I'd say

IMO, a corps should loose its status as a corps and revert to being an independant command if it ventures too far away from its army for too long.

(The values of "too far" and "too long" are probably open for debate, though)

[Pocus]

this is why we prefer to be lenient on the issue. This was taken into account during design though

[Charleson]

You know you can form a Corps back out East, load it on ships (or at least load ships onto the Corps), move down South and still have a working corps? Of course you won't get support from your Army commander, but you will have unrestricted Command.

Actually, I did not know that Caranorn. I thought I started paying command penalties when I got outside the command radius of my army's supreme general.

Well, the army has already been formed and is heading south for New Orleans as we speak.

[dinsdale]

hmm were not forts with guns supposed to prevent fleet forcing in some scale: damage or move interdiction?

I've not noticed any problems sneaking into and out of NO through the CSA forts.

[mayonaise]

i created a whole army with 2 corp and have been raiding up and down the costs capturing forts and cities. unfortunately i spent so much resources on doing this that i'm currently getting it handed to me in pennsylvania. ive got superior numbers knocking on washingtons door leure:

[Carrington]

This raises the question: how many corps can an army/army's leader create? Do corps that have moved outside the army's range still count against this limit?

[Pocus]

yes they are not dimissed for simplicity sake. You can form at least 6 corps or 3 + strat rating.

[freeboy]

If as teh Union we are taking NO, why notsimply drop down with Grant after Vickberg? seems you are going to split the south, and use your supperior fleet/river.. why invade?

[Rafiki]

Because you can probably do it a lot sooner by invading from the sea rather than sailing down the river.

[Grotius]

Since you mentioned sailing down the river, I suppose that's the only reasonable way to move Grant south now that I've got him in Memphis? I have to manually load him onto my riverine transports and do an amphibious landing somewhere, right? Or can I give him an enemy port as a destination at which to "disembark"?

[jam3]

Its historical considering Farragut took New Orleans in April of 62'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Orleans_in_the_Civil_War

Maybe you can succeed in taking Vicksburg by driving up from New orleans (which Farragut tried and failed at doing).

[Jagger]

i created a whole army with 2 corp and have been raiding up and down the costs capturing forts and cities. unfortunately i spent so much resources on doing this that i'm currently getting it handed to me in pennsylvania. ive got superior numbers knocking on washingtons door leure:

So is anyone else capturing forts??

I just tried three attacks over a month and half against Fort Morgan outside Mobile with strong division sized forces. It isn't working.

I am assuming assaults are not the way to capture forts or I need much larger forces. Anybody having luck with assaults or are sieges the best method??

[Jabberwock]

So is anyone else capturing forts??

Queeg? Runyan? Anyone?

[Jagger]

I am thinking you can probably starve out a fort fairly easily. Assuming an invasion, you would have troops on the land side already and then put some blockading ships on all surrounding water regions. If the garrison doesn't have a supply wagon, they would probably starve in 2 or 3 months.

Or if in a hurry, use a couple brigades with 4 siege batteries. The coastal forts have a 22 power infantry garrison, a regular artillery battery and a coastal battery. So 4 siege batteries should give a significant bonus to the siege roll. One breach counts a complete destruction of the fort benefit and then a quick assault should overwhelm the garrison.

I think the solution is to bypass the forts first and establish a large land force in a good harbor/city. Establish a supply depot. Use navy and a small, dedicated infantry/siege artillery force to completely isolate the garrison and then siege. If the fort is breached, then assault. If a breach isn't achieved, then starvation should take them out in two to three months-sooner or later.

All this is theoretical. I know assaults aren't giving me good results.

[Hobbes]

I am thinking you can probably starve out a fort fairly easily. Assuming an invasion, you would have troops on the land side already and then put some blockading ships on all surrounding water regions. If the garrison doesn't have a supply wagon, they would probably starve in 2 or 3 months.

Or if in a hurry, use a couple brigades with 4 siege batteries. The coastal forts have a 22 power infantry garrison, a regular artillery battery and a coastal battery. So 4 siege batteries should give a significant bonus to the siege roll. One breach counts a complete destruction of the fort benefit and then a quick assault should overwhelm the garrison.

I think the solution is to bypass the forts first and establish a large land force in a good harbor/city. Establish a supply depot. Use navy and a small, dedicated infantry/siege artillery force to completely isolate the garrison and then siege. If the fort is breached, then assault. If a breach isn't achieved, then starvation should take them out in two to three months-sooner or later.

All this is theoretical. I know assaults aren't giving me good results.

Won't the artillery you mention be fixed in place? Don't forget that a fort will still only allow a small number of the enemy's troops the frontage to attack even when breached.

Cheers, Chris

[Le Ricain]

Jagger has the right idea. Use a division with arty and supply to lay siege to the fort. I have not used siege arty, but the idea makes sense. Blockade the fort with your fleets. Within two or three months, one of three things usually happens:

1) The fort starves and surrenders.
2) The fort is breached and you can attack with your division.
3) The fort's garrison attacks you.

The captured fort supplies its own garrison and so you move to the next fort.

[Rafiki]

The trouble with Fort Pickens, is that the CSA will need 12 units of ships to blockade the two sea zones its harbor has exits to. Is that something the CSA can spare (or even assemble in that area) early in the war?

[Jagger]

Won't the artillery you mention be fixed in place? Don't forget that a fort will still only allow a small number of the enemy's troops the frontage to attack even when breached.

Cheers, Chris

Which artillery, Chris? The garrison's siege and regular artillery is fixed until attacked. Once captured, I believe both can be moved if you want to evacuate or raze the fort. While siege artillery is mobile.

Without the fort bonus, an assault would be like attacking a small regiment plus artillery battery in, I assume, the terrain of the region. They shouldn't put up much of a fight once a breach is achieved.

I am thinking a minimum seige force of a brigade would do the job assuming the beseiging force can't be attacked by a relieving force.

I don't think taking forts will be a quick project unless a breach is achieved.