Possible to form squadrons?

[briny_norman]

I see there are several squadrons of ships (e.g. the various atlantic squadrons) available to the union player - but I can't seem to form any squadrons myself.
Is it even possible to form squadrons - apart from the blockade squadrons you can build?

[Hobbes]

Hi Briny, you can't form squadrons yourself. Naval units come with one or more elements. All you can do is stack the units together as a fleet - and possibly put and Admiral inside the stack to command.

Cheers, Chris

[briny_norman]

Okay - thanks!

[Doomwalker]

Briny, there are two Union blockade squadrons that you can add elements to. One is the 6 element NE Squadron and the other is the 4 element NY squadron. (Note: the names may not be exactly correct) One forms in New York the other in Boston. You can add elements to both squadrons to get them up to 10 element size.

I tend to use the single element brigs and frigates to fill them up. They can each hold one more Steam frigate, and any amount of brigs and frigates to get you to 10.

As far as forming any other squadrons, I believe you can add to the Atlantic and Gulf blockade squadrons. Plus any new blockade squadrons that you build. Just remember that each will hold 10 elements.

[Jabberwock]

Those squadrons can hold 2 heavy warships (Steam or Armored Frigates work best), and 8 light warships (Frigates, Brigs, Blockade Ships). You can put light warships into the heavy warship slots, but the idea is to get more firepower/blockade value, and filling up on LWs (especially brigs) wastes that potential.

Don't use monitors or ironclads in your second HW slot. The original frigates keep Blockade squadrons out of shallow water, monitors and ironclads will keep them out of the ocean, making the entire squadron useless except as coastal fort-bait. Ironclads slow them down as well.

Regular Frigates are the best blue-water blockaders. A second Steam Frigate gives the squadron real backbone, leaving the Armored Frigates free to use as enforcers.

[briny_norman]

Great info, thank you!
Somebody said in a post that the naval part of this game is a small game in itself - and it really is, if you take the time to get into the details.