Utility of Coastal fortifications

[Postertag]

Here are several questions, all related to the matter of coastal fortifications:
1. Besides suppressing revolts in foreign possessions, is it worth building them?
2. If so, which type and sizes?
3. Finally, how many should be built per possession, if any?

[Munster]

They are useful to help resist invasions, so I go with 1 x 6 inch

[Toblm]

1st your homeland cannot be invaded, severely limiting the usefulness of coastal guns there. Most of the US coast technically doesnt need coastal fortifications for example. (Maine being an exception)

I like putting pairs of 6in batteries in most territories.

I've found some value in putting larger batteries in territory one is concerned about being invaded but are important to force projection. (Usually large ports on SE Asia) The big batteries can make a serious mess of any landing force on the battle map. As well as delay invasion progress on the strategic map. The Philippines imo benefits strongly from a pair of turreted batteries in the 12+ in range. This being said, some of the coastal fortifications placement for some regions makes them nearly useless except as skirts to hide behind in certain engagements.

So I basically only build 6in batteries and 12in batteries, rarely anything else.

Something else coastal fortifications do is lay or project minefields, which are always handy to have around, but again more useful in some places than others.

[jbwjr]

Id say its always worth building a couple of Batteries. Besides preventing Revolts, Defensive Batteries also Lay minefields around where they spawn. Plus if the enemy tries to invade the province you get to reenact the D Day landings with "invasion" missions. (The batteries will sink the Transports as they come into range, unless the enemy escorting ships destroy them first)

Now for what its worth, these Gun Batteries probably won't help much in most battles less you retreat to the coast where they spawn. But at the same time i guess that also depends on how many you build, and Bigger guns does mean more Range.

As for how many to build and which ones to build, id say that is personal preference. I would say 6 inch to 12 inchs should be good for Most ships (should be able to hold off DDs and Most Cruisers). Anything bigger then that, your expecting to fight enemy Battleships or Battle Cruisers.

[Andrew Cree]

As well as the factors mentioned above:

The presence of permanent fortifications can trigger an invasion delay

The presence of fortifications can slow a conquest down

I've been told 4 sets of fortifications is sufficient for this assistance.

There also seems to be a good chance of fortifications spawning near coastal bombardment targets as well, which would be another reason to construct such units.