Napoleon Cannons useless? Or better strategies to employ?

[omfgthepizzaman]

It may just be how I'm using these bad boys but their stats would make one believe they are peerless in the field. From my experience however, this is hardly the case... almost to the point that they seem to be the worst guns I've ever employed. Even in full 24 gun Brigades, it seems like they aren't all that useful. I'm aware that each cannon has various attributes like accuracy or are more effective at long range, short range etc... so how can i use these cannons more efficiently? Or should I just bypass them altogether?

[GeneralPITA]

They're a mid-tier gun and one could say Napoleons underperform, another might say howitzers overperform. I'd posit the latter.

Besides, I can easily rack up 2,000 kills with Napoleons. I don't think any cannon in history has achieved such carnage in real life.

[ruoste]

Napoleons excel in close range engagements, position them to the frontline, spread between infantry units and hold fire at max range. When the enemy unit is within 1/3 or so of the gun's range, they shoot canisters which rip apart units in no time.

My artillery Div's usually have couple of Napoleons for close range work and then a battery or two of 20pdr Parrots for longer range bombardment. (When you can't get Tredegars which are OP!)

[Ashantai]

Placing them just behind your infantry line - preferably in cover - allows them to blast enemies which attack. In that case they can be devastating.

[apocal43]

One thing I occasionally struggle with is remembering to keep pushing the Napoleons up as I advance my infantry. There is a temptation to leave a lot of pieces just firing, firing, firing since they are doing good damage with shells, but Napoleons really need to be using canister to keep up with the larger howitzers.

[omfgthepizzaman]

Ah okay, this makes sense. I've slowly been realizing that Napoleons are better close range guns but I never really get to see them in action as I tend to not let enemy brigades come anywhere near my cannons. Personally, after playing the battle of Fredericksburg, I can agree with the idea that Howitzers are insanely op. Maybe slowing down how fast they fire would be a good nerf for them... maybe just a little less damage.

[RackemWillie]

Napoleons seem to best used offensively advancing with infantry to lay down close support or right on your defensive line to fire canister.

Are the 24lb howitzers better at this? Yes. But the Napoleons are way cheaper and available in way larger numbers. On Antietam, I've had several batteries of 10-12 rack up 2k+ kills.

Personally, I use them in areas too sketchy to risk 24lbers.

[Rafnec]

Found this nice video about Napoleons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_iDWJ7gbIU

[omfgthepizzaman]

Definitely a cool one!

[Rafnec]

No problem - since I play the game I'm constantly looking for videos about the weapons used by he units and there is a lot interesting stuff on YouTube :) t