🚢 Naval Combat Guide: Holdfast: Nations at War

Naval combat in Holdfast: Nations At War focuses on realistic sailing mechanics, crew roles, and cannon ballistics from the Napoleonic era. Victory is achieved through coordinated teamwork, strategic sailing, and accurate broadsides to sink the enemy ship before they sink yours.

⚓ Ship Classes & Classifications

Ships in Holdfast: Nations At War are categorized by their size, firepower, maneuverability, and the number of tickets they cost in the Naval Battlefield game mode. Generally, the larger the ship, the more points the enemy team gains upon its destruction.

Vessel Statistics

Ship Type	Primary Role	Key Features & Armament	Sink Value (Points)
50-Gun Frigate	Line Ship / Flagship	Heavily armed with 18-pdr (lower deck) and 9-pdr (upper deck) cannons. Includes chase guns (forward/rear). Slowest turning, but most resilient.	300
13-Gun Brig-Sloop	Medium Cruiser	Balanced speed and armament. Features 6-pdr cannons and a powerful Carronade at the bow for close-range punch.	100
8-Gun Schooner	Light Cruiser / Escort	Fastest and most agile. Equipped with 4-pdr cannons and swivel guns. Its low profile makes it a difficult target to hit.	50
2-Gun Schooner	Artillery Ship	Features two 24-pdr long guns on rotating platforms (fore and aft). High range and damage, but very low crew capacity.	30
Rocketboat	Support	Features a single Rocket Launcher and swivel guns. Devastating at long range but extremely vulnerable to any return fire.	10

💨 Sailing Mechanics (The Captain's Role)

Sailing in Holdfast is a balancing act between wind direction and the specific sails you choose to deploy.

Updated Control Reference

Action	PC Control	Console Equivalent
Raise/Lower Specific Sails	`1` - `9` Keys	`Hold LB/L1` (Radial Menu)
Raise/Lower All Sails	`W` / `S`	D-Pad Up / Down
View Compass/Wind	`UI (Bottom Left)`	`UI (Bottom Left)`

Wind Direction & The Compass

Your primary tool for navigation is the Compass located in the bottom-left corner of the HUD. It displays a dotted line and an arrow indicating the wind's source.

Sailing "Large" (With the Wind): Position the wind at your stern (behind you) or broadside (to the side) for maximum speed.
Sailing "Close-Hauled" (Against the Wind): Steering directly into the wind arrow will cause your ship to lose momentum and eventually "iron" (stop completely). Larger ships like Frigates are more susceptible to this than smaller Brigs.

Sail Management

Different sails serve different tactical purposes. You can toggle individual sails to fine-tune your speed or turning circle.

Sail Type	Role	Best Usage
Square Sails	Power & Speed	The "engine" of the ship. Lower these when sailing with the wind for maximum thrust. Raise them when sailing against the wind to reduce drag.
Lateen Sails	Maneuverability	These triangular sails provide better agility. They are essential for maintaining some speed when you are forced to sail "close to the wind" (angled toward the wind source).

Summary of Tactical Sailing

Anticipate the Turn: Remember the Steering Delay. Because larger ships have significant mass, you must start your turn and adjust your sails before you reach your target heading.
Toggle Perspective: Use CTRL (PC) or R3 (Console) to switch to first-person at the wheel for precision steering in narrow channels, or third-person for broad situational awareness.
Manage the Crew: As Captain, use your voice or text commands to coordinate with your Cannoneers and Carpenters. A ship is only as fast as its sails and as buoyant as its hull repairs.

Captain's Tip: When engaging in a broadside duel, try to keep the wind at your "Quarter" (diagonally behind you). This gives you enough speed to maneuver while keeping your gun deck stable for the Cannoneers.

Steering

Larger ships (such as the 2-Decker or Frigate) possess significant mass. There is a noticeable delay between turning the wheel and the ship's actual change in heading.

Anticipation: Begin your turns well in advance of obstacles or intended broadside alignments.
Counter-Steer: To stop a turn, you must begin centering the wheel before you reach your desired heading.

While manning the wheel (the helm), your field of view is vital for avoiding collisions and aligning broadsides.

Third-Person View: Ideal for general navigation, checking the orientation of your sails, and tracking the movement of nearby friendly and enemy vessels.
First-Person View: Use CTRL (PC) or R3 (Console) to snap into first-person. This is highly effective for precise steering through narrow straits or lining up a perfect parallel line with an enemy ship for a broadside.

💣 Gunnery & Ammunition Mechanics

Effective gunnery requires close coordination with the Captain (to position the ship) and a thorough understanding of ammunition types and ballistics. Ammunition is reloaded from the Ammo Boxes located on the ship's deck.

Ammunition Types

Ammunition	Primary Effect	Target	Notes
Round Shot	High Hull Damage	Ship Hull	Standard cannonball. Best for sinking ships and destroying enemy artillery (cannons explode if hit while loaded).
Chain Shot	High Rigging Damage	Masts & Sails	Two balls connected by a chain. Deals minimal hull damage but is highly effective at demasting and crippling a ship's speed.
Grape Shot	Anti-Personnel	Crew on Deck	A bag of small pellets (like a giant shotgun). Devastating at close range against boarding parties. Does not damage the hull.

Tactical Gunnery

1. Strategic Target Selection

The "Crippling Blow": Use Chain Shot as your opening salvo if you are chasing a faster ship or being pursued by a larger one. Once the enemy is demasted, they lose the ability to turn, making them an easy target for Round Shot.
Counter-Battery Fire: Aim for the enemy's gun ports with Round Shot. If you hit a loaded cannon, it will explode, killing the nearby crew and permanently disabling that gun.
Sweeping the Decks: If an enemy ship is attempting to board or is "crossing your T" (sailing perpendicular across your bow), switch to Grape Shot to clear their top deck of Marines and the Captain.

2. Ballistics & Physics

Raking Fire: Firing into the bow (front) or stern (rear) of a ship is known as "raking." Because the shot travels the entire length of the ship rather than just the width, it causes significantly more damage to the crew and internal components.
Reload Efficiency: Cannoneers reload faster than any other class. If you have multiple people on a gun, ensure the Cannoneer is the one performing the "Load" and "Ram" actions to maximize your rate of fire.

3. The Captain-Gunner Bond

A great Captain will "turn into the recoil." As the gun deck fires a broadside, the ship will naturally rock. Communicating when a broadside is ready allows the Captain to stabilize the ship or turn to bring the opposite battery of fresh, loaded guns to bear.

Summary Checklist for Gunners

Check Range: Adjust elevation using W/S or the Left Thumbstick.
Select Ammo: Choose Round, Chain, or Grape based on the target's distance and health.
Fire & Observe: Use the Feedback Loop (Exit cannon and use Spyglass) to see where the shot landed.
Communicate: Tell the Captain when your side of the ship is "Hot" (loaded and ready) or "Dry" (reloading).

Aiming Tactics

Mastering the long-range cannons of a ship-of-the-line requires understanding trajectory, gravity, and perspective. Use the following guide to calibrate your shots effectively.

Control Reference

Action	PC Control	Console Equivalent
Adjust Elevation/Angle	`W` / `A` / `S` / `D`	Left Thumbstick / D-Pad
Exit Cannon	`E`	`B` (Xbox) / `Circle` (PS)
Use Spyglass / Interact	`F`	`X` (Xbox) / `Square` (PS)
Fire Cannon	`Left Click`	`Right Trigger` (RT/R2)

Key Tactics for Success

1. Angle & Elevation

Use your movement controls to adjust the cannon's position.

Horizontal (A/D or Left/Right): Align the barrel with the center of the enemy ship's hull.
Vertical (W/S or Up/Down): This determines your range. Even at "flat" angles, the cannonball will begin to drop almost immediately.

2. Compensating for Distance

Holdfast utilizes realistic projectile gravity.

Short Range (<100m): Aim directly at the waterline to cause leaks.
Long Range (250m+): You must aim significantly above the target. At extreme distances, the enemy ship may be completely obscured by your cannon barrel.

3. The "Notch" Sighting Method

The small notch on the top of the cannon barrel is your primary iron sight.

Standard Sighting: Line the top notch up with your target.
Extreme Elevation: For very long shots, lower the cannon barrel until the notch is below the target ship, allowing the ship to remain visible above the metal of the barrel. This prevents "blind firing" where the gun itself blocks your view of the impact.

4. The Feedback Loop (The "Quick Look")

To improve your accuracy, you must see where your previous shot landed. Because the smoke from the blast often obscures your view while mounted, use this sequence:

Fire the cannon.
Quickly Exit (E or Circle/B).
Equip Spyglass (F or X/Square) if playing as a Captain or Cannoneer.
Observe the splash. If the splash is in front of the ship, increase elevation. If it passes over the masts, decrease it.

🛠 Damage, Repair, and Boarding

Damage & Sinking

Damage is localized. Targeting specific areas of an enemy vessel can change the tide of battle:

Hull Damage: Creates leaks below the waterline. If not repaired, the ship fills with water and sinks.
Masts & Sails: Reduces or removes the ability to sail. A demasted ship is a sitting target.
Rudder Damage: Impairs the ship's ability to steer.

Crew Roles and Survival

Class	Naval Role	Essential Duty
Captain	Navigation	Steers the ship, manages sails, and coordinates broadsides.
Cannoneer	Gunnery	Musters ammo, rams, and fires cannons with increased speed.
Carpenter	Repair	Essential for fixing hull leaks using their specialized hammer.
Sailor / Marine	Manpower	Rigs sails and fights. Sailors swim better; Marines fight better.

Boarding and Retreat

When cannons aren't enough, close-quarters combat becomes necessary.

Rowboats: Available on larger ships (Frigates/Brigs). These can be deployed while the ship is stopped. Use them as lifeboats or for stealthy boarding actions (holds up to 7 crew).
Melee Combat: When boarding, the Sailor (Cutlass) and Marine (Musket/Bayonet) classes excel. The Cutlass provides faster swings in the cramped quarters of a ship's deck.

Naval Combat

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