Tow Ropes/Towing

[3rdguards]

Apologies, if this has been brought up before, but I've, yet to see the thread, and figured, why not bring it up again.

 

Towing from what I've read, was quite common of sailing ships of this era, typically of disabled or captured line ships and frigates, but also of others. 

 

In game, this would allow disabled ships to remain relevant in the fight, (or at least get to it), but also to allow them to be towed to safety.

 

how i think it would work;

 

Ships would have to get close to each other to throw the line across, this would be done in a similar manner as boarding or assigning crew, both ships should be traveling less than 5 or so knts, and the ship being towed must accept the line, I.E. by pressing lets says B, but it could be any key, in turn the tower would have to offer it, and would have to build up prep to do it (it'd be a short timer, but should still need to be done I think so that you can't just slap a line across in no time at all) Once attached, both ships would have a shared escape timer, and only the tower can escape, I.E. the one being towed can't just disappear from battle, without his buddy towing him also leaving. additionally because whoever is towing, will have to tow, well another ship, speed will be greatly reduced, but as to how much I think would have to be calculated based, on weight, sail condition, sails of tow ship, sails (if any) of tow-e etc.

 

 

 

[Anolytic]

I'm not quite sure how relevant this would be to implement in the game. Although I see some uses for it like towing demasted SOLs as gunplatforms or dragging a prize or a friend away from battle.

Anyway, I like your idea.

[3rdguards]

I'm not quite sure how relevant this would be to implement in the game. Although I see some uses for it like towing demasted SOLs as gunplatforms or dragging a prize or a friend away from battle.

Anyway, I like your idea.

 

yes, I thought of this because in a battle against Pirates, there was a large explosion that took out the masts of several surronding ships, including mine

 

 

As you can see, I am the black and white Victory in the back, in this situation i had already used my sail repair and was stuck like that, going 1.1 knts, had someone been able to tow me, i would've potentially be able to rejoin the battle in some capacity, or even escape with some dignity, I can see this being used if/when the put land in port battles, as you can tow disabled ships and use them almost like block ships at the harbor entrance.

[Sea Archer]

Historically ships were towed after the battle to bring them back to port, but never brought in a battle.

Towing a ship takes the Towing out of action, which is not good. It is first fight and then clean up the mess.

Towing ships after action in a port is a possible option, but a really boring one.

[Slamz]

On 10/3/2016 at 6:57 PM, Sea Archer said:

Historically ships were towed after the battle to bring them back to port, but never brought in a battle.

Towing a ship takes the Towing out of action, which is not good. It is first fight and then clean up the mess.

Towing ships after action in a port is a possible option, but a really boring one.

I was just reading the Glorious First of June battle and noticed they did towing in the battle. Lineships can apparently call for a frigate to come help them. The frigate can bring its firepower but in a lineship battle I believe frigates generally stayed out of it unless called upon specifically to help.

The Bellerphon (a 3rd rate) called up the Latona (a 5th rate) and got a tow during combat as the Bellerphon had been demasted and wanted to get out of the fight.

This would be pretty useful in PvP too -- calling up a smaller ship to throw on tow lines and at least help get a demasted ship pointed in a better direction, either to keep fighting or to tow it out of danger.

It might be late in development for such a big mechanical addition to the game, though.

[Hethwill, the Red Duke]

While it is a cool idea ( Tow cables, Arma style ) ain't needed, honestly. You see what a 74 guns can do to a frigate atm in the testbed, imagine a line of ships of the line and trying to be a frigate setting up a tow while all the "total war" captains out there training the guns at the poor thing ...

[DeRuyter]

Towing was also used on the Great Lakes in the War of 1812 to tow slower sailing converted merchant schooners into battle.