What happens to ships in a coastal city when the city is taken, assuming that the ships were owned by the same civilization as the city itself?

Are they lost automatically, or is there a chance that the ships can escape from the captured city?

How about if the ships were owned by a different civilization?

What happens to ships in a coastal city when the city is taken, assuming that the ships were owned by the same civilization as the city itself?

Are they lost automatically, or is there a chance that the ships can escape from the captured city?
They are destroyed. Think Pearl Harbor.

How about if the ships were owned by a different civilization?
They stay if you have open borders, otherwise they are expelled.

Given the poor way in which the AI manages its navy it is unfortunate that the ships are destroyed. The AI seems to not realise this possibility and often loses its navy to a surprise attack and that is an easy way to get rid of a superior fleet. I think a better rule would be to expel any ships into any empty sea tile adjacent to the city perhaps inflicting 50% damage at the same time. So ships would not be destroyed unless the city was also blockaded by attacking ships and all sea tiles were occupied.

They are destroyed. Think Pearl Harbor.


They stay if you have open borders, otherwise they are expelled.


Thanks for the clarification.

They are destroyed. Think Pearl Harbor.



Pearl Harbor??

the city wasnt taken, the fleet was damaged as well as many other military buildings. There are obviously no parallel to be made with reality since things dont just dissappear in real life.

I think a better rule would be to expel any ships into any empty sea tile adjacent to the city perhaps inflicting 50% damage at the same time. So ships would not be destroyed unless the city was also blockaded by attacking ships and all sea tiles were occupied.

I don't think this would really solve the problem. Blocking all the water tiles around a city wouldn't be that hard and 50% damaged ships would just be some easy xp. for your fleet.

IMO the best solution would be to change the AI, so it doesn't keep his whole fleet in a single city, especially not when the city is under siege.