Landing craft in Siddermark?

I've been rereading HFaF, MTaT, and LaMA in preparation for reading HFQ. and ran across a little item that I hadn't noticed before.
In MTaT, on pp. 165-170 of the hardbound American edition, Merlin and Howsmyn are discussing the possibility of armoring and arming motorized canal barges for use as river armorclads, and considering how seaworthy they would be en route to Siddermark. In considering this, Merlin says: "Garboards or leeboards to give the hulls more effective depth, for example, like we used on the landing craft we took to Corisande and the ones Dustyn is running up for Siddermark." (the italics are mine)
My question is this: what is Siddermark going to use landing craft for? Why would they need them?I don't remember running across any reference to an amphibious operation planned or conducted by Siddermark in MTaT or LaMA (or in what we've seen of HFQ so far).
Is this some little hint dropped casually by HE WHO PULLS THE STRINGS that he plans to drop some amphibious operation on us further down the line. I've always held that an army landing near Zion in Temple Bay could capture the city and the Temple (remember, the only troops in the area of Zion are the Temple Guards; Clyntahn, in his paranoia, has never allowed any regular army troops to be stationed near the city).
Any ideas as to whether this quote has any significance?
Philip Stanley

It's possible that, at that point in time, Merlin and Howsmyn (and the rest of the powers-that-be in Charis) simply did not know how exactly will the war in Siddarmark play out.

If the combined Desnair/Dohlar army managed to penetrate deeper along the south side of Siddarmark, and to survive there, even to fortify in some places, landing ICA troops somewhere along the shore would have been a reasonable plan.

But since duke Eastshare managed to kick their arses, it's not critical any more. It might be still used along the north coast, against the north part of the COGA army.

And, considering the size of Charisian fleet, and the fact that there isn't much of COGA ships left, they could make a full scale invasion of the Temple, from that same side, if they can find some troops to ferry there.
Perhaps if Irys can make Corisandians enlist into ICA... I'm not saying it would be a Corisandian army that would invade the temple, but simply having them available to send elsewhere could free up Charisian/Chisholmian troops to do something.

And there's still Dohlar. The last remaining COGA fleet that's significant in any way, so it needs to be neutralized, and Dohlar and king Rahnyld need to pay for what happened to Sir Gwylym Manthyr. For which, a land invasion will be needed, so these ships could come into play even there...

Hit and run coastal raids might be an effective way to bleed and distract Harchong. Imagine sacking a local noble's castle and distributing the loot and weapons to the serfs before the regulars can arrive, then leaving to fight another day. Repeatedly. The nobility might panic and divert troops from the Mighty Host to coast defense.

Carry along an impressive priest to lecture the serfs in a quiet moment about how God intended all men to be free. But that could be out of bounds ethically given the reprisals that would follow.

Expert snuggler wrote:Hit and run coastal raids might be an effective way to bleed and distract Harchong. Imagine sacking a local noble's castle and distributing the loot and weapons to the serfs before the regulars can arrive, then leaving to fight another day. Repeatedly. The nobility might panic and divert troops from the Mighty Host to coast defense.

Carry along an impressive priest to lecture the serfs in a quiet moment about how God intended all men to be free. But that could be out of bounds ethically given the reprisals that would follow.

The last thing the nobility of Harchong wants is for any of the MHoG to return home. They were sent to act as proper cannon fodder, not to learn how to become an effective army which could lead to an uncontrollable slave revolt if any of them returned home - especially if they come back as an disillusioned, organized fighting force.

I expect the ICN will need to bring several thousand ICM or soldiers from the ICA with them for the Battle of Gorath. They'll shell the waterfront and burn the warehouses, manufactories, etc. Unlike Iythria, where the nobles in charge surrendered and then defected, King Ronald isn't going to cave to Charisian demands.

Nimue and Merlin in appropriate disguises may get to do some derring-do to free Thirsk's family and capture King Ronald to be tried for war crimes. (He turned Gwylym Manthyr and his crews over to the Inquisition to be tortured and murdered after all...) Cayleb and co. have sworn vengeance, so this is the one ruler who may end up shorter by a head - or hung like a common criminal if the EoC really wants to drive the point home that you do not turn Charisian POWs over to the Inquisition!!!!

Some attack craft would be useful to land troops at Gorath, since a lot of the infrastructure is going to need to be set afire by hand. Plus there's a lot of inquisitors in Gorath who need killing...

Aethor wrote:It's possible that, at that point in time, Merlin and Howsmyn (and the rest of the powers-that-be in Charis) simply did not know how exactly will the war in Siddarmark play out.

If the combined Desnair/Dohlar army managed to penetrate deeper along the south side of Siddarmark, and to survive there, even to fortify in some places, landing ICA troops somewhere along the shore would have been a reasonable plan.

But since duke Eastshare managed to kick their arses, it's not critical any more. It might be still used along the north coast, against the north part of the COGA army.

I could see summer attacks down from Hsing-wu's Passage against the northern flank of Temple supply lines. It's consistent with the use of sea power and the Allies indirect movements against logistics.

Around the far end of Siddarmark's coasts, there may still be play for an amphibious attack in the liberation of Silkiah, and some Desnairian coastal targets may call for more than a few marines in ship's boats or lobbing shells from the ships themselves.

JeffEngel wrote:

Aethor wrote:It's possible that, at that point in time, Merlin and Howsmyn (and the rest of the powers-that-be in Charis) simply did not know how exactly will the war in Siddarmark play out.

If the combined Desnair/Dohlar army managed to penetrate deeper along the south side of Siddarmark, and to survive there, even to fortify in some places, landing ICA troops somewhere along the shore would have been a reasonable plan.

But since duke Eastshare managed to kick their arses, it's not critical any more. It might be still used along the north coast, against the north part of the COGA army.

I could see summer attacks down from Hsing-wu's Passage against the northern flank of Temple supply lines. It's consistent with the use of sea power and the Allies indirect movements against logistics.

Around the far end of Siddarmark's coasts, there may still be play for an amphibious attack in the liberation of Silkiah, and some Desnairan coastal targets may call for more than a few marines in ship's boats or lobbing shells from the ships themselves.

Eventually the ICN ought to send the fleet that's cleaning out all the ship building in the Gulf of Jahras to attack the harbors of Geyra and Desnair, the capital city. There are a few NoG galleons still anchored there, and the ironclads, both sail and steam powered, can make mincemeat of the waterfront and all the ships currently anchored there. It's always useful to have an amphibious force to burn warehouses and manufactories that are out of cannon range.

This was before the actual operations plan for the war in Siddarmark was drawn up; the landing craft would've come in handy in a lot of scenarios, like if they needed to land Marines in strength in the Army of the Sylmahn's rear.

Rawb wrote:This was before the actual operations plan for the war in Siddarmark was drawn up; the landing craft would've come in handy in a lot of scenarios, like if they needed to land Marines in strength in the Army of the Sylmahn's rear.

That's true, although I expect that steam powered landing craft will be developed once there's a need for them. Right now those would be waaay down on Howsmyn's "to do" list. They'd be worthless for covert ops, and they wouldn't be much fun to travel in - ask the men who sailed to Corisande in the larger landing craft. I suspect they kissed the ground when they finally arrived!

McGuiness wrote:

Rawb wrote:This was before the actual operations plan for the war in Siddarmark was drawn up; the landing craft would've come in handy in a lot of scenarios, like if they needed to land Marines in strength in the Army of the Sylmahn's rear.

That's true, although I expect that steam powered landing craft will be developed once there's a need for them. Right now those would be waaay down on Howsmyn's "to do" list. They'd be worthless for covert ops, and they wouldn't be much fun to travel in - ask the men who sailed to Corisande in the larger landing craft. I suspect they kissed the ground when they finally arrived!

Agreed. Right now barges, tugs, colliers, supply ships and troop transports all come higher up the queue for steam engines than landing craft, and that's not even mentioning warships.

McGuiness wrote:

Rawb wrote:This was before the actual operations plan for the war in Siddarmark was drawn up; the landing craft would've come in handy in a lot of scenarios, like if they needed to land Marines in strength in the Army of the Sylmahn's rear.

That's true, although I expect that steam powered landing craft will be developed once there's a need for them. Right now those would be waaay down on Howsmyn's "to do" list. They'd be worthless for covert ops, and they wouldn't be much fun to travel in - ask the men who sailed to Corisande in the larger landing craft. I suspect they kissed the ground when they finally arrived!

I both agree, and disagree.

I agree that there is no current need for them, but I disagree that you shouldn't develop a few of them to determine their limitations (i.e. seaworthness, loading/unloading time, speed, carrying capacity, etc).

This is just in case you need them in the future, all you need to do is to mass-produce a design that is known to work.....