Esgaroth during the War of the Ring

[Glorelendil]

Going on the pictures of Lake Town provided for TOR I would say that Lake Town was probably abandoned as it is not very defensible. The population, if they were smart, would have fallen back to Dale and Erebor.

In terms of pure storytelling, I much prefer to think of it as besieged. All kinds of fodder for adventure in that: sneaking through the besiegers (in or out?), rooting out the spies in the city, some boat-based combat, Encounters with various residents as nerves get frayed, etc.

[zedturtle]

Not to mention the opportunities for harassment: Elves firing on the siege troops and fading away into the wood, Dale (in the early days) counter attacking, preventing the Shadow troops from actually being able to set Esgaroth aflame. And, of course as mentioned up thread, dealing with those within Laketown who love gold more than freedom...

[Tolwen]

As for storming it with boats:
- Men of the Lake are accomplished bowmen, firing from platforms above the water. I don't know what the ratio of attackers to defenders would have to be, but very large, and Sauron has a war to fight in the south and a Dwarf stronghold to besiege.
- They'd have to build all those boats and boarding ladders...that's going to take a while.
- To what end? Put a company of orcs on the shore to keep the men contained and focus on the bigger threat.

I don't think that Esgaroth would be defensible at all. Sauron has prepared his war meticulously, and he (or his underlings) very likely have good intelligence of what they have to deal with. If we take the Minas Tirith campaign as an example, he was well-prepared for the known defenses (MT itself) and the expected ones (Rohirrim relief). On a stretegic level, his diversionary campaigns in the South to divert forces from the main theatre (MT) were well-prepared and executed. Judging from this, the campaign in the North must be well-prepared as well. In that case, the Easterling army will have the means to quickly break any resistance of Lake-town. Its position cries for effective defense (an artificial island in a lake) and thus every serious attacker will think of suitable ways to counter that well before he arrives on the scene.
In the case of the Easterling army, they can bring up appropriate heavy siege equipment up the Celduin (even from the Sea of Rhun), so that they can mount a simultaneous land- and sea-based attacked. The latter can be facilitated with boats, barges and ships, tied together and equipped with siege weapons and/or towers. The land-based attack may include engineering units repairing the - likely - demolished bridge.

Seeing all this, I can hardly imagine how Esgaroth is able to survive a determined attack. Its people are well-advised to evacuate to Dale and Erebor IMO.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Beran]

Again going on the map provided in the Lake Town supplement the only defenses I can see is a palisade wall around most of the city. The main lake gate doesn't seem to have a gate that closes and a couple of quays have no defenses at all. Yes, you could "blow" the bridge leading from the head land to the Town itself , which would offer a small defense ability. However, this canceled by the fact that the city is made entirely of wood and well within artillery and bow range from the shore (allowing for flaming ammo to be used of all sorts). All an invading force would need to do is get one or two sections of the city a flame, and the rest would be write off. They don't even seem to have a "Rivrine" force of armed fishing vessels.

Normal military doctrine is don't attack unless you outnumber your opponent by, at least 3 to 1. Given the Town has very little in the way of force multipliers I would say you would be able to pacify Lake Town with 1.5 to 1 force levels. A sizable, and well lead Easterling army that would be used in an invasion wouldn't even consider Lake Town a speed bump. In fact I would even suggest the possibility that all they would do is detach a small contingent to seal off LT and completely by pass it altogether, as it really has no military value. And once the harder targets (Dale and Erebor) were secured you turn around and deal with pockets of resistance at their leisure.

Not to mention the whole town is supported by wooden stilts!

[Tolwen]

In fact I would even suggest the possibility that all they would do is detach a small contingent to seal off LT and completely by pass it altogether, as it really has no military value.

I'd say it a bit differently. It surely has no direct military value as such. Its value would be more indirect IMO. Being a trade center, it very likely possesses capable port facilities. These would be very valuable to use for an invader, since riverine transport greatly simplifies supply logistics for a great army.
At Esgaroth, supplies could either be unloaded and transported by land or transshipped into smaller craft that can unload directly at Dale. Thus the city could continue in its trade hub role, only with different users...

This means of course that the Easterlings must capture the town (and especially the port area) more or less intact to use it for their own purposes. And it also means they have to take it quickly, so that they can prepare their own logistics and make necessary repairs.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Glorelendil]

In fact I would even suggest the possibility that all they would do is detach a small contingent to seal off LT and completely by pass it altogether, as it really has no military value.

My point exactly.

[Glorelendil]

Being a trade center, it very likely possesses capable port facilities. These would be very valuable to use for an invader, since riverine transport greatly simplifies supply logistics for a great army.

The rider paused at the beginning of the quay, as if hesitant to ride over water, but as the last rays of light disappeared in the west he hissed, and as if reading his master's mind the horse stepped lightly onto the wooden planks. Each distinct hoofbeat echoed off the wood as the rider made his way slowly toward the gates of the town, where the ashen-faced Master waited, surrounded by nervous guards.

Ten paces from the gates the emissary stopped and gazed long at the meagre group, his pale skin almost glowing in the dusky light.

"My own Master sends his greetings, Men of the Lake, as well as an offer. His only offer. Surrender all your boats, and remain here on your little wooden isle until further notice, or face his wrath. You have one hour to decide."

With that the emissary turned his horse and, stepping more briskly, as if eager to be back on solid ground, rode back to a shore covered in a blanket of silently watching orcs.

[Beran]

I'd say it a bit differently. It surely has no direct military value as such. Its value would be more indirect IMO. Being a trade center, it very likely possesses capable port facilities. These would be very valuable to use for an invader, since riverine transport greatly simplifies supply logistics for a great army.
At Esgaroth, supplies could either be unloaded and transported by land or transshipped into smaller craft that can unload directly at Dale. Thus the city could continue in its trade hub role, only with different users...

This means of course that the Easterlings must capture the town (and especially the port area) more or less intact to use it for their own purposes. And it also means they have to take it quickly, so that they can prepare their own logistics and make necessary repairs.

True, but I wouldn't bother with LT until after I had taken care of the tougher nuts like Dale and, especially, Erebor. The benefit of riverine supply lines is that they can pretty much be off loaded anywhere along the shore. A lake port would be useful, but not essential to a campaign in the North of ME.

[Tolwen]

True, but I wouldn't bother with LT until after I had taken care of the tougher nuts like Dale and, especially, Erebor. The benefit of riverine supply lines is that they can pretty much be off loaded anywhere along the shore. A lake port would be useful, but not essential to a campaign in the North of ME.

Dale as a conventional town could be stormed in the proven way, so it can be expected to be taken by force in reasonable time. Given the proximity to Erebor, defending Dale after a defeat on the battlefield would make little sense for the Dalemen. They would have no option for escape and their defenses are inadequate in face of a well-prepared enemy. Since the much stronger fortress of Erebor is nearby, IMO the Dalemen's plan would be to retreat to Erebor (of course only after advance consultations with the Longbeards) in case of defeat and not try to mount a defense of Dale which would be doomed from the beginning. Erebor is another matter for sure. The dwarven skill in stonework is well-known everywhere and from the Easterling's point of view the possibility of a defeated foe retreating to Erebor is a very real one (as it happened indeed). Given the dwarven superiority in ("magical") stonework, it is unlikely that the Easterlings would be able to take it by force - and they would be well aware of this.
Thus, a reasonable war plan would be for a campaign to defeat the enemy's field forces, take the towns (including Erebor) quickly (if possible in a coup de main) before a proper defense can be organised. Alternatively, if such a quick victory cannot be realised, besiege the toughest nut (Erebor; Dale is unlikely to withstand a determined and well-prepared attack; see above) after the other towns are dealt with. Now comes my point. Such a siege will take time, and having a capable line of logistics with Lake-town as the principal hub is crucial for a success.

In the event, it happened just that way. On the battlefield, the Easterlings were successful, but their enemies retreated into the nigh-impregnable (for them) Erebor. A lengthy siege was the only option and they immediately commenced with that. The siege lasted an unspecified time (IMHO probably some weeks) before news from the victory in the South broke the Easterlings' morale and a successful sally drove the Easterling army away.

Cheers
Tolwen

[Beran]

Dale as a conventional town could be stormed in the proven way, so it can be expected to be taken by force in reasonable time. Given the proximity to Erebor, defending Dale after a defeat on the battlefield would make little sense for the Dalemen. They would have no option for escape and their defenses are inadequate in face of a well-prepared enemy.

I think you are short changing Dale quite a bit. My following assumptions are based on PJs production design of Dale for the movies, as they make sense to me.

1) Given its proximity to mountainous terrain Dale is probably built on a hill (or a series of hills).
2) It appears to have a proper wall.
3) It is mostly of stone construction.

1) and 2) are valuable force multipliers. Not only does having the high ground make it harder for invaders to approach the walls, but this is where the longbowmen of Dale and Lake Town would shine. And the stone construction reduces the threat of fire.

Given proper siege provisioning and the existance of internal water cistern I would say Dale could sustain a siege for, at least, six months.

Now, the other problem that would face a potential besigeing army is the close proximity of Dale and Erebor. If you lay siege to one there would the constanct threat of sortie from the other. So, you would have to divide you forces between the besiegers and a security force to protect your back. Trying to take Erebor and Dale would be a very bloody business.