Naval Battles

[IMS]

Another question on subs, when sneak attacking, does the sub act like the AA gun in which it gets to take a shot for every ship defending in the first round?

So basically if the defender had 1 battleship and 2 cruisers, and they were sneak attacked by 1  sub, would the sub roll for each ship? or does it just get to roll once and then the defender gets to roll?

thanks

IMS

[Krieghund]

Each sub rolls one die.

[IMS]

So the only “real” advantage to sneak attack would be to have more subs than the defending ships, possibly taking out the defender without the defender getting to counter at all.

Thanks

IMS

[Krieghund]

Not really.  Anything hit by a sub won’t fire back (with some exceptions).  Less units firing at you is always an advantage.

[gnasape]

Krieghund,

If a sub engages another sub in battle.

The attacking sub decides whether to attack or submerge.

The defending sub decides whether to defend or submerge.

So if the attacking sub decides to attack and the defending sub decides to submerge, does the attacking sub fire first, than the defending sub submerges if attacking sub misses or there is no battle as the defender submerged?

Thank you,

[Krieghund]

In theory, firing is simultaneous, so when both subs fire the defending sub’s torpedo is in the water before it is hit.  This allows it to fire even if eliminated.  However, in practice actual simultaneous action is not practical, so the attacker acts first, but the results are still simultaneously applied.

This principle also applies to submerging.  Since fire is simultaneous, the decision to submerge instead of firing is also simultaneous.  In your example, when the attacking sub fires, the defending sub is already submerging, so it can’t be hit.

[gnasape]

Thanks Krieghund.  That’s what I thought but wanted to get the official answer.

[gn0m]

I have another question regarding naval battles; offshore bombardment can only occur in combination with amphibeus assaults, right? Also, can cruisers/battle ships offshore bombard each round in the battle or only the first round?

Thanks in advance

[HolKann]

Welcome gn0me!

@gn0m:

I have another question regarding naval battles; offshore bombardment can only occur in combination with amphibeus assaults, right? Also, can cruisers/battle ships offshore bombard each round in the battle or only the first round?

Thanks in advance

Offshore bombardment only occurs in combination with amphibeous assault. The bombardments occur only in the first round. The amount of bombardments is the lesser of 1. the amount of land units engaging “amphibeously” (= moving from a transport ship into a hostile territory) or 2. the amount of ships able to do a bombardment (= cruisers and battleships engaging in the amphibeous assault). Enemy units hit by an offshore bombardment are allowed to return fire.

Note that it is not possible to take any hits dealt by the defending player onto your ships during an amphibeous assault. The assaulting ships do not engage in the combat directly, but are only allowed a first round die roll to deal some extra damage to the defending player’s units in the assaulted territory.

[gn0m]

@HolKann:

Welcome gn0me!

Thank you!  :wink:

@gn0m:

I have another question regarding naval battles; offshore bombardment can only occur in combination with amphibeus assaults, right? Also, can cruisers/battle ships offshore bombard each round in the battle or only the first round?

Thanks in advance

@HolKann:

Offshore bombardment only occurs in combination with amphibeous assault. The bombardments occur only in the first round. The amount of bombardments is the lesser of 1. the amount of land units engaging “amphibeously” (= moving from a transport ship into a hostile territory) or 2. the amount of ships able to do a bombardment (= cruisers and battleships engaging in the amphibeous assault). Enemy units hit by an offshore bombardment are allowed to return fire.

Note that it is not possible to take any hits dealt by the defending player onto your ships during an amphibeous assault. The assaulting ships do not engage in the combat directly, but are only allowed a first round die roll to deal some extra damage to the defending player’s units in the assaulted territory.

Alright, that was what I thought. Thanks for the quick answer!

[gamerman01]

@Krieghund:

In theory, firing is simultaneous, so when both subs fire the defending sub’s torpedo is in the water before it is hit.  This allows it to fire even if eliminated.  However, in practice actual simultaneous action is not practical, so the attacker acts first, but the results are still simultaneously applied.

This principle also applies to submerging.  Since fire is simultaneous, the decision to submerge instead of firing is also simultaneous.  In your example, when the attacking sub fires, the defending sub is already submerging, so it can’t be hit.

Krieghund, I’m having trouble with this one.  I was poring over the rulebook on subs and combat this weekend to answer this very question.  I attacked a sub with a sub. 
I don’t have the rulebook with me right now, but I remember it said (under submarines) that attacking subs roll first, and casualties are chosen.  Then defending submarines roll and casualties are chosen.  (Then “normal” units roll)  It also says that anytime a sub can roll, it can submerge instead.  I only see one way of interpreting these rules, and that is that an attacking sub would roll, and if it hit (yes, mine did) then the defending sub would be chosen as a casualty.  Then it would be the defenders turn to roll, and since his sub was hit, of course he would roll.
This is a significant rule interpretation, because if subs can’t hit a sub-only seazone (because they will usually submerge immediately), then a destroyer is the only unit that can possibly attack a sea zone with sub(s).
According to your answer then, a sub doesn’t really have a surprise strike capability against enemy destroyers OR sub only sea-zones.
Do you still stand by your original answer?
Thanks.  I really appreciate all the clarifications you’ve given us in the past.  It’s unfortunate that so many clarifications are necessary, but it’s amazing how many different situations arise in this game.

[gnasape]

gamer,

For AA 50:

"Page 30 of the rulebook,

Submersible: Anytime a submarine would otherwise roll the die to attack or defend, it can submerge instead. This
removes it from the combat—it can no longer attack or take hits in that combat. Whenever a round of combat starts and a submarine is in combat with only aircraft, it can submerge (before aircraft fire)."

"Page 18,

Step 2. Attacking Units Fire
Submarines have the Surprise Strike ability. Both attacking and defending submarines fire before other combat units during a sea battle. (See “Surprise Strike” in Unit Profi les: Submarines, pg. 30.)"

If you link the two rules, the sub vs. sub battle would look like this.

1. Attacker chooses to attack a sz with a sub with a sub.

2. Attacking units fire but since both attacking and defending subs fire before other units do (or at same time in theory).  The subs can decide to attack/defend or submerge.

3. Resolve either attack/defend or submerge.

4. If subs submerge, than the submersible ability takes effect “which removes it from combat - it can no longer attack or take hits in that combat.”

Result:

Attacking sub attacks and the defending sub sumberges, even if the attacker hits, the submersible ability allows it to survive.

For AA 1942 based on AA 50 rules but clarified.

Attacking sub decides to attack or submerge first

Defending sub decides to attack or submerge next.

But this also needs to be tied in with the submersible ability.

The reason why I asked the question originally was that for Revised, one of the attacks UK does on UK1 is to attack the Japanese sub with a UK sub.

With the AA50/AA 1942 rules, this is not possible as the Japanese sub will submerge immediately.

That’s my interpretation but I wanted to confirm with Krieghund to avoid any issues as our group was having a FTF AA 1942 game.

[gnasape]

Putting this back for Krieghund, so he doesn’t miss it.

@gamerman01:

@Krieghund:

In theory, firing is simultaneous, so when both subs fire the defending sub’s torpedo is in the water before it is hit.  This allows it to fire even if eliminated.  However, in practice actual simultaneous action is not practical, so the attacker acts first, but the results are still simultaneously applied.

This principle also applies to submerging.  Since fire is simultaneous, the decision to submerge instead of firing is also simultaneous.  In your example, when the attacking sub fires, the defending sub is already submerging, so it can’t be hit.

Krieghund, I’m having trouble with this one.  I was poring over the rulebook on subs and combat this weekend to answer this very question.  I attacked a sub with a sub. 
I don’t have the rulebook with me right now, but I remember it said (under submarines) that attacking subs roll first, and casualties are chosen.  Then defending submarines roll and casualties are chosen.  (Then “normal” units roll)  It also says that anytime a sub can roll, it can submerge instead.  I only see one way of interpreting these rules, and that is that an attacking sub would roll, and if it hit (yes, mine did) then the defending sub would be chosen as a casualty.  Then it would be the defenders turn to roll, and since his sub was hit, of course he would roll.
This is a significant rule interpretation, because if subs can’t hit a sub-only seazone (because they will usually submerge immediately), then a destroyer is the only unit that can possibly attack a sea zone with sub(s).
According to your answer then, a sub doesn’t really have a surprise strike capability against enemy destroyers OR sub only sea-zones.
Do you still stand by your original answer?
Thanks.  I really appreciate all the clarifications you’ve given us in the past.  It’s unfortunate that so many clarifications are necessary, but it’s amazing how many different situations arise in this game.

[gamerman01]

Thanks, gnasape.  I appreciate your reply, which was well worded.  However, I’m not 100% convinced yet.  Thanks also for posting it up for Krieghund again.  I would like to hear him weigh in on this issue again.  Perhaps he can word it a bit differently so I can understand how your answers (lone subs can’t hit lone subs on attack if defender wants to submerge) are definitely in line with the rule book.

[Krieghund]

The sequence of events on page 16 of the rulebook for combat step 2 indicate that submerging occurs before surprise strikes do.

[gnasape]

@Krieghund:

The sequence of events on page 16 of the rulebook for combat step 2 indicate that submerging occurs before surprise strikes do.

Krieghund, you are probably refering to AA 1942 rulebook, my page 16 of the AA 50 rulebook shows (tanks and blitzing, transports, and phase 4 conduct combat?  Where can we get the same reference in the AA50 rulebook?

AA 1942 rulebook clarified issues but AA50 rulebook is still a little off

Thank you in advance for your “crystal ball” knowledge.

[Krieghund]

It’s not as clear in the AA50 rules.  That’s why it was clarified in the FAQ:

Q. Exactly when is the decision made whether or not to submerge submarines?
A. The decision whether to submerge submarines is made before any dice are rolled by either side in an exchange of fire, and the subs submerge immediately.  The attacker decides before the defender does.

[gnasape]

Doh!  :-o :-o :-o :-o :-o :-o

I would give myself a -1 karma if I could.

As always, thank you Krieghund.

Now if only you could improve on the response time!  :-D  :-D  :-D  :-D  :-D  :-D

(It’s a joke just in case you didn’t get it).

[gamerman01]

Wow, I must have completely overlooked it in the FAQ.  That’s all we needed to know.  Thanks again, Krieg!!!

[Zhukov44]

Forgive me if this has been discussed, but how do subs function in defensive situations.

Let’s say USSR ncms their sub to SZ2.  Then Germany attaks SZ2 with a fig, bomb, sub.  Does Germany get to choose whether to engage the Russian sub, or is the Russian sub automatically on the battle board since it’s in the SZ?