Calculating turning stats

[zursee1]

Hi,
Having only got my copy of VaS the day before yesterday I'd be grateful if someone could clarify the following for me (basically because I haven't had time to analyse the ship stats yet).
1) How are ship's turning rates calculated? I can't see anything to assist in Janes or the other reference books I have. I've already seen DM's post on how the other stats are calculated.
2) My main interest lies in the convoy battles be they in the Atlantic, Artic or Med. How do other players handle high value targets with volatile loads such as oil tankers, ammo ships etc? Anyone got any house rules they'd like to share for critical hits etc?

 

[juggler69uk]

I cant say for sure, but on looking through it looks like the turning stat is fairly standard, unless there was something special about the ship class the following seems to apply

Battleships, Aircraft Carriers and civilian ships get a turn of 1

Cruisers, Destroyes and Subs generally get a turn of 2.

There are a few exceptions

Some subs getting a turn of 3 e.g. S class, type 7 and 9 U boats, adua class

The French Bourrasque class Destroyer also gets a turn of 3 (due to its smaller size I guess)

Maybe the more important question is when to apply the agile trait

But do bear in mind that the supplement will be out soon so any ships you need stats for may well be in it

As to house rules for crits, do you mean specifically for the volatile loads

If yes then I dont know of any, If no then theres a good few house rules about in the threads covering normal crits.

It shouldnt be too hard coming up with specific crits for volatile loads, like crit on a 5 and 6, or try any double is a vital systems hit. but try anything and trial it to see if it works or just sinks them way too easy. Again there may be something in the supplement.

 

[DM]

There might just be. I compiled some additional stats for alternative merchant "targets" such as ammunition ships and tankers that reflected their tendency to undergo explosive rearrangement.

 

[zursee1]

Thanks for your reply Juggler,
The turning rates do seem to be very generalised. I was quite interested in the stats for the subs, with the Type VII & the IX both rated at 3 but the XX1 at 2. The US Gato class is also rated at 2, so I did wonder if it was down to displacement (seeing as the IX & XXI are the same overall length). It would be fair to say that the XXI & Gato were both large boats hence the lower rating.
I had picked up on the Bourrasque class destroyer. If the suggested rule change of allowing turns at the 1/2 way & end point, with agile vessels gaining an additional point of turning is adopted, then the Bourrasque class is the only vessel I've seen in the original listings that is capable of making a 180 degree course change in a single turn. I guess I just wanted to know why it deserved that rating. As you say, Order of Battle may throw a new light on things.