Sub combat placement

[Taellik]

When using subs, how do you handle the placement of the sub when it is revealed making it's attack?

Do you place it 1-2 inches from target ship, closer / further ???

Seems some rules abuse potential here to put sub smack in middle of convoy away from the DD escorts to buy time for that re-load.

Any thoughts / house-rules on sub combat ?

Taellik

 

[DM]

Subs are placed at the beginning of the movement phase, so the "target" may have a chance to react, but in a convoy scenario things can get a bit strange. Of course that doesn't help if two U boats magically appear an inch off your carrier's beam I'm working on a set of sub "house rules" at the moment which I'm aiming at S&P, based on representing subs on table at all times, but allowing "dummy" models to be used in addition to the real ones.

Another posisble house rule would be to only allow each player to have 1 submarine (a better reflection of fleet / submarine interoperability)

 

[Bede]

There is a set of modern naval rules called "Shipwreck" that has an interesting way of handling subs.

Subs are on the table most of the time, but they move by "range bands". In order to close the range band, the sub captain can make certain choices that make it more likely for him to do so, but they also make it more likely that he'll be detected.

I'm not explaining it exactly correctly, but it's a very good way of handling a difficult subject to naval wargames. If you're serious about incorporating subs into surface warfare you should look into it.

 

[Wulf Corbett]

There is a set of modern naval rules called "Shipwreck" that has an interesting way of handling subs.

Shipwreck is a very interesting set of rules that unfortunately seems a bit incomplete in places (it has NO turning radius rules, for instance, in a game where Supertankers could easily appear!)

The sub rules are fascinating though, I agree, but are primarily an off-table paper exercise, which may not be in the flavour of this game.

DM, have you seen them?

Wulf

 

[DM]

Wow, two mentions of Shipwreck on the same day

Yes, I have a copy. I also have my own heavily amended copy that adds lots of extra stuff. I'm currently torn between developing my own set from scratch or creating a more extensive Shipwreck variant that is more able to deal with multi TF actions. However the core rules work fine for actions between single Task Forces.

 

[chaos0xomega]

Wait, you're telling me that submarines magically appear wherever the hell they want in the movement phase? OUCH THATS CHEAP. My Surcouf fleet will pwn.... :shock:

Why don't you just make a 'proximity' rule so they can't pop up within x inches of an enemy(or friendly I suppose) vessel

 

[Soulmage]

Subs are pitifully slow. Let them appear wherever they want! My fleet will just go to flank speed and leave them eating wake!