Torpedo Questions

[jmb295]

I am new to playing VAS, having picked up the two rule books at gencon this year. We played through a scenario and had a couple of questions regarding torpedoes.

Do you launch torpedoes after then end of your movement action, or during your fire action? My assumption was during the fire action, and then you resolve the effects during the torpedo resolution phase at the end of the turn. This would not allow your target ship a chance to maneuver if they are within 10 inches.

When firing long lance torpedoes we played that they stay on the board for another round, and would move up to 10" again in the next torpedo phase. This would allow ships to potentially maneuver around them.

We played using my assumptions above, and torpedo firing seemed almost too powerful. It could be that we are bad at the game, but because destroyers were hard to hit they were able to get within 10" of some cruisers to launch their torpedoes.

Due to the number of attack dice being rolled there was a minimum of one hit on each attack by the japanese destroyers, sinking several ships. We didn't realize the damage output these destroyers could do! Were we playing correctly? And was it bad defensive strategy on the americans or are torpedoes really that stong?

The rules state to use a torpedo spread marker when firing, but I could not find a spread marker in my books or elsewhere searching online. What do you use for a spread marker?

Thanks for the help!

 

[rcbecker1]

The rules state to use a torpedo spread marker when firing, but I could not find a spread marker in my books or elsewhere searching online. What do you use for a spread marker?

There used to be counters in the book but no more. I use black End Caps for my torps.

We played using my assumptions above, and torpedo firing seemed almost too powerful. It could be that we are bad at the game, but because destroyers were hard to hit they were able to get within 10" of some cruisers to launch their torpedoes.

DDs are hard to hit with Mains but secondaries from big ships are deadly to DDs

•+1, target to hit within 10 inches. DD has to be in this range to shoot its torps
•–1, Target moved more than 7inches this turn. (does not effect secondary armament)
•+1, To fire at Targets Beam Effects both DD being fired at and fired Torp

• Torps are fired in Attack phase, but hit and do damage in Torp phase

The only +1 to attack with Torps is if you have beam. Not so easy to hit.
If you have target 4 which is average for BBs, then you get +1 for Beam you get a 3+ or better bto hit 50/50 chance. Smaller ships are even harder to hit.

When firing long lance torpedoes we played that they stay on the board for another round, and would move up to 10" again in the next torpedo phase. This would allow ships to potentially maneuver around them.

Remember to follow strick turning and movement rules. and they may be hard to get around.

We played using my assumptions above, and torpedo firing seemed almost too powerful. It could be that we are bad at the game, but because destroyers were hard to hit they were able to get within 10" of some cruisers to launch their torpedoes.

Remember to screen their DDs with your DDs.

Due to the number of attack dice being rolled there was a minimum of one hit on each attack by the japanese destroyers, sinking several ships. We didn't realize the damage output these destroyers could do! Were we playing correctly? And was it bad defensive strategy on the americans or are torpedoes really that stong?

Long Lance Torps were very nasty. remember to screen.

 

[Spectrar Ghost]

I second all Ray's statements, except that 3+ is 2/3 hit probability, not 1/2.

Long Lance are brutal, but I rarely fire them at full range, because they are easy to Evade against. The rules state they move with the ship, so maneuvering them is not an issue. Remember WWII torpedoes had no guidance systems; they were strictly striaghtline weapons. As for spread markers, I just use different colored dice.

 

[rcbecker1]

Hey math is not my strong point. Just joking.
ray

 

[DM]

Remember WWII torpedoes had no guidance systems

Most, but not all. The Germans and the US both produced acoustic homing torpedoes. the UK "Fido" was particularly effective against submerged U boats and was the precursor to weapons such as the post war Mk44, Mk46 and Stingray ASW torpedoes.

 

[dent]

What happens if the target moves out of range of a long lance dring its movement?

 

[Spectrar Ghost]

As I understand it, as long as it is in range at firing, it doesn't matter. The torpedo counter moves with the ship until it hits if the range is over 10".