COMMAND AT SEA:
Rules Clarifications

This web page exists to answer rules questions for players of Command at Sea. Answers which are official (that is, direct from the publisher or the designer) are marked like this; other answers are the best guesses of staffers here at THE MINIATURES PAGE.

If you have rules questions, please email them to us and we'll try to get an official answer for you.



Rules Booklet


DIRECTORS AND RADAR FIRE CONTROL: In CaS, all main batteries and all secondary batteries on major combatants are fitted with directors, which are composed of an optical sighting device and fire control equipment. Regardless of whether or not it is listed, the gun battery is fitted with a director. Since all guns are fitted with them, optical directors are not listed on the weapons line for a ship in Annex A.

This is the device knocked out when a gun battery takes a fire control hit. It reduces the guns to local control.

If a ship is fitted with radar, it will be listed on the weapons line as a director. It is also lost when the fire control is knocked out.


Rule Change: Multiple directors. Some ships are fitted with more than one director for their gun batteries. In general, ships will have as many directors as they have arcs for the main battery. Gun batteries can be split between several directors. Each director/gun mount combination is rolled for separately. Ships will not have more than one gunfire-control radar unless it is specifically indicated as such on the weapons line in Annex A.

If a battery has only one director, it always covers the forward arc.


GUNNERY DAMAGE (rules change): We have discovered a flaw in the gunnery damage system. At long ranges, it is possible for a ship with four single mounts to do more damage than a ship with three triple mounts of the same gun.

Rule: At Long or Extreme range, no matter how many mounts or barrels are firing at a target, if it is hit, only one mount's damage is inflicted, reflecting the fact that only one shell of a salvo ever struck a target at Long or Extreme range.

A more thorough revision of the gunfire rules will fix the problem completely, but this simple fix works well in playtesting.


2.3.4.6 REACTION FIRE PHASE: Correction. Torpedoes cannot be launched in the Reaction Fire phase. We originally allowed them to be launched in the Reaction phase, but later felt this was inaccurate and removed it (or so we thought).

In general -- surface and sub-launched torpedoes can only be fired in the Planned Fire phase.


2.3.4.7 RESOLUTION PHASE: Correction. Delete all references to torpedo impacts and damage being resolved in this phase. Torpedo impacts and any damage inflicted are resolved at the end of the movement phase in which they reach a potential target.


5.4.4.4 STARSHELL: Starshells are fired throughout the Tactical turn. First check for hits and misses for starshells, then the rest of the gunfire. The target is treated as illuminated for all gunfire in that Tactical turn if it is in the illumination circle (1000 yards). In other words, starshell illumination takes effect immediately.


Rising Sun Data Annex


ANNEX A


DE RUYTER: Should have a DP rating of 147, with a speed breakdown of 37/74/110/132/147.

WICKES CLASS: The Wickes-class 3 incher should be listed as a 76mm/50, not a 70-caliber.

YORK CLASS: Delete the reference to these ships being fitted with Type 132 sonar in 1944.


Several British destroyers (C&D, E&F, G, H, & I classes) are fitted with the MkIX 4.7 in 120mm/50. This gun is in a Low Angle mount and is capable of surface fire only. (See also correction in Annex C.) Add "LA" after the "/50" so that it reads "/50 LA" to reinforce this fact.


ANNEX B


The U.S. B-25 defensive armament figures are too high (.8). Halve to (.4).


ANNEX C


The GB MkIX 4.7 in 120mm/50 is not capable of anti-aircraft fire. It is listed with the MkXII 4.7 in gun, which is capable of anti-aircraft fire. For now, add a note in the remarks section for both the single and twin versions of this mount, that only the MkXII has the listed AA range and ratings. (In the next edition, we will list the mountings separately.)


ANNEX F1


The U.S. M43 500 lb. bomb has the wrong figures. It weighs 234 kg., has a 121 kg. charge, and does 24 dp. The U.S. M44 GP bomb has penetration values of 4 and 4, not 7 and 9.


Scenario Book


MIDWAY: Hosho's load at Midway was 8 B5N Kates, not 8 A5M Claudes.


Last Updates
24 June 1996reformatted
15 April 1996reorganized
Comments or corrections?