This is a much-needed rules clarification for Command at Sea. Due to an inexcusable oversight, the rules do not cover how to detect and actual torpedo launch. This is an important issue, since spotting the launch may give more time to react. Even though torpedoes were launched by various means, all had some telltale signatures. This might be the flash of a pyrotechnic charge or a cloud of vapor from compressed air. Given the wake of a ship, especially at high speed, the splashes when the weapons were launched would probably not be visible except at very close range. This is an official CaS rules change. First, using the CaS visibility rules, treat torpedo launches as being detectable at twice the distance of a periscope. Next, halve the visibility variation value. Finally, if the ship is firing its main or secondary batteries, reduce the visibility by two tables Example 1: On a clear day, a Japanese DD fires a torpedo from 10 kyds against a US cruiser. For 100% visibility, the torpedo firing could be seen at 6 kyds (2x3) ± 3 Kyds (6/2). This gives a range of 3 to 9 kyds. Example 2: At night, with a full moon (50% visibility), a torpedo launch would be visible at 4 kyds (2x2) ± 2 Kyds (4/2). This would give a range of 2 to 6 kyds. Interestingly, if the launching ship also fired its main battery, it would increase the visibility by two tables, but reduce the chance of seeing the launch by the same amount. It becomes visible on the 25% table at 2 kyds (2x1) ± 1.5 kyds (3/2). This would give a range of .5 to 3.5 kyds. BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #6 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com