Noob with one rules question, one build question...

[MillMaster]

Rules question: Shoals don't stop line of sight, but do they stop torps? One of my first games was lost due to a sub hitting my carrier through a shoal. Shoals can be areas of shallow sea, sometimes breaking the surface depending on tides. Historically, what depth did torpedoes run at?

Build Question: I am going to be playing in my first WaS tournament, but I have to bring both a 100 point axis and 100 point allied fleet, with a die roll determining who picks what side they want to play. I don't have a lot of good stuff right now, but I do have an Iowa and a Yamato. What kind of support ships should I be looking for to complete a fleet surrounding these 2 units?

Also, what is the general battleship tactic? Do you sit back and use your extended range to blast away until a plane makes it through your air cover and damages you?

[Khayman7]

Rules question: Shoals don't stop line of sight, but do they stop torps? One of my first games was lost due to a sub hitting my carrier through a shoal. Shoals can be areas of shallow sea, sometimes breaking the surface depending on tides. Historically, what depth did torpedoes run at?

Build Question: I am going to be playing in my first WaS tournament, but I have to bring both a 100 point axis and 100 point allied fleet, with a die roll determining who picks what side they want to play. I don't have a lot of good stuff right now, but I do have an Iowa and a Yamato. What kind of support ships should I be looking for to complete a fleet surrounding these 2 units?

Also, what is the general battleship tactic? Do you sit back and use your extended range to blast away until a plane makes it through your air cover and damages you?

Not too sure on your first question, I thought they were adjustable to some degree.

As for tournament builds I'd say:
Iowa and Atlanta gives 3 shots vs planes, then maybe a Barb and Fletcher or Wildcat or something else for some ASW. I think this is pretty standard fare from what I've read/seen.

Yamato, I-19, 2 Zekes, and Betty....I'm not too sure on this one...Yamato takes a lot of space and Japan's surface escorts are too expensive to get much. My fear with this build would be that it tries to do too much with not enough (other than the Yamato).

Taking objectives for the victory would be hard with either build, I'd say that destruction of the other fleet is the most likely plan. Then your observation of pounding away at range is a good idea.

[Thunderjp]

Rules question:
No, shoals do not stop torpedos.

Build question:
For the Iowa, I'd try a Catalina, a wildcat, and an Atlanta (i forget point costs as to if this is legal or not).

With the Yamato, I'd go with an 1-19, 2 zekes and 5 points left over.



Tactics depend exclusively on your opposition.

[Slaynar]

HMM
Well I would say that Shoals DO block torpedo fire, No for LOS, and srface fire though.
on bothe Axis and Allies, your main ship and be sure to take some ASW, either planes or surface... in a Tournament it will be cruisal to try and cover all bases... you will not know the Build of your opponent upfront... BUT good thing is your opponent will not yours either, and can not change Build once it is turned in at the begining of Tournament.

[TheJudge]

IJN build 100 points-

Yamato- 70
I-19- 13
Subchaser- 4
Zeke-1 6
Betty- 6

If you don't have the sub, go with Yamato and 30 points worth of Zekes/Betty.

USN build 100 points-

Iowa- 68
Barb- 12
Catalina- 7
Wildcat- 7
Samuel B Roberts- 6

100 pts

Again, if you don't have a Catalina, go with another Wildcat but the Cat is important, good anti sub, doesn't rearm, and spots.

As for torpedoes, a typical torpedo would dive to probably 30 feet or so and come back up slowly to run at about 10-12 foot depth. The IJN at Pearl harbor used special tails to have their torpedoes run at about 6 feet because of the shallow harbor depths.

Good luck!

[computerizedfish]

They just posted in the rules section that shoals do not block torps. I know it seems kinda weird, but thats what was ruled.

[TheJudge]

My advice would be to simply ignore that rule because it's retarded. ;)

[Thunderjp]

Just assume that the shoal represented in WaS is deep enough to allow torpedos over it, but shallow enough that ships RISK bottoming out pending the tide.

[MillMaster]

Well, again I ask, historically what depth did torpedoes run at? Generally even the earliest torpedoes had some form of depth regulation.