I can completely help you out with this, Zhukov. I actually just became aware of the intricacies of these particular rules in recent months. Someone raised a similar question on this FAQ thread and found a “loophole” in the rules. Krieghund confirmed that it was a loophole. The source you are looking for is actually in this FAQ thread, just go back through the past couple of months til you find it if you need to see the authority. I think it was MagicQ who raised the question, if that helps you find it.
@Zhukov44:
I’m trying to get some clarity on how transports and submarines work in this ruleset. If a transport starts in a zone where there is an enemy submarine and a combat takes place, is this transport involved in the combat?
YES
Can it make ncm movements afterwards?
NO. If you want to move anything away from this zone in NCM, you will have to let the subs go and not attack them.
In a game, I moved a transport and men on a ncm, but there was a sub in the zone the transport started in. Using TripleA, I moved the men during the cm phase, while killing the sub.
That is not legal.
Now, I understand I’m not supposed to do cm before ncm, but I guess the example brings up 2 issues…1) Must all CMs involve combat?
Yes, except for the exceptions, which involve avoiding combat (You find enemy surface ships in your zone at the start of your turn).
If the answer is yes, then those of us using TripleA have been playing wrong for many years, as it’s common to move a transport 1 space in cm, then another space in ncm.
That’s right, you’ve been playing wrong for years. Do not rely on TripleA.
- Why are transports included in an attacking combat if I didn’t move the transport into that combat?
Simple. It’s in a hostile zone at the end of the combat movement phase.
Or, more simply, why is the transport considered part of the battle?
Because it is in a hostile zone in the conduct combat phase.
If you have follow up questions, feel free.
Note that the inability to attack a sub in your zone and then noncom anything but air out of that zone later is an unintended loophole in the rules, as confirmed by Krieghund. HOWEVER, it IS how the official rules read and they have not been amended, so if you do not specify and agree with your opponent beforehand, the rulebook governs, so beware.