Question about submarine Aircraft carrrier battle

The planes are destroyed.

The planes are justly destroyed!!!  :-D

@njtx:

What happens to the planes if there is a naval battle between an aircraft carrier with planes on it and submarines.  Submarines doing the attacking. And there is no adjacent territory for the planes to land on.

You just did a move that everyone DREAMS of doing at least once in thier life.  If you can KAF as well, you can then retire from AA as there is no point on playing anymore as you are entering AA heaven.

Say there is a destroyer with them…

What happens if the player takes the hit on the carrier and we have a destroyer + planes subs.  Does the combat continue until the destroyer is hit?  Or can the hits be taken on the planes… Seen as though they would die anyway.

Sub hits can never be applied to planes under any circumstances.  Any hit by the subs would be applied to the destroyer.  Until the destroyer is hit, the fighters can hit the subs.  The battle will end at the end of the round in which either the subs hit the destroyer or all of the subs are sunk (or both).

Informative as allways

@Krieghund:

Sub hits can never be applied to planes under any circumstances.  Any hit by the subs would be applied to the destroyer.  Until the destroyer is hit, the fighters can hit the subs.  The battle will end at the end of the round in which either the subs hit the destroyer or all of the subs are sunk (or both).

Hi Krieghund,
could you help me please?
Does the Axis & Allies Anniversary Edition Manual was incorrect?

Is there any clarifications which come after about an additional capacity to the Subs unit such as:
Can’t Be Hit by Air Units: When attacking or defending, hits scored by air units can’t be assigned to submarines unless there is a destroyer that is friendly to the air units in the battle.

Or does it only appear in the later version (G40 1st edition)?

In Anniversary Edition, p. 30, the subs vs planes are mentioned only in the Subs Units Profiles:

Submersible: Anytime a submarine would otherwise roll the die to attack or defend, it can submerge instead. This removes it from the combat it can no longer attack or take hits in that combat. Whenever a round of combat starts and a submarine is in combat with only aircraft, it can submerge (before aircraft fire).

I also read this on the Destroyers profile Anti-Sub Vessel section, p. 29:

Anti-sub Vessel: If a destroyer is in the same space as one or more enemy submarines, it cancels the Submersible, Surprise Strike, and Sub Movement special powers of those submarines (but not any powers gained through research & development).
Additionally, your aircraft may attack enemy submarines.

The last addition seems like a side note as the consequence of cancelling Submersible power of the subs.

In Europe 40, 1st Edition, p. 30, here is the rule on planes vs subs found also in the Subs Units Profiles:

Can’t Be Hit by Air Units: When attacking or defending, hits scored by air units can’t be assigned to submarines unless there is a destroyer that is friendly to the air units in the battle.

OK, I found my answer in the FAQ and Errata:

Page 29, Destroyers Special Abilities  Anti-Sub Vessel:This should read, “If a destroyer is on the battle board with one or more enemy submarines, it cancels the Submersible, Surprise Strike, and Cannot Be Hit by Air Units special abilities of those submarines.
If one or more submarines move into the same space as an enemy destroyer, the destroyer cancels the Sub Movement special ability of those submarines. However, destroyers never cancel any abilities gained by submarines through research and development.”

Page 30, Submarines Special Abilities: The following paragraph should be added: “Cannot Be Hit by Air Units: When attacking or defending, hits scored by air units cannot be assigned to submarines unless there is a destroyer friendly to the air units in the battle.”

But, since I already found my answer, could you still answer this one, please:

Was this a sign of an intermediary step between the Classic Subs rules and the actual OOB sub rules (1942 1st and 2nd Ed. & G40) with First Strike Sub Phase which allows Submerge and the Cannot Be Hit by Air Units?

A step which only includes the Sneak Sub Phase (and Submerge) that appear in the original rulebook of Anniversary version, and which, after a revision for the FAQ and Errata, was decided to include the Cannot Be Hit by Air Units?
Thanks for your reply.

Another sign of this intermediary step evolution on Subs rule was the presence in the original rulebook of this “submerge”, which also need a FAQ and Errata notice:

Page 19, Defenseless Transports sidebar:
“This also occurs if the defender has only transports and submerged submarines remaining, and the attacker has only air units remaining.” The word “submerged” should be removed from this sentence, as air units cannot hit subs without a friendly destroyer in the battle, even if they are not submerged.

All these elements, before receiving the FAQ and Errata notice were all consistent with a Sub rule with Submerge before any regular planes attack and the planes ability to shot subs without DD (as in Classic rule), if the defender decides to not submerge, which means taking them as casualties (fodder for costlier warships). However, DDs were still necessary to prevent Subs from submerging (if the defender have had the option).
Am I right?

@Krieghund:

@Count_Zeppelin:

Additionally, your aircraft may hit enemy submarines if you have a destroyer on the battle board."

I’m sorry, but this line from the FAQ is nonsense!

There is no single line in the Rulebook that says, that aircraft can’t attack subs that aren’t submerged.

That was an omission from the rulebook, hence the FAQ entries.

And if that was an omission (as said above), instead of an evolution step, I should understand that your intention was to introduce both capabilities to Sub rules for AA50 (and get a fresh start from Classic)?
1- First Strike Sub phase attack or Submerge
2- Cannot be hit by planes unless a DD is present.

Here is a confirmation:
@Krieghund:

Somehow, the actual rule that says that air unit hits can’t be applied to subs unless you have a destroyer didn’t make it into the final draft of the rulebook.  This will be corrected by an erratum when the FAQ is published (soon, I hope).

@Krieghund:

Air units can hit subs in Revised without a friendly destroyer being present.  This requirement from AAE and AAP was dropped in Revised in the interest of simplifying unit interaction.  It was reintroduced in AA50, as removing it made subs too fragile.

Maybe, all I need is just a little more details, since this is an historical development of this rule on Subs.
“fragile”
You mean here that Subs in the Revised version were used too much as a fodder by the defender?
Or
Subs were too weak, so the defender preferred to buy DD instead?

The chronology here:
1- AAE and AAP
2- Revised
3- AA50.
Is that right?
What is the revised edition?
Can you provide me a link, please.

At least, I find a longer thread on the difference between both Subs rules:
Air can’t attack subs rule?
http://www.axisandallies.org/forums/index.php?topic=12832.msg356092#msg356092

@Baron:

But, since I already found my answer, could you still answer this one, please:

Was this a sign of an intermediary step between the Classic Subs rules and the actual OOB sub rules (1942 1st and 2nd Ed. & G40) with First Strike Sub Phase which allows Submerge and the Cannot Be Hit by Air Units?

A step which only includes the Sneak Sub Phase (and Submerge) that appear in the original rulebook of Anniversary version, and which, after a revision for the FAQ and Errata, was decided to include the Cannot Be Hit by Air Units?
Thanks for your reply.

It was a simple omission.

@Baron:

Maybe, all I need is just a little more details, since this is an historical development of this rule on Subs.
“fragile”
You mean here that Subs in the Revised version were used too much as a fodder by the defender?
Or
Subs were too weak, so the defender preferred to buy DD instead?

Subs were too weak, as they could not survive on their own, so no one purchased them except as fodder for fleets.  This made the sub into a “cheap destroyer” rather than a unique unit.

@Baron:

The chronology here:
1- AAE and AAP
2- Revised
3- AA50.
Is that right?

Yes.

@Baron:

What is the revised edition?
Can you provide me a link, please.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/axis

@Krieghund:

@Baron:

Maybe, all I need is just a little more details, since this is an historical development of this rule on Subs.
“fragile”
You mean here that Subs in the Revised version were used too much as a fodder by the defender?
Or
Subs were too weak, so the defender preferred to buy DD instead?

Subs were too weak, as they could not survive on their own, so no one purchased them except as fodder for fleets.  This made the sub into a “cheap destroyer” rather than a unique unit.

@Baron:

The chronology here:
1- AAE and AAP
2- Revised
3- AA50.
Is that right?

Yes.
@Baron:

What is the revised edition?
Can you provide me a link, please.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=ah/prod/axis

Thanks for your fast reply. It is clearly appreciate. I’m more puzzled by the answer you just provided (in bold) and by the Subs rules I just read in the Revised rule book you gave me via the link:

I read this about Revised Subs rules p. 32:

Submerge:
A submarine may submerge in combat after the attacker and defender have fired, regardless of what other units do. It is returned to the game board and remains submerged until the end of the noncombat move phase. The submarine then resurfaces regardless of whether enemy units are still there; this does not trigger combat. Enemy sea units may move freely through a sea zone containing a submerged submarine, and enemy transports may load or offload there.
The presence of an enemy destroyer in combat prevents a submarine from submerging.

I have one comment and around two questions:
first, I thought Revised allowed subs to Submerge (as was said in the faulty AA50 Rulebook) in the First Strike or Sneak attack phase, before the regular combat. I was clearly wrong as said above. It is after the defender or attacker roll dices.

So is there any version of OOB Subs rules which allow Submerge during First Strike and let planes be able to hit directly subs without DD, the sole condition is that defending sub choose not to submerge first (in such situation, fighter A3 or StB A4 will be considered as any single indestructible attacking Cruiser A3 or Battleship A4, because Sub cannot hit air units.)?
In this condition DD still get a function because all freaking subs can always submerge before receiving any hits.

If all Subs rules after Revised always included both Submerge during First Strike and planes need DD to hit subs,
Does the simpler sub rule Submerge on First Strike phase with Air can hit subs without DD (if subs choose not to submerge) was ever play-tested?
Because, according to the uncorrected AA50 Rulebook,
Sub rule was easily understand that way (give hints to think about it),
subs (submerging before reg combat) becomes far less vulnerable than in Revised rules (submerging after regular combat),
and this rule is simpler: “simplifying unit interaction”.

Finally, is there any single post or thread which contains a summary of all Subs rules of the different A&A games?

Thanks again.

@Baron:

So is there any version of OOB Subs rules which allow Submerge during First Strike and let planes be able to hit directly subs without DD, the sole condition is that defending sub choose not to submerge first (in such situation, fighter A3 or StB A4 will be considered as any single indestructible attacking Cruiser A3 or Battleship A4, because Sub cannot hit air units.)?

No.

@Baron:

In this condition DD still get a function because all freaking subs can always submerge before receiving any hits.

If all Subs rules after Revised always included both Submerge during First Strike and planes need DD to hit subs,
Does the simpler sub rule Submerge on First Strike phase with Air can hit subs without DD (if subs choose not to submerge) was ever play-tested?
Because, according to the uncorrected AA50 Rulebook,
Sub rule was easily understand that way (give hints to think about it),
subs (submerging before reg combat) becomes far less vulnerable than in Revised rules (submerging after regular combat),
and this rule is simpler: “simplifying unit interaction”.

Yes, it would make subs less fragile, but the thing that it would not do is keep subs from being used as fodder in fleet battles.  With subs being immune to air units without a destroyer, it’s dangerous to pad a fleet with subs, since all an attacker needs to do is go in without a destroyer in order to force all of his/her air unit hits to bypass the subs and hit the more expensive units.  This makes destroyers the better choice for fleet protection, as it should be.

@Baron:

Finally, is there any single post or thread which contains a summary of all Subs rules of the different A&A games?

Not that I’m aware of.

@Krieghund:

@Baron:

In this condition DD still get a function because all freaking subs can always submerge before receiving any hits.

If all Subs rules after Revised always included both Submerge during First Strike and planes need DD to hit subs,
Does the simpler sub rule Submerge on First Strike phase with Air can hit subs without DD (if subs choose not to submerge) was ever play-tested?
Because, according to the uncorrected AA50 Rulebook,
Sub rule was easily understand that way (give hints to think about it),
subs (submerging before reg combat) becomes far less vulnerable than in Revised rules (submerging after regular combat),
and this rule is simpler: “simplifying unit interaction”.

Yes, it would make subs less fragile, but the thing that it would not do is keep subs from being used as fodder in fleet battles. With subs being immune to air units without a destroyer, it’s dangerous to pad a fleet with subs, since all an attacker needs to do is go in without a destroyer in order to force all of his/her air unit hits to bypass the subs and hit the more expensive units. This makes destroyers the better choice for fleet protection, as it should be.

Thanks Krieghund for the extensive answer.
I’m glad you play-tested it.
Did you ever read my little fix for this weird case about letting behind destroyers unit?
There is no need to comment (you probably have a lot of this stuff) but, at least just say yes or no.

@Baron:

It always appear to me that the presence/ absence of an attacking DD can have a large impact on the capacity of the defender to use Subs, or not, as cheap-fodder for his warships against a group mainly compose of attacking airplanes.

It seems weird that adding a unit such as DD in his fleet can become an hindrance to the attacker if the ennemy has many Subs which it can be use as fodder to protect other costlier warships.

I have the impression that this single addition can patch this little aberration:

Planes cannot hit any subs (even when DD is on their side) if their is any other elligible casualties. (Said otherwise, Subs are chosen last by planes.)

So, in any battle of planes (+ other type of units) vs subs+warships, the presence/absence of destroyer will not change the way the subs casualties can be picked against owner’s unit.

Planes will be mostly hitting surface vessels and other planes,
surface vessels can hit both planes, warships and subs,
and subs can hit any ships but no plane.

Still as OOB, planes needs DD to attack subs. It will happen when their is only Subs remaining against DD and planes.

Is it a real problem with Sub and planes when DD is present or not?

Does this HR fix the problem?

This is an interesting approach, but it takes away more of the players’ choice in determining casualties, which some players tend to not like.  With the OOB rules, the attacker can control that decision process more through the composition of the attacking force, which makes for interesting strategic decisions.

Thank you very much for the comments.

@Krieghund:

This is an interesting approach, but it takes away more of the players’ choice in determining casualties, which some players tend to not like. With the OOB rules, the attacker can control that decision process more through the composition of the attacking force, which makes for interesting strategic decisions.

However, you agree that :

@Krieghund:

Yes, that’s the way it works. There are some situations in which it may be a disadvantage to have a destroyer. It depends upon what you’re trying to accomplish.

And you also agree upon this:
@Krieghund:

@jeffdestroyer:

The defending player should allways be able to choose subs instead of other surface ships in a mixed fleet if they do not submerge.

I agree in principle, but that’s not how it works.

I just realized that instead of this rule DD limitation to planes:
@Krieghund:

Air unit hits can’t be assigned to subs unless there’s a destroyer friendly to the air units in the battle.

You could just forget the last rule on planes and simply have this plane limitation against subs unit (almost like the rule about transport chosen last):

Planes cannot hit any subs if their is any other elligible combat unit casualty.
Said otherwise, Subs are chosen last by planes, then transports, as a non-combat unit, are chosen last.

You let Destroyers and Submarines with their same capabilities.

Big warships will still need Destroyers screen against planes, so you keep an historical fleet.

Planes will still need DD to prevent Subs from submerging before combat.
Adding Destroyers will always be an advantage, not an hindrance (as you admit above).

Their will be no complex and anhistorical situation between Submarines attacking transport while scrambled Fgs patrol not able to do anything!

On the contrary, their will be a cat and mouse situation: which one will finish off the enemy first?

The only big difference will be this:

Some carriers and planes fleet defending without DD against an attacking only Subs fleet will get more protection by aircrafts.
Subs will be more vulnerable in this situation, but they still have their first strike shots against the carriers.
And, as the attacker, Subs can choose when and how they attack and when they need to retreat.

Even more, player maybe ready to take the risk of throwing an unescorted carrier, knowing planes can get a chance vs subs.
Even playing it as a gamble target (like the IJN Carriers in Leyte Gulf Battle), I let subs attack first, but after: all my planes can get a chance to hit before Subs retreat.

This way Subs will be just a little weaker, but it is an acceptable sacrifice, I believe. And a lot to win on the other part.

Don’t you think, it could have been an alternate way to resolve the subs used as naval fodder?
And without introducing a complex unit interaction as do the “DDs needed for aircraft”?

I know, it goes beyond the scope of your function as the “official answers giver”, but your last answer pushed me to resolve the planes, subs, DDs conundrum.
Keep historical fleet, simpler unit interaction, and planes able to hit subs (as it was historically correct).

I really like to have your play-tester/developper POV.

I have this one coming from you to argue for the DD is needed.
But maybe, you can compare and have something more specific to tell about this “fixer” for planes vs subs, and DDs:
@Krieghund:

Planes were very effective sub killers in reality. However, reality suffers a bit when translated into an abstract board game.

Adding the rule that destroyers are required as “spotters” for air attacks against subs represents the concerted effort needed to hunt and attack subs hiding out between raids. This gives subs more longevity and makes them more the fearsome foes that they actually were in the early to middle days of the war.

It also promotes the purchase and maintenance of more well-rounded fleets, as destroyers are necessary to guard against the threat of subs. This reflects the reality that subs were a constant threat to military shipping as well, and that no convoy would travel without destroyer escorts because of that threat. At the same time, it keeps them from being used as cheap “cannon fodder” in naval battles, as they were most often not used extensively in fleet operations, but rather as harassing hunters where their unique properties were best utilized.

All of these points, taken together, allow the game to abstractly represent the economic and military threat posed by submarines in World War II. This makes subs a useful and strategic purchase in the game. I hope this sufficiently answers your concerns.

In addition, you easily can imagine a UK fleet of Aircrafts, carriers and cheap submarines.
German’s aircrafts attack, what will happen?
The subs cannot be used as fodder, carriers and planes will be first casualties.
It will be similar to the OOB rule: DD is needed to kill subs.
Uk’s subs will have nothing better to do than submerge.

Hence, Destroyers are still very needed.

@Baron:

I know, it goes beyond the scope of your function as the “official answers giver”, but your last answer pushed me to resolve the planes, subs, DDs conundrum.

It’s not my “function” so much as it’s a badge assigned to me by the “powers that be” on this site, which I have no official connection to.  I’m simply here to help you guys out.

I really don’t see how your method is superior to the one currently used in the game.  It’s just different.  While it removes the sub/destroyer/air unit interaction (but not entirely, as subs can still avoid air units entirely unless they bring a destroyer along), it adds a layer of complexity to the choosing of casualties - six of one, half a dozen of the other.  As for the “realism” of planes being able to hit subs, I’ve already addressed that, as you quoted above.

@Krieghund:

@Baron:

I know, it goes beyond the scope of your function as the “official answers giver”, but your last answer pushed me to resolve the planes, subs, DDs conundrum.

It’s not my “function” so much as it’s a badge assigned to me by the “powers that be” on this site, which I have no official connection to.  I’m simply here to help you guys out.

I thought so because you seems always to be there when anybody need an answer or a confirmation about rules.
It is not a part of your job from WotC or else?
If it is a kind of benevolent or pro bono activities, then you clearly deserve at least this badge and much more thanks.

@Krieghund:

I really don’t see how your method is superior to the one currently used in the game.  It’s just different.  While it removes the sub/destroyer/air unit interaction (but not entirely, as subs can still avoid air units entirely unless they bring a destroyer along), it adds a layer of complexity to the choosing of casualties - six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Sorry, I don’t understant what you meant by “six of one, half a dozen of the other.” Can you explain it a little more.