Scramble question for Krieghund. (AAP40)
Example: The US wants to do an amphibious assault on Japan owned Paulau Island (sz34).
The US uses a transport and land units from sz48 (Gilbert Island) passing though sz33 (Caroline Islands: 1fighter,operative Airbase) to get to sz34 (Paulua Island).
Does Japan have the option of using the Caroline Islands’ fighter to “scramble block” the transport as it passes by?
Rules/concepts to not allow Scramble Blocking:
- rulebook>page14>Scramble>paragragh1>“Defending fighters…can be scrambled to defend against attacks in the sea zones surrounding those islands.”
The point: The US is not 'attacking’sz33, but in fact ‘attacking’ sz34 and Paulau.
- rulebook>page8>Spaces on the gameboard>last paragraph>
“Sea zones are either friendly or hostile. Friendly sea zones contain no surface warships belonging to a power with which you are at war. Hostile sea zones contain surface warships belonging to a power with which you are at war (this dose not include submarines and transports).”
The point: there are no surface warships in sz34 to prevent the transport from going to sz35.
- rulebook>page13>Transports>paragragh1>
“If a transport encounters hostile surface warships (not enemy submarines and/or transports) AFTER it begins to move (not counting the sea zone it started in), its movement for the turn ends and it must stop there and conduct sea combat.”
The point: a scrambled fighter is not a ‘surface warship’.
Rules/concepts to allow Scramble Blocking:
a) rulebook>page14>Scramble>paragragh1>
“These air units can join other friendly units in the sea zone or be the only friendly units there.”
The point(a weak point): The Airbase in somewhat of an extension if the island’s/seazone defense system.
There is more wording on scrambled air units on page 16 (under Air Units) that did not seem to apply to this question.
(Repeating the question) Krieghund: Does Japan have the option of using the Caroline Islands’ fighter to “scramble block” the transport as it passes by?
My guess is no, they cannot.