4 replies to this topic

[alberto ricart]

in playing naval actions at night my understanding of the rules is that ships can`t fire on radar detected targets, until it has been visualy acquired. however, can starshells be fired on targets which are only radar detected and terefore these become visually acquired?

[Jim O'Neil]

Assuming the Radar provides a sufficiently accurate deflection and range, this should not be a problem. Some early Radars were not able to providegood bearingaccuracy.As an example the 1942 Japanese Type 2 Mark 2 had a range accuracy of 1-2 Km and a bearing accuracy of 20º ! The early British Type 79 had a bearing accuracy of 5º and no real ranging ability (corrected in the 1940 Type 279)Neither of these was going to be very helpful in placing a Starshell.

[alberto ricart]

would the search radars with a + sign be accurate enough to fire star shells on detected targets and then be able to acquire it with the starshell illumination ?

[Jim O'Neil]

Absolutely... those would probably be able to light the Captain's cigarette with a starshell.

[Aman]

What about the very prolific '-' radar? Friend and I are playing Savo Island out, and trying to figure out exactly this question. So if the '-' radar can fire on a Detected blip, then essentially the following gunnery phase enables the starshell to illuminate it, and it is then "Acquired" automatically.

Another question: What is the range and sighting limit onto a ship illuminated by starshells? The firing tables make it 21,000 yards shooting at night, more with a spotter plane. So once a ships is illuminated, it is automatically acquired by all ships that can draw Line of Sight to it?

In our present scenario, one Formation of ships has illuminated a Detected ship with a starshell. Another Formation of ships are about 20,000y away, so we're thinking they might be able to fire on them.