Radar Horizon Question

[georges]

Hi

I am really rather confused about the Radar result of "1.5". Let me give you the example I am working on.

Kirov is attempting to detect Iowa. Kirov has a SS Radar value of 1.5 while Iowa has a RSig of 1. Using Table 5.2.2 that gives a detection distance of 2. With no modifiers (for simplicity) using Table 5.10 that gives a Net Detection Range of 2. However, using Table 5.2.3 for two Large vessels, the Radar Line of Sight is 1.5. What does this mean? If the two ships are 2 hexes apart, they are not detected, if they are 1 hex apart, they are? But this would be the same for a Radar Line of Sight of 1, so what is the difference between 1 and 1.5 (or indeed 2)?

I have looked through the examples and they all steer very clear of this value and I cannot see any clarifications in the errata.

I know the rules have been around for some time, so this must be me being rather thick so could you put me out of my misery and tell me how to proceed?

Thanks
George

[williammiller]

Thanks for the question George, and welcome to the forums!

Remember that each hex of the main map is technically represented by a Formation Display (where you place individual ships, effectively showing 'where' in the main hex they are located) - even if not represented on a actual Formation Display a ship is assumed to occupy the 'Main' box/slot on a Formation Display for the main map hex it currently occupies. Each box on the Formation Display is 5nm of distance, compared to each hex on the main map equaling 25nm of distance (so 5 Formation boxes = one main hex in distance).

In the case of your detection range limit of "1.5"(which is 1.5 main map hexes) that means a maximum detection range of one main hex plus 1/2 of a main hex distance - since there are 5 Formation Display boxes in each main map hex, this means you would detect the opposing unit one main map hex away and also in the first 2 Formation boxes of the next hex away (5 boxes per hex, so half a hex = 2.5 boxes, which rounds down to 2 boxes).

So you can see that a "0.5" hex distance does matter when you consider the the smaller Formation Display distance scale. I hope this clears up the issue for if, if not please let me know, or indeed if you have any other questions.

Thanks!

[georges]

Thanks William

This is one of the possible answers where we got confused. One hex takes me from the centre of my hex to the centre of the adjacent one. Then 2 "boxes" takes us to the edge of that same hex; so we saw not difference to a 1 result. The correct way is to skip the first hex and count the boxes in the second hex; we hadn't thought of that.

Thanks a lot.

George

[williammiller]

George,

It can be confusing, and I should have made that more clear in the rules. Basically, as you indicate above, if a range/distance is in hexes then it covers the entire hex of each hex up to/including the indicated distance, while an additional 1/2 hex only covers the first 2 Display/Formation boxes of the next hex out.

Thanks, and I hope you enjoy the game!