Modern Naval Battles Errata by Ted Kim 12 September 1990 This document has errata for 3W's Modern Naval Battles and the MNB II and MNB III expansions. (No further expansions ever came out.) As far as I know no official errata was ever issued for the game. However, much of the errata listed below (but not the ship card changes) were confirmed in personal conversation with Alan Emrich (one of the designers). Since this was originally posted (1990), many changes have occured in the fleets. In particular, the Russian Navy has declined considerably. I have not attempted to track these changes, since doing so would put the Russian player at a severe disadvantage. You should regard MNB as now being mostly alternate late cold war history rather than as a potential future conflict. Most recent editions: MNB (2nd edition) MNB II (1st edition) + included errata note MNB III (1st edition) MNB Rules 1. In the 2nd edition, they renumbered the phases in the sequence of play. However, they failed to update many cross references. Almost everywhere, the reference to step "D.3" should be "D.4". Similar problems exist for references to other subphases of step D. 2. In the 2nd edition, the timing element of ASW defense is incorrectly explained. Point defense counterattacks a submarine AFTER the submarine attacks. Area defense counterattacks a submarine BEFORE the submarine attacks. In either case, the submarine is considered active. 3. The last part of advanced game rule 12.3 refers to 12.2 as an optional rule. It is actually an advanced rule. 4. The "Definitions of Terms and Abbreviations" contains so many ridiculous typos. It explains how a "DDG" is a "frigate" and an "SS". 5. A number of corrections could be made to the ship cards. I actually do not think these corrections (and the ones listed for the other games below) are worth the time. They do not have any real effect on the game. Nevertheless, I provide them for purists. MNB uses abbreviated Russian translations. However, they are not consistent and sometimes they use a longer form. In any case, I believe some ship names (not just Soviet ones either) are not spelled correctly. (My source was "Combat Fleets of the World, 1990-1991" published by Naval Institute Press.) "Elliott" should be "Elliot" "Tallinn" should be "Tallin" MNB does not attempt to be a serious simulation, so I will not argue class ratings. However, I do think there should be consistency over the classes. "Krazny-Kavkaz", "Krazny-Krim", "Obraztsovy" and "Odarenny" are normal Kashin DDG ships (not Mod Kashin DDG), remove B missile and change point value to 4 "Tallin" should have same stats as other Kara class CG ships, change point value and hits to sink to 4 (other Kara class CG ships are changed by MNB III rules ) I won't even bother trying to argue about incorrect silhouettes and type designators. MNB II Rules 1. The sample mission table in 20.1 should have the "Even" 3-5 roll and "NATO Edge" 6 roll shaded as a priority mission. 2. Purchasing of cards and ships may be done in secret, if either side so desires. If there is a shortage of certain action cards, the side advantaged in the majority of war zones picks first. (If tied, roll a die.) 3. In the campaign game, one can obtain points from three sources: mission points, points for sinking enemy ships and "in port" points. "Final" mission points are the sum of mission points and points for sinking ships. Final mission points are the only ones that influence movement of the "war zone status" marker. In port points scored in any war zone on a campaign game turn cannot exceed the final mission points. (Thus, your total score can be up to double your final mission points.) 4. In rule 30, pile #2 includes other cruiser types also (eg CA). Pile #3 should also include other submarine types (eg SSGN, SS). 5. The Battle Turn Box 6 on the war zone displays should say, "End Long AND Long Range Battles". 6. If you play with the LPH (from MNB III), it does not count as a non-combatant for mission purposes if crippled. 7. Ship cards: "Admiral Zakorov" should be "Admiral Zakarov". "Conventry" should be "Coventry". "Chervona Ukraina" should be "Chernova Ukraina". "George Leygues" should be "Georges Leygues". "Gray" should be "Gary" (there is a "Gray" but it is in a different class). "Olendorf" should be "Oldendorf". "Vasily Chapayev" should be "Vasily Chapaev". "W.S. Simms" should be "W.S. Sims". "Yuushio" should be "Yushio". "Smyshlenny" is a Mod Kashin class DDG ship (not a normal Kashin DDG), add B missile and change point value to 6. MNB III 1. There are only 36 cards in the Air Module. There are 84 Action Deck supplementary cards. 2. Some of the Air Module planes have a zero chance of hitting the third row. If for some reason the air strike capability is enhanced (eg by Carrier Crew Efficiency), they may have some chance to succeed against the third row. 3. The note at the end of the sister ship listing does not mean that you can only use one Oscar submarine, rather it means that you can only use the original SET of three Oscars from all three games. 4. The sister ship listing and corresponding stickers have these errors: Standard Ships "Adm. Zakorov" should be "Adm. Zakarov". "Elliott" should be "Elliot". "George Leygues" should be "Georges Leygues". "Gray" should be "Gary". "Latuchy" should be "Letuchy". "Olendorf" should be "Oldendorf". "Sauro" is a SS not SSN. "Tallinn" should be "Tallin". "Tblisi" should be "Tbilisi", also this ship is a CV not CVN. "W.S. Simms" should be "W.S. Sims". "Yuushio" should be "Yushio". Sister Ships "Adm. Shaposhnikov" should be "Marshal Shaposhnikov". "Adm. Spiridinov" should be "Adm. Spiridonov". "Adm. Zazulya" should be "Adm. Zozulya". "Aleksandr Surorov" should be "Aleksandr Suvorov". "Begall" should be "Bergall". "Glassow" should be "Glasgow". "Glouster" should be "Glouchester". "Harry H. Hill" should be "Harry W. Hill". "John Handcock" should be "John Hancock". "Mikhail Kutuzov" should be "Mikhail Kutusov". "Nevlovimyy" should be "Neulovimyy". "Niyoda" should be "Niyodo". "Otlichnny" should be "Otlichny". "Sand Lance" is one word. "Adm. Spiridonov", "Marshal Shaposhnikov" and "Provorny" names have already been used, some other sister ship names must be chosen. "Derzkiy", "Neulovimyy", "Provornyy", "Upornyy" and "Zorkiy" are normal Kashin class DDG ships (not Mod Kashin class DDG), remove B missile and change point value to 4. "Commandant Bouan", "Commandant Birot" and "Detroyat" are D'Estienne d'Orves class FF ships (not Georges Leygues DDG), change gun to 5" and missile to A. The Japanese Navy is called the "Maritime Self-Defense Force", not the "IMPERIAL Japanese Navy". The Coventry correction sticker is not spelled correctly. There should only be one ship sticker for "Ark Royal" as the class has no crippled side. There should be two ship stickers for "Sovereign", so that the name on both the active and passive side can be changed. 5. Ship Cards: "Admiral Spridinov" should be "Admiral Spiridonov". "Arliegh Burke" should be "Arleigh Burke". "Latuchy" should be "Letuchy". "Tblisi" should be "Tbilisi" (this ship is a CV not CVN). "Badger" is a Knox class FF ship (not Spruance DD), change hits to sink and point value to 3 . # eof