French CAP over surprised Belguim units. Game allows, is it correct?

[Joseignacio]

We have always played that surprised units cannot be supported in any way by their friendly major power's units.

And reading the rules on page 130 RAC I still get the same conclussion.

However my opponent is not 100% sure in the case of a CAP especially. Can any of you confirm whether a CAP is possible by France to protect Belgium units from a Ground Strike? Belgium being aligned to France

IMO no, my opponnet says maybe yes, and the game allows.

[Joseignacio]

On one side, the rules say:

15.1

(...)

Surprised aircraft units cannot fly any mission that is exclusively against
units controlled by major powers declaring war.

This would exclude the Belges.

About the French:

15.1

(...)

Aircraft units controlled by a major power declaring war, cannot be
intercepted if they are flying:
 a strategic bombardment mission against a hex controlled by a
surprised major power or minor country; or
 any other mission exclusively against surprised units.

Although this is an interception, not purely a CAP.

This is just my view.

Edit: There exists as well a similar case in Harry's Clarifications, this time with a CAP. Q15.1-1

Question: The US starts the Axis impulse neutral to GE and IT, but is at war with Japan.
GE / IT DOW the US.
There are two US AMPH in Corsica which is a CW conquered territory. During the port strike phase the CW flies CAP over the hex.
The GE / IT port attack the USAMPHs. Would you rule that the CWwould or would not fight an air to air combat against the GE / IT?

Answer: Aircraft units controlled by a major power declaring war cannot be intercepted if they are flying any mission
exclusively against surprised units. To engage in combat, the CAP must intercept the bombers entering the hex but cannot, see 15.1. Date
07/03/2008

So it seems you could fly the cap but since you cannot intercept, it is for nothing.

The game allows the move and starts the fight like there has been an interception due to cap.

[paulderynck]

By the clarified rule you should not be able to CAP a surprised country's hex. The fix for the game letting you to do so (until the bug is fixed), is don't CAP the hex.

[Joseignacio]

IN the game we are talking aboutwe can avoid it, but in another one I play I made a test and :

- The game didn't let me send my couple of french fighters (unlike in the one I referred in my earlier posts)

- but both were left disorganized anyway.


it seems it happens only sometimes.

Note: We didn't load a previous file because when I realized there had been some rolls of ground strike.

thanks for claring this, will be useful for tonight's 10pm session