Naval combat - not at war with

[celebrindal]

So I know that if Italy is at war with only France, and not the CW, that CW can use it's units to initiate combat.

But why if there is a German unit in the sea zone, but the combat is limited to only Italy and French units why the CW would be allowed to fight?

Italy just DoW France (surprise) flew a german nav to the sea area. Surprised the allied fleets and went surface.

So technically only the French and Italian units should be fighting no?

[Courtenay]

No. Since there is a German unit, the combat is not limited to just the French. The CW can and must join in too.

9.9. MULTIPLE STATES OF WAR
However, you resolve, as one combat, a combat that includes units that are not at war with each other, so long as each unit included is at war with at least 1 enemy unit in the combat.

Example: A combat includes a Commonwealth and a U.S. naval unit against a Japanese and a German unit. The U.S. is at war with Japan and the Commonwealth is at war with Germany. You fight this as one combat even though U.S. units can’t fight Germans and Japanese units can’t fight Commonwealth. The Japanese unit is sunk. In the next round, the U.S. unit isn’t included because it can’t fight German units

Since there are Italian and German units and French and CW units in your example, everyone fights everyone, and the Italians do not get the benefit of surprise. If the German unit weren't there, then the CW units would not be included, and the Italians would get the benefit of surprise.

[celebrindal]

ORIGINAL: Courtenay

No. Since there is a German unit, the combat is not limited to just the French. The CW can and must join in too.

9.9. MULTIPLE STATES OF WAR
However, you resolve, as one combat, a combat that includes units that are not at war with each other, so long as each unit included is at war with at least 1 enemy unit in the combat.

Example: A combat includes a Commonwealth and a U.S. naval unit against a Japanese and a German unit. The U.S. is at war with Japan and the Commonwealth is at war with Germany. You fight this as one combat even though U.S. units can’t fight Germans and Japanese units can’t fight Commonwealth. The Japanese unit is sunk. In the next round, the U.S. unit isn’t included because it can’t fight German units

Since there are Italian and German units and French and CW units in your example, everyone fights everyone, and the Italians do not get the benefit of surprise. If the German unit weren't there, then the CW units would not be included, and the Italians would get the benefit of surprise.

Ok so no germans on the first round.. got it.. and yes I agree with your sig