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Hello wargamers, naval historians, and ship enthusiasts!
We have a new update available before the release of the new DLC Expanded Battles. Read here all about the Tactics Update: https://www.matrixgames.com/news/tactic ... is-out-now
Download the update here: https://ftp.matrixgames.com/pub/Rulethe ... .01.22.zip

Hello all!

Here is the consolidated changelog for this update:

v01.01.22 – 4th March 2026

Research
• Reduced the chance for developing oxygen-fueled torpedoes (Japan has them as bonus tech, so
will always get them). This means only Japan will have them in 1935 start.
• Increased the chance of developing +1 guns in the 1920s.
• Reduced the risk of dispersion problems..

Fleet Management
• Added the ability to change force for divisions and freer detachment of ships after researching Improved Command and control.
• Added the possibility to create AV-divisions in fleet organization.
• Fixed a bug with Fleet organization and subordinate divisions disappearing from view when their lead division was dissolved.
• More permissive rearranging of force organization in the pre battle screen.

Battle Resolution
• Fixed a bug with penetration values being randomized where they shouldn't be (like in the gun data screen).
• Divisions in screen role will now use line ahead formation at night, to better accord with historical practice.
• Uncertain identity modified so that friendly ships in the same direction as the enemy will increase the risk of ships holding fire.
• Improved performance for oxygen-fuelled torpedoes.
• Increased maximum ranges for some gun calibres.
• Adjusted penetration for some gun calibres.
• Sunk ships can now be seen on the battle map after a battle has ended.
• All ships can now lay smoke once effective smoke generators are developed.
• Made smokescreens more effective.
• Improved messages on turret jams so that it is clear when they are caused by unreliable triple or quad turrets.
• Reduced bombardment damage to land airbases.
• Some improvements to the tactical AI.
• Some improvements to the damage model for splinter damage.
• Adjusted deck penetration.
• Fixed a bug that made heavy ships fire HE instead of AP as default choice in some situations.
• Revised penetration calculations for 18+ in shells.
• Prevented diving shell magazine hits for calibres less than 6 inch.
• Fixed a bug with enemy torpedo reloading being visible in the log.
• Fixed a bug with enemy ship name shown accurately when targeting a sighted ship for an airstrike.

User Interface
• Objectives will be visible on the map at the start of a scenario.
• Tertiary gun data can now be viewed in the ship status screen just like secondary guns.
• Added SAP to the gun penetration display.
• Info on hits received is now more "fuzzy" to prevent the player from identifying the type of enemy ships by looking at the hits received. Full info is given after the battle is over.

Ship Design
• Changed crew calculations to make crews of BB and CV somewhat larger (they tended to have too small complements compared to historical ships).
• Adjusted costs to make cruisers somewhat cheaper compared to battleships (cruisers were too expensive).
• Increased weight and topside load of fire Control.
• Added an extra confirmation when removing all visuals from a ship.
• Inclined belt is now somewhat heavier to account for the inclined belt being "higher" due to geometry.
• Some general adjustments of weight calculations.

Aircraft
• Increased ready times for catapult launches from non carrier or AV ships.
• Increased fire risk if non carrier ships are readying aircraft and take damage.
• Fixed a bug where aircraft types under development could win the air race.
• Improved the routine the AI uses for selecting aircraft type to launch on recon missions.

Bug Fixing
• Fixed a display bug with the HAA value not updating properly when changing from twin to single
secondaries and the nation has single HAA tech.
• Fixed a bug with selecting a visual throwing an error.
• Fixed bug with show compass preference not saving.
• Fixed some 1890 templates with incorrect weights.
• Fixed a bug with provide CAP to division not being saved properly in save games.