Water Mine

A concealed floating contact charge laid by an Engineer Boat. It costs 60 metal, takes four seconds to build, and arms three seconds after construction finishes. It needs no power or production slot. Its tile remains passable to friendly and enemy hulls.

The first enemy ship, submerged submarine or swimming Gator Amphibious Combat Vehicle to enter its trigger range sets off the charge. It deals up to 200 damage before armour modifiers across a 1.5-tile blast radius, with damage falling toward the edge. Ship, submarine and medium armour take ×1 damage. The mine is consumed by that single explosion. Friendly hulls do not trigger it or take its damage; aircraft and ground vehicles on the beach are spared.

Only an Engineer Boat can build it, in deep or shallow open sea. Water mines can be placed beyond the headquarters building radius. It needs no adjacent coast, but cannot be laid on land, a ford, ice or an ore deposit. Adjacent charges need space between them.

How to use

Spread a few mines across the approach to your naval yard or along a channel your fleet defends. Their blast weakens a packed group of patrol boats before the fleet engages. A wave consumes the field, so replace spent charges between attacks.

An Engineer Boat reveals concealed objects within three tiles; sonar-equipped ships reveal water mines within their sonar range, and radar can also detect them. The charge has 45 hit points and can be shot or torpedoed without detonating. Escort a minesweeping workboat with armed hulls so the fleet can clear what it reveals.

AI commanders with an idle workboat and an established economy can cover their harbor with a small field. They keep land and water mine limits separate, and buy further naval charges after a fleet is underway.