I.  Safety

A.  A barrel safety pin must be inserted crosswise through the barrel of each firing cannon prior to lifting a ship from the water.  The barrel safety pins must be permanently attached to the barrel or to a point on the ship within 6 inches of each cannon.  Except for battling, the only time barrel safety pins may be removed from the barrel is during the process of tweaking the cannon.  Safety penalty points will be assessed for violation (for penalty see section on scoring).

B.  Firing BB cannons shall not be elevated above the horizontal.

C.  The wearing of safety glasses with side shields is required by all participants and spectators when in the marked pit area, when battling, and when observing combat events.  Safety glasses are especially important when retrieving a ship from the water, when near the water's edge, and when inserting barrel safety pins.  A safety penalty will be assigned to captains in violation.

D.  While a battle is in progress no one shall sit, kneel, or lie on the ground within 50 feet of the water's edge.

E.  If anyone enters the water to recover a ship, all firing of cannons (both by ships on the water and on shore) will cease and all ship motion will stop (unless allowed by the CD) until that person is again on shore. Ships near the captain who is retrieving his ship may be moved away for safety reasons. Ships which are off their five minute rule, or checking moss may also come to shore.

F.  An R/C "Frequency Tree" will be used at all sanctioned events to control transmitter use.  This "Frequency Tree" will have some means of attaching a marker to every transmitter currently in use showing the radio frequency being used.  A radio transmitter shall only be operated when the marker is attached to the transmitter.  A safety penalty will be assigned to captains in violation.  It is the responsibility of the Contest Director of a sanctioned event to provide the "Frequency Tree". 

1.  All radios must be narrow band, excluding those on the ham and 27 MHz bands.

2.  The 27 MHz band may be used for warships, except during Campaign, when the 27MHz band is set aside for the use of convoy ships, with frequencies A1 through A3 reserved for Axis convoy ships, and A4 through A6 reserved for Allied convoy ships.

3. For the National Championships, the 75MHz radio channels should be divided with the Allied fleet ships using Even numbered channels and Axis fleet ships using Odd numbered channels.

        a. The MWC Vice President has the final authority for assignment of Nats channels.

        b. In the event that deviation is needed from this general arrangement, the Vice President should assign frequencies so that no cross-fleet conflicts exist.

 

G.  All ships must have a pressure relief mechanism between the propellant tanks and cannon valves consisting of at least two (2) inches of plastic tubing (250 maximum PSI) or a manufactured pressure relief value set at 250 PSI.

H.  The following rules shall apply to the use of CO2:

1.  All CO2 tanks used on-board ships and as land-based storage containers must be commercially manufactured and certified for use with CO2 and may not be modified in any manner. 

2.  All CO2 systems must have a manufactured pressure regulator set to no more than 150 psi.  The pressure regulator must be connected to the tank using only manufactured hoses or unions rated for CO2.  The regulator serves to divide the system into a high-pressure side, consisting of the CO2 tank and pressure relief valve, and a low-pressure side, consisting of a distribution manifold, poppet valves or solenoids, and conventional R/C BB cannons.  Items on the low-pressure side of the regulator NEED NOT be manufactured or certified.

3.  All refillable CO2 systems must have a manufactured pressure relief valve (e.g..  rupture disk or equivalent) located somewhere on the high-pressure side. 

4.  All CO2 systems must have a 10/32 threaded hole on the low-pressure side that allows the CD to measure the pressure being delivered to the cannons. 

5.  The CD, or a person appointed by the CD, is responsible for certifying that all CO2 systems adhere to the construction rules.  Systems that are in violation may not be used during the event. 

6.  The CD, or a person appointed by the CD, is responsible for measuring the pressure of the low-pressure side of the CO2 system whenever it is deemed necessary or when requested by another captain.  A system that exceeds the maximum allowed pressure will have its regulator adjusted immediately and a safety chit will be written.  If a captain's ship(s) exceeds the maximum pressure more than once in an event, then that captain will be banned from participating during the remainder of the event and the captain's name will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for further review. 

7.  The Board of Directors has the authority to review all violations of CO2 construction or procedural rules.  If they feel that a captain has shown a pattern of CO2 rule violations, then they have the authority to ban the captain from participating in all MWC  events, for as long as they deem necessary.  Furthermore, the Board of Directors may review the actions of a CD with regard to the CO2 rules if requested by a captain in writing.  A CD who did not properly adhere to the CO2 rules may be banned from acting as a CD in future MWC  events, for as long as the Board of Directors deems necessary.  Such actions require only a simple majority vote on behalf of the Board of Directors.

 

II.  Construction & Class Rules

 

A.  Construction Specifications

1.  All ships must comply with the following test to be able to participate in R/C Warship Combat. 

a)  The ship is placed on its side.  One end of a 3/16" by 30" or greater brass tube is placed against the ship's hull skin an equal distance between two ribs (however, the hull skin shall penetrate anywhere between the two ribs).  Insert a 12" x 1/8" solid brass rod into the brass tube, rd location and release should be achieved with a cross pin (do not spray any lubricant in the tube or on the rod).  Letting the rod fall through the tube and striking the hull skin should result in penetration of the ship's hull skin.  Maximum hull strength shall not exceed an 18" drop.  It is recommended that a ship be built to 12" of drop to allow for battle repairs and hardening with age. 

b)  Hull skin must penetrate in 3 out of 5 locations on first drop. 

c)  Superstructure surfaces may be constructed of any material. That portion of the ship above the line of the fore castle deck is considered superstructure. Additional portions of a ship may also be superstructure if a deck step is present

d)  Hull hardness testing (as described in paragraph a.  above) shall be by challenge only except at the National Championship.  The challenger (except if Contest Director at a MWC sanctioned event) shall submit to the same test at the time of challenge. 

e)  All ships shall be hull hardness tested on the first day on the National Championship. 

2.  The total hull length that can be solid material shall not exceed 15% of the overall length of the hull.  This includes ribs, solid material at bow and stern, and fillets.  Measurement shall be made along the longitudinal centerline of the model (farthest point forward to farthest point aft of hard area). 

a)  A rib or keel shall be defined as any solid material attached to the hull skin, which is perpendicular to the plane of the waterline, and whose function is defining the shape of the hull. 

b)  Ribs and keel can be no thicker than 3/8" thick material. 

c)  Minimum spacing between ribs shall be no less than 1" from rib centers. 

d)  Solid material in the bow may extend no more than 2” aft following the contour of the bow.  (See Diagram A.)

e)  Solid material in the stern can extend no more than 1" forward, following the contour of the stern.

3.  The main deck(s) may be no more than 3/8" thick (maximum thickness of any single or multiple deck assembly). 

4.  Impenetrable material may be used as hull skin, but must be at least 1" below the waterline or more than 45 degrees down the turn of the bilge.  (See diagram B) The hull skin immediately around the prop and rudder shaft exits may be impenetrable material; it must not, however, interfere with the inherent penetrability of the hull. 

5.  Internal "armor" may be used to prevent bb's from damaging internal components or exiting the other side of the hull, as long as it does not violate rule II.A.4.   (Note that internal armor is typically a sheet of plastic, plywood, or other impenetrable material mounted about 1/2" behind the hull skin, to prevent bb's from causing internal damage while still allowing them to penetrate the hull.)

6.  No water belts, double hull areas, watertight compartments, or other construction advantages may be taken that are attempts to defeat the scope of construction intent. 

a)   A watertight box(es) may be used for the purpose of protecting electronic equipment.  This box(es) shall not have sufficient buoyancy to prevent the model from sinking (for the purposes of defining this paragraph only, sinking is defined as a model that will completely submerge). 

b)   No interior box(es), bulkheads, or other interior construction shall subdivide the hull into separate compartments or that will affect the penetrability of the hull skin to bb entries.

c)  Solid material may be used as “water channeling” as long as it does not interfere with the inherent penetrability or sinkability of the ship. Water channeling may not extend above 1” below the waterline (or equivalent) hard area.

7.  A stringer shall be defined as any solid material that hull skin is attached to that forms the shape of the hull and is not classed as a rib. 

a)  No stringers shall be used unless the shape of the hull dictates.  Hull features that dictate the use of a stringer are: bulges, casement guns, knuckles, or armor belts.  The stringer may not extend more than one rib beyond where that hull feature is prominent. 

b)  The surface of the stringer which is against the penetrable area of the hull skin shall be no thicker than 1/8" material but may be any width. 

c)  There shall be no more than one stringer between any two ribs in the penetrable area of the hull (on both sides of the hull). 

8.   Penetrable hull areas shall be non self-sealing. 

9.   Any form of positive hull pressurization is illegal. 

10. On ships which have casement mounted cannons, the cupolas may be constructed of impenetrable material.  A 1/8" wide strip on each side of the cupola may also be made impenetrable.  If the flat area between cupolas is inset more than 1/2" from the edge of the gunwale the entire casement (cupolas and all flat areas inset greater than 1/2") may be made impenetrable. 

 

B.  Scale

1.  Hull shape shall be relatively scale, non-scale additions to the hull that increase drag are not allowed.

3.  The center of the marked waterline of the model must be within 1/8" of the actual floating waterline of the model.  On ship Classes 7 through 2 a ship model may have 1/4" wide tape or equivalent painted waterline and ships Classes 1 and 1/2 may have a 1/8" wide tape or equivalent painted waterline or a scale width waterline may be used on any class ship.

4.  The ship shall be equipped with a scale number of shafts.  Each ship must have a scale number of props.  Non-powered props must be scale, or the same size or smaller than the powered props.  Speed trim disks may not exceed the size of the drive props, and must be center mounted.

5.  Barrels must be installed in all turrets.

6.  To legally enter a sanctioned event, all ships must have all superstructure parts in place which exceed one cubic inch in volume.

 

C.  Rudder Specifications

1.  The ship shall be equipped with a scale number of rudders.  Only rudders shall be used to turn ships (no "turning motors" or other systems may be used to assist in turning). Rudders may not have horizontal features such as wings, etc.

2.  The maximum total movable rudder area (measured by cross-section) allowed shall be by model class as follows:

Class 7,6,8	4.00 square inches		Class 2	1.75 square inches
Class 5	3.00 square inches		Class 1	1.50 square inches
Class 4	2.50 square inches		Class 1/2	1.00 square inches
Class 3	2.00 square inches

3.  Ships with two or more rudders, or greater than 700 feet length overall, may have 50% more total rudder area than allowed above.  If the additional rudder area is utilized, all rudders must function.

4.  If a ship has a scale rudder or rudders which have more rudder area than allowed above, then that ship may have the scale rudder area if it can be substantiated, and if said rudder is the scale shape.  Said ship must be submitted to the Board of Directors for a ruling as to its allowed rudder area.

5.   All 1/150^th scale ships that are legally eligible to battle in MWC events are allowed a maximum rudder area of eight percent (8%) less by class as specified for 1/144^th scale ships.

 

D.  Reverse

All model ships must be able to change from forward to reverse motion by radio control.

 

E.  Cannons

1.   A cannon shall be defined as an offensive unit and shall not fire any projectile other than a bb (.177" diameter steel shot).

2.   Maximum cannon firing pressure shall not exceed 150 p.s.i.  Use of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) or other ozone depleting chemicals as propellant is prohibited.

3.   All cannons must be equipped to fire single shot, except cannons which are allowed to spurt.

a)   A single shot cannon is defined as one which fires one bb for each transmitter control movement from neutral to a fire position and return to neutral.

4.   For test purposes a single shot cannon will be allowed a 20% variance in the ratio of stick movement to bbs fired.  Example: for 30 stick movements the cannon may fire anywhere from 24 to 36 bbs and still be legal.  The Contest Director shall determine compliance both with shore testing and firing characteristics during battle.

a)   Single shot cannon testing shall be by challenge only.  The challenger's cannons will be tested at the same time as the challenged cannons.

5.   Cannons must be placed in turrets or casemates occupied by the main battery of the ship modeled.  Main battery cannons in a turret must exit the turret from the face of the turret.  The turret barbette must be of scale size and shape; it cannot be modified to increase the down angle of the cannon.  The turret must sit flat on the barbette.  No cannons may be mounted near the waterline or below the waterline.

a)   Ships in class 4,5,6 & 7 with their main armaments located all forward of their superstructure, may use an aft secondary battery to mount a single stern cannon.

6.   Cannons may be mounted in the superstructure if the main turrets (or secondary turrets, if 5.a. above applies) are physically too small to house the cannon.

7.   The maximum length of the cannon barrel shall be limited to:

a)   "O"-ring cannon: 5" from "O"-ring.

b)   "Restrictor tube" cannon: 6" from the outlet side of the restrictor tube.

8.   Automatic-tracking and automatic-ranging systems for the cannons are illegal.

9.   All spurt cannons must have an O-ring or restrictor tube and their barrel i.d.  must be no more than .190" at the muzzle.

 

F.  Additional Weapons

Since the goal of the hobby is to conduct safe surface naval battles, other weapons such as mines, torpedoes, ram bow usage, depth charges, rockets, fire, acids, bases, etc., are not allowed.

 

G.  Pumps

1.   A pump shall be defined as one or one half defensive unit and shall not be of a positive displacement design.

2.   A one unit pump shall have one round 1/8" inside diameter discharge port; a half unit pump shall have one round 3/32" inside diameter discharge port.  The port diameter must be measurable from the outside of the ship.  A one unit pump may not be subdivided into two 1/2 unit pumps.

3.   A pump motor shall be no larger than the largest propulsion motor in the model.

4.   All pumps must be electric, and composed of one motor and one pump rotor.

5.   A pump shall have only one intake.

6      <Item deleted in 2003>(see Sect. K, Submarines)

 

H.  Warship Classes

CLASS	UNITS	SHIP TYPES
8 7	8 7 1/2	USS Iowa Class and IJN Yamato Class Battleships >= 60,000 tons.
	7	Battleships >= 44,000 tons to 59,999 tons.
6	6 1/2	Battleships >= 40,000 tons to 43,999 tons.
	6	Battleships >= 33,000 tons to 39,999 tons. IJN Nagato (B) Class
5	5 1/2	Battleships >= 27,000 tons to 32,999 tons. Battlecruisers >= 35,000 tons.
	5	Battleships >= 25,000 tons to 26,999 tons. Battlecruisers >= 30,000 tons to 34,999 tons.
4	4 1/2	Battleships >= 22,500 tons to 24,999 tons. Battlecruisers >= 25,000 tons to 29,999 tons.
	4	Battleships < 22,500 tons. Battlecruisers < 25,000 tons.
3	3 1/2	Heavy cruisers >= 12,000 tons. Pre-Dreadnought battleships.
	3	Heavy cruisers built after 1922, 8,000 to 11,999 tons. Light cruisers built after 1922, >= 9,000 tons. CVAs Lexington, Akagi and Kaga classes.
2	2 1/2	Heavy cruisers built after 1922, < 8,000 tons. Light cruisers built after 1922, 6,500 tons to 8,999 tons. Armored cruisers built before 1922. Other CVAs.
	2	Light cruisers built after 1922, 4,500 tons to 6,499 tons. Monitors >= 7000 tons.
1	1 1/2	Light cruisers built after 1922, < 4,500 tons. Protected cruisers built before 1922. Destroyers 2500 tons and above. CVLs.
	1	Monitors < 7000 tons. Destroyers > 1,500 tons to 2,499 tons. Submarines.
1/2	1/2	Destroyers less than 1500 tons. Gunboats, CVEs and all other ship types not listed above

 

3)   <Item deleted in 2001.>