                                Command : MINE

 SYNTAX:
   [mc ##] Command : mine <SHIPS> <NUMBER>

The mine command allows your ships with minelaying  ability  to  plant  mines.
You  specify a list of ships that will be performing the mining operation, and
a number of mines to be dropped from each ship.

Mines cost a number of shells and mobility points  per  mine.   Ships  without
mobility,  crew,  or shells cannot contribute to a minelaying operation.  Only
coastal sea sectors can be mined.

Each mine gives a 5% chance that a passing ship will be hit.   The  probabili-
ties  are  additive,  e.g. twenty mines produce a 100% chance of a mine colli-
sion.  The damage a mine inflicts is considerable,  and  depending  on  random
chance,  may  be  enough  to sink some of the smaller and less heavily-armored
ships.

Mines can only be removed safely by a minesweeper, and not  even  minesweepers
are  proof  against being damaged by mines.  Non-minesweepers can remove mines
with less finesse by hitting them!

                                Command : MINE

Note that the sector is checked for possible mine hits only when a ship  moves
into  it;  thus,  a  destroyer may safely drop mines in a sector and then move
out.  On the other hand, the mines know no allegiance, so moving back  into  a
sea sector you just mined is foolish at best!

See also : navigate

