It should be relatively easy for FACs to pick the range at which they engage ships, based off speed alone.

Note that hulls in IS, if given enough time, can effectively move up to twice their listed speed in a Turn.

IE -- a battleship starts the game with a momentum of 2, and has a thrust rating of 4.  During the first turn, it can move up to 6", which means it ends with a momentum of 3". During the third turn it can move up to 7", ending with a momentum of 4, which means it can move 8" the turn after that.

So your average FAC should be able to, at some point in the game, move at least 16".  It can hover out of gun range (remember distance to these things is doubled) until it's ready to conduct its torp run, then scoot in to PB range and let loose (seeing as how it moves last and shoots first).

Use Your FACs right and really the only long distance threat (the only weapon that can stop them from at least conducting their attck runs)  is a rocket system.  Althought if they're left sitting a few inches from a cap ship with lots of Light Guns, they're toast. In my games, two torp carrying FACs are a serious threat to an unsupported light cruiser like the Tycho.

To me, the fact they always move after DDs, and shoot first, gives 'em plenty of legs.  Remember these aren't fighters so much as they're understood today, as teeny assault boats/attack craft/whatever.  The Brits originally dubbed them as planes because they didn't know how to categorize them.

Fire arrows are indeed a rocket variant, and may therefore be mounted on FACs.

A FAC may never have an armour value.

Actually, a VS ship with a gyro is merely able to turn as well as a FAC, not better than one.  A FAC may turn up to 180* regardless of when during its move the turn occurs.

FACs may not begin the game on the board, unless specifically stated in a scenario.

Dan