[Krsqk]

AFAIK, hypothesis H2 is true. That is, if a component is damaged but not destroyed, the next shot will also hit that component unless it is of a special damage type which prevents that (i.e., Only Engines, Only Planet Destroyers, etc).

For instance, if I shoot a a ship with DUC V's (40 ADU) and hit a colony comp (200kt structure), no damage will be seen until the fifth shot, when enough damage has accumulated to destroy the comp. However, if I replace the Last DUC V with an Ionic Disperser V (also 40 damage, but Only Engines damage type), all 200 damage will be pulled out of the colony comp and be applied to the engines.

At least, that's how it worked before. Did it change somewhere?