diff --git a/src/game-v4.js b/src/game-v4.js
index 9303196..a37c621 100644
--- a/src/game-v4.js
+++ b/src/game-v4.js
@@ -533,7 +533,12 @@ class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     // happens from the scene update after the physics step; projectile cleanup
     // remains on the normal lifetime path to avoid collision-time lifecycle changes.
     shot.setData('playerHitQueued', true);
-    this.pendingPlayerHits.push({ shot, damage });
+    this.pendingPlayerHits.push({
+      shot,
+      damage,
+      x: shot.x,
+      y: shot.y,
+    });
 
     airshipLog('combat:player-hit-queued', {
       damage,
@@ -571,6 +576,23 @@ class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
     this.playerHull = result.hull;
     this.lastPlayerHitAt = result.lastHitAt;
 
+    if (result.appliedHits > 0) {
+      const impact = hits[0];
+      try {
+        this.spawnExplosion(impact.x, impact.y, 0.32);
+        this.flashShip(this.player, 0xffcccc);
+        airshipLog('combat:player-hit-fx', {
+          x: Math.round(impact.x),
+          y: Math.round(impact.y),
+          scale: 0.32,
+        }, 'debug');
+      } catch (error) {
+        airshipLog('combat:player-hit-fx-error', {
+          message: error?.message || String(error),
+        }, 'error');
+      }
+    }
+
     airshipLog('combat:player-hit-processed', {
       queuedHits: hits.length,
       appliedHits: result.appliedHits,