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Captain Sonar
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Battleships
1931
Rules assistance for Battleships
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with saved question history.
Rules assistant for Battleships
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Battleships is a board game released in 1931 for 2 players, 60 minutes per game, and ages 7 and up.
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About the game
The pen and paper Battleships upgraded to printed paper and large scale. The grid is 14 x 22 and includes land and sea. You (S.E.L.F.) place 14 units including submarines, aircraft and ammo dumps (7 squares in a "U"). You attack your opponent (N.M.E.) by calling grid co-ordinates. Once per game you may unleash the "blockbuster" which hits 9 squares (in a square shape). A total of 63 hits are needed to win the game. Comes with at least thirty 3-color play sheets.
Editions
- BattleshipsENWaddingtons1973
- BattleshipsENJohn Waddington Ltd.1963
- BattleshipsENWaddingtons1963
- BattleshipsENThe Boots Company, PLC
- BattleshipsENHoldson
Questions and answers
Battleships supports 2 players according to the catalogue. This is the publisher’s listed player count, so the game is designed for exactly that number of participants. Variants for other group sizes, if any, are described in the rulebook of your edition, so check it before setting up a different configuration.
The listed playing time for Battleships is 60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Battleships for ages 7 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Battleships has a complexity rating of 1.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Battleships belongs to these categories: Deduction and Nautical. Categories describe the theme, setting and style of a game rather than its rules. Filter the catalogue by the same category to find similar games when you enjoyed Battleships and want something comparable for your next game night.
The catalogue lists Battleships as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.