- BGG rank
- BGG #11,996
- BGG rating
- 7.4
The Royal Navy
- 2–3 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.3/5
- 1984
- BGG rank
- BGG #15,295
- BGG rating
- 7.6
Destroyer Captain
1979
Rules assistance for Destroyer Captain
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 2.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Destroyer Captain
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Destroyer Captain is a board game released in 1979 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Jack Greene and its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation.
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About the game
Hex-based simultaneous-move wargame based on destroyer (and an occasional light cruiser) actions in the 20th century. By the same designer and uses the same system as Ironbottom Sound. Gunfire is figured in factors, and an ordered-pair dice roll determines number of hits based on factors firing and range. The location of each hit is then determined by another ordered-pair dice roll. A hit on a location knocks it out unless the location has armor superior to the shell which hit it, and most destroyers have no armor. Torpedos are handled similarly, but must travel to their target before possible hits are determined. Ship plan sheets for typical WWI and WWII turret layouts are provided. Players must fill these out from the ship stat sheets prior to playing. Thirteen historical and two hypothetical scenarios are provided, along with extensive ship stats lists. It should be possible for players to set up additional balanced scenarios. Republished in Command Magazine Japan #51 in 2003.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Kokusai-Tsushin Co., Ltd. (国際通信社)
- Quarterdeck Games
Questions and answers
Destroyer Captain supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Destroyer Captain is 90 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 Destroyer Captain for ages 12 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.
Destroyer Captain has a complexity rating of 2.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-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.
Destroyer Captain belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Dice Rolling, Hexagon Grid, and Simulation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Destroyer Captain are: Jack Greene. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Destroyer Captain 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.