
- BGG rank
- BGG #11,383
- BGG rating
- 7.1
Chickamauga: The Last Victory, 20 September 1863
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 1975

1975
Rules assistance for Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 is a board game released in 1975 for 2 players, 120 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Irad B. Hardy and John Young and its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Action Queue.
Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45, is a two-player simulation of surface naval warfare in the period 1906 to 1944 with the primary emphasis on the role of the all big-gun battleship (Dreadnought) in fleet actions. Historical and non-historical battles and naval campaigns are presented. Essential elements of surface naval warfare are recreated, including gunnery, torpedoes, ranging, damage control, formation handling and fleet coordination. Game Scale: Game Turn: 15 minutes Hex: 1968 yards / 1800 meters Movement: 4 knots Units: Individual Battleships & multiple Cruisers/Destroyers Game Inventory: Six 10 x 10.75" single color map sections One single-side printed countersheet (400 1/2" counters) One 16-page Dreadnought rulebook Two Player Aid Cards One SiMov Orders Pad Two 6-sided dice Solitaire Playability: Medium Complexity Level: Medium Players: 2 or more Playing Time: 4-15
Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 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 Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 is 120 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 Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 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.
Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 has a complexity rating of 2.4 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.
Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Hexagon Grid and Action Queue. 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 Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 are: Irad B. Hardy and John Young. 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 Dreadnought: Surface Combat in the Battleship Era, 1906-45 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.