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- BGG #21,565
- BGG rating
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Run Silent, Run Deep
- 2–6 players
- 180 min
- Complexity 2.7/5
- 1993
- BGG rank
- BGG #22,034
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Sink the Bismarck!
1992
Rules assistance for Sink the Bismarck!
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2 players
- 180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.0/5
Rules assistant for Sink the Bismarck!
For 2 players
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Sink the Bismarck! is a board game released in 1992 for 2 players, 180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Michael Scott Smith and its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Hexagon Grid.
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About the game
This wargame simulates Operation Rheinubung where the German battleship Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen attempts a breakout into the Atlantic. This is a two player operational simulation of that historical event. The game retains the tactical ship to ship elements of the encounter. Each hex represents 75 nautical miles. A Damage Point Table and a 10-sided die is used to resolve combat. Dummy task forces and pre-plotted German movement is used to simulate the Fog of War. Hypothetical scenarios and historical scenarios are provided. The hypothetical scenarios include a different order of battle. For example, the additions of the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Kokusai-Tsushin Co., Ltd. (国際通信社)
- 3W (World Wide Wargames)
- Excalibre Games, Inc.
Questions and answers
Sink the Bismarck! 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 Sink the Bismarck! is 180 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 Sink the Bismarck! 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.
Sink the Bismarck! has a complexity rating of 3.0 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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.
Sink the Bismarck! belongs to these categories: Wargame, Nautical, and World War II. Its main mechanics are Secret Unit Deployment and Hexagon Grid. 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 Sink the Bismarck! are: Michael Scott Smith. 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 Sink the Bismarck! 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.