
- BGG rank
- BGG #5,056
- BGG rating
- 6.7
Midway
- 2 players
- 120 min
- Complexity 2.4/5
- 1964

Rules assistance for Tank Battle
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

For 2 players
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Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Tank Battle is a board game released in 1975 for 2 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Secret Unit Deployment, and Action Points.
The object of this game (a distant relative of Stratego) is to destroy your opponent's six tanks before he does the same to you. In addition to your tanks, you deploy an Ammo Dump, a Fuel Dump, your HQ and five Anti-Tank guns (which do not move). Your tanks are numbered but the opponent knows not which is which. You also deploy (by writing their coordinates on a scrap of paper) two land mines. On a turn, you first plot secretly (using a peg board) where you think your opponent's tanks will end their move. Once you're ready, he moves. If you guessed correctly, the tanks are killed. (You get six such shots each turn) You also have five special shots which can be fired only once each --they may be added piecemeal during any turn. You lose a special shot whenever you lose an AT gun. You have 6 moves each turn, no more than 3 per tank (unless down to two or fewer tanks). Tanks can only go sideways or forward but those that reach the opponent's starting row are marked with a flag and can now move backward. Tanks attack each other by orthogonal proximity, in Stratego fashion (higher numbered tank wins). Tanks attack AT guns using a spinner. The installations are destroyed by being overrun. Losing the HQ clears your mines; losing the Ammo Dump means you only use as many pegs as you have tanks remaining; losing the Fuel Dump reduces your movement points from six to four. Tanks die if they end up on an enemy mine square. Remade in to Mission Command Land
Tank Battle 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 Tank Battle is 30 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 Tank Battle for ages 8 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.
Tank Battle has a complexity rating of 1.7 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.
Tank Battle belongs to these categories: Wargame and World War II. Its main mechanics are Square Grid, Secret Unit Deployment, and Action Points. 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 catalogue lists Tank Battle 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.