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Old admirals all agree that their best command was their first destroyer. The US Navy's Fletcher Chess destroyers did thirty-six knots flat out and were used for submarine hunting, patrol and escort duties and anything else needing speed and nerve in every theatre of World War Two.

It is a mark of the destroyer's versatility that this program offers seven different scenarios.

The player moves between the action screens - with beautifully drawn graphics - for the bridge, observation deck, sonar, radar, depth charges in the stern, torpedos amindships, anti-aircraft batteries and main guns, depending on the threat.

The seven scenarios are Subhunt, seeking out and destroying the enemy; Screen, protecting your carriers from aircraft; Scout, checking for enemy patrols; Bombardment, provide covering fire for a marine landing; Blockade runner, beat enemy forces to get supplies through; Convoy Escort, lead a slow merchant convoy; Rescue, recover a shot down pilot.

But running through the choices it soon becomes appearent that this Destroyer is just a shoot-'em-up arcade game in disguise. On anti-aircraft duty, for example, the object is simply to use the guns to bring down every aircraft in the sky.

The scenario I was most looking forward to was the submarine hunt, but unfortunately when detected these submarines do better than 40 knots underwater and dive happily below 700 feet (9 knots and 300 feet is realistic) while the sonar gives no depth readings at all.

Also, the graphics are small compensation for the lack of routine signals. I found myself being repeatedly sunk by running into islands and enemy ships which nothing, including my own view from the bridge, had mentioned were actually there.

The appeal of this game comes down to the speed with which the player can cycle between the action screens.

At least, if there was ever a real case of a destroyer on escort duty being attacked simultaneously by aircraft, submarines, a surface raider and shore batteries I haven't heard of it.

This is a fast, lively game with good graphics, but I had been hoping for something more.