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Imagine you're the commander of a British "S" type submarine on an important mission off the coast of Germany and that you have to hunt and destroy enemy submarines. Well, this is exactly what you do, if like me, you have bought Protek's submarine simulation program, Hunter Killer.

On loading an impressive picture showing a submarine launching a torpedo is drawn. You are then asked if you would like a quick practice shot at a submarine. Because the program is a simulation, there is a lot of cunning strategy involved. In all, there are 18 keys to master, which I found did not take long although finding the enemy took a little longer owing to some confusion over bearings, but they soon disappeared.

Your craft has two engines; one diesel and one electric. On the surface you should use the diesel engine but because this needs air to run, the electric engine is used under water. However, if the submarine stays down too long you won't be left with enough power to surface and recharge, so an eye must be kept on the battery charge indicator. The speeds for the diesel and electric engines are 16 and 9 knots respectively, so it's better to use the diesel engines to reach the enemy more quickly.

To make the submarine dive, the ballast tanks must be flooded using key N, and the hydroplace angle altered, using key 6. To stop diving and remain at a constant depth, the hydroplanes must be horizontal and the ballast tanks emptied. Surfacing can be accomplished by blowing the tanks (key B) and raising the hydro-planes (key 7).

Every submarine has to have a periscope and this one is no exception. Key P raises and lowers it and key V lets you look through it.

The water level is shown (which corresponds to your depth) and the enemy, if in visual range. Along the bottom of the screen are shown the periscope angle, your heading (so many degrees from North), the distance to the enemy and the torpedo count. Key O turns the periscope clockwise and key I, anticlockwise.

To help with navigation there are three types of radar; long range (22 miles), short range (4 miles) and an echo sounder which gives the familiar, hollow echo sound, when the submarine is below 15 feet in depth.

There are three high resolution screens shown. All the gauges and dials are shown in the control room which is scrolled sideways on pressing key C, to take you into the Chart Room. The other screen is your view from the periscope. In the Chart Room a map shows the area which you are in and part of the German Coast. Also shown are a tide indicator which tells you its strength and direction, the enemy's last reported position, your position and places where there are mines lurking.

Once the enemy is in range (three miles) and is dead ahead, pressing T will prime the torpedos and fire the first one. Second and subsequent torpedos are then fired using key F. Their speed is 45 knots and when you peer through the perisope, a bubble track can be seen heading towards the enemy submarine (or not as the case may be). If your aim is true, the submarine can be seen exploding.

Since you are in enemy waters you also encounter aerial attacks. Through the periscope a plane can be seen and heard and then a klaxon sounds. If this happens, you have roughly two minutes to dive below 30 feet before you see the screen shake due to the shock waves from the depth charge dropped by the plane. If you fail however, there is the sound of rushing water and whichever room you are in slowly fills up with water. The sound effects are brilliant.

Hunter Killer has five levels of difficulty and a manual is supplied with the program. A unique feature of this game is to let you play against a friend, each hunting the other but alas, this can only be done if you have a Microdrive to link both Spectrums. One other drawback is that it takes a long time to reach the enemy, but this is because it's a simulation program and Protek have based your submarine on a British "S" type craft with true speeds of 9 and 16 knots, nevertheless, this is a very small snag in an excellent program.

I have only given you the bare facts of how to play the game, but there are many more factors which contribute to the need of intricate strategy. This in itself gives the game millions of variations.

Hunter Killer is for the 48K Spectrum and is priced at £7.95.