Bismark

The weather is worsening and the sea batters your fleet impeding its progress through the grey Atlantic waters. Somewhere beyond the mist and rain lurks the Bismark, the world's most powerful warship. Behind you lies the wreck of the HMS HOOD Bismark's latest victim. You have at your command a huge and powerful fleet of British battle groups. Your aim is to find and destroy the Bismark before she can reach your convoy routes - or home. Either one represents a major defeat for the Allies and the threat of this devastating raider will hang over the seas until she is sunk.

First you must find her. Your two aircraft carriers can send up air patrols and attack using torpedo planes. Your destroyers are fast and manoeuvrable and your own battleships are powerful and numerous. Bismark is faster and tougher than anything you have, however, and if she gets within range of your carriers...

Test yourself against history and against a computer admiral who will do its best to change the course of World War II. It's time to stop playing kiddie games and start thinking!

The Game

You are in control of the British North Atlantic squadrons in the hunt for the Bismark. You have thirteen turns to find and destroy the Battleship before your forces have to return home to refuel.

Each turn you give movement orders to each of your twelve naval groups. Note that all forces can move up to two areas per turn, except Vian's destroyers, which can move up to three per turn.

When all the movement is done, you will be informed if any of your groups have sighted the Bismark. In poor weather it will be sighted only by a force in the same area. In fair or good weather, it will be sighted by forces in neighbouring areas also.

In fair and good weather you will be asked if you wish to fly airstrikes. You have two carriers. Victorious with nine aircraft and Ark Royal with fifteen. If the Bismark is within four areas of the carrier and if the airstrike finds the Battleship, it will attack her.

Next, any forces in the same area as the Bismark can attack her. The Bismark may attack weaker British forces, even if you do not wish to be engaged, and she will always fire first in any combat. Combat consists of an unlimited number of rounds, but after each round you will be given the option to break off battle.

Combat ends when one side is sunk or one side breaks away. When the combat, if any, is settled a new turn will begin. Of course, the game ends if the Bismark has been sunk or thirteen turns have been played.

Tactics

Initially you must set up a search pattern to find the Bismark, and to do this you will need to scatter your forces to cover a larger area. However, remember that when the Bismark is located you must be able to concentrate your forces to attack, so don't spread them too thinly. It is sometimes worth throwing a small force in against the Bismark to try weakening her - but remember that this sacrifice is going to cost you victory points at the end of the game. Also, use those aircraft! Historically they were the deciding factor.

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