Battleship

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Le Redoutable (1889)

Battleship is a strategy game that has been popular for many years, both as a board game and in various digital formats. The game is played on ruled grids (paper or board) on which each player's fleet of ships (including battleships) are marked. The locations of the fleets are concealed from the other player. Players alternate turns calling "shots" at the other player's ships, and the objective of the game is to destroy the opposing player's fleet.

History

The game of Battleship is thought to have its origins in the French game L'Attaque played during World War I, although versions of the game were played earlier with pencil and paper. It was published by various companies as a pad-and-pencil game in the 1930s, and Milton Bradley introduced it as a board game in 1967. The game has undergone numerous editions and has been adapted into electronic versions.

Gameplay

In its classic form, Battleship is played on two grids for each player. One grid is used to mark the player's own ships and record the opponent's shots. The other grid is used to record the player's shots against the opponent. Before play begins, each player secretly arranges their ships on their primary grid. Each ship occupies a number of consecutive squares on the grid, arranged either horizontally or vertically. The number of squares for each ship is determined by the type of the ship. The types of ships and the number of squares they occupy can vary by game edition.

After the ships have been positioned, the game proceeds in a series of rounds. In each round, a player announces a target square in the opponent's grid which is to be shot at. The opponent announces whether or not the square is occupied by a ship, and if it is, the ship is considered hit. When all of the squares of a ship have been hit, the ship is sunk. The game ends when all of one player's ships have been sunk.

Variations

Over the years, many variations of Battleship have been created, including electronic versions and online games. These can include features such as special weapons, different ship sizes, additional ship types, and even playing on multiple grids. Some versions allow for more than two players.

Cultural Impact

Battleship has made a significant impact on popular culture. It has been referenced in various movies, television shows, and books. The game has also been used in educational settings to teach coordinates and grid references.

See Also

• Board game
• Strategy game
• Milton Bradley Company