The goal
Sink all five of your opponent’s ships before they sink yours. A ship sinks when every cell it covers has been hit, so winning means hitting all 17 ship cells (how to win Naval Battle).
The fleet
Each player has the same five ships:
- Carrier: 5 cells.
- Battleship: 4 cells.
- Cruiser: 3 cells.
- Submarine: 3 cells.
- Destroyer: 2 cells.
See how many ships there are and how big.
Placing your ships
Your own grid is 10×10, with columns A to J and rows 1 to 10. Place each ship in a straight line along a row or a column. Ships cannot bend, sit diagonally or overlap, but they may touch (can ships touch).
Choose a ship, click a cell, and switch its direction first if you need to, or press Randomize for a random layout. When you are happy, confirm you are ready. After that your fleet is locked (can you move your ships). Your opponent never sees your ships unless they hit them.
Taking turns firing
Once both fleets are placed, Azure fires first. On your turn you pick one cell on your opponent’s grid and fire. You are told straight away whether it is a hit or a miss, and then the turn passes to your opponent either way (another shot after a hit).
You can fire at each cell only once (firing at the same cell twice).
Sinking a ship
When every cell of a ship has been hit, it is sunk. The game tells you which ship went down, so you know what is left to find (how you know a ship is sunk).
Winning
The first player to sink the whole enemy fleet wins, and the game ends the moment the last cell is hit.
Putting the rules to work
The rules are simple, but how you search and where you hide matters a lot. The Naval Battle strategy guide covers a search pattern and fleet placement, or play Naval Battle free with a friend or against the computer.
Naval Battle rules questions
How many ships are in Naval Battle, and how big are they?
Five ships fill 17 cells: a 5-cell Carrier, a 4-cell Battleship, a 3-cell Cruiser, a 3-cell Submarine and a 2-cell Destroyer.
Read the full answer →Can ships touch or sit diagonally in Naval Battle?
Ships lie in a straight line, across or down. They cannot bend, sit diagonally or overlap, but two ships may touch side by side.
Read the full answer →Do you get another shot after a hit in Naval Battle?
No. Players fire one shot each in strict turn, whether it hits or misses. Azure fires first, and the turn always passes after your shot.
Read the full answer →How do you know when a ship is sunk in Naval Battle?
A ship is sunk when every one of its cells has been hit. The game log names the ship the moment its last cell goes down.
Read the full answer →Can you fire at the same cell twice in Naval Battle?
No. Each cell on your opponent’s grid can be fired at only once, and a second shot at the same cell is refused. Pick one you have not tried.
Read the full answer →Can you move your ships once Naval Battle starts?
No. Once you confirm your fleet it is locked in for the whole game, so you cannot move or rotate a ship after placing it.
Read the full answer →How do you win Naval Battle?
Sink all five of your opponent’s ships, which means hitting all 17 of their cells. The game ends the moment the last cell is hit.
Read the full answer →Play Naval Battle free →Invite a friend or practice with the computer. No sign-up.