Battleship — FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the game
How do I start a game of Battleship?
Place all ships on the board by dragging them. Click a ship to rotate it. Once all 10 ships are placed, click "Start Game" — the system automatically finds you a real opponent online.
How many ships are in Battleship?
The standard fleet has 10 ships: 1 battleship (4 cells), 2 cruisers (3 cells each), 3 destroyers (2 cells each), 4 submarines (1 cell each). Ships cannot touch each other, not even diagonally.
Can I play Battleship against a real person online?
Yes! The game connects you with real opponents from around the world automatically. No invite links needed — place your ships and click Start.
Is Battleship free? Do I need to register?
The game is completely free. No registration, no account, no download required. Open the site and play instantly on any device.
When was Battleship invented?
The first commercial version called "Salvo" was published by Starex Novelty Co. in 1931. The game gained worldwide fame when Milton Bradley released its board game version in 1943. An electronic version followed in 1977.
How many possible ship placement configurations are there?
With the standard fleet on a 10×10 board, there are over 26.5 trillion (26,509,655,816,984) possible placement combinations. Every game is unique!
What is the best strategy to win at Battleship?
Classic strategy: place larger ships in corners and along edges, spread single-cell submarines across the rest. When searching: use a checkerboard pattern — this finds any ship of size 2+ with the fewest shots.