“Scratch One Flat Top!”

About this board game

“Scratch One Flat Top!” is a two-player operational and tactical-level wargame recreating the Battle of the Coral Sea. Released in 1995, it is designed for an approximately 600-minute play time.

The game places players in the Pacific conflict after Admiral Nimitz receives a warning from MAGIC about a Japanese plan to land at Port Moresby. In response, he sends two precious U.S. fleet carriers and an assortment of escorts to challenge the Japanese advance.

This setting captures a critical confrontation in which U.S. naval forces attempt to halt the Japanese juggernaut and bring an end to the long series of Allied disasters. The focus is on the operational and tactical decisions surrounding this major naval battle.

• Players: 2
• Play time: approximately 600 minutes
• Setting: the Battle of the Coral Sea
• Level: operational and tactical
• Information system: double blind, with no referee needed

The double-blind system is a defining feature of Scratch One Flat Top!, allowing the game to be played without a referee. Each side confronts the uncertainty of a naval operation while directing the forces assigned to the scenario.

For players interested in detailed historical wargames, Scratch One Flat Top! offers a focused recreation of the Coral Sea battle, centered on carrier forces, escorts, Japanese operational intentions, and the U.S. response to the threat at Port Moresby.