Flat Top

About this board game

Flat Top is a high-complexity board wargame for 2 players, with an approximate play time of 360 minutes, covering the battles of the Solomon Seas between the United States and Japan in 1942.

Designed to reflect the realities of naval and air combat in 1942, the game requires intense planning and searching. Movement is covert, while the huge map makes locating opposing forces a central challenge.

The system models a wide range of operations and conditions, including weather, air searches, air combat, surface combat, carrier operations, submarines, air bases, and supplies. Each turn represents one hour, and each hex covers twenty miles.

• Individual ships and submarines are represented as units.
• Each air point represents three aircraft.
• Four maps combine to create a 44-by-28-inch South Pacific map.
• The game includes four Allied/Japanese operations cards, three player aid cards, and two log sheets.

The full game contains thirteen hundred counters, supporting the detailed representation of forces and operations. The first-edition Battle Line release instead includes two counter card sheets containing 800 counters.

Released in 1977, Flat Top presents a researched and expansive simulation of Pacific naval warfare. Its combination of hidden movement, searching, air and surface combat, carrier operations, and logistical concerns creates a demanding game built around careful coordination and long-range planning.