TAKE COMMAND.
War has erupted in the Pacific. You are the first line of defense. Assume command of the USS Halsey Blake, a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, in a desperate race to protect a vital carrier strike group from deadly submarines. Plot courses across a living 3-D Western Pacific, work passive and active sonar, unravel target-motion analysis, and decide if, when, and how to use your torpedoes; all before the enemy slips a shot at the carrier.
This free proof-of-concept was developed for the U.S. Navy and validated at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, where experienced officers tested and positively evaluated its realistic tactics and clear tutorials.
Built with Sailors, for Sailors (and anyone who’s ever wanted to think like one), Battleline condenses the heart-pounding cat-and-mouse of anti-submarine warfare into focused sessions you can finish in under an hour. Command your carrier strike group from the strategic “Theater View,” scanning for threats and plotting a safe course across the Pacific. Shift to “Tactical View” to hunt enemy submarines with active and passive sonar, or take the controls of an MH-60R helicopter in immersive 3D to deliver the kill. TV-style news breaks react to every success or failure, reminding you exactly what’s at stake, while a virtual instructor walks newcomers through each console and concept. Every decision — speed, heading, and weapons use — could mean the difference between a safe arrival and disaster.
GAMEPLAY.
TV-Style Newscasts & Naval Guidance
The mission opens with a breaking news broadcast that sets the stage for the crisis. Your commander then steps in to explain orders and teach key naval concepts as the situation unfolds, making the game approachable for newcomers and rewarding for veterans.
Theater View
Start with the big picture. Plot your carrier strike group’s course through contested waters in a top-down strategic map. Stay outside the missile range, watch enemy movements, and plan your next move. Every decision, speed, heading, sonar use, could mean the difference between safe passage and sudden disaster.
Tactical View
Drop into the hunt. Switch to Tactical View to work your sonar like a pro. Ping with active sonar to flush subs out, or go quiet with passive sonar to track them without giving away your position. Read the bearings, line up the target, and decide: avoid them… or set up the kill.
Helicopter Engagement
When a sub is locked in your sights, take the fight airborne. Climb into the MH-60R Seahawk and skim over the waves toward your mark. Adjust your bearing, close the distance, and wait for the commander’s green light. Within half a mile, the torpedo’s armed, hit the button and send it home.
Mission Goal
Make it to your destination without losing your carrier. Outsmart enemy captains, control the battlespace, and strike only when the odds are yours. The seas are alive with threats and they’re hunting you just as hard as you’re hunting them.
EARLY ACCESS.
Expect a few rough edges in this early-access version of Battleline. This early build is already charting a course toward richer scenarios and full multiplayer. Your feedback at the helm will help us reach that horizon.
Why come aboard now? The sonar is already crackling, the tension is real, and your ideas will guide everything that follows. Step into the wardroom and help shape the future of accessible, authentic naval wargaming.
We’d love to hear from you! Join our Discord channel!
Contact us to discuss how Gronstedt Group can develop learning games for your team.
THANK YOU TO OUR TEAM.
Jeff Smith (Lead Developer), Eric Hackathorn, Christian Fitzpatrick, Ethan Smith, & Anders Gronstedt
