Cruel Seas is a fast-paced tabletop game recreating the swirling naval dogfights taking place on the seas during the dark days of the Second World War. Powerful, well-armed boats manned by skilled crews stalk enemy shipping lanes, lying in wait for an unsuspecting target to present itself. With a roar of engines the motor torpedo boats would surge forward, opening up with tracer fire from an arsenal of machine guns and autocannons. If the enemy vessel was a large enough target, torpedoes would also be loosed to deal a devastating blow to their prey. The game covers six major nationalities - the British Royal Navy, German Kriegsmarine, US Navy, Imperial Japanese Navy, Soviet Navy, and Italian Regia Marina - each having their own character and play style. This rulebook explains how to organize your chosen fleet and take the fight to your opponent as you seek to rule the waves. The vessels vary in size and shape - from fast, sleek killers to slower but more heavily armed ships. Do you prefer a swarm of small but fast boats, fewer larger ships with heavy weaponry to bring to bear, or a combination of these two categories? Cruel Seas provides a multitude of ship and aircraft options and plenty of options to customize your boats' weaponry, making each game different. Cruel Seas is scenario-driven providing a strong narrative element to your games. From easy-to-play introductory scenarios to more demanding operations that will provide a test of both your skills and nerves!