PERSISTENT FLEET · BUILD CHECK 1.0.4

Dread Admiral Game Fleet & Crew Guide

In the Dread Admiral game, build the fleet around jobs rather than one dominant hull: armored Cruisers and Battleships pressure unarmored ships, Subs and Carriers bypass armor, PT Boats and Destroyers reveal or depth-charge Subs, and nearby non-submarine ships contribute flak. Protect the Flagship, Carriers and Transport with positioning and blocking ships.

What the evidence supports

  1. 01The developer documented 14 ships before launch.
  2. 02Every lost campaign ship is permanently lost.
  3. 03PT Boats and Destroyers carry sonar and depth charges.
  4. 04All Carriers have recon aircraft; nearby non-sub units contribute flak.

Evidence-backed ship roles

  • Cruisers and Battleships: use armor and cannon pressure against non-armored targets.
  • Submarines: torpedo armored targets, pass through enemy ships and threaten on the opposing turn.
  • Carriers: recon hidden Subs and project bomber damage that ignores armor.
  • PT Boats and Destroyers: reveal Subs with sonar or end movement on a Sub hex to use depth charges.
  • Transport: capture cities; its blockade also reduces city income and victory-point generation.

Formation rules

  • Keep supporting hulls near valuable ships so combined flak can attrit aircraft.
  • Use non-Carrier ships as blockers to deny approaches to Carriers and Subs.
  • Avoid stacking into the same hex as an enemy: the developer warns this grants them bonus damage.
  • Preserve a retreat lane toward the exit rather than committing every hull to a city.

What is known about crew

  • The reviewed public sources describe fleet veterancy and Flagship upgrades, but not a conventional named crew roster.
  • Treat “crew builds,” recruitment tables and crew-tier claims as unverified until reproduced in the release build.
Evidence boundary

Ship counts and balance advice originate in developer posts written before launch; role interactions are retained, but the current review baseline is release 1.0.4.

Dread Admiral Game Combat & Encounter StrategyDread Admiral Game Technology & Laboratories GuideDread Admiral Game Beginner & Campaign Start Guide