Although good admirals will know the capabilities of their own hardware, as well as those of the enemy, the game emphasizes the decisions that the players must make as naval commanders, giving them the same type of information naval officers would have in the real world and presenting them with the same choices. Sidebars explain what's going on 'under the hood' in some of the game's mathematical models, as well as background information on the tactics and technology of the hardware.
Harpoon explains the essentials of a wide range of sensors and the virtually intelligent weapons used in modern naval combat. This allows players familiar with those games, and naval combat of earlier time periods, to easily step into the modern era.
Harpoon uses the same format and terms as other Admiralty Trilogy games. Extensively researched and tested, the rules allow play so realistic the game has been used for training by the U.S.
Harpoon is a tactical miniatures game that covers all aspects of naval warfare from 1955 to the present day: surface, sub-surface, and air.