The player is in command of USS Cheyenne in a limited war against China over the Spratly Islands.

The gameplay is limited to a 15-mission single-player campaign in which the player carries out anti-submarine, anti-surface ship roles, intelligence gathering activities, and the launch of submarine based cruise missiles.

The computer game version uses video briefings and fictional news reports to enhance the atmosphere both before and after the missions.

In the game player weapons are limited to submarine-launched torpedoes, with a VLS system for launching Tomahawk missiles at off-map targets (as a mission objective).

Commands are limited to directional steering, ballast tank and periscope controls, basic sonar functions, and weapons targeting and firing, providing an arcade like feel to the game play, as opposed to a true submarine command simulation.