🔎 The uss alibamaGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6Place valueAdditionSubtractionMultiplicationFractions of a number
The Mystery of the Battleship Blueprint
A mystery has docked at the USS Alabama! Someone has scrambled the battleship's historic engine room blueprints. The Ship Historian needs your help to decode the clues, track down the culprit among the visiting crew, and restore the legendary battleship's records.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Duty Station | Gear Carried | Compass Type | Uniform Headwear | Vulnerability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ensign Brooks | Signal Officer | Brass Calipers | Brass Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Static Noise |
| Ensign Baker | Deck Petty Officer | Heavy Wrenches | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Bright Searchlights |
| Sentry Thompson | Helmsman | Heavy Wrenches | Brass Compass | Gold Officer Hat | Static Noise |
| Navigator Evans | Deck Petty Officer | Heavy Wrenches | Silver Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Loud Foghorns |
| Officer Mitchell | Helmsman | Signal Flags | Brass Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Bright Searchlights |
| Radio Operator Bell | Signal Officer | Code Books | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Seaman Carter | Helmsman | Brass Calipers | Brass Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Static Noise |
| Lieutenant King | Engine Mechanic | Code Books | Silver Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Captain Wright | Engine Mechanic | Hand Radios | Brass Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Loud Foghorns |
| Seaman Watson | Helmsman | Heavy Wrenches | Silver Compass | White Sailor Cap | Loud Foghorns |
| Navigator Gray | Helmsman | Signal Flags | Silver Compass | Dark Watch Cap | Static Noise |
| Pilot Collins | Radar Operator | Hand Radios | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Bright Searchlights |
| Commander Davis | Deck Petty Officer | Heavy Wrenches | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Loud Foghorns |
| Lieutenant Vance | Radar Operator | Heavy Wrenches | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Bright Searchlights |
| Chief Petty Taylor | Signal Officer | Hand Radios | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Commander Turner | Radar Operator | Code Books | Brass Compass | Gold Officer Hat | Static Noise |
| Pilot Adams | Signal Officer | Brass Calipers | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Gunner Perry | Engine Mechanic | Signal Flags | Silver Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Officer Morris | Radar Operator | Signal Flags | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
| Engineer Murphy | Helmsman | Code Books | Silver Compass | White Sailor Cap | Bright Searchlights |
| Officer Harris | Engine Mechanic | Code Books | Brass Compass | White Sailor Cap | Static Noise |
Clue 1
Place value
An encrypted message flashed on the engine room's old digital terminal. The security code depends on recognizing the value of the digit in the tens place on the control panel.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
500
900
30
80
200
4000
5000
T
500
30
700
300
3000
5000
30
80
40
5000
T
500
900
200
60
30
900
200
40
3000
300
200
3000
7000
5000
80
What is the value of the 5 in 69,506?T
What is the value of the 6 in 84,462?V
What is the value of the 3 in 543,478?D
What is the value of the 3 in 148,736?E
What is the value of the 8 in 131,385?S
What is the value of the 3 in 17,327?R
What is the value of the 7 in 267,930?I
What is the value of the 9 in 288,968?H
What is the value of the 4 in 62,541?N
What is the value of the 4 in 924,901?B
What is the value of the 7 in 688,743?U
What is the value of the 2 in 81,289?A
What is the value of the 5 in 45,724?O
0/13 letters found
Clue 2
Addition
We need to count the spare rivets and bolts left on the assembly deck. Adding these metal supplies together will unlock the radio locker's combination lock.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
W
7054
7571
5575
5322
3467
3264
7951
5633
6581
6153
5633
3433
3433
9211
5322
5323
4251
5633
3433
3433
5322
3264
7951
7571
9211
9473
3920 + 3134 =W
3596 + 2037 =A
2703 + 3450 =R
5054 + 4157 =C
5116 + 4357 =K
3125 + 2450 =F
1634 + 1799 =S
3465 + 1858 =M
1483 + 1781 =N
2998 + 3583 =B
3391 + 4180 =E
1822 + 2429 =P
3707 + 1615 =O
3654 + 4297 =D
1435 + 2032 =U
0/15 letters found
Clue 3
Subtraction
The fuel gauge in the boiler room shows a sudden drop. Subtract the leaked gallons from the original total to find out how much diesel the saboteur let slip.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
S
3241
8300
6681
8300
1398
1517
3475
7895
1398
S
3241
1947
6597
5782
7895
1517
2391
1947
4397
8300
7940
1947
1398
2272
8300
2272
6681
3475
S
3241
1398
8300
S
3241
6499 - 3258 =S
4337 - 862 =N
2962 - 1445 =C
8847 - 907 =H
9823 - 1523 =T
3619 - 1672 =E
3014 - 742 =R
5048 - 3650 =I
6196 - 3805 =K
8068 - 173 =O
9292 - 3510 =L
9397 - 5000 =D
11436 - 4839 =B
10877 - 4196 =A
0/14 letters found
Clue 4
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The ship's cargo hold has several rows of heavy ammo crates. Multiply the number of rows by the crates in each row to find the total weight and clear the pathway.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
A
6
100
27
60
15
54
21
A
6
60
3
110
2
30
A
6
14
100
A
6
21
3
54
36
15
56
54
27
60
32
70
2 × 3 =A
11 × 10 =O
12 × 3 =F
8 × 4 =N
8 × 7 =B
3 × 1 =L
6 × 5 =C
5 × 3 =T
7 × 3 =S
10 × 10 =W
2 × 1 =R
2 × 7 =P
12 × 5 =I
6 × 9 =E
10 × 7 =D
3 × 9 =H
0/16 letters found
Clue 5
Fractions of a number — the last clue
Only a fraction of the battleship's backup generators are currently online. Calculate the exact number of active generators to restore power to the main bridge.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
2/8 of 4 = ?
1/2 of 8 = ?
2/10 of 25 = ?
1/8 of 16 = ?
1/4 of 40 = ?
2/10 of 30 = ?
6/10 of 5 = ?
2/4 of 16 = ?
3/8 of 32 = ?
1/5 of 35 = ?
2/8 of 36 = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain unplugged the main radar console, then fled across the teak deck.
2.The villain hid the ship logbooks under a hatch, then locked the hatch behind them.
3.The villain swiped the engine room schematics, then fled across the teak deck.
4.The villain hid the ship logbooks under a hatch, then ran toward the bow of the ship.
5.The villain hid the ship logbooks under a hatch, then fled across the teak deck.
6.The villain unplugged the main radar console, then escaped down the ladder well.
7.The villain tampered with the propeller shaft dials, then escaped down the ladder well.
8.The villain scrambled the radio tower frequencies, then ran toward the bow of the ship.
9.The villain unplugged the main radar console, then ran toward the bow of the ship.
10.The villain tampered with the propeller shaft dials, then locked the hatch behind them.
11.The villain swiped the engine room schematics, then escaped down the ladder well.
12.The villain unplugged the main radar console, then locked the hatch behind them.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Mystery of the Battleship Blueprint
Culprit: Officer Morris (Radar Operator · Signal Flags · Brass Compass · White Sailor Cap · Static Noise)
- Clue 1 (Place value): "THE SABOTEUR DOES NOT HAVE HAND RADIOS"What is the value of the 5 in 69,506? = 500 (T) · What is the value of the 6 in 84,462? = 60 (V) · What is the value of the 3 in 543,478? = 3000 (D) · What is the value of the 3 in 148,736? = 30 (E) · What is the value of the 8 in 131,385? = 80 (S) · What is the value of the 3 in 17,327? = 300 (R) · What is the value of the 7 in 267,930? = 7000 (I) · What is the value of the 9 in 288,968? = 900 (H) · What is the value of the 4 in 62,541? = 40 (N) · What is the value of the 4 in 924,901? = 4000 (B) · What is the value of the 7 in 688,743? = 700 (U) · What is the value of the 2 in 81,289? = 200 (A) · What is the value of the 5 in 45,724? = 5000 (O)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "WE FOUND A BRASS COMPASS ON DECK"3920 + 3134 = 7054 (W) · 3596 + 2037 = 5633 (A) · 2703 + 3450 = 6153 (R) · 5054 + 4157 = 9211 (C) · 5116 + 4357 = 9473 (K) · 3125 + 2450 = 5575 (F) · 1634 + 1799 = 3433 (S) · 3465 + 1858 = 5323 (M) · 1483 + 1781 = 3264 (N) · 2998 + 3583 = 6581 (B) · 3391 + 4180 = 7571 (E) · 1822 + 2429 = 4251 (P) · 3707 + 1615 = 5322 (O) · 3654 + 4297 = 7951 (D) · 1435 + 2032 = 3467 (U)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "STATIC NOISE BLOCKED THEIR TRANSITS"6499 - 3258 = 3241 (S) · 4337 - 862 = 3475 (N) · 2962 - 1445 = 1517 (C) · 8847 - 907 = 7940 (H) · 9823 - 1523 = 8300 (T) · 3619 - 1672 = 1947 (E) · 3014 - 742 = 2272 (R) · 5048 - 3650 = 1398 (I) · 6196 - 3805 = 2391 (K) · 8068 - 173 = 7895 (O) · 9292 - 3510 = 5782 (L) · 9397 - 5000 = 4397 (D) · 11436 - 4839 = 6597 (B) · 10877 - 4196 = 6681 (A)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "A WHITE SAILOR CAP WAS LEFT BEHIND"2 × 3 = 6 (A) · 11 × 10 = 110 (O) · 12 × 3 = 36 (F) · 8 × 4 = 32 (N) · 8 × 7 = 56 (B) · 3 × 1 = 3 (L) · 6 × 5 = 30 (C) · 5 × 3 = 15 (T) · 7 × 3 = 21 (S) · 10 × 10 = 100 (W) · 2 × 1 = 2 (R) · 2 × 7 = 14 (P) · 12 × 5 = 60 (I) · 6 × 9 = 54 (E) · 10 × 7 = 70 (D) · 3 × 9 = 27 (H)
- Clue 5 (Fractions of a number): surviving statement (box 11) → Officer Morris2/8 of 4 = 1 · 1/2 of 8 = 4 · 2/10 of 25 = 5 · 1/8 of 16 = 2 · 1/4 of 40 = 10 · 2/10 of 30 = 6 · 6/10 of 5 = 3 · 2/4 of 16 = 8 · 3/8 of 32 = 12 · 1/5 of 35 = 7 · 2/8 of 36 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Place value, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Fractions of a number
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Battleship Blueprint — set in USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects