Captains! With the arrival of the holiday season, we have two new ships which will begin the testing process.
American Destroyer Hull, Tier X
A hypothetical design of a complete re-armament of USS Hull (DD-945), a Forrest Sherman-class destroyer, with the advanced 203mm Mark 71 guns, developed in the 1970s under the Major Caliber Light Weight Gun (MCLWG) program. USS Hull entered service in 1958 and had the Mark 71 prototype installed in the bow position from 1975 to 1979.
Some varieties of destroyers in our game are often called "gunboat" destroyers and likened to cruisers in playstyle - Hull takes this concept to the extreme! While technically a sister ship of Forrest Sherman, Hull instead mounts three single 203mm guns, with characteristics similar to those found on Des Moines. While her damage per minute is mediocre due to the small number of barrels, the high fire chance and penetration of her HE shells will allow her to deal damage more reliably than her lower-caliber peers. Additionally, improved ricochet angles will allow Hull to surprise enemy cruisers with dangerous AP salvos. While she does have access to long-range torpedoes, they are similar to those on Forrest Sherman and are extremely restricted in terms of launch arcs. When it comes to survivability, Hull's large size, poor concealment, and low speed will be significant drawbacks; however, she boasts access to an array of improved consumables. A Repair Party with increased healing, an Engine Boost with similar characteristics as those found on French destroyers, and an improved Defensive AA Fire similar to that found on other American destroyers will help make up for her other shortcomings.
In battle, Hull acts as a formidable second-line destroyer. While she will perform poorly in the role of directly contesting capture points and enemy destroyers, her main battery poses a significant threat to enemy ships; similar to Elbing, Hull will perform best when firing AP into the broadsides of unsuspecting enemies.
American Destroyer Hull, Tier X
Hit points – 24900. Plating - 19 mm.
Main battery - 3x1 203 mm. Firing range - 12.3 km.
Maximum HE shell damage – 2800. HE shell armor penetration - 34 mm. Chance to cause fire – 14%. HE initial velocity - 899 m/s.
Maximum AP shell damage - 4900. AP initial velocity - 899 m/s.
Reload time - 3.0 s. 180-degree turn time - 6 s. Maximum dispersion - 107 m. Sigma – 2.00.
Depth charges:
Maximum damage - 5100.0. Number of charges - 2. Bombs in a charge - 8. Reload time - 40.0 s.
Torpedo tubes - 4x1 533 mm.
Maximum damage - 17900. Range - 16.5 km. Speed - 66 kt. Reload time - 73 s. Launcher 180 degree turn time – 7.2 s. Torpedo detectability - 1.4 km.
AA defense: 3x1 203.0 mm., 2x2 76.2 mm.
AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second - 77, hit probability - 100 %, action zone - 4.0 km;
AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second - 116, hit probability - 100 %, action zone - 6.9 km;
Number of explosions in a salvo - 5, damage within an explosion - 2240, action zone 3.5 - 6.9km.
Maximum speed - 33.9 kt. Turning circle radius - 680 m. Rudder shift time – 5.3 s. Surface detectability – 8.0 km. Air detectability – 3.8 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke – 4.6 km.
Available consumables:
1 slot - Damage Control Party (Duration time 5 s; Reload time 40 s; Equipment is unlimited)
2 slot - Specialized Repair Teams (Duration time 20 s; HP per second 249.0; Reload time 80 s; Charges 3)
3 slot - Engine Boost (Duration time 120 s; Maximum speed +15%; Reload time 120 s; Charges 3)
4 slot - Defensive AA Fire (Duration time 40 s; Average AA damage +100%; Damage within the explosion radius of shells fired from medium- and long- range AA defenses 300%; Reload time 80 s; Charges 4)
All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers. The stats are subject to change during the testing.
Italian Cruiser Ferrante Gonzaga, Tier IX
A hypothetical design of a light cruiser armed with advanced 135 mm dual-purpose guns that were under development in Italy in the late 1930s. The ship's hull and architecture are similar to those of the Duca degli Abruzzi-class cruisers.
Since the ship is an offshoot of the Condottieri cruisers line, it’s named after Ferrante Gonzaga, the famous Italian condottiere of the 16th century.
For fans of glass cannon light cruisers such as Colbert, Ferrante Gonzaga will feel like home. Armed with a main battery of four triple 135mm turrets and equipped with HE and SAP shells, Gonzaga is more than capable of dishing out the pain, but keep in mind that her main battery has a rather short firing range. Additionally, she's armed with long-range and hard-hitting torpedoes, albeit with only one triple launcher per side and a long reload. Ferrante Gonzaga also boasts very good concealment for a cruiser and a formidable armory of consumables; an Exhaust Smoke Generator with extra charges, Emergency Engine Power, and a Repair Party will help make up for her short main battery range, poor armor, and small hitpoint pool.
In terms of gameplay, Ferrante Gonzaga will act as an ambush predator, using her good concealment and high damage per minute to surprise and destroy enemy vessels. After launching an attack, Exhaust Smoke Generator and Emergency Engine Power will allow her to make a quick escape and fade back into safe waters. Be aware of your consumable cooldowns and be cautious of enemy destroyers; if held spotted with no tools available, Ferrante will be sent to the bottom by enemy ships.
Italian Cruiser Ferrante Gonzaga, Tier IX
Hit points – 34100. Plating - 16 mm. Fires duration: 30 s.
Torpedo protection - 16 %.
Main battery - 4x3 135 mm. Firing range - 13.4 km.
Maximum HE shell damage – 1950. HE shell armor penetration - 23 mm. Chance to cause fire – 9.0%. HE initial velocity - 875 m/s.
Maximum SAP shell damage - 3050. SAP shell armor penetration - 38 mm. SAP initial velocity - 875 m/s.
Reload time - 8.5 s. 180-degree turn time - 9.5 s. Maximum dispersion - 125 m. Sigma – 2.05.
Depth charges:
Maximum damage - 3200.0. Number of charges - 2. Bombs in a charge - 6. Reload time - 40.0 s.
Torpedo tubes - 2x3 533 mm.
Maximum damage - 20433. Range - 10.0 km. Speed - 72 kt. Reload time - 120 s. Launcher 180 degree turn time – 7.2 s. Torpedo detectability - 1.7 km.
AA defense: 4x3 135.0mm., 12x2 65.0 mm., 4x2 37.0 mm., 2x1 20.0 mm., 2x2 20.0 mm.,
AA defense short-range: continuous damage per second - 25, hit probability - 85 %, action zone - 2.0 km;
AA defense mid-range: continuous damage per second - 347, hit probability - 90 %, action zone - 3.7 km;
AA defense long-range: continuous damage per second - 39, hit probability - 90 %, action zone - 5.2 km;
Number of explosions in a salvo - 2, damage within an explosion - 1540, action zone 3.5 - 5.2 km.
Maximum speed - 35.0 kt. Turning circle radius - 600 m. Rudder shift time – 8.9 s. Surface detectability – 11.0 km. Air detectability – 6.4 km. Detectability after firing main guns in smoke – 5.0 km.
Available consumables:
1 slot - Damage Control Party (Duration time 5 s; Reload time 60 s; Equipment is unlimited)
2 slot - Repair Party (Duration time 28 s; HP per second 170.5; Reload time 80 s; Charges 3)
3 slot - Exhaust Smoke Generator (Duration time 40 s; Duration time 10 s; Radius 510.0 m; Reload time 160 s; Charges 3)
4 slot - Emergency Engine Power (Duration time 40 s; Maximum speed +20%; Reload time 120 s; Charges 5)
All stats are listed without crew and upgrade modifiers. The stats are subject to change during the testing.
UPDATE (28.10.2024): Fixed a mistake in the description of Ferrante Gonzaga's armament. The ship will have no secondary guns available.
Please note that all information in the development blog is preliminary. Announced adjustments and features may change multiple times during testing. The final information will be published on our game's website.