Shokaku

0.8.2.0.1

Aircraft Carrier | Japan | Tier VIII

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Battle Levels

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VIII

11,500,000

Shokaku — Japanese Tier VIII aircraft сarrier.

The Hiryu-class heavy aircraft carrier whose design stemmed from the experience gained in building ships of the same type. Compared to her predecessor, Shōkaku came with reinforced anti-aircraft armament, a larger air group and somewhat improved armor. During the course of World War II, the ship's AA capabilities were significantly enhanced.

Modules

	Fighters (sqdr.)	Torpedo Bombers (sqdr.)	Dive Bombers (sqdr.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Type8 mod. 1	1	1	1		0	700,000

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Shokaku (A)	50,100	6	215		2/6	36/6/2		72		0	1,200,000
Shokaku (B)	51,400	6	215		2/6	20/32/6/2		72		27,000	3,000,000

	Cruise Speed (knot)	Average Damage per Second (HP/min)	Loadout	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
A6M5 Zero	144	0	0	1,200		0	600,000
N1K2-J Shiden-Kai	151	0	0	1,260		18,000	1,500,000

	Maximum Torpedo Damage (HP)	Cruise Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
B6N Tenzan	7,233	133	1,380		0	600,000
B7A Ryusei	7,233	137	1,450		18,000	1,500,000

	Maximum Bomb Damage (HP)	Cruise Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
D4Y3 Suisei	6,100	142	1,285		0	600,000
B7A Ryusei	7,600	145	1,350		18,000	1,500,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 152,000 hp	34		0	500,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4		Attack Aircraft Modification 2	Torpedo Bombers Modification 2	Bombers Modification 2
Slot 5	Flight Control Modification 1

Player Opinion

Performance

Just like Hiryu, Shokaku almost has the same play style as its predecessor. Again 72 planes means you can inflict heavy damage to any enemies you encounter. This carrier is also a lot tougher and armored compared to her predecessor, although you will still rely for protection from other ships.

Pros:

Same play style as predecessor Hiryu.
Large hangar capacity, 72 planes in total.
More armored than her predecessor.
Fully-upgraded can deal huge amounts of damage to enemy ships in a single attack run.
Excellent AA protection.
Difficult-to-hit citadel; the hitbox is located well below the waterline.
34 knot top speed means easier relocation when necessary.

Cons:

Expensive maintenance, especially if you are not fully upgraded.
Poor concealment (Although purchasing the Concealment upgrade can negate the problem somewhat).
Painful grind, expensive XP and expensive upgrades.
Stock torpedo bomber (the Tier VI Nakajima B5N2) is highly vulnerable to the level of anti-aircraft fire she will find aboard ships in her tier.
Loses a lot of speed during turns.
Very vulnerable to dive bomb attacks.

Research

This is a suggested research path:

Type 8 mod. 2 or mod. 3 Flight Control
Kawanishi N1K5-A fighters
Nakajima B6N torpedo bombers
Hull (B)

Researching mod. 2 or mod. 3 Flight Control depends on the player's preference.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Shokaku are as follows:

Slot 1: Air Groups Modification 1 ()
Slot 2: Damage Control System Modification 1 ()
Slot 3: Air Groups Modification 2 ()
Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 2 ()
Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 ()

Upgrade Slot 3 is the main choice of upgrades with Shokaku. For players looking to improve their fighter's capabilities, Air Groups Modification 2 () is highly recommended, especially when using the Type 8 mod. 3 flight control system. Otherwise, the Flight Control Modification 1 () helps players land and launch Shokaku`s multiple flight squadrons, as Shokaku has six separate plane squadrons to manage.

Upgrade Slot 5 offers players Concealment System Modification 1 (), which stacks with Concealment Expert and camouflage to bring Shokaku`s surface detection down to a tiny range of 9.1 km.

Commander Skills

Shokaku uses the standard Japanese carrier captain skill setup. Emphasis should be on skills that boost fighter and bomber effectiveness and AA protection. Aircraft Servicing Expert, Torpedo Acceleration, Torpedo Armament Expertise, and Air Supremacy are "must have" skills. Dogfighting Expert is also useful if Shokaku faces a higher tier carrier, and the bonus to ammunition allows her fighters to remain airborne longer before returning to rearm.

For AA defense, Shokaku has large-caliber 127mm guns that benefit greatly from Manual Fire Control for AA Armament. Basic Firing Training is also a good choice to boost all AA guns' DPS by 20%. And as Shokaku is a Tier VIII carrier, the player has access to the special Japanese carrier version of Defensive AA Fire (), which lasts for two minutes and increases the ship's AA DPS by a factor of 1.75. Coupled with Basic Firing Training and Manual Fire Control for AA Armament, the player can significantly increase the ship's AA DPS to shoot down enemy planes effectively and greatly reduce the damage taken from an enemy carrier's attack.

Evasive Maneuvers is recommended as it increases the bombers' survivability when returning to the carrier, and is especially useful when the enemy targets have activated Defensive AA Fire ().

Any skills that are related to an enemy vessel firing on your carrier are not useful, as the cost-benefit of investing in survivability skills is not worth the minimal benefit they offer. Shokaku is large and unarmored, and will not survive an attack by any ship larger than a destroyer. Shokaku captains must position their ship near friendlies and far back from the enemy fleet. Concealment Expert may be taken to further reduce detection range if the captain so desires.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns.	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines.	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched.	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time.	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time.	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire.	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes.
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable.	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables.	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm.	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range. ★★★	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen.	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed.	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost.	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding.	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier.	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes. -20% to servicing time of torpedo bombers. ★★★	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage.	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship.	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target.	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes.
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of shells from secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only.	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three.	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +30% to the armor penetration capacity of HE shells. -1% chance of fire on target caused by shells <=139mm. -3% chance of fire on target caused by shells >139mm.	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +5% attack aircraft aiming speed. +5% torpedo bomber aiming speed. +10% dive bomber aiming speed.	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% damage/sec. within the explosion radius of shells fired from medium- and long-range AA defenses. ★	Manual Fire Control for AA Armament Improves the efficiency of AA sector reinforcement and decreases its action delay. +20% reinforcement efficiency. -20% reinforcement delay. ★★	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Shokaku has access to the following consumables:

Slot 1: Damage Control Party ()
Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire ()

Premium Defensive AA Fire II () is recommended to counter any enemy carrier's attempts to "snipe" the player (that is, by having all bombers bypass allied ships undetected and attempting to sink the player in one hit). Damage Control Party II () is not recommended as it is typically needed only in dire moments, or when the player is the last one alive.

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detectibility range.

Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip Shokaku with Type 18 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces cost of post-battle service, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Shokaku also has an alternate premium camouflage called "The Great Gorgon", in which she appears as she does during the Halloween scenario "Sunray in the Darkness".

Signals

As a carrier, Shokaku can only mount at most four signals at a time and has no risk of detonating. Players should mount Equal Speed Charlie London (), Zulu Hotel (), and, for the last two: November Echo Setteseven () and Juliet Whiskey Unaone ().

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★★★	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time.	India X-Ray +1% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm. +0.5% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber below 160mm. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.	Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating. ★★★	Victor Lima +1% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm. +0.5% chance of causing a fire for bombs and shells with a caliber below 160mm. +4% chance of flooding (against your ship).	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy.
November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables.	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when the Repair Party consumable is used.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration.	India Yankee -20% to fire duration.	Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.
Economic
Zulu +20% credits earned for the battle. ★	India Bravo Terrathree -10% to the cost of the ship's post-battle repair.	Equal Speed Charlie London +50% XP earned for the battle. ★★★	Zulu Hotel +50% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★★★	Papa Papa +300% Free XP earned for the battle.
Special
Wyvern +50% credits earned for the battle. ★	Red Dragon +100% XP earned for the battle. +100% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★	Dragon Flag +333% Commander XP earned for the battle. ★	Ouroboros +777% Free XP earned for the battle.	Hydra +50% XP earned for the battle. +150% Commander XP earned for the battle. +250% Free XP earned for the battle. ★	Basilisk +75% XP earned for the battle. +30% credits earned for the battle.
Leviathan +50% XP earned for the battle. +100% Commander XP earned for the battle. +200% Free XP earned for the battle. +20% credits earned for the battle.	Scylla +50% XP earned for the battle. +150% Commander XP earned for the battle. +25% credits earned for the battle.
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Not Useful

Gallery

The flight deck is packed with aircraft prepared to sortie.
A fighter departs Shōkaku.
Fire alarm.

Ships of Japan

Destroyers	II Tachibana • II Umikaze • II Tachibana Lima • III Wakatake • IV Isokaze • V Minekaze • V Fūjin • V Kamikaze • V Kamikaze R • V Mutsuki • VI Fubuki • VI Hatsuharu • VI Shinonome • VII Akatsuki • VII Shiratsuyu • VIII Akizuki • VIII Kagero • VIII Asashio • VIII Asashio B • VIII HSF Harekaze • VIII Yukikaze • IX Yūgumo • IX Kitakaze • X Shimakaze • X Harugumo
Cruisers	I Hashidate • II Chikuma • III Tenryu • III Katori • IV Yūbari • IV Kuma • IV Iwaki Alpha • V Furutaka • V Yahagi • VI Aoba • VII Myoko • VII ARP Myoko • VII ARP Ashigara • VII ARP Haguro • VII Southern Dragon • VII Eastern Dragon • VII ARP Nachi • VIII Mogami • VIII Atago • VIII Atago B • VIII ARP Takao • IX Ibuki • IX Azuma • X Zao
Battleships	II Mikasa • III Kawachi • IV Myogi • IV Ishizuchi • V Kongo • V ARP Kongō • V ARP Kirishima • V ARP Haruna • V ARP Hiei • VI Fuso • VI Mutsu • VII Nagato • VII Ashitaka • VIII Amagi • VIII Kii • IX Izumo • IX Musashi • X Yamato
Aircraft Carriers	IV Hosho • VI Ryujo • VIII Shokaku • VIII Kaga • X Hakuryu

Aircraft Carriers

France
Japan	IV Hosho • VI Ryujo • VIII Shokaku • VIII Kaga • X Hakuryu
U.S.A.	IV Langley • VI Ranger • VIII Lexington • VIII Enterprise • VIII Saipan • X Midway
U.S.S.R.
Germany	VIII Graf Zeppelin
U.K.	IV Hermes • VI Furious • VIII Implacable • VIII Indomitable • X Audacious
Pan-Asia
Italy
Commonwealth
Pan-America
Poland

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Shokaku

Modules

Compatible Upgrades