Aircrafts
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How it Works: Aircraft CarriersContents
Types of Aircrafts
There are four types of aircraft that can become involved in battles in World of Warships: Legends:[2]
- Torpedo bombers carry air-dropped torpedoes that can cause hull damage and floods, and are best delivered against slower, less maneuverable targets.
- Bombers carry either high explosive, effective against all targets, or armor-piercing bombs, effective against heavy targets.
- Fighters are air-to-air specialists that can be used against enemy aircraft, or for spotting.
- Observation Seaplane, launched from a ship's catapult, can be used to increase the ship's shell grouping by 10%.
Icons
Aircraft Type | Ship UI Icon |
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Torpedo Bombers | ![]() |
High Explosive Dive Bombers | ![]() |
Armor-Piercing Dive Bombers | ![]() |
High Explosive Skip Bombers | ![]() |
Fighters | ![]() ![]() |
Observation Seaplane | ![]() |
Player-Controlled Aircrafts
Aircraft carrier players have access to three of the aircraft types noted above with which they can attack enemy surface ships: dive bombers, torpedo bombers, and skip bombers (while some fighters are also launched from a carrier, they are not player-controlled).
Each of these aircraft types can attack surface ships only and their payload is single-use, meaning that once their bombs or torpedoes are expended, they must return to their carrier in order to re-arm and launch again. Bombers are almost universally slower than fighters while carrying their ordnance to a target.
If an aircraft carrier is destroyed, its player will still retain control of the current aircraft squadron until all payloads are dropped or until 2 minutes expire.
When a player controls aircrafts, the carrier cannot be moved manually without making the planes return to the ship. However, an autopilot exists and works by selecting a square on the map to make the ship move automatically to it. It will be counteracted when the ship receives any player input or by selecting the same square.
Torpedo Bombers

When performing an attack run with torpedo bombers, captains will notice a yellow area in the attack cone; this is the distance in which the torpedoes must travel before they arm. If a torpedo strikes before arming, it will not do damage. The torpedo attack cone also closes quite slowly, so captains should take the time to plan out their attack runs before beginning them.
Bombers
Dive Bombers

Traditional dive bombers, found on most carriers, are probably the most difficult weapon type to use, as their aiming reticle is fairly hard to understand, and properly "leading" a target before entering the attack run takes some practice to get right. The payoff for HE bombs is a high fire chance and good damage. The armor-piercing versions can be devastating.
Carpet Bombers
Like strategic land bombers, level bombers fly high and level and use a bomb sight to aim. This type of bombers is found exclusively on Royal Navy aircraft carriers.
Skip Bombers
Skip bombers approach their target low, almost at water level like torpedo bombers, attempting to bounce their HE bombs off the water's surface. This type of bombers is found exclusively on Russian aircraft carriers.
Nation | Tier | Ship | HE Bomb Penetration |
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III | Langley | 42 mm |
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III | Hōshō | 42 mm |
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III | Hermes | 27 mm |
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III | Komsomolets | 53 mm |
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V | Ranger | 42 mm |
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V | Independence | 42 mm |
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V | Ryūjō | 43 mm |
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V | Zuihō | 43 mm |
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V | Furious | 32 mm |
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V | Ark Royal | 19 mm |
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V | Serov | 25 mm |
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VII | Lexington | 42 mm |
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VII | Saipan | 53 mm |
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VII | Shōkaku | 43 mm |
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VII | Kaga | 55 mm |
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VII | Implacable | 32 mm |
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VII | Pobeda | 33 mm |
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VII | Chkalov | 68 mm |
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★ | Midway | 53 mm |
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★ | Hakuryū | 55 mm |
Automated Aircraft
The following aircraft types in World of Warships: Legends are not flown by the player.
Fighters



If enemy aircraft appear within the patrolled area, the fighters will attack them. Fighters can destroy as many enemy aircraft as their number patrolling the area. Afterwards, the consumable effect expires, even if they have shot down fewer planes than the number of fighters in the flight. The fighters disappear and the cooldown time begins.
Observation Seaplane

References
- ↑ Based on World of Warships PC's Wiki Page: Aircraft
- ↑ Other aircraft and dirigibles can be seen in the skies above some Maps. These are decorative and do not become involved in battle.