Zaō

Tier Legendary | Type: Cruiser
Preceded by	Succeeded by
Ibuki	none
Cost (Research Bureau)	30 000 000

STOCK STATS

Survivability

Hitpoints44 900

Armor6 - 203 mm

Torpedo Damage Reduction19 %

Artillery

Main Battery

203mm 18th Year Type4x3

Firing Range15.5 km

Reload Time13.5 s

180° Turn Time30 s

HE Maximum Damage3400

HE Fire Chance19 %

HE Penetration34 mm

AP Maximum Damage5400

Sigma2.05

Secondary Armament 1

100mm Type986x2

Firing Range5 km

Reload Time3 s

HE Maximum Damage1700

HE Fire Chance6 %

HE Penetration20 mm

Torpedoes

610mm quintuple4x5

Reload Time104 s

180° Turn Time7.2 s

Maximum Damage21 367

Detectability by Sea1.8 km

Range8 km

Speed76 kn

AA Defense

AA Armament 1

25mm/60 Type96 mod. 120x1

DPS36

Range3.1 km

AA Armament 2

25mm Type96 mod. 111x3

DPS67

Range3.1 km

AA Armament 3

40mm/60 Type 59x2

DPS99

Range3.5 km

AA Armament 4

100mm Type986x2

DPS125

Range5 km

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed34.5 kn

Turning Circle Radius840 m

Rudder Shift Time7.7 s

Concealment

Detectability by Sea12.7 km

Detectability by Air7.6 km

Detectability while firing in smoke7.3 km

Zaō — Japanese Legendary Tier Cruiser.

A very powerful cruiser in all respects. Compared with the preceding classes of heavy cruisers, Zaō had a greater number of main battery and AA guns, thick armor and a reinforced torpedo armament.

Zaō was released as a purchasable Bureau project reward on December 1st, 2023.


Year of Design: 1941

Ship Traits
Sure Shot: Shells with a good ballistic trajectory maintain velocity, making aiming easier.	Superior HE Damage: Above-average HE shell damage.	Big Yield: Above average torpedo damage.

Modules

	Hit Points	Min Armor (mm)	Max Armor (mm)	Torpedo Damage Reduction (%)	Main Battery Turrets	Torpedo Launchers	Rudder Shift (s)
Stock	44 900	6	203	19	4x3	4	7.7

	Turret Arrangement	Reload Time (s)	180° Turn Time (s)	Max HE Damage	HE Fire Chance (%)	Max AP Damage
203mm 18th Year Type	4x3	13.5	30	3400	19	5400

	Main Battery Firing Range
Stock	15.5 km

	Launcher Arrangement	Reload Time (s)	180° Turn Time (s)	Max Damage	Range	Speed	Detection
610mm quintuple	4x5	104s	7.2s	21 367	8	76	1.8
610mm quintuple	4x5	171s	7.2s	23 767	11	67	1.7

	Maximum Speed
Stock	34.5 kn

Modifications

SLOT 1	Main Battery Mod 2 Main Battery traverse speed +20%	Aiming Systems Mod 1 Dispersion of Main Battery -7% Torpedo tubes traverse speed +20% Secondary Battery firing range +5% Dispersion of secondary battery -5%	Secondary Battery Mod 2 Secondary Battery firing range +20% Dispersion of Secondary Battery -20%	AA Guns Mod 2 AA guns firing range +20%
SLOT 2	Damage Control System Mod 2 Fire duration -15% Flood duration -15%	Steering Gears Mod 2 Rudder shift time -20%	Propulsion Mod 2 Time taken to reach full power when accelerating -50%
SLOT 3	Concealment System Mod 1 Detectability range -10% Incoming fire dispersion +5%	Target Acquisition System Mod 1 Spotting Range +20% Torpedo visibility range +20% Range of Guaranteed Acquisition of ships +50%	Steering Gears Mod 3 Rudder shift time -40% Steering gear repair time -80%
SLOT 4	Main Battery Mod 3 Main battery reload time -10% Main battery traverse speed -15%	Torpedo Tube Mod 3 Torpedo tubes reload -15% Risk of torpedo tubes becoming incapacitated +50%	Secondary Battery Mod 3 Secondary battery reload time -20%	Gun Fire Control System Mod 2 Dispersion of Main Battery -3% Range of main guns +5%	AA Guns Mod 3 Average AA damage +25%

Consumables

Damage Control Party

Accelerates repairs to damage modules, firefighting efforts and recovery from flooding.

Duration: 5s Relaod time: 60s The number of consumables is unlimited

Sonar

Increases the range of guaranteed acquisition of enemy ships and torpedoes, including those within smoke screens.

Detection of torpedoes: 3.1km Detection of ships: 4.4km Duration: 96s Reload time: 180s Number of consumables: 2

Catapult Fighter

Follows the ship and automatically attacks enemy aircraft.

Duration: 100s Reload time: 80s Number of consumables: 3

Repair Party

Partially restores the ship's HP by repairing light damage.

HP per second: +269 Duration: 28s Reload time: 60s Number of consumables: 2

Defensive AA Fire

Increases the efficiency of AA fire.

Average AA damage: +200% Duration: 40s Reload time: 150s Number of consumables: 2

Player Opinion

Pros:

• Best accuracy of all cruisers (uses DD dispersion formula)
• Good ballistics performance with fast flight time at all ranges
• Good HE firepower with high alpha damage and fire starting ability
• Good AP performance with high damage per volley and decent penetration
• Fast, powerful torpedoes, with two quintuple launchers on each side of the ship
• High base speed of 34.5 knots
• Good maneuverability
• Excellent concealment with all relevant upgrades

Cons:

• Low HP pool for a Legendary Tier heavy cruiser
• Poor main battery firing angles - bringing all guns to bear can be dangerous
• Subpar turret traverse speed
• Poor torpedo firing arcs, with the launchers being located in the aft section
• Because of their exposed position, her torpedo launchers are prone to incapacitations and destruction
• Very long torpedo launchers reload time

Performance

Gallery

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