Aoba
203 mm/50 3rd Year Type No.2 in a Model C turret3 х 2 pcs. |
Rate of Fire5.45 shots/min. |
Reload Time11 sec. |
Rotation Speed5 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time36 sec. |
Firing Range13.55 km. |
Maximum Dispersion116 m. |
HE Shell203 mm HE Type0 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage3,300 |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell17 % |
Initial HE Shell Velocity840 m./s. |
HE Shell Weight125.85 kg. |
AP Shell203 mm AP Type91 |
Maximum AP Shell Damage4,700 |
Initial AP Shell Velocity840 m./s. |
AP Shell Weight125.85 kg. |
120 mm/45 10th Year Type on a Model B2 mount4 х 1 pcs. |
Firing Range4.96 km. |
Rate of Fire10 shots/min. |
Reload Time6 sec. |
HE Shell120 mm HE Type0 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage2,000 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity825 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 % |
610 mm Quad2 х 4 pcs. |
Rate of Fire0.59 shots/min. |
Reload Time102 sec. |
Rotation Speed25 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec. |
TorpedoType8 mod. 2 |
Maximum Damage16,267 |
Torpedo Speed59 knot |
Torpedo Range9.99 km. |
120 mm/45 10th Year Type on a Model B2 mount4 х 1 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second20.4 |
. . . Firing Range4.5 km. |
13 mm/76 Type 93 on a twin mount15 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second30 |
. . . Firing Range1.2 km. |
25 mm/60 Type 96 on a twin mount2 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second5.4 |
. . . Firing Range2.49 km. |
Maximum Speed35 knot |
Turning Circle Radius710 m. |
Rudder Shift Time8.4 sec. |
Surface Detectability Range11.7 km. |
Air Detectability Range5.78 km. |
Aoba — Japanese Tier VI cruiser.
Aoba represented a further development of Furutaka with main battery guns placed in twin turrets to achieve a longer gun range. Moreover, she outstripped her predecessor in torpedo armament power and AA defense capabilities.
Modules
Compatible Upgrades
Slot 1 |
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Slot 2 |
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Slot 3 |
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Slot 4 |
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Player Opinion
Performance
Warning. The data presented in the AA Defense sidebar section may be incorrect.
For a graphic summary of ships Tiers VIII thru XI see LittleWhiteMouse's "Actual AA DPS".
Aoba isn't really much of a departure from her predecessor Furutaka. She is very similar to Furutaka's C Hull and continues traits that will persist through the entire Japanese heavy cruiser line. They are anti-ship combatants, skirmishers that specialize in medium to long ranges, and are ships that need other ships to draw fire or to support in order to do well in. Aoba is a very good vessel to be a captain in, so long as the captain knows her well.
One of thing to notice is the slightly less responsive turrets (common to the next two tiers, culminating in Mogami's super-slow 155 mm turrets) and faster gun reload time of 4 seconds at best over her predecessor. Her responsiveness to fluid situations is improved for a Japanese cruiser. This allows her to be where needed and to support when it is asked. Aoba can smash tier V light cruisers with ease and be a wary force for other heavy cruisers and battleships but not so much with carriers as her AA suite is sufficient to only defend herself alone.
Her torpedoes are the same Type 8 mod.2 of the Furutaka upgrade but, perplexingly, their reload is longer. Unfortunately, the positioning of the racks at the rear of the ship is a sort of downgrade from Furutaka. Granted, this makes Aoba a dangerous ship to chase, but it also makes it more obvious to the enemy when she launches torpedoes, as the forward firing angle is quite shallow. [Annoyingly enough, these rear mounted torpedoes also creates a blind spot where you cannot spot friendly ships trying to pass close to you. -- Huh? - Ed.]
It's best that to let Aoba behave as an anti-ship combatant rather than a AA screen. Aoba retains the narrow hull of Furutaka and thus can bow in and expect not to be hit (very often) by battleship guns at longer ranges allowing continued fire. Combined with her excellent maneuverability and fast reverse speed of 17 knots, holding that heading is not difficult and while she can still dodge the occasional torpedo salvo if coming from the front or rear, especially with Hydroacoustic Search active to give more time.
Pros:
- Narrow hull like most Japanese cruisers making it hard to hit her when she is facing bow or stern to enemy shells, also provides protection from bombs.
- Very thick central deck armor (48 mm): even the biggest AP shells can ricochet.
- Torpedo bulges rises above the waterline that covers ~75% of the citadel and helps shatter small shells.
- Guns beat the equivalent ships of other nations, much better for dealing with cruisers of the equivalent tier.
- Decent fire chance combine with her strong penetration, she rivals strong HE ship Devonshire.
- Rate of fire, while slow for the tier, beats any Japanese heavy cruiser.
- Good rudder shift and turning circle, makes it slightly easier to re-position and dodge shells.
- Above average AA suite when Defensive AA Fire
is equipped and activated.
Cons:
- Like most Japanese cruisers her armor is weak that makes her vulnerable to anything fired at her.
- Slower firing rate of guns and traverse time compared to many equivalent tier cruisers.
- Only 6 shells max in a salvo which is the least amount at her tier, although her fire chance, penetration, and accuracy makes it up.
- Torpedo tubes have a very limited launching arc that require excessive boardside to use.
- Rudder shift is slower than her predecessor without upgrades.
- Despite better characteristics, she largely plays the same as Furutaka but with harder matchmaking.
Research
Optimal Configuration
Upgrades
- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
keeps the guns and torpedo tubes active and firing.
- Slot 1: Damage Control System Modification 1
makes the ship more resistant to fires and flooding.
- Slot 3: Main Battery Modification 2
makes her guns more comfortable and saves a skill point that would otherwise be spent on Grease the Gears to improve her gun handling. Aiming Systems Modification 1
gives her guns more accuracy and is an alternative.
- Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 1
allows for a faster rudder shift to dodge incoming fire. Propulsion Modification 1
improves the ship's acceleration and is a viable alternative if you prefer to dodge incoming fire and torpedoes by changing speed in addition to changing direction.
Commander Skills
The key skills for Aoba are identical to those used on Furutaka and include Grease the Gears at Level 1, Adrenaline Rush at Level 3, and Concealment Expert at Level 4. Captains who use the ship’s torpedoes often may also wish to invest in one or more of the torpedo skills if they have points remaining after investing in her main guns and concealment. The AA skills, particularly Expert AA Marksman, are almost always a good choice for leftover skill points on cruisers. While Pyrotechnician could be taken at Level 2 to improve her shells' fire chances, her rate of fire is too low to properly take advantage of the relative small boost to fire chance per shell. Captains may also with to invest in Top Grade Gunner to improve the slow rate of fire when they find themselves unable to drop off detection using her concealment.
Consumables
Aoba can equip the following consumables:
- Slot 1: Damage Control Party
- Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire
or Hydroacoustic Search
- Slot 3: Catapult Fighter
Signals
Aoba captains should mount the standard flags to improve the ship's performance in battle. To improve upon the ship's armaments, India X-Ray (), Victor Lima (
), and Juliet Whiskey Unaone (
) flags are recommended to increase the fire chance and flooding chances respectively. To improve the ship’s survivability, captains should mount November Foxtrot (
) and India Yankee (
) flags. Sierra Mike (
) flags are recommended to increase the ship’s already high top speed.
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Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.
Gallery
Historical Info
Historical Gallery
References
Ship Change Log
See here for links to Update notes.
- Added to the game in Update 0.1.4 (alpha version).
- Update 0.5.0:
- The Experience and Credit earnings were reduced by a value in the range of 5-10%.
- Update 0.5.2:
- Experience earnings increased by 3%.
- Credit earnings increased by 5%.
- Update 0.5.6:
- Hulls (A) and (B): The 4х1 120mm/40 10th Year Type mod. B2 AA mounts were replaced with 4х1 120mm/40 10th Year Type mod. B2/C mounts. As a result, the average AA damage within the 4.5km AA engagement area radius increased by 10 points (from 10 to 20 points).
- Hull (A): the ship's HP was increased by 4,200 (from 26,300 to 30,500).
- Hull (B): the ship's HP was increased by 1,400 (from 30,500 to 31,900).
- Update 0.5.8:
- The armor model of the hull was refined.
- Update 0.6.2:
- The national flag was moved from the stern to the mast.
- Update 0.6.7:
- Credit earnings increased by 5%.
- Update 0.6.12:
- Detectability when firing main guns in smoke changed to 6.79 km.
- Update 0.6.13:
- Fire extinguishing time now 30 s instead of 60 s.
- Improved display of thin elements.
- Update 0.6.15:
- A bonus was added to the "Type 16" permanent camouflage: a -10% discount to the cost of post-battle maintenance.
- Update 0.7.2:
- Players who have collected the "Uniform Elements" sub-collection of the "Yamomoto Isoroku" collection can use an alternate permanent camouflage color.
- Update 0.7.6:
- Improved display of thin elements on the hull.
- Update 0.7.10:
- The range of the Hydroacoustic Search consumable was unified: 4 km for detecting ships, 3 km for detecting torpedoes.
- Update 0.7.11:
- Accuracy of the main battery was improved to be similar to that of Zao.
- Update 0.9.2:
- Fixed an issue which excluded one of the 25 mm/60 Type96 guns from the short-range AA defenses for Tier VI Aoba's Hull (B).
- The Central armor plating was reinforced from 16 mm to 25 mm.
- Update 0.10.0 :
- The firing range of the secondary battery was increased to 4.95 km.