Asashio B

0.9.6

Asashio B

Destroyer | Japan | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase pricepromo

Hit Points15,100

Main Battery

127 mm/50 3rd Year Type3 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire8.51 shots/min.

Reload Time7.05 sec.

Rotation Speed6.9 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time26.09 sec.

Firing Range10.95 km.

Maximum Dispersion97 m.

HE Shell127 mm HE Type1

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,150

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell9 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity915 m./s.

HE Shell Weight23 kg.

AP Shell127 mm AP Type0

Maximum AP Shell Damage2,200

Initial AP Shell Velocity915 m./s.

AP Shell Weight23 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

610 mm Quad2 х 4 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.54 shots/min.

Reload Time112 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoType93 mod. 2 dw

Maximum Damage20,967

Torpedo Speed67 knot

Torpedo Range20.01 km.

AA Defense

25 mm/60 Type96 Twin mod. 12 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second5.4

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed35 knot

Turning Circle Radius640 m.

Rudder Shift Time3.6 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range6.84 km.

Air Detectability Range3.02 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

0.9.6

Asashio B

Destroyer | Japan | Tier VIII

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase pricepromo

Hit Points15,100

Main Battery

127 mm/50 3rd Year Type3 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire8.51 shots/min.

Reload Time7.05 sec.

Rotation Speed6.9 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time26.09 sec.

Firing Range10.95 km.

Maximum Dispersion97 m.

HE Shell127 mm HE Type1

Maximum HE Shell Damage2,150

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell9 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity915 m./s.

HE Shell Weight23 kg.

AP Shell127 mm AP Type0

Maximum AP Shell Damage2,200

Initial AP Shell Velocity915 m./s.

AP Shell Weight23 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

610 mm Quad2 х 4 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.54 shots/min.

Reload Time112 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoType93 mod. 2 dw

Maximum Damage20,967

Torpedo Speed67 knot

Torpedo Range20.01 km.

AA Defense

25 mm/60 Type96 Twin mod. 12 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second5.4

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed35 knot

Turning Circle Radius640 m.

Rudder Shift Time3.6 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range6.84 km.

Air Detectability Range3.02 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

VIII

promo

Asashio B — Japanese promo premium Tier VIII destroyer.

Japanese destroyer Asashio was the ultimate ship of this type in Japan, built after the launch of the Fubuki-class ships. The absence of constraints on displacement allowed naval architects to find a good balance between speed, armament, and hull size. Due to a good overall layout, Asashio served as a prototype for the majority of subsequent Japanese destroyers.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ( )
127 mm/50 Type3	8.5	26.09	97	2,150	9	2,200		0	0

	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 ( )
Asashio B.	15,100	13	20	3		2	2	0		0	0

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	Torpedo Tubes Reload Time (sec)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Damage (HP)	Torpedo Speed (knot)	Torpedo Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ( )
Type93 mod. 2 dw	0.5	112	7.2	20,966	67	20		0	0

	Firing Range Increase (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ( )
Type8 mod. 1	0	10.9		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ( )
Propulsion: 50,000 hp	35		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5

Player Opinion

Performance

Asashio B is externally very comparable to her Tier VIII tech tree compatriot Kagero. They share nearly identical concealment ratings, maneuverability statistics, guns, and health. The two ships are extremely similar, but Asashio B plays completely differently due to her unique torpedo armaments, and by having the Torpedo Reload Booster () occupying a separate consumable slot (as with Akizuki).

Technically speaking, Asashio B is the stealthiest destroyer in her matchmaking spread, having a slightly smaller air detection radius than Kagero and HSF Harekaze. This allows her to control vision and spotting ranges exceedingly well, utilizing her stealth as another layer of armor against enemy vessels. It is armor she desperately needs, as Asashio B’s main weapons are her torpedoes, though her guns can be used in certain situations. It's her torpedoes which make her truly unique: Asashio B is equipped with a deep water variant of the same Type 93 mod. 2 torpedoes found aboard other Tier VIII and IX Japanese ships, and similar to those found in the Pan-Asian destroyer line. They have increased flooding chance, are harder for enemies to detect, and have a whopping 20 kilometer range while still retaining 67 knots of speed... but can only hit battleships and aircraft carriers.

As a result of Asashio B only being able to damage battleships and the rare aircraft carrier with her torpedoes, she is a highly specialized ship: designed to really only do one thing, but to do it exceptionally well. She has only her guns with which to combat enemy cruisers and destroyers, a state of affairs that leaves her highly vulnerable to both ship types. Captains should not be afraid to use Asashio B’s guns, however, as strategically engaging key targets can lead to the difference between a win and a loss. Using her concealment to avoid unwinnable fights is also a valid strategy, and can keep her in the game for longer.

LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Asashio from the NA forums

Pros:

• Stealthy, with a 5.4km surface detection range when fully kitted out.
• Torpedoes are extremely powerful against battleships.
• Has access to both Torpedo Reload Booster () and Smoke Generator () at the same time.

Cons:

• Slow turrets and slow reload hinder her ability to gun fight other ships, especially destroyers.
• Torpedoes can only hit battleships and aircraft carriers, limiting her target selection.
• Slow speed for a destroyer at only 35 knots.
• The torpedo's long range can make hitting allies a possibility. Her captain needs to keep an eye out for allied ships.
• No AA defense to speak of.

Research

As a Premium ship, Asashio B doesn't have any upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Asashio B are as follows:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1 ()
• Slot 2: Propulsion Modification 1 () or Engine Boost Modification 1 (), if available (not available)
• Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1 ()
• Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1 ()
• Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 ()

Commander Skills

Asashio B, like most other Japanese destroyers, makes use of the "standard" suite of commander skills preferred by Japanese destroyer captains: Priority Target, Last Stand, Torpedo Armament Expertise and Concealment Expert. After those four skills, captains can start customizing her to their preferences. Two other Level 3 skills, Survivability Expert and Superintendent, are useful for increasing Asashio B’s survival and offensive capabilities, while the Level 1 skill Preventative Maintenance will help keep her critical modules functioning while under fire.

Asashio B is somewhat unique in that she is one of only a few destroyers that can make good use of the Level 2 skill Torpedo Acceleration, as the -20% range penalty that the skill inflicts brings her 20.0 km torpedoes down to 16.0 km; still more than ample range for almost any engagement. The 5 knot speed boost they give her torpedoes in exchange leaves enemies with only a 4.8 second reaction time (exclusive of detection buffs). For captains not interested in Torpedo Acceleration, virtually all other Level 2 skills are also viable (with the exception of Expert Rear Gunner).

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. Χ	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters. Χ	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time. Χ	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. Χ
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. Χ	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. ★★★	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage. Χ	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 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 +25% to the armor penetration of HE shells. -50% to base chance of fire caused by HE shells.	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +7.5% attack aircraft and torpedo bomber aiming speed. +15% dive bomber aiming speed. Χ	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% AA flak burst damage. ★	Massive AA Fire +100% instantaneous damage. No boost to continuous damage in a reinforced sector. Shorter effective cooldown.	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 - Meh      Χ - Not recommended

Consumables

Asashio B equips the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party ()
• Slot 2: Smoke Generator ()
• Slot 3: Engine Boost ()
• Slot 4: Torpedo Reload Booster ()

Camouflage

As a Premium ship, Asashio B comes included with Type 10 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Signals

Asashio captains should mount standard signal flags to improve the ship’s performance in battle. Captains looking to improve upon the ship’s armament should mount Victor Lima (), Juliet Whiskey Unaone (), and November Foxtrot () signal flags. Sierra Mike () signal flags are recommended to increase the ships top speed. Juliet Charlie () flags are also recommended to prevent detonations. Lastly, economic and special signal flags can be mounted to increase the ship’s economic gains per battle.

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

Historical Info

Asashio B, 1938

Construction

Builder: Sasebo Naval Arsenal; Sasebo, Japan

Laid down: 7 September 1935

Launched: 16 December 1936

Commissioned: 31 August 1937

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Specifications

2000 tons displacement, standard

118.3m length

10.3m beam

3.7m draft

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Machinery

2-shaft geared turbine

3 Kampon boilers

---

Performance

35 knots at 50,000 shaft horsepower

5,700 nm at 15 knots

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Armament

Main

Six (3x2) Type 3 127 mm 50 caliber naval guns

Anti-aircraft

Twenty-eight (14x2) Type 96 25 mm AT/AA Gun

Four (4×1) Type 93 13 mm machine guns

Torpedoes

Eight (2x4) 610 mm (24 in) torpedo tubes

Sixteen Type 93 torpedoes

Asashio on sea trials at Sasebo, July 1937.

Design

In order to correct the deficiencies found in previous Japanese destroyers, the designers of the Shiratsuyu-class sacrificed performance for design integrity, a decision they were unable to rectify until Japan withdrew from the London Naval Treaties. The Asashio-class of destroyers — part of the 1934 Navy program — were borne out of that necessity of improvement, and history would venerate this class of 10 destroyers to be proficient and capable vessels; they would be the template for all future Japanese destroyer designs till the end of the Second World War.

With the shackles of treaty limitations cast aside, the designers opted to push standard displacement past 2,000 tons; the first native destroyer design to do so. The increase in length had the positive ramification of improving crew quarters. While the propulsion set-up was identical to the previous class — 3 Kampon boilers feeding into two turbines, each driving a shaft — the designers opted to use the latest available machinery that ran at higher temperatures and pressures. The outcome was an increase of output to about 50,000 shaft horsepower. Despite the increase of tonnage, the class managed to attain speeds to 35 knots. The setup was not perfect, however; Asashio showed instabilities while turning, which prompted the installation of a modified stern and rudder for the remaining vessels in the class that managed to decrease the turning radius. Other troubles included teething issues with the turbines, which took years to rectify.

The most striking feature was the return to the dual-gun only armament setup pioneered on the Fubuki-class. Asashio featured six 127mm guns found in three turrets: one forward with a super firing pair aft. Unlike her predecessors the 'X'-turret was placed elevated on the shelter deck. The design called for the reuse of the Type C turret mounts, which traded gun elevation angle for a lighter, yet fully enclosed, armor shell. As well, the class retained the improved torpedo layout of their predecessors: two (2) quadruple-tube torpedo launchers positioned along the centerline, with a reload stored for each pack in a deck house. For anti-aircraft defense, the destroyers were armed with a meager pair of the new Type 96 25mm cannons in dual-mounts.

The bulk of wartime modifications bolstered the sub-par anti-aircraft abilities of the class. The first phase of refits in late 1942 replaced the dual-mounted 25mm guns with triple mounts. The largest refit saw the removal of 'X'-turret in order to install a further pair of triple-mount 25mm guns, and was completed in mid-1944. Late 1944 saw the addition of single-mount 25mm guns all across the forward superstructure. Additionally, all ships of the class received the No. 22 and No. 13 radar sets, installed on the fore and mainmasts, respectively.

Asashio (朝潮, lit. "Morning Tide"), the lead ship of the class, was the first ship to be laid down on 7 September 1935 at the Sasebo Naval Arsenal. Launched 16 December 1936, she was completed 31 August 1937.

Service

Asashio B was the first destroyer of the IJN to have a displacement greater than 2,000 tons. During her initial trials, she suffered from steering problems and issues with her unreliable new 50,000 shaft horsepower turbines, but these flaws were ironed out for the class as a whole by the beginning of the Second World War. Issues aside, the overall design for Asashio was considered successful, and her design was repeated in the later Kagero and Yūgumo classes. Asashio herself spent her pre-war service in training and modernization to fix her outstanding issues, before Japan joined the war.

At the time of Pearl Harbor, Asashio was the lead ship of the 8th Destroyer Division, consisting of Asashio, Ōshio, Michishio and Arashio, stationed in the South China Sea escorting transports bound for British Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. On 19 February 1942, while DesDiv8 were escorting two transports near Bali in the Dutch East Indies, the destroyers came under attack from a combined Dutch-American-British force consisting of two submarines, seven destroyers, and three cruisers. While the three Dutch light cruisers were decently modern vessels, the American Clemson-class destroyers were sorely outdated compared to the four Asashio-class destroyers. In the resulting Battle of Badung Strait, Asashio herself successfully struck the Dutch destroyer HNLMS Piet Hein with a 61cm torpedo, sinking the Dutch destroyer immediately, suffering only light damage in return. She continued to serve around the Dutch East Indies until late May, when she and her division transferred to the central Pacific. She was present at the Battle of Midway, escorting the Support Group that was covering the troop convoys to Midway. On 6 June during the battle, she came under attack by US planes, taking a hit from a 500-pound bomb and sustaining medium damage. She and sister-ship Arashio rescued 240 survivors from the sinking heavy cruiser Mikuma, and then escorted badly-damaged Mogami back to Truk on 14 June.

Following repairs that stretched into late October 1942, Asashio returned to the front lines to take part in the Guadalcanal campaign. She saw no combat during her time serving in the Solomon Islands, making several successful transport runs in the area for the rest of 1942. During this time, she helped light cruiser Isuzu limp back to port after suffering damage from the Second Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, then towed Shiratsuyu-class destroyer Umikaze back to the island of Rabaul for repairs, and later escorted Zuikaku, Mutsu, and Suzuya from Truk to mainland Japan. By mid-February 1943 she was back on duty in the southwestern Pacific. While escorting a troop convoy in the Bismarck Sea, she came under attack by a joint US-AUS air strike. The first wave of attacks was devastating: all seven transports took hits that left them burning or sinking, and destroyers Tokitsukaze, Shirayuki and Arashio were sunk. The fourth destroyer and final destroyer to sink was Asashio. While picking up survivors from Arashio the following morning of the strike, a second wave attacked, with a B-17 striking her amidships with a 500-pound bomb, damaging her beyond repair. She sank quickly, going down with roughly 200 of her crew of 226 enlisted men and officers.

Historical Inaccuracies

• Asashio was only painted in overall IJN gray.
• Asashio’s name written in katakana on both sides of the hull are missing.
• The Type 93 mod. 2 torpedo was actually an experimental type designed in 1935 to meet a staff requirement for a higher speed torpedo for destroyers. It was discontinued in 1941 and did not enter service.

Historical Gallery

• 

  Asashio underway in July 1937.

• 

  The rear of Asashio.

• 

  Design scheme of Asashio.

Video

References

1. Japanese destroyer Asashio (1936) - Wikipedia
2. Asashio-class destroyer - Wikipedia
3. CombinedFleet.com, Asashio Class Notes; Allyn Nevitt
4. Globalsecurity.org, IJN Shiratsuyu class destroyers
5. Midway1942.com, Asashio class
   

Ships of Japan

Destroyers