Azuma

13.9

Azuma

Cruiser | Japan | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points58,350

Main Battery

310 mm/50 Type 0 in a triple turret3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire3 shots/min.

Reload Time20 sec.

Rotation Speed5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time36 sec.

Firing Range19.09 km.

Maximum Dispersion196 m.

HE Shell310 mm HE Type92

Maximum HE Shell Damage5,100

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell27 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity836 m./s.

HE Shell Weight448.8 kg.

AP Shell310 mm AP Type92

Maximum AP Shell Damage8,650

Initial AP Shell Velocity836 m./s.

AP Shell Weight448.8 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

100 mm/65 Type 98 on a Model A mount8 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range6.95 km.

Rate of Fire20 shots/min.

Reload Time3 sec.

HE Shell100 mm HE Type98

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity1000 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

AA Defense

100 mm/65 Type 98 on a Model A mount8 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second166.4

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a triple mount18 х 3 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second59.4

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a twin mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second16.2

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a triple mount6 х 3 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second19.8

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed34 knot

Turning Circle Radius920 m.

Rudder Shift Time13.9 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range14.67 km.

Air Detectability Range10.73 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.9

Azuma

Cruiser | Japan | Tier IX

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points58,350

Main Battery

310 mm/50 Type 0 in a triple turret3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire3 shots/min.

Reload Time20 sec.

Rotation Speed5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time36 sec.

Firing Range19.09 km.

Maximum Dispersion196 m.

HE Shell310 mm HE Type92

Maximum HE Shell Damage5,100

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell27 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity836 m./s.

HE Shell Weight448.8 kg.

AP Shell310 mm AP Type92

Maximum AP Shell Damage8,650

Initial AP Shell Velocity836 m./s.

AP Shell Weight448.8 kg.

Secondary Armament #1

100 mm/65 Type 98 on a Model A mount8 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range6.95 km.

Rate of Fire20 shots/min.

Reload Time3 sec.

HE Shell100 mm HE Type98

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700

Initial HE Shell Velocity1000 m./s.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

AA Defense

100 mm/65 Type 98 on a Model A mount8 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second166.4

. . . Firing Range5.01 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a triple mount18 х 3 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second59.4

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a twin mount6 х 2 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second16.2

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

25 mm/60 Type 96 on a triple mount6 х 3 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second19.8

. . . Firing Range2.49 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed34 knot

Turning Circle Radius920 m.

Rudder Shift Time13.9 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range14.67 km.

Air Detectability Range10.73 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

IX

Special

Azuma — Japanese special premium Tier IX cruiser.

A powerful high-speed ship (Project B-65) designed to destroy American heavy cruisers and confront Alaska-class "large cruisers". Some design solutions were borrowed from Yamato-class battleships. She was armed with nine 310 mm guns and had good anti-torpedo protection.

Azuma was first released for sale worldwide on 1 April 2019.She was removed for purchase for Free XP with the release of Update 12.4, and is now available in the Armory for 228,000 Coal .

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 ()
310 mm/50 Type 0 in a triple turret	3	36	196	5,100	27	8,650		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 ()
Azuma	58,350	13	305	3	8	6/24/8				0	0

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Type10 mod. 1		0		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 170,000 hp	34		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Performance

Warning: The data presented in the AA Defense sidebar section may be incorrect.
Refer to the in-game Port screens for more useful data.

Tier IX Premium Japanese cruiser Azuma is in the same "large cruiser" category as her counterparts Alaska and Kronshtadt. Azuma is well suited for long range fights, featuring nine 310mm guns in a 3x3 layout that have high velocity, flat arcs, and strong performance from her high explosive rounds. The main battery performance is the primary strength of the ship.

Azuma’s 310mm guns are the longest-ranged of the large cruisers found at Tier IX, clocking in at a base range of 19.1km before Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 or Spotting Aircraft . Though they still lag behind Kronshtadt some, her shell velocities are noticeably better than Alaska, making her gunnery fairly comfortable to use all the way out to her maximum range. Befitting her Japanese origins, she has the best HE alpha damage and fire chance of all the 12-inch armed cruisers, though her AP shell damage lacks slightly to that of her peers. The penetration values of her armor-piercing shells run about 10-15% lower than Kronshtadt at all ranges, but are pretty comparable to Alaska along the same curve. Overall, her main battery performance is a nice middle ground between the large cruisers already in the game: better HE performance than the rest, and comparable AP performance (though she lacks Alaska’s improved auto-bounce angles).

It's a good thing Azuma has all that main battery range to play with: of the Tier IX large cruisers, Azuma is by far the least durable, featuring no plating thicker than 25mm other than her internal belt and deck armor. This means she is exceedingly vulnerable to high explosive rounds at nearly all ranges and angles — as well as being overmatched by all 380mm class or larger battleship guns — in addition to her citadel spaces extending above the waterline. Azuma also has a fairly mediocre anti-aircraft suite, with the majority of its strength concentrated in long-range flak bursts that a skilled carrier player will easily dodge. Azuma has decent mobility, with a top speed of 34 knots and average rudder shift and turning circle for her class of ships, and can reduce her concealment to 11.8km when fully built for it. Consumable wise, Azuma features standard cruiser consumables with the exception of her Repair Party , which has a reduced cooldown compared to the usual version.

These characteristics combine to make Azuma very one-dimensional to play. She is very good at farming damage at range, but her armor scheme and thin plating make her vulnerable at close quarters, forcing her into a long-range, kiting play style that has lower influence on the outcome of games. She is unable to approach close to key capture areas until late game situations where there are fewer ships to focus fire her, but given her armor scheme and detection radius, surviving into the late game will be a challenge for most captains.

Pros:

• Large health pool, though notably smaller than other super cruisers
• Reduced cooldown on her repair party, also starts with 1 extra charge
• Improved main gun accuracy compared to other super cruisers like Alaska
• Excellent HE firepower, high alpha strike damage that can penetrate 50mm of armor
• Powerful AP rounds, a good shot on a broadside cruiser can result in a devastating strike
• Long main gun range of 19.1km, surpassed only by Siegfried among Tier IX Cruisers
• Relatively low surface detection for a supercruiser, though still worse than other heavy and light cruisers

Cons:

• Vulnerable citadel placement, easy to hit if Azuma is broadside
• 60 second duration fires, similar to other supercruisers and battleships
• Main gun turrets are surprisingly fragile, gets knocked out often
• Slow turret traverse, more in-line with battleship turret rotation speeds
• Weak AA armament, reliant on allied AA cover or fighter support
• Azuma lacks any torpedo armament, unusual for a Japanese cruiser
• Very wide turning radius with slow rudder shift time, she has difficulty dodging enemy attacks

Research

As a premium ship, Azuma has no upgrade modules to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Azuma are as follows:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
• Slot 2: Engine Room Protection or Damage Control System Modification 1 
• Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1 *
• Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 1 *
• Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 
• Slot 6: Main Battery Modification 3

Upgrade Slot 4 is a choice between Steering Gears Modification 1 or Propulsion Modification 1 . However, some players may opt to mount Damage Control System Modification 2 for increased survivability.

Upgrade Slot 5 allows players to increase the already good concealment of Azuma by mounting Concealment System Modification 1  however some players may opt to mount Steering Gears Modification 2 to further their ability to dodge incoming fire.

Upgrade Slot 6 is recommended to take Main Battery Modification 3 as Azuma already starts with ample gun range

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack				Defense
1	Grease the Gears +15% main battery traverse speed. ★★★	Swift Fish +5% torpedo speed.	Consumables Specialist −7.5% cooldown time of all Consumables except:  Damage Control Party   Repair Party .	Gun Feeder -40% time to switch shell type. ★★	Incoming Fire Alert Receive a warning of a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5km.	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver - slowly - while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated.
2	Demolition Expert +1% chance of main and secondary HE shells causing a fire. +15% to the fragmentation damage area of HE ordnance fired at submarines. ★★	Fill the Tubes -10% torpedo tubes reload time.	Consumables Enhancements +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search, Surveillance Radar, Smoke Generator, & Engine Boost.	Eye in the Sky Spotting Aircraft: • +2 charges • -50% cooldown time.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies targeting you with main battery. ★★★	Focus Fire Training In an active priority AA sector: •  +1.5% (to 5%) immediate damage. •  +25% continuous damage. •  +1 flak burst per salvo. −10% aircraft preparation time. −15% reload time of Airstrike armament.. ★★
3	Heavy HE and SAP Shells +10% HE and SAP shell damage. +15% ship detectability guns 149mm and up. ★	Pack a Punch +15% torpedo damage. +20% secondary battery range..	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% reload time of all armaments per 1% HP lost +0.2% AA continuous damage per 1% HP lost. ★★★	Heavy AP Shells +5% damage for AP shells 190mm and larger. ★★	Superintendent +1 charge to all consumables. ★★	Survivability Expert +450 HP per ship tier. ★★
4	Top Grade Gunner -10% reload time of secondary batteries If enemy ship is spotted within detectability range, -8% reload time of main battery. ★★	Outnumbered If there are fewer allies than visible enemies within the ship's base main caliber firing range: +8% ship speed -10% main battery dispersion.	Radio Location Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.. ★	Inertial Fuse for HE Shells +25% armor penetration of HE shells Base fire chance reduced by half.	Concealment Expert -10% detectability range of the ship. ★★★	AAA & ASW Expert +25% continuous AA and flak damage. +15% damage inflicted by depth charges. While AAA is active: −50% ship consumables reload time..
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Azuma can equip the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire  - 3 charges or Hydroacoustic Search  - 3 charges
• Slot 3: Spotting Aircraft  - 4 charges
• Slot 4: Repair Party  - 4 charges

Camouflage

As a premium ship, Azuma comes with Default permanent camouflage and a set of permanent combat bonuses.

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation. ★★	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration.	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★★	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding. ★★★	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +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. ★	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time.	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★★★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used. ★★★
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire . ★

Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.

Gallery

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Historical Info

Design B-65 Cruiser, 1942

Specifications

34,800 tons displacement, standard

240m length

27.2m beam

8.8m draft

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Machinery

8 Kampon boilers

4 geared turbines

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Performance

33 knots at 160,000 shaft horsepower

8,000 nm at 18 knots

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Armor

Main belt: 190-200mm

Decks: 125mm

Bulkheads: 190mm

Barbettes and Turrets: 180mm

Conning tower: 125-180mm

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Armament

Main

Nine (3x3) 310mm/50 caliber guns

Secondary

Sixteen (8x2) 100mm/65 caliber Type 98

Anti-aircraft

Twelve (6x2) 25mm Type 96

Four (2x2) 13mm Hotchkiss

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Aircraft

One (1) flexible catapult

Three (3) Aichi E13A floatplanes

Line drawings of proposed Japanese cruiser design B-65.

History

Design

The decisive victory over the Imperial Russian Navy at the Battle of Tsushima in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 was the catalyst of what became the Imperial Japanese Navy’s “Decisive Battle” doctrine. This strategy consisted of four primary components; a decisive surface fleet engagement with big guns, attrition tactics, quality over quantity, and nighttime torpedo attacks. When the Washington Naval Treaty was signed in 1922 limiting the size of Japan’s fleet to be greater than that of Italy and France, while lesser than that their more likely enemies of the United Kingdom and the United States, the emphasis of the Decisive Battle doctrine became all-encompassing in the Imperial Japanese Navy.

In 1936, the IJN formed the Night Battle Force. This force would attack the enemy’s outer defense ring of cruisers and destroyers at night to break through and launch torpedo attacks on the enemy’s battleships. What remained of the enemy fleet would be defeated by the IJN’s battle fleet the following day. To protect the Night Battle Force, a division of fast battleships or battlecruisers were assigned to the force. Initially the Kongo-class battlecruisers were chosen, and were modernized to fast battleships during the 1930s. The Japanese plans, however, intended to eventually replace the Kongo’s with four heavy and brand-new ‘super’ cruisers.

As originally envisioned in 1936, these ships — what would later become the B-64 and B-65 cruisers — would carry 12” guns, be protected by armor against 8” shells, and be capable of speeds up to 40 knots. These ships were designated as the “Super Type A” cruisers, and a total of six were planned to be ordered, two in the Circle Five Program production order set to begin in 1942, and the remaining four in the Circle Six Program production order that was abandoned in the early stages of planning due to the Japanese entry into World War II and shifting priorities. Ultimately, no ships of this type were ever ordered or laid down.

B-65’s hull was planned to be 240m long with a beam of 27.2m, with a designed draft of 8.8m. The planned maximum displacement was 34,800 metric tons. The planned machinery was to consist of eight Kampon boilers, which would produce steam for four turbines for a maximum output of 160,000 shp. This would allow B-65 to reach a maximum speed of 33 knots. With 4,545 tons of fuel oil on board the calculated cruising range was 8,000 nautical miles at 18 knots.

B-65’s main armament was planned with nine 310mm/50 guns, which were to be mounted in three triple turrets along the centerline, two forward, one aft. These guns were still undergoing development for the battlecruisers of both the B-64 and B-65 class, and could fire a 561kg heavy projectile at ranges up to 32.9km. Depending on the combat range the rate of fire could reach three rounds per minute and gun, while at higher elevations the reload times would be longer. The secondary armament was planned to consist of sixteen 100mm/65 guns, mounted in eight twin turrets with four on each side of the ship. Each gun was capable of firing a 13kg HE shell at sea targets 19.5km away, or at planes at an altitude of up to 13km. Unlike many other guns no other shells were provided. The rate of fire was usually around 15 rounds per minute and gun.

Anti-aircraft-armament did not differ from other ships, relying on four twin mounts with 25mm guns, and two 13.2mm twin machine guns. Unlike the heavy cruisers that preceded her, no torpedo armament was envisioned. A centerline mounted catapult would allow B-65 to carry up to three seaplanes.

B-65's armor was designed to be resilient against cruiser fire primarily, while also being strong enough to repel air attacks. The main belt was 190mm thick, and inclined at 20° to add further protection, which was supposed to protect against large caliber shells at ranges until 20km. The thickness was also used for the forward and rear bulkhead, while the deck armor and deck slopes were thinner at 125mm, which was deemed sufficient to resist an 800kg bomb and large caliber shells at ranges up to 30km. As protection against underwater explosions the torpedo defense system was designed to withstand an underwater explosion of 400kg.

Historical Inaccuracies

• Azuma is actually the name of an armored cruiser that was built in 1898 and fought in the Russo-Japanese War. No other ship in the Imperial Japanese Navy ever inherited the name.
• Azuma’s enhanced anti-aircraft suite in-game is envisioned in a late-war configuration that was not a part of her original design.

Historical Gallery

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  Artist's rendering of Design B-65.

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  Artist's rendering of Design B-65.

Video

References

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

1. Design B-65 cruiser - Wikipedia
2. Armada: Azuma (no video) - News - World of Warships

Ship Change Log

See here for links to Update notes.

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.7.12.

Testing Changes

• November 19, 2018:
  • Preliminary characteristics.
• December 29, 2018:
  • Fire duration was increased from 45 s to 60 s.

• Update 0.8.0:
  • Fire duration increased from 45 to 60 s.
• Update 0.8.2:
  • Added to the tech tree for 1,000,000 Free Experience.
• Update 0.9.2:
  • The thickness of the armor was changed: the central part was reinforced from 25 mm to 27 mm.
• Update 0.9.3:
  • Fixed a bug due to which the detectability was calculated incorrectly when firing the main battery guns.
• Update 0.9.11:
  • Fixed geometry and textures of the ship.
• Update 0.10.0:
  • The firing range of the secondary battery was increased to 6.95 km.
• Update 0.11.10:
  • Minor fixes to the geometry and textures of the ship.
• Update 12.4:
  • Removed from the tech tree for purchase, and added to the Armory for 228,000 Coal.

Ships of Japan

Cruisers