Benson

12.8

Destroyer | U.S.A. | Tier VIII

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VIII

9,040,000

Benson — American Tier VIII destroyer.

The new destroyers were planned as an improved Sims class with an échelon arrangement of the propulsion unit. Based on the experience with previous classes, it was decided to rearrange all torpedo tubes along the centerline, reduce their number to two, and replace the quadruple-tube torpedo launchers with quintuple-tube launchers. During World War II, USS Benson escorted convoys in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, and she supported landings in Sicily and Italy. Later, she accompanied aircraft carriers in the Pacific. Over the course of the war, she was awarded four battle stars.

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/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.21 mod.0/Mk.30 mod.1 mount	18	5.3	101	1,800	5	2,100		0	650,000

	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 ()
Benson (A)	12,800	6	20	5		6/5	2			0	690,000
Benson (B)	15,400	13	20	5		2/4/5	2			18,000	1,400,000

	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 ()
Mk15 mod. 0	0.6	109	7.2	11,600	55	9.2		0	780,000
Mk15 mod. 3	0.5	122	7.2	16,633	55	9.2		18,000	1,470,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk8 mod. 1		0		0	395,000
Mk8 mod. 2		0		12,000	950,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 50,000 hp	38		0	625,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5

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".

Tier VIII's Benson is where the American destroyer line finally comes together with the complete package that makes them the most flexible destroyers in the game. The key to this transformation is access to Upgrade Slot 5 and Concealment System Modification 1 , allowing Benson and subsequent American destroyers to have concealment values that rival that of those found in the Japanese destroyer line. When their newfound stealth is combined with a potent torpedo armament and fast-firing main battery guns, Benson, Fletcher, and Gearing become true jack-of-all-trades ships with an incredibly high ceiling in the hands of a skilled captain.

For Benson, it all starts with her main battery. When built for maximum stealth, her detection radius of 5.8 km combined with 18 rounds per minute from each of the five guns in her main battery make her a terror to enemy destroyers. She can work in close, then cut opposing destroyers down very quickly with her high rate of fire. Beyond her main battery, Benson is the first American destroyer whose stock torpedo armament range exceeds her detection radius. She has a very long reload time for her torpedo tubes, but the torpedoes themselves are harder to detect than their Japanese counterparts and give her targets less reaction time to dodge out of the way.

Even a ship as good as Benson has drawbacks. As a destroyer she has no real armor to speak of, and most shells that hit her will disable at least one module of some kind. Her shell arcs become challenging to use past the 7-8 km range, and require excessive lead in order to land hits.

Despite the negatives, though, Benson is one of the best-balanced destroyers in World of Warships, capable of providing a valuable contribution to any team she finds herself on in the hands of a skilled captain.

Pros:

Excellent main battery; stellar rate of fire and fast turret traverse speed (even faster than Mahan).
Two centerline-mounted quintuple-tube torpedo launchers give her a solid torpedo armament.
Capable of delivering torpedoes from beyond her detection range.
First American destroyer capable of lowering her detection range below 6.0 km by combining Concealment Expert and Concealment System Modification 1 .
Good AA defense.
Can equip the Defensive AA Fire  consumable.
Good speed, responsive rudder, and excellent handling; Benson has the tightest turning circle of all Tier VIII destroyers.

Cons:

HP pool is on the low end compared to same tier DDs.
Very long torpedo reload time.
High shell arcs make it hard to hit fast moving ships, especially if they are maneuvering to avoid incoming fire.

Research

Availability of researchable upgrades for Benson is as follows:

Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) to add extra health, fractionally more AA, and improved rudder shift time. Research of Hull (B) unlocks progression to Fletcher.
Torpedoes: The Mk15 mod. 3 torpedoes hit harder, but reload 13 seconds slower; Hull (B) must be equipped before they can be installed.
Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to Mk8 mod. 2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.

Like Mahan, Hull (B) is the best place to invest early experience gains. After that, captains are encouraged to research the upgraded torpedo module for better reload times and more damage. Benson is one of the first American destroyers that can be played as a torpedo-centric destroyer if desired. Pick up the Fire Control System upgrade to her main battery range last.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Benson are as follows:

Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
Slot 2: Engine Room Protection *
Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1 *
Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1
Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1

Slot 3 is most commonly filled with Aiming Systems Modification 1, but captains looking to drive off enemy planes may wish to use AA Guns Modification 1 in order to increase the intensity of medium- and long-range AA Fire. Similarly, captains looking to maximize their anti-aircraft capabilities may wish to install the special Defensive AA Fire Modification 1 upgrade into Slot 2.

Commander Skills

Benson isn't quite as flexible as her Tier IX cousin Fletcher, but she's close.

Preventative Maintenance at Level 1, Last Stand at Level 2, Survivability Expert at Level 3, and Concealment Expert at Level 4 are all must-have skills for Benson commanders. Once those four basic skills have been covered, captains can begin to customize their Benson commander further. Captains wishing to focus on maximizing their main battery should sink points into Demolition Expert and Basic Firing Training at Level 3; more torpedo-minded captains should invest in Torpedo Armament Expertise instead. Level 2's Adrenaline Rush is a good buy regardless of which armament is chosen for a focus. Captains wishing to invest in a full-on anti-aircraft build should invest in Basic Firing Training; Benson is capable of shooting down surprising numbers of enemy aircraft when configured properly, but it requires a heavy investment in commander skill points and upgrades.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack				Defense
1	Grease the Gears +15% main battery traverse speed.	Liquidator +30% chance (multiplicative) of causing flooding. ★★	Consumables Specialist -10% cooldown time of: Main Battery Reload Booster , Torpedo Reload Booster , Spotting Aircraft , Catapult Fighter , & Defensive AA Fire . ★	Gun Feeder -40% time to switch shell type.	Incoming Fire Alert Receive a warning about a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5 km. ★	Preventive Maintenance -30% chance of main armament, engines, steering becoming incapacitated. ★★★
2	Demolition Expert +1% chance of main and secondary HE shells causing a fire. +15% to the damage-inflicting area of HE shells fired at submarines. ★	Swift Fish +5% torpedo speed. ★	Consumables Enhancements +10% action time of: Hydroacoustic Search , Surveillance Radar , Smoke Generator , & Engine Boost .	Extra-Heavy Ammunition +7.5% main battery AP shell damage. +10% damage from depth charges.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies aiming at you with main battery. ★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver - slowly - while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated. ★★★
3	Main Battery & AA Specialist -5% main battery reload time. +10% continuous AA damage. ★★	Fill the Tubes -10% torpedo tubes reload time. ★★	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% reload time of all armaments per 1% HP lost +0.2% AA continuous damage per 1% HP lost. ★★★	Inertial Fuse for HE Shells +25% armor penetration of HE shells Base fire chance reduced by half.	Superintendent +1 charge to all consumables.	Survivability Expert +350 HP per ship tier. ★★★
4	Main Battery & AA Expert +20% main battery range. +15% flak damage. ★	Swift in Silence So long as the ship remains undetected: +8% ship speed +5% main battery reload time. ★★	Radio Location Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.. ★★	Fearless Brawler +1 flak burst per salvo. -10% main battery reload when ship is spotted.	Concealment Expert -10% detectability range of the ship. ★★★	Dazzle For 15 seconds after you are detected: +20% dispersion of enemy shells fired at you. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Benson can equip the following consumables:

Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
Slot 2: Smoke Generator 
Slot 3: Engine Boost  or Defensive AA Fire

Signals

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

A Benson yeets a Midway to end the match.

References

Ship Change Log

See here for links to Update notes.

Added to the game in Update 0.2.2.5 (alpha version).
Update 0.3.0:
- Added an updated researchable hull.
Update 0.5.0:
- Hull C is no longer required research to progress to Fletcher.
  - Defensive AA Consumable added to Hull C.
Update 0.5.1:
- Torpedo parameters were changed (speed / reload time / range / damage):
  - Mark 12 torpedoes (64 / 110 / 6.4 / 11733) replaced with Mk15 mod.0 torpedoes.
  - Mark 14 mod. 3 ( 52 / 94 / 8.2 / 14500) replaced with Mk15 mod.3 torpedoes.
- Main battery reload time reduced from 4.5 to 3.34 s.
Update 0.5.2:
- Changed the B Hull:
  - One of the gun turrets is no longer removed when the main battery is upgraded.
  - HP increased from 12800 to 15400.
  - Air defense installations were replaced.
- Credits earnings decreased by 7%.
Update 0.5.3.2:
- SC radar replaced with RC 2 radar on Hull C.
- Minor visual change to turrets
- Fixed the numbers displayed on the starboard side of the Hull C.
- The Type 7 camouflage was renamed Type 10.
Update 0.5.7:
- Removed the overlap of her torpedo tubes with the ship structures.
- The hull armored model was refined.
Update 0.6.6:
- The deck armor thickness was changed to 19mm.
Update 0.6.9:
- Hull B rudder shift time decreased to 2.7 s to be equal with Hull C.
Update 0.6.11:
- Icons on the armament scheme no longer intersect when Hull B and Mk15 mod.3 torpedoes are installed.
Update 0.6.12:
- Detectability when firing main guns in smoke changed to 2.75 km.
Update 0.6.13:
- The efficiency of the Defensive Fire consumable was increased. Now it increases the power of the aura by four times (instead of three).
- Fire extinguishing time now 30 s instead of 60 s;
- The survivability of air defense weapons was tested and brought to a single standard. The change affects 40mm guns.
Update 0.6.15:
- Chance of fire for hull B was slightly reduced and is now equal to chance of fire for Hull C.
Update 0.7.6:
- Fixed a bug due to which the alternative camouflage color scheme did not work on all hulls.
Update 0.7.7:
- For 127mm AP / SC Mk38 armor-piercing shells, the fuse detonation time was reduced from 0.03 to 0.01 s.
Update 0.7.11:
- Hull C: The tarpaulin on the stern main gun is no longer displayed as a surface with 1mm armor.
Update 0.8.1:
- Fixed a bug where the permanent Halloween camouflage for Benson did not change the appearance of the main battery turrets.
Update 0.8.5:
- Credits earnings increased by + 5%.
Update 0.9.4:
- Defensive fire consumable now available on all hulls.
Update 0.9.5:
- Small changes to geometry and textures.
Update 0.9.6:
- The bonus to the permanent AA aura damage by the Defensive AA Fire consumable was increased from +50% to +75%.
- The Benson Hull C Module was removed from the game.
- Compensation rules:
  - If players had already researched the module, they had the XP spent on the research returned as compensation.
  - If players had the removed module in their Inventory, they received compensation equal to the module's value in credits.
  - If players had the removed module mounted on the ship, they were replaced with the previous module and removed from the players' account. Players were compensated for the module in the form of credits.
  - If the replacement module was available in the players' Inventory, they received compensation for its value in credits.
  - If there was no replacement module available in players' Inventory, they received a replacement free of charge; if the module had not yet been researched, it was automatically researched.
Update 0.9.7:
- The bonus to the permanent AA aura damage of the Defensive AA Fire consumable was increased from +75% to +100%.
Update 0.11.5:
- Ship's 3D model changed, resulting in:
  - 0.12 m increase in draught.
  - 0.2 m decrease in hull height.
  - 0.1 m decrease in waterline length.
  - 0.2 m decrease in total length.
  - 0.04 m decrease in waterline hull width.
  - 0.04 m decrease in maximum hull width.
- Aiming sector of the second torpedo launcher with the stock torpedo module installed decreased by 8 degrees on each side.
- Resistance to damage from the HE shell impact area of the second main battery turret increased by approximately 25%.
- Aiming sector of the second main battery turret increased by 8 degrees on each side.
- Aiming sector of the third main battery turret decreased by 1 degree on each side.
- The conning tower is now included in the superstructure plating.
- Continuous AA damage of Hull A decreased from 92 to 83.
- Long-range AA damage of Hull A decreased from 77 to 67.
- The amount of HP in the bow of Hull A decreased from 1,900 to 1,700.
- The amount of HP in superstructures of Hull A increased from 900 to 1,100.
- Resistance to damage from the HE shell impact area decreased by approximately 25% for the third and fourth main battery turrets of Hull B.
- Continuous AA damage of Hull B increased from 97 to 104.
- Long-range AA damage of Hull B increased from 77 to 84.
- Damage from AA shell explosions of Hull B increased from 1,400 to 1,470.
- The number of explosions in an AA salvo of Hull B increased from 3 to 4.
- The amount of HP in the bow of Hull B decreased from 2,200 to 2,000.
- The amount of HP in the stern of Hull B decreased from 1,400 to 1,300.
- The amount of HP in superstructures of Hull B increased from 1,000 to 1,300.
Update 0.11.6:
- In the Equipment tab, the name of the ship's main battery was changed from 127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.30/Mk.30 mod.0 mount to 127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.21 mod.0/Mk.30 mod.1 mount.
Update 0.11.7:
- Minor fixes to the model and textures of the ship.

Ships of U.S.A.

Destroyers	II Sampson • II Smith • III Wickes • IV Clemson • V Nicholas • V Hill • VI Farragut • VI Monaghan • VII Mahan • VII Sims • VII Sims B • VIII Benson • VIII Kidd • IX Fletcher • IX Benham • IX Halford • IX Black • X Gearing • X Somers • X Forrest Sherman • ★ Joshua Humphreys
Cruisers	I Erie • II Chester • II Albany • III St. Louis • III Charleston • IV Phoenix • V Omaha • V Marblehead • V Marblehead Lima • V Rattlehead • VI Pensacola • VI Dallas • VII Atlanta • VII New Orleans • VII Helena • VII Indianapolis • VII Atlanta B • VII Boise • VII Flint • VIII Baltimore • VIII Cleveland • VIII Wichita • VIII Anchorage • VIII Congress • VIII Rochester • VIII San Diego • VIII AL Montpelier • IX Buffalo • IX Seattle • IX Vallejo • IX Alaska • IX Tulsa • IX Alaska B • X Des Moines • X Worcester • X Puerto Rico • X Salem • X Austin • ★ Annapolis
Battleships	III South Carolina • IV Wyoming • IV Arkansas Beta • V New York • V Oklahoma • V Texas • VI New Mexico • VI Arizona • VI W. Virginia '41 • VII Colorado • VII Florida • VII West Virginia '44 • VII California • VIII North Carolina • VIII Kansas • VIII Nebraska • VIII Alabama • VIII Massachusetts • VIII Alabama VL • VIII Constellation • VIII Massachusetts B • VIII Alabama ST • VIII North Carolina CLR • IX Iowa • IX Minnesota • IX Delaware • IX Missouri • IX Kearsarge • IX Illinois • IX Kearsarge B • IX Georgia • X Montana • X Vermont • X Louisiana • X Ohio • ★ Maine
Aircraft Carriers	IV Langley • VI Ranger • VIII Lexington • VIII Enterprise • VIII Saipan • VIII Hornet • VIII Saipan B • X Midway • X Franklin D. Roosevelt • X Essex • ★ United States

Destroyers

Japan	II Tachibana • II Umikaze • II Tachibana Lima • III Wakatake • IV Isokaze • V Minekaze • V Fūjin • V Kamikaze • V Kamikaze R • V Mutsuki • VI Fubuki • VI Hatsuharu • VI Shinonome B • VI Shinonome • VII Akatsuki • VII Shiratsuyu • VII Yūdachi • VIII Akizuki • VIII Kagerō • VIII Asashio • VIII HSF Harekaze II • VIII Asashio B • VIII HSF Harekaze • VIII AL Yukikaze • IX Yūgumo • IX Kitakaze • IX STAR Kitakaze • X Shimakaze • X Harugumo • X Hayate • ★ Yamagiri
U.S.A.	II Sampson • II Smith • III Wickes • IV Clemson • V Nicholas • V Hill • VI Farragut • VI Monaghan • VII Mahan • VII Sims • VII Sims B • VIII Benson • VIII Kidd • IX Fletcher • IX Benham • IX Halford • IX Black • X Gearing • X Somers • X Forrest Sherman • ★ Joshua Humphreys
U.K.	II Medea • III Valkyrie • III Campbeltown • IV Wakeful • V Acasta • VI Icarus • VI Gallant • VII Jervis • VIII Lightning • VIII Cossack • VIII Cossack B • IX Jutland • IX Somme • X Daring • X Druid
France	II Enseigne Gabolde • III Fusilier • IV Bourrasque • V Jaguar • V Siroco • VI Guépard • VI Aigle • VII Vauquelin • VIII Le Fantasque • VIII Le Terrible • IX Mogador • X Kléber • X Marceau • X Kléber CLR
U.S.S.R.	II Storozhevoi • III Derzki • IV Izyaslav • V Gremyashchy • V Podvoisky • V Okhotnik • VI Gnevny • VII Minsk • VII Leningrad • VII Tashkent '39 • VIII Ognevoi • VIII Kiev • IX Udaloi • IX Tashkent • IX Neustrashimy • X Khabarovsk • X Grozovoi • X Delny • ★ Zorkiy
Germany	II V-25 • III G-101 • IV V-170 • V T-22 • VI Ernst Gaede • VI T-61 • VI Karl von Schönberg • VII Leberecht Maass • VII Z-31 • VII Z-39 • VIII Z-23 • VIII Gustav-Julius Maerker • VIII Z-35 • IX Z-46 • IX Felix Schultz • IX Z-44 • IX ZF-6 • X Z-52 • X Elbing • X Z-42
Pan-Asia	II Longjiang • III Phra Ruang • IV Shenyang • V Jianwei • VI Fushun • VI Anshan • VII Gadjah Mada • VIII Hsienyang • VIII Siliwangi • VIII Loyang • VIII Fenyang • VIII Loyang B • VIII Ship Smasha • IX Chung Mu • X Yueyang • X Lüshun • ★ Kunming
Europe	II Tátra • III Romulus • IV Klas Horn • V Visby • V Muavenet • VI Västerås • VI Stord • VII Skåne • VII Grom • VII Błyskawica • VIII Öland • VIII Split • VIII Orkan • IX Östergötland • IX Lambros Katsonis • IX Velos • IX Friesland • IX Jäger • X Halland • X Gdańsk • X Småland • X Ragnar • ★ Dalarna
Italy	II Curtatone • III Nazario Sauro • IV Turbine • V Maestrale • VI Aviere • VI Leone • VII Luca Tarigo • VII FR25 • VIII Vittorio Cuniberti • IX Adriatico • IX Paolo Emilio • X Attilio Regolo
Netherlands	IX Groningen • X Tromp
Commonwealth	III Vampire • VII Haida • VII Huron • X Vampire II
Spain	X Álvaro de Bazán
Pan-America	VI Juruá

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Compatible Upgrades