Taranto

0.11.3

Taranto

Cruiser | Italy | Tier III

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price2000 exp

Purchase price270,000

Hit Points17,600

Main Battery

150 mm/45 SK L/45 on an MPL C/16 mount7 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire5.36 shots/min.

Reload Time11.2 sec.

Rotation Speed7 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time25.71 sec.

Firing Range10.34 km.

Maximum Dispersion104 m.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell0 %

AP Shell150 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/3.7

Maximum AP Shell Damage3,700

Initial AP Shell Velocity835 m./s.

AP Shell Weight45.3 kg.

Maximum SAP Shell Damage3,550

Initial SAP Shell Velocity835 m./s.

Torpedo Tubes

500 mm tubo lanciasiluri1 х 1 / 1 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire2.86 shots/min.

Reload Time21 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

Torpedo500 mm G7

Maximum Damage10,433

Torpedo Speed58 knot

Torpedo Range4.02 km.

AA Defense

88 mm/45 SK L/45 on an MPL C/13 mount2 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second3.4

. . . Firing Range3.99 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed28.2 knot

Turning Circle Radius450 m.

Rudder Shift Time8 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range9.36 km.

Air Detectability Range5.11 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

0.11.3

Taranto

Cruiser | Italy | Tier III

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price2000 exp

Purchase price270,000

Hit Points19,600

Main Battery

150 mm/45 SK L/45 on an MPL C/16 mount7 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire5.36 shots/min.

Reload Time11.2 sec.

Rotation Speed7 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time25.71 sec.

Firing Range11.37 km.

Maximum Dispersion104 m.

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell0 %

AP Shell150 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/3.7

Maximum AP Shell Damage3,700

Initial AP Shell Velocity835 m./s.

AP Shell Weight45.3 kg.

Maximum SAP Shell Damage3,550

Initial SAP Shell Velocity835 m./s.

Torpedo Tubes

533 mm tubo lanciasiluri DAAN-Whitehead1 х 2 / 1 х 2 pcs.

Rate of Fire1.28 shots/min.

Reload Time47 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

Torpedo533 mm Si 270 G

Maximum Damage9,067

Torpedo Speed51 knot

Torpedo Range8.01 km.

AA Defense

76 mm/40 Ansaldo Model 1916 on an RM1916 mount2 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second4.2

. . . Firing Range3 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed28.2 knot

Turning Circle Radius450 m.

Rudder Shift Time5.7 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range9.36 km.

Air Detectability Range5.11 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

III

270,000

Taranto — Italian Tier III cruiser.

A light cruiser built for the German Navy and transferred to the Royal Navy of Italy after World War I. In addition to the 150 mm main guns, the ship was armed with two single-tube torpedo launchers.

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 ()
150 mm/45 SK L/45 on an MPL C/16 mount	5.4	25.71	104			3,700		0	28,000

	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 ()
Taranto (A)	17,600	6	100	7		2	2			0	40,000
Taranto (B)	19,600	6	100	7		2	2			900	90,000

	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 ()
500 mm G7/533 mm Si 270 G	2.9	47	7.2	9,066	51	8		0	22,000

	Firing Range Increase (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
SDT 3 mod.1	0	10.3		0	21,000
SDT 3 mod.2	10	11.4		450	40,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 33,742 hp	28.2		0	18,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2

Player Opinion

Performance

At Tier III, Taranto brings some welcome advancements over her lower tier sister Nino Bixio in the form of larger guns and the addition of torpedoes to her armament.

Taranto’s battery consists of seven 150mm single turrets, although due to their arrangement it is not possible to bring more than five to bear on a target at a time. The guns do not reload or turn quickly, and their range is quite short. However, the SAP shell they fire can deal surprising amounts of damage with their ease of penetration. SAP is best employed against lightly armored targets such as destroyers and cruisers, and at longer distances where the improved penetration angles can enable SAP to penetrate thin decks. By comparison, the AP shells can penetrate armor too thick for SAP, and can do excellent damage when they do penetrate, but their penetration is only sufficient to threaten the citadels of similar cruisers at short ranges. Taranto’s guns fire shells at a high angle, which can facilitate firing over islands to take advantage of terrain, but also results in the shells having quite a long travel time which can make firing at fast moving or distant targets a challenge.

When first purchased Taranto features two single 500mm torpedo launchers, one on either side. With rapid reload but short range, these launchers have limited usefulness. Upon upgrading the hull these launchers are upgraded to twin launchers armed with 533mm torpedoes with twice as much range, although at the expense of taking more than twice as long to reload, and with the individual torpedoes being slower and dealing less damage. Nonetheless, the more numerous, longer range torpedoes are valuable assets, and they enjoy wide arcs of fire. Care should be taken when committing to a close quarters torpedo attack due to the low damage potential.

Although the hull upgrade does improve the torpedo armament, the same cannot be said for the AA defenses. Upon upgrading the hull Taranto’s pair of 88mm flak guns are replaced with a pair of 76mm AA machine guns, resulting in the loss of any flak and a significant reduction in AA range for a marginal increase in AA DPS. In either case, Taranto’s AA suite is poorly suited to defending from aerial attacks.

Taranto’s survivability is mixed. She is a large target for a tier 3 cruiser and thinly armored across most of her surface. Her citadel is well protected behind both a thick belt and sloped internal armor, but this won’t protect her citadel from battleships. Taranto also has low HP for her tier, making avoiding damage even more important.

To that end, Taranto’s short rudder shift time and impressive turning circle afford her some of the best agility available at her tier, enabling her to actively dodge incoming fire. She can also reach a respectable speed, outpacing the protected cruisers frequently encountered at her tier.

Overall, Taranto is a well rounded cruiser. Her lack of HP and long reload are her greatest drawbacks, but careful positioning can enable her to succeed by utilising her SAP shells and taking advantage of what range she has, using terrain to attack from relative safety and utilising her maneuverability to evade fire while falling back when faced with an enemy advance.

Pros:

• Reasonable citadel protection for a tier III cruiser
• High shell damage on both the SAP and AP
• Shell arcs aid in firing over terrain and hitting decks with SAP
• Wide angle torpedoes with long range
• Good top speed
• Agile

Cons:

• Large target
• A small health pool
• Guns are slow to turn and reload
• Torpedoes are slow with small warheads
• Long shell travel time makes hitting fast or distant targets difficult
• The only ships with worse AA are those with none

Research

1. Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) first to increase HP and improve torpedo performance. Research of this module unlocks progression to Tier IV Giussano.
2. Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to SDT 3 mod.2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades are:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
• Slot 2: Engine Room Protection

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 -10% cooldown time of Main Battery Reload Booster, Torpedo Reload Booster, Spotting Aircraft, Catapult Fighter, and Defensive AA Fire.	Gun Feeder -50% time to switch loaded 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 • -50% action time.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies targeting you with main battery. ★★	Focus Fire Training In the priority AA sector:   +25% continuous damage.   +1 flak burst per salvo –10% reload time of Air strike armament.
3	Heavy HE and SAP Shells +10% HE and SAP shell damage. +15% ship detectability guns 149mm and up. ★★	Enhanced Torpedo Explosive Charge +15% torpedo damage.	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. ★★	AA Defense and ASW Expert +20% continuous AA damage. +20% flak damage. +15% damage from depth charges.
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Taranto can equip the following consumable:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits;

Choose one and append after semicolon above: Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detectibility range. Types 2 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce the accuracy of incoming shells.

Signals

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 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.	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.	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 Repair Party  is used.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration.	India Yankee -20% to fire duration.	Juliet Charlie -100% to the risk of magazine detonation.
X-Ray Papa Unaone +15% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .
Economic
Zulu +20% credits earned for the battle.	India Bravo Terrathree -10% to the cost of the ship's post-battle service.	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

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

Gallery

Historical Info

Taranto, 1925

Construction

Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven; Wilhelmshaven, Germany

Laid down: March 1910

Launched: 24 August 1911

Commissioned: 9 October 1912

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Specifications

4,570 tons displacement, normal

5,933 tons displacement, full

138.7m length

13.5m beam

5.2m draft (6.0m full load)

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Machinery

Sixteen (16) Schultz-Thornycroft boilers

Two (2) Parsons steam turbines

1,200 tons coal, 106 tons oil

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Performance

27 knots at 25,000 shaft horsepower

5,820 nautical miles at 12 knots

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Armor

Main belt: 60mm

Decks: 40mm deck and 60mm slopes

Gun Sheilds: 50mm

Conning tower: 100mm

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Armament

Main

Seven (7x1) 15cm/45 (149/43) SK C/06

Anti-Aircraft

Two (2x1) 76mm/40 Ansaldo Modello 1917

Torpedoes

Four (2x1 + 2) 500mm torpedo tubes

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Aircraft Facilities

One (1) Catapults

Aircraft

One (1) CANT 24R reconnaissance floatplane

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Complement

461 (15 officers and 446 sailors)

History

Design

Taranto, the former Strassburg, was of the German Magdeburg-class light cruisers. Although developed from the previous Kolberg-class, the Magdeburg-class were considerably more advanced, and though of a similar displacement were both faster and much better armored. At 4,564 tons normal load and 5,281 tons fully loaded, was only a few hundred tons heavier than the Kolberg-class (4,362/4,915 tons). However, much less of this was taken up by the hull itself – the Magdeburg-class incorporated a new longitudinal framing method, which proved difficult to master but well worth the effort. The hull could be both longer and slimmer than the prior class, but overall stronger. As a result, the hull shape of these light cruisers was significantly better, also helped by a new bow shape (which overall improved sea-keeping).

For the first time on a German light cruiser, an armor belt was fitted, 60m thick and protected most of the length of the ship. Rather than be mounted on the hull, it was actually built into the hull as part of the ship, contributing to the strength of the hull. Behind the belt, there was a sloped deck as on earlier protected cruisers, with the flat portion being 40mm thick and the slopes 60mm. The deck sloped down to the ship ends, where it was 20mm thick. The conning tower had 100mm thick plating around it, with a 20mm roof. Gun shields were 50mm thick, and ammunition hoists were protected by 20mm plating.

Propulsion power was provided by sixteen Schultz-Thornycroft boilers, coal-powered but with fuel oil sprayers, operating at a pressure of 16kg/cm2. These fed a pair of parson-type steam turbines, and produced a total of 25,000 shp, for a top speed of 27 knots.

As built, the main armament consisted of twelve single 10.5cm/45 SK C/06, which fired 17.4 kg shells to a maximum range of 12,700 meters at a rate of 15 rounds/minute. Six could bear to either broadside. Two 500mm torpedo tubes were fitted underwater, one on each beam. Minelaying capacity allowed for 120 mines. In 1915, Strassburg underwent a modernization that removed all the 10.5cm guns and replaced them with seven of the so-called 15cm/45 SK C/06 (actually a 149/43) in single mounts, which fired a much heavier 45.3 kg shell to a range of 14,900 meters, and at a rate of about 5 r/m. Five could bear to a broadside, so despite the deceased number of guns, the weight of fire was twice what it was before. Additionally, two 8.8cm anti-torpedo boat guns were mounted on the centerline, and a pair of deck-mounted single 500mm torpedo tubes.

In the early 1920s, after being pressed into service with the Regia Marina and re-commissioned as Taranto, the cruiser underwent a number of modifications. Initially the pair of 8.8cm guns were removed, and replaced by a pair of 76mm/40 Modello 1917 AA guns, one on either side of the funnels. In 1926, a seaplane catapult was mounted where the 8.8cm guns had formerly been, for a Macchi M.7 (replaced in 1931 by a CANT 24R. In 1936-1937 Taranto went through a significant refit, where the two fore boilers, and their accompanying funnel, were removed (power was reduced to 13,000 shp, for a top speed of 21 knots), and the torpedoes were removed. A pair of twin Breda 13.2mm heavy machine guns were fitted for anti-air defense. This was her condition upon entry into the Second World War.

Service

Laid down in April 1910 as Strassburg, she was launched on 24 August 1911 and completed on 9 October 1912. On trials, at a light displacement of 4,071 tons, she was able to make 28.2 knots on 33,742 shp, though in service her actual top speed would be about 27 knots.

Though assigned to the High Seas Fleet, her first major task took her overseas, as escort to the Kaiser-class battleships Kaiser and König Albert. The mission, intended to test the reliability of the turbine propulsion system installed on the battleships, departed Germany in December 1913 and visited ports along German West Africa, before crossing the Atlantic for visits along the South American seaboard, including the Pacific side. The trio returned to Germany on 17 June 1914, whereupon Strassburg was re-assigned to the HSF’s reconnaissance forces.

At the outbreak of WWI, she was used for reconnaissance and for backup to reconnaissance forces, and in this manner took part in the Battle of Heligoland Blight of 26 August. During the action she came across the badly damaged British cruiser Arethusa, but was driven off by British destroyers. When she made contact once more in company with the cruiser Cöln, succeeding in damaging three British destroyers, but they were forced to flee at the arrival of British battle cruisers, which ultimately sank Cöln. In December she took part in the Raid on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby, and was able to escape the British via the terrible visibility that day. Next year, she was transferred to the Baltic, but saw little action until 1917. In October, during Operation Albion, she and two other light cruisers acted as covering forces for German minesweepers in the Gulf of Riga, and came under fire from 305mm shore batteries. She later took part in the Battle of Moon Sound, and aided in the bombardment of Kyno. In 1918 she re-joined the High Seas Fleet, as part of IV Scouting Group. In October, as the situation for Germany deteriorated, 45 men (about 10% of the crew) attempted to desert, and had to be captured and returned to their ship. However, then crews from all six cruisers of IV Scouting Group refused to work, which was followed soon after by the Wilhelmshaven and Kiel mutinies.

After WWI, Strassburg was briefly part of the post-war Reichsmarine, before being transferred to Italy in 1920 as a war prize. She arrived on 2 November 1920, and was refurbished before entering service with the Regia Marina, commissioned as scout Taranto on 2 June 1925. Initially assigned to the Light Division, on 1 December 1925 she was assigned to the 1st Division of the Scout Fleet. On 3 May 1926 she was deployed abroad in colonial service, sent to the Red Sea. On 24 May, she replaced the colonial cruiser Campania as flagship of the Indian Ocean squadron, and sent much of her time on patrol and helping to suppress rebels in Somalia. On 6 December 1926 Taranto was relieved by Lussin, and returned to Taranto on 27 January 1927. She was put into the reserve division of the 2nd Fleet while she was undergoing refit and maintenance, which lasted until September, and afterwards was assigned to 2nd Fleet’s scouting division. From 15 March 1928 to 1 October 1929, she was assigned to the Scout Division of the 1st Fleet, during which she also conducted a cruise around the western Mediterranean and into the Atlantic.

On 16 July 1931 Taranto became the flagship of the fourth division, now classed as a cruiser, and patrolled around Greek waters. On 1 July 1932, she fell under the jurisdiction of the Naval Mechanic School at Venice, conducting a cruise around the Adriatic. On 1 September she left this assignment, and on the 11th was put into the naval reserve force. In 1934 she served as the seat of the Inspector of Submarines, and embarked on a cruise with them, though in 1935 she was released from this task and deployed to the Red Sea and Indian Ocean stations once more in September 1935. She returned from this task in August 1936, and immediately was put into the major refit described above in the design section. After returning to service in 1938, she spent much of her time in the Adriatic and Ionian seas under the authority of the local naval department.

On 10 June 1940, when Italy entered the Second World War, Taranto was stationed in Brindisi, and began undertaking minelaying missions. For much of the war through to 1941, she operated in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, providing fire support against Yugoslav and Greek forces and supporting various operations. In the summer she was assigned to the Forza Navale Speciale (Special Naval Forces) alongside several other older warships. She was sent to La Spezia in August for various works, where she received an increased anti-aircraft battery (two twin 20mm AA mounts and three more twin 13.2mm complexes). She moved to Livorno on 26 February 1942, beginning training for the planned role of the FNS in the invasion of Malta (Operazione C.3), but with the cancellation of the operation she was reduced to a training ship, and put into reserve in December.

After the Armistice of Cassibile on 8 September 1943, there was a very real risk of Taranto being captured by German troops, as she was not in condition to sail. Thus, on 9 September 1943, the crew of Taranto elected to scuttle the cruiser, to prevent it from falling into German hands. The Germans attempted to re-float the ship in the hopes of using her as a blockship, but an Allied airstrike sunk her again on 23 October. The Germans once again attempted to raise her for use as a blockship, but she was sunk for a third time by Allied bombers on 23 September 1944. After the war, Taranto was raised once more, and struck from the naval register on 27 March 1947. She was broken up for scrap shortly afterwards. During the Second World War, she had only conducted 11 official war missions, six for laying mines, and five for various actions, amounting to only 4,420 miles steamed in these roles.

Historical Gallery

• 

  SMS Strassburg

References

• SMS Strassburg - Wikipedia
• Magdeburg-class cruiser - Wikipedia

Ship Change Log

See here for links to Update notes.

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.8.7.

Testing Changes

• July 23, 2019:
  • Preliminary characteristics.
• Aug 20, 2019:
  • Removed the 10% damage limit for semi-armor-piercing shell penetrations against destroyers.
  • Improved ricochet angles of semi-armor-piercing shells from 60-85 degrees to 80-85 degrees.
  • Stock main battery firing range increased from 9.6 to 10.34 km.
• Sep 13, 2019:
  • Ricochet angles for SAP shells changed from 80-85 degrees to 65-80 degrees.
• Oct 14, 2019:
  • Detectability range by air increased from 4 to 5.1 km.
  • Main battery reload time decreased from 13 to 12 s.

• Introduced in Update 0.8.10.
  • The starting ricochet angle for a semi-armor-piercing shell was increased from 65 to 70 degrees.
• Update 0.10.0:
  • Acceleration and braking dynamics were decreased to standard values.
  • Main battery reload time decreased from 12 to 11.2 s.
• Update 0.11.1:
  • Minor corrections to the geometry and textures of the ship.

Ships of Italy

Cruisers