Wickes

13.10

Wickes

Destroyer | U.S.A. | Tier III

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price2200 exp

Purchase price250,000

Hit Points8,100

Main Battery

102 mm/50 Mk.9 on a shielded mount4 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire8.57 shots/min.

Reload Time7 sec.

Rotation Speed11.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time15.65 sec.

Firing Range8.37 km.

Maximum Dispersion84 m.

HE Shell102 mm HE/HC Mk15

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,500

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity884 m./s.

HE Shell Weight14.97 kg.

AP Shell102 mm AP/SC Mk16

Maximum AP Shell Damage1,700

Initial AP Shell Velocity884 m./s.

AP Shell Weight14.97 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

533 mm Triple4 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire1.88 shots/min.

Reload Time32 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoBliss Leavitt Mk3

Maximum Damage6,400

Torpedo Speed48 knot

Torpedo Range5.001 km.

AA Defense

76.2 mm/23 Mk.14 on a single mount1 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second1

. . . Firing Range3 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed34 knot

Turning Circle Radius520 m.

Rudder Shift Time4 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range6.46 km.

Air Detectability Range2.46 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

13.10

Wickes

Destroyer | U.S.A. | Tier III

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price2200 exp

Purchase price250,000

Hit Points8,900

Main Battery

102 mm/50 Mk.9 on a shielded mount4 х 1 pcs.

Rate of Fire8.57 shots/min.

Reload Time7 sec.

Rotation Speed11.5 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time15.65 sec.

Firing Range9.21 km.

Maximum Dispersion84 m.

HE Shell102 mm HE/HC Mk15

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,500

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

Initial HE Shell Velocity884 m./s.

HE Shell Weight14.97 kg.

AP Shell102 mm AP/SC Mk16

Maximum AP Shell Damage1,700

Initial AP Shell Velocity884 m./s.

AP Shell Weight14.97 kg.

Torpedo Tubes

533 mm Triple4 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire1.5 shots/min.

Reload Time40 sec.

Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.

TorpedoBliss Leavitt Mk9 mod. 1b

Maximum Damage9,900

Torpedo Speed56 knot

Torpedo Range5.04 km.

AA Defense

12.7 mm Browning on a single mount2 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second7.6

. . . Firing Range1.2 km.

76.2 mm/23 Mk.14 on a single mount1 х 1 pcs.

. . . Average Damage per Second1

. . . Firing Range3 km.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed34 knot

Turning Circle Radius520 m.

Rudder Shift Time2.7 sec.

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range6.46 km.

Air Detectability Range2.46 km.

Battle Levels

12345678910

III

250,000

Wickes — American Tier III destroyer.

During World War I, the first destroyers of an improved design—flush-deck ships with greater displacement and firepower—were laid down, followed by the Wickes-class destroyers of the second series. The lead ship escorted transports until the end of the war. With the outbreak of World War II, Wickes went on patrol missions in the Caribbean Sea. In late 1940, the ship was transferred to the Royal Navy and renamed HMS Montgomery.

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 ()
102 mm/50 Mk.9 on a single mount/shielded mount	8.6	15.7	84	1,500	6	1,700		0	25,000

	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 ()
Wickes (A)	8,100	6	13	4		1	4			0	38,000
Wickes (B)	8,900	6	13	4		2/1	4			700	98,000

	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 ()
Bliss Leavitt Mk3	1.9	32	7.2	6,400	48	5		0	21,000
Bliss Leavitt Mk9	1.5	40	7.2	9,900	56	5		350	70,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk3 mod. 1		0		0	20,500
Mk III mod. 2		0		400	52,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 26,400 hp	34		0	21,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2

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.

At first glance, Wickes might appear a downgrade from Sampson, particularly given her low health pool. While she is slightly more fragile than her predecessor, she makes up for it by retaining Sampson’s handling characteristics while gaining about 5 knots worth of top speed.

More importantly than that, Wickes moves up from Sampson’s twin double-tube launchers on each side of the ship to twin triple-tube launchers. Combined with the better damage from her upgraded Torpedo module, it is a huge increase in firepower. Wickes is a tremendous threat to enemy capital ships she's allowed to close with; however, now she can simply wipe them out with a single well-aimed salvo of torpedoes as opposed to Sampson’s steady "death by a thousand cuts" method. Her main battery is virtually unchanged from Sampson; the guns are the same, and she retains the unusual gun placement that prevents her from getting more than three barrels on target at once.

Overall, Wickes packs more firepower into a hull that is just as fragile as her predecessor, while continuing to encourage clever positioning and sneak attacks from behind cover in order to maximize damage from her deadly torpedo armament.

Pros:

• Excellent maneuverability.
• Quick turret traverse speed.
• Able to drop waves of torpedoes from both sides.
• Low detection range.

Cons:

• Gun reload is a on the slow side.
• Virtually no armor (as is typical of destroyers).
• Guns are arranged such that only 3 can be brought to bear on a target at a time.
• Torpedoes are out-ranged by both German and Japanese counterparts (G-101 and Wakatake, respectively).
• Anti-aircraft armament is non-existent.
• Even less health than Sampson.

Research

Availability of researchable upgrades for Wickes is as follows:

• Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) for a few more hit points and slightly more AA. Research of this module unlocks progression to Clemson.
• Torpedoes: Upgrading to the Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9's provides Wickes’s torpedo armament with a major boost in damage and a little more range on her fish.
• Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to Mk3 mod. 2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.

In an odd twist for American destroyers, the best place to spend initial experience gains in Wickes is in the upgraded Torpedo module. Hull (B) provides a smidgeon more health and should be taken next. The Fire Control System module upgrade to boost her gun range can be saved for last.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Wickes are as follows:

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

Commander Skills

Priority skills for any Wickes commander are Preventative Maintenance at Level 1, Last Stand at Level 2, Survivability Expert at Level 3, and Concealment Expert at Level 4.

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 −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 about a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5 km. ★	Preventive Maintenance −30% chance of main armament, engines, steering becoming incapacitated +15% to HP of secondary and AA guns. ★★★
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. * +8% ship speed. ★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Wickes can equip the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: Smoke Generator 
• Slot 3: Engine Boost 

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

• 

  Hull A

• 

  Hull B

• 

  Type 1 Camo on Hull B

• 

  Type 2 Camo on Hull B

• 

  Type 5 Camo on Hull B

Historical Info

Construction

Bath Iron Works, Bath, United States

Laid down: 26 June 1917

Launched: 25 June 1918

Commissioned: 31 July 1918

Specifications

1,107 tons displacement, standard

98.4m length

9.4m beam

2.8m draft

Machinery

4 boilers, 2 turbines

Performance

35 knots at 24,200 shaft horsepower

2,500 nm at 20 knots

Armament

Main

Four (4x1) 102mm guns

Secondary

One (1x1) 76.2mm gun

Torpedoes

Twelve (4x3) 533mm torpedo tubes

History

Design

The Wickes was a class of destroyers designed during World War I. As the successor to the Caldwell class, the primary improvements consisted of increased range and speed, resulting in a heavier ship with little increase in combat power. They were intended to operate in conjunction with the future Omaha class cruisers and Constellation class battlecruisers, forming the light component of the fast heavy units which the navy was expecting.

Of the Wickes class destroyers, the majority were completed after the end of World War I and consequently saw little service outside peacetime environments. Many were laid up or stricken from service as the newer, more modern generation of destroyers began to enter service in the 1930s.

The entry of the United States into World War II saw the recommissioning of dozens of the Wickes class destroyers. Because of their age and obsolescence, conversion from fleet destroyer to more specialist roles became common.

Conversions and Characteristics Thereof

ASW modifications (15 ships: DD-118, -126, -130, -142, -144, -145, -147, -152, -153, -154, -155, -157, -158, -159, and -160)

All four 102mm rifles landed, replaced by six (6x1) 76.2mm rifle.

Aft torpedo bank (2x3) landed, replaced by two of six (6x1) 76.2mm rifles.

Extra depth charge equipment installed, including K-guns.

APD, fast transport (12 ships: DD-103, -113, -114, -115, -116, -125, -137, -147, -157, -160, and -164)

Both torpedo banks (4x3) landed, mountings for four LCP(R) installed.

Forward boiler removed.

DMS, destroyer minesweeper (9 ships: DD-117, -119, -136, -141, -146, -161, -178, -179, and -180)

Stern rebuilt to accommodate minesweeping equipment.

DM, destroyer minelayer (4 ships: DD-121, -122, -123, and -124)

Both torpedo banks (4x3) landed, replaced with stowage for 80 mines.

Historical Gallery

• 

  USS Bernadou (DD-153) in Measure 2 camouflage. She has been stripped down (masts removed) and modified for close-in support of the Torch landings in North Africa.

• 

  USS Talbot (DD-114) as built, interwar paint scheme.

• 

  A view of "Red Lead Row" in San Francisco harbor, 1920s.

• 

  USS Biddle (DD-151). The removal of the aft mast, absence of aft funnel, and absence of aft torpedo bank indicates modification for ASW duties.

• 

  USS Dickerson (DD-157) after APD conversion. Aft mast, forward funnels, and both torpedo banks have been removed. Davits installed and four LCP(R) loaded.

• 

  USS Dent (DD-116) as built, in WWI dazzle camouflage pattern.

• 

  USS Breckenridge (DD-148). Her mainmast, aft funnel, and aft torpedo bank have been removed. Note the additional ASW armament, including K-guns. She retains her 102mm guns.

• 

  An excellent colorized photo of USS Roper (DD-147). She is modified for ASW duties and possesses the 76.2mm gun arrangement.

• 

  USS Ward (DD-139) afire after Kamikaze attack. She would later sink, three years to the day after initiating the opening engagement of the Pacific War against a Japanese midget submarine outside Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941.

• 

  USS Crane (DD-109) as built, interwar photo.

• 

  USS Chew (DD-106). An excellent photo exhibiting ASW conversion. Her aft mast, aft torpedo bank, and aft funnel have been removed. Her enhanced ASW armament, including K-guns, are clearly visible. She retains her 102mm armament.

• 

  USS Herbert (DD-160) as built. Note the awning framework which has been put up over the forward gun.

References

1. USS Wickes (DD-75) - Wikipedia
2. Wickes-class destroyer - Wikipedia

Ship Change Log

See here for links to Update notes.

• Added to the game in Update 0.3.0.
• Update 0.5.0:
  • Main battery turret rotation speed increased from 10 to 11.5 degrees per second.
  • Added the ability to upgrade Bliss-Leavitt Mark 9 torpedoes.
• Update 0.5.2:
  • Credit earnings increased by 11%.
• Update 0.5.7:
  • The armor model of the hull was refined.
• Update 0.5.8:
  • The sector of rotation of the main battery turret No. 1 is equal to 360°.
• Update 0.6.11:
  • Improved appearance with the use of special technology for improved rendering of thin elements.
• Update 0.6.12:
  • Detectability when firing main guns in smoke changed to 2.09 km.
• Update 0.6.13:
  • 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 the 76.2 mm gun.
• Update 0.7.0:
  • Fixed a bug with the displacement of the camera from first person under water.
• Update 0.7.9:
  • Range of stock torpedoes was increased from 4.5 to 5 km.
• Update 0.10.5:
  • Fixed geometry and textures of the ship.
• Update 0.11.6:
  • Ship's 3D model changed, resulting in:
    • 0.04 m increase in draught.
    • 0.32 m decrease in hull height.
    • 0.55 m increase in waterline length.
    • 0.1 m increase in total length.
    • 0.05 m increase in waterline hull width.
    • 0.05 m decrease in maximum hull width.
  • Amount of HP in the stern of Hull A increased from 700 to 900.
  • Amount of HP in the superstructure of Hull A decreased from 400 to 300.
  • Firing sector of the starboard main battery gun of Hull A increased by 3 degrees.
  • Aiming sector of the second torpedo launcher of Hull A decreased by 1 degree.
  • Aiming sector of the third and fourth torpedo launchers of Hull A increased by 3 degrees.
  • Amount of HP in the stern of Hull B increased from 800 to 900.
  • Amount of HP in the superstructure of Hull B decreased from 400 to 300.
• Update 0.11.9:
  • Minor fixes to geometry and textures of the ship.

Ships of U.S.A.

Destroyers