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Z-44

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Z-44
Z-44_wows_main.jpg
Destroyer | Germany | Tier IX
Tech Tree Position
Z-44_icon_small.png
General
Purchase priceSpecial Doubloons
Hit Points19,400 
Main Battery
128 mm/45 SK C/34 on an MPLC/34 mount5 х 1 pcs.
Rate of Fire14.29 shots/min.
Reload Time4.2 sec.
Rotation Speeddeg./sec.
180 Degree Turn Time22.5 sec.
Firing Range11.11 km.
Maximum Dispersion98 m.
HE Shell128 mm Spr.Gr. 
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,500 
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell%
Initial HE Shell Velocity830 m./s.
HE Shell Weight28 kg.
AP Shell128 mm P.Spr.Gr. 
Maximum AP Shell Damage3,000 
Initial AP Shell Velocity830 m./s.
AP Shell Weight28 kg.
Torpedo Tubes
533 mm Fünfling2 х 5 pcs.
Rate of Fire0.71 shots/min.
Reload Time85 sec.
Rotation Speed25 deg./sec.
180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec.
TorpedoG7a T1 Ausf. C 
Maximum Damage13,700 
Torpedo Speed64 knot
Torpedo Range12 km.
AA Defense
30 mm/45 Flak 103/38 on a quadruple mount7 х 4 pcs.
. . . Average Damage per Second100.1 
. . . Firing Rangekm.
Maneuverability
Maximum Speed36.5 knot
Turning Circle Radius670 m.
Rudder Shift Time4.4 sec.
Concealment
Surface Detectability Range7.26 km.
Air Detectability Range3.5 km.
Battle Levels
12345678910
Wows_anno_flag_germany.png
IX
Ship_PGSD519_Z_44.png
Special

Z-44 — German special premium Tier IX destroyer.

The Type 1936B class destroyer was a modification of the preceding Type 1936A class which retained the same hull design but reverted to the lighter 5-inch main armament of earlier destroyers to reduce top weight and improve sea keeping capabilities.

The Kriegsmarine would complete three vessels of the class during WW2. Z-44 herself would not be completed, being lost to an air raid on the 29th of July 1944. Z-44 first went on sale on 03 December 2020.

Modules

Main Battery Guns 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
(Credits)
128 mm/45 SK C/34 on an MPLC/34 mount14.322.5981,50063,000 00
Hull 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
(Credits)
Z-4419,400820572 00
Torpedoes 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
(Credits)
G7a T1 Ausf. C0.7857.213,7006412 00
Fire Control System IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST
(%)
Maximum Firing Range
(km)
Research price
(exp)
Purchase price
(Credits)
FKS Typ 9 Mod. 10 00
Engine Maximum Speed
(knot)
Research price
(exp)
Purchase price
(Credits)
Propulsion: 70,000 hp36.5 00

Compatible Upgrades

 Slot 1 
Main Armaments Modification 1
Auxiliary Armaments Modification 1
Magazine Modification 1
Damage Control Party Modification 1
 Slot 2 
Damage Control System Modification 1
Engine Boost Modification 1
Engine Room Protection
 Slot 3 
Main Battery Modification 2
AA Guns Modification 1
Aiming Systems Modification 1
Smoke Generator Modification 1
Torpedo Tubes Modification 1
 Slot 4 
Damage Control System Modification 2
Propulsion Modification 1
Steering Gears Modification 1
Depth Charges Modification 1
 Slot 5 
Torpedo Lookout System
Concealment System Modification 1
Steering Gears Modification 2
Ship Consumables Modification 1
 Slot 6 
Main Battery Modification 3
Torpedo Tubes Modification 2
Gun Fire Control System Modification 2
Auxiliary Armaments Modification 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.

The Ship

Z-44 represents a deviation from either of the tech tree lines of German destroyers. While she doesn’t have the jack of all trade’s utility of Z-46 or the significant main battery of Felix Schultz she has the distinction of being one of the few German destroyers with torpedoes as her primary armament.

Armament

Z-44 retains the same 128mm/45 SK C/34 guns that are found on the Tier VII Leberecht Maass with shell ballistics that match other German destroyers using the 128mm gun. Z-44 retains the unique features of the German destroyer main battery. Her HE shells have 1/4th pen on their guns, allowing them to pen 32mm of plating by default, however they have below average alpha damage per shell, at 1500 damage, when compared to the other Tier IX destroyers. The armor piercing shells by contrast have some of the highest alpha damage per shell, at 3000 damage, when compared to other Tier IX destroyers but have below average penetration. The damage per minute for the AP and HE shells of the Z-44 is on the lower side for the tier due to the 4.2 second base reload and only having 5 barrels available to her. This coupled with her poor firing angles, particularly when aiming toward the rear, and slow turret traverse leave her guns less effective than most of her contemporaries.

The torpedo armament is what makes Z-44 stand out. She boasts an 85 second base reload rate on her torpedoes making them some of the fastest reloading torpedoes at the tier, combined with Fill the Tubes and Torpedo Tubes Modification 2 : -15% reload time. / +50% risk of incapacitation. she can fire a new set of torpedoes every 65 seconds. Her torpedoes are decently fast sporting a 64 knot base speed, which is average for the tier, and have a particularly long range of 12 km which allows her to launch torpedoes from safer distances at a tier where long range radars are more common. The biggest drawback of her torpedoes is the maximum damage, having one of the lowest torpedo alpha damage at the tier. However this is somewhat mitigated by having quintuple torpedo launchers and quick reload.

Z-44 does not have much utility when it comes to consumables, having access to only a German Smoke GeneratorWhile active, generates a smoke screen that blocks line-of-sight for both enemies and teammates. and Engine BoostWhile active, increases a ship's speed by a fixed percentage. consumable. Her surface detectability is also on the higher side for the tier, only able to achieve 6.11 km concealment at best. Her speed and maneuverability are also both equally middle of the pack.

Anti-Aircraft

Her AA defenses are interesting as she has high damage short ranged AA guns but completely lacks mid and long ranged weapons. Her continuous damage of 243 is amongst the highest of the tier. However, she can fire no flak bursts. The lack of mid or long range AA does improve ease of use as the captain does not have to worry about turning her AA off as her air detectability range is equivalent to her AA range.

Battle Performance

Z-44 is somewhat of a one trick pony, maintaining decent torpedo armament at the cost of most other utilities. However when given the opportunity to fight on a defending flank she can cause havoc amongst pushing vessels and can be one of the more difficult ships to dislodge.

Captains of Z-44 should opt to play her conservatively. Her concealment does not allow her to aggressively use her torpedoes and her guns do not allow her to effectively defend herself if caught by most other tier IX destroyers. Z-44 is used best on a flank that the enemy is trying to push. Her long range torpedoes and high reload rate allows her to create area denial zones against battleships and larger cruisers. If Z-44 can find herself sailing parallel to an enemy push; she can cause large amounts of damage with her torpedoes and can make the enemy think twice about continuing.

Pros:

  • Excellent torpedo reload speed, as low as 65 seconds with all relevant upgrades
  • 12km torpedo range is among the highest of T9 destroyers
  • Quintuple launchers allow for a high volume of torpedo launches
  • 32mm penetration standard on the HE shells
  • High alpha damage on the AP shells
  • Strong short range anti-aircraft guns with high continuous damage

Cons:

  • Poor damage per minute for both HE and AP shells compared to other T9 destroyers
  • Poor firing angles and turret traverse make the guns somewhat uncomfortable to use
  • German Smoke GeneratorWhile active, generates a smoke screen that blocks line-of-sight for both enemies and teammates. with some of the lowest bloom times and up times at the tier
  • Torpedoes have low damage and flood chance
  • Completely lacks mid and long range AA.



Research

As a premium ship, Z-44 doesn't have any upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Z-44 should be tailored to using her torpedoes as her main armament as that is where the majority of her potential lies. Her guns are somewhat lacking so building for concealment first and survivability second is recommended to keep her afloat and out of knife fights.

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Z-44 are as follows:

Commander Skills

Z-44 being a torpedo focused destroyer is somewhat niche for the German Navy whose destroyers are very frequently found with gun boat style builds. A torpedo oriented German destroyer captain can be effective however and useful for more hybrid oriented German destroyers like Z-52 with Unique Upgrade or T-61. Below is a recommended build to suit her play style.

Consumables

As a premium ship, Z-44 comes with Default permanent camouflage and a set of permanent combat bonuses.

Signals

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

Gallery

Historical Info

Historical Gallery

Video

References

Wargaming

Ship Change Log

See here for links to Update notes.

  • Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.9.9.

Testing Changes

  • DevBlog 65:
    • Preliminary characteristics.
  • DevBlog 87:
    • AP shells' ricochet check angle reduced from 60 to 45 degrees.
    • AP shells' guaranteed ricochet angle reduced from 67.5 to 60 degrees.
    • AP shells' arming threshold increased from 19 to 21 mm.
  • DevBlog 96:
    • Detectability range by ships decreased from 8.08 to 7.78 km. Other detectability ranges reduced accordingly.
  • Update 0.9.11:
    • Available for purchase in the Armory for 19,300 doubloons, 228,000 Coal, and in the Premium store.
  • Update 0.10.1:
    • Fixed a bug due to which there was a delay in the automatic switching of torpedo tubes during aiming.
  • Update 0.10.8:
    • Fixed a bug causing an increase in the chances of fire being set on the ship.
  • Update 0.10.10:
    • Detectability range by sea reduced from 7.8 to 7.5 km. Other detectability values were reduced accordingly.
  • Update 0.11.1:
    • Minor corrections to geometry and textures of the ship.
  • Update 0.11.11:
    • Updated the armor model.

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