Des Moines
Revision as of 02:13, 22 June 2018 | Revision as of 02:18, 22 June 2018 | |||
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* Fast reload - fastest for all heavy cruisers of Tier X and makes up for relatively low fire chance. | * Fast reload - fastest for all heavy cruisers of Tier X and makes up for relatively low fire chance. | |||
* Great shell penetration - can basically fire her AP shells at any (broadside) ship with great efficiency. | * Great shell penetration - can basically fire her AP shells at any (broadside) ship with great efficiency. | |||
+ | * Good AP shell angles - The higher autobounce angles for the AP shells means they can easily pen at angles where other cruiser's AP shells will bounce, making for a devastating combination with the high shell penetration. | |||
* Powerful anti-aircraft armament - rivaled only by ''[[Hindenburg]]''’s and can easily shoot down any carrier strike craft without {{Defensive AA Fire}}. | * Powerful anti-aircraft armament - rivaled only by ''[[Hindenburg]]''’s and can easily shoot down any carrier strike craft without {{Defensive AA Fire}}. | |||
* High shell arc allows allows firing behind island cover and consistent citadel hits on other cruisers from long range due to plunging fire. | * High shell arc allows allows firing behind island cover and consistent citadel hits on other cruisers from long range due to plunging fire. | |||
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* Slower shell velocity and high arc - allows enemies time to maneuver and evade the shells. | * Slower shell velocity and high arc - allows enemies time to maneuver and evade the shells. | |||
* High citadel - plunging fire from other ships will easily penetrate the citadel. | * High citadel - plunging fire from other ships will easily penetrate the citadel. | |||
? | * Weak Plating - Almost all | + | * Weak Plating - Almost all battleships will be able to overmatch the plating, and in conjunction with the high citadel, deal huge damage | |
* Low base fire chance compared to most other Tier X cruisers. | * Low base fire chance compared to most other Tier X cruisers. | |||
* Anti-aircraft armament very easily destroyed - can quickly be rendered useless against aerial attacks. | * Anti-aircraft armament very easily destroyed - can quickly be rendered useless against aerial attacks. |
Revision as of 02:18, 22 June 2018
203 mm/55 RF Mk.16 in a turret3 х 3 pcs. |
Rate of Fire10.91 shots/min. |
Reload Time5.5 sec. |
Rotation Speed6 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time30 sec. |
Firing Range15.83 km. |
Maximum Dispersion142 m. |
HE Shell203 mm HE/HC Mk25 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage2,800 |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell14 % |
Initial HE Shell Velocity823 m./s. |
HE Shell Weight118 kg. |
AP Shell203 mm AP Mk21 |
Maximum AP Shell Damage5,000 |
Initial AP Shell Velocity762 m./s. |
AP Shell Weight152 kg. |
127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount6 х 2 pcs. |
Firing Range7.3 km. |
Rate of Fire10 shots/min. |
Reload Time6 sec. |
HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,800 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity792 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 % |
127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.32 mount6 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second90.6 |
. . . Firing Range5.01 km. |
76.2 mm/50 Mk.22 on a Mk.33 mount10 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second208 |
. . . Firing Range3.99 km. |
20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount12 х 1 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second43.2 |
. . . Firing Range2.01 km. |
76.2 mm/50 Mk.22 on a Mk.33 mount2 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second41.6 |
. . . Firing Range3.99 km. |
Maximum Speed33 knot |
Turning Circle Radius770 m. |
Rudder Shift Time8.6 sec. |
Surface Detectability Range13.44 km. |
Air Detectability Range7.9 km. |
Des Moines — American Tier X cruiser.
One of the best heavy cruisers in the world. The ship was designed using the experience gained in World War II, resulting in excellent protection and very powerful AA armament. The key distinctive feature of cruisers of this type was auto-loading main guns that had a very high rate of fire.
Modules
Compatible Upgrades
Slot 1 |
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Slot 2 |
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Slot 3 |
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Slot 4 |
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Slot 5 |
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Slot 6 |
Player Opinion
Performance
Only a handful of high tier cruisers are known to have absurd firing rates: the Neptune, Minotaur and this heavy cruiser. It is no surprise that due to her being the last all-gun cruiser made, she has all the lessons learned from her cruiser predecessors in the Second World War incorporated in her design. A very noticeable trait on Des Moines is her absurd rate of fire for a heavy cruiser with each turret loading rounds at 5.5 seconds which can quickly deal with destroyers, harm or outright destroy other cruisers with extreme fusillades of fire, force battleships to be wary of her as well as nervously check their hit points when they are subjected by her withering blows and frustrate carriers to no end due to her impressive AA suite which, with proper upgrades and skills, have their potency increase even further. With her ergonomics and good handling, one can say this heavy cruiser does it all; serving as both an AA and anti-ship screen, joining a cruiser squadron for rapid action as she can keep up thanks to her good speed and provide additional firepower, and functioning as a reasonable cruiser leader for a small destroyer group. In addition, her having radar equipped can be hazardous not only for destroyers, but also other ships that hide behind smoke screen, behind island cover, or under visual limitation within cyclone.
The cruiser's high shell arc and gun layout gives her a unique advantage that her cruiser colleagues at her tier lack and as such she is capable of sitting behind an island and using her high shell arc to lob shells over the island at distant targets with relative safety. One can also park the ship around the corner of an island while bow on to act as a deterrent to advancing enemy ships, while presenting a relatively small target profile. Exploiting this technique allows one to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Also, firing AP shells at bigger targets such as battleships can deal a surprising amount of damage in such a short time, however only do so when she is close enough to have the rounds deal maximum penetration or if the target is broadsiding.
Pros:
- Decently armored - while she can bounce 380mm shells with ease from the front, they can easily penetrate through the aft even when angled forwards.
- Fast reload - fastest for all heavy cruisers of Tier X and makes up for relatively low fire chance.
- Great shell penetration - can basically fire her AP shells at any (broadside) ship with great efficiency.
- Good AP shell angles - The higher autobounce angles for the AP shells means they can easily pen at angles where other cruiser's AP shells will bounce, making for a devastating combination with the high shell penetration.
- Powerful anti-aircraft armament - rivaled only by Hindenburg’s and can easily shoot down any carrier strike craft without Defensive AA Fire .
- High shell arc allows allows firing behind island cover and consistent citadel hits on other cruisers from long range due to plunging fire.
- Medium ranged and long-lasting Surveillance Radar .
Cons:
- Easily damaged by HE shells as it can deal damage with it.
- Low main battery survivability - easily incapacitated / destroyed by other 203mm AP shells after sufficient time.
- Slower shell velocity and high arc - allows enemies time to maneuver and evade the shells.
- High citadel - plunging fire from other ships will easily penetrate the citadel.
- Weak Plating - Almost all battleships will be able to overmatch the plating, and in conjunction with the high citadel, deal huge damage
- Low base fire chance compared to most other Tier X cruisers.
- Anti-aircraft armament very easily destroyed - can quickly be rendered useless against aerial attacks.
Research
Optimal Configuration
Upgrades
The recommended upgrades for Des Moines are as follows:
- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1 keeps the guns active and firing.
- Slot 2: Damage Control System Modification 1 lessen the fire damage taken.
- Slot 3: See below.
- Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 2 allows for a faster rudder shift to dodge incoming fire.
- Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 stay concealed.
- Slot 6: See below.
Keep in mind that Des Moines can also be equipped with Surveillance Radar Modification 1 in the Slot 2 to extend her radar activation time up to 56s.
Commander Skills
Recommended Commander Skills | ||||||||
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Cost (points) |
Endurance | Attack | Support | Versatility | ||||
1 |
★★★ |
★★ |
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★ |
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2 |
★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
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★★★ |
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3 |
★★ |
★ |
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★★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
★★ |
4 |
|
★ |
★ |
|
★★★ |
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★★ |
★★★ |
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Meh Χ - Not recommended |
Consumables
Des Moines can equip the following consumables:
- Slot 1: Damage Control Party
- Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire or Hydroacoustic Search
- Slot 3: Catapult Fighter , Spotting Aircraft , or Surveillance Radar
- Slot 4: Repair Party
Captain focusing Des Moines on AA build will equip Defensive AA Fire II () for the Slot 2, especially when in a division with a carrier. Although for solo playing, Hydroacoustic Search II () is more recommended if there is no carrier around.
Des Moines captains should use Surveillance Radar II () on Slot 3 to increase their in-game impact (hunting the extremely stealthy destroyers of Tier X), as Catapult Fighter and Spotting Aircraft are not at all useful in hunting stealthy or smoke-covered enemy ships.
Camouflage
Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for Credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detection range.
Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip Des Moines with Type 20 camouflage that lowers her detection range, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, increases her credit earnings, and increases the amount of experience she earns.
Signals
Recommended Signal Flags | |||||
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Combat | |||||
★★ |
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★★ |
★ |
★★★ |
★★★ |
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★★★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
★★★ |
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Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.
Gallery
Historical Info
Historical Gallery
Video