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Essex

Essex

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 |Anno=<!-- you can write below short description for the ship. it will replace default once. --> |Anno=<!-- you can write below short description for the ship. it will replace default once. -->
?The largest class of attack aircraft carriers. The ship featured a strong air group, powerful AA armament and good torpedo protection. The successful design of aircraft elevators ensured fast takeoff and landing for the aircraft. The unarmored flight deck, also characteristic of her predecessors, made her and her sister ships vulnerable to air strikes. <br><br>Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: [https://www.patriotspoint.org/explore/uss-yorktown/ USS ''Yorktown''] in Charleston, South Carolina; [https://www.usslexington.com/ USS ''Lexington''] in Corpus Christi, Texas; [https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/ USS ''Intrepid''] in New York, New York; and [https://www.uss-hornet.org/ USS ''Hornet''] in Alameda, California.+The largest class of attack aircraft carriers. The ship featured a strong air group, powerful AA armament and good torpedo protection. The successful design of aircraft elevators ensured fast takeoff and landing for the aircraft. The unarmored flight deck, also characteristic of her predecessors, made her and her sister ships vulnerable to air strikes. <br><br>Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: [https://www.patriotspoint.org/explore/uss-yorktown/ USS ''Yorktown''] in Charleston, South Carolina; [https://www.usslexington.com/ USS ''Lexington''] in Corpus Christi, Texas; [https://www.intrepidmuseum.org/ USS ''Intrepid''] in New York, New York; and [https://www.uss-hornet.org/ USS ''Hornet''] in Alameda, California.<!-- <br><br>{{Model3DViewer|2adf448d07014b31a01b8658c7ccd36e}}-->
  
 |Performance=<!-- write text about performance in battles below --> |Performance=<!-- write text about performance in battles below -->
 +As with the ''Lexington'' you can upgrade your Dive Bombers to equip either HE or AP bombs. The AP bombs provide lower max damage, but have the possibility to citadel and have a much smaller dispersion area.
  
 |Pros=<!-- write list of positive points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. --> |Pros=<!-- write list of positive points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. -->
?* First American carrier to come with a fighter squadron in strike configuration.+* Versatile 2-1-2 layout provides both strong anti-air and strike capabilities
 * Significantly better detection radius than ''[[Lexington]]''. * Significantly better detection radius than ''[[Lexington]]''.
?* Can equip Air Groups Modification 3 in [[Ship:Upgrades#Tier_IX.2B_Equipment_.28Slot_3.29|Upgrade Slot 3]], making her already tough squadrons of bombers even more resilient to anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters.+* Can equip {{Air Groups Modification 3}} in [[Ship:Upgrades#Tier_IX.2B_Equipment_.28Slot_6.29|Upgrade Slot 6]], making her already tough squadrons of bombers even more resilient to anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters. The torpedo bombers become significantly less easily taken out than the same bombers on the ''[[Lexington]]''.
 * Good cruising speed; can keep up with friendly ships. * Good cruising speed; can keep up with friendly ships.
?* Strong fighters.+* Two fighter groups provide good anti-air capabilities, although the lower tier (8) means they are somewhat weaker than expected. A plus of this is that that effect may be negotiated with Dogfighting Expert skill.
?* Dive bombers are equipped with 1000 lb. bombs and inflict tremendous damage if they hit.+* Dive bombers are equipped with 1,000 lb. bombs and inflict tremendous damage if they hit.
 +* Dive bombers may be equipped with AP bombs, which are extremely accurate for hitting large battleships and may cause lights-out damage.
  
 |Cons=<!-- write list of negative points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. --> |Cons=<!-- write list of negative points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. -->
?* Long- and mid-range anti-aircraft firepower is a downgrade from ''[[Lexington]]''; ''Essex'' is more vulnerable to enemy aircraft than her immediate predecessor.+* Long- and mid-range anti-aircraft firepower is a downgrade from ''[[Lexington]]''; ''Essex'' is more vulnerable to enemy aircraft than her immediate predecessor. Combined with mediocre fighters this means ''Essex'' captains will need to defend themselves a bit more skillfully than before [[Ship:Update 0.6.14|Update 0.6.14]].
 * Fewer hit points than Japanese counterpart ''[[Taiho]]'', further underscoring her vulnerability if spotted. * Fewer hit points than Japanese counterpart ''[[Taiho]]'', further underscoring her vulnerability if spotted.
 * Bad rudder shift time and turning circle radius. * Bad rudder shift time and turning circle radius.
?* Relies on damage over time to deal a lot of damage.+* Fighters and torpedo bombers are downtiered, making them more vulnerable than those of the IJN counterpart ''[[Taiho]]''.
?* A '''Strike Build''' ''Essex'' may struggle against an enemy ''Taiho'' that is also '''Strike Build'''; ''Taiho'' has 2 squadrons of fighters while ''Essex'' only has 1.+* Relies on torpedo bombers only for taking out destroyers when AP bombers are chosen, since these bombs hardly do any damage to destroyers (and some light cruisers).
 * Terrible concealment. * Terrible concealment.
 * Long squadron re-arm times, especially when a squadron of planes is destroyed entirely. * Long squadron re-arm times, especially when a squadron of planes is destroyed entirely.
?* Dive bombers have somewhat questionable accuracy due to randomness of bomb drops (even when dropped manually).+* HE dive bombers have somewhat questionable accuracy due to randomness of bomb drops (even when dropped manually).
 +* Only one squadron of downtiered torpedo bombers, resulting in somewhat lacking strike capabilites
  
 |Research=<!-- write text about priority sequence of research below --> |Research=<!-- write text about priority sequence of research below -->
?For captains who plan on remaining as '''Stock Build''':+Depending on what the captain wants to do, upgrading to the Douglas BTD-1 (AP) first may be a priority.
?# Upgrade to Vought F4U-4 (fighter). +
 # Upgrade to Hull (B) to increase anti-aircraft protection. # Upgrade to Hull (B) to increase anti-aircraft protection.
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (torpedo bomber).+# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (dive bomber, HE or AP).
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (dive bomber).+Both dive bomber upgrades provide (equal) additional HP and speed to the aircraft, with the only difference being in the bombs they carry. When it is chosen to research better dive bombers first, it is still recommended to upgrade the Hull (B) before continuing to research the other set of dive bombers.
  
 +|OptimalConfiguration=<!-- write some general text about selection of optimal configuration below (optional)-->
  
?For captains who plan on going with an '''Air Superiority Build''':+|Upgrades=<!-- write text about best upgrades below -->
?# Upgrade to Mk9 mod. 3.+The recommended upgrades for ''{{#var:ship_name}}'' are as follows:
?# Upgrade to Vought F4U-4 (fighter). +*'''Slot 1''': {{Air Groups Modification 1}}
?# Upgrade to Hull (B) to increase anti-aircraft protection.+*'''Slot 2''': {{Damage Control System Modification 1}}
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (dive bomber).+*'''Slot 3''': {{Air Groups Modification 2}}
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (torpedo bomber).+*'''Slot 4''': {{Damage Control System Modification 2}}
 +*'''Slot 5''': {{Concealment System Modification 1}}
 +*'''Slot 6''': {{Air Groups Modification 3}}
  
 +'''Upgrade Slot 3''' is the 1st main choice of upgrades with ''{{#var:ship_name}}''. For players looking to improve their fighter's capabilities, {{Air Groups Modification 2}} is highly recommended. Otherwise, the {{Flight Control Modification 1}} helps players land and launch ''{{#var:ship_name}}''’s multiple flight squadrons, as ''{{#var:ship_name}}'' has five separate plane squadrons to manage.
  
?For captains who plan on going with a '''Strike Build''':+'''Upgrade Slot 5''' offers players {{Concealment System Modification 1}}, which stacks with [[Ship:Commander#Concealment_Expert|Concealment Expert]] and Camouflage to bring ''{{#var:ship_name}}''’s surface detection down to a small range of 11km.
?# Upgrade to Mk9 mod. 2.+
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (dive bomber).+
?# Upgrade to Hull (B) to increase anti-aircraft protection.+
?# Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (torpedo bomber).+
?# Upgrade to Vought F4U-4.+
  
?|OptimalConfiguration=<!-- write some general text about selection of optimal configuration below (optional)-->+'''Upgrade Slot 6''' is the 2nd main choice of upgrades with ''{{#var:ship_name}}''. Due to the common presence of multiple battleships and cruisers with very high AA power, {{Air Groups Modification 3}} is highly recommended to make sure ''{{#var:ship_name}}''’s planes will survive their trip to and from their target. If survivability isn't the player's foremost preference, {{Flight Control Modification 2}} is viable, decreasing the speed gap between ''{{#var:ship_name}}''’s and ''[[Taiho]]''’s planes, allowing the slower and larger American squadrons to have a better chance of escaping from their Japanese counterparts.
? +
?|Upgrades=<!-- write text about best upgrades below -->+
?As a carrier at Tier IX with all six possible upgrade slots, it's best to mount [[Ship:Upgrades#Air_Groups_Modification.C2.A01|Air Groups Modification 1]], [[Ship:Upgrades#Flight_Control_Modification.C2.A01|Flight Control Modification 1]] (for faster aircraft servicing time / rearming time) or [[Ship:Upgrades#Air_Groups_Modification.C2.A02|Air Groups Modification 2]] (for better fighter capability in fighting enemy fighters and taking down enemy bombers), [[Ship:Upgrades#Air_Groups_Modification.C2.A03|Air Groups Modification 3]] (for better plane survivability due to the powerful anti-air armaments of cruisers at this tier), [[Ship:Upgrades#Damage_Control_System_Modification.C2.A01|Damage Control System Modification 1]], [[Ship:Upgrades#Damage_Control_System_Modification.C2.A02|Damage Control System Modification 2]] (if the player chooses to use Emergency Takeoff Skill and does not have Damage Control Party ready) or [[Ship:Upgrades#Propulsion_Modification.C2.A02|Propulsion Modification 2]] (if the player feels the need to relocate and avoid enemies is more important), and [[Ship:Upgrades#Concealment_System_Modification.C2.A01|Concealment System Modification 1]] on ''Essex''.+
  
 |CommanderSkills=<!-- write text about best set of Commander Skills below --> |CommanderSkills=<!-- write text about best set of Commander Skills below -->
?As ''Essex'' is a Tier IX carrier, the player has access to the special carrier [[Ship:Consumables#Defensive_AA_Fire|Defensive Fire]] consumable, which lasts for two minutes and increases the ship's AA DPS by a factor of 1.25. Coupled with Basic Firing Training and Manual Fire Control for AA Armament, the player can significantly increase the ship's AA DPS to shoot down enemy planes effectively. Or, as ''Essex'' has access to the Concealment System Modification, the player can opt to choose to utilize the Concealment Expert skill as an indirect form of further protection from enemy ships (with skill, camouflage, and upgrade, detection is 10.61km).+As a Tier IX carrier, captains have access to the special carrier {{Defensive AA Fire}} consumable, which lasts for two minutes and increases the ship's AA DPS by a factor of 1.25. Coupled with Basic Firing Training and Manual Fire Control for AA Armament, captains can significantly increase the ship's AA DPS to shoot down enemy planes effectively. Or, as ''Essex'' has access to the Concealment System Modification, the player can opt to choose to utilize the Concealment Expert skill as an indirect form of further protection from enemy ships (with skill, camouflage, and upgrade, detection is 10.61km).
?{{block|i|content=The Dogfighting Expert skill is not generally recommended; however, it may be useful for captains pursuing an '''Air Superiority Build''' who have not yet researched upgraded fighters. Additionally, due to dive bombers having over 100% chance of causing fires, Demolition Expert is not a recommended skill.}}+
  
?{{Commander Skills+{{block|i|content=The Dogfighting Expert skill is not generally recommended throughout the American aircraft carrier line; however, ''Essex''’s fighters top out at Tier VIII. This makes the skill valuable for an ''Essex'' commander, as it provides both additional ammo and damage versus most enemy aircraft she will encounter.}}
?| Priority Target = 1+
?| Preventative Maintenance = 1+
?| Expert Loader = +
?| Aircraft Servicing Expert = 3+
?| Direction Center for Catapult Aircraft = +
?| Dogfighting Expert = 2+
?| Incoming Fire Alert = 1+
?| Evasive Maneuver = 2+
  
?| High Alert = 1+{{Commander Skills 2
?| Jack of All Trades = +<!-- This version enables a '0' rating. Use it for skills that have no effect (e.g. Improved Engines on a non-CV) or are detrimental to the ship. They should mirror what appears in the game client. -->
?| Expert Marksman = +| rating11 = <!-- Priority Target -->
?| Torpedo Acceleration = 3+| rating12 = <!-- Preventive Maint -->
?| Smoke Screen Expert = +| rating13 = 0 <!-- Expert Loader -->
?| Expert Rear Gunner = 2+| rating14 = <!-- Air Supremacy -->
?| Adrenaline Rush = +| rating15 = <!-- Direction Center for Fighters -->
?| Last Stand = 1+| rating16 = <!-- Improved Engine Boost -->
 +| rating17 = <!-- Incoming Fire Alert -->
 +| rating18 = <!-- Last Gasp -->
  
?| Survivability Expert = +| rating21 = <!-- High Alert -->
?| Basics of Survivability = 2+| rating22 = <!-- Jack of All Trades -->
?| Torpedo Armament Expertise = 3+| rating23 = 0 <!-- Expert Marksman -->
?| Emergency Takeoff = 2+| rating24 = 0 <!-- Torpedo Acceleration -->
?| Basic Firing Training = 2+| rating25 = 0 <!-- Smoke Screen Expert -->
?| Superintendent = +| rating26 = <!-- Improved Engines -->
?| Demolition Expert = 1+| rating27 = <!-- Adrenaline Rush -->
?| Vigilance = 1+| rating28 = <!-- Last Stand -->
  
?| Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament = +| rating31 = <!-- Basics of Survivability -->
?| Fire Prevention = +| rating32 = <!-- Survivability Expert-->
?| Inertia Fuse for HE Shells = +| rating33 = 0 <!-- Torpedo Armament Expertise-->
?| Air Supremacy = 3+| rating34 = <!-- Aircraft Armor -->
?| Advanced Firing Training = +| rating35 = <!-- Basic Firing Training -->
?| Manual Fire Control for AA Armament = 2+| rating36 = <!-- Superintendent -->
?| Radio Position Finding = +| rating37 = <!-- Demolition Expert -->
?| Concealment Expert = 2+| rating38 = <!-- Vigilance -->
 + 
 +| rating41 = <!-- Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament -->
 +| rating42 = <!-- Fire Prevention -->
 +| rating43 = <!-- Inertia Fuse for HE Shells -->
 +| rating44 = <!-- Sight Stabilization -->
 +| rating45 = <!-- Advanced Firing Training -->
 +| rating46 = <!-- Massive AA Fire -->
 +| rating47 = <!-- Radio Position Finding -->
 +| rating48 = <!-- Concealment Expert -->
 }} }}
  
 |Consumables=<!-- write text about selection of Consumables below --> |Consumables=<!-- write text about selection of Consumables below -->
 As a Tier IX carrier, ''Essex'' has access to the following consumables:  As a Tier IX carrier, ''Essex'' has access to the following consumables:
?*[[Ship:Consumables#Damage_Control_Party|Damage Control Party]]+* '''Slot 1:''' {{Damage Control Party}}
?*[[Ship:Consumables#Defensive_AA_Fire|Defensive AA Fire]]+* '''Slot 2:''' {{Defensive AA Fire}}
  
? 
?Premium Defensive AA Fire is recommended to counter any enemy carrier's attempts to "snipe" the player (that is, by having all bombers bypass allied ships undetected and attempting to sink the player in one hit). Premium Damage Control Party II is not recommended as it is only needed in dire moments, or when the player is the last one alive.  
  
 |Camouflage=<!-- write text about useful camouflage below --> |Camouflage=<!-- write text about useful camouflage below -->
 [[Ship:Camouflage#Standard Camouflage|Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage]] can be equipped for credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detectability range. [[Ship:Camouflage#Standard Camouflage|Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage]] can be equipped for credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detectability range.
  
?Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip ''Essex'' with the permanent premium [[Ship:Camouflage#Permanent_Camouflage|Type 19 camouflage]] that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns. They can also choose to equip the premium pay-per-battle Type 6 camouflage which does not include a reduction to repair costs.+Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip ''Essex'' with the permanent premium [[Ship:Camouflage#Permanent_Camouflage|Type 19 camouflage]] that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns.
  
 |Signals=<!-- write text about best set of signals below --> |Signals=<!-- write text about best set of signals below -->
?As a carrier, ''Essex'' can only mount at most four signals at a time and has no risk of detonating. Players should mount Equal Speed Charlie London (for faster XP grinding / increased XP gain per battle), Zulu Hotel (when coupled with Equal Speed Charlie London greatly helps increase commander (re)training), November Echo Setteseven (for better bomber self-defense against fighters and increased AA DPS), and Juliet Whiskey Unaone (to have a better chance at causing flooding and dealing damage via flooding). Players can also choose to equip the Dragon Flag for faster commander (re)training.+As a carrier, ''Essex'' can only mount at most four signals at a time and has no risk of detonating. Players should mount Equal Speed Charlie London ({{Equal Speed Charlie London|Size=18px}}), Zulu Hotel ({{Zulu Hotel|Size=18px}}), November Echo Setteseven ({{November Echo Setteseven|Size=18px}}), and Juliet Whiskey Unaone ({{Juliet Whiskey Unaone|Size=18px}}). Players can also choose to equip the Dragon Flag ({{Dragon Flag|Size=18px}}) for faster commander (re)training.
  
 {{Signal Flags {{Signal Flags
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 |Gallery=<!-- write below list of files with description (if necessary) separated with | --><gallery> |Gallery=<!-- write below list of files with description (if necessary) separated with | --><gallery>
?File:Enterprice Starship (port).jpg|Enterprice (Essex) Starship at port+ 
?File:Enterprice Starship (battle).jpg|Enterprice (Essex) Starship in battle out in space+
 </gallery> </gallery>
  
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 ===Historical Inaccuracies=== ===Historical Inaccuracies===
?*Only 26 Douglas BTD-1s were built and none saw combat.+* ''Essex'' also carried Grumman F6F "Hellcats" and Douglas SBD "Dauntlesses".
?* The F4U-4 actually has more ammo capacity than the F4U-1 (2400 rounds and 2350 rounds respectively). Both variants use the same six 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns.+* In November 1943, ''Essex''’s aircraft complement was 36 F6F-3s, 36 SBD-5s and 18 TBF-1 "Avengers". In January 1945, she carried 26 F6F-3s, 17 F6F-5s, 36 F4U-1Ds and 18 TBM-1Cs.
 +* Only 26 Douglas BTD-1s were built and none saw combat.
 +* Permanent camouflage is based on the Measure 33, Design 10a scheme, which was only applied to sister ships ''Yorktown'', ''Wasp'' and ''Ticonderoga''. ''Essex''’s camouflage was Measure 32, Design 6/10D.
 +* ''Essex''’s early Measure 21 overall Navy Blue camouflage is also missing.
  
 |HistoricalGallery=<!-- write below list of files with description (if necessary) separated with | --><gallery> |HistoricalGallery=<!-- write below list of files with description (if necessary) separated with | --><gallery>
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 File:USS Ticonderoga.jpg|USS ''Ticonderoga'' (CV-14) with angled flight deck. File:USS Ticonderoga.jpg|USS ''Ticonderoga'' (CV-14) with angled flight deck.
 File:Bofors 8.jpg|Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns on a MK 12 quadruple mount fire from the deck of USS ''Hornet'' (CV-12) in World War II.  File:Bofors 8.jpg|Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft guns on a MK 12 quadruple mount fire from the deck of USS ''Hornet'' (CV-12) in World War II.
?</gallery>|Video=<!-- put below video clips with using template VideoYT. You can use html-tags for formatting. -->+</gallery>
 + 
 +|Video=<!-- put below video clips with using template VideoYT. You can use html-tags for formatting. -->
  
 |Ref= <!-- write below --> |Ref= <!-- write below -->
  
 }}<!-- DO NOT DELETE THIS LINE. DO NOT INSERT ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE --> }}<!-- DO NOT DELETE THIS LINE. DO NOT INSERT ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->

Latest revision as of 20:00, 3 July 2020

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General
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Battle Levels
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[[Ship:|]] — N/A promo premium Tier  N/A.

The largest class of attack aircraft carriers. The ship featured a strong air group, powerful AA armament and good torpedo protection. The successful design of aircraft elevators ensured fast takeoff and landing for the aircraft. The unarmored flight deck, also characteristic of her predecessors, made her and her sister ships vulnerable to air strikes.

Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: USS Yorktown in Charleston, South Carolina; USS Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas; USS Intrepid in New York, New York; and USS Hornet in Alameda, California.

Modules

Compatible Upgrades

 Slot 1  Air Groups Modification 1 Main Armaments Modification 1 Auxiliary Armaments Modification 1 Magazine Modification 1 Aiming Systems Modification 0 Spotting Aircraft Modification 1 Damage Control Party Modification 1
 Slot 2  Damage Control System Modification 1 Engine Boost Modification 1 Defensive AA Fire Modification 1 Hydroacoustic Search Modification 1 Surveillance Radar Modification 1 Aircraft Engines Modification 1 Engine Room Protection
 Slot 3  Main Battery Modification 2 Secondary Battery Modification 1 AA Guns Modification 1 Artillery Plotting Room Modification 1 Aiming Systems Modification 1 Smoke Generator Modification 1 Torpedo Bombers Modification 1 Attack Aircraft Modification 1 Torpedo Tubes Modification 1 Aerial Torpedoes Modification 1
 Slot 4  Damage Control System Modification 2 Propulsion Modification 1 Steering Gears Modification 1 Attack Aircraft Modification 2 Torpedo Bombers Modification 2 Bombers Modification 2 Skip Bombers Modification 1
 Slot 5  Flight Control Modification 1 Torpedo Lookout System Concealment System Modification 1 Steering Gears Modification 2 Enhanced Engineering Systems Reinforced Emergency Response Upgraded Damage Control Equipment Improved Main Battery Loading Mechanisms Aerosol Smoke Curtain System Master Fire Control Director Torpedo Fire Control System Improved Hull Concealment Improved Main Artillery Ship Consumables Modification 1||Squadron Consumables Modification 1||Heavier Torpedo Warheads||Additional Smoke Generators
 Slot 6  Main Battery Modification 3 Torpedo Tubes Modification 2 Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 Flight Control Modification 2 Air Groups Modification 2 Artillery Plotting Room Modification 2 Main Battery Fire Control Station Improved Ammunition Hoists Main Battery Director System Improved Bridge Enhanced Propulsion Plant Enhanced Countermeasures Extended Main Battery Effective Range Torpedo Quick Reload System Main Gun Automatic Loader Modified External Hardpoints Fuel Injection System Auxiliary Armaments Modification 2 Improved Camouflage Patterns Automated Main Battery Loading Mechanism Forced Takeoff and Landing Equipment

Player Opinion

Performance

As with the Lexington you can upgrade your Dive Bombers to equip either HE or AP bombs. The AP bombs provide lower max damage, but have the possibility to citadel and have a much smaller dispersion area.

Pros:

  • Versatile 2-1-2 layout provides both strong anti-air and strike capabilities
  • Significantly better detection radius than Lexington.
  • Can equip Template:Air Groups Modification 3 in Upgrade Slot 6, making her already tough squadrons of bombers even more resilient to anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters. The torpedo bombers become significantly less easily taken out than the same bombers on the Lexington.
  • Good cruising speed; can keep up with friendly ships.
  • Two fighter groups provide good anti-air capabilities, although the lower tier (8) means they are somewhat weaker than expected. A plus of this is that that effect may be negotiated with Dogfighting Expert skill.
  • Dive bombers are equipped with 1,000 lb. bombs and inflict tremendous damage if they hit.
  • Dive bombers may be equipped with AP bombs, which are extremely accurate for hitting large battleships and may cause lights-out damage.

Cons:

  • Long- and mid-range anti-aircraft firepower is a downgrade from Lexington; Essex is more vulnerable to enemy aircraft than her immediate predecessor. Combined with mediocre fighters this means Essex captains will need to defend themselves a bit more skillfully than before Update 0.6.14.
  • Fewer hit points than Japanese counterpart Taiho, further underscoring her vulnerability if spotted.
  • Bad rudder shift time and turning circle radius.
  • Fighters and torpedo bombers are downtiered, making them more vulnerable than those of the IJN counterpart Taiho.
  • Relies on torpedo bombers only for taking out destroyers when AP bombers are chosen, since these bombs hardly do any damage to destroyers (and some light cruisers).
  • Terrible concealment.
  • Long squadron re-arm times, especially when a squadron of planes is destroyed entirely.
  • HE dive bombers have somewhat questionable accuracy due to randomness of bomb drops (even when dropped manually).
  • Only one squadron of downtiered torpedo bombers, resulting in somewhat lacking strike capabilites

Research

Depending on what the captain wants to do, upgrading to the Douglas BTD-1 (AP) first may be a priority.

  1. Upgrade to Hull (B) to increase anti-aircraft protection.
  2. Upgrade to Douglas BTD-1 (dive bomber, HE or AP).
Both dive bomber upgrades provide (equal) additional HP and speed to the aircraft, with the only difference being in the bombs they carry. When it is chosen to research better dive bombers first, it is still recommended to upgrade the Hull (B) before continuing to research the other set of dive bombers.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for ' are as follows:

Upgrade Slot 3 is the 1st main choice of upgrades with '. For players looking to improve their fighter's capabilities, Air Groups Modification 2 (Increases HP of the aircraft carrier's planes: +7.5% aircraft HP.) is highly recommended. Otherwise, the Flight Control Modification 1 (Accelerates aircraft servicing and increases the maximum number of aircraft on deck: -5% aircraft restoration time / +2 carrier deck places available.) helps players land and launch '’s multiple flight squadrons, as ' has five separate plane squadrons to manage.

Upgrade Slot 5 offers players Concealment System Modification 1 (Reduces the detectability range of the ship and aircraft carrier's squadrons: -10% to detectability radius. / +5% to the dispersion of enemy shells fired at your ship.), which stacks with Concealment Expert and Camouflage to bring '’s surface detection down to a small range of 11km.

Upgrade Slot 6 is the 2nd main choice of upgrades with '. Due to the common presence of multiple battleships and cruisers with very high AA power, Template:Air Groups Modification 3 is highly recommended to make sure '’s planes will survive their trip to and from their target. If survivability isn't the player's foremost preference, Flight Control Modification 2 (Increases cruising speed of the aircraft carrier's squadrons: +5% cruising speed.) is viable, decreasing the speed gap between '’s and Taiho’s planes, allowing the slower and larger American squadrons to have a better chance of escaping from their Japanese counterparts.

Commander Skills

As a Tier IX carrier, captains have access to the special carrier Defensive AA Fire (While active, the damage per second of large caliber anti-aircraft guns is increased.) consumable, which lasts for two minutes and increases the ship's AA DPS by a factor of 1.25. Coupled with Basic Firing Training and Manual Fire Control for AA Armament, captains can significantly increase the ship's AA DPS to shoot down enemy planes effectively. Or, as Essex has access to the Concealment System Modification, the player can opt to choose to utilize the Concealment Expert skill as an indirect form of further protection from enemy ships (with skill, camouflage, and upgrade, detection is 10.61km).

The Dogfighting Expert skill is not generally recommended throughout the American aircraft carrier line; however, Essex’s fighters top out at Tier VIII. This makes the skill valuable for an Essex commander, as it provides both additional ammo and damage versus most enemy aircraft she will encounter.

Consumables

As a Tier IX carrier, Essex has access to the following consumables:

Camouflage

Type 1, 2, or 5 camouflage can be equipped for credits; Types 1 or 5 are recommended at a minimum to reduce detectability range.

Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip Essex with the permanent premium Type 19 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, reduces her repair costs, and increases the amount of experience she earns.

Signals

As a carrier, Essex can only mount at most four signals at a time and has no risk of detonating. Players should mount Equal Speed Charlie London (+50% XP earned for the battle.), Zulu Hotel (+50% Commander XP earned for the battle.), November Echo Setteseven (+5% continuous damage by all AA guns, +5% damage per second within the explosion radius of shells fired from medium- and long-range AA defenses.), and Juliet Whiskey Unaone (+15% chance of causing flooding. / +5% to the risk of your ship's magazine detonating.). Players can also choose to equip the Dragon Flag (+333% Commander XP earned for the battle.) for faster commander (re)training.

Gallery

Historical Info

Historical Gallery


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