Fletcher

Revision as of 19:02, 10 October 2020

13.3

Destroyer | U.S.A. | Tier IX

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IX

12,850,000

Fletcher — American Tier IX destroyer.

Fletcher was the lead ship of the most numerous series of destroyers ever produced. They proved to be highly successful ships, combining high speed with efficient AA defenses, quick-firing artillery, and powerful torpedo armament.

Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: USS Cassin Young in Boston, Massachusetts; USS Kidd in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; USS The Sullivans in Buffalo, New York; and HNS Velos (ex-USS Charrette) in Athens, Greece.

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 ()
127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.30 mod.0 mount	18	5.3	103	1,800	5	2,100		0	1,050,000

	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 ()
Fletcher (A)	13,900	13	20	5		9/3/5	2			0	1,400,000
Fletcher (B)	17,100	13	20	5		7/5	2			36,000	3,250,000

	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 ()
Mk15 mod. 3	0.5	122	7.2	16,633	55	9.2		0	1,470,000
Mk16 mod. 1	0.6	106	7.2	19,033	66	10.5		34,500	2,400,000

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Mk9 mod. 1		0		0	880,000
Mk9 mod. 2		0		22,500	1,850,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 60,000 hp	36.5		0	1,100,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Performance

Fletcher-class ships were workhorses of the United States Navy during World War II, and their legacy transfers well into World of Warships. Fletcher herself is, without question, the most flexible destroyer in the game. She can be tailored — via Commander Skills and Upgrades — to be a torpedo boat with good guns, or to be a murderous gunboat with above average torpedoes. She is also one of a handful of destroyers in the game with decent anti-aircraft armament in her top configuration.

Fletcher retains the same main battery as Benson, but while Benson has to choose between the fifth gun and the option to equip Defensive AA Fire , Fletcher does not. As with Benson, the ballistics of her guns make landing shells reliably on destroyers beyond 7 or 8 km problematic, but in close-quarters combat their sheer rate of fire will overwhelm most other destroyers.

The primary upgrade, however, are to her torpedoes. They are faster-reloading and longer-ranged than the stock torpedoes carried over from Benson, and have the highest damage in the line. Most importantly, they gain a massive speed boost of 11 knots, putting them at just 1 knot below comparable Japanese torpedoes. The torpedoes are also still very stealthy, making them a massive threat to not only battleships but cruisers and other destroyers as well.

In addition, Fletcher gains access to Upgrade Slot 6, allowing her captain to tailor her to a torpedo-centric build (via Torpedo Tubes Modification 2 and Torpedo Armament Expertise) or a gun-centric build (with Main Battery Modification 2 and Basic Firing Training) with relative ease.

There are only a handful of categories where Fletcher does not improve upon Benson, and they are relatively minor things (such as air detection radius). Without Defensive AA Fire 

equipped she's still very vulnerable to enemy planes, and she's noticeably slower than Benson as well. Still, she's a significant upgrade from Tier VIII and a true joy to play... so much so that many players simply stop playing the line at Fletcher and never move on to Gearing.

Pros:

Excellent concealment.
Punishing main battery reload speed; Fletcher is capable of putting a lot of shells on target in a short amount of time.
Very fast turret rotation speed.
Fast and stealthy torpedoes deal more damage and reload faster than even Tier X Gearing.
Can equip the Defensive AA Fire  consumable without giving up any of her main battery guns.

Cons:

Still fragile; engaging Russian destroyers at mid-range and beyond is inadvisable, and Fletcher remains vulnerable to cruisers of all tiers she will face.
As good as her torpedoes are, Yūgumo’s are still faster and pack more punch per hit.
Slower than Benson.
Upgraded torpedo range is still 6km shorter than Gearing’s.
While her anti-aircraft suite is a fair bit better than most destroyers, it will struggle to shoot down high tier planes.

Research

Availability of researchable upgrades for Fletcher is as follows:

Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) for additional health, a stouter AA suite, and improved rudder shift time. Research of this module unlocks progression to Gearing.
Torpedoes: Not only do the Mk16 mod. 1 torpedoes hit harder and travel faster and farther, but they reload quicker. Hull (B) must be equipped before they can be installed.
Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to Mk9 mod. 2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.

Fletcher is likely to spend most of her time in close-combat with enemy destroyers, making Hull (B) the best upgrade to invest in first (for the extra hit points). The Mk16 mod. 1 torpedo upgrade should come next, as it is a drastic upgrade to her torpedo armament. The Fire Control System upgrade should be saved for last or skipped entirely.

Optimal Configuration

Fletcher is a highly flexible destroyer capable of being tailored in a variety of different ways. Most captains, however, will choose to focus on improving one of her main armaments to the maximum extent possible.

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Fletcher are as follows:

Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
Slot 2: Engine Room Protection *
Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1 *
Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1
Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 
Slot 6: See below.

Upgrade recommendations for Slots 1, 4, and 5 are fairly easy to make. Some captains will opt to embrace their role as an anti-aircraft escort and install AA Guns Modification 1 into Slot 3 and/or Defensive AA Fire Modification 1 into Slot 2. Ultimately, however, the upgrade chosen for Slot 6 — and the corresponding commander skills — will separate one Fletcher from another.

Torpedo Build: Captains wishing to focus their Fletcher as a torpedo boat will opt for Torpedo Tubes Modification 2 in Slot 6. This lowers her torpedo reload to only 90 seconds. If her commander invests in the Level 3 commander skill Torpedo Armament Expertise, the reload time drops to a scant 81 seconds. Given how hard her torpedoes hit and how fast they travel, this configuration of Fletcher can give even the vaunted Japanese destroyers a run for their money in the torpedo damage category.

Main Battery (Maximum Rate of Fire) Build: Another solid choice for Fletcher in Slot 6 is Main Battery Modification 3 . When coupled with Level 3 commander skill Basic Firing Training, her rate of fire increases significantly. In this configuration, the reload time on her main battery guns drops to 2.6 seconds (from a base of 3.3 seconds).

Main Battery (Maximum Range) Build: Some captains prefer to maximize the range of Fletcher’s main battery guns utilizing Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 in the final upgrade slot. While this pushes her main battery range out to 15.0 km, landing shells on all but the slowest, largest ships at such range is incredibly difficult.

The historical maximum firing range of the 5-inch/38 caliber guns aboard Fletcher was approximately 16.0 km. Captains opting for a max range build should equip either Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 OR take the Advanced Firing Training commander skill. Ordinarily these two would stack to give Fletcher’s guns a range approaching 18.0 km; however, the historical max range of her guns is correctly capped in-game and cannot be pushed past 16.3 km.

Commander Skills

Regardless of other choices, Fletcher commanders are strongly encouraged invest in either Priority Target or Preventative Maintenance at Level 1, Last Stand at Level 2, Survivability Expert at Level 3, and Concealment Expert at Level 4. Where points go after that depends on how captains wish to play the ship.

A Torpedo Build Fletcher will want to invest in Torpedo Armament Expertise at Level 3, whereas a Main Battery Build Fletcher will want to pick up Basic Firing Training — and probably Demolition Expert — instead. Captains concerned about enemy aircraft should invest in Basic Firing Training with November Echo Setteseven () flags and avoid Level 4's Massive AA Fire (which actually makes her AA worse).

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Endurance		Attack		Support		Versatility
1	Priority Target Situational Awareness indicator will show the number of opponents currently aiming at you with main battery guns. ★★	Preventative Maintenance -30% to the risk of incapacitation of main turrets, torpedo tubes, steering gear, engines. ★★	Expert Loader -50% to reload time when shell type is switched.	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time. Χ	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to carrier fighter squadrons or catapult fighters.	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time. Χ	Incoming Fire Alert Indicator of long-range enemy artillery fire.	Last Gasp Completely restores the engine boost for the last attack flight of the carrier's planes. Χ
2	High Alert -10% to reload time of Damage Control Party consumable. ★★	Jack of All Trades -5% to reload time of all consumables. ★	Expert Marksman +2.5 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber up to 139mm. +0.7 deg/sec to traverse speed of guns with a caliber above 139mm.	Torpedo Acceleration +5 knots to torpedo speed. -20% to torpedo range. ★	Smoke Screen Expert +20% to the radius of the smoke screen. ★	Improved Engines +2.5% Squadron speed. Χ	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% to reload times of all types of armament for each 1% of total health lost. +0.2% squadron speed for each 1% of total health lost. ★★★	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated. ★★★
3	Basics of Survivability -15% to time of repair, fire extinguishing, and recovery from flooding.	Survivability Expert +350 ship HP for each ship tier. +15 aircraft HP for each ship tier. ★★★	Torpedo Armament Expertise -10% to reload time of torpedo tubes. ★★	Aircraft Armor Reduces continuous damage to aircraft in all AA defense zones. -10% continuous damage. Χ	Basic Firing Training -10% to reload time of main battery guns with a caliber up to and including 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +10% to continuous damage from AA guns. ★★	Superintendent +1 additional charge to all consumables mounted on a ship. ★★	Demolition Expert +2% chance of HE shells causing a fire on target. +1% chance of rockets causing a fire on target. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire on target. ★★	Vigilance +25% to detection range of enemy torpedoes. ★
4	Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament Tightens dispersion of secondary batteries. -15% for Tier I-VI ships. -60% for Tier VII-X ships. Manually selected target only.	Fire Prevention -10% to the risk of fire. The maximum number of fires on a ship is reduced to three.	Inertia Fuse for HE Shells +25% to the armor penetration of HE shells. -50% to base chance of fire caused by HE shells.	Sight Stabilization Speeds up the aiming of a carrier's aircraft. +7.5% attack aircraft and torpedo bomber aiming speed. +15% dive bomber aiming speed. Χ	Advanced Firing Training +20% to firing range of main battery guns with a caliber up to 139mm and all secondary battery guns. +15% AA flak burst damage. ★	Massive AA Fire +100% instantaneous damage. No boost to continuous damage in a reinforced sector. Shorter effective cooldown.	Radio Position Finding Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken. ★★	Concealment Expert -10% to the detection radius of all ships and aircraft. ★★★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Meh Χ - Not recommended

Consumables

Fletcher can equip the following consumables:

Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
Slot 2: Smoke Generator 
Slot 3: Engine Boost  or Defensive AA Fire

Even if her captain doesn't sink any commander skill points or upgrades into improving her anti-aircraft suite, Defensive AA Fire  is recommended over Engine Boost  due to the extreme threat that enemy aircraft pose to Fletcher.

Camouflage

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

Players who wish to spend doubloons can equip Fletcher with 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

Captains who have opted for a Torpedo Build Fletcher will want to equip a Juliet Whiskey Unaone () signal in order to maximize potential damage from torpedo hits. Throwing on a Sierra Mike () signal is an excellent way to help make up for her loss of speed from Benson. November Foxtrot () and Juliet Charlie () are also highly recommended, if available. Main Battery Build Fletcher captains should also consider Victor Lima () and India X-Ray () signals to maximize the fire chance of her main battery shells.

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

Historical Info

References

Ships of U.S.A.

Destroyers	II Sampson • II Smith • III Wickes • IV Clemson • V Nicholas • V Hill • VI Farragut • VI Monaghan • VII Mahan • VII Sims • VII Sims B • VIII Benson • VIII Kidd • IX Fletcher • IX Benham • IX Halford • IX Black B • IX Black • X Gearing • X Somers • X Forrest Sherman • ★ Joshua Humphreys
Cruisers	I Erie • II Chester • II Albany • III St. Louis • III Charleston • IV Phoenix • V Omaha • V Marblehead • V Marblehead Lima • V Rattlehead • VI Pensacola • VI Dallas • VII Atlanta • VII New Orleans • VII Helena • VII Indianapolis • VII Atlanta B • VII Boise • VII Flint • VIII Baltimore • VIII Cleveland • VIII Wichita • VIII Anchorage • VIII Congress • VIII Rochester • VIII San Diego • VIII AL Montpelier • IX Buffalo • IX Seattle • IX Vallejo • IX Alaska • IX Tulsa • IX Alaska B • X Des Moines • X Worcester • X Puerto Rico • X Salem • X Austin • ★ Annapolis
Battleships	III South Carolina • IV Wyoming • IV Arkansas Beta • V New York • V Oklahoma • V Texas • VI New Mexico • VI Arizona • VI W. Virginia '41 • VII Colorado • VII Florida • VII West Virginia '44 • VII California • VIII North Carolina • VIII Kansas • VIII Nebraska • VIII Alabama • VIII Massachusetts • VIII Alabama VL • VIII Constellation • VIII Massachusetts B • VIII Alabama ST • VIII North Carolina CLR • IX Iowa • IX Minnesota • IX Delaware • IX Missouri • IX Kearsarge • IX Illinois • IX Kearsarge B • IX Georgia • X Montana • X Vermont • X Louisiana • X Ohio • X Rhode Island • X Wisconsin • ★ Maine
Aircraft Carriers	IV Langley • VI Independence • VI Ranger • VIII Yorktown • VIII Lexington • VIII Enterprise • VIII Saipan • VIII Hornet • VIII Saipan B • X Essex • X Midway • X Franklin D. Roosevelt • ★ United States

Destroyers

Japan	II Tachibana • II Umikaze • II Tachibana Lima • III Wakatake • IV Isokaze • V Minekaze • V Fūjin • V Kamikaze • V Kamikaze R • V Mutsuki • VI Fubuki • VI Hatsuharu • VI Shinonome B • VI Shinonome • VII Akatsuki • VII Shiratsuyu • VII Yūdachi • VIII Akizuki • VIII Kagerō • VIII Asashio • VIII HSF Harekaze II • VIII Asashio B • VIII HSF Harekaze • VIII AL Yukikaze • IX Yūgumo • IX Kitakaze • IX Minegumo • IX STAR Kitakaze • X Shimakaze • X Harugumo • X Hayate • ★ Yamagiri
U.K.	II Medea • III Valkyrie • III Campbeltown • IV Wakeful • V Acasta • VI Icarus • VI Gallant • VII Jervis • VII Jupiter '42 • VIII Lightning • VIII Cossack • VIII Cossack B • IX Jutland • IX Somme • X Daring • X Druid
France	II Enseigne Gabolde • III Fusilier • IV Bourrasque • V Jaguar • V Siroco • VI Guépard • VI Aigle • VII Vauquelin • VIII Le Fantasque • VIII Le Terrible • IX Mogador • X Kléber • X Marceau • X Kléber CLR
U.S.S.R.	II Storozhevoi • III Derzki • IV Izyaslav • V Gremyashchy • V Podvoisky • V Okhotnik • VI Gnevny • VII Minsk • VII Leningrad • VII Tashkent '39 • VIII Ognevoi • VIII Kiev • IX Udaloi • IX Tashkent • IX Neustrashimy • X Khabarovsk • X Grozovoi • X Delny • ★ Zorkiy
U.S.A.	II Sampson • II Smith • III Wickes • IV Clemson • V Nicholas • V Hill • VI Farragut • VI Monaghan • VII Mahan • VII Sims • VII Sims B • VIII Benson • VIII Kidd • IX Fletcher • IX Benham • IX Halford • IX Black B • IX Black • X Gearing • X Somers • X Forrest Sherman • ★ Joshua Humphreys
Germany	II V-25 • III G-101 • IV V-170 • V T-22 • VI Ernst Gaede • VI T-61 • VI Karl von Schönberg • VII Leberecht Maass • VII Z-31 • VII Z-39 • VIII Z-23 • VIII Gustav-Julius Maerker • VIII Z-35 • IX Z-46 • IX Felix Schultz • IX Z-44 • IX ZF-6 • X Z-52 • X Elbing • X Z-42
Pan-Asia	II Longjiang • III Phra Ruang • IV Shenyang • V Jianwei • VI Fushun • VI Anshan • VII Gadjah Mada • VIII Hsienyang • VIII Siliwangi • VIII Loyang • VIII Fenyang • VIII Loyang B • VIII Ship Smasha • IX Chung Mu • X Yueyang • X Lüshun • ★ Kunming
Spain	X Álvaro de Bazán
Europe	II Tátra • III Romulus • IV Klas Horn • V Visby • V Muavenet • VI Västerås • VI Stord • VII Skåne • VII Grom • VII Błyskawica • VII Stord '43 • VIII Öland • VIII Split • VIII Orkan • IX Östergötland • IX Lambros Katsonis • IX Velos • IX Friesland • IX Jäger • X Halland • X Gdańsk • X Småland • X Ragnar • ★ Dalarna
Netherlands	IX Groningen • X Tromp
Italy	II Curtatone • III Nazario Sauro • IV Turbine • V Maestrale • VI Aviere • VI Leone • VII Luca Tarigo • VII FR25 • VIII Vittorio Cuniberti • IX Adriatico • IX Paolo Emilio • X Attilio Regolo
Commonwealth	III Vampire • VII Haida • VII Huron • X Vampire II
Pan-America	VI Juruá

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 |Anno=<!-- you can write below short description for the ship. it will replace default once. -->
-''Fletcher'' was the lead ship of the most numerous series of destroyers ever produced.  They proved to be highly successful ships, combining high speed with efficient AA defenses, quick-firing artillery, and powerful torpedo armament.<br><br>Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: [https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/usscassinyoung.htm USS ''Cassin Young''] in Boston, Massachusetts; [https://www.usskidd.com/ USS ''Kidd''] in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; [https://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/ships/ USS ''The Sullivans''] in Buffalo, New York; and HNS ''Velos'' (ex-USS ''Charrette'') in Athens, Greece.
+''Fletcher'' was the lead ship of the most numerous series of destroyers ever produced.  They proved to be highly successful ships, combining high speed with efficient AA defenses, quick-firing artillery, and powerful torpedo armament.<br><br>Four of the class are preserved as military museum ships: [https://www.nps.gov/bost/learn/historyculture/usscassinyoung.htm USS ''Cassin Young''] in Boston, Massachusetts; [https://www.usskidd.com/ USS ''Kidd''] in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; [https://buffalonavalpark.org/exhibits/ships/ USS ''The Sullivans''] in Buffalo, New York; and HNS ''Velos'' (ex-USS ''Charrette'') in Athens, Greece.<!-- <br><br>{{Model3DViewer|9bf778923cce4ee59bfa2fa1bcc8448e}}-->
 |Performance=<!-- write text about performance in battles below -->
-''Fletcher''-class ships were workhorses of the United States Navy during World War II, and their legacy transfers well into World of Warships.  ''Fletcher'' herself is, without question, the most flexible destroyer in the game.  She can be tailored — via Commander Skills and Upgrades — to be a torpedo boat with good guns, or to be a murderous gunboat with above average torpedoes.  She is one of a handful of destroyers in the game with decent anti-aircraft armament in her top configuration, and can finally equip the {{Defensive AA Fire}} consumable without having to sacrifice any of her five main battery guns.
+''Fletcher''-class ships were workhorses of the United States Navy during World War II, and their legacy transfers well into World of Warships.  ''Fletcher'' herself is, without question, the most flexible destroyer in the game.  She can be tailored — via Commander Skills and Upgrades — to be a torpedo boat with good guns, or to be a murderous gunboat with above average torpedoes.  She is also one of a handful of destroyers in the game with decent anti-aircraft armament in her top configuration.
-As with her immediate predecessors, ''Fletcher''’s main battery is punishing to enemy destroyers at close range.  The ballistics of her guns make landing shells reliably on targets beyond 7 or 8 km problematic, but in close-quarters combat she has few rivals.  Her upgraded torpedoes are the hardest-hitting torpedoes in the American destroyer line, and she retains ''[[Benson]]''’s ability to fire them from well beyond her detection range.  Her torpedoes also remain more difficult to spot than those of her Japanese or Russian counterparts.  Most importantly, ''Fletcher'' gains access to [[Ship:Upgrades#Tier_IX.2B_Equipment_.28Slot_3.29|Upgrade Slot 3]], allowing her captain to tailor her to a torpedo-centric build (via Torpedo Tubes Modification 3 and Torpedo Armament Expertise) or a gun-centric build (with Main Battery Modification 3 and Basic Firing Training) with relative ease.
+''Fletcher'' retains the same main battery as ''[[Benson]]'', but while ''Benson'' has to choose between the fifth gun and the option to equip {{Defensive AA Fire}}, ''Fletcher'' does not.  As with ''[[Benson]]'', the ballistics of her guns make landing shells reliably on destroyers beyond 7 or 8 km problematic, but in close-quarters combat their sheer rate of fire will overwhelm most other destroyers.
-There are only a handful of categories where ''Fletcher'' does not improve upon ''Benson'', and they're relatively minor things (such as air detection radius).  Without {{Defensive AA Fire}} equipped she's still very vulnerable to enemy planes, and she's noticeably slower than ''Benson'' as well.  Still, she's a significant upgrade from Tier VIII and a true joy to play... so much so that many players simply stop playing the line at ''Fletcher'' and never move on to ''[[Gearing]]''.
+The primary upgrade, however, are to her torpedoes. They are faster-reloading and longer-ranged than the stock torpedoes carried over from ''Benson'', and have the highest damage in the line. Most importantly, they gain a massive speed boost of 11 knots, putting them at just 1 knot below comparable Japanese torpedoes. The torpedoes are also still very stealthy, making them a massive threat to not only battleships but cruisers and other destroyers as well.
+In addition, ''Fletcher'' gains access to [[Ship:Upgrades#Tier_IX.2B_Equipment_.28Slot_6.29|Upgrade Slot 6]], allowing her captain to tailor her to a torpedo-centric build (via {{Torpedo Tubes Modification 2}} and [[Ship:Commander#Torpedo Armament Expertise|Torpedo Armament Expertise]]) or a gun-centric build (with {{Main Battery Modification 2}} and [[Ship:Commander#Basic Firing Training|Basic Firing Training]]) with relative ease.
+There are only a handful of categories where ''Fletcher'' does not improve upon ''Benson'', and they are relatively minor things (such as air detection radius).  Without {{Defensive AA Fire}} equipped she's still very vulnerable to enemy planes, and she's noticeably slower than ''Benson'' as well.  Still, she's a significant upgrade from Tier VIII and a true joy to play... so much so that many players simply stop playing the line at ''Fletcher'' and never move on to ''[[Gearing]]''.
 |Pros=<!-- write list of positive points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. -->
@@ Line 16: / Line 20: @@
 * Punishing main battery reload speed; ''Fletcher'' is capable of putting a lot of shells on target in a short amount of time.
 * Very fast turret rotation speed.
-* Hard hitting torpedoes deal more damage and reload faster than Tier X ''[[Gearing]]''.
+* Fast and stealthy torpedoes deal more damage and reload faster than even Tier X ''[[Gearing]]''.
 * Can equip the {{Defensive AA Fire}} consumable without giving up any of her main battery guns.
 |Cons=<!-- write list of negative points below. use * as in ordinary wiki-list. -->
-* Still fragile; engaging Russian destroyers beyond 6km range is inadvisable, and ''Fletcher'' remains vulnerable to cruisers of all tiers she will face.
+* Still fragile; engaging Russian destroyers at mid-range and beyond is inadvisable, and ''Fletcher'' remains vulnerable to cruisers of all tiers she will face.
 * As good as her torpedoes are, ''[[Yūgumo]]''’s are still faster and pack more punch per hit.
 * Slower than ''[[Benson]]''.
@@ Line 27: / Line 31: @@
 |Research=<!-- write text about priority sequence of research below -->
-''Fletcher'' is likely to spend most of her time in close-combat with enemy destroyers, making Hull (B) the best upgrade to invest in first (for the extra hit points).  The Mk16 mod. 1 Torpedo upgrade should come next, as it is a drastic upgrade to her torpedo armament.  The Fire Control System upgrade should be saved for last or skipped entirely.
+Availability of researchable upgrades for ''{{#var:ship_name}}'' is as follows:
+* '''Hull:'''  Upgrade to Hull (B) for additional health, a stouter AA suite, and improved rudder shift time.  Research of this module unlocks progression to ''[[Gearing]]''.
+* '''Torpedoes:'''  Not only do the Mk16 mod. 1 torpedoes hit harder and travel faster and farther, but they reload quicker.  Hull (B) must be equipped before they can be installed.
+* '''Gun Fire Control System:'''  Upgrade to Mk9 mod. 2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.
+''Fletcher'' is likely to spend most of her time in close-combat with enemy destroyers, making Hull (B) the best upgrade to invest in first (for the extra hit points).  The Mk16 mod. 1 torpedo upgrade should come next, as it is a drastic upgrade to her torpedo armament.  The Fire Control System upgrade should be saved for last or skipped entirely.
 |OptimalConfiguration=<!-- write some general text about selection of optimal configuration below (optional)-->
@@ Line 34: / Line 43: @@
 |Upgrades=<!-- write text about best upgrades below -->
 The recommended upgrades for ''{{#var:ship_name}}'' are as follows:
-* '''Slot 1''':  [[Ship:Upgrades#Main_Armaments_Modification.C2.A01|Main Armaments Modification 1]]
+* '''Slot 1''':  {{Main Armaments Modification 1}}
-* '''Slot 2''':  [[Ship:Upgrades#Aiming_Systems_Modification.C2.A01|Aiming Systems Modification 1]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>
+* '''Slot 2''':  {{Engine Room Protection}} <nowiki>*</nowiki>
-* '''Slot 3''':  See below.
+* '''Slot 3''':  {{Aiming Systems Modification 1}}<nowiki>*</nowiki>
-* '''Slot 4''':  [[Ship:Upgrades#Propulsion_Modification.C2.A01|Propulsion Modification 1]]<nowiki>*</nowiki>
+* '''Slot 4''':  {{Propulsion Modification 1}}
-* '''Slot 5''':  [[Ship:Upgrades#Propulsion_Modification.C2.A02|Propulsion Modification 2]]
+* '''Slot 5''':  {{Concealment System Modification 1}}
-* '''Slot 6''':  [[Ship:Upgrades#Concealment_System_Modification.C2.A01|Concealment System Modification 1]]
+* '''Slot 6''':  See below.
-Upgrade recommendations for Slots 1, 5, and 6 are fairly easy to make.  Some captains will opt to embrace their role as an anti-aircraft escort and install [[Ship:Upgrades#AA_Guns_Modification.C2.A02|AA Guns Modification 2]] into '''Upgrade Slot 2''' and/or [[Ship:Upgrades#Defensive_AA_Fire_Modification.C2.A01|Defensive AA Fire Modification 1]] into '''Upgrade Slot 4'''.  Ultimately, however, the upgrade chosen for '''Upgrade Slot 3''' — and the corresponding commander skills — will separate one ''Fletcher'' from another.
+Upgrade recommendations for '''Slots 1, 4''', and '''5''' are fairly easy to make.  Some captains will opt to embrace their role as an anti-aircraft escort and install {{AA Guns Modification 1}} into '''Slot 3''' and/or {{Defensive AA Fire Modification 1}} into '''Slot 2'''.  Ultimately, however, the upgrade chosen for '''Slot 6''' — and the corresponding commander skills — will separate one ''Fletcher'' from another.
-'''Torpedo Build:''' Captains wishing to focus their ''Fletcher'' as a torpedo boat will opt for Torpedo Tubes Modification 3 in Upgrade Slot 3.  This lowers her torpedo reload to only 90 seconds.  If her commander invests in the Level 3 commander skill Torpedo Armament Expertise, the reload time drops to a scant 81 seconds.  Given how hard her torpedoes hit and how fast they travel, this configuration of ''Fletcher'' can give even the vaunted Japanese destroyers a run for their money in the torpedo damage category.
+'''Torpedo Build:''' Captains wishing to focus their ''Fletcher'' as a torpedo boat will opt for {{Torpedo Tubes Modification 2}} in Slot 6.  This lowers her torpedo reload to only 90 seconds.  If her commander invests in the Level 3 commander skill [[Ship:Commander#Torpedo Armament Expertise|Torpedo Armament Expertise]], the reload time drops to a scant 81 seconds.  Given how hard her torpedoes hit and how fast they travel, this configuration of ''Fletcher'' can give even the vaunted Japanese destroyers a run for their money in the torpedo damage category.
-'''Main Battery (Maximum Rate of Fire) Build:'''  Another solid choice for ''Fletcher'' in Upgrade Slot 3 is Main Battery Modification 3.  When coupled with Level 3 commander skill Basic Firing Training, her rate of fire increases significantly.  In this configuration, the reload time on her main battery guns drops to 2.6 seconds (from a base of 3.3 seconds).
+'''Main Battery (Maximum Rate of Fire) Build:'''  Another solid choice for ''Fletcher'' in Slot 6 is {{Main Battery Modification 3}}.  When coupled with Level 3 commander skill [[Ship:Commander#Basic Firing Training|Basic Firing Training]], her rate of fire increases significantly.  In this configuration, the reload time on her main battery guns drops to 2.6 seconds (from a base of 3.3 seconds).
-'''Main Battery (Maximum Range) Build:'''  Some captains prefer to maximize the range of ''Fletcher''’s main battery guns utilizing Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 in the third upgrade slot.  While this pushes her main battery range out to 15.0 km, landing shells on all but the slowest, largest ships at such range is incredibly difficult.
+'''Main Battery (Maximum Range) Build:'''  Some captains prefer to maximize the range of ''Fletcher''’s main battery guns utilizing {{Gun Fire Control System Modification 2}} in the final upgrade slot.  While this pushes her main battery range out to 15.0 km, landing shells on all but the slowest, largest ships at such range is incredibly difficult.
-{{block|!!|content=The historical maximum firing range of the 5-inch/38 caliber guns aboard ''Fletcher'' was approximately 16.0 km.  Captains opting for a max range build should equip '''either''' Gun Fire Control System Modification 2 OR take the Advanced Firing Training commander skill.  Ordinarily these two would stack to give ''Fletcher''’s guns a range approaching 18.0 km; however, the historical max range of her guns is correctly capped in-game and cannot be pushed past 16.3 km.}}
+{{block|!!|content=The historical maximum firing range of the 5-inch/38 caliber guns aboard ''Fletcher'' was approximately 16.0 km.  Captains opting for a max range build should equip either '''Gun Fire Control System Modification 2''' OR take the [[Ship:Commander#Advanced Firing Training|Advanced Firing Training]] commander skill.  Ordinarily these two would stack to give ''Fletcher''’s guns a range approaching 18.0 km; however, the historical max range of her guns is correctly capped in-game and cannot be pushed past 16.3 km.}}
 |CommanderSkills=<!-- write text about best set of Commander Skills below -->
 Regardless of other choices, ''Fletcher'' commanders are strongly encouraged invest in either Priority Target or Preventative Maintenance at Level 1, Last Stand at Level 2, Survivability Expert at Level 3, and Concealment Expert at Level 4.  Where points go after that depends on how captains wish to play the ship.
-A '''Torpedo Build''' ''Fletcher'' will want to invest in Torpedo Armament Expertise at Level 3, whereas a '''Main Battery Build''' ''Fletcher'' will want to pick up Basic Firing Training — and probably Demolition Expert — instead.  Captains concerned about enemy aircraft could opt for Advanced Firing Training or Manual Fire Control for AA Armament.  The latter is the better option, as ''Fletcher'' will run most of the time with her anti-aircraft guns disabled in order to avoid detection (making the additional AA range less valuable).
+A '''Torpedo Build''' ''Fletcher'' will want to invest in Torpedo Armament Expertise at Level 3, whereas a '''Main Battery Build''' ''Fletcher'' will want to pick up Basic Firing Training — and probably Demolition Expert — instead.  Captains concerned about enemy aircraft should invest in Basic Firing Training with November Echo Setteseven ({{November Echo Setteseven|Size=18px}}) flags and avoid Level 4's Massive AA Fire (which actually makes her AA worse).
-{{Commander Skills
+{{Commander Skills 2
-| Priority Target = 2
+<!-- 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. -->
-| Preventative Maintenance = 2
+| rating11 = 2 <!-- Priority Target -->
-| Expert Loader =
+| rating12 = 2 <!-- Preventive Maint -->
-| Aircraft Servicing Expert =
+| rating13 =  <!-- Expert Loader -->
-| Direction Center for Catapult Aircraft =
+| rating14 = 0 <!-- Air Supremacy -->
-| Dogfighting Expert =
+| rating15 =  <!-- Direction Center for Fighters -->
-| Incoming Fire Alert =
+| rating16 = 0 <!-- Improved Engine Boost -->
-| Evasive Maneuver =
+| rating17 =  <!-- Incoming Fire Alert -->
+| rating18 = 0 <!-- Last Gasp -->
-| High Alert = 2
+| rating21 = 2 <!-- High Alert -->
-| Jack of All Trades = 1
+| rating22 = 1 <!-- Jack of All Trades -->
-| Expert Marksman =
+| rating23 =  <!-- Expert Marksman -->
-| Torpedo Acceleration = 1
+| rating24 = 1 <!-- Torpedo Acceleration -->
-| Smoke Screen Expert = 1
+| rating25 = 1 <!-- Smoke Screen Expert -->
-| Expert Rear Gunner =
+| rating26 = 0 <!-- Improved Engines -->
-| Adrenaline Rush = 3
+| rating27 = 3 <!-- Adrenaline Rush -->
-| Last Stand = 3
+| rating28 = 3 <!-- Last Stand -->
-| Basics of Survivability =
+| rating31 =  <!-- Basics of Survivability -->
-| Survivability Expert = 3
+| rating32 = 3 <!-- Survivability Expert-->
-| Torpedo Armament Expertise = 2
+| rating33 = 2 <!-- Torpedo Armament Expertise-->
-| Emergency Takeoff =
+| rating34 = 0 <!-- Aircraft Armor -->
-| Basic Firing Training = 2
+| rating35 = 2 <!-- Basic Firing Training -->
-| Superintendent = 2
+| rating36 = 2 <!-- Superintendent -->
-| Demolition Expert = 2
+| rating37 = 2 <!-- Demolition Expert -->
-| Vigilance = 1
+| rating38 = 1 <!-- Vigilance -->
-| Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament =
+| rating41 =  <!-- Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament -->
-| Fire Prevention =
+| rating42 =  <!-- Fire Prevention -->
-| Inertia Fuse for HE Shells = 1
+| rating43 =  <!-- Inertia Fuse for HE Shells -->
-| Air Supremacy =
+| rating44 = 0 <!-- Sight Stabilization -->
-| Advanced Firing Training = 1
+| rating45 = 1 <!-- Advanced Firing Training -->
-| Manual Fire Control for AA Armament = 1
+| rating46 =  <!-- Massive AA Fire -->
-| Radio Position Finding = 2
+| rating47 = 2 <!-- Radio Position Finding -->
-| Concealment Expert = 3
+| rating48 = 3 <!-- Concealment Expert -->
 }}
@@ Line 100: / Line 110: @@
 * '''Slot 3:'''  {{Engine Boost}} '''or''' {{Defensive AA Fire}}
-Even if her captain doesn't sink any commander skill points or upgrades into improving her anti-aircraft suite, {{Defensive AA Fire}} is recommended over {{Engine Boost}} due to the extreme threat that enemy aircraft pose to ''Fletcher''.  Simply having it equipped and demonstrating to an enemy aircraft carrier that it is available is frequently a deterrent to them swarming ''Fletcher'' with bombers or assigning a fighter squadron to keep her spotted.
+Even if her captain doesn't sink any commander skill points or upgrades into improving her anti-aircraft suite, {{Defensive AA Fire}} is recommended over {{Engine Boost}} due to the extreme threat that enemy aircraft pose to ''Fletcher''.
-Beyond that, {{Damage Control Party II}} is worth the credits (or doubloons) for the shortened cooldown on repairing broken modules.  The improved cooldowns on {{Smoke Generator II}} and {{Defensive AA Fire II}} make them worthwhile investments as well.
 |Camouflage=<!-- write text about useful camouflage below -->
@@ Line 113: / Line 121: @@
 {{Signal Flags
-| November Echo Setteseven = 1
+| November Echo Setteseven = 2
 | Mike Yankee Soxisix =
 | India X-Ray = 2
@@ Line 146: / Line 154: @@
 |History=<!-- write text below -->
 <div class="thumb tright">
-{{AnnoWiki|content=<h3>Construction</h3>
+{{AnnoWiki|content=
-:Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company; Kearny, New Jersey
+<h2>USS ''{{#var:ship_name}}'', 1944</h2>
+===Construction===
+:Builder: Federal Shipbuilding and Drydock Company;<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kearny, New Jersey, United States
 :Laid down: 2 October 1941
 :Launched: 3 May 1942
@@ Line 174: / Line 184: @@
 :Four (4x1) 20mm Oerlikon cannons
 }}</div>
-{{VideoYT|AkQggd3DUvo}}
 {{VideoYT|55YaONbA3FI}}
 ===History===
@@ Line 199: / Line 208: @@
 With the outbreak of the Korean War many were returned to active duty. During this time 39 were refitted, reducing their overall main armament and the number of torpedo tubes to accommodate other weapons. A new ahead-throwing weapon called Weapon Alpha was installed in many of the ships. Others carried trainable Hedgehogs. Eighteen ships were redesignated as escort destroyers (DDE), optimized for anti-submarine warfare.
+===Historical Inaccuracies===
+* ''Fletcher'' uses the historical camouflage of sister ship USS ''La Vallette'' (DD-448) which she wore in 1942. Both ships were in Measure 12 (modified) camouflage, but the pattern on ''Fletcher'' was painted differently.
+* Measure 12 (modified) included painted turrets, but in the game they remain unpainted.
+* ''Fletcher'''s Measure 32/2C camouflage is also missing. She wore this scheme in 1944.
 |HistoricalGallery=<!-- write below list of files without tags. description (if necessary) for each should be separated by | --><gallery>
@@ Line 217: / Line 231: @@
 |Ref= <!-- write below -->
+#[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Fletcher_(DD-445) USS ''Fletcher'' (DD-445) - Wikipedia]
+#[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fletcher-class_destroyer ''Fletcher''-class destroyer - Wikipedia]
 }}<!-- DO NOT DELETE THIS LINE. DO NOT INSERT ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->

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Revision as of 19:02, 10 October 2020

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