Pensacola
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File:Pensacola1930.jpg|''Pensacola'' at anchor. | File:Pensacola1930.jpg|''Pensacola'' at anchor. | |||
File:USS Pensacola 1948.jpg|''Pensacola'' is towed out of Puget Sound, Washington, en route to sea for disposal as a target in First Task Fleet exercises, 9 November 1948. | File:USS Pensacola 1948.jpg|''Pensacola'' is towed out of Puget Sound, Washington, en route to sea for disposal as a target in First Task Fleet exercises, 9 November 1948. | |||
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Revision as of 13:29, 4 October 2018
203 mm/55 Mk.14 on a twin mount2 х 2 / 2 х 3 pcs. |
Rate of Fire4 shots/min. |
Reload Time15 sec. |
Rotation Speed4 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time45 sec. |
Firing Range14.25 km. |
Maximum Dispersion131 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 Mk19 |
Maximum AP Shell Damage4,600 |
Initial AP Shell Velocity853 m./s. |
AP Shell Weight118 kg. |
127 mm/25 Mk.19 on a Mk.19 mount8 х 1 pcs. |
Firing Range4.96 km. |
Rate of Fire13.33 shots/min. |
Reload Time4.5 sec. |
HE Shell127 mm HE/HC Mk36 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,800 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity657 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell9 % |
127 mm/25 Mk.19 on a Mk.19 mount8 х 1 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second58.4 |
. . . Firing Range4.2 km. |
20 mm Oerlikon on a Mk.4 mount8 х 1 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second28.8 |
. . . Firing Range2.01 km. |
28 mm Mk.1 on a Mk.2 mount4 х 4 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second9.2 |
. . . Firing Range2.4 km. |
Maximum Speed32.5 knot |
Turning Circle Radius620 m. |
Rudder Shift Time9.1 sec. |
Surface Detectability Range13.74 km. |
Air Detectability Range6.24 km. |
Pensacola — American Tier VI cruiser.
The first U.S. Navy cruiser built under the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty with powerful artillery but weak armor, which was characteristic of such ships. The cruiser was armed with 203 mm main guns, on the basis of which she was re-designated as a heavy cruiser soon after commissioning. However, the ship's armor actually corresponded to that of a light cruiser.
Modules
Compatible Upgrades
Slot 1 |
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Slot 2 |
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Slot 3 |
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Slot 4 |
Player Opinion
Performance
Pensacola is the first heavy cruiser in the American cruiser branch, though "heavy" in this case refers strictly to her 8-inch guns and not to any sort of durability. The pathetically light armor of Pensacola makes her one of the more difficult-to-play cruisers of Tier VI, given her tendency to take heavy penetrating and citadel hits at all angles. Additionally, due to her slow turret traverse — as slow as some battleships — it can be very difficult to keep track of targets at closer ranges and react quickly enough to enemies showing broadside. A stand-up fight in Pensacola against anything larger than a cruiser will likely end in a Pyrrhic victory at best.. and an instant demise at worst. Therefore, it is advised to use her high ballistic arcs to fire over small islands and not show broadside to battleships or even cruisers.
She may be fragile, but Pensacola packs a wallop. She boasts ten 203mm rifles at a tier that cruisers of most other nations are still bringing 150 or 152mm ones. Only Japanese counterpart Aoba packs guns this large, while German Premium Graf Spee goes even larger (at 283mm). Combined with the improved normalization of her armor-piercing shells, Pensacola is an extreme threat to the majority of the cruisers in her matchmaking bracket, and her HE shells are heavy enough to punish any destroyers she meets and reliably burn battleships she encounters. Pensacola has the rudder shift time to actively dodge incoming fire and medium and long range; in the hands of an attentive captain who knows how to handle her, she is deadly.Pros:
- Excellent main battery guns; Pensacola boasts good firing angles for all ten guns and great AP penetration capabilities.
- Good anti-aircraft armament; lacks the range of American light cruiser counterpart Dallas, but makes up for it with more mid-range power.
- Outstanding maneuverability and handling characteristics.
Cons:
- Poorly armored; Pensacola can take citadels from almost any angle from incoming AP shells.
- Poor large caliber AA range and damage.
- Very slow turret traverse, almost as slow as Fuso.
- Poor concealment; has the same base concealment as same tier American battleship New Mexico.
- Second slowest rate of fire of all Tier VI cruisers, only Admiral Graf Spee has a slower rate of fire.
Research
Availability of researchable upgrades for Pensacola is as follows:
- Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) for slightly more hitpoints, more anti-air capabilities, and better rudder shift time. Research of this module unlocks progression to New Orleans.
- Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to Mk6 mod. 2 for an extra 10% range on the main battery.
Optimal Configuration
Upgrades
The recommended upgrades for Pensacola are as follows:
- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1 to keep the guns active and firing.
- Slot 2: Damage Control System Modification 1 to lessen the fire damage taken.
- Slot 3: Main Battery Modification 2 to assist with her slow turret traverse.
- Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 2 to improve her agility by lowering the rudder shift time.
Commander Skills
Key skills for Pensacola commanders include Expert Marksman, Demolition Expert, and Concealment Expert.
Recommended Commander Skills | ||||||||
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Cost (points) |
Endurance | Attack | Support | Versatility | ||||
1 |
★★★ |
★★ |
★ |
|
|
|
★★ |
|
2 |
★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
|
|
|
★★ |
★ |
3 |
★★ |
★ |
|
|
★★ |
★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
4 |
|
★ |
|
|
★★ |
|
★★ |
★★★ |
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Meh Χ - Not recommended |
Consumables
Pensacola can equip the following consumables:
- Slot 1: Damage Control Party
- Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire or Hydroacoustic Search
- Slot 3: Catapult Fighter
Captains focusing on an anti-aircraft build will want to equip Defensive AA Fire II () in Slot 2, especially when in a division with a carrier. For solo play, Hydroacoustic Search II () is recommended if there are no carriers around.
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 Pensacola with Type 16 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
Recommended Signal Flags | |||||
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Combat | |||||
★★ |
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★★ |
★ |
★★★ |
★★★ |
|
|
★★★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
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Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.
Gallery
Historical Info
Historical Gallery
References
- World War II Database
- Wikipedia
- Historyofwar.org
- ibiblio.org
- Snapp, Ray; Jarman, Eugene; Grantham, Trevor W. 1992 USS Pensacola (CA-24): "The Grey Ghost". Paducah, Ky. : Turner Pub. Co. (confirmation of nickname)