Scharnhorst
Revision as of 14:15, 14 March 2017 | Revision as of 15:26, 14 March 2017 General improvements to wording throughout. | |||
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|Performance=<!-- write text about performance in battles below --> | |Performance=<!-- write text about performance in battles below --> | |||
? | A rather peculiar capital ship, ''Scharnhorst'' | + | A rather peculiar capital ship, ''Scharnhorst'' in World of Warships is officially a battleship, but frequently plays more like a battlecruiser. Her characteristics are very cruiser-like: top speed above 30 knots with a decent rudder shift time, plus a smaller-caliber main battery than other battleships that trades alpha damage and penetration for good rate of fire and muzzle velocity. These disparities set her clearly apart from from her Tier VII counterparts ''[[Colorado]]'' and ''[[Nagato]]'', and sister-ship ''[[Gneisenau]]''. | |
? | Her unique traits present her with a plethora of roles to play | + | Her unique traits present her with a plethora of roles to play. ''Scharnhorst'' performs very well as a cruiser hunter or destroyer killer, as her undersized shell will not over-penetrate as much, allowing for increased damage output per salvo against light-skinned targets. She is also adept at engaging distracted or over-extended battleships. If forced to go toe-to-toe with another battleship, she must use her superior speed to control the engagement, unique turtle-back armor style to mitigate damage, and employ torpedoes for punishing strikes. While her frontal and citadel armor are good, her side armor is weak enough to take devastating damage from enemy salvos if presented broadside. ''Scharnhorst'' is most comfortable at mid-to-short distance engagements, where she can use her speed to stay at range and dodge oncoming shells, or close the gap to utilize her solid secondary armament suite and deck torpedo launchers to surprise her foes — further enhanced by the correct [[Ship:Commander|commander skills]]. | |
'''[https://forum.worldofwarships.com/index.php?/topic/90435-premium-ship-review-scharnhorst LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Scharnhorst] from the NA forums.''' | '''[https://forum.worldofwarships.com/index.php?/topic/90435-premium-ship-review-scharnhorst LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Scharnhorst] from the NA forums.''' | |||
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|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. --> | |||
? | *Unrivaled reload on a battleship; practically the fastest in the game at 20 seconds. | + | * Unrivaled reload on a battleship; practically the fastest in the game at 20 seconds. | |
? | *Very good turret traverse, puts several cruisers and certain destroyers to shame. | + | * Very good turret traverse, puts several cruisers and certain destroyers to shame. | |
? | *[[Ship:Gunnery_%26_Armor_Penetration#Armor-Piercing|Armor piercing]] shells have a high chance of penetrating destroyers rather than over-penetrating. Especially true when the target is angled bow or stern to you. | + | * [[Ship:Gunnery_%26_Armor_Penetration#Armor-Piercing|Armor piercing]] shells have a high chance of penetrating destroyers rather than over-penetrating. Especially true when the target is angled bow or stern to you. | |
? | *Strong secondaries and torpedoes for close in brawling. | + | * Strong secondaries and torpedoes for close in brawling. | |
? | *High speed and good maneuverability feel more like a cruiser than a battleship. | + | * High speed and good maneuverability feel more like a cruiser than a battleship. | |
? | *Very durable; | + | * Very durable; her turtleback armor scheme means she is very hard to citadel when close. | |
? | * | + | * Exceptionally versatile. Can be played as a battlecruiser, a typical battleship, or a flanker, depending on the map and team composition. | |
|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. --> | |||
? | *Lower alpha strike potential and penetration compared to her larger-gunned peers. | + | * Lower alpha strike potential and penetration compared to her larger-gunned peers. | |
? | *Low gun caliber prevents overmatching in most cases, leading to more bounces as well as non-penetrations than most battleships. | + | * Low gun caliber prevents overmatching in most cases, leading to more bounces as well as non-penetrations than most battleships. | |
? | *Mediocre anti-aircraft suite. | + | * Mediocre anti-aircraft suite. | |
? | *Large turning radius. | + | * Large turning radius. | |
? | *Turrets and torpedo tubes prone to being knocked out. | + | * Turrets and torpedo tubes prone to being knocked out. | |
? | *Bow armor can be overmatched by battleships she will | + | * Bow armor can be overmatched by battleships she will encounter when up-tiered into Tier VIII and IX games. | |
|Research=<!-- write text about priority sequence of research below --> | |Research=<!-- write text about priority sequence of research below --> | |||
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|CommanderSkills=<!-- write text about best set of Commander Skills below --> | |CommanderSkills=<!-- write text about best set of Commander Skills below --> | |||
? | ''Scharnhorst'' likes to get in close when possible; the skill points of her commander should reflect such a strategy. There are | + | ''Scharnhorst'' likes to get in close when possible; the skill points of her commander should reflect such a strategy. There are several viable choices for the Level 1 skill: Preventative Maintenance will help keep her main batteries in working order; Direction Center for Catapult Fighter, which provides 2 catapult fighters, providing additional assistance when the enemy carrier zeroes in on her (or for better spotting utility); or Priority Target, which is useful when ''Scharnhorst'' has to expose her broadside for a turn. Adrenaline Rush is an excellent pick at Level 2, as her reload can go down as low as 16 seconds. Expert Marksman is similarly useful, but ''Scharnhorst''’s naturally fast turret traverse speed means that is really only useful during extreme maneuvers. | |
+ | ||||
+ | For Level 3, Vigilance combined with [[Ship:Consumables#Catapult Fighter|Catapult Fighter]] or [[Ship:Consumables#Spotting Aircraft|Spotting Aircraft]] make her harder to hit with heavy torpedo salvos, while Basics of Survivability can also be useful for captains that prefer a tankier build. Demolition Expert, Superintendent, and Basic Firing Training are also solid picks. At Level 4, Concealment Expert allows her to close the distance without being spotted, dropping her detection range as low as 13.1 km, comparable to some of the larger cruisers. Fire Prevention is the recommended pick for captains focused on maximizing survivability. Her weaker-than-average anti-aircraft suite can be made more potent with Manual Fire for AA Armament, as most of her AA is concentrated in her high-caliber, long-ranged AA, which benefits significantly from the skill. | |||
{{Commander Skills | {{Commander Skills | |||
? | | Priority Target = | + | | Priority Target = 2 | |
| Preventative Maintenance = 2 | | Preventative Maintenance = 2 | |||
| Expert Loader = 1 | | Expert Loader = 1 | |||
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| High Alert = 1 | | High Alert = 1 | |||
| Jack of All Trades = 2 | | Jack of All Trades = 2 | |||
? | | Expert Marksman = | + | | Expert Marksman = 2 | |
? | | Torpedo Acceleration = | + | | Torpedo Acceleration = | |
| Smoke Screen Expert = | | Smoke Screen Expert = | |||
| Expert Rear Gunner = | | Expert Rear Gunner = | |||
| Adrenaline Rush = 3 | | Adrenaline Rush = 3 | |||
? | | Last Stand = | + | | Last Stand = 1 | |
| Survivability Expert = 1 | | Survivability Expert = 1 | |||
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| Basic Firing Training = 2 | | Basic Firing Training = 2 | |||
| Superintendent = 2 | | Superintendent = 2 | |||
? | | Demolition Expert = | + | | Demolition Expert = 2 | |
| Vigilance = 2 | | Vigilance = 2 | |||
| Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament = 2 | | Manual Fire Control for Secondary Armament = 2 | |||
| Fire Prevention = 2 | | Fire Prevention = 2 | |||
? | | Inertia Fuse for HE Shells = | + | | Inertia Fuse for HE Shells = | |
| Air Supremacy = | | Air Supremacy = | |||
| Advanced Firing Training = 2 | | Advanced Firing Training = 2 | |||
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=== History === | === History === | |||
==== Design ==== | ==== Design ==== | |||
? | The ''Scharnhorst'' class began as an extension of the previous Panzershiffe design which resulted in the ''[[Admiral Graf Spee|Deutschland]]'' class cruisers. Because Germany was still nominally bound by the restrictions imposed under the Treaty of Versailles, the initial plan was to build a successor class to the ''Deutschland'' which would replace ''Elsass'' and ''Hessen'', two pre-dreadnoughts Germany had been allowed to keep under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. | + | The ''Scharnhorst'' class began as an extension of the previous "Panzershiffe" design which resulted in the ''[[Admiral Graf Spee|Deutschland]]'' class cruisers. Because Germany was still nominally bound by the restrictions imposed under the Treaty of Versailles, the initial plan was to build a successor class to the ''Deutschland'' which would replace ''Elsass'' and ''Hessen'', two pre-dreadnoughts Germany had been allowed to keep under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. | |
It was in the early 1930s, as France began construction of the ''[[Dunkerque]]'' class, that design priorities began to change. Where the original concept was a 15,000-18,000 ton ship armed with nine 280mm guns in three turrets, the decision to change the new design so as to be competitive with the ''Dunkerque'' began to expand the size of what was to become the ''Scharnhorst'' class. The new design eventually called for sufficient armor to protect against the expected 330mm guns of ''Dunkerque'' as well as a repetition of the two triple 280mm armament of the previous ''Deutschland'' class. Weighing in at 26,000 tons, the navy was unhappy with the design, but two were ordered and laid down anyway in 1934. Just six months later, in July 1934, Adolf Hitler changed his mind, and the final design advocated by the navy, with the characteristic three triple 280mm armament and a final displacement of 35,540 tons, was authorized. The two ships were re-laid a year later. | It was in the early 1930s, as France began construction of the ''[[Dunkerque]]'' class, that design priorities began to change. Where the original concept was a 15,000-18,000 ton ship armed with nine 280mm guns in three turrets, the decision to change the new design so as to be competitive with the ''Dunkerque'' began to expand the size of what was to become the ''Scharnhorst'' class. The new design eventually called for sufficient armor to protect against the expected 330mm guns of ''Dunkerque'' as well as a repetition of the two triple 280mm armament of the previous ''Deutschland'' class. Weighing in at 26,000 tons, the navy was unhappy with the design, but two were ordered and laid down anyway in 1934. Just six months later, in July 1934, Adolf Hitler changed his mind, and the final design advocated by the navy, with the characteristic three triple 280mm armament and a final displacement of 35,540 tons, was authorized. The two ships were re-laid a year later. | |||
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In late December 1940, both ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' sailed as part of Operation Berlin in the Atlantic. Forced back to port by bad weather and mechanical failures, both ships returned within days, but sortied again on 22 January 1941. This time they managed to break into the Atlantic, and proceeded to sink twenty-two ships, returning to Brest in occupied France in March 1941. Here they became favorite targets of the Royal Air Force, with both ships being severely damaged and spending much of the year under repair and refit. It was here where both ships were refit with torpedo banks that had been landed by cruisers ''Leipzig'' and ''[[Nürnberg]]''. | In late December 1940, both ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' sailed as part of Operation Berlin in the Atlantic. Forced back to port by bad weather and mechanical failures, both ships returned within days, but sortied again on 22 January 1941. This time they managed to break into the Atlantic, and proceeded to sink twenty-two ships, returning to Brest in occupied France in March 1941. Here they became favorite targets of the Royal Air Force, with both ships being severely damaged and spending much of the year under repair and refit. It was here where both ships were refit with torpedo banks that had been landed by cruisers ''Leipzig'' and ''[[Nürnberg]]''. | |||
? | Having been joined in the meantime by cruiser ''[[Prinz Eugen]]'' on 11 February 1942, both ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' left Brest for | + | Having been joined in the meantime by cruiser ''[[Prinz Eugen]]'' on 11 February 1942, both ''Scharnhorst'' and ''Gneisenau'' left Brest for Operation Cerberus (which famously became known as the "Channel Dash"). While the force managed to evade British attacks, both ''Gneisenau'' and ''Scharnhorst'' struck mines, ''Scharnhorst'' twice. All ships reached Kiel on 13 February. ''Scharnhorst'' spent several months under repair. | |
It was not until January 1943 when ''Scharnhorst'' was finally returned to action, and she was sent to the Arctic. With the increasing presence of Allied air and sea power, ''Scharnhorst'' failed to make port in Narvik until March, her earlier attempts having been abortive. Moving to Altafjord, she remained at anchor — with the exception of a single sortie with ''[[Tirpitz]]'' — until December 1943. | It was not until January 1943 when ''Scharnhorst'' was finally returned to action, and she was sent to the Arctic. With the increasing presence of Allied air and sea power, ''Scharnhorst'' failed to make port in Narvik until March, her earlier attempts having been abortive. Moving to Altafjord, she remained at anchor — with the exception of a single sortie with ''[[Tirpitz]]'' — until December 1943. | |||
? | Her final voyage (which is now referred to as the Battle of the North Cape) began on Christmas Day, 1943. Ordered to intercept two Russia-bound convoys, she sortied with five destroyers under the command of ''Konteradmiral'' Erich Bey. Having intercepted one of the convoys on 26 December, ''Scharnhorst'', which had separated from her destroyer screen, was in turn intercepted by the convoy screen, which contained battleship ''Duke of York'', heavy cruiser ''Norfolk'', light cruisers ''[[Belfast]]'', ''Jamaica'', and ''Sheffield'', and eight destroyers. Engaged, ''Scharnhorst'' fought against numerically superior forces, blind, as her FuMO 27 radar was disabled early on due to shellfire from the ''Norfolk''. Eventually, ''Scharnhorst'' was damaged by gunfire, then torpedoed, finally sinking with heavy loss of life. | + | Her final voyage (which is now referred to as the Battle of the North Cape) began on Christmas Day, 1943. Ordered to intercept two Russia-bound convoys, she sortied with five destroyers under the command of ''Konteradmiral'' Erich Bey. Having intercepted one of the convoys on 26 December, ''Scharnhorst'', which had separated from her destroyer screen, was in turn intercepted by the convoy screen, which contained battleship HMS ''Duke of York'', heavy cruiser HMS ''Norfolk'', light cruisers HMS ''[[Belfast]]'', HMS ''Jamaica'', and HMS ''Sheffield'', and eight destroyers. Engaged, ''Scharnhorst'' fought against numerically superior forces, blind, as her FuMO 27 radar was disabled early on due to shellfire from the ''Norfolk''. Eventually, ''Scharnhorst'' was damaged by gunfire, then torpedoed, finally sinking with heavy loss of life. | |
|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:Scharnhorst,1939.jpg|''Scharnhorst'', circa 1939. | File:Scharnhorst,1939.jpg|''Scharnhorst'', circa 1939. | |||
File:Scharnhorst guns.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in port during the winter of 1939–1940. | File:Scharnhorst guns.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in port during the winter of 1939–1940. | |||
+ | File:Scharnport.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in Kiel during the winter of 1939-1940. | |||
+ | File:Scharnice.jpg|An icy view of ''Scharnhorst'''s forward battery, 1939-1940. | |||
File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-46, Schlachtschiff "Scharnhorst".jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in port. | File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-46, Schlachtschiff "Scharnhorst".jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in port. | |||
File:El buque alemán Scharnhorst durante la batalla contra el Glorious.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' firing against HMS ''Glorious''. | File:El buque alemán Scharnhorst durante la batalla contra el Glorious.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' firing against HMS ''Glorious''. | |||
File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-12, Schlachtschiff "Scharnhorst".jpg|''Scharnhorst'' at sea. | File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-12, Schlachtschiff "Scharnhorst".jpg|''Scharnhorst'' at sea. | |||
? | + | File:ScharnCD1.jpeg|''[[Gneisenau]]'' (fore) and ''Scharnhorst'' (distance) as seen from ''[[Prinz Eugen]]'' during Operation Cerberus, February 1942. | ||
? | File:ScharnCD1.jpeg|''[[Gneisenau]]'' (fore) and ''Scharnhorst'' (distance) as seen from ''[[Prinz Eugen]]'' during | + | File:Shan&Gn.jpg|Second view of ''Gneisenau'' (fore) and ''Scharnhorst'' (distance) from ''Prinz Eugen'' during Operation Cerberus, February 1942. | |
? | File:Shan&Gn.jpg|Second view of ''Gneisenau'' (fore) and ''Scharnhorst'' (distance) from ''Prinz Eugen'' during | + | File:Scharnhorst-22.jpg|Aerial reconnaissance photo of ''Scharnhorst'' in Kiel after the Channel Dash, 1942. | |
? | File: | + | ||
? | + | |||
File:21_zps7844a880.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in Altafjord, Norway, 1943. | File:21_zps7844a880.jpg|''Scharnhorst'' in Altafjord, Norway, 1943. | |||
File:Scharnhorst survivors A 021202.jpg|Survivors from ''Scharnhorst'' disembarking in Scapa Flow. | File:Scharnhorst survivors A 021202.jpg|Survivors from ''Scharnhorst'' disembarking in Scapa Flow. | |||
? | File:Scharnhorst-WHV-April-2011.jpg|Memorial for ''Scharnhorst'''s crew | + | File:Scharnhorst-WHV-April-2011.jpg|Memorial in Wilhelmshaven, Germany for ''Scharnhorst'''s crew. | |
</gallery> | </gallery> | |||
Revision as of 15:26, 14 March 2017
283 mm/54.5 SK C/34 on a Drh LC/34 mount3 х 3 pcs. |
Rate of Fire3 shots/min. |
Reload Time20 sec. |
Rotation Speed7.2 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time25 sec. |
Firing Range19.87 km. |
Maximum Dispersion258 m. |
HE Shell283 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5 Kz. |
Maximum HE Shell Damage3,200 |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell20 % |
Initial HE Shell Velocity890 m./s. |
HE Shell Weight315 kg. |
AP Shell283 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/4.4 |
Maximum AP Shell Damage7,600 |
Initial AP Shell Velocity890 m./s. |
AP Shell Weight330 kg. |
105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount7 х 2 pcs. |
Firing Range6.3 km. |
Rate of Fire17.91 shots/min. |
Reload Time3.35 sec. |
HE Shell105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz. |
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,200 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity900 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell5 % |
150 mm/55 SK C/28 on a Dop. L. C/34 mount4 х 2 pcs. |
Firing Range6.3 km. |
Rate of Fire8 shots/min. |
Reload Time7.5 sec. |
HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 % |
150 mm/55 SK C/28 on an MPL/35 mount4 х 1 pcs. |
Firing Range6.3 km. |
Rate of Fire8 shots/min. |
Reload Time7.5 sec. |
HE Shell150 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.5 |
Maximum HE Shell Damage1,700 |
Initial HE Shell Velocity875 m./s. |
Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell8 % |
533 mm Drilling2 х 3 pcs. |
Rate of Fire0.88 shots/min. |
Reload Time68 sec. |
Rotation Speed25 deg./sec. |
180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec. |
TorpedoG7a T1 |
Maximum Damage13,700 |
Torpedo Speed64 knot |
Torpedo Range6 km. |
105 mm/65 SK C/33 on a Dop. L. C/31 mount7 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second116.2 |
. . . Firing Range4.5 km. |
20 mm/65 C/38 on a Flak 35 Vierling L/38 mount5 х 4 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second30 |
. . . Firing Range2.01 km. |
37 mm/83 SK C/30 on a Dopp LC/30 mount8 х 2 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second20.8 |
. . . Firing Range3.51 km. |
20 mm/65 C/38 on an L/30 single mount10 х 1 pcs. |
. . . Average Damage per Second30 |
. . . Firing Range2.01 km. |
Maximum Speed30 knot |
Turning Circle Radius800 m. |
Rudder Shift Time14.5 sec. |
Surface Detectability Range15.19 km. |
Air Detectability Range9.94 km. |
Scharnhorst — German special premium Tier VII battleship.
A German battleship designed for raider operations and fighting cruisers, including battlecruisers. When Scharnhorst was built, she was faster than any ship of her type. The rather small caliber of her main battery guns was her main drawback, but that was offset by her higher rate of fire.
Modules
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 () | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G7a T1 | 0.9 | 68 | 7.2 | 13,700 | 64 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
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
A rather peculiar capital ship, Scharnhorst in World of Warships is officially a battleship, but frequently plays more like a battlecruiser. Her characteristics are very cruiser-like: top speed above 30 knots with a decent rudder shift time, plus a smaller-caliber main battery than other battleships that trades alpha damage and penetration for good rate of fire and muzzle velocity. These disparities set her clearly apart from from her Tier VII counterparts Colorado and Nagato, and sister-ship Gneisenau.
Her unique traits present her with a plethora of roles to play. Scharnhorst performs very well as a cruiser hunter or destroyer killer, as her undersized shell will not over-penetrate as much, allowing for increased damage output per salvo against light-skinned targets. She is also adept at engaging distracted or over-extended battleships. If forced to go toe-to-toe with another battleship, she must use her superior speed to control the engagement, unique turtle-back armor style to mitigate damage, and employ torpedoes for punishing strikes. While her frontal and citadel armor are good, her side armor is weak enough to take devastating damage from enemy salvos if presented broadside. Scharnhorst is most comfortable at mid-to-short distance engagements, where she can use her speed to stay at range and dodge oncoming shells, or close the gap to utilize her solid secondary armament suite and deck torpedo launchers to surprise her foes — further enhanced by the correct commander skills.
LittleWhiteMouse's Premium Ship Review: Scharnhorst from the NA forums.
Pros:
- Unrivaled reload on a battleship; practically the fastest in the game at 20 seconds.
- Very good turret traverse, puts several cruisers and certain destroyers to shame.
- Armor piercing shells have a high chance of penetrating destroyers rather than over-penetrating. Especially true when the target is angled bow or stern to you.
- Strong secondaries and torpedoes for close in brawling.
- High speed and good maneuverability feel more like a cruiser than a battleship.
- Very durable; her turtleback armor scheme means she is very hard to citadel when close.
- Exceptionally versatile. Can be played as a battlecruiser, a typical battleship, or a flanker, depending on the map and team composition.
Cons:
- Lower alpha strike potential and penetration compared to her larger-gunned peers.
- Low gun caliber prevents overmatching in most cases, leading to more bounces as well as non-penetrations than most battleships.
- Mediocre anti-aircraft suite.
- Large turning radius.
- Turrets and torpedo tubes prone to being knocked out.
- Bow armor can be overmatched by battleships she will encounter when up-tiered into Tier VIII and IX games.
Research
Optimal Configuration
Upgrades
The module chosen for Upgrade Slot 2 will largely determine how Scharnhorst will play. Equipping Aiming Systems Modification 1 is very popular, and helps make both her main and secondary batteries more accurate. Players who take AA Modification 2 are hedging their bets against enemy carriers at the expense of a higher chance of off-target shots. Neither of these choices lock the ship into a particular playstyle, and leave each player plenty of options with regard to maximizing Scharnhorst’s impact on the battle.
At the other end of the spectrum, highly aggressive players will equip Secondary Battery Modification 2 in this slot; coupled with the Advanced Firing Training skill and a Mike Yankee Soxsix flag, Scharnhorst’s secondary battery range pushes out past 7.5km. In this configuration, Scharnhorst puts out a punishing amount of secondary fire at a very long range; however, getting the most out of such a build requires that she spend significant amounts of time in close-combat with enemy ships.
Commander Skills
Scharnhorst likes to get in close when possible; the skill points of her commander should reflect such a strategy. There are several viable choices for the Level 1 skill: Preventative Maintenance will help keep her main batteries in working order; Direction Center for Catapult Fighter, which provides 2 catapult fighters, providing additional assistance when the enemy carrier zeroes in on her (or for better spotting utility); or Priority Target, which is useful when Scharnhorst has to expose her broadside for a turn. Adrenaline Rush is an excellent pick at Level 2, as her reload can go down as low as 16 seconds. Expert Marksman is similarly useful, but Scharnhorst’s naturally fast turret traverse speed means that is really only useful during extreme maneuvers.
For Level 3, Vigilance combined with Catapult Fighter or Spotting Aircraft make her harder to hit with heavy torpedo salvos, while Basics of Survivability can also be useful for captains that prefer a tankier build. Demolition Expert, Superintendent, and Basic Firing Training are also solid picks. At Level 4, Concealment Expert allows her to close the distance without being spotted, dropping her detection range as low as 13.1 km, comparable to some of the larger cruisers. Fire Prevention is the recommended pick for captains focused on maximizing survivability. Her weaker-than-average anti-aircraft suite can be made more potent with Manual Fire for AA Armament, as most of her AA is concentrated in her high-caliber, long-ranged AA, which benefits significantly from the skill.
Recommended Commander Skills | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cost (points) |
Endurance | Attack | Support | Versatility | ||||
1 |
★★ |
★★ |
★ |
|
|
|
★ |
|
2 |
★ |
★★ |
★★ |
|
|
|
★★★ |
★ |
3 |
★★ |
★ |
★ |
|
★★ |
★★ |
★★ |
★★ |
4 |
★★ |
★★ |
|
|
★★ |
|
★ |
★★★ |
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Meh Χ - Not recommended |
Camouflage
As a premium ship, Scharnhorst comes included with Type 10 camouflage that lowers her detection radius, reduces the accuracy of incoming shells, and increases the amount of experience she earns.
Signals
Recommended Signal Flags | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Combat | |||||
|
|
★★ |
★ |
★ |
★ |
|
★★★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
★★ |
★★★ |
|
|
Note: Use of the Juliet Charlie signal makes detonation impossible.
Gallery
Scharnhorst moves on to its' next target after destroying an enemy Amagi.
A Mikhail Kutuzov joins the Amagi in Davy Jones's Locker.
Scharnhorst attacks her next victim after destroying an enemy Colorado.
Scharnhorst scrambles a catapult fighter in an attempt to fight off enemy aircraft after destroying an enemy Colorado.
Historical Info
Historical Gallery