Split

Split is the Tier VIII tech tree ship for the second European destroyer line. She carries larger caliber guns than her predecessors, and gains access to the Surveillance Radar  consumable.

Main Battery

Split's main battery consists of five quick-firing 140 mm guns in single turrets. Her HE shells deal respectable damage, and have a high fire chance. Their comfortable ballistics make them easy to use, and due to their high rate of fire and damage, they pose a threat to most enemy destroyers. However, despite the larger caliber, the penetration is too low to damage cruiser and battleship plating. Her range leaves something to be desired, and she has no access to AP or SAP.

Most enemy destroyers should be wary of Split's firepower. Although she is not among the best gunboats, she is still very capable of self-defense. However, captains should not be too aggressive; she cannot sustain prolonged firefights without smoke or solid cover, and her turret traverse is too slow to respond to immediate threats. Her guns should be used for opportunistic attacks against enemies with low health or from a position of safety.

Torpedoes

When her guns cannot be used, Split also has a moderate torpedo armament. Her six underwhelming torpedoes pale in comparison to other Tier VIII destroyers, but they have the range to be launched from stealth and have high speed and quick reload. Due to the low damage and quantity of torpedoes, care should be taken before committing to a close-range attack; many full-health opponents will survive a full torpedo salvo, leaving Split in an undesirably vulnerable position.

The torpedoes can be utilized to cause floods, which may prompt enemies to use their Damage Control Party, leaving them vulnerable to fires. They can also be useful while kiting, although they have narrow and awkward firing angles.

Other Armament

Split's ASW is relatively average, and she is neither a small nor a particularly stealthy destroyer. These factors, plus her relatively low depth charge damage, mean that loitering long enough to destroy a submarine with depth charges can make her an easy target. Do not rush at a healthy submarine expecting to score a quick kill.

On paper, Split's AA is decent, but in reality it does little to deter aerial attacks. It has enough damage to quickly shoot down fighters and may score some kills while under attack, but it cannot prevent damage from determined aerial attackers.

Survivability

Split has moderate HP, good speed and poor concealment. But she is a reasonably large destroyer with no notable armor, making it easy for enemies to hit and damage her with no way to repair any damage.

Split is fast and somewhat agile for her size, but her acceleration is poor. Her generous gun angles can help her fire while kiting if she must fight in the open, but this should be avoided; her ability to fight effectively relies on properly using her consumables.

Consumables

Split is equipped with the standard Damage Control Party consumable, and additionally has a Smoke Generator , an Engine Boost  with a short cooldown and a Surveillance Radar  with good range and fast reload but very short duration.

The smoke generator is an invaluable tool for concealing her presence while firing, making it harder for enemies to return fire. The radar's short duration and fast cooldown mean it is better suited to regularly checking her surroundings rather than keeping an enemy spotted long enough to destroy it.

When used together, Split can reverse a situation of being out-spotted by concealing herself with smoke and revealing the enemy with radar. Although the radar only lasts a moment, any enemy destroyer close enough to detect Split is within radar range.

Performance

Playing Split to her full potential can be challenging. Using her guns and torpedoes almost always means putting herself in risky situations. She can be a cumbersome destroyer that struggles when caught unaware by her opponents. All her weapons have workable range, but captains must be aware of any long-range enemy radar which is increasingly common at her tier. Without AP shells, she also lacks the potential bursts of damage AP can cause. Captains should always bear in mind that they are limited to the HE shells and their low penetration before opening fire.

Managing interactions with enemy destroyers and submarines can be key to success with Split, as they will generally spot her before she spots them. While it is tempting to radar in response and counterattack, Split rarely profits from such aggressive moves and cannot recover from mistakes easily. Her radar can provide her with intel, meanwhile, she can attack from a distance using smoke and torpedoes until more favorable circumstances arise.