How the <expletive deleted> do you Dunkerque?

[Canadian_Reaper]

Yes I've watched the video.. 

 

Seriously, what do you shoot at what when you're in the Dunkerque?

 

My understanding was, fire HE at angled targets and AP if you have a broadside.

My AP seems to overpen or bounce at range, and my HE seems to do barely any damage to anythings superstructure, and rarely sets fires.

 

I've fired AP at German BB's, Warspites etc and it seems every shell either bounces/ or overpens.

I fire HE at Cruisers and get "incapacatation" (no damage) or 900 damage hits.

 

I kind of like the ship, but now that I've managed to figure out how to hit things with it's guns..I can't get them to do any damage,

 

Should I just be ignoring AP and spamming HE?

 

[mohawkdriver]

AP and anything less than 12km, HE for everything else.  Go bow-on or 'over the shoulder' when you're shooting.  Your broadside is very squishy so watch your positioning.  Play as a support ship if you're not top or near-top tier.  Angle, angle, and more angle.  It's a great ship; one of my best.

[Canadian_Reaper]

AP and anything less than 12km, HE for everything else.  Go bow-on or 'over the shoulder' when you're shooting.  Your broadside is very squishy so watch your positioning.  Play as a support ship if you're not top or near-top tier.  Angle, angle, and more angle.  It's a great ship; one of my best.

 

I think the ship's great, I'm entirely sure it's failings are all mine. (Well that and it's dispersion..how I can straddle so many ships with all 8 rounds without a single hit is a little odd, but..)

 

So (just so I'm understanding), if I'm shooting at anything more than 12K away, use HE, anything (cruiser/BB) less than 12K, use my AP?

 

Thanks!

[Mizzerys_Fate]

Shoot bb's at just below deck to superstrycture.

Aim for cits on cruusers.

Over pens are usually on bows.

Find a spot hit reverse.

Install aim mod to help duspersion.

Overall a good ship if not rushed n flanked.

[Goliath654]

The Dunk is a wonderful ship and my most played, these are some do's and dont's

 

Do's

-Like he said if it's beyond 12km you should be using HE exceptions being slow moving BB's that are broadside.

-Primary engagement range is less then 11km (this is when you'll do the most damage.)

-Use islands and choke-points to cover your flank.

-Utilize your speed if you have the flag you can push 31knts.

-If you find yourself point blank (>5km) with someone who's bow on you need to engage french mode and slam it in reverse (you can use HE at this point personally for me i stay AP just in case another ship shows up) the Dunk does almost 15knts in reverse so this will give you time to rethink your life decisions and make appropriate corrections

-REMAIN RELATIVELY BOW FORWARD.

-Remember you are a Battle Cruiser

-Priorities should be CA's,DD's, and then BB's

 

Dont's 

-Do not enter open water alone if they hit your side you will melt.

-Do not count on RNJesus to help you all the time, expect the worse and make smart decisions. 

-Do not YOLO ram 99% of the time there is a way out don't sacrifice yourself when you can do so much more. (I'm guilty of this)

-If it spit's fire stay away.

-Do not tangle with CV's if possible, you are a surprisingly yummy target for them.

-Do not trust your secondaries.

-Do not snipe you are a CLOSE support vessel and should treat it as such your location should be at about the same range as the cruisers.

 

The Dunk is a very unique vessel and i could talk all day about her but eventually you'd get bored. T_T

 

[mohawkdriver]

 

I think the ship's great, I'm entirely sure it's failings are all mine. (Well that and it's dispersion..how I can straddle so many ships with all 8 rounds without a single hit is a little odd, but..)

 

So (just so I'm understanding), if I'm shooting at anything more than 12K away, use HE, anything (cruiser/BB) less than 12K, use my AP?

 

Thanks!

 

Yes, that's how I get my best from the ship.

[BladedPheonix]

someone give this man ( I'm assuming your a man, please state other wise if not! especially if you hail from off planet and have the license to prob people!) Eurobeat's How to dunkirk Youtube video! My link thingy isn't working today for some reason.

[Royeaux]

The Dunkerque's guns are not reliable.  They'll find their target more often then not when properly aimed because of the high velocity, but the drawback is that you'll have to put more salvos into broadside cruisers and Battleships then usual.  This normally isn't a problem since all the guns are up front, and you can bow on.  So long as your surviving, you can put those extra shells into the target and finish it off.  Don't assume a salvo will delete a target in the Dunkerque, the key to succeeding is keeping the guns hot and not biting off more then you can chew.

Here's a replay where I just sit back and snipe at the enemy in near total safety.  I did not need to insta-delete any ship because I put myself in a situation where I could not be easily damaged, which let me continuously fire off the guns and cause considerable damage to the enemy.

[1Sherman]

Yes I've watched the video.. 

 

Seriously, what do you shoot at what when you're in the Dunkerque?

 

My understanding was, fire HE at angled targets and AP if you have a broadside.

My AP seems to overpen or bounce at range, and my HE seems to do barely any damage to anythings superstructure, and rarely sets fires.

 

I've fired AP at German BB's, Warspites etc and it seems every shell either bounces/ or overpens.

I fire HE at Cruisers and get "incapacatation" (no damage) or 900 damage hits.

 

I kind of like the ship, but now that I've managed to figure out how to hit things with it's guns..I can't get them to do any damage,

 

Should I just be ignoring AP and spamming HE?

 

 

[Canadian_Reaper]

Thanks all

Yeah i sail it OK , just can't figure out why my damage is so low most of the time.

 

I'll try the shell usage everyone has mentioned.

 

Thanks!

[Tzarevitch]

I've never had a problem with AP on cruisers and broadside BBs. I usually use HE on DDs and angled BBs. The guns fire in a really tight pattern since all 8 are grouped together. It tends to lead to multiple penetrations or citadels on the same salvo. The one universal rule is keep your bow facing them and never show your side without steep angling unless you have absolutely no choice. Plan your turns like cruisers do or you will regret it.

 

[Phoenix_jz]

Dispersion can be a pain but when it isn't... Those shells group like nothing else...

 

I've had games where I sunk almost every enemy DD, from full health, with my guns...

 

The HE is insane

[MrDeaf]

Here you go. http://wowreplays.com/Replay/20580

135k dmg, mostly from AP.

I think it's a bit bland in terms of gameplay, but I also don't think I made too many mistakes while playing.

 

Usage of islands

Target prioritization

holding shots for better targets to appear

effective positioning that gives me good broadsides to shoot at

knowing where to shoot german BBs for good penetration damage

knowing when your shells will bounce

knowing when enemy shells will bounce

knowing when you can go full broadside without being punished

[Wowzery]

I've stopped doing the HE/AP switch and play the guns like any other BB, almost exclusively AP and been doing very well.