Effective AP range for USN Cruisers?

[Madwolf05]

So, somewhere along the way I stopped using glorious AP at most ranges and fired mostly HE. This at first had something to do with range, but now I don't remember.

 

What range should I stop firing AP at in USN cruisers?

[Fast_Battleship_Iowa]

Cleveland: 10km and below.

Pensi/NO: 12km and below.

Balti/DM: Any range, super heavy 203mm has lol-worthy pen.

[Kenjister]

Cleveland: 10km and below.

Pensi/NO: 12km and below.

Balti/DM: Any range, super heavy 203mm has lol-worthy pen.

 

I'm inclined to agree with this.  Pensa and NOLA have to consider their targets but Balti and DM can chuck AP out to 18km and get nice juicy pens.  Of course you're probably shooting BBs at that range so HE is also a good option.

[TenguBlade]

The only difference from Teruzuki's list is I typically switch to AP regardless of range if I have a fire burning on an enemy battleship with an 8" cruiser.  Pensacola/Indianapolis/New Orleans AP will almost always pen BB superstructures.  Against CAs though, I keep HE loaded because you still can't lolpen them, while their superstructures aren't as meaty.

[awildseaking]

I have never had to consider targets with the NOLA. You can citadel CA at 14-16km reliably.

[Umikami]

I typically switch to AP regardless of range if I have a fire burning on an enemy battleship

 

this tactic is a classic, and still incredibly effective

[Phoenix_jz]

The pen on regular USN 8" AP (give or take a few milimeters) should be about 321mm @ 5.0 km, 221mm @ 10.0 km, and 154mm @ 15.0 km

[TenguBlade]

this tactic is a classic, and still incredibly effective

It's even funnier to do it with a BB, watch them broadside you thinking they're safe, then eat massive AP damage and still have a fire burning for their troubles.

[KaptainKaybe]

The AP on late tier USN cruisers is very punchy at all  ranges. The problem is not their penetrative power, but their velocity. This makes shooting at long range targets an exercise in futility as they have *plenty* of time to dodge them.

 

On the other hand, those USN cruisers firing AP at brawling ranges are absolute terrors because of their ability to citadel even sharply angled enemy cruisers. It doesn't do the most damage by any stretch, but it slices through angled armor like a hot knife through butter. As long as they keep weaving to make torpedo hits against them unreliable, they can pretty much trounce every other cruiser at their tier.

[Vaidency]

The AP on late tier USN cruisers is very punchy at all  ranges. The problem is not their penetrative power, but their velocity. This makes shooting at long range targets an exercise in futility as they have *plenty* of time to dodge them.

 

 

I think this is overstated by a lot of players.  Baltimore and Des Moines AP shells have similar velocity and drag to most BB shells.  If you can hit somebody at 16 km with a BB, you can hit them at 16 km in a Des Moines.