What am I doing wrong: Alabama Edition

[Usedcarjock]

The final BB needed for my USN collection and a very exciting addition at that. However, for the life of me I cannot make this ship work. If you look at my other High tier BBs: NC, Iowa, Mo, and to a lesser extent Monty, I perform considerably above the average in all categories. The Alabama is a different story. I tend to play my US BBs the same: that being a mobile gun platform that stays within 12-14 km to hit hard and stay undetected. Applying this same strategy to the Alabama hasn't worked. The accuracy on the ship reminds me of KM BBs; and that may be from being spoiled by the Iowa Class's accuracy. Is there a specific play style choice I'm not thinking of that I should implement, or am I just awful with the ship in general?

[Psicopro]

You don't have the added dispersion reduction module and compared to the NC, the Alabama has .1 worse sigma.

 

Alabama is slightly tank-ier except when sailing away.  I believe her rear citadel bulkhead is weak (by design).  You want to do a bit more brawling in the Alabama.  Not always recommended in the land of Yamato. =)

 

http://wowsft.com/shipStatSelection?ship1=North Carolina&ship2=Alabama&modules1=3517951984,3527159792,3516772336,3527847920&modules2=3515854832,3515625456,3514675184,3524702192&upgrades1=JTdCJTIyc2hpcE5hbWUlMjIlM0ElMjJOb3J0aCUyMENhcm9saW5hJTIyJTJDJTIydXBncmFkZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlN0Q=&upgrades2=JTdCJTIyc2hpcE5hbWUlMjIlM0ElMjJBbGFiYW1hJTIyJTJDJTIydXBncmFkZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlN0Q=&consumables1=&consumables2=&skills=JTVCJTVE&flags=&camo=false&adrenalineValue1=100&adrenalineValue2=100

 

 

[Usedcarjock]

9 minutes ago, Psicopro said:

You don't have the added dispersion reduction module and compared to the NC, the Alabama has .1 worse sigma.

 

Alabama is slightly tank-ier except when sailing away.  I believe her rear citadel bulkhead is weak (by design).  You want to do a bit more brawling in the Alabama.  Not always recommended in the land of Yamato. =)

 

http://wowsft.com/shipStatSelection?ship1=North Carolina&ship2=Alabama&modules1=3517951984,3527159792,3516772336,3527847920&modules2=3515854832,3515625456,3514675184,3524702192&upgrades1=JTdCJTIyc2hpcE5hbWUlMjIlM0ElMjJOb3J0aCUyMENhcm9saW5hJTIyJTJDJTIydXBncmFkZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlN0Q=&upgrades2=JTdCJTIyc2hpcE5hbWUlMjIlM0ElMjJBbGFiYW1hJTIyJTJDJTIydXBncmFkZXMlMjIlM0ElNUIlNUQlN0Q=&consumables1=&consumables2=&skills=JTVCJTVE&flags=&camo=false&adrenalineValue1=100&adrenalineValue2=100

 

 

Appreciate the response. I remember from my research I gathered that her sigma was the worst. Totally forgot about the accuracy mod. Makes quite the difference doesn't it? Another thing that really bugs me is the superstructure is prone to quite a bit of Pen damage due to how large and exposed it is.

[DerKrampus]

Alabama is a good ship in a brawl, owing to its fantastic maneuverability.  While ships like Iowa turn under protest, the Alabama wiggles effortlessly.  You'll want to abandon the bow-camping playstyle and get a bit more aggressive.  Keep on the move whenever possible, and push the enemy's flank.  

[twitch133]

2 hours ago, Psicopro said:

 I believe her rear citadel bulkhead is weak (by design).

 

The rear citadel bulkhead is actually protected by a thick armored box over the steering gears. The box IS there, you just can't see it on the in game armor viewer.

[MrKilmister]

8 minutes ago, twitch133 said:

 

The rear citadel bulkhead is actually protected by a thick armored box over the steering gears. The box IS there, you just can't see it on the in game armor viewer.

 

Yes, I've heard this too. Thanks.

 

@ Usedcarjock:

 

Alabama plays very much like North Carolina. Most simply put, Alabama is basically like a deluxe North Carolina.  

 

I wonder what your sample size is. I suspect as you play AL more your stats with her will rise and eventually plateau at a level at least equal to or better than your stats with NC. That's how it went for me. 

[HazeGrayUnderway]

3 hours ago, Usedcarjock said:

The final BB needed for my USN collection and a very exciting addition at that. However, for the life of me I cannot make this ship work. If you look at my other High tier BBs: NC, Iowa, Mo, and to a lesser extent Monty, I perform considerably above the average in all categories. The Alabama is a different story. I tend to play my US BBs the same: that being a mobile gun platform that stays within 12-14 km to hit hard and stay undetected. Applying this same strategy to the Alabama hasn't worked. The accuracy on the ship reminds me of KM BBs; and that may be from being spoiled by the Iowa Class's accuracy. Is there a specific play style choice I'm not thinking of that I should implement, or am I just awful with the ship in general?

 

The dispersion is practically the same between Alabama and North Carolina.  Where the 2 differ is the velocity of the AP shells, 'Bama's is slower.  You need to remember to give a little bit of extra lead is all.

[Pope_Shizzle]

You just need to play more to even out the bad games with good.  Alabama plays exactly the same as NC, Iowa, Missouri and Montana.  Angled pushes swinging your rear turrets to shoot and back to safety using the good rudder shift and low turn radius.  My first few games with her were pretty below average, then she just started working.  

 

Contrary to popular opinion, USN battleships are not bow campers.  If you're in reverse, you're doing it wrong.  They are high speed well concealed monsters of devastating firepower and tough as nails when angled.

[CaptGodzillaPig]

As one that absolutely adored my Texas when I got her on first release (full 'Murica camo of course). I was pretty intrigued when 'Bama was being talked about.  More I saw the more I realized she was going to be a victim in a mean MM world, just like the fate that befell Texas.  When she ('Bama) first rolled out I jumped in the Bismark and it was game on.  I whopped all the newbie 'Bama crowd like it was nobody's business.  To be fair, some put up a pretty good fight and on a few occasions I walked into a match with low HP an got spanked, but really it wasn't much of a fight usually.   Funny thing you bring this up now.  After not having seen 'Bama for a long time.  She is appearing again in games against my GK.  Poor girl.  "Bama has a lot of fine attributes, but if her T9 and T10 superiors are routinely outplayed by IJN and KM ships, what do you really expect?  You honestly are probably not doing anything wrong.  It's just WG dropping another premium with hype that can't really hold it's own in the MM they set up.