29 TheSteelGeneraI Members 40 posts 7,189 battles Report post #1 Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) Just started playing the new British cruiser Hawkins. After a few games I find I'm struggling to do damage with the main guns. The AP seems to have no penetration and the 14 sec reload is painful. This is in stark contrast to Exeter, who's 203mm guns are citadel machines and have nearly the same reload (15sec). The guns are bigger than Emerald (190mm vs 152mm) but if shooting HE is the best way to do damage, then the long reload really hurts. The torps hit hard, but are slow and having only two per side makes them easy to dodge. Edited January 18, 2020 by TheSteelGeneraI Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
400 [RCNW3] Panzer1113 Members 1,942 posts 20,036 battles Report post #2 Posted January 17, 2020 (edited) Only played a couple of games, being bottom tier is a painful experience, does not tier up well. If top tier, does ok, can be competitive with the heal. Shells are a bit floaty, dispersion is interesting, I have resorted to ripple firing and spreading the aim area to get more hits. Seems to generate some fires, have not had any luck with AP, or any torp hits (tried to stay about 10km from BB/CL targets). Overall, will not be keeping after event (though to be honest have not kept many tech tree tier 5 ships when done grinding, exception being Emerald). Edited January 17, 2020 by Panzer1113 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,735 [SALVO] Crucis Members 25,457 posts 27,411 battles Report post #3 Posted January 17, 2020 12 minutes ago, TheSteelGeneraI said: Just started playing the new British cruiser Hawkins. After a few games I find I'm struggling to do damage with the main guns. The AP seems to have no penetration and the 14 sec reload is painful. This is in stark contrast to Exeter, who's 203mm guns are citadel machines and have nearly the same reload (15sec). The guns are bigger than Emerald (190mm vs 152mm) but if shooting HE is the best way to do damage, then the long reload really hurts. The torps hit hard, but are slow and having only two per side makes then easy to dodge. The Exeter is probably easier to play if only because it has a more modern, center line turret layout. However, the Hawkins seems OK to me. I've had good games with her thus far. As for the torps, yes, they can be easy to dodge. You can either just throw them out there and hope for hits, or if you're trying to make a very close pass on an enemy ship, you could save them for a point blank launch. 11 minutes ago, Panzer1113 said: Only played a couple of games, being bottom tier is a painful experience, does not tier up well. If top tier, does ok, can be competitive with the heal. Shells are a bit floaty, dispersion is interesting, I have resorted to ripple firing and spreading the aim area to get more hits. Seems to generate some fires, have not had any luck with AP, or any torp hits (tried to stay about 10km from BB/CL targets). Overall, will not be keeping after event (though to be honest have not kept many tech tree tier 5 ships when done grinding, exception being Emerald). The Hawkins is sorta-kinda like the Omaha and its clones when bottom tiered. You have to work around the edges of a battle, using terrain as much as you can, trying to engaged the unengaged sides of enemy BBs, spamming HE and trying to start fires. It can be done. You just have to do your best to not become some enemy BBs' focus of attention. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,152 [CMFRT] KilljoyCutter [CMFRT] Members 16,391 posts Report post #4 Posted January 17, 2020 For tier V cruisers, I think I'll ask Krasny Krym to the dance, instead of waiting for (Sadie) Hawkins to ask me. 1 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,662 [PVE] Asym_KS Members 4,654 posts 20,562 battles Report post #5 Posted January 17, 2020 I kinda of prefer Dimick's, or Leman's to Hawken's..... Better trigger geometry. Although, my 70 caliber is out right efficient and affectionately named "dink"..... Oh wait, sorry, got this forum mixed up with another.......sorry. I don't think I'll ever see the British CA's anyway.... I don't play that much anymore....... Good data in case I ever see one though ! 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
2,662 [PVE] Asym_KS Members 4,654 posts 20,562 battles Report post #6 Posted January 17, 2020 1 minute ago, KilljoyCutter said: For tier V cruisers, I think I'll ask Krasny Krym to the dance, instead of waiting for (Sadie) Hawkins to ask me. I like the Krispy Cream..... It's kind of like a "sailing porcupine"..... Now, how cool is that ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8,218 [GWG] BrushWolf [GWG] Supertester 27,128 posts 14,735 battles Report post #7 Posted January 17, 2020 The Hawkins is an odd duck, a relic of an earlier era but oddly she plays a lot like the Italian cruisers in that you have to be on the move and present a constantly changing aspect to the enemy. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
1,601 theLaalaa Members 1,764 posts 26,543 battles Report post #8 Posted January 17, 2020 Hawkins is worse than Omaha. Omaha (and Murmansk) can dance and keep shells in the air while dancing. Hawkins is slow, sluggish, and an eternity between reloads. Good thing it's free, cause I'd balk at paying in-game silver for this dog. Oh, uh, thanks for the free ship, WG! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
4,262 [RLGN] Estimated_Prophet Members 14,900 posts 26,419 battles Report post #9 Posted January 17, 2020 1 hour ago, Panzer1113 said: Overall, will not be keeping after event (though to be honest have not kept many tech tree tier 5 ships when done grinding, exception being Emerald). Someone in another thread called it an Emerald with bigger guns and HE. Lots of folks must be spamming the bundles though; I’ve not seen any ships in the few I’ve picked up so far. 53 minutes ago, KilljoyCutter said: For tier V cruisers, I think I'll ask Krasny Krym to the dance, instead of waiting for (Sadie) Hawkins to ask me. We’ll see. Like I said, no joy so far with the bundles. 53 minutes ago, Asym_KS said: I like the Krispy Cream..... It's kind of like a "sailing porcupine"..... Now, how cool is that ! lol An apt description. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
130 [T-CF] LiaoXanLan Members 551 posts 3,117 battles Report post #10 Posted January 17, 2020 Hawkins is terrible. Her concealment is awful at a base 13km with her firing range to be at 14km. Floating shells with a very long reload. Her guns are single turret and are quite literally everywhere not to mention her firing angles make shooting very risky. She’s a skip and one of the worst cruisers in the game until she gets some very needed buffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
333 [GOBI] Frigate007 Members 1,086 posts 4,487 battles Report post #11 Posted January 17, 2020 If anything like the Albemarle, total junk. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,152 [CMFRT] KilljoyCutter [CMFRT] Members 16,391 posts Report post #12 Posted January 17, 2020 7 minutes ago, Frigate007 said: If anything like the Albemarle, total junk. "Albemarle" sounds like the name of a secondary character in a Harry Potter story. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
333 [GOBI] Frigate007 Members 1,086 posts 4,487 battles Report post #13 Posted January 17, 2020 1 hour ago, KilljoyCutter said: "Albemarle" sounds like the name of a secondary character in a Harry Potter story. Dumb name for a ship, sounds like some type of jam or jelly? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
9,152 [CMFRT] KilljoyCutter [CMFRT] Members 16,391 posts Report post #14 Posted January 17, 2020 Just now, Frigate007 said: Dumb name for a ship, sounds like some type of jam or jelly? Albemarmalade? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
333 [GOBI] Frigate007 Members 1,086 posts 4,487 battles Report post #15 Posted January 17, 2020 LOL, name is not even on the ship. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
64 LordBerk Alpha Tester 225 posts 7,584 battles Report post #16 Posted January 17, 2020 Got it second opening. Weird guns for sure, can hit hard but not consistent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
130 [T-CF] LiaoXanLan Members 551 posts 3,117 battles Report post #17 Posted January 17, 2020 2 hours ago, KilljoyCutter said: "Albemarle" sounds like the name of a secondary character in a Harry Potter story. Probably is the name of a secondary character in a Harry Potter story. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
109 Munificient_Mumfurt Members 145 posts 2,018 battles Report post #18 Posted January 18, 2020 (edited) Hawkins impressions. Slow as hell. Turns like a brick Gun range too short Guns dispersion seems horrid, shells fly all over the place. Floating Citadel Shell velocity is slow as hell also Edited January 18, 2020 by Munificient_Mumfurt 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
164 [PUDEL] Ralph_Vargr Members 337 posts 1,596 battles Report post #19 Posted January 18, 2020 The wonderful actor Jack Hawkins is probably annoyed that the ship isn't rowed.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
5 [-EXE-] ___BIGGLES___ Members 22 posts 2,864 battles Report post #20 Posted January 18, 2020 1 hour ago, Ralph_Vargr said: The wonderful actor Jack Hawkins is probably annoyed that the ship isn't rowed.... Unchain Forty-One! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
502 [KOOKS] FCA_Wichita Beta Testers 2,272 posts 6,174 battles Report post #21 Posted January 18, 2020 I wasn't impressed with my first match. Gun angles are weird. Shells seem awfully floaty for being such short range. Only two torps per side and they go one KM less than Exeter's. But, I somehow managed this in that first match. https://replayswows.com/replay/76399#stats Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
164 [PUDEL] Ralph_Vargr Members 337 posts 1,596 battles Report post #22 Posted January 18, 2020 10 hours ago, ___BIGGLES___ said: Unchain Forty-One! "We keep you alive to serve this game. Spend well, then die." 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
13,443 [ARGSY] Ensign_Cthulhu Members 21,632 posts 15,689 battles Report post #23 Posted January 18, 2020 I unlocked mine late last night so I could only get one battle in. Co-op the first time round, and fortunately I was dropped into an all T5 game. I had a nervous eye on my sides the whole time, and although I didn't get killed I got punished harshly when I failed to watch who I was showing side to. This ship will teach you positioning the hard way, but from my perspective it will be a long time before the novelty of firing HE ammo from a British heavy cruiser (specifically a tech tree one; I have the Exeter) wears off. She's terrifyingly large, by the way; I didn't feel much size difference between my Hawkins and the Iron Duke I spawned next to. She can slot DFAA vs hydro, and her secondaries/heavy AA when fully boosted are the same as on the Leander. I would like them to revisit her after a couple of patches and consider adding a spotter plane as a third option in that slot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
