A question to Cleveland captains

[MexicanPanda]

So I just got my Cleveland from the shipyard today, and ran a battle with it to give it a go in it's stock configuration. At one point, I came across a New Mexico and started opening up with HE on him. I did noticed that his midsection was blackened, so when my first salvo that hit did no damage except knocking out some AA guns, I wasn't overly surprised. I tried firing at his bow and then stern, but again did no, to very little damage with HE. After that I fired a couple salvos of AP and did some minor damage and then he was taken out by an ally.

 

My question is, what am I supposed to do in a situation like that? Was switching to AP and hoping for spalling damage all I could hope for? Am I supposed to aim at a certain part of the ship to do damage with HE? (besides the obvious superstructure since it had already had it's hp depleted) Or am I just supposed to keep firing HE at him and hope to set fires while doing no direct damage?

 

Secondary question, is the gun upgrade worth it? Faster RoF is cool, but that slower turret traverse kinda stinks. Still better than the traverse speed on my Aoba, but still slow. Thank you for any input.

[IronWolfV]

So I just got my Cleveland from the shipyard today, and ran a battle with it to give it a go in it's stock configuration. At one point, I came across a New Mexico and started opening up with HE on him. I did noticed that his midsection was blackened, so when my first salvo that hit did no damage except knocking out some AA guns, I wasn't overly surprised. I tried firing at his bow and then stern, but again did no, to very little damage with HE. After that I fired a couple salvos of AP and did some minor damage and then he was taken out by an ally.

 

My question is, what am I supposed to do in a situation like that? Was switching to AP and hoping for spalling damage all I could hope for? Am I supposed to aim at a certain part of the ship to do damage with HE? (besides the obvious superstructure since it had already had it's hp depleted) Or am I just supposed to keep firing HE at him and hope to set fires while doing no direct damage?

 

Secondary question, is the gun upgrade worth it? Faster RoF is cool, but that slower turret traverse kinda stinks. Still better than the traverse speed on my Aoba, but still slow. Thank you for any input.

 

With HE don't shoot a BB in the hull. Does no damage.

[Doutech]

Always fire HE at BBs but don't aim at their hull it does nothing and AP just bounces of them but fire AP at cruisers. I would get the gun upgrade but then get the captain skill to help counter the slower traverse rate.

[K1ra_Yoshikage]

HE always do damage if you hit the top of the ship plus the chance to do sone crits. It just take forever to bring a BB down. Hope to start some fires. AP didn't do any damage with the Cleveland because of the low muzzle velocity and small calibre.

[Sk8er4LifeMD]

Yeah HE will "bound" and deal little to no damage if you shoot at the hull. Its very effective however if you shoot the superstructure. Really though, with cruisers its always best to stick near friendly ships, preferably other cruisers or even battleships. The more guns on target the better, plus they can only handle 1 target at a time so the others get somewhat of a free pass to kill.

 

I like to run my Cleve as a pure AA monster. Run a squad of them going pure escorts (Also mine is set up so guns fire around 17.5km so I can handle ranged engagements), almost impenetrable airspace.

[Cruiser_Chicago]

Spam HE at everything that isn't a cruiser that is showing his broadside. In extreme scenarios you can use AP shells against BBs but only at super close range. I once did 8K damage in a single volley to a New Mexico by firing into his hull with AP (probably by shooting at his less armored hull outside of the citadel area).

 

When firing HE you generally want to target the ship's superstructure and set it ablazing, but you can also selectively target the ship's bow and stern sections to set those areas on fire too. 3 consecutive fires burning on the bow, superstructure, and stern of a ship causes lethal damage over time.

 

IIRC the only gun upgrade for the Cleveland gives you faster turret traverse for a slower rate of fire, which isn't worth taking. I believe only tier 9-10 ships get access to the gun upgrade that sacrifices turret traverse for a higher rate of fire.

 

If you meant the researchable gun upgrade that yes you should get it. Rate of fire increase is worth it.

[vak_]

If a section of the ship is destroyed ("blackened" out), hitting it with HE shells does not damage, IIRC.

 

However, if a fire starts there, the damage from it will still be applied.

[Su1tanOfSwing]

Run!

[Harv72b]

The gun upgrade depends on your play style.  If you prefer to hang back with the group and fight at a distance, you're better off with the ROF increase (and your turret traverse doesn't really matter).  If you prefer to be on the front lines just behind the destroyers, taking on multiple enemies at once while maneuvering like a madman to dodge return fire, then you're better off sticking with the faster traverse time (and you're possibly as insane as I am).

 

I generally default to HE against battleships at any range, but if I've already got AP loaded and a foolish BB opens up his broadside to me at range, I'll absolutely pump a couple salvos into him.  From long range the plunging fire mechanic can get you some big damage numbers, and as mentioned above you can still penetrate less armored portions of the ship from short range...it's medium ranges where your AP shells are rarely going to do significant damage to a BB.  In the instance you described, I think you played it right.

[MexicanPanda]

The gun upgrade depends on your play style.  If you prefer to hang back with the group and fight at a distance, you're better off with the ROF increase (and your turret traverse doesn't really matter).  If you prefer to be on the front lines just behind the destroyers, taking on multiple enemies at once while maneuvering like a madman to dodge return fire, then you're better off sticking with the faster traverse time (and you're possibly as insane as I am).

 

I generally default to HE against battleships at any range, but if I've already got AP loaded and a foolish BB opens up his broadside to me at range, I'll absolutely pump a couple salvos into him.  From long range the plunging fire mechanic can get you some big damage numbers, and as mentioned above you can still penetrate less armored portions of the ship from short range...it's medium ranges where your AP shells are rarely going to do significant damage to a BB.  In the instance you described, I think you played it right.

 

Thank you. That was actually really helpful. I guess I'll have to see how I end up playing her. Right now I'm loving bullying destroyers, so I think I might end up keeping the traverse, but only time will tell. =P

[Crustay]

When using HE, always aim for the superstructure. It explodes and has a chance to set fire. Once you have started a fire on the ship, try hitting somewhere else to start another fire. I think there are 4 sections that can be on fire at once. The more fires you start, and the longer they burn=more dmg. Just keep lighting him up. 

 

The he only time I use AP in my Cleveland is against Omahas/Murmansk/Marbleheads, Atlantas, and a few other types of cruisers at close range. Because of the close distance, you guns are able to fire with a flatter trajectory and pen the citadel. AP will either hit non critical parts (doing minimal damage) or  just bounce off a BB. The Clevelands guns are just too small. 

 

[Deterrumeversor]

When using HE, always aim for the superstructure. It explodes and has a chance to set fire. Once you have started a fire on the ship, try hitting somewhere else to start another fire. I think there are 4 sections that can be on fire at once. The more fires you start, and the longer they burn=more dmg. Just keep lighting him up. 

 

The he only time I use AP in my Cleveland is against Omahas/Murmansk/Marbleheads, Atlantas, and a few other types of cruisers at close range. Because of the close distance, you guns are able to fire with a flatter trajectory and pen the citadel. AP will either hit non critical parts (doing minimal damage) or  just bounce off a BB. The Clevelands guns are just too small. 

 

 

^^ Very good advice for the Cleveland...

You will find that while H.E. does not always do damage, especially to fully depleted HP depleted (blacked out) hull sections; it will still wreck modules, and start fires.

And fire damage is where the Cleveland really shines against ships.

You can burn a Nagato down to the waterline given a few minutes of free fire time..lol..

[draftstone]

So I just got my Cleveland from the shipyard today, and ran a battle with it to give it a go in it's stock configuration. At one point, I came across a New Mexico and started opening up with HE on him. I did noticed that his midsection was blackened, so when my first salvo that hit did no damage except knocking out some AA guns, I wasn't overly surprised. I tried firing at his bow and then stern, but again did no, to very little damage with HE. After that I fired a couple salvos of AP and did some minor damage and then he was taken out by an ally.

 

My question is, what am I supposed to do in a situation like that? Was switching to AP and hoping for spalling damage all I could hope for? Am I supposed to aim at a certain part of the ship to do damage with HE? (besides the obvious superstructure since it had already had it's hp depleted) Or am I just supposed to keep firing HE at him and hope to set fires while doing no direct damage?

 

Secondary question, is the gun upgrade worth it? Faster RoF is cool, but that slower turret traverse kinda stinks. Still better than the traverse speed on my Aoba, but still slow. Thank you for any input.

 

Stop shooting the BB and go for the destroyers/cruisers. Your carriers/BBs will take care of the new mexico and they can't do that with DDs running free everywhere. In a one-on-one, the New Mexico will chew you up, and in a team fight against one enemy New mexico, you will contribute for a very minimal amount of damage that will not change the outcome of the fight. Stop fighting what you can not kill and go help your team by killing what you can!

 

Rock paper scissors, if the only move you know to play is rock, stop trying to beat paper players, hunt for scissors players.

 

(If it's end game and there is nothing left, spam HE at BBs, but if it's early or mid game, you have the speed to help your team somewhere else on the map, go for it you'll be a lot more useful there!)

[MexicanPanda]

 

Stop shooting the BB and go for the destroyers/cruisers. Your carriers/BBs will take care of the new mexico and they can't do that with DDs running free everywhere. In a one-on-one, the New Mexico will chew you up, and in a team fight against one enemy New mexico, you will contribute for a very minimal amount of damage that will not change the outcome of the fight. Stop fighting what you can not kill and go help your team by killing what you can!

 

Rock paper scissors, if the only move you know to play is rock, stop trying to beat paper players, hunt for scissors players.

 

(If it's end game and there is nothing left, spam HE at BBs, but if it's early or mid game, you have the speed to help your team somewhere else on the map, go for it you'll be a lot more useful there!)

 

How very silly of you to assume so much. I had already killed the destroyers on my side of the map and the New Mexico was the only thing left before heading to the other side of the map to help the fight there. I had two other ships with me which were the ones that finished off the NM for me. So thank you for being an azz out of yourself by incorrectly assuming what the situation was and telling me what I already know what to do. I know my primary job is hunting DDs and killing cruisers, but I asked what to do in my specific scenario.

[draftstone]

 

How very silly of you to assume so much. I had already killed the destroyers on my side of the map and the New Mexico was the only thing left before heading to the other side of the map to help the fight there. I had two other ships with me which were the ones that finished off the NM for me. So thank you for being an azz out of yourself by incorrectly assuming what the situation was and telling me what I already know what to do. I know my primary job is hunting DDs and killing cruisers, but I asked what to do in my specific scenario.

 

Sorry for assuming, but it is what the vast majority of cleveland (or any cruisers) players are doing ;)

I stated at the end of my post that if the DDs are done, yeah shoot HE and hope for some damage.

 

And just because I want to defend myself, you stated that you were in a battle and then encountered the New Mexico, no mention about clearing the rest of the map, so my point is still valid, turn around and find something else to shoot, unless it is the only thing left to shoot at!

 

But I have to say, if you are the type of players that are clearing destroyers and also seeking help on forums for what they are not sure, I want you on my team, so rare to encounter this type of players

[MexicanPanda]

 

Sorry for assuming, but it is what the vast majority of cleveland (or any cruisers) players are doing ;)

I stated at the end of my post that if the DDs are done, yeah shoot HE and hope for some damage.

 

And just because I want to defend myself, you stated that you were in a battle and then encountered the New Mexico, no mention about clearing the rest of the map, so my point is still valid, turn around and find something else to shoot, unless it is the only thing left to shoot at!

 

But I have to say, if you are the type of players that are clearing destroyers and also seeking help on forums for what they are not sure, I want you on my team, so rare to encounter this type of players

I love taking out destroyers. It's my favorite thing to do really, unless I'm all alone then I'm kinda screwed. You are right, I didn't give all the details about the situation and I didn't say in the OP that killing destroyers was what I do best. I'm sorry for lashing out the way I did, I had just had yet another loss with my Cleveland because my team melted around me and left me to face a North Carolina that had support from a pair of DDs and a Myoko all by myslef. (which seems to be a pattern now since I only have one win with the ship so far....)