USN Radar-first impressions and thoughts

[SneakyBote]

I played a few games in my Des Moines this morning, and I have to say I am thus far happy with the 40s radar. Its very powerful on 3/4 cap games modes, but less useful on 2 base game modes. Basically, to get the most out of each radar use, you need to know exactly where the destroyer is before activating radar, and you need to be able to get close to the destroyer without getting obliterated by the enemy team. In game modes with caps, DDs will most likely move towards caps early in the game, solving both the aformentioned problems, and the presence of multiple caps means teams are more likely to be split, somewhat mitigating the danger of being the closest large target to the enemy.

 

However, in game modes with two bases, teams tend to stick together and the DDs hang back and passively launch torp walls towards the enemy from long range. Even with 9.9km detection range (or 11.7km in the case of the VMF cruisers), its most often not enough to catch a Kagero/Shimakaze/Gearing out of position as they attempt to launch torps in this manner. In games like this, carriers are still required to shut down torp wall DDs. Attempting to close the distance and sail ahead of your team will result in an early death. This quandary is not a problem with radar (radar shouldn't have any more range than it already has), its a problem with there not being enough CVs and high tier 2 base capture being the most toxic game mode in existence (my kingdom for a cap only game rotation).

 

While I haven't played the radar-equipped Russian cruisers yet, I fear their radar might be a little weak: insufficient range to effectively catch Shimakazes out of position in passive games, but too short in duration to be as effective as USN radar at clearing out caps. These cruisers certainly need the increased radar range due to their high surface detection, but this range appears to offer little benefit other than reducing the risk associated with using their radar. I definitely  think radar duration is going to become viewed as the more desirable trait. With that in mind, I plan on experimenting with the New Orleans in ranked next season (9.5km detection, 9km/30s radar) if the DD heavy meta carries over. Compared to the Chapayev the New Orleans is stealthier and much more maneuverable, as well as having a potentially more effective radar, but this is the only reason to use a NO in ranked (its garbage in all other important areas). The minute the Cleveland gets bumped up to T8 the NO will return to the desolate realm of forgotten ships.

[Submarine_Wahoo]

It will be interesting to see radar's effect on Ranked Battles, which is center-line caps only. USN radar does stand a good chance of rendering World of Bensons obsolete.

[Gavroche_]

It will be interesting to see radar's effect on Ranked Battles, which is center-line caps only. USN radar does stand a good chance of rendering World of Bensons obsolete.

 

Indeed, it might actually challenge the supremacy of The tier VIII premiums now.

[Special_Kay]

This is the best analysis of radar I've read so far. +1

[MajorRenegade]

Russian CA may have higher Radar ranges, but have shorter time uses(20secs). But the USA CA on the other hand, I think will be more useful due to their longer uses(40 secs). I mean sure, they lose 2km range but able to use Radar more effectively 

[Fodder4U]

Russian CA may have higher Radar ranges, but have shorter time uses(20secs). But the USA CA on the other hand, I think will be more useful due to their longer uses(40 secs). I mean sure, they lose 2km range but able to use Radar more effectively 

 

Also add to the fact that a DM's rate of fire at that range WILL kill a DD in that longer amount of time. Like I said before the DM is very viable now and as an escort for BBs and CVs between it's AA and now radar can offer some real support.

[SneakyBote]

 

Also add to the fact that a DM's rate of fire at that range WILL kill a DD in that longer amount of time. Like I said before the DM is very viable now and as an escort for BBs and CVs between it's AA and now radar can offer some real support.

 

Its extreamly viable in division play and in games with objectives, but its still really hard (though not impossible) to do well in games where neither team wants to push and there are no objectives to contest/capture. If I could opt out of the 2 base game modes I'd play my Des Moines non-stop until the end of time.

[atPrick__]

Can't wait to play with it on Des Moines, might rebuy Nola too.

[bad_arcade_kitty]

well as i said at the very first time when i heard about the radar, if cruisers want to ruin our fun fighting other dd for caps... let they cap themselves, i will definitely refuse to cap, they did it so let they cap

[atPrick__]

well as i said at the very first time when i heard about the radar, if cruisers want to ruin our fun fighting other dd for caps... let they cap themselves, i will definitely refuse to cap, they did it so let they cap

 

this already is happening in T8+ so whatever.

Shims sit outside of a cap, remain undetected and wait for ships to enter and then torp away, at least now Cruiser have a chance to not get wrecked for doing what they are meant to do. As it stands Des Moines is completely reliant on Carrier planes or other DDs to hunt opposing Destroyers.

 

Soviet DDs already don't cap so... Whatever.

 

USN DDs are screwed though.

[bad_arcade_kitty]

usn dd can play like both ru or ijn... they dont need smoke shooting

they can refuse to cap just like any other dd

 

got 40 sec radar? go drive your des moines to cap then while i will launch torps in the cap from 9km and then turn and flee from the range of your radar before you even see the torps

[MrDeaf]

I used it against a Farragut.

 

He was sunk shortly after, lol

[bad_arcade_kitty]

srsly, a bit of time passes, people adapt and you will see that radar encourages even more passive gameplay than now

 

[SavageTactical]

Before Radar, cruisers were already the best destroyers killers. If you need Radar in your Cruiser to kill Destroyers, you should consider playing a different game because you're not very good at this one.

[OscarMike_]

So what exactly is the difference between radar and hydroacoustic search?  The tooltip says they both see through smoke.. I'm still confused about the differences..

[Fodder4U]

So what exactly is the difference between radar and hydroacoustic search?  The tooltip says they both see through smoke.. I'm still confused about the differences..

 

Radar will light ships behind objects like islands where acoustics do not. Also radar has longer detection range but acoustics have a longer duration.

[Cruiser_Haguro]

So what exactly is the difference between radar and hydroacoustic search?  The tooltip says they both see through smoke.. I'm still confused about the differences..

 

Radar doesn't spot torps.

[OscarMike_]

So what exactly is the difference between radar and hydroacoustic search?  The tooltip says they both see through smoke.. I'm still confused about the differences..

 

 

Radar doesn't spot torps.

 

Thanks!

[OscarMike_]

 

Radar will light ships behind objects like islands where acoustics do not. Also radar has longer detection range but acoustics have a longer duration.

 

Oops doesn't post, sorry.

[inktomi19d]

 

Radar will light ships behind objects like islands where acoustics do not. Also radar has longer detection range but acoustics have a longer duration.

 

Hydroacoustic sees through islands. It's ridiculously short range, so most islands are thick enough that it doesn't go through, but with narrow little islands it does. 

 

The difference is that HS is longer duration, shorter range and sees torpedoes (which radar doesn't).

well as i said at the very first time when i heard about the radar, if cruisers want to ruin our fun fighting other dd for caps... let they cap themselves, i will definitely refuse to cap, they did it so let they cap

If DDs are fighting each other for caps, I'm not gonna use radar -- no point when the DDs already see ;)

[bad_arcade_kitty]

If DDs are fighting each other for caps, I'm not gonna use radar -- no point when the DDs already see ;)

 

it usually looks as a giant cloud of smoke and dd torping each other in the smoke soup (:

[Wyngs_2015]

srsly, a bit of time passes, people adapt and you will see that radar encourages even more passive gameplay than now

 

Yup. And it will take a bit of time, but as time passes you're going to see more and more Kags and Shimas, less and less US DD's and their premium clones. As one poster said, its starting already. I might be wrong, but I predict that in the next few weeks as more people grind into those high tier IJN DD's and away from US, eventually you're going to be able to walk from island to island without getting your feet wet at times. At that point, radar and hydro isnt going to help in the least.. They can also go into RU DD's of course, but thats not a lot different from playing cruisers IMO. This is what happens when you lower a game to the lowest common denominator instead of growing a pair and encouraging people to develop the skills needed to succeed instead. Even so, and I dont give a flying rats rear end what Wargaming says (I seriously question whether whoever comes up with things like this even plays the game), CV's are still the bane of a DD drivers existence, not cruisers. Its the only thing that can completely shut us down, and a good CV driver can do exactly that, and often does. Cruiser never could and never will be able to do that, radar or no radar. As for me, I dont have much desire to play much anymore, in a nutshell because I dont like the way this all came about and why. I am however considering a ship build purpose made for killing radar boats, so strong is my dislike for it and what I feel it represents. Havent made up my mind yet, as I am now loathe to give WG a single dime because of it. But if I do and it works like I think it might, whoa boy lol......................

[bad_arcade_kitty]

well any cv or bb can sink radar botes

 

i'm actually considering to get t6 and t8 ijn cv... it's shameful to play cv but w/e

[MrDeaf]

 

Hydroacoustic sees through islands. It's ridiculously short range, so most islands are thick enough that it doesn't go through, but with narrow little islands it does. 

 

The difference is that HS is longer duration, shorter range and sees torpedoes (which radar doesn't).

If DDs are fighting each other for caps, I'm not gonna use radar -- no point when the DDs already see ;)

 

If one of them decides to dump smoke, that's when radar can payoff, assuming you position your ship right.

[Wyngs_2015]

messed up post sorry