The results are in: Kuma v. Phoenix

[steelreserv27]

I postponed this Kuma review until this weekend due a certain ship line being introduced...so here is the companion review to my Phoenix review from a couple of weeks ago.

 

​World of Warships - Ship Review: Kuma

 

 

In case you missed the Phoenix review, here it is:

 

World of Warships - Ship Review: Phoenix

 

 

I'll admit, it is close, but one ship in my mind has a slight edge.  Of course you are always entitled to contribute you're own observations!

 

cheers,

 

steel

 

 

 

 

 

[dmckay]

Ok I have watched part of the one on Phoenix.  Is this a real battle?  The part I saw no one fired back. Just curious. 

[steelreserv27]

Ok I have watched part of the one on Phoenix.  Is this a real battle?  The part I saw no one fired back. Just curious. 

 

Its a training room.  The second half of each video features live gameplay.

[CapnCappy]

I recently took the Kuma back out for a spin to see if maybe I could give it the edge over the Phoenix. I have to say both ships are excellent in their own way.

 

Kuma has good stealth and good torpedoes. The guns are faster and more accurate but getting them on target is harder (slower turrets/less range).

 

The Phoenix has the longest range of any T<=4 ship except IJN BBs and with DE/flags has a 16% chance for fires. Which is good because everybody can see her on the map.

 

I still give the edge to the Phoenix even though statistically it is the worst T4 CL. And that's because a good captain, staying at 12-13km, really cannot be hit by the enemy if he stays at range and dances around raining fire down upon the enemy.

[dmckay]

 

Its a training room.  The second half of each video features live gameplay.

 

OK.  Tks.  I took my Phoenix into battle after I watched part of the vid and using your suggestions I got 3 kills @ was #1 in damage and kills.  Did the long range circling thing and poured on the HE! Sank a BB using HE. Naturally my team lost. Odd how often you lose when you have a good game. Drives me nuts sometimes but it was a close match.

[steelreserv27]

 

OK.  Tks.  I took my Phoenix into battle after I watched part of the vid and using your suggestions I got 3 kills @ was #1 in damage and kills.  Did the long range circling thing and poured on the HE! Sank a BB using HE. Naturally my team lost. Odd how often you lose when you have a good game. Drives me nuts sometimes but it was a close match.

Awesome! Thats the beauty of the phoenix, the rate of fire doesnt drop during full turns.

 

Its very hard to carry in cruisers because they just don't erase people fast enough, at least not like BBs or DDs can.  All the time you spend shooting at people they can shoot back.  And if your team are a bunch of straight line sailors...well...  They do great with support damage, detering DDs, relocating on the map and sometimes capping.

 

Every match you have to hope that your BBs are competent at angling and shooting.  They knock off big chunks, you whittle them down.

[dmckay]

Awesome! Thats the beauty of the phoenix, the rate of fire doesnt drop during full turns.

 

Its very hard to carry in cruisers because they just don't erase people fast enough, at least not like BBs or DDs can.  All the time you spend shooting at people they can shoot back.  And if your team are a bunch of straight line sailors...well...  They do great with support damage, detering DDs, relocating on the map and sometimes capping.

 

Every match you have to hope that your BBs are competent at angling and shooting.  They knock off big chunks, you whittle them down.

 

Tks.  I have been playing Phoenix wrong.  I actually did what you said and it worked.  No one could hit me and I was pumping out the HE like a machine gun.  I have been getting in too close with her and getting killed too often.  I have had some good games in her but this was my best.  Very refreshing!  I hate to say it but we lost and dang if our team did not have a couple of BB's that just could not hit a thing. BB's can be tuff to get hits with at times and I understand.  Looked to me like they were new players in their spiffy new BB's.....happens...but I should have killed a couple more reds. Now I gonna watch your Kuma vid since I have her also and I have had some great games in her but am inconsistent. 

[Khafni]

Well balanced pair of reviews! Bravo Zulu! I think my Kuma has the advantage over the Phoenix in most situations - because of the torps. I do agree that the map in play is very important. I happened to get the Ocean map just yesterday and I flailed along in the open waters finding a miserable death. Totally out of my element and I didn't adapt well at all. C'est la guerre...

[steelreserv27]

Well balanced pair of reviews! Bravo Zulu! I think my Kuma has the advantage over the Phoenix in most situations - because of the torps. I do agree that the map in play is very important. I happened to get the Ocean map just yesterday and I flailed along in the open waters finding a miserable death. Totally out of my element and I didn't adapt well at all. C'est la guerre...

 

Thanks!  I posted this for you.  The kuma's 140's just don't seem to have the puncg of a phoenix, it is close though.

 

If you prefer a particular playstyle, this will heavily sway your opinion. I understand that of course.  These reviews are merely a template.  

[dmckay]

I have had some good torping fun in Kuma.....the ship that does not know if she is a big DD or a small cruiser.  A confused ship with a bi-polar disorder, but very potent with those 7k torps.  Ya got 2 ways to kill with her. I am not great at all but Kuma is a riot to play IMO.  Hell of a ship.  Gotta watch the Kuma vid tonight steel. I am OLD FART and need all the help I can get.

[steelreserv27]

I have had some good torping fun in Kuma.....the ship that does not know if she is a big DD or a small cruiser.  A confused ship with a bi-polar disorder, but very potent with those 7k torps.  Ya got 2 ways to kill with her. I am not great at all but Kuma is a riot to play IMO.  Hell of a ship.  Gotta watch the Kuma vid tonight steel. I am OLD FART and need all the help I can get.

Sorry for the late reply.  Work interferes with important stuff sometimes lol

 

Protect that citaldel on your torp runs. In the video that omaha could have caught me so I lucked out there.

[dmckay]

Sorry for the late reply.  Work interferes with important stuff sometimes lol

 

Protect that citaldel on your torp runs. In the video that omaha could have caught me so I lucked out there.

 

OK!  Just played Kuma. It is after 9pm where I live.  Won.  I torped a BB and took it to half health.  THEN I torped it again.  Killed it. I love Kuma.  Need tips however. I am so damn inconsistent. 

 

I will watch Kuma vid after work tomorrow.  Tired. I am now a bedtime dude by 10pm or earlier.  Sad.  Carry on mate.

[CapnCappy]

It's been a good couple of days in the Phoenix....

 

99k damage, 6 kills

 

113k damage, 5 kills