Armor Piercing and You - Now Tested!

[UrPeaceKeeper]

Hey everyone, while watching one of atsf's brilliant videos, I came to the realization that he was using AP on the Atlanta to achieve citadels at close ranges on certain ships.  I wondered to myself if this could be applied to USN DD's?  Well... turns out you can, starting at the Nicholas with the 5"/38 cals utilize AP with devastating effect.

 

Here is the test:

 

How many of you guys are using AP when cruisers get close to your smoke cloud?  I know I'm going to start!

[CapnCappy]

Works on BBs too... aim for their superstructure <6km. Better than shooting 50 shells for 2000 damage and 1 fire.

[sushimaster]

Nice looking cross hair you got there.

[Quazzaz]

I always switch to AP if cruisers give me broadside <6km. 

[UrPeaceKeeper]

Works on BBs too... aim for their superstructure <6km. Better than shooting 50 shells for 2000 damage and 1 fire.

 

Really?  Guess I'll have to give it a try as I had never attempted this before.  I mean I did, in patches gone long ago, when AP didn't have the current mechanics it has now (and was the only way to do damage really), but I haven't recently.

 

Nice looking cross hair you got there.

 

Tic Tac for Eye of Sauron by Hooterez in Aslain's Modpack! ;)

 

I always switch to AP if cruisers give me broadside <6km. 

 

Certainly effective and why I'd never given it much thought until recently is surprisingly mind baffling.  Usually I'm looking for this type of advantage in my game play and only occasionally find such a thing.

[CapnCappy]

You're not going to get cits on BBs but you'll do pen damage, which is better than hitting for 0 damage with HE. This is particularly important for higher tier US DDs as our pew pew guns don't do crap to BBs. They don't light fires and they don't do damage.

[centarina]

I've killed atlanta  with sims using AP on the side from smoke at 5km.  multiple cits later, it was in gurgle city.  I've also done something similar to myoko, even though I couldn't quite finish that one.

[HazeGrayUnderway]

I use AP on my DDs if the range and target facing is right.  A habit I picked up with Atlanta.

 

Unlike most DDs, Atlanta lacks good torpedoes to safely engage outside of Suicidal Range.

 

Unlike every other Cruiser, Atlanta lacks hard hitting main guns.  On top of that, lacks the range of every Tier VI+ Cruiser.

 

Because of this, I was looking for any means to squeeze out more damage.  I experimented with Atlanta AP if some Cruiser wanders in close range of her.  If they show sides, Atlanta will rip them apart.

 

So when I started playing more of USN and later RU DDs, I transferred the practice to there.  USN DDs with their ROF can do a number.  RU DDs with their ranges also.  This is really pronounced in the low tiers because many of those Cruisers have pitiful protection.  Just think of these poorly protected Tier IV-V Cruisers alone.  The situation is perfect for high ROF guns to sport AP if the situation is right.

[SweetRollThief]

I don't own Atlanta but always assumed it has same guns as the high tier USN DD? And yes I agree with what others are saying, switching to AP at 6 km broadside cruisers. AP superstructure on BB should work at any range really.

[UrPeaceKeeper]

I don't own Atlanta but always assumed it has same guns as the high tier USN DD? And yes I agree with what others are saying, switching to AP at 6 km broadside cruisers. AP superstructure on BB should work at any range really.

 

The Atlanta guns (the 5"/38) are the same as all USN DD's from the Nicholas' second hull onward and they all shoot the same AP round.  The mounts are the same as what the Gearing has (and all the Fast BB's have for their dual purpose guns).  I tried the AP on the superstructure in my Benson vs a New Mexico in a battle the other day and I was a little less than impressed with the damage values at near max range.  Probably need to get closer to put some umpfh behind it.  Definitely seems that at maxish range the best course of action is to stick to HE and then as they get closer attempt to use AP for bigger numbers.

[Aduial]

You're not going to get cits on BBs but you'll do pen damage, which is better than hitting for 0 damage with HE. This is particularly important for higher tier US DDs as our pew pew guns don't do crap to BBs. They don't light fires and they don't do damage.

 

I find that the lower caliber HE shells only do damage if they are hitting the superstructure. If you aim for the side, you will get literally zero damage. 

[Landing_Skipper]

I discovered the usefulness of USN DD AP by accident. Japanese cruisers - yes. Same with German cruisers. USN cruisers - yes except Cleveland.  Russian cruisers - Murmansk & Kirov & Molotov yes, Budyonny not so much. 6-7 km seems to be about max and you need a nice, flat broadside. As soon as they turn at an angle, switch back to HE. 

[HMCS_Devilfish]

I used to constantly switch between HE and AP and always looked at the Details at end of game to see what did the most damage although the damage may equil out many a time with number of shell hits , the fires HE gives is by far the deal breaker

Angle armour negates AP and so does range, I now only use AP at close range broadside