Dunkerque: The magic just doesn't wear off (brief Dunkerque review)

[goldeagle1123]

 

So I made a post yesterday, after playing a couple battles in the Dunkerque talking about how much I liked it. But in the back of mind, I was thinking to myself: "I had a few good games in her and I like how she plays, but the beginners luck will probably wear off soon enough". But boy, I could not have been more wrong. I've played 10 games in the Dunkerque since I bought her roughly 24 hours ago, and all of them, have just been spectacular. This ship is seriously the ship of my dreams, by far my favorite tier 6, and potentially my favorite ship in the game.

 

Here are my stats with her after 10 games.

 

I don't normally do review-ish type posts, but I'll go over the ship's pros and cons, and a quick gameplay summary for potential buyers and those just interested alike.

 

Dunkerque has a moderate skill floor, but a very high skill ceiling. To do well in her, you must do the thing that most people will scorn you for: sitting bow on at long to medium range. Her shell velocity and accuracy, combined with her poor armor means her best play style is long range dueling, with you will be impervious for most of, because you will be sitting there, bow on. How be very aware of your surroundings, DDs will see you as a sitting duck, and CAs will try their best to burn you to death. I recommend bringing all mods that increase damage control. Dunkerque has a lot of speed, but I must warn you, do not use it to just charge enemy ships. Many same tier BBs will simply over power you in a close range slugfest. Range, angling, and finesse are the key to this ship. This next part is crucial. How to deal with ships that have 15 inch or higher caliber guns. Ships with guns the caliber of 15 inches and higher will over match your bow armor, enabling them you citadel you frontally. When these heavy hitters show up, grab the phone, call engineering, and tell them to fire up the boilers. You're going to immediately turn tail and run. At full speed, angle your ship so that you can still get your guns to bear on them, while still running away. If they chase you, load HE, and don't let up until they turn away in desperation. Your outstanding HE performance is usually more than enough to deter enemy battleships from tailing you, though you can usually outrun them regardless.

 

Here is a general pros/cons list for the ship.

 

Pros:

-Frontally mounted turrets mean you can go bow on while sacrificing no firepower, at tier 6, where most BBs must expose lots of broadside to do the same.

-Frontal armor is sufficient enough to deflect shells up to 14 inches in caliber.

-29.5kts of speed makes her the faster BB at tier 6. You can simply walk away from any unfavorable engagements.

-Second best range at tier 6, second only to the Fuso.

-Excellent HE performance, 35% chance of fire on hit.

-Excellent AP penetration.

-Excellent AP and HE shell velocity.

-Only tier 6 that can choose between spotter plane and a fighter.

 

Cons:

-Poor belt armor means lots of penetrations from cruisers and BBs firing AP. Do not show broadside any more than is absolutely necessary.

-Poor secondary firing angles.

-"meh" anti-aircraft suite.

-Rudder shift is less than impressive.

-Large detection radius.

-Largest BB at tier 6. Combined with her poor rudder shift, torpedoes are hard to dodge.

-Main armament mounted in two quadruple turrets, losing one means half of your firepower is gone.

-Low alpha damage of only 9700 per shell on a citadel hit.

-Lowest potential DPM of the tier 6 BBs.

 

Overall she has the potential to carry a team in top tier and even some mid-tier games, and manages to remain relevant in bottom tier games, as long as you avoid the top tier BBs. It just all depends your placement and situational awareness.

 

You are more than welcome to ask me any questions regarding the ship, good luck with her, and remember that no matter what happens to you in her, c'est la vie.

[Midnitewolf]

One feature you didn't mention is that since your typically always bow on, enemy ship tend to ignore you in favor of shooting at traditional ship trying to bring all their guns to bear and giving them broadsides to shoot at.  I have only played her 5 or 6 matches so far but almost no one ever shoots at me as long as I have a few friendlies around anyway.  I have an impressive 80% survival rate and a 11 K/D in her so far and averaging 72k damage a battle.  I am sure I am only having a run of good luck with her but all I can say far is Wow.

[goldeagle1123]

One feature you didn't mention is that since your typically always bow on, enemy ship tend to ignore you in favor of shooting at traditional ship trying to bring all their guns to bear and giving them broadsides to shoot at.  I have only played her 5 or 6 matches so far but almost no one ever shoots at me as long as I have a few friendlies around anyway.  I have an impressive 80% survival rate and a 11 K/D in her so far and averaging 72k damage a battle.  I am sure I am only having a run of good luck with her but all I can say far is Wow.

 

Yes I've certainly noticed this, and those that do try and harass me with AP while I'm bow on quickly find themselves either loading HE out of desperation or finding a different target to shoot at.

[Baron_Von_Krieg]

If you don't mind me asking OP ; what package did you get the Dunkerque with ? I myself went with the Ultimate bundle , since I needed just about everything that came with it . In fact , that was what convinced me to get her in the first place , since all the reviews I saw were negative . 

[goldeagle1123]

If you don't mind me asking OP ; what package did you get the Dunkerque with ? I myself went with the Ultimate bundle , since I needed just about everything that came with it . In fact , that was what convinced me to get her in the first place , since all the reviews I saw were negative .

 

Seeing as how a week prior to yesterday I bought "Scharnhorst fully loaded" I went with just the ship. I considered buying "Dunkerque fully loaded" but I just saw little use for the doubloons it came with and I didn't even want half of the equipment it came with. Economically speaking though, the Dunkerque bundles are really excellent buys if you actually want the stuff in the bundles.

[garfield001]

One feature you didn't mention is that since your typically always bow on, enemy ship tend to ignore you in favor of shooting at traditional ship trying to bring all their guns to bear and giving them broadsides to shoot at.

 

Dependng on the match, I've been ignored, because I wasn't showing my side, or I have been focused down for no reason. I've had a Mikhail Kutuzov shoot AP at me for 5 minutes (not sure why he didn't switch to HE... he did no damage...). I think because he read a review saying the ship was bad and he wanted a piece of it. Anyway, I've had cruisers and BBs shoot at me instead of easier and closer targets. Maybe people think a Dunkerque is an easy kill? I wasn't taking a lot of damage, but when you have 5 ships shooting at you, you kinda end up going down... But it also allowed me to get Dreadnought and Fireproof achievements.

Also, CVs seem to love the Dunkerque. It's a plane magnet.

 

All this said though, I love the ship. I think it's very unique for a BB. All guns in the front is awesome. It's fast. When you have to turn to fall back, there's a real rush because you know you can't really take hits.

[dseehafer]

The refrain of this song completely and totally sums up just how I feel about the Dunkerque.

 

"I hate myself for loving you!! Cant break free from the things that you do! I wanna walk but I run back to you, that's why I hate myself for loving you!!"

 

 

[goldeagle1123]

The refrain of this song completely and totally sums up just how I feel about the Dunkerque.

 

"I hate myself for loving you!! Cant break free from the things that you do! I wanna walk but I run back to you, that's why I hate myself for loving you!!"

 

 

What I feel like I'm doing every time I sit bow on in Dunkerque, impervious to damage.

[Killjoy1941]

The refrain of this song completely and totally sums up just how I feel about the Dunkerque.

 

"I hate myself for loving you!! Cant break free from the things that you do! I wanna walk but I run back to you, that's why I hate myself for loving you!!"

 

 

 

Funny you should link Joan, because this is Dunky's theme:

[SeanPwnery]

One thing I'm finding particularly frustrating with my "Little Baguette of the Sea" is ... Clevelands are her kryptonite. I swear the decks are coated in pitch and love to burn. Fires make sort work of the Dunkie.

 

Another habit I'm trying to break is when I'm bow on, not to slow down too much otherwise - as you've pointed out - it's damn near impossible not to eat torps. 

[goldeagle1123]

One thing I'm finding particularly frustrating with my "Little Baguette of the Sea" is ... Clevelands are her kryptonite. I swear the decks are coated in pitch and love to burn. Fires make sort work of the Dunkie.

 

Another habit I'm trying to break is when I'm bow on, not to slow down too much otherwise - as you've pointed out - it's damn near impossible not to eat torps. 

 

I always position myself so that there's always something (or somebody) to spot DDs for me. Must just be bad luck with the Clevelands though, most tend to stop setting me on fire when they 8 high velocity 13 inch shells flying at them every 28 seconds. Plus her pen makes it surprisingly easy to citadel Clevelands even when they're angled.

 

 

P.S. She's more like the "Big baguette of the Sea" seeing as how she's the largest ship a tier 6.

[SeanPwnery]

P.S. She's more like the "Big baguette of the Sea" seeing as how she's the largest ship a tier 6.

 

Oh I know... it's just my play on words to help me forget how big her hips are. 

[Misniso]

One thing I'm finding particularly frustrating with my "Little Baguette of the Sea" is ... Clevelands are her kryptonite. I swear the decks are coated in pitch and love to burn. Fires make sort work of the Dunkie.

 

Another habit I'm trying to break is when I'm bow on, not to slow down too much otherwise - as you've pointed out - it's damn near impossible not to eat torps. 

 

Clevelands are easy to deal with 1v1.  Fire HE from 10km while weaving back and forth.  At 10km, they have a tough time hitting you already.  And after losing like 12k of hp and suffering fires from 2 salvos, it generally makes their precarious aim even worse as they stop holding the line and start running for it.

 

 

[gurudennis]

It's the Durquening!

[Royeaux]

The Dunkerque really does epitomize "Battlecruiser".  Nothing more satisfying then chasing down an enemy and finishing them off with all your guns.

[RevolutionBlues]

Blink twice if you're being held against your will..

[gurudennis]

Blink twice if you're being held against your will..

 

[K1ra_Yoshikage]

Was on the fence but bite the bullet since it is something like 22€.

First my PC surrendered when I played her (ok my graphiccard needed some cleaning). But then things start well. I only did 5 games but won 3 (was in the top 5 4 games) with 69k average damage. She is suprisingly mobile, fast with a good ruddershift. Within 13km the guns are good. You can get yourself fast into position or disengage. Rather a ship for those who play BB regular and well. Nothing for a beginner. One thumb up for being a unique ship (yeah the Izumo has her guns to the front too but turns like a dead whale) and being powerful if you can control the battle, one down for all the bad stuff about her (armor, secondaries, AA).

[Arbinshire]

Love my Dunkerque.

 

I absolutely hate BBs. Scharnhorst didn't change my opinion. Dunkerque did.

 

Most fun BB I've ever played by far. And not too bad for a ship with no armor.

 

[Preditorian]

I play it like a support ship most of the time, it so far it has rewarded me with good games every time, even during a loss. Dont know why, but I disagree with all those reviewers who claimed it to be that bad. Its like chopsticks, if you dont know how to use them, you will have a very frustrating time and not form a good opinion of them, but once you get it down, you can work those things like magic.

[Arbinshire]

I play it like a support ship most of the time, it so far it has rewarded me with good games every time, even during a loss. Dont know why, but I disagree with all those reviewers who claimed it to be that bad. Its like chopsticks, if you dont know how to use them, you will have a very frustrating time and not form a good opinion of them, but once you get it down, you can work those things like magic.

 

Pretty much. If you treat it like a normal battleship you're gonna have a bad time.

[Whiskey_Brawler_2015]

had one more game last night in this gaelic chariot my games has been mixed bags. I am getting medals and kills and top 3 in team in this ship, but my teams been collapsing way too early leaving me to dance with 6 to 8 enemy ships. Boy this ship can dance and dish out heavy damage especially to dds and cls closing in

[Sink_Stuff]

We practically deleted one last night. They burn very nicely. 

[LuckyStarFan]

The Dunkerque really does epitomize "Battlecruiser".  Nothing more satisfying then chasing down an enemy and finishing them off with all your guns.

 

 

This is definitely true.  A Bayern turned and started running and I just sailed up on the side his turrets weren't facing.  It was funny watching him struggle to traverse them all the way around while I chewed him up.  Bet it's about the same for Warspite.

 

Another upside of Dunkerque is she makes a great torpedo if worst comes to worst.  Being very fast and relatively armored frontally you can often get a desperation ram off when grossly outnumbered.

[Midnitewolf]

Love my Dunkerque.

 

I absolutely hate BBs. Scharnhorst didn't change my opinion. Dunkerque did.

 

Most fun BB I've ever played by far. And not too bad for a ship with no armor.

 

 

Yep surprisingly the Dunkerque is performing much more solidly for me than the Scharnhorst.  If my guns on the Scharnhorst were as accurate and reliable at short ranges as my guns on the Dunkerque, then I might change my tune but the Scharnhorst is meh at best while the Dunkerque is just fun to play.