Read this article to learn the history of the original ships. We hope you'll find this information interesting, our aim is to provide you with a detailed overview of every cruiser in the new branch!

Let's take a closer look at the newcomers!




Sloop Eritrea was developed by the Ansaldo company between 1932–1934 to serve in the Italian African colonies. By her concept she was close to the French aviso Bougainville, that had been commissioned shortly prior to her. To increase her operational range, engineers installed 650-horsepower Marelli electric engines, similar to those used on Balilla-class submarines, in addition to two FIAT diesel engines. The ship's equipment also included a hospital, workshop, and generator rooms for servicing two submarines, as the sloop was able to serve as a base for them. She also carried minesweeping equipment.

Eritrea was laid down on July 15, 1935; launched on September 20, 1936; and commissioned on June 28, 1937. Right after her commissioning, the ship sailed on various missions during the Spanish Civil War. At the end of the 1930s, she served as a flagship for the Italian forces in the Red Sea. At the beginning of 1941, due to the threat of an Allied invasion of Ethiopia, Eritrea sailed to Japan, camouflaged as a ship from a neutral country. In Japan, the sloop served as a support ship for Italian submarines, transporting special cargo between France and Japan. After Italy capitulated in September 1943, the ship was transferred to Colombo, where she was used by the Allies for training purposes. In October 1944, Eritrea returned to Italy, and in 1948 she was given to France as part of the reparations. In 1950, the sloop, renamed Francis Garnier, joined the French Navy. She served in Indochina as an escort ship, before being transferred to the Pacific Ocean. In 1966, ex-Eritrea was decomissioned and sent to the reserve at Papeete; in October of the same year, she was sunk to be used as a practice target.

Between 1939–1940, the Royal Italian Navy planned to build the second ship of this class, but the outbreak of World War II interfered with these plans.



At the beginning of the 20th century, the idea of a fast reconnaissance cruiser acting together with a fleet was popular within the naval commands of many countries. The armored-deck cruiser Quarto, built between 1909–1913, became the first ship of this type (called "esploratore" in Italian) in the Royal Italian Navy. She was the first in the Royal Italian Navy to receive Parsons steam turbines. This feature allowed her to reach speeds of up to 28 knots. Two cruisers of the Nino Bixio class built between 1911–1914 became the development of that class. They were larger than their predecessor and were distinguished by a more convenient artillery layout.

Nino Bixio was laid down at the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard on February 15, 1911; launched on December 30, 1911; and commissioned on May 5, 1914. During World War I, the cruiser, together with her sister ship Marsala, served in the fleet based at Brindisi, fighting off the raids of Austro-Hungarian ships and defending the Entente's transports that were supplying the Serbian army. After the war, both ships served in the Navy until the end of the 1920s, when they were sold for scrap, because of their highly depreciated power plants and the necessity to reduce the naval budget.



As a result of World War I, the majority of surviving ships from the defeated countries—Germany and Austria-Hungary—were divided between the victorious countries. German cruiser SMS Strassburg was turned over to the Royal Italian Navy in July 1920.

SMS Strassburg was laid down in April 1910 at the Imperial shipyards in Wilhelmshaven; launched on August 24, 1911; and commissioned on October 9, 1912. Having completed a voyage to South America, the cruiser joined the reconnaissance forces of the High Seas Fleet. During World War I, the ship took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, raid on Scarborough, and Battle of Moon Sound. After the war, Strassburg was turned over to Italy and renamed Taranto. During her refit at the beginning of the 1920s, the cruiser received a floating reconnaissance plane and new anti-aircraft guns. The interwar period saw Taranto serve in the Mediterranean. Between 1936–1937 she was re-equipped for colonial service: two boilers were removed, resulting in a drop of her maximum speed to 21 knots. In World War II, the cruiser saw limited use in minelaying and patrol service. In September 1943, after Italy and the Allies had signed a peace treaty, Taranto was scuttled at La Spezia to prevent her from falling into German hands. Between 1943–1944, the Germans made two attempts to salvage the ship in order to restore her, but both times the former cruiser was sunk by British bombers. After the war, the ship's hull was scrapped.



After World War I, the Royal Italian Navy's cruiser forces were in quite a deplorable state. Their core was made up of three scout cruisers (esploratori) from the Quatro and Nino Bixio classes, armed with 120 mm artillery, as well as two Austro-Hungarian cruisers (with 100 mm main batteries) and three German cruisers (with 152 mm main batteries) received as reparations. These spoils were heavily worn-out from their service in the war, and were in a deplorable technical state. That's why, when France—the main potential adversary of Italy in the Meditarrenean—laid down three modern light cruisers of the Duguay-Trouin class between 1922–1923, and began the construction of 12 contre-torpillieur of the Jaguar class, the Italians had to come up with an adequate response. As a result, the construction of four large modern esploratore commenced in 1928 (later, they were re-classified as light cruisers). All the ships were named after Italian condottieres from the Middle Ages, which is why the series itself was named Condottieri. The ships were commissioned between 1931–1932. They were almost unarmored—their outstanding speed of 37 knots was intended to be their best defense. Their powerful armament, including four twin mounts with 152 mm guns, would have allowed them to easily oppose French cruisers and destroyers. All four cruisers were lost in World War II.

Alberto di Giussano was the first to be laid down on March 29, 1928, at the Ansaldo shipyards in Genoa. She was launched on April 27, 1930, and commissioned on February 5, 1931. Before World War II, she served in the Mediterranean and participated in the Spanish Civil War supporting the Francoists. At the beginning of the war, she took part in the Battle of Punta Stilo, then she was engaged in minelaying and convoy escorting. Between December 11–13, 1941, the cruiser and her sister ship Alberico da Barbiano were transporting a cargo of gasoline to North Africa. On the night of December 13, the Italian ships were intercepted by British destroyers. A short but fierce battle broke out in which both Italian cruisers were sunk by artillery and torpedo fire.



Having built four Giussano-class cruisers, the Royal Italian Navy ordered two more ships with a slightly improved design that guaranteed better seaworthiness (Condottieri B or Cadorna-class). However, their armor remained absolutely inadequate, and any potential battles against the latest French heavy cruisers would have brought deplorable results. That's why the program of 1930–1931 provided for the construction of two light cruisers with considerably reinforced armor, while preserving the maximum speed. This led to an increase in the displacement and dimensions of the new ships. The weight of their armor grew more than twofold—from 575 to 1,350 tons. Two cruisers of the new Condottieri C class were laid down in 1931–1933 at shipyards in Genoa and Trieste, and were commissioned in 1935.

Raimondo Montecuccoli was laid down at the Ansaldo shipyards in Genoa on October 1, 1931; launched on August 2, 1934; and commissioned on June 30, 1935. In the interwar period, the ship took part in the Spanish Civil War as a station ship and escorted the Italian expeditionary corps. Between 1937–1938, the cruiser participated in a voyage to the Far East and the Pacific Ocean. At the beginning of World War II, Montecuccoli was engaged in the Battle of Punta Stilo, performing minelaying and escort duties. On June 15, 1942, the ship took part in the Battle of Pantelleria island. The cruiser mostly spent the end of 1942 and the entirety of 1943 at Italian naval bases, due to fuel shortages and Allied air supremacy. After Italy capitulated in September 1943, Montecuccoli, together with the entire fleet, sailed to Malta under constant assault by German aviation on their journey. Throughout the remainder of the war, the cruiser served as a fast transport. After the war, the ship remained in the Royal Italian Navy and between 1950–1964, she was used for training. On May 31, 1964, Raimondo Montecuccoli was decommissioned, and was eventually sold for scrap in 1972.



After World War I, the Italian cruiser forces, apart from scouts and obsolete armored-deck ships, consisted of four armored cruisers of the Garibaldi and Pisa classes, built at the beginning of the 20th century. These ships weren't adequate for the task at hand, because they were too slow. That's why, after the Washington Naval Treaty defined the limits for cruisers (total displacement of 10,000 tons and primary armament caliber not higher than 203 mm), Italian engineers started designing their own "Washington" cruiser. The ship was to be capable of high speeds. Armor wasn’t the priority, but nevertheless, a 70 mm-thick armored belt was implemented into the design. In 1924, the project was ready, and in 1925, two ships of the new class were laid down—Trento and Trieste. The cruisers were commissioned during the winter of 1928–1929. Both of them were lost during the course of World War II.

Trento was laid down on February 8, 1925, at the Orlando shipyard in Livorno. The cruiser was launched on October 4, 1927, and commissioned on April 3, 1929. She immediately became the flagship of the newly-formed Cruiser Division. In 1932, Trento sailed on a cruise to the Far East. At the beginning of World War II, the ship participated in the Battle of Punta Stilo as the flagship of the 3rd Division of the 2nd Squadron. On November 12, 1940, during the air raid on Taranto, the cruiser was hit by a British air bomb, which luckily didn't explode. On November 27, 1940, Trento participated in the Battle of Cape Teulada; and on March 28, 1941—in the Battle of Cape Matapan. On November 8 of that year, the cruiser was engaged in the failed defense of the Duisburg convoy. On March 22, 1942, the ship participated in the Battle of Sirt. In all these battles, Trento didn't inflict any damage to enemy ships, nor did she suffer any damage herself. On June 15, 1942, while escorting a convoy to North Africa, the cruiser was hit by a torpedo from a British aircraft and then finished off by the British submarine, P-35.



In parallel with Italy, France was building its own "Washington" cruisers with 203 mm guns. The Royal Italian Navy required a more balanced ship to oppose them, whose protection wouldn't be sacrificed in favor of speed. The shipbuilding program of 1928–1929 provided for construction of four cruisers of the new Zara class. The new ships received a raised forecastle as opposed to the flush-deck design of Trento, which reduced their seaworthiness, but allowed for weight economy and the addition of several hundred tons of armor. Also, a new lightweight powerplant was installed, similar to that used on light cruisers of the Condottieri A and B classes. It allowed for an increase in armor belt thickness to 150 mm. The ships were laid down in early 1929–1931 and entered service between 1931–1932. All of them were lost in World War II.

Zara was laid down on July 4, 1929, at the Odero-Terni-Orlando shipyard in Muggiano, near La Spezia; launched on April 27, 1930; and commissioned October 20, 1931. In September 1932, the cruiser became the flagship of the 1st Squadron and served in this role for six years. In April 1939, Zara led the support operation for the Italian landings at the Albanian city of Durrës. On July 9, 1940, after Italy had entered World War II, the ship participated in the Battle of Punta Stilo as the 1st Division's flagship. At the end of that engagement, the cruiser was bombed by their own Air Force, but fortunately didn’t take any damage. On March 28, during the Battle of Cape Matapan, Zara and her sister ship Fiume were searching for cruiser Pola, which had been hit by a torpedo and lost propulsion. In the darkness, they stumbled on the main British forces and were fired upon at point blank range by battleships Warspite, Valiant, and Barham. The cruiser was finished off by the British destroyer HMS Jervis during the night of March 29.



Once the civil war was over, Spain was looking for ways to reinforce its navy. Good relations with Italy allowed the Spanish to work directly with the suppliers of the Italian Royal Navy—the Ansaldo company. One of the heavy cruiser variants they proposed in March 1940 (Crucero acorazado, anteproyecto preliminar IX-203) was basically a larger version of the Zara class, but with three 203 mm triple turrets.



A hypothetical further development of the heavy cruiser project for the Spanish Navy, combining the features of Anteproyecto preliminar VIII-203 (four 203 mm mounts) and Anteproyecto preliminar XII-152 (four triple artillery mounts).



A hypothetical development of the Italian heavy cruisers which pushed towards a further increase in the number of 203 mm main battery guns.

Welcome aboard Ark Royal, Captain!

Ark Royal is one of the most famous aircraft carriers in the history of the Royal Navy. The pilots of her air groups achieved the first British aerial victory of World War II, and contributed greatly to destroying battleship Bismarck. Ark Royal hunted German raider ships and submarines, and participated in the Norwegian campaign as well as the defense of Malta. The ship was awarded five battle honors for just 18 months of combat. Now you have a chance to take command of the renowned aircraft carrier in World of Warships!

The building of a large aircraft carrier was planned by the British Admiralty as far back as 1923. However, due to the economic and political situation, it was postponed until the mid-1930s. Ark Royal was laid down at Cammell Laird shipyard in Birkenhead on September 16, 1935. At that time, the task of designing the ship was carried out by the Director of Naval Construction, Sir Arthur Johns. On April 13, 1937, the aircraft carrier was launched.

The money invested into the project was not spent in vain. During the sea trials held in May 1938, the ship's speed exceeded the expectations of the design, reaching 31.2 knots.

Ark Royal inherited her name from the first purpose-built seaplane tender in the Royal Navy. The name itself dates back to the 16th century, when it was borne by the flagship of Admiral Charles Howard.

After World War II broke out, Ark Royal joined an anti-submarine "hunter-killer" group. In this role, she hunted German submarines together with a flotilla of destroyers in the Atlantic, west of the British Isles. On September 14, 1939, the aircraft carrier launched her dive bombers in response to a distress call received from a dry-cargo ship, Fanad Head. But in the meantime, she was attacked by submarine U-39. Ark Royal managed to dodge the torpedoes, and the escort destroyers sank the submarine with the aid of depth charges. It was the first time the Royal Navy was victorious in opposing a submarine in World War II. However, they failed to protect the cargo ship from a U-30 attack. Moreover, two aircraft crashed during an unsuccessful bombing run, and their pilots were captured.

After aircraft carrier Courageous had been sunk by submarines on September 17, 1939, it was decided to withdraw this type of ship from “hunter-killer” groups. However, Ark Royal would continue to launch aircraft carrying depth charges when on patrol in case of underwater threats, including during her last voyage.

On September 26, 1939, pilots from Ark Royal became the first British forces to down a German plane in World War II. While defending their task force from three German Dornier Do 18 "flying boat" scout aircraft, they managed to destroy one of them. In their turn, the Germans declared that they had sunk the aircraft carrier, which turned out to be a premature claim.

Between October–December 1939, Ark Royal participated in hunting the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. The aircraft carrier, sailing with battlecruiser Renown, didn't manage to arrive at the Battle of the River Plate in time, but the British attempted to mislead the Germans by spreading false information about the imminent arrival of the two ships. The day after the battle, officers from Graf Spee spotted a ship on the horizon that was mistakenly identified as battlecruiser Renown. Those factors are believed to have played a key role in the Germans’ decision to scuttle their own ship in the harbor of Montevideo.

Between April–June 1940, Ark Royal took part in the battle for Norway. The carrier's aircraft were covering the Allied forces from German aviation and providing them with close air support. On June 13, 1940, a few days after aircraft carrier Glorious had been sunk by German battleships, Ark Royal tried to strike back. But during her attack on battleship Scharnhorst, she lost eight Skua strike dive bombers in vain.

After the surrender of Norway, Ark Royal joined Force H—a task force of the Royal Navy based in Gibraltar and reporting directly to the Admiralty. She debuted in that theater of operations with the attack on the French Navy at Mers-El-Kébir. Subsequently, Ark Royal participated in the escort of convoys to the besieged island of Malta and in one battle—the Battle of Cape Spartivento. The aircraft carrier repeatedly attacked Genoa during operation Grog, which was aimed at bombarding the city and its port from the sea. She was regularly targeted by Italian aircraft herself but didn't receive any damage.

In May 1941, Ark Royal played a crucial role in the hunt for battleship Bismarck, which had broken through into the Atlantic to carry out raids. On May 26, the carrier's aircraft detected the German battleship, but the main forces of the Home Fleet still were too far away to stop the raider from reaching French ports. Ark Royal was ordered to intercept Bismarck with a torpedo attack.

The first approach was unsuccessful—Ark Royal’s Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers mistakenly attacked British cruiser Sheffield, which was also in pursuit of the German battleship. Luckily, not a single torpedo hit the target. The torpedo bombers returned to the carrier for re-armament and refueling, before being launched again to attack Bismarck just before sunset. The obsolete "Stringbags" (the nickname was given to them because of the numerous bracing wires they had between the wings) turned out to be surprisingly effective, managing to score three torpedo hits. One of them brought the battleship face to face with her doom. The torpedo jammed the rudder, costing Bismarck her speed and maneuverability. She was sunk in the course of the battle with the British squadron.

Following those events, Ark Royal returned to the Mediterranean Sea to escort the supply convoys to Malta. On November 13, 1941, the aircraft carrier was hit by a torpedo launched from German submarine U-81. The resulting flooding extinguished her boilers, which in turn stopped her steam turbine generators. The ship didn't have any standby diesel generators, so all of her pumps stopped and damage control became impossible. Tugboats tried to tow the aircraft carrier to Gibraltar, but Ark Royal sank 30 miles out from the port. All out of almost 1,500 people aboard survived, except for one sailor who was killed by the torpedo explosion. British shipbuilders learned from the destruction of Ark Royal and introduced the required improvement into the designs of the Illustrious- and Implacable-class aircraft carriers that were under construction at the time.


Attack aircraft: Blackburn Skua strike dive bombers


Torpedo bombers: Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers/scouts/bombers
Bombers: Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers/scouts/bombers

• Air Supremacy
  
• Improved Engine Boost
  
• Improved Engines
  
• Aircraft Armor
  
• Survivability Expert

• Air Supremacy
  
• Improved Engine Boost
  
• Improved Engines
  
• Aircraft Armor
  
• Survivability Expert
  
• Sight Stabilization
  
• Demolition Expert
  
• Adrenaline Rush

• Air Groups Modification 1
  
• Aircraft Engines Modification 1
  
• Attack Aircraft Modification 1
  
• Bombers Modification 2

VI Ark Royal was the first British aircraft carrier on which the hangar and flight deck formed integral parts of the hull, instead of being parts of the superstructures. The carrier was instrumental in the destruction of German battleship Bismarck, participated in the Norwegian campaign, and escorted British convoys to Malta. In World of Warships, she is the first Premium Tier VI aircraft carrier to enter the game. The ship boasts a large air group and has a fast aircraft-restoration time.

• Larger squadrons and attack flights compared with other Tier VI aircraft carriers. She can have as many as nine bombers, attack aircraft, or torpedo bombers airborne and attacking a target, with flights of three aircraft each.
  
• Fast aircraft-restoration time: 48 seconds for attack aircraft, 56 seconds for bombers, and 59 seconds for torpedo bombers.
  
• In terms of their individual characteristics, Ark Royal's aircraft are somewhat inferior to the aircraft used by other Tier VI carriers.
  
• The permanent camouflage provides extra credits per battle, as well as 50% more XP, and –10% to the cost of the ship's post-battle service.

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.






[/h1]Unsinkable Sam: Ark Royal –15%[/h1]

• VI Ark Royal
  
• Commander with 10 skill points 
  
• Port Slot
  
• Unsinkable Sam permanent camouflage for VI Ark Royal
  
• Historical permanent camouflage for VI Ark Royal
  
• 2,500,000
  
• 80×Equal Speed Charlie London
  
• 80×India Bravo Terrathree
  
• 80×Zulu
  
• 80×Papa Papa
  
• 80×Zulu Hotel
  
• Combat mission: x3 XP for 25 battles
  
• Commemorative flag

Bundles are available for purchase until Fri. 18 Oct. 07:00 CEST (UTC+2)

• Shock! Could IX Kronshtadt be a new submarine in World of Warships?
  
• VII Fiji's fuming maneuvers!
  
• The true power of IX Dmitri Donskoi!

• VIII Vladivostok in pursuit of VIII Richelieu!
  
• IX Benham’s torpedo delivery service!
  
• VII Sinop’s incredible luck!

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Destroyer Yūdachi was one of ten Shiratsuyu-class ships built for the Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1930s.

As with the other ships of her class, she took part in some of the most important naval battles of the Pacific Theater. Yūdachi was eventually destroyed in the Battle of Guadalcanal, but now you can take command of this famous destroyer in World of Warships!


The Shiratsuyu-class destroyers were built between 1933–1937. Their project was a modified version of the Hatsuharu-class ships—with these original ships having a number of drawbacks that the Shiratsuyu class improved upon. The new ships had better stability and quadruple-tube torpedo mounts which enhanced torpedo armament.

Yūdachi was the fourth ship in the series. Her hull was laid down on October 16, 1934, at the shipyard of the Sasebo Naval Arsenal. Following Japanese tradition, the ship received a poetic name after a weather phenomenon—Evening Squall. Yūdachi was commissioned on January 7, 1937.

Yūdachi never participated in the historically significant attack on Pearl Harbor. As the war broke out, she was situated at the Mako navy base on the Pescadores Islands to the west of Taiwan, together with her three sister ships Murasame, Harusame, and Samidare. However, the ships of Destroyer Squadron 2 weren't destined to be out of action: they were engaged in the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and after January 1942—in battles for the Dutch East Indies.

The first significant battle in which Yūdachi took part was the Battle of the Java Sea on February 27, 1942. The Japanese formation, under the command of Admiral Takeo Takagi, crushed the Allied squadron without suffering any significant losses.

Yūdachi spent the spring of 1942 in battles for the Philippine Islands, and in June she took a small part in the Battle of Midway. After that, she was planned to be used for raider operations in the Indian Ocean, but the course of the war made the ship return to the Pacific.

On August 30, Yūdachi joined the Tokyo Express, a group of ships delivering reinforcements to the Japanese troops on Guadalcanal during night-time hours. Under the cover of darkness, the fast cruisers and destroyers were safe from the U.S. aviation attacks. In one such operation, Yūdachi scored her first victories: she contributed to the destruction of the old U.S. destroyers—Gregory and Little—that had tried to prevent the Japanese forces from bombing the Henderson Field airfield.

In October 1942, Yūdachi took part in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, and during the night of November 12–13 she set sail on her last voyage. In the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal—which resembled a bar brawl with the lights turned off, according to the participants of the U.S. side—Yūdachi and another Japanese destroyer, Amatsukaze, separated from the main Japanese forces and stole up to the U.S. convoy from the rear. Amatsukaze successfully torpedoed and sunk destroyer Barton and attacked light cruiser Juneau. Yūdachi wasn't so lucky: amidst the chaos of the night battle, she mistook U.S. destroyer Sterett for a friendly ship. As a result, the U.S. ship managed to make several accurate hits, leaving Yūdachi dead in the water. Most of the heavily damaged ship's crew was evacuated by Samidare. The destroyer tried to give her old ally a coup de grace with torpedoes, but missed. Yūdachi was eventually sunk by U.S. heavy cruiser Portland.


In the game, the ship is featured in her state as of early 1937 when she entered service.

Main Battery
Five 127 mm/50 Type 3 guns in two twin and one single turrets. Similar guns were mounted on the majority of Japanese destroyers, from Fubuki to Shimakaze.


Torpedo Armament
Two quadruple-tube 610 mm torpedo launchers. Type 93 Japanese oxygen torpedoes enabled the Imperial Japanese Navy to attack Allied ships out of the blue from distances that had been deemed unreachable for torpedo armament up until then.


Anti-Aircraft Armament
Two single-barrel 40 mm HI Type 91 AA guns. This is how the British QF 2-pounder guns, widely known as "pom-poms", were designated in the Imperial Japanese Navy. About half a thousand of these guns were purchased in the late 1920s–early 1930s.

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Torpedo Armament Expertise
  
• Concealment Expert

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Torpedo Armament Expertise
  
• Concealment Expert
  
• Survivability Expert
  
• Superintendent
  
• Adrenaline Rush or Torpedo Acceleration
  
• Preventive Maintenance

• Main Armaments Modification 1
  
• Steering Gears Modification 1
  
• Aiming Systems Modification 1
  
• Propulsion Modification 2

In World of Warships, VII Yūdachi is a typical Japanese destroyer with powerful torpedo armament and decent concealment. Attacking with torpedoes from medium- and long- range distances is the best tactic for her. Her long-range torpedoes make it possible to attack radar-equipped targets without the risk of being detected, and the Torpedo Reload Booster consumable in a separate slot enables her to fire 16 torpedoes within a period of a few seconds.

However, Yūdachi is inferior to enemy ships in battles that require extensive maneuvering at close and medium ranges due to her low turret traverse speed and slow rate of fire. Her small HP pool also means that she isn’t well-suited to engaging in firefights with enemy destroyers, and particularly cruisers.

• Torpedo armament with eight torpedoes per salvo and a range of 15 km—pretty decent for her tier—but a high torpedo detectability range. Having the Torpedo Reload Booster consumable in a separate slot from Smoke Generator enables her to set a smoke screen and fire 16 torpedoes from within it at her enemies (two salvoes of eight torpedoes, with just an 8 second gap between salvoes).
  
• Good concealment for her type and tier.
  
• Five main battery guns with precise and powerful HE shells, although they are not as rapid-firing as the guns of destroyers of other nations.

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.








POI!~

Don't miss this perfect opportunity to replenish your Clan's Treasury and clash for Coal, Steel, and other rewards.



In contrast to Clan Battles, Clan Brawls take place throughout the course of a single day, with only victories being counted.

• Clan Brawl 4: October 5—for Tier X ships

• ASIA 13:00 — 18:00 CEST
  
• CIS 17:00 — 22:00 CEST
  
• EU 18:00 — 23:00 CEST
  
• NA 01:00 — 06:00 CEST

Please note: you won't be able to change the prime time once it has been selected! Unlike in Clan Battles, a Clan's place in the Brawl Rating is determined within the region of the selected prime time.

• Any Clan can participate in a Clan Brawl.
  
• Battles are held in a 3 vs. 3 format.
  
• Battle duration: 15 minutes.
  
• There is a limit of one destroyer, one cruiser, and one battleship per team.
  
• Any number of teams from a single Clan can fight in a Brawl if the composition of the teams meets the listed conditions.
  
• Only victories are counted for the Rating.
  
• Since only victories are counted and defeats aren't taken into account, there’s no option to select Alpha or Bravo Ratings in the Clan Brawl.
  
• Victories earned in the Clan Brawl aren’t counted towards the requirements to obtain Clan Battle emblems.
  
• If two teams share the same number of victories, the higher position in the Rating will be given to the Clan that first gained their last victory.

• Victory: 2,500 base XP and 300,000 credits (without modifiers applied).
  
• Defeat: 250 base XP and 150,000 credits (without modifiers applied).
  
• Draw: both teams earn an amount of XP and credits equal to that received for a lost battle.

To prevent unsporting conduct in Clan Battles, if a battle lasts less than 4.5 minutes, neither team receives experience nor credits for that battle. In the Clan Brawls of Update 0.8.8, this restriction will be set to 3 minutes.

• In the Clan Brawl of September 21, players will be able to receive up to 2,500,000 credits; 100,000 Elite Commander XP; and 3,500 Coal!
  
• In the Clan Brawl of October 5, players will be able to receive up to 2,500,000 credits; 3,500 Coal; and 350 Steel!

* Each subsequent position between 5–50 brings 250 Coal less.

Clans which rank in the Top 1,000; Top 100; Top 10; or are named the Champion Clan in the selected prime time will be awarded special achievements. In such cases, all Clan members who have played at least one battle during the Clan Brawl will be awarded these achievements.

Battles of the third and fourth Clan Brawls will be held on maps of a reduced size. This will add greater dynamics to battles in their particular formats, where teams have a small number of players.

Both Clan Brawls will take place on the following maps: Hotspot, Mountain Range, Shatter, and Warrior's Path—Domination mode; and Two Brothers—Epicenter mode.

We wish you the best of luck in the Clan Brawls! See you in battle!

Captains!

Update 0.8.9 introduces the Italian arc and our Halloween-themed event. In this episode of Developer Diaries, we'll tell you the story of what went into creating the new ship branch and its gameplay features. We'll also lift the veil on a new "scary" game mode.

What are the new mechanics of the Italian cruisers? What is the Exhaust Smoke Generator? What are the peculiarities of SAP shells? And how can you get more rewards in the Raid for the Filth?

Find out the answers to these questions in the new episode of Developer Diaries!

Captains!

The new episode of How it Works is for those taking their first steps on the path to conquering the seas of World of Warships. In just 170 seconds, we'll tell you about all the basics of the game.

Are you a veteran of the game? Show this video to your rookie friends and fight for victory together in a Division!

Need to know how to steer a ship? How take a lead on a target? How to survive longer and win more often?

Watch the new episode of How it Works to learn the answers to those and many other questions!
https://youtu.be/2edhDQ7F3CI

This time, we have an action-packed season of a short duration, with Ranked Battles unfolding in Domination mode on Tier VIII ships. If you missed the previous seasons of Ranked Sprint and want to know more about it, our article is designed to answer your questions.



What makes a Ranked Sprint different from regular seasons of Ranked Battles? An easier competition format and reduced duration. The Sprint lasts for 10 days only, and contains fewer ranks—half of them being irrevocable. It also takes fewer Stars to climb to the top ranks. Participation in the Ranked Sprint brings a lavish amount of signal flags; 500,000 credits—and 10,000 Coal for the Armory as a reward for attaining Rank 1.
Starts: Wed. 02 Oct. 11:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Ends: Mon. 14 Oct. 10:30 CEST (UTC+2)

• All players with access to Ranked Battles in their Service Record are eligible for participation in Ranked Sprints. Beginners in World of Warships will have to play 130 battles in any of the available modes in order to gain access to them.
  
• Only Tier VIII ships are allowed.
  
• Battles are fought in a 7 vs. 7 format. Team lineups are mirrored in terms of ship types.
  
• Only one aircraft carrier per team is allowed.
  
• By winning battles, players earn the Stars needed to climb the ranking ladder. For the majority of ranks, a defeat means a lost Star.
  
• The player with the most base XP in a team doesn't lose a Star upon their team’s defeat.
  
• The number of ranks is 10, which is less than in a regular season.
  
• All players start battles at Rank 10.
  
• Players receive a bonus star for each new rank attained.
  
• Ranks 10, 9, 8, 5, and 3 are irrevocable. Players can't lose stars at Ranks 10 or 9.
  
• This season, all ranks are combined into a single league.
  
• Ranked Sprint achievements aren’t inherited from previous Ranked Battle seasons, and aren’t transferred to those that follow.
  
• Stars earned in Ranked Sprints are not counted as the Stars required to be awarded Ranked Battle emblems.

• Divisions are allowed in Ranked Sprints.
  
• The maximum number of players in a Division is two.
  
• A Division can enter battle only if the opposing team also has a Division.
  
• Each team can have a maximum of three Divisions.

• Rank 1 is the highest achievable rank.
  
• Players who attain Rank 1 can no longer participate in further battles of the current season.

Battles will be fought in Domination mode on the following maps: Greece, Hotspot, Sea of Fortune, and Shards—Domination mode.








See you on the high seas, Captains!

World of Warships is the largest virtual shipyard in the world.

The quality of the work done by our artists improves each year, and the requirements for the accuracy of the models they create grow respectively. Unfortunately, the in-game camera doesn't allow you to see all the details and beauty. In the Dry Dock show, you'll be able to see the refined beauty of our in-game models and duly appreciate the immaculate details of the various objects on their decks.

Today, we're focusing on a Tier X ship from the branch of German battleships. Großer Kurfürst is a hypothetical project of a Kriegsmarine battleship, and one of the possible development variants of the Project H battleships that were designed in 1941. Take a look at the German battleship from an unusual angle in the latest episode of Dry Dock!


Today, we're focusing on a Premium Tier VIII ship from the American aircraft carrier branch, a Yorktown-class strike aircraft carrier—Enterprise. This is the most decorated American ship of World War II, and not without cause—she took part in the majority of battles against the Japanese fleet in the Pacific Ocean. Take a look at the legendary ship from an unusual angle in the latest episode of Dry Dock!

It wasn't unusual for animals to act as ships' mascots and endure the hardships of naval service together with their crews.

But very few can boast of such an impressive service record and luck as Unsinkable Sam. This black and white feline successfully survived the sinking of three ships: German battleship Bismarck, British destroyer Cossack, and aircraft carrier Ark Royal. Let's go back to that good old "Head Over Keels" episode in which we explored his story.
https://youtu.be/idKSwn5UiIs
VIII Bismarck, VIII Cossack, and VI Ark Royal got two camouflages each: one historical, demonstrating the ships' exteriors during the time when Sam "served" onboard; the other depicting the legendary feline's portrait on a ship's side.

The camouflage patterns share the same features:

• –3% to detectability range by sea
  
• +4% to dispersion of shells fired by the enemy attacking your ship
  
• −10% to the cost of a ship's post-battle service
  
• +50% XP earned per battle.

It’s possible to obtain these camouflages from Unsinkable Sam containers, along with ships. You can also obtain them for completing a chain of combat missions or by purchasing them together with VI Ark Royal and VIII Cossack in the Premium Shop.








Unsinkable Sam is such a cool cat that he’s been given the honor of ushering in the first Premium Tier VI aircraft carrier, VI Ark Royal—a ship of no less acclaim than Sam himself!

Drop into the Premium Shop for some special bundles that include VI Ark Royal and VIII Cossack. Each of the ships comes with a commemorative flag, various game items, and two new permanent camouflage patterns. One of them displays the exteriors of the ships at the times when Unsinkable Sam was onboard them, while the other proudly displays a portrait of the mascot himself. You can also obtain a large bundle that includes VI Ark Royal and VIII Cossack at a bargain price, the researchable juggernaut VIII Bismarck, two permanent camouflage patterns for each of the ships, and a lavish amount of game items.
Bundles are available for purchase until Fri. 18 Oct. 07:00 CEST (UTC+2)

• VI Ark Royal,  VIII Bismarck, VIII Cossack‌
  
• 3×Commander with 10 skill points
  
• 3×Port slots
  
• 3,500,000 credits
  
• 50×Damage Control Party II
  
• 50×Hydroacoustic Search II
  
• 50×Smoke Generator II
  
• 50×Fighter II
  
• 50×Spotting Aircraft II
  
• 50×Repair Party II
  
• 50×Engine Boost II
  
• 50×India Bravo Terrathree
  
• 50×Papa Papa
  
• 50×Zulu
  
• 50×Zulu Hotel
  
• 50×Equal Speed Charlie London
  
• Unsinkable Sam permanent camouflage for VI Ark Royal, VIII Bismarck and VIII Cossaсk
  
• Historical permanent camouflage for VI Ark Royal, VIII Bismarck and VIII Cossaсk
  
• 3×Combat missions: x3 XP for 25 battles
  
• 2×Commemorative flags

VI Ark Royal was the first British aircraft carrier on which the hangars and flight deck were integral parts of the hull, instead of an additions or parts of the superstructure. The carrier was instrumental in the destruction of the German juggernaut, Bismarck; participated in the Norwegian campaign; and escorted British convoys bound for Malta. In World of Warships, Ark Royal has been recreated as the first Premium Tier VI aircraft carrier. The ship boasts a large air group with a fast aircraft restoration time.

• Larger squadrons and attack flights compared with other Tier VI carriers. She can have as many as nine bombers, attack aircraft or torpedo bombers airborne and attacking a target, with strike groups of three aircraft each
  
• Fast aircraft-restoration time: 48 seconds for attack aircraft, 56 seconds for bombers, and 59 seconds for torpedo bombers
  
• In terms of their individual characteristics, Ark Royal's aircraft are somewhat inferior to aircraft used by other Tier VI carriers
  
• She earns more credits per battle, and has a permanent camouflage that adds a 50% XP bonus per battle and reduces the cost of your ship's post-battle service by 10%

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.

VIII Bismarck stands as one of the most famous warships of Germany. During her only operation, Bismarck sank the British battlecruiser, Hood, only to perish some time later as the result of several attacks mounted by overwhelming Royal Navy forces. In World of Warships, Bismarck is placed at Tier VIII. The ship comes with all modules fully researched.

• Good durability and armor protection—a defining feature of German battleships
  
• This ship wields guns of a smaller caliber (380 mm) compared to those of other same-tier battleships, but her main battery has a faster reload time
  
• Noteworthy secondary battery complement with a 7.5 km standard range
  
• The Hydroacoustic Search consumable—am atypical feature for battleships—with a maximum acquisition range of 5 km for ships and 3.5 km for torpedoes

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.

VIII Cossack is one of the famous Tribal-class destroyers—an artillery-focused ship carrying a significant number of main guns, but only armed with a single torpedo launcher. She is remarkable for being able to deliver a powerful salvo and for having a wide variety of consumables to select from. She also has quite good speed and boasts excellent maneuverability. As is typical of British ships, Cossack has short-lived smoke screens that reload pretty fast, and is equipped with the Hydroacoustic Search consumable that helps her to effectively detect enemy torpedoes. Cossack favors dynamic encounters and always being on the attacking end—she excels in mid- and short-range fights.

• Eight 120 mm guns: reload time—5 seconds; firing range—11.9 km
  
• Smoke screens typical of the U.K. nation: the setting time is just 10 seconds and dispersion time—40 seconds. However, the enhanced version of this consumable has a reload time of just 70 seconds, allowing this destroyer to set smoke screens more often than its counterparts of other nations
  
• She possesses another feature that is typical of British ships: increased speed dynamics during acceleration
  
• In addition to the Smoke Generator consumable, the ship has Engine Boost and Hydroacoustic Search placed in different slots
  
• The ship comes with four torpedoes in her launcher but they can be fired independently and have a reload time of only 66 seconds
  
• She earns more credits per battle, and a has a permanent camouflage that brings a 50% XP bonus per battle and reduces the cost of the ship's post-battle service by 10%

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.