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Supertest: British Tier IX Cruiser Drake

6 min read

The Drake is where we start seeing big guns for the British cruisers. During 1939 and 1940, Winston Churchill asked for cruisers that would be able to take down heavy cruisers built under the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty. These ships were meant to carry 234 mm guns while having the armor to resist 203 mm shells. The designs saw quite a few variations with either 9 or 12 guns in triple or even quadruple turrets.

In the end, the designs were abandoned, partially due to the cost that such a ship would require.

The weird thing with Drake is that she is using older 113 mm gun turrets than the Albemarle.

u0rh9fa62or31.jpg

Modules
Hull
Engine
Gun Fire Control System
Main battery
Torpedoes

Drake (A)

Propulsion: 102 000 hp

Mk IX mod. 1

234 mm/50 Mk XII

533 mm Mk IXM

Drake (B)

Mk IX mod. 2

Characteristics

Stock ship

GeneralMain BatterySecondariesTorpedo TubesAir DefenseConsumables
TierIX
Health40 100 HP
Displacement15 500 tons
Main Armament
Maximum Firing Range14.450 km
234 mm/50 Mk XII3 x 3 234 mm
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range5.000 km
113 mm/45 Mk IV6 x 2 113 mm
Torpedo Armament
Maximum Firing Range10.000 km
533 mm QR Mk IV2 x 4 533 mm
Maximum speed33.3 kt
Turning Circle Radius760 m
Rudder Shift Time15.5 s
Surface Detectability12.24 km
Air Detectability8.11 km
Detectability After Firing Main Gus in Smoke7.6 km

3 x 3 234 mm/50 Mk XII
 Reloading Time15 s
180 Degree Turn Time18.0 s
Optimal firing angles at the front40°
Optimal firing angles at the rear35°
Sigma2.05 sigma
Maximum Dispersion130 m
Shells
Type of Projectile HE – 234 mm HE 6 CRH
Alpha Damage3 350 HP
Damage1 820 HP
Penetration capacity 38 mm
Explosion size1.12
Fire chance21 %
Projectile Speed881 m/s
Air Drag0.279
Projectile Mass172.4
Type of ProjectileAP – 234 mm AP 6 CRH
Alpha Damage5 550 HP
Chance to Cause Fire-0.5 %
Projectile Speed881 m/s
Air Drag0.279
Projectile Mass172.4
Projectile Krupp2 400
Projectile Detonator0.033 s
Detonator threshold39 mm

6 x 2 113 mm/45 Mk IV
Reloading Time5.0 s
Sigma1.00 sigma
Shells
Type of ProjectileHE – 113 mm HE Mk XVI
Alpha Damage1 600 HP
Damage410 HP
HE penetration18 mm
Explosion Size0.36
Chance to Cause Fire7 %
Projectile Speed746 m/s
Air Drag0.33
Projectile Mass25
2 x 4 533 mm QR Mk II
533 mm Mk IX**
Reloading Time96 s
Maximum Distance10.0 km
Optimal firing angles at the front40°
Optimal firing angles at the rear60°
Damage16 767
Speed62 kt
Surface Detectability1.3 km

6 x 2 113 mm/45 Mk IV
Sector range0.1 km – 5.8 km
Hit chance90 %
Sector’s damage33
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second116
Flak clouds number5
Flak cloud damage1 540
4 x 8 40 mm Vickers 2-pdr. Mk VIII
4 x 4 40 mm/39 QF Mk VII
Sector range0.1 km – 2.5 km
Hit chance90 %
Sector’s damage69
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second242
12 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Mk IV 
Sector range0.1 km – 2.0 km
Hit chance85 %
Sector’s damage27
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second95
Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Damage Control Party I
Work time: 5 s
Cooldown: 90 s
Repair Party I
Number of charges: 1
Work time: 20 s
Cooldown: 120 s
HP regeneration speed: 2% HP/s
Hydroacoustic Search I
Number of charges: 2
Work time: 180 s
Cooldown: 180 s
Torpedo detection range: 3.0 km
Ship detection range: 3.0 km
Spotting Aircraft I
Number of charges: 3
Work time: 100 s
Cooldown: 360 s
Bonus: +20% maximum firing range
Damage Control Party II
Work time: 5 s
Cooldown: 60 s
Repair Party II
Number of charges: 2
Work time: 20 s
Cooldown: 80 s
HP regeneration speed: 2% HP/s
Hydroacoustic Search II
Number of charges: 3
Work time: 180 s
Cooldown: 120 s
Torpedo detection range: 3.0 km
Ship detection range: 3.0 km
Spotting Aircraft II
Number of charges: 4
Work time: 100 s
Cooldown: 240 s
Bonus: +20% maximum firing range

Fully upgraded

GeneralMain BatterySecondariesTorpedo TubesAir DefenseConsumables
TierIX
Health46 800 HP
Displacement19 600 tons
Main Armament
Maximum Firing Range15.895 km
234 mm/50 Mk XII3 x 3 234 mm
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range5.000 km
113 mm/45 Mk IV6 x 2 113 mm
Torpedo Armament
Maximum Firing Range10.000 km
533 mm QR Mk IV2 x 4 533 mm
Maximum speed33.3 kt
Turning Circle Radius760 m
Rudder Shift Time11.0 s
Surface Detectability12.24 km
Air Detectability8.11 km
Detectability After Firing Main Gus in Smoke7.6 km

3 x 3 234 mm/50 Mk XII
 Reloading Time15 s
180 Degree Turn Time18.0 s
Optimal firing angles at the front40°
Optimal firing angles at the rear35°
Sigma2.05 sigma
Maximum Dispersion143 m
Shells
Type of Projectile HE – 234 mm HE 6 CRH
Alpha Damage3 350 HP
Damage1 820 HP
Penetration capacity 38 mm
Explosion size1.12
Fire chance21 %
Projectile Speed881 m/s
Air Drag0.279
Projectile Mass172.4
Type of ProjectileAP – 234 mm AP 6 CRH
Alpha Damage5 550 HP
Chance to Cause Fire-0.5 %
Projectile Speed881 m/s
Air Drag0.279
Projectile Mass172.4
Projectile Krupp2 400
Projectile Detonator0.033 s
Detonator threshold39 mm

6 x 2 113 mm/45 Mk IV
Reloading Time5.0 s
Sigma1.00 sigma
Shells
Type of ProjectileHE – 113 mm HE Mk XVI
Alpha Damage1 600 HP
Damage410 HP
HE penetration18 mm
Explosion Size0.36
Chance to Cause Fire7 %
Projectile Speed746 m/s
Air Drag0.33
Projectile Mass25
2 x 4 533 mm QR Mk II
533 mm Mk IX**
Reloading Time96 s
Maximum Distance10.0 km
Optimal firing angles at the front40°
Optimal firing angles at the rear60°
Damage16 767
Speed62 kt
Surface Detectability1.3 km

6 x 2 113 mm/45 Mk IV
Sector range0.1 km – 5.8 km
Hit chance90 %
Sector’s damage33
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second116
Flak clouds number5
Flak cloud damage1 540
4 x 2 40 mm STAAG
4 x 6 40 mm Bofors Mk VI
Sector range0.1 km – 3.5 km
Hit chance90 %
Sector’s damage67
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second235
12 x 2 20 mm Oerlikon Mk V 
Sector range0.1 km – 2.0 km
Hit chance85 %
Sector’s damage44
Sector’s damage frequency0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second154
Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Damage Control Party I
Work time: 5 s
Cooldown: 90 s
Repair Party I
Number of charges: 1
Work time: 20 s
Cooldown: 120 s
HP regeneration speed: 2% HP/s
Hydroacoustic Search I
Number of charges: 2
Work time: 180 s
Cooldown: 180 s
Torpedo detection range: 3.0 km
Ship detection range: 3.0 km
Spotting Aircraft I
Number of charges: 3
Work time: 100 s
Cooldown: 360 s
Bonus: +20% maximum firing range
Damage Control Party II
Work time: 5 s
Cooldown: 60 s
Repair Party II
Number of charges: 2
Work time: 20 s
Cooldown: 80 s
HP regeneration speed: 2% HP/s
Hydroacoustic Search II
Number of charges: 3
Work time: 180 s
Cooldown: 120 s
Torpedo detection range: 3.0 km
Ship detection range: 3.0 km
Spotting Aircraft II
Number of charges: 4
Work time: 100 s
Cooldown: 240 s
Bonus: +20% maximum firing range

The armor

Capture.JPG

The Drake is taking a big step up compared to the previous ships in terms of armor protection. Say goodbye to exposed citadels, here comes the spaced armor!

The bow section

bow1.JPG

The bow remains the classic tier IX cruiser bow with a 25 mm plating on it.

bow2

Sans titre

bow3

When it comes to the frontal protection of the middle section, the upper casemate is 21 mm thick. For the citadel’s athwartship and the casemates around it, the first part is 177 mm thick and the part deep below the waterline is 19 mm thick. As you can see, for a cruiser, it is very strong protection.

The middle section

mid1.JPG

The middle section is also well armored. While the upper belt is the classic 25 mm armor, the deck is 30 mm thick and the main belt is 177 mm thick. It is among the thickest main belt in the game for cruisers and yet, it’s not alone.

mid2.JPG

mid3.JPG

Behind the main belt, there is the citadel’s side armor which is 37 mm thick and as you can see it is quite narrow, especially below the turrets. If you ever have to shoot at this ship’s broadside, don’t aim for these parts.

mid4.JPG

Now… everything isn’t nice and shiny. While the vertical protection is quite amazing for a cruiser, the horizontal protection is disappointing with a simple 64 mm citadel deck. As you can imagine, it brings no real protection against AP bombs.

The stern section

stern1.JPG

The stern has the classic 25 mm armor except around the steering gears where there is an external 114 mm armor.

stern2.JPG

The protection of the steering gears is completed by a 64 mm armored deck.

stern3.JPG

stern4.JPG

stern5.JPG

The upper casemate is 21 mm thick and for the citadel’s athwartship, it’s the same as at the front. The first part is 177 mm thick and the lower part is 19 mm thick but deep below the waterline.

The superstructure

supers.JPG

The superstructure is 16 mm thick and is fairly big for a cruiser.

The turrets

turrets.JPG

The turrets are both well armored and terribly designed. The face is 229 mm thick but has no slope whatsoever so AP shells will have no issue to penetrate it. The sides are 127 mm thick, the back is 178 mm thick and finally, the roof is 120 mm thick.

When it comes to the barbette, it is 177 mm thick.

Personal opinion

The Drake looks like a very strong cruiser for this tier. Great firepower, good armor, good concealment and on top of that the British improved repair party. The only big black point is the fact that the firing angles are terrible but it isn’t the end of the world.

Also, these triple 234 mm gun turrets are somehow able to make a 180° turn in 18 seconds.

About Author

15,466 thoughts on “Supertest: British Tier IX Cruiser Drake

  1. “The turrets are both well armored and terribly designed. The face is 229mm thick but has no slope whatsoever so AP shells will have no issue to penetrate it.”

    Not necessarily a bad design. For most ships at long ranges, shells don’t fire in a flat trajectory, they fly downwards in an arc. A shell travelling downwards and hitting a slightly sloped turret is actually hitting a flatter surface. Whereas if it strikes the ‘flat’ face of these turrets it hits the face at a guaranteed angle.

    On the other hand, if the shell trajectory is perfectly flat that tends to suggest that the enemy is close enough to pen them regardless.

    The worst design is actually 10-20deg sloped turrets in the game. These are near flat against incoming shells for most situations.

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