Supertest: British Tier X Battleship Thunderer

Let’s wrap up the analysis on the upcoming new ships for the update 0.8.5. From April fool to actual addition to the game, here comes the Thunderer that will come to the game as an alternative tier X for the British battleships line like Slava for the Russian battleship line. (AprilWhiteMouse, I blame you for this ship!)

The Thunderer has the same origin as the Conqueror since they are technically sister-ships. Both ships are a fictional modernized version of the L2 design of battlecruisers from 1920.

Compared to the Conqueror’s commonly used 4 triple 419 mm guns turret setup, the Thunderer carries 4 twin 457 mm gun turrets. She also presents an enhanced anti-air armament.
However, unlike the Conqueror, her repair party has a short cooldown and only regenerates 0.6% of the maximum HP per second.
Also, her dispersion is similar to the one of the Vanguard which will compensate for her low number of guns.

Characteristics

GeneralMain BatterySecondariesAir DefenseConsumables

Tier	X
Health	82 900 HP
Main Armament
Maximum Firing Range	24.250 km
457 mm/45 Mk II	4 x 2 457 mm
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range	6.000 km
133 mm/50 Mk I	8 x 2 133 mm
Maximum speed	29.5 kt
Turning Circle Radius	820 m
Rudder Shift Time	10.4 s
Surface Detectability	15.66 km
Air Detectability	12.53 km
Detectability After Firing Main Gus in Smoke	16.69 km

4 × 2 457 mm/45 Mk II
Reloading Time	30.0 s
180 Degree Turn Time	36.0 s
Optimal front firing angle	30°
Optimal rear firing angle	39°
Sigma	2.00 sigma
Maximum Dispersion	301 m
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE
Alpha Damage	8 200 HP
Damage	7 730 HP
HE penetration	113 mm
Explosion Size	3.25
Chance to Cause Fire	63 %
Projectile Speed	757 m/s
Air Drag	0.29
Projectile Mass	1814
Projectile Krupp	1
Type of Projectile	AP
Alpha Damage	14 900 HP
Chance to Cause Fire	-0.5 %
Projectile Speed	820 m/s
Air Drag	0.29
Projectile Mass	1506
Projectile Krupp	2 485
Projectile Detonator	0.033 s

8 x 2 133 mm/50 Mk I
Reloading Time	6.67 s
Sigma	1.00 sigma
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE
Alpha Damage	1 900 HP
Damage	550 HP
HE penetration	21 mm
Explosion Size	0.46
Chance to Cause Fire	8 %
Projectile Speed	792 m/s
Air Drag	0.321
Projectile Mass	36.3
Projectile Krupp	1

8 x 2 133 mm/50 Mk I
Sector range	3.5 km – 6.0 km
Hit chance	75 %
Sector’s damage	450
Sector’s damage frequency	3.71 s
Sector’s damage per second	121
Flak clouds number	4
Flak cloud damage	1610
8 x 1 40 mm Bofors Mk VII 12 x 2 40 mm STAAG 7 x 6 40 mm Bofors Mk VI
Sector range	1.5 km – 3.5 km
Hit chance	75 %
Sector’s damage	220
Sector’s damage frequency	0.27 s
Sector’s damage per second	815
Flak clouds number	14
Flak cloud damage	980
4 x 2 20 mm Oerlikon Mk V
Sector range	0.1 km – 1.5 km
Hit chance	70 %
Sector’s damage	130
Sector’s damage frequency	0.94 s
Sector’s damage per second	138
Sector reinforcement
Sector reinforcement bonus	+25%
Sector reinforcement time	12 s
Sector reinforcement shift time	12 s

Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
Work time: 15 s Cooldown: 120 s	Number of charges: 3 Work time: 28 s Cooldown: 90 s Regeneration speed: 0.6 % HP/second	Number of charges: 3 Work time: 40 s Cooldown: 120 s
Work time: 15 s Cooldown: 80 s	Number of charges: 4 Work time: 28 s Cooldown: 60 s Regeneration speed: 0.6 % HP/second	Number of charges: 4 Work time: 40 s Cooldown: 80 s

The armor

The Thunderer’s armor is identical to the one of the test version of the Conqueror. For those who followed, you guessed it right, her citadel is exposed!

The bow section

The bow is covered with the classic 32 mm plating except for a small extended belt below the waterline with the upper part being 267 mm and the lower part is 229 mm thick.

There is an armored deck inside it with the first part being 87 mm thick and then, it thickens to 152 mm. This will block the AP shells that will penetrate the bow from reaching the lower part of the citadel.

When it comes to to the frontal protection of the middle section, the upper part of the citadel’s athwartship and the casemate just above it are protected by 403 mm of armor.

The lower part of the citadel’s athwartship and the casemates around it are 76 mm thick but that’s the old Conqueror citadel and you know how impossible it is to reach that part.

Finally, on top of this is, there is a 28 mm section.

The middle section

The protection is the same as the Conqueror with a 32 mm deck and side armor. The main belt is 406 mm thick, HOWEVER, it has a massive issue. Except at the extremities, it is completely flat. No inclination whatsoever. This reduces a lot the effective armor that enemy AP shells will face, making it much easier to penetrate. I will say it straight, avoid giving broadside with that kind of main belt.
The lower part of the main belt which is a spaced armor is 279 mm thick.

For the lower part of the citadel that is in spaced armor configuration, it is 45 mm thick.

The horizontal protection is pretty good with a 152 mm main armor deck and then the citadel’s roof that is 32 mm thick. It should stop AP bombs in general unless they have a good impact angle allowing them to plunge through. Now, the 2 decks are still fairly close so it might not be as good of a protection as on the Montana. One thing for sure, the Thunderer (and Conqueror) are not immune to citadels from AP bombs anymore.

The stern section

The stern is covered with 32 mm of armor except for the small underwater extended belt with 242 mm of armor of the upper part and 229 mm for the lower part.

The armored deck in the stern is 127 mm thick for the biggest portion and then thickens to 152 mm. Just like for the bow, it will protect completely the lower part of the citadel.

The upper part of the citadel’s athwartship is 403 mm thick and the lower part is 76 mm thick.

Finally, at the top, there is a small casemate of 28 mm.

The superstructure

The superstructure is the classic 19 mm armor except for the 228 mm thick conning tower at the front and the 127 and 51 mm thick conning tower at the back.

The turrets

Ah… the big British turrets with their completely flat face, such a great idea (said no one ever).

The flat face is 456 mm thick, the sides are 305 mm thick and then 229 mm thick, the back is 305 mm thick and finally, the roof is 254 mm thick and then 229 mm thick.

For the barbette, the top is 127 mm thick. the sides are 416 mm thick and then it goes down to 51 mm.

Personal opinion

In general, I simply hate the Conqueror. the whole design of this ship is something that I just can’t bear. Now the Thunderer… if her guns get the Warspite/Vanguard dispersion, that she has better agility and that she is less of a zombie, I might actually enjoy her.

I just think that the defensive AA is a bit over the top though.

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