Supertest: German Tier VIII Aircraft Carrier August Von Parseval
8 min readThe August Parseval is based on the Graf Zeppelin-class of aircraft carriers from the Kriegsmarine.
Initially, I thought that it was based on the Flugzeugträger B but this ship was meant to be completed the same way as her sister ship. This means that she was meant to carry a heavy anti-surface battery with a mix of dual-purpose 105 mm guns and casemate mounted 150 mm guns. However, even with her great displacement, the ship was only able to carry a bit more than 40 planes.
All work on the ship ended in September 1939 and the hull, completed up to the armored deck was scrapped starting from February 1940.
In World of Warships, the August Parseval is, however, presenting what would have possibly been the specifications of the second pair of ships initially planned for the Graf Zeppelin-class (Flugzeugträger C and D). It is, indeed, likely that these ships would have received a reduced gun battery but with more dual-purpose batteries.
Just like the rest of the German carriers, we have no idea about the penetration capacity of the AP bombs and rockets and the secondaries have the standard dispersion formula.
As of now, the German Aircraft carriers concept offers the following peculiarities:
Airplanes have comparatively high cruise speed, but their HP pool is below average;
Attack aircraft use armor-piercing rockets. These rockets can deal high damage by hitting an enemy ship’s citadel, but they allow a familiar counterplay: when they hit at an acute angle, they can ricochet or simply not penetrate the armor. Rockets fired at broadsided destroyers –with their thin armor– will result in overpenetrations that deal 10% of the maximum damage. Armor-piercing rockets can also ricochet against destroyers’ end armor when the ship is bow-in to the planes. Therefore, a player’s reaction against such rockets should be similar to the actions one would take against armor-piercing shells.
Bombers use armor-piercing bombs. Unlike the Japanese bombers, German ones dive immediately, without the prior altitude gain. Their drop zone is shaped like an elongated ellipse, and aiming it during an attack may be difficult. These bombs will be most effective against slower opponents.
The final shape of torpedo bomber’s launching cone is similar to that of Japanese and American torpedo bombers. The torpedoes have a range of 6 km.
As usual, I will cover both the stock and the fully upgraded versions of the ship. Remember, everything that you will see here is, of course, a work in progress.
Hull | Engine | Torpedo bomber | Dive Bomber | Attack Aircraft |
August Von Parseval (A) |
Propulsion: 153 000 HP |  Fi 167 |  Fi 167 |  Me Bf109T |
August Von Parseval (B) | Me Bf110C | Me Bf110C | Bf 109G |
A Hull
| Tier | VIII |
| Health | 50 000 HP |
| Displacement | 25 600 tons |
| Aircraft on deck | |
| Attack Aircrafts | 12 |
| Torpedo Bombers | 12 |
| Dive Bombers | 14 |
| Secondary Armament | |
| Maximum Firing Range | 7.00 km |
| 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | 6 x 2 105 mm |
| Anti Air Defense | |
| 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | 6 x 2 105 mm |
| 37 mm Flak LM/42 | 22 x 2 37 mm |
| Maximum speed | 31.8 knots |
| Turning Circle Radius | 1 140 m |
| Rudder Shift Time | 18.3 s |
| Surface Detectability | 13.5 km |
| Air Detectability | 11.16 km |
Attack aircraft – Me Bf109T | |
| Tier | VII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 270 |
| Cruise speed | 153 knots |
| Maximum speed | 193 knots |
| Engine boost time | 5 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 10 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 2 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 8 |
| Rocket type | Spernggranate |
| Rocket caliber | 83 mm |
| Rockets per plane | 4 |
| Maximum rocket damage | 2 150 |
| Projectile speed | 500 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.35 |
| Projectile mass | 18 kg |
| Projectile Krupp | 2 600 |
| Projectile detonator | 0.022 s |
| Detonator threshold | 25 mm |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 69 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 12 |
Slot 1 | Slot 1 |
Engine Cooling  Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter  Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km |
Torpedo bomber – Fi 167 | |
| Tier | VII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 500 |
| Cruise speed | 124 knots |
| Maximum speed | 164 knots |
| Engine boost time | 20 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 40 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 2 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 8 |
| Torpedo type | F5D |
| Torpedoes per plane | 1 |
| Maximum torpedo damage | 8 350 |
| Maximum torpedo range | 6.0 km |
| Torpedo speed | 25 knots |
| Torpedo arming distance | 570 m |
| Flooding chance | 71% |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 86 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 12 |
Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
Engine Cooling Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km | Repair  Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s |
Dive bomber – Fi 167 | |
| Tier | VII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 350 |
| Cruise speed | 143 knots |
| Maximum speed | 183 knots |
| Engine boost time | 20 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 40 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 3 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 9 |
| Bomb type | SC 500 |
| Bomb caliber | 406 mm |
| Bomb per plane | 1 |
| Maximum bomb damage | 5 200 |
| Projectile speed | 460 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.35 |
| Projectile mass | 440 kg |
| Projectile Krupp | 2 750 |
| Projectile detonator | 0.025 s |
| Detonator Threshold | 20 mm |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 66 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 14 |
Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
Engine Cooling Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km | Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s |
| 6 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | |
| Maximum Firing Range | 7.000 km |
| Reloading Time | 3.35 s |
| Sigma | 1.00 sigma |
| Shells | |
| Type of Projectile | HE – 105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz. |
| Alpha Damage | 1 200 HP |
| Damage | 330 HP |
| HE penetration | 26 mm |
| Explosion Size | 0.31 |
| Chance to Cause Fire | 5 % |
| Projectile Speed | 900 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.33 |
| Projectile Mass | 15.1 kg |
| 6 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | |
| Sector range | 0.1 km – 5.2 km |
| Hit chance | 100 % |
| Sector’s damage | 32 |
| Sector’s damage frequency | 0.29 s |
| Sector’s damage per second | 112 |
| Flak clouds number | 6 |
| Flak cloud damage | 1 400 |
| 22 x 2 37 mm Flak LM/42 | |
| Sector range | 0.1 km – 3.5 km |
| Hit chance | 100 % |
| Sector’s damage | 111 |
| Sector’s damage frequency | 0.29 s |
| Sector’s damage per second | 389 |
Slot 1 | Slot 2 |
Damage Control Party  Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 90 s | Fighter  Number of charges: 4 Work time: 600 s Cooldown: 40 s Patrol Radius: 3.0 km Planes in a squadron: 4 |
B Hull
| Tier | VIII |
| Health | 51 400 HP |
| Displacement | 29 600 tons |
| Aircraft on deck | |
| Attack Aircrafts | 14 |
| Torpedo Bombers | 14 |
| Dive Bombers | 14 |
| Secondary Armament | |
| Maximum Firing Range | 7.00 km |
| 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | 6 x 2 105 mm |
| Anti Air Defense | |
| 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | 6 x 2 105 mm |
| 55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 | 22 x 1 55 mm |
| Maximum speed | 31.8 knots |
| Turning Circle Radius | 1 140 m |
| Rudder Shift Time | 13.0 s |
| Surface Detectability | 13.5 km |
| Air Detectability | 11.16 km |
| Attack aircraft – Me Bf109G | |
| Tier | VIII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 320 |
| Cruise speed | 162 knots |
| Maximum speed | 202 knots |
| Engine boost time | 5 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 10 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 3 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 9 |
| Rocket type | Spernggranate |
| Rocket caliber | 83 mm |
| Rockets per plane | 4 |
| Maximum rocket damage | 2 150 |
| Projectile speed | 500 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.35 |
| Projectile mass | 18 kg |
| Projectile Krupp | 2 600 |
| Projectile detonator | 0.022 s |
| Detonator threshold | 25 mm |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 66 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 14 |
Slot 1 | Slot 1 |
Engine Cooling Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km |
| Torpedo bomber – Me Bf110C | |
| Tier | VIII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 570 |
| Cruise speed | 149 knots |
| Maximum speed | 189 knots |
| Engine boost time | 20 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 40 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 3 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 9 |
| Torpedo type | F5D |
| Torpedoes per plane | 1 |
| Maximum torpedo damage | 8 350 |
| Maximum torpedo range | 6.0 km |
| Torpedo speed | 25 knots |
| Torpedo arming distance | 604 m |
| Flooding chance | 71% |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 80 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 14 |
Slot 1 | Slot 1 |
Engine Cooling Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km |
| Dive bomber – Me Bf110C | |
| Tier | VIII |
| Hit points per plane | 1 410 |
| Cruise speed | 149 knots |
| Maximum speed | 189 knots |
| Engine boost time | 20 s |
| Engine boost reload time | 40 s |
| Size of attacking flight | 3 |
| Aircraft per squadron | 9 |
| Bomb type | SC 500 |
| Bomb caliber | 406 mm |
| Bomb per plane | 1 |
| Maximum bomb damage | 6 100 |
| Projectile speed | 470 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.35 |
| Projectile mass | 500 kg |
| Projectile Krupp | 2 750 |
| Projectile detonator | 0.03 s |
| Detonator Threshold | 30 mm |
| Detectability range | 10.0 km |
| Aircraft restoration time | 76 s |
| Aircraft on deck | 14 |
Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 |
Engine Cooling Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 10 s Cooldown: 80 s | Patrol fighter Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 10 s Aircraft per squadron: 5 Patrol radius: 3.0 km | Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s |
| 6 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | |
| Maximum Firing Range | 7.000 km |
| Reloading Time | 3.35 s |
| Sigma | 1.00 sigma |
| Shells | |
| Type of Projectile | HE – 105 mm Spr.Gr. Kz. |
| Alpha Damage | 1 200 HP |
| Damage | 330 HP |
| HE penetration | 26 mm |
| Explosion Size | 0.31 |
| Chance to Cause Fire | 5 % |
| Projectile Speed | 900 m/s |
| Air Drag | 0.33 |
| Projectile Mass | 15.1 kg |
| 6 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38 | |
| Sector range | 0.1 km – 5.2 km |
| Hit chance | 100 % |
| Sector’s damage | 32 |
| Sector’s damage frequency | 0.29 s |
| Sector’s damage per second | 112 |
| Flak clouds number | 6 |
| Flak cloud damage | 1 400 |
| 22 x 1 55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 | |
| Sector range | 0.1 km – 4.0 km |
| Hit chance | 100 % |
| Sector’s damage | 176 |
| Sector’s damage frequency | 0.29 s |
| Sector’s damage per second | 616 |
Slot 1 | Slot 2 |
Damage Control Party Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 90 s | Fighter Number of charges: 4 Work time: 600 s Cooldown: 40 s Patrol Radius: 3.0 km Planes in a squadron: 4 |
The armor
Compared to the Graf Zeppelin, the Parseval has a slightly weaker armor. She doesn’t get the 21 mm plating that gives Graf Zeppelin a resistance to 114 mm and 120 mm guns. Instead, she has a standard 19 mm plating.
For the usual reminder, on carriers, the armor view is mirrored so it’s normal that the superstructure is on the port side here.
The bow section
The bow is covered with 19 mm of armor except for a 25 mm extended belt. Considering how low it is on the water, its impact on the survivability of the ship will be minimal, to say the least.
Inside the bow, there is also a 20 mm armored deck slightly below the waterline. It isn’t of any real use since the citadel athwartship is deep inside the ship so AP shells cannot reach it at all from the front.
The upper casemate protecting the middle section is also 20 mm thick.
The middle section
The middle section is mostly covered with 19 mm of armor except for the 25 mm flight deck and torpedo bulges as well as the main belt.
The main belt is 80 mm thick on the extremities and 100 mm thick behind the torpedo bulge.
Just like any respectable German capital ship, the Parseval has a turtleback. It is 60 mm thick with a slope ranging from 33° on the extremities to 66° in the middle.
This turtleback is protecting the 20 mm sides of the citadel. As you can see, the citadel athwartships are also 20 mm thick.
For the horizontal protection, except the flight deck, there is a thin 12 mm thick deck and the 40 mm citadel deck. Considering how low the citadel deck is on the ship, the ship cannot be citadelled by AP bombs especially since they would arm on the 25 mm flight deck.
The stern section
The stern is covered with 19 mm of armor except for the 80 mm belt that partially covers it.
Inside the stern, there is a 60 mm armored deck as well as 20 mm casemate protecting the middle section.
Personal opinion
Right now, I expect the ship to, overall, be weaker than the other tier VIII carriers. While the planes have in terms of speed, HP, reserves and regeneration speed similar characteristics to those of the Shokaku (for the fully upgraded ship that is), I’m questioning the effective damage output of these planes.
Between the small caliber AP rockets, the very slow torpedoes with a long arming distance and the bombs that could be as unreliable as those of the Graf Zeppelin, she might actually struggle at tier VIII. Then again, it really depends on the performances of the AP rockets and bombs.
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