Supertest: German Tier X Aircraft Carrier Manfred Von Richthofen

Ladies and Gentlemen, here we are! The tier X of the upcoming German aircraft carriers line and perhaps the weirdest ship Wargaming ever created (Venezia is also a good competitor for that title though).

The Manfred Von Richthofen is a what-if ship representing what could have possibly been the conversion of an H-class battleship into a fleet carrier. For the hull, they used the one of the Friedrich Der Große, making the Manfred Von Richtofen the second smallest carrier at tier X.

The thing with this conversion is that there are quite a few issues. The AA armament is terribly organized with only 3 twin 55 mm AA mounts on each sides while just on the bow, there are 4 of them. There is also the problem of having the superstructure on both sides of the ship which was proved well before World War II to be a bad design, creating turbulence.

Both on the bow and the stern, there is a lot of wasted space, limiting the hangar space of the ship. Finally, the bow isn’t enclosed or at least raised which should be a thing for a ship that would have logically served in the Atlantic. Compared to the Parseval, the Richthofen is almost a downgrade when it comes to the design itself.

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 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.

Modules

Hull	Engine	Torpedo bomber	Dive Bomber	Attack Aircraft
Manfred Von Richthofen (A)	Propulsion: 183 600 HP	Fw 190G8	Fw 190G8	Fw 190A8
		Ta 152C-1/R14	Ta 152C-1/R14	‎Me 155G

Characteristics

A Hull

GeneralAttack AircraftTorpedo BombersDive BombersSecondariesAir DefenseConsumables

Tier	X
Health	65 300 HP
Displacement	52 720 tons
Aircraft on deck
Attack Aircrafts	14
Torpedo Bombers	14
Dive Bombers	18
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range	7.20 km
105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38	12 x 2 105 mm
Anti Air Defense
105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38	12 x 2 105 mm
55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 Zwilling	12 x 2 55 mm
Maximum speed	32 knots
Turning Circle Radius	1 200 m
Rudder Shift Time	16.4 s
Surface Detectability	14.0 km
Air Detectability	14.2 km

Attack aircraft – Fw 190A8
Tier	IX
Hit points per plane	1 380
Cruise speed	167 knots
Maximum speed	207 knots
Engine boost time	5 s
Engine boost reload time	10 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	9
Rocket type	Wfr. Gr. 21
Rocket caliber	203 mm
Rockets per plane	2
Maximum rocket damage	5 000
Projectile speed	520 m/s
Air Drag	0.35
Projectile mass	111 kg
Projectile Krupp	2 350
Projectile detonator	0.022 s
Detonator threshold	35 mm
Detectability range	10.0 km
Aircraft restoration time	74 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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km

Torpedo bomber – Fw 190G8
Tier	IX
Hit points per plane	1 640
Cruise speed	154 knots
Maximum speed	194 knots
Engine boost time	20 s
Engine boost reload time	40 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	9
Torpedo type	BT 1000
Torpedoes per plane	1
Maximum torpedo damage	10 200
Maximum torpedo range	6.0 km
Torpedo speed	25 knots
Torpedo arming distance	671 m
Flooding chance	86%
Detectability range	10.0 km
Aircraft restoration time	89 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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km	Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s

Dive bomber – ‎Fw 190G8
Tier	IX
Hit points per plane	1 470
Cruise speed	154 knots
Maximum speed	194 knots
Engine boost time	20 s
Engine boost reload time	40 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	12
Bomb type	SC 1000
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	68 s
Aircraft on deck	18

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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km	Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s

 

12 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38
Maximum Firing Range	7.200 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

 

12 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38
Sector range	0.1 km – 5.2 km
Hit chance	100 %
Sector’s damage	64
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	224
Flak clouds number	9
Flak cloud damage	1 540
12 x 2 55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 Zwilling
Sector range	0.1 km – 4.0 km
Hit chance	100 %
Sector’s damage	135
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	473

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

GeneralAttack AircraftTorpedo BombersDive BombersSecondariesAir DefenseConsumables

Tier	X
Health	65 300 HP
Displacement	52 720 tons
Aircraft on deck
Attack Aircrafts	14
Torpedo Bombers	14
Dive Bombers	18
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range	7.20 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	12 x 2 105 mm
55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 Zwilling	12 x 2 55 mm
Maximum speed	32 knots
Turning Circle Radius	1 200 m
Rudder Shift Time	16.4 s
Surface Detectability	14.0 km
Air Detectability	14.2 km

Attack aircraft – Me 155G
Tier	X
Hit points per plane	1 440
Cruise speed	172 knots
Maximum speed	212 knots
Engine boost time	5 s
Engine boost reload time	10 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	9
Rocket type	Wfr. Gr. 21
Rocket caliber	203 mm
Rockets per plane	2
Maximum rocket damage	5 000
Projectile speed	520 m/s
Air Drag	0.35
Projectile mass	111 kg
Projectile Krupp	2 350
Projectile detonator	0.022 s
Detonator threshold	35 mm
Detectability range	10.0 km
Aircraft restoration time	82 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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km

Torpedo bomber – Ta 152C-1/R14
Tier	X
Hit points per plane	1 710
Cruise speed	174 knots
Maximum speed	214 knots
Engine boost time	20 s
Engine boost reload time	40 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	9
Torpedo type	BT 1000
Torpedoes per plane	1
Maximum torpedo damage	10 200
Maximum torpedo range	6.0 km
Torpedo speed	25 knots
Torpedo arming distance	738 m
Flooding chance	86%
Detectability range	10.0 km
Aircraft restoration time	99 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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km	Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s

Dive bomber – Ta 152C-1/R14
Tier	X
Hit points per plane	1 530
Cruise speed	174 knots
Maximum speed	214 knots
Engine boost time	20 s
Engine boost reload time	40 s
Size of attacking flight	3
Aircraft per squadron	12
Bomb type	SC 1000
Bomb caliber	356 mm
Bomb per plane	1
Maximum bomb damage	7 100
Projectile speed	480 m/s
Air Drag	0.35
Projectile mass	539 kg
Projectile Krupp	2 850
Projectile detonator	0.03 s
Detonator Threshold	30 mm
Detectability range	10.0 km
Aircraft restoration time	76 s
Aircraft on deck	18

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: 7 Patrol radius: 3.5 km	Repair Number of Charges: 3 Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 180 s HP regeneration speed: +10%/s

12 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38
Maximum Firing Range	7.200 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

12 x 2 105 mm L/65 Dop. L. C/38
Sector range	0.1 km – 5.2 km
Hit chance	100 %
Sector’s damage	64
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	224
Flak clouds number	9
Flak cloud damage	1 540
12 x 2 55 mm L/77 Gerät 58 Zwilling
Sector range	0.1 km – 4.0 km
Hit chance	100 %
Sector’s damage	135
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	473

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

As you might expect, since the Manfred Von Richthofen is a converted battleship hull, this ship has a LOT of armor. Funnily enough though, she has the weakest armored flight deck at tier X.

Usual reminder: The armor view for carriers is mirrored on gamemodels3d.

The bow section

The bow is partially covered with 19 mm plating. For the rest, there is the extended belt of the Friedrich Der Große that goes all the way to the tip of the bow. It is first 150 mm thick and then it goes down to 60 mm thick. The deck of the bow also has additional protection with a 50 mm thick section and further at the front a 30 mm section.

Inside the bow, there is, of course, an armored deck with the first part being 50 mm thick and the second part is 30 mm thick.

Passing through this armored deck, there is also a bulkhead in the middle of the bow. The upper part of this bulkhead is 100 mm thick while the lower part is 20 mm thick.

As you can see, a part of the casemate protecting the middle section is also 100 mm thick.

The 45 mm plating of the citadel also extends past the athwartship all the way to the bulkhead mentioned before.

For the protection of the middle section, there is, first, the upper casemate with 25 mm of armor. Below that is the citadel athwartship and the bulkheads around it. They are 200 mm thick for the upper part and 125 mm thick for the lower part.

The middle section

For the middle section, the ship has an amazing armor protection, outclassing all the other tier X carriers, except for the flight deck.

Starting with the said flight deck, it is only 50 mm thick which means that supercruisers or Hindenburg’s HE shells for example will be able to penetrate it.

For the sides, the base hull has on the port side a 175 mm main belt and on the starboard side (the side where the superstructure is) a 150 mm main belt. Above this main belt, there is a 145 mm upper belt that goes up to what would have been the weather deck of the battleship hull. This deck is 50 mm thick for the exposed part.

For the structure added with the conversion into a carrier, the sides are for the most part protected with 21 mm of armor. There are, however 4 exceptions. Just under the secondary batteries, there are 2 casemates on each side with 150 mm of armor on the sides and 100 mm of armor at the top.

When it comes to the turtleback, it is 150 mm thick on the extremities and 120 mm thick around the engines with a slope varying between 58° and 62°.

This turtleback protects the citadel’s sides which are 45 mm thick.

When it comes to the horizontal protection there is, first, the 50 mm flight deck. After that, there is a thin 21 mm deck and right under it, the citadel deck. This citadel deck is 120 mm thick on the extremities and 100 mm thick above the engines.

Logically, with the 50 mm flight deck, the ship is protected against AP bombs since they will trigger on it.

The stern section

The stern is, just like the bow, partially covered with 19 mm of armor. On the sides, there is a 90 mm extended belt just reaching the steering gears. On the deck, there is, first, a 50 mm plating and after a 30 mm plating.

Inside the bow, the only relevant plating is a 110 mm thick armored deck that protects the lower part of the citadel’s athwartship.

For the protection of the middle section, there is for the upper part a 25 mm casemate and just under a 100 mm bulkhead.

The citadel’s athwartships and the bulkheads around it are 220 mm thick for the upper part and 125 mm thick for the lower part.

The superstructure

For the superstructure, the Manfred Von Richthofen is literally “How to not build a carrier”. There are raised structures on both sides of the flight deck which is only good at one thing, creating turbulence. Not a good thing when planes are trying to land or to take-off as you might guess.

This superstructure is 13 mm thick except for the 150 mm conning tower.

Personal opinion

While I wasn’t convinced about the August Von Parseval, the Manfred Von Richthofen already appears to be a bit more promising.

When comparing to the Hakuryu that has roughly similar characteristics, the planes are all faster, especially when looking at the torpedo bombers and dive bombers. They, however, lose in terms of HP pool with the torpedo bombers on the Hakuryu having on top of that the Japanese Repair consumables with a shorter cooldown. The dive bombers of the Richthofen do have their own Repair consumable to compensate though.

When it comes to the weapon loadouts, the rocket planes carry what already seem to be much more potent rockets than the previous ships since they have a caliber of 203 mm which should lead to a fairly good penetration power. The bombs also seem to be terribly strong when comparing to those of the Graf Zeppelin with a higher Krupp value, higher mass and higher projectile speed.

The big problem remains the torpedoes. While they have the highest damage per hit and highest flooding chance of all aerial torpedoes in the game, there is the problem of the slow speed combined with the long arming distance (bigger than Hakuryu’s torpedo bombers even with Aerial Torpedoes Modification 1). These torpedoes will be challenging to hit to say the least and might be limited to striking only battleships or stationary cruisers.

Yuzorah

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