Supertest: U.S. Premium Tier VIII Cruiser Anchorage

The Anchorage is, just like the Buffalo, based on the CA-B design of heavy cruiser from the U.S. Navy. Work on this design started in the late 1930s as a follow-up to the Baltimore-class cruisers that were also still in the design phase. the “CA-B” design was meant to carry 12 203 mm guns in 4 triple turrets and presented also thicker armor than the Baltimore-class with a 190 mm main belt.

When it comes to the torpedo armament, it’s a bit awkward. In tables referring to the different CA designs, the CA-B is mentioned with 1 quadruple torpedo launcher on each side. However, on the blueprint available, it doesn’t have any.

In the end, the design was abandoned and later on, it would be the Des Moines-class that would succeed the Baltimore-class.

In World of Warships, the Anchorage follows the basic features of the CA-B (with torpedoes) but at the same time, is equipped with secondary and anti-air armament from the mid 1930s. Unlike the other U.S. heavy cruisers, she is equipped with a Smoke Generator instead of a radar.

For the classic reminder, this is a ship in testing, anything can change so don’t look at her like she would already be released.

Modules

Hull	Engine	Gun Fire Control System	Main battery	Torpedoes
Anchorage	Propulsion: 120 000 hp	Mk8 mod. 1	203 mm/55 Mk15	533 mm Type16 mod. 1

Characteristics

GeneralMain BatterySecondariesTorpedo TubesAir DefenseConsumables

Tier	VIII
Health	41 800 HP
Displacement	20 254 tons
Main Armament
Maximum Firing Range	15.600 km
203 mm/55 Mk15	4 x 3 203 mm
Secondary Armament
Maximum Firing Range	5.000 km
127 mm/38 Mk29 mod. 0 127 mm/38 Mk24	2 x 2 127 mm 4 x 1 127 mm
Torpedo Armament
Maximum Firing Range	10.500 km
533 mm Mk14	2 x 4 533 mm
Maximum speed	33 knots
Turning Circle Radius	800 m
Rudder Shift Time	11.2 s
Surface Detectability	13.62 km
Air Detectability	8.02 km
Detectability After Firing Main Guns in Smoke	7.98 km

4 x 3 203 mm/55 Mk15
Maximum Firing Range	15.600 km
Reloading Time	15.5 s
180 Degree Turn Time	30.0 s
Optimal firing angles at the front	30°
Optimal firing angles at the rear	30°
Sigma	2.00 sigma
Maximum Dispersion	141 m
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE – 203 mm HE/HC Mk25
Alpha Damage	2 800 HP
Damage	1 220 HP
Penetration capacity	34 mm
Explosion size	0.86
Fire chance	14 %
Projectile Speed	823 m/s
Air Drag	0.333
Projectile Mass	118 kg
Type of Projectile	AP – 203 mm AP Mk21
Alpha Damage	5 000 HP
Chance to Cause Fire	-0.5 %
Projectile Speed	762 m/s
Air Drag	0.356
Projectile Mass	152 kg
Projectile Krupp	2 919
Projectile Detonator	0.033 s
Detonator threshold	34 mm

 

2 x 2 127 mm/38 Mk29 mod. 0
Maximum Firing Range	5.000 km
Reloading Time	6 s
Sigma	1.00 sigma
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE – 127 mm HE Mk32
Alpha Damage	1 800 HP
Damage	380 HP
HE penetration	21 mm
Explosion Size	0.38
Chance to Cause Fire	5 %
Projectile Speed	792 m/s
Air Drag	0.347
Projectile Mass	24.5 kg
4 x 1 127 mm/38 Mk24
Maximum Firing Range	5.000 km
Reloading Time	6 s
Sigma	1.00 sigma
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE – 127 mm HE Mk32
Alpha Damage	1 800 HP
Damage	380 HP
HE penetration	21 mm
Explosion Size	0.38
Chance to Cause Fire	5 %
Projectile Speed	792 m/s
Air Drag	0.347
Projectile Mass	24.5 kg

 

2 x 4 533 mm Mk14 533 mm Type16 mod. 1
Reloading Time	85 s
Maximum Distance	10.500 km
Optimal firing angles at the front	50°
Optimal firing angles at the rear	50°
Damage	19 033
Flooding Chance	323 %
Speed	66 kt
Surface Detectability	1.4 km

2 x 2 127 mm/38 Mk29 mod. 0 4 x 1 127 mm/38 Mk24
Sector range	0.1 km – 5.8 km
Hit chance	90 %
Sector’s damage	25
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	88
Flak clouds number	4
Flak cloud damage	1 470
14 x 4 28 mm/75 Mk2 mod. 2 16 x 1 20 mm Oerlikon Mk4
Sector range	0.1 km – 2.4 km
Hit chance	85 %
Sector’s damage	61
Sector’s damage frequency	0.29 s
Sector’s damage per second	214

Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3
Damage Control Party Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 60 s	Fighter Number of charges: 3 Work time: 60 s Cooldown: 90 s Patrol radius: 3.0 km Number of planes in the squadron: 4	Smoke Generator Number of charges: 2 Work time: 30 s Cooldown: 160 s Smoke radius: 450 m Smoke duration: 124 s
	Spotting Aircraft Number of charges: 4 Work time: 100 s Cooldown: 240 s Bonus: +20% maximum firing range
	Hydroacoustic Search Number of charges: 3 Work time: 100 s Cooldown: 120 s Torpedo spotting range: 3.5 km Ship spotting range: 5.0 km

The armor

The Anchorage has the same armor scheme as the Buffalo which, for tier VIII, is pretty good.

The bow section

The bow of the Anchorage is fully covered with 27 mm of armor. This will allow the ship to bounce 381 mm AP shells and smaller.

For the protection of the middle section, the upper casemate is 25 mm thick while the citadel athwartship is 152 mm thick.

The middle section

The deck and sides are 27 mm thick. For the main belt, the upper part is 152 mm thick while the lower part is 102 mm thick.

For the internal protection, the citadel’s sides below the turrets are 127 mm thick. Due to how deep and narrow these parts are, they will be fairly hard to hit.

For the horizontal protection, there is only the 76 mm main armor deck so without surprise, AP bombs will just smash through it.

The stern section

The stern is covered with 27 mm of armor, allowing you to bounce 381 mm AP shells and smaller. Just be careful to not point the flat part right at the enemy otherwise, no matter the caliber, the shells will be able to penetrate.

For the protection of the middle section, the upper casemate is 25 mm thick while the citadel athwartship is 152 mm thick.

The superstructure

The superstructure is the classic 16 mm at Tier VIII except the 206 mm thick conning tower, nothing special to see here.

The turrets

For the turrets, the face is 203 mm thick, the roof is 76 mm thick, the sides are 102 mm thick at first and then 51 mm thick and finally, the back is 51 mm thick as well.

When it comes to the barbettes, they are protected by a uniform 152 mm plating except for the 38 mm top.

Personal opinion

On paper, this ship looks like an absolute monster for tier VIII.

It’s bringing a tier IX cruiser at tier VIII  with a ridiculous potential damage per volley but on top of that, she gets a Smoke Generator when she needs cover and carries the same torpedoes as the Fletcher which are some of the best in the game. At least, compared to the Buffalo, Anchorage doesn’t have a radar.

This situation somewhat reminds me of the Yamato/Musashi scenario.

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Yuzorah

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