World of Warships Supertest: Dutch Tier IX Premium Cruiser Van Speijk

Historical background

Van Speijk, just like her sister Haarlem, is loosely based on an alternative design to the famous Dutch Project 1047 battlecruiser. This alternative design was made in 1939 at the request of the Dutch Navy Minister that was in favor of a smaller ship. What he wished for was a 16 000 tons armored cruiser instead of the much larger Project 1047. However, for the design to present satisfying armor protection, the armament was heavily reduced to only six 240 mm guns in three twin turrets. This would have been completed by eight 120 mm guns in four twin turrets and a variety of AA weaponry.
Also, while the initial version of the design had an intended speed of 33 knots, the more armored one could only reach 29 knots which would have been insufficient to outrun larger units. As such, the idea was quickly abandoned.

In the Wargaming cinematic universe, Wargaming went with a modification of the design by arming it with nine 203 mm guns in three triple turrets instead. The engine power was also increased to 140 000 SHP instead of 90 000 SHP, allowing the ship to reach a speed of 32.5 knots. As for the rest, Van Speijk is basically a what-if of a what-if since she is presented as being a modernized version of what we had with Haarlem, being equipped with late-war anti-air armament.

Ship’s preview

Ship’s commemorative flag

Ship’s permanent camouflage

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
Van Speijk	Propulsion: 140 000 hp	SUO Mk 9 Mod. 1	203 mm/60 SK C/34 on a turret mount

General Characteristics and Playstyle

Consumables
Slot 1	Slot 2	Slot 3	Slot 4
Damage Control Party Work time: 5 s Cooldown: 60 s	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	Defensive AA Fire Number of charges: 4 Work time: 40 s Cooldown: 180 s Continuous Damage: +50% Damage from shell explosions: +300%	Repair Party Number of charges: 3 Work time: 28 s Cooldown: 40 s HP regeneration speed: +0.5%/s Casemate damage regeneration: 50% Citadel damage regeneration: 10%

Main Armament

3 x 3 203 mm/60 SK C/34 on a turret mount
Maximum Firing Range	15.580
Reloading Time	12.0 s
180 Degree Turn Time	22.5 s
Optimal firing angles at the front	33°
Optimal firing angles at the rear	30°
Sigma	2.05 sigma
Maximum Dispersion	140 m
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE – 203 mm Spr.Gr. L/4.7 Kz.
Alpha Damage	2 850
Penetration capacity	234 mm
Explosion size	12.75 m
Fire chance	13 %
Projectile Speed	925 m/s
Air Drag	0.297
Projectile Mass	122.0 kg
Type of Projectile	AP – 203 mm P.Spr.Gr. L/4.4
Alpha Damage	4 800
Projectile Speed	925 m/s
Air Drag	0.297
Projectile Mass	122.0 kg
Projectile Krupp	2 409
Projectile Detonator	0.033 s
Detonator threshold	34 mm
Ricochet Angles	45° – 60°

Secondary Armament

4 x 2 120 mm/50 Model 1942 in a turret
Maximum Firing Range	6.950 km
Reloading Time	3.0 s
Sigma	1.0 sigma
Shells
Type of Projectile	HE – 120 mm HE Brisantgranaat
Alpha Damage	1 700
HE penetration	20 mm
Explosion Size	5.85 m
Chance to Cause Fire	7 %
Projectile Speed	850 m/s
Air Drag	0.334
Projectile Mass	23.5 kg

Airstrike

Airstrike bombers – ‎Fokker T.V.
Range	1.500 – 15.000 km
Number of charges	1
Reload time	150 s
Time to hit the target	15 s
Hitpoints per plane	2 110
Aircraft per squadron	10
Bomb type	P.u.W. 140 kg
Bombs per plane	6
Maximum bomb damage	6 100
HE penetration capacity	36 mm
Explosion size	15.45
Fire chance	35 %

Anti-air Armament

ASW Armament

Shipborne depth charges
Reloading Time	40 s
Number of charges	2
Number of bombs in payload	4
Damage	5 000
Sink speed	21.5-32.2 m/s
Detonation timer	6.5 – 7.5 s
Explosion radius	800 m
Fire chances	20%
Flooding chances	42%

The Armor

External armor protection:

Casemate protection:

Turtleback:

Citadel armor protection:

Turrets armor protection:

Hidden armor protection inside the bow and deck:

Personal Opinion

Well… I guess we know who was the favorite in the family. Van Speijk basically gets everything Haarlem ever wished for. She is more armored, has cruiser fire duration (AKA she only burns for 30 seconds instead of 60 seconds), has a cruiser dispersion formula coupled with a much faster main battery reload time and her airstrikes have a range of 15 km. Oh wait, there is more. She also gets a reduced cooldown on her Repair party and a WAY stronger anti-air.

One thing is certain, this ship looks a hundred times more appealing than Haarlem. As for the airstrikes, while she can only hold one charge, it isn’t exactly the end of the world with a 15 km range. Considering that her main battery firing range is quite similar, most of the time, you shouldn’t have any trouble using the airstrike as well.

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Have a good one and see you soon!

Yuzorah

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