Naval Academy Greetings, fellow Captains. In previous
episodes, we told you about battle ships and cruisers. Today we’ll talk about
aircraft carriers. The emergence of this type of vessel sparked fundamental
changes in naval warfare. The first aircraft carriers were little more than
bases for reconnaissance aircraft. Because aviation technology was so
primitive, carrier-borne aircraft had not yet been developed into a separate
class, and these ships had limited attack capabilities. However, progress was
inevitable, and early multi-wing aircraft soon evolved into easy-to-handle and
reliable biplanes and then robust monoplane escapable of carrying heavy
torpedoes and bombs. At the same time, carrier-borne fighters were designed to
hunt the enemy’s strike aircraft. The United States and Japan were the first to
see the true advantages of naval aviation. Along with the United Kingdom, these
nations operated the most numerous and advanced carrier fleets in World War II.
U. S and Japanese aircraft carriers differed, both in terms of their mobility
and secondary armament. However, their key difference in the game is the
performance of the aircraft and the composition of air groups. Each aircraft
carrier has several squadrons, capable of achieving various missions. For most
carriers, torpedo bombers constitute the main anti-ship force. Their torpedoes
can destroy thick-skinned and slow targets, such as enemy battleships and
aircraft carriers. Dive bombers are more effective against light-ships and
destroyers as the HE bombs that they drop can inflict heavy damage and cause
fires. Meanwhile, carrier-borne fighters contest air superiority their
firepower against other aircraft often exceeds that of ships’ anti-aircraft
guns. In addition, all squadrons can be used for reconnaissance. You can adjust
the composition of the aviation on board your ship by emphasizing one or
another aircraft type, you can change the carrier's style of play and your role
in the team. All in all, the great range of missions and the diversity of
capabilities make aircraft carrier gameplay unique. The first US aircraft
carrier was USS Langley a converted collier. She opens up the US carrier branch
in World of Warships. The ship carries only two squadrons, making her a
relatively easy introduction to the carrier class. Langley’s two squadrons give
the player the chance to practice and perfect the skill of aircraft management.
All carriers that follow her in the branch feature increasingly better armor, speed,
secondary armament, and anti-aircraft systems. But, most importantly, the
number of squadrons, increases, the planes are faster and more durable, and
their armament, including torpedoes and bombs, increases in power. At Tiers V,
VI, and VII, a player can get light and escort aircraft carriers Bogue. Independence,
and Ranger. These ships will help you to master different game tactics each can
carry three types of planes, opening up more options to the player. Tiers VIII
and IX are heavy aircraft carriers Lexington and Essex. Compared to their
predecessors, these ships have substantial armor, relatively strong secondary
armament, and, naturally, significantly better aircraft. At the top of the US
tech tree you will find the aircraft carrier Midway. When built, she was the
world’s largest carrier and even carried jet fighters on board. American
fighters are worth a separate mention. Having more planes in their squadrons, US
aircraft carriers can dominate the air, often allowing them to defeat their
Japanese counterparts. Nevertheless, Japanese carriers have something to offer
in return. Japanese carriers encourage a user to play more aggressively.
Japanese air groups are smaller, but there are more of them. The key power of
these carriers consists in airborne torpedoes few ships can avoid hits when
attacked by several squadrons at once. The Japanese aircraft carrier branch
begins with Hōshō (literally “Phoenix in Flight”). Unlike her American
counterpart, Hōshō was purpose-built as an aircraft carrier, which puts her
ahead of Langley in most characteristics. However, her small hangar capacity
does not forgive mistakes and you will feel the loss every time one of your
planes goes down. The next aircraft carrier, Zuihō (“Lucky Phoenix”), was
converted from a submarine tender. Larger and faster than her predecessor,
Zuihō can carry more planes and offers more tactical capabilities. At Tiers VI
and VII, Ryūjō (“Prancing Dragon”) and Sōryū (“Blue Dragon”) embody the
legendary Japanese “dragons” featuring powerful attack air groups and better
protection. They enable a player to tackle multiple tactical tasks, from
conducting reconnaissance to delivering heavy blows on enemy ships. Shōkaku and
Taihō (“Soaring Crane” and “Great Phoenix”) are Tiers VIII and IX aircraft
carriers. Not limited by international treaties, they demonstrate the might of
the Imperial Japanese Navy. With thick armor, high speed, and large air groups,
these ships are every bit on par with their enemies at these tiers. Heavy
aircraft carrier Hakuryu (“White Dragon”) crowns the Japanese carrier branch.
This warship was drafted, but never actually built. The very quantity of her
air groups will make enemies nervous the carrier can operate eight squadrons at
a time, so escaping her strikes is quite a challenge.
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