Advice on japanese cruisers?

[m4inbrain]

Well, 

 

i just unlocked the first 203mm CA in the japanese line (Furutaka), and i'm utterly confused by those guns. After playing US Cruisers for a while, i wanted to get into something new - but somehow, i'm not sure what my role is anymore. With rapidfiring US cruisers, i mostly went to hunt DDs, which worked well on the Kuma too - but now? The Furutaka is not the most manouverable ship (can barely dodge BB shells, but not CA shells), the guns have a massive reload and turn pretty slow, so they're not necessarily good for DD hunting - what is my role in this boat? I suppose, this one is one of the defining ships, since all the other cruisers seem to have bigger than the 140mm guns, 

 

I just would like to know what i'm supposed to do with them. 

[Takeda92]

Furutaka isn't the best ship, but generally you have a support role. You can engage lower tier cruiser easily since your caliber with AP can rek them, and your HP pool will soak the damage. Battleships are dangerous since you are basically a citadel but try to always angle yourself and shoot HE to burn them down. If you ever had the chance to close in on an unaware battleship then use your torps. Don't be afraid to use your torps sometimes because enemies forget you have them (I doubled killed a cruiser and a destroyer once who were sailing side by side) just don't over rely on them, your guns are your main weapon. Against destroyers it gets better with Aoba since you get your RoF improved.. in fact, everything gets improved with Aoba so try to hang in there.

[Devantejah]

Try to stay on range where your turret traverse is less harmful for you.

[Bl4ckh0g]

Stay back, dodge stuff and wreck everything.

[m4inbrain]

Thanks for the info, gonna try later again with hopefully more impact in a game. 

 

 

[Xevious_Red]

I'm in the same situation, learning japanese cruisers.

Generally its best to not be the most obvious target, ensure there is something else juicier/more threatening near you.

Make as much use of terrain as possible - this can let you get into range without being pounded (make sure you're aware of destroyers, they like to prey on you.

Try to point your nose towards enemy ships. You're one massive citadel, so only swing out when you're ready to fire. Lock your guns if needed. Your ship is actually pretty slim, so you present a small target.

Torps at 6km don't hit. Torps at 1km do, and sink things. Don't think of torps as your main weapon, but remember you have them. Running down a cleveland before turning and sinking him with a full spread is funny.

[valkarianism]

After rushing out a Mogami in pre 0.3.1, I had to find a proper way to play CAs from the IJN line to get proper EXP and damage out. Before, the quick firing guns of the USN and the 15 gun Mogami reigned supreme in AP damage. Now, With the HE buff, I'm no longer sure where the advantage is using the 203, except that you'll actually be able to deal massive damage properly if you penetrate as a cruiser. You must recognise you do not have the alpha of a BB, nor the speed and maneuverability of a DD. I'm sure it varies from person to person, but sailing in packs as a guardian to destroyers or as an escort to BB, or even as a division of CA is usually where the cruiser's firepower displays the highest potency. With Torpedoes, you can dictate the range of fights, and with your guns, you can lay down decent damage in the fright situations.

 

Now I know there are people going to say that sailing as escort is nonsense and stuff, but that's my own play style and preference. Do find your own if you so wish. 

[m4inbrain]

Doesn't sound too bad, escorting DDs could be something. I don't see the point in escorting BBs with this ship in particular, the AA is worse than bad, the range is barely "meh", and the guns are not really suited to hunt down DDs in a turning fight if he can run circles around me. 

 

Gonna try later, going trough stock Mutsuki atm, which is quite the pain.

[NatteFrost]

nothing you can do in a furu before wg remakes it. the cannons are too big and slow for t5, and turn radius is too big for a cruiser.

play it like a mini battleship.

 

the only hope i can give you is that this painful experience leads to the aoba. that is when the fun returns.

[m4inbrain]

I like the looks of the Aoba, looking forward to it. But there has to be a way to make the Furutaka work as well, at least kinda. Don't want to end on 1000xp average on that boat.

[Bl4ckh0g]

I like the looks of the Aoba, looking forward to it. But there has to be a way to make the Furutaka work as well, at least kinda. Don't want to end on 1000xp average on that boat.

 

Aoba is an improved Furutaka with better weapons, but much tougher opposition.

I think the Furutaka is better in tier 5 than the Aoba in tier 6

[m4inbrain]

That sounds like a whine now, but.. If the Aoba in relation is worse than the Furutaka, then i might not grow old in the IJN CA line. :/

[Xevious_Red]

I'm in the same situation, learning japanese cruisers.

Generally its best to not be the most obvious target, ensure there is something else juicier/more threatening near you.

Make as much use of terrain as possible - this can let you get into range without being pounded (make sure you're aware of destroyers, they like to prey on you.

Try to point your nose towards enemy ships. You're one massive citadel, so only swing out when you're ready to fire. Lock your guns if needed. Your ship is actually pretty slim, so you present a small target.

Torps at 6km don't hit. Torps at 1km do, and sink things.

 

I grinded my way through the tier 5, didn't hate it as much as others. Got the aoba, only played 3 games but loving it. Currently doing more damage than my BB with it

[Bl4ckh0g]

That sounds like a whine now, but.. If the Aoba in relation is worse than the Furutaka, then i might not grow old in the IJN CA line. :/

 

The Aoba is not really worse and such, She just faces ships that are not particularly.....well balanced 

[m4inbrain]

Well i meet Clevelands alot, how can it get more unbalanced than a Furutaka vs a Cleveland?

 

Maybe it's not even unbalanced but i'm just crap with the Furutaka, certainly a possibility - but it feels like i have literally zero edges towards that ship. 

[kamuka]

The Aoba is basically identical to the Furutaka. 10km torps and the AA ability, but a tier higher.

The Myoko is way, way better than both of them.

[GrumpyWorm]

Moved

[Adored]

It's an awful ship, a real comedown from the Kuma at IV.  On the other hand it kinda helps you to get better at battleships as you have to turn the ship and the guns in order to really get the guns on target.  So there's that.  Me?  I couldn't stand it and went back to reroll the American Cruiser line instead.  The Omaha is so much better it's unreal.

[Takeda92]

The Aoba is basically identical to the Furutaka. 10km torps and the AA ability, but a tier higher.

The Myoko is way, way better than both of them.

 

You forgot proper turrets, turret turn rates and RoF too!

Of course Myoukou is better than them. That's why she's tier 7. But it's only because of the extra guns the turrets are the same as Furutaka.

[MorgothBauglyr]

Furutaka is a high alpha damage sniper. When you are top tier you can deal massive damage to cruisers and destroyers.

Stay at maximum to half range, pre-aim your turrets like you would in a battleship and don't forget to either lock them or use right mouse to look around. Making the turrets rotate unneccecairily while checking the surroundings costs you valuable time. Turn the hull to assist aiming if needed.

 

Armor is also not too shabby and with proper angling you can survive situations that would be fatal to a light cruiser.

 

Once you figured out the guns this ship can dish out a lot of hurt.

[Quinzer]

i like the ijn cruisers, (didn't play the furatake jet, was on higher tier before she was introduced) and it was surely worth playing all of them, but actually i struggle with the american once (at tier vii atm, and didn't like cleveland)

one big point of japanese once is to angle the ship, never present the broadside to the enemy, and try to dogde salvos, the ships are fast and turn good

[Kuningas_Arthur]

I'm at the Furutaka too with IJN cruisers and I'm actually liking it. It took me a while to get there since I didn't enjoy the low tier ones all that much but the 203mm guns seem to respond well to my kind of play style, trying to keep some distance and wait for the enemy to do mistakes and/or forget you are there, and the ability to torp people when they get too close is a huge advantage over the US cruisers (save tiers 4 and 5).

[Temptis]

the 203mm guns wreck other cruisers with their AP shells.

the 155mm guns spam HE just like their US counterparts.

both guns have a very high shell velocity and low firing arc, making them very accurate.

the Torps are long range and often unexpected. also a good defensive weapon as they are facing aft.

the only thing really lacking on the IJN Cruisers is AA. you rely on the panic button instead of AA power.

i wish i had a replay from last nights Mogami game as it really showcased it's strengths and weaknesses.

[Aldramelech]

Furutaka isn't the best ship, but generally you have a support role. You can engage lower tier cruiser easily since your caliber with AP can rek them, and your HP pool will soak the damage. Battleships are dangerous since you are basically a citadel but try to always angle yourself and shoot HE to burn them down. If you ever had the chance to close in on an unaware battleship then use your torps. Don't be afraid to use your torps sometimes because enemies forget you have them (I doubled killed a cruiser and a destroyer once who were sailing side by side) just don't over rely on them, your guns are your main weapon. Against destroyers it gets better with Aoba since you get your RoF improved.. in fact, everything gets improved with Aoba so try to hang in there.

Fixed your negrep there, not entirely sure why someone felt the need to do that, seemed like a helpful post even if someone did disagree with the content.

[lordofhavoc]

I suffered myself through Tenryu, Kuma and Furutaka, but with Aoba it's hetting better. Myoko is okay, but Mogami is fun.