The Katori in Preview

[Hayashio]

 

Katori, We Meet Again

 

As you might already know, the Grand Naval Battle event is taking place currently. Users can collect diamonds to get in on raffles or unlock prizes. Among those ships was an old friend. The Katori. As soon as I saw this I knew it was time to get my grind-pants on, and here she is. The Katori in all her might:

 

 

 

Tachi: http://forum.worldofwarships.eu/index.php?/topic/53816-the-tachibana-in-preview/

Albany: http://forum.worldofwarships.eu/index.php?/topic/52395-the-albany-in-preview/

Smith: http://forum.worldofwarships.eu/index.php?/topic/52693-the-smith-in-preview/

This took me longer than I would like to admit. But I finally unlocked her. Meanwhile, I've collected some intial thoughts, some positives and some negatives, then put her to the test. So without further ado, let's jump into the stats and then the match.

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Pros:

The Katori has some very defining features

 

The Guns

At 13.5km Gun range, the guns outclass all TIII ships, and even some TIV ships. The closest you can get to this range is the Bogatyr with 11.4km, if the captain wishes to use the AFT skill, he will be able to push it's range beyond 13.5km with the upgraded 130mm guns, meanwhile the Katori, cannot.

The reload for the 140mm twin gun mounts (which can also be found on the Yūbari), is a relatively fast 7 seconds.

The turn time is average at 24 seconds for a full 180 degrees.

 

The Torps

Almost equal to it's Japanese non-premium, the Tenryū. The Katori loses 1 torpedo per tube and the ability to launch both in both directions for a magnificent launch arc, around 290 degrees.

Launch Arc

 

 

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Anti Aircraft ability and Secondary battery

The main event, everyone. besides having the best AA for a tier 3 ship at 20 AA points, the Katori gets, yes, that's right, a catapult fighter. That's a first out of all TIII ships.

 

 

 

Other Aspects

The Katori gets a Juicy 22000HP putting it in at 3rd place for the HP pool. It's detection range is at 10.7km by sea and 5.5km by air.

 

Cons:

It's not all sunshine and rainbows for the Katori though.

 

Size

The Katori is a huge target to shoot at. With 55mm of armour at most you won't be bouncing many of those incoming shots, as I had felt in my initial test match.

 

Maneuverability

This is probably the worst aspect of the Katori. The ship caps out at 18 knots, making it the slowest cruiser in game. That's faster than a Hashidate, first place with 19.5 knots and St. Louis and Albany, sharing second with 20 knots maximum speed. Combine this with a 6.5 second rudder shift, which is not bad, but not the best.

 

 

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Conclusion

As this is the first impression, I would strongly recommend you take this with a pinch of salt. This is my first experience with the ship.

I was eager to jump into the Katori to take it for a spin. As I got into a match I quickly realized how bad in fact the speed cap was, as I raced against a Wyoming-class battleship. Luckily I could plock some shots in on the initial waves thanks to the good range of the guns. Nevertheless, as the match moved on I felt that I couldn't adapt to it accordingly. The Hull was garbadge, just as I had expected and I didn't survive the match because of the huge, lumbersome target I was. Getting caught in the open took a toll on my hitpoints, which thankfully allowed me to survive for some time

Positioning was a pain, and I felt I got shot at more than I should have been, moreso as I got hit by multiple reloads of the same battleship while moving from island to island.

I had no trouble dealing with an enemy destroyer thanks to the amazingly tight grouping of the 140mm twins. The gun arc also allowed me to fire over islands while staying hidden often. It is something I've grown accustomed to on the Yū.

I managed to score a torpedo hit on an unknowing Karlsruhe, no flood.

Most damage I received was from AP, no surprises there, I did receive about 2 citadels from cruisers, luckily no battlship was firing AP at me.

No aircraft, no way of testing it's AA. Did launch the fighter a few times. It has a nice animation.

The XP and credit yield was nothing special. Repair and Resupply was cheap as expected.

 

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Final thoughts

  

It is very situational. If the battle moves away from you, you won't be able to catch up to it. If the action is centered around you, you will die. End up in the open and you're a sitting duck. The Katori has great range, and this is vital, because you will not be chasing anyone down with those blistering 18 knots. She can defend herself, as long as it is not from AP shells. The AA and the Catapult fighter should be able to fend off enemy air attacks, combine this with a nimble rudder shift time and you'll be dodging torpedoes like in tokyo drift - except in slow motion.

The Katori is like the slow, fat sister of the Yū. It's half as fast and huge. Yet I can't seem to hate it for what it is, a Yūbari in bad.

Should you get her if you can?

Hell yes!  

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UPDATE WITH GAMEPLAY

I was also made aware of the fact that the Katori never meets Tier V. It's got preferencial matchmaking.

 

The Katori's first impressions and thoughts, excuse the bad cut

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Triggerhappy playing his Katori

This gameplay reflects the kind of role the Katori can take, supporting allies and doing a lot of damage.

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[Battleship_Nagato]

I do look forward to having her at my port, she looks pretty.

[Kittykami]

It'll probably be terrible but I'm getting one because obsessive ship autism. 

 

Also my Iowa needs someone to bully in port :^)

[XbodzioXplX]

Nice review. But still I'm thinking about Albany vs. Katori 

 

Probably I won't play them too much so it will be rather an port decoration ;)

[Cosseria]

Thanks for the rewiev, she surely looks cute. Also an interesting ship as she was built IIRC as a training vessel rather than as true cruiser, which shows in her stats.

Now I'm undecided. Gameplay wise it makes no sense to get her as she does nothing my legendary Tenryu can't do better, and low speed has always been a deal breaker for me. But that mini-battleship look, OMG...

Maybe I'll get the Smith first then Katori if I had some spare diamonds.

[T0byJug]

 

Thanks for the rewiev, she surely looks cute. Also an interesting ship as she was built IIRC as a training vessel rather than as true cruiser, which shows in her stats.

Now I'm undecided. Gameplay wise it makes no sense to get her as she does nothing my legendary Tenryu can't do better, and low speed has always been a deal breaker for me. But that mini-battleship look, OMG...

Maybe I'll get the Smith first then Katori if I had some spare diamonds.

 

smith is fun! when you work out how to use her!  my max damage 63K. Was very surprised the 2 tier 3 BBs did not rage at me when I nibbled them down to zero health with 1 torp  at a time every 5 secs. My plan is same as yours as i Already have Albany and Tashibiana.

 

 

@ Eloyan  nice review..

[Hayashio]

Thanks for the rewiev, she surely looks cute. Also an interesting ship as she was built IIRC as a training vessel rather than as true cruiser, which shows in her stats.

Now I'm undecided. Gameplay wise it makes no sense to get her as she does nothing my legendary Tenryu can't do better, and low speed has always been a deal breaker for me. But that mini-battleship look, OMG...

Maybe I'll get the Smith first then Katori if I had some spare diamonds.

 

Smith is on my agenda list too. But Katori had serious priority. Technically you could get both, we'll see though.

[T0byJug]

 

Smith is on my agenda list too. But Katori had serious priority. Technically you could get both, we'll see though.

 

Ok they are Being played by more experienced players and there are not many games. But both ships are holding up pretty well against there peers.

 

Below is week ending 14/05

 

[Agantas]

Can you upload some replays/videos of the ship gameplay? I'd be interested in seeing videos of these new ships. It would help in deciding which ship to get, as I likely can't pick multiple ships.

[T0byJug]

Can you upload some replays/videos of the ship gameplay? I'd be interested in seeing videos of these new ships. It would help in deciding which ship to get, as I likely can't pick multiple ships.

 

USS Smith!!! 63k damage and 3 kills. the single torp Launch takes some getting used to but if this (my last game in her) is any thing to go by.. . I 

 

http://wowreplays.com/Replay/6599-T0byJug-Smith-Solomon-Islands

[Robber_Baron]

Would love to get her, but I've only collected 100 diamonds so far and with lack of skills and mostly lack of time I don't expect to get her.

[__Themistocles__]

As for Smith and Tachibana XP-can they break 1K base XP reliably or? I'd like to use them as "speed up CE for Kagero trainers", but IDK. I know they are nowhere near Kamikaze R levels of efficiency, but sitll.

[Hayashio]

As for Smith and Tachibana XP-can they break 1K base XP reliably or? I'd like to use them as "speed up CE for Kagero trainers", but IDK. I know they are nowhere near Kamikaze R levels of efficiency, but sitll.

 

I am afraid I cannot tell you that, as I only own the Katori for now. I would think that the Tachibana can, in fact break the 1k reliably, as long as you don't derp around in it. Same goes with the Smith. Try the Umikaze and the Sampson. That's the closest you'll get to the prems. The Katori certainly does, and it's only 1 tier above it.

[__Themistocles__]

 

I am afraid I cannot tell you that, as I only own the Katori for now. I would think that the Tachibana can, in fact break the 1k reliably, as long as you don't derp around in it. Same goes with the Smith. Try the Umikaze and the Sampson. That's the closest you'll get to the prems. The Katori certainly does, and it's only 1 tier above it.

 

Jeah, I already have Minekaze for such purposes. Just something to create an illusion of having "efficient premium" (man I how I wish I got in time to win Kamikaze...perfect ship).

[T0byJug]

Can you upload some replays/videos of the ship gameplay? I'd be interested in seeing videos of these new ships. It would help in deciding which ship to get, as I likely can't pick multiple ships.

 

USS Smith!!! 63k damage and 3 kills. the single torp Launch takes some getting used to but if this (my last game in her) is any thing to go by.. . I 

 

http://wowreplays.co...Solomon-Islands

[Babykim]

Got the Katori, played one game, won and sunk one ship. I don't think I will play this ship often. Painfully slow and few guns only. It is a pure collectors item. I am happy with it as such.

 

I now own all 4 treasure ships, and dare I say the Albany is the best of the lot

[T0byJug]

Got the Katori, played one game, won and sunk one ship. I don't think I will play this ship often. Painfully slow and few guns only. It is a pure collectors item. I am happy with it as such.

 

I now own all 4 treasure ships, and dare I say the Albany is the best of the lot

 

Rely better than Tachibiana and Smith? Ive always Said Albany is not a bad Ship But the DD's are a lot more fun.

[Krizmuz]

 

Rely better than Tachibiana and Smith? Ive always Said Albany is not a bad Ship But the DD's are a lot more fun.

 

The Tachibana is a great ship imo.

[T0byJug]

 

The Tachibana is a great ship imo.

 

Im currently training a commander for my Kagaroo in her and Kamakazee

[__Themistocles__]

 

Im currently training a commander for my Kagaroo in her and Kamakazee

 

How much base XP and credits per battle average?

[T0byJug]

 

How much base XP and credits per battle average?

Tip 700XP on both! Tashi has 53% win rate. So pretty good for a tier 2. could do a lot better i suspect if i placed my Fubuki 15 point commander in her. you cant rely Expect 1k average on a tier 2. There good fun to Derp around in when you are having a bad day.

[Deckeru_Maiku]

 

The Katori is like the slow, fat sister of the Yū. It's half as fast and huge. Yet I can't seem to hate it for what it is, a Yūbari in bad.

 

 

I've got 28k average damage and 1.0 kills per game in my Yubari - guess I will like the Katori when I get it the next couple days

 

As for Smith and Tachibana XP-can they break 1K base XP reliably or? I'd like to use them as "speed up CE for Kagero trainers", but IDK. I know they are nowhere near Kamikaze R levels of efficiency, but sitll.

 

Without premium I manage to get an average of 626 exp per battle on the Touchy Banana... sorry.. Tachibana. That with an average damage of 23k and 1.65 kills per game.

Biggest problem with exp right now is a low win of only 47%, due to even worse than usual teams playing in the low tier region right now. Add to that the hunt for kills (for diamonds...) and there will be many games lost and lower exp.

As soon as GNB is over I guess that problem will disappear and average exp (with premium) shouldn't be that bad.

Never as good as in a Kamikaze, though

[Agantas]

 

Rely better than Tachibiana and Smith? Ive always Said Albany is not a bad Ship But the DD's are a lot more fun.

 

If you had to pick either Tachibana or Smith and not have the other, which would you prefer to keep?

[Deckeru_Maiku]

 

If you had to pick either Tachibana or Smith and not have the other, which would you prefer to keep?

 

Don't have the Smith (yet - is #3 on the shopping list) but I kinda already made my choice:

 

Albany was already in my port.

Tachibana was the first bought with diamonds.

Katori will be the second one in a day or three.

And if I manage to get the diamonds needed for the Smith, she will be the third...

[T0byJug]

 

If you had to pick either Tachibana or Smith and not have the other, which would you prefer to keep?

 

I have 70+ games in Tachibana(i have had the Jap DD for months) and 6 in Smith so its to early to say for the smith. I rely like both!! However without having the Katori, but having the other 3 Ships. If you get 500 Stones buy both the DD's. I have 460 Stones and expect to complete 300 games today or tomorrow so will have probably 600+ as some of the weekly mission will be completed as well already. I fully expect to get 800 Stones and will be buying the Katori.

 

 

But sorry i have not played the Smith enough to call it on Tashi or Smith. As Tashibiana is under half the price of Smith All i can say is the Jap DD is better Value for Diamonds