Commandant Dominé and coastal spawns

Machinery of War Discussion Navy
1

Here I am complaining about that thing again.
For context : the Commandant Dominé (and the Élan class) is labelled as a frigate in game, getting a bluewater spawn, facing reserve DDs that are just better in every aspect. But irl, the Élan class was envisioned as minesweepers.

When you look at other trees, you find similar ships (single large caliber cannon, around 100 crew, …) getting coastal spawns : USS Candid and PGM-9 in the US tree, the M-class in the german tree, Asagao in the japanese tree (granted this one has a bit less crew), Alano and Gabbiano in the italian tree, …

If it was a balance decision, like what happened to the Marne-class (which were quite frankly oppressive with their coastal spawn) I’d get it, but the Commandant Dominé is paper-thin, with an awkwardly-placed single main gun, has less crew but at a higher battle rating…

9 Likes
2

Alright, late reply because of the stupid requires matches to comment garbage of this stupid forum that only mentions such after you’ve fucking typed everything out…

Yeah the Élan class Aviso/Sloop/ Minesweeper is just terrible currently & it doesn’t help that the devs gave us probably the worst possible configuration for Commandant Dominé (post war vs as designed or free french service).

This thing is basically what the Town class 1940 Destroyer was at one point (pre 2.01), Rank III/ 18000 rp costing more RP than it’s worth but slightly worse as a Rank IV/61000 rp. Yet somehow a worse speed, worse armament (armament layout reversed) an the same bloody spawn, screw getting long range maps lmfao, just plant scuttling charges on such.

I personally think it should’ve a small craft spawn, yet I’ve seen some push back due to tonnage an the 40 mm/60 being forward armament, yet currently it just sucks so bloody much.

Other options is finally giving way to a lower BR but the same spawn, which could see a reduction in many similar vessels or newer equally shit vessels for that spawn.

The only saving grace of this vessel is the niche fact, it has two rudders with one on the stem & stern…

E,

So I was re-reading the Wikipedia article on the Élan class Aviso dragueur de mines (minesweeping sloop), it mentions as designed having a twin 100 mm/45, thus curious, Navweaps mentions the Élan under the 100 mm/45 Model 1933 twin mount cannons, which can be found in game aboard the Richelieu class Battleship, it also had a the quad 13.2 mm/76 from the P.7.T AA up where the 40 mm is & two dual 13.2 mm/76 where the 20 mm are iirc.

Why couldn’t we gett an as designed one? Like the BR & spawn would make more sense than, but no the worst version.

Also FNFL one would carry the 4"/45 Mk. XVI twin mount (yay HE-VT ammunition), a 2pdr Pom-Pom & more 20 mm/70 autocannons, or in some cases a 25 mm/60, or a bunch of 12.7 mm/62 machines guns.

Any of these options would’ve been leagues better than the post war ship.

3

(must be late night reply as you wrote stern & stern :) )

But, do you (or anyone else) know if this actually has an effect in game?

It’s difficult to tell as it doesn’t seem super maneuverable because of it – it’s not turning like a forklift or anything (and when viewing x-ray ship rudder(s) don’t move, similar to swing wing aircraft and their wings, so it’s not obvious if it actually does anything).

4

shot 2026.09.03 16.43.49
shot 2026.09.03 16.43.491920×1080 256 KB

shot 2026.09.03 16.43.44
shot 2026.09.03 16.43.441920×1080 255 KB

they certainly move, and it does feel more agile than ships of comparable size
but you’d probably have to test it with someone: have them shoot the bow rudder and compare the maneuverability to an undamaged Domine (and a ship of similar size/speed)

1 Like
5

How do you see the underwater parts like that?

6

take a ship out for a test drive and then it’s flank speed towards the nearest landmass

shot 2026.08.23 12.48.02
shot 2026.08.23 12.48.021920×1080 224 KB

you can also see some parts that would normally be hidden if you set the weather to stormy but its not as revealing

1 Like
7

ahh… “beached az bro” …

Something to usually avoid in Naval… but thanks for the tip :)

I was able to:

image

Kind of reminds me of:

Spoiler

image

8

thanks, now I can’t unsee it and I hate it
would be nice if the ship was as fast as Lightning McQueen, that would offset the bluewater spawn…

9

It’s the same story with the HMS Spey

10

I’m in agreeance to your original post regarding Commandant Dominé btw… No idea why it’s considered the same as a Bluewater destroyer

2 Likes
11

I am still baffled at gaijin thinking it’s a frigate. sure it kinda looks like one if you squint hard enough… but everywhere I look, not a single source calls it a frigate aside from a wikipedia page listing “frigates” (that somehow lists minesweepers and sloops as well…). and when you check the actual wikipedia page of the ship it’s labelled correctly… tempted to make a bug report but chances are it won’t go anywhere because “balance reasons” or something

1 Like
12

While that reply was late in the day/night guess todays actions … there’s a clear distinction between Ste(M) & Ste(RN) in my comment.

The stem of the vessel is the very front of the vessel while the stern is the very rear of a vessel.

As for the rudder, I was more or less highlighting a niche detail of the vessel, similar to the German Ruamboote having a Vioth Schneider Propeller. Doubt the devs would model such thing to have effects tbh, but I would be surprised if someone took time to actually model it which I would revert my thoughts & congratulate them.

13

Seems it was me doing the too-late at night reply with bad eyes!