HMS Warspite is a British battleship and is known as one of the most decorated warships in history.
HMS Warspite: A Battleship for Great Britain at Rank VI
At a glance:
- 381 mm (15 inch) caliber guns!
- New armor-piercing shell!
- Air defense weaponry.
- Reconnaissance aircraft.
HMS Warspite was one of the five Queen Elizabeth-class battleships built during the “battleship race” between Great Britain and Germany and was commissioned into the fleet in March 1915. During World War I, Warspite participated in the Battle of Jutland, entering into the thick of the battle, receiving heavy damage. In the interwar period, Warspite became the flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet. Before the start of World War II, Warspite underwent two major modernizations, receiving a new power plant, significantly strengthened armor and a large battery of automatic anti-aircraft guns.
During the first months of the Second World War, HMS Warspite began active operations, playing a key role in the Second Battle of Narvik and in the Mediterranean during the Battle of Cape Matapan and the Battle of Calabria. Warspite also served as a floating air defense battery, providing evacuation cover for the British in Crete, before going across the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean after having repairs and new-anti aircraft weapons installed. From here, Warspite operated until the spring of 1943 and then went back again to the Mediterranean to support the Allied landing in Italy. This is where the ship received severe damage from a direct hit by a Fritz X guided aerial bomb. Finally, the last major operation that Warspite participated in was the Normandy landings.
At the end of the war, Warspite’s mechanisms and guns were significantly worn out and in 1946 the ship was sold for scrap. HMS Warspite became the Royal Navy record holder for the number of awards received by a ship.
Introducing HMS Warspite!
A new representative of the Queen Elizabeth-class super-dreadnoughts and a sister ship of HMS Barham is going to delight naval fans with her incinerating 381 mm salvos, new armor-piercing shells for Great Britain, reinforced armor and many anti-aircraft weapons. Meet a legend and veteran of two World Wars — HMS Warspite, a new top battleship for Great Britain’s Bluewater fleet!
The signature power of the British 15 inch guns is further enhanced by the introduction of the late Mark XVIIb shell. This new armor-piercing shell contains 22 kg of shellite explosive mass and has up to 650 mm armor penetration against flat armor, meaning it’s capable of penetrating the armor of most enemy ships even at very distant combat ranges. This same shell will also be added to some other British battleships in the next major update — HMS Renown, HMS Repulse and HMS Hood!
Interesting: During the battle near Calabria, HMS Warspite hit the Italian Giulio Cesare battleship while it was moving with a main caliber shell from an incredible distance of 24 km!
HMS Warspite comes to the game in her 1942 upgrade, featuring improved horizontal armor and good anti-aircraft weaponry. This includes four 40 mm 8-barrel pom-pom guns in the superstructure as well as 15 20 mm autocannons, which is a rare setup for a dreadnought! Additionally, Warspite features some four and six inch guns on both the port and starboard side.
Did you know? Warspite was given the nickname of “Grand Old Lady” in 1943 by her commander Admiral Andrew Cunningham. A fitting name!
HMS Warspite is going to become one of the best ships in the game and is capable of acting both alone, surviving for a long time under concentrated fire from the enemy, and together with teammates. This ship has no obvious weaknesses except perhaps for its relatively average mobility and a fairly slow turret rotation speed. She has many advantages, the main ones being great firepower and good armor protection, plus the anti-aircraft protection and a reconnaissance aircraft, which is useful! HMS Warspite will give you absolute freedom in choosing tactics and will show itself excellently both in attack and in defense.
That’s it for this one! HMS Warspite will be appearing in the game with the release of the next major update. Keep an eye out for more dev blogs coming your way!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.
