World of Warships News

Welcome aboard Friesland, Captain!

This ship became the lead ship of the second post-war series of destroyers in the Royal Netherlands Navy. She was officially classified as a submarine hunter (onderzeebootjager), but was so close to contemporary destroyers in terms of her specifications that both allies and potential opponents of the Netherlands used this designation. Friesland served in the Navy for more than 20 years and took part in a number of important diplomatic missions. Now you have the opportunity to take command of this famous ship!
https://youtu.be/4DMd2_ysl1s


After World War II, the Netherlands had to rebuild their Navy from scratch. In 1948, twelve Holland-class destroyers were ordered: six were to be finished by 1952 and six more—between 1953–1955. However, the country’s industry still hadn't recovered from the war and failed to complete the order. As a result, only four destroyers of this class were laid down between 1950–1951, and built by 1955. The engineers working on the ships were able to use some main power plants which had been produced for four pre-war destroyers in 1940, and which had sat unused gathering dust in storage during the German occupation. The eight ships that followed were built according to a modified project with another type of power plant. They became the Friesland-class destroyers. In the autumn of 1948, the Shipbuilding Bureau (Bureau Scheepsbouw) of the Naval Ministry developed an improved project—Submarine Hunter 1949.

Just like the preceding Holland class, the Friesland-class destroyers didn't carry any torpedoes. However, despite being similar on the outside, the new ships were faster and carried a more powerful armament. Foreign components and approaches were widely implemented—the main power plant was constructed by a U.S. license, their turbines were similar to those of the Gearing class, and all the artillery was developed by the Swedish company Bofors.

On December 17, 1951, the first ship of the new project was laid down at the NDSM shipyard in Amsterdam—HNLMS Friesland. She was commissioned on March 22, 1956. The new ship was named after the Netherlands province, Friesland. Just like same-class ships, the new destroyer became the Navy's work horse.
Commissioning ceremony of Hr.Ms. Friesland (D 812) in Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij in Amsterdam, March, 1956. Courtesy of The Netherlands Institute of Military History.

In July 1956, Friesland, together with cruiser HNLMS De Zeven Provinciën and destroyer HNLMS Zeeland, sailed off on an important diplomatic mission. It was the first time since 1914 that Dutch ships went on an official visit to Russia. The Netherlands delegation was to visit Leningrad.

For post-war Dutch sailors, the Soviet Union was no less mysterious than the New World for their forefathers. However, a cordial and solemn reception awaited the Netherlands ships, first in Kronstadt and then in Leningrad. The residents of Leningrad and the Dutch sailors quickly found a common language, albeit with the help of translators.
Hr.Ms. Friesland (D 812) passing by cruiser Hr.Ms. De Zeven Provinciën (C 802), 1956. Courtesy of The Netherlands Institute of Military History.

Having completed her diplomatic duty, Friesland set out to defend the interests of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, and especially in the Southeast Asia. The former Dutch colony Indonesia was contesting the ownership of the western part of New Guinea island, which was under the control of the Netherlands. Indonesia was preparing a military operation with technical support from the U.S.S.R., and because of the dispute, the Netherlands Navy was growing its presence in the region. In 1962, the situation escalated to combat engagements, and in the course of one of them, Dutch destroyers sank a torpedo boat. Friesland wasn't directly involved in any fire exchanges, but her presence disrupted an Indonesian attempt to land troops on Misool island near the western coast of New Guinea.

The remainder of Friesland’s service was uneventful. Between 1980–1982, seven of Friesland-class destroyers were decommissioned from the Dutch Navy and sold to Peru. This South American state bought seven out of eight destroyers, except for the lead ship. On June 29, 1979, Friesland was decommissioned and subsequently scrapped.


During our work to bring Dutch destroyer Friesland to the game, we used historical photos such as blue prints. This would only have been possible with the help of The Netherlands Institute of Military History who kindly provided incredibly detailed photos of Friesland which helped us create historically accurate 3D models. We greatly appreciate all the help and assistance from our new Dutch friends, as without them we would have had great difficulty recreating Friesland to the quality and standards World of Warships is known for.

Dual-purpose battery: two twin dual-purpose mounts with 120 mm/50 Bofors guns.

Anti-aircraft armament: six 40-mm/70 Bofors SP48 anti-aircraft guns.

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Survivability Expert
  
• Concealment Expert

• Priority Target
  
• Last Stand
  
• Survivability Expert
  
• Concealment Expert
  
• Superintendent
  
• Adrenaline Rush
  
• Advanced Firing Training

• Main Armaments Modification 1
  
• Steering Gears Modification 1
  
• AA Guns Modification 1
  
• Propulsion Modification 2
  
• Concealment System Modification 1
  
• Main Battery Modification 3

IX Friesland is the lead ship of the second post-war series of destroyers in the Royal Netherlands Navy. In 1956, the ship made a formal visit to Leningrad, and in 1962, she took part in the West New Guinea dispute between the Netherlands and Indonesia. In World of Warships, this destroyer represents Europe and is placed at Tier IX. In contrast to other destroyers, Friesland doesn’t carry any torpedo armament. However, this is completely compensated for by her rapid-firing artillery, decent AA defenses, and a good choice of consumables.

• Four main battery guns with a very high rate of fire (reload time of 1.8 seconds without upgrades mounted or Commander skills mastered), good shell ballistics, comfortable aiming angles, and a high traverse speed of the main turrets.
  
• The AA defenses are additionally reinforced with the Defensive AA Fire consumable in a separate slot.
  
• The Smoke Generator consumable with features that are characteristic of American destroyers: her smoke screens will last longer than 2 minutes. The Hydroacoustic Search consumable, which comes in a separate slot, will allow you to assuredly detect enemy ships at distances of up to 5 km, and enemy torpedoes—at 3.5 km.
  
• The absence of torpedo armament is compensated for by a wide variety of consumables and efficient artillery.
  
• Extra credits per battle, as well as 100% more XP and –20% to the cost of the ship's post-battle service are provided by her permanent camouflage.

For a detailed look at the ship's technical specifications, follow this link.

IX Friesland can be obtained in the game for 1,000,000 Free XP.

• IX Friesland
• Commander with 10 skill points
  
• Port slot
  
• Combat mission: x3 XP for 25 battles
  
• 7,500,000
• 5,500
• 150×Equal Speed Charlie London
  
• 150×India Bravo Terrathree
  
• 150×Papa Papa
  
• 150×Zulu
  
• 150×Zulu Hotel
  
• 130×Damage Control Party II
  
• 130×Hydroacoustic Search II
  
• 130×Smoke Generator II
  
• 130×Defensive AA Fire II
  
• Commemorative flag

Bundles are available for purchase until Fri. 20 Sep. 07:00 CEST (UTC+2)


Enjoy free entrance all day, as well as a boatload of activities! Event starts: Sat. 14 Sep. 10:00 CEST (UTC+2) Event ends: Sat. 14 Sep. 17:00 CEST (UTC+2)

Dedicated Article

Captains! We’re pleased to announce that the submarines Beta Test is set to start really soon!

We've already informed you about the first submarine branches in the game, as well as shared the details of the main game mechanics and future gameplay changes for other ship types. Today, we'd like to invite you to take part in the Beta Test, and present a new Waterline episode in which we'll tell you about the details of the Beta Test and discuss the most popular questions that have been raised since the announcement of submarines.

In order to participate, you’ll need to download a special test client via the Wargaming Game Center. We’ll send all related information regarding the installation, as well as login credentials and special feedback forms to the email address linked to your account. We'll also keep you informed about all updates, arrange a special stream, and tell you about the peculiarities of playing on submarines and how to counter them in a dedicated article. You need to have a linked email address to participate!
https://youtu.be/M8lISUdNErY

Are you interested in joining the test? Log in to the website and click on the 'Apply' button below.

Please note: invitations to the test server will be sent gradually to random groups of players. Eventually, we'll try to provide access to all players who have submitted an application. We hope that all interested players will be able to try out submarines during several test iterations!


We understand that videos are not every player’s preferred format, so we've duplicated the most popular questions and answers in text format. You’ll find them below:


The in-game role of submarines will partly reflect their historical role. That is, first and foremost, about positioning, planning, waiting for the best moment to attack, and subsequently diving into the depths of the sea to escape retribution. From the right position, a submarine can cause turmoil in enemy lines, strike from an unexpected direction, disable a dangerous enemy, or divert the attention of destroyers towards herself, thereby allowing her allies to act much more freely.


Submarines have rarely been fast in reality, and often they have been significantly slower than other ship types. However, World of Warships is still a game, and it has certain conventions that make fights between our enormous steel monsters more dynamic and attractive. That's why, in our game, submarines have some of the same parameters as other ship types—making the game more vigorous and exciting, and also helping to integrate the new ship type comfortably into the game in consideration of its balance.


The Sonar Ping mechanics allow players to get deeply involved in battle and demonstrate their skill. They also represent what these vessels did in reality, albeit presented in a slightly exaggerated form.

In real life, an attack on a target took considerable time, and required complex calculations and careful target observation. At the same time, there were torpedoes with acoustic guidance, but they worked in a passive mode. Our mission is to create fascinating gameplay that includes all the tasks of a submarine crew. To do that, we've accepted some conventions by uniting two entities in one. In this way, we tried to turn the hard and painstaking work of submarine crews into fast and exciting gameplay.


On the test server, no more than two or three submarines per team are planned; on the live server, their number might be decreased to one or two. This will allow us to keep the overall dynamics and advantage of surface warships, as well as present submarines as a ship type that adds diversity to the main gameplay.


At the moment, this is a game convention that allows us to make the underwater level the safest zone for a submarine, where she will be able to avoid most kinds of damage and escape any enemies. However, there are still several test iterations ahead, and these in-game mechanics, as well as other mechanics related to submarines, can change.


It's their historical role. It was destroyers that tracked down and hunted submarines. Despite the fact that sometimes cruisers and battleships carried depth charges, they almost never actively hunted submarines. We're considering adding depth charges to some light cruisers, but it's too early to speak about such changes now.


Destroyers already perform a wide variety of tasks in battle. By making the release of depth charges automatic, we are reducing the number of actions that the destroyer is required to perform, thereby saving valuable time that a player can spend on other tasks.

Moreover, we tested several variants where the player had to click once or several times to release a charge, as well as a variant where the release of charges happened upon activating a consumable. We didn’t find any significant advantages over automatic release, which is why we've chosen this variant.

Zone activation is part of the game mechanics for destroyers hunting submarines, displaying their approximate location.


Although submarines have the best stealth parameters among all ship types and the possibility of going underwater, they still remain the most fragile ships and have just a small amount of medium-range torpedo armament. Moreover, if a submarine engages in active combat near you, you'll know at once. After she uses a sonar ping, her last location will be displayed on the Minimap. This will allow you to quickly catch the submarine due to her reverse speed being rather low. You can also force her underwater where she has to spend her oxygen supply and can't attack other ships. Submarines have a limited supply of oxygen which can only be replenished at the surface level, which is their most vulnerable position.

When you spot a submarine, attack her with HE shells. Their blast wave has the potential to affect her at a certain distance of impact and deal serious damage.

In future test iterations, other submarine countermeasures may be added.

Submarines pose a real challenge for the development team, but we are sure that with your support they will find their Captains and make battles even more interesting and enjoyable!

Captains!

The French arc has come to an end and the game is nearing a momentous occasion! This year, World of Warships is turning four! In the new celebratory episode, we’re getting together for a nostalgic look back at the events of the past year in our game.

So, how was it? Let’s reminisce together in the new episode of Developer Diaries!
https://youtu.be/NOrgX6MK4Uc

Did you like the video? Subscribe to our channel to stay tuned for new episodes!

Subscribe to the Channel

Brace yourselves for heated naval action in a new season of Ranked Sprint that will be fought with Tier VI ships in the Domination game mode. If you missed the previous seasons of Ranked Sprint and want to know more about it, our article is designed to answer your questions.




This time, we have an action-packed season of a short duration, with Ranked Battles unfolding in Domination mode on Tier VI ships. What makes a Ranked Sprint different from regular seasons of Ranked Battles? An easier competition format and reduced duration. The Sprint lasts for 10 days only, and contains fewer ranks—half of them being irrevocable. It also takes fewer Stars to climb to the top ranks. Participation in the Ranked Sprint brings a lavish amount of signal flags; 500,000 credits—and 10,000 Coal for the Armory as a reward for attaining Rank 1.
Season starts: Thu. 05 Sep. 08:00 CEST (UTC+2) Season ends: Sat. 14 Sep. 08:00 CEST (UTC+2)

• All players with access to Ranked Battles in their Service Record are eligible for participation in Ranked Sprints. Beginners in World of Warships will have to play 130 battles in any of the available modes in order to gain access to them.
  
• Only Tier VI ships are allowed.
  
• Battles are fought in a 7 vs. 7 format. Team lineups are mirrored in terms of ship types.
  
• Only one aircraft carrier per team is allowed.
  
• By winning battles, players earn the Stars needed to climb the ranking ladder. For the majority of ranks, a defeat means a lost Star.
  
• The player with the most base XP in a team doesn't lose a Star upon their team’s defeat.
  
• The number of ranks is 10, which is less than in a regular season.
  
• All players start battles at Rank 10.
  
• Players receive a bonus star for each new rank attained.
  
• Ranks 10, 9, 8, 5, and 3 are irrevocable. Players can't lose stars at Ranks 10 or 9.
  
• This season, all ranks are combined into a single league.
  
• Ranked Sprint achievements aren’t inherited from previous Ranked Battle seasons, and aren’t transferred to those that follow.
  
• Stars earned in Ranked Sprints are not counted as the Stars required to be awarded Ranked Battle emblems.

• Divisions are allowed in Ranked Sprints.
  
• The maximum number of players in a Division is two.
  
• A Division can enter battle only if the opposing team also has a Division.
  
• Each team can have a maximum of three Divisions.

• Rank 1 is the highest achievable rank.
  
• Players who attain Rank 1 can no longer participate in further battles of the current season.

Battles will be fought in Domination mode on the following maps: Archipelago, Ring, Big Race, New Dawn, and Trident.




See you on the high seas, Captains!

Please note that the servers will be temporarily unavailable due to the release of an update. The schedule is available below.
Maintenance times are tentative and subject to change. Please accept our apologies for any inconveniences.


The new update will go live some time after it's been downloaded because the client and server sides are updated separately. While the client begins to update immediately, it takes time for the servers to be updated across all regions.

If there are problems with downloading or launching the update—please perform files integrity check.

Update 0.8.7.1 hits the live servers on September 4. With its arrival, European destroyer Friesland is entering the game, and the Armory is set to offer random bundles that can be obtained in exchange for Coal.

Due to the release of Update 0.8.7.1, cross-server matchmaking will not be available for Clan Battles on Wednesday, 4th September.

Meet destroyer IX Friesland—the newcomer to the European Tech Tree branch. In contrast to other destroyers, Friesland doesn’t carry any torpedo armament. However, this is completely compensated for by her rapid-firing artillery and a good choice of consumables.

• Four main battery guns with a very high rate of fire (their reload time is 1.8 seconds without upgrades mounted or Commander skills mastered), very good shell ballistics, comfortable aiming angles, and a fast main turret traverse speed.
  
• The AA defenses are additionally reinforced with the Defensive AA Fire consumable in a separate slot.
  
• The Smoke Generator consumable with features characteristic of American destroyers: her smoke screens will last longer than 2 minutes. The Hydroacoustic Search consumable, which comes in a separate slot, will allow you to assuredly detect enemy ships at a distance of 5 km, and enemy torpedoes—at 3.5 km.

IX Friesland can be obtained in the game for 1,000,000 Free XP.

Update 0.8.7.1 will give you a chance to exchange Coal for valuable rewards: credits, French Riviera camouflages, and special/economic signals.

The Legion of Honor section of the Armory will be complemented with random bundles that can be obtained in exchange for 3,000 Coal each.


Random bundles are an in-game exchange mechanic for obtaining items from the Armory. It functions in the following way:

• All the rewards are visible in advance: the bundles’ contents and their amounts are displayed when viewing the currently available bundle.
  
• After each exchange, one new random bundle opens out of 32 available.
  
• Having collected all the bundles, you're guaranteed to have obtained all the available rewards.

Please note that these random bundles will cease to be available with the release of Update 0.8.9.

• Fixed a bug that caused the disappearance of the image on the cargo ship banner in the Port.
  
• Fixed a bug that caused the Summer Season patch not to be displayed.

In Update 0.8.7 we changed the AA mechanics in our game. One of these changes made it so that only ships with long-range AA capabilities can make use of aerial explosions. Because of this, the "AA Guns Modification 1" upgrade has become ineffective on certain ships that don’t have a long-range AA defense zone.

Therefore, players will be compensated in the amount of 250,000 credits for each ship in their port which both does not have a long-range AA zone, and has the "AA Guns Modification 1" upgrade installed.

• V Acasta
• VI Aigle
• VI Anshan
• VII Błyskawica
• VIII Cossack
• VI Ernst Gaede
• VI Fushun
• VII Gadjah Mada
• VI Guépard
• VI Gnevny
• V Gremyashchy
• V Jaguar
• VII Jervis
• V Jianwei
• VIII Kiev
• VIII Le Fantasque
• VII Leberecht Maass
• VII Leningrad
• VIII Le Terrible
• V Marblehead
• V Marblehead Lima
• VII Minsk
• IX Mogador
• V Murmansk
• V New York
• V Okhotnik
• V Oktyabrskaya Revolutsiya
• V Omaha
• V Podvoisky
• VIII Saipan
• V Siroco
• V Texas
• VI T-61
• VII Vauquelin
• VIII Z-23
• VII Z-39

Please note: Due to technical limitations, compensation will be credited automatically only for the eligible ships that have at least one battle played on them in the period between 30.01.2019 and 02.09.2019. Compensation credited by: Tue. 03 Sep. 23:59 CEST (UTC+2)

Thank you for your understanding and fair seas!

P.S.: The following promotion was prolonged till 2019-09-30. If you haven't left a comment yet — don't miss an opportunity!
https://steamcommunity.com/app/552990/eventcomments/1634166237645649210