Difference between revisions of "USS Asheville"

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<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
 
<!-- ''In the first part of the description, cover the history of the ship's creation and military application. In the second part, tell the reader about using this ship in the game. Add a screenshot: if a beginner player has a hard time remembering vehicles by name, a picture will help them identify the ship in question.'' -->
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor gun boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as part of the fleet closed beta test.
 
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American motor gun boat {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.79 "Project X"]] as part of the fleet closed beta test.
 +
 +
Being near the end of the coastal line, the armament and utility of the Asheville is greatly improved over previous gun boats, such as a rapid firing 3" gun and access to radar targeting module. Serving in the Vietnam war, Asheville excels in harassment tactics by destroying gun mounts of light bluewater ships and sinking coastal ships alike, then vacating the area before return fire can be sent.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
Line 12: Line 14:
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Talk about the vehicle's armour. Note the most well-defended and most vulnerable zones, e.g. the ammo magazine. Evaluate the composition of components and assemblies responsible for movement and manoeuvrability. Evaluate the survivability of the primary and secondary armaments separately. Don't forget to mention the size of the crew, which plays an important role in fleet mechanics. Save tips on preserving survivability for the "Usage in battles" section. If necessary, use a graphical template to show the most well-protected or most vulnerable points in the armour.'' -->
−
The USS Asheville suffers from a severe lack of armour, even against small arms fire. As a light coastal vessel, it does not have access to anti-fragmentation armour with an armour thickness barely surpassing 8 mm. This lack of armour is compensated with an impressive mobility. Due to the superstructure being very tall, it is a primary target for enemy fire, making it easy for all sorts of calibre to significantly damage the bridge and leave the ship commandless until it is repaired. The best armour for the Asheville is to remain unseen and hidden, primarily close to rocky locations or against any environmental cover that is big enough for the Asheville.
+
The USS Asheville suffers from a severe lack of armour, even against small arms fire. As a light coastal vessel, it does not have access to anti-fragmentation armour with a hull thickness barely surpassing 8 mm. This lack of armour is compensated for by impressive engines, allowing the vessel to reach speeds far higher than any other US ship of its size.,
 +
 
 +
Weighing in at 245 tonnes, the Asheville's damage model relies on hull sections to determine crew damage, rather than the internal compartments modeled on larger frigates. This means that any projectile capable of penetrating her hull has the potential to eliminate crew. For this reason, you should avoid showing your broadside to anyone with a rapid-fire auto-cannon.
 +
 
 +
With only a single main gun located on the bow, there's no substantial loss in firepower if you face the enemy bow-on. The long bow can also provide a short stand-off distance between light auto-cannons and the main magazine, but will not protect against AP rounds from anything larger. While her 3-inch mount is enclosed, it sports no anti-fragmentation armour commonly seen on some other frigates with the same weapon, such as USS Dealey or Japan's Chikugo. This means nearly any hit at its BR will completely disable your only primary weapon and is highly likely to start a fire.
 +
 
 +
Due to the bridge module spanning the entire length of the superstructure, it's easy for most weapons to tear it apart and leave the ship with no helm control until it is repaired. If the gun and bridge weren't big enough targets, there's also 200 ready-use shells stored on the deck between them, capable of causing substantial damage if hit.
 +
 
 +
Truly, the best armour she has is to remain unseen and hidden, primarily close to rocky locations or against any environmental cover that is big enough to conceal her.
  
 
=== Mobility ===
 
=== Mobility ===
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
 
{{Specs-Fleet-Mobility}}
 
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Write about the ship's mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward and reverse speed.'' -->
−
The Asheville is a pretty agile vessel, featuring a CODOG (Combined Diesel Or Gas) propulsion system, making it able to reach high speeds in a quick manner. It has a pretty responsive rudder even at low speeds. However, sometimes the rudder tends to "stick" when going backwards, making relatively hard to keep a constant heading while going on reverse. While it is not faster than many of the rest of coastal vessels seen in game, it certainly has a high endurance and speed for a vessel its size.
+
The Asheville is a pretty agile vessel, featuring a CODOG (Combined Diesel Or Gas) propulsion system, allowing it to reach high speeds quickly. It has a pretty responsive rudder even at low speeds. However, sometimes the rudder tends to "stick" when going backwards, making relatively hard to keep a constant heading while going on reverse. While it is not faster than many of the rest of coastal vessels seen in game, it certainly has a high endurance and speed for a vessel its size.
  
 
{{NavalMobility}}
 
{{NavalMobility}}
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=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
{{Specs-Economy}}
 
{{Specs-Economy}}
 +
After researching the tool set and the fire protection system, you can either select the APHE shell for anti-ship duty or the HE-VT shell to combat enemy aircraft. Then, you can either focus on improving the mobility or the gunnery. The 40 mm additional belts can be left aside, as the default universal belt is already effective against both surface and air targets.
  
 
== Armament ==
 
== Armament ==
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{{main|3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm)}}
 
{{main|3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm)}}
  
−
The main armament is the 76 mm Mk.34 gun located on the bow. It has an excellent rate of fire and elevation angles. It has access to HE, APHE and HE-VT rounds. At its battle rating, HE rounds inflict great damage to smaller boats and the gun accuracy allows to use this round with success against bigger targets and destroyers at closer ranges. APHE shells are of great use versus more armoured gun boats allowing you to deal with them way faster. HE-VT rounds combined with excellent gun elevation angles and radar allow you to deal with planes from a safe distance, compensating for the lacking dedicated anti-air armament. Switching ammo type can take around 10 seconds. The gun also overheats quickly and it can take some time to bring it back online, which should be taken into account when engaging bigger or more numerous targets.
+
The main armament is the 76 mm Mk.34 gun located on the bow. It has an excellent rate of fire and elevation angles. It has access to HE, APHE, and HE-VT rounds. At its battle rating, HE rounds vary in effectiveness against lightly-armoured PT boats, and it currently takes multiple direct strikes to knock out even the most lightly-crewed of boats. APHE shells are of great use versus more armoured gun boats allowing you to deal with them way faster. HE-VT rounds combined with excellent gun elevation angles and radar allow you to deal with planes from a safe distance, compensating for the lacking dedicated anti-air armament (it should be noted that the Asheville only has a tracking radar onboard and not a search radar as well, so aerial target acquisition must still be done manually). Switching ammo type can take around 10 seconds. The gun also overheats quickly and it can take some time to bring it back online, which should be taken into account when engaging bigger or more numerous targets.
 +
 
 +
{{:3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm)/Ammunition|76 mm HC Mk.27, 76 mm APHE, 76 mm HE-VT}}
  
 
=== Secondary armament ===
 
=== Secondary armament ===
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The Asheville has a single 40 mm L/60 Mark 3 Bofors cannon located on the stern. While it might not seem extremely useful in combat, in practice it helps mitigate weaknesses of the primary armament. It provides a fast way to deal with threats directly behind the ship where the main gun can't cover or it can even be used to replace the main cannon during repairs. Its good damage output combined with a very short reload time allows you to shred any lighter enemy vessels. Overall, it's a great secondary to have for close quarters situations the main battery won't be able to handle.
 
The Asheville has a single 40 mm L/60 Mark 3 Bofors cannon located on the stern. While it might not seem extremely useful in combat, in practice it helps mitigate weaknesses of the primary armament. It provides a fast way to deal with threats directly behind the ship where the main gun can't cover or it can even be used to replace the main cannon during repairs. Its good damage output combined with a very short reload time allows you to shred any lighter enemy vessels. Overall, it's a great secondary to have for close quarters situations the main battery won't be able to handle.
 +
 +
* '''Universal:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
 +
* '''40 mm HE clips:''' {{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}
 +
* '''40 mm AP clips:''' {{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|AP-T|Armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEFI-T|High-explosive fragmentation incendiary tracer}}
 +
 +
{{:Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)/Ammunition|HEFI-T, AP-T}}
  
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
 
=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
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{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 
{{main|AN-M2 (12.7 mm)}}
  
−
The Asheville has access to two twin AN-M2 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. They are effective against lightly armoured vessels and low-flying aircraft and have little use outside those two target groups.
+
The Asheville has access to two twin AN-M2 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. They are effective against lightly armoured vessels such as the German LS3 and Soviet G-5, as well as low- or slow-flying aircraft such as floatplanes. When confronting aircraft, keep in mind that the general range that 12.7 mounts will accurately engage aircraft is about 500 m, giving limited coverage from incoming CAS. because of the 12.7 mm MG's limited range, its is advised to instead use the 3" inch HE-VT shells for defense, or to use the rear mounted 40 mm, as both of these weapons have a much more comfortable engagement distance.
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
−
''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
<!-- ''Describe the technique of using this ship, the characteristics of her use in a team and tips on strategy. Abstain from writing an entire guide – don't try to provide a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought. Talk about the most dangerous opponents for this vehicle and provide recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of playing with this vehicle in various modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 +
The Asheville currently has a peculiar playstyle compared to other coastal vessels due to updated damage modules and changes to 3" shells, Asheville is a glass cannon that can no longer hull break light PT boats as was possible in previous updates, nor survive for an extended period of time since the majority of crew is found in the bridge which can be easily knocked out. Because of this, positioning is the most important skill for a captain of an Asheville if they wish to produce results. Finding firing angles that apposing ships don't expect and hitting them in rapid succession until they die is the bread and butter of Asheville's gameplay. If the target fails to die after the fourth or fifth shot, get out. Any retaliation the Asheville faces is likely to end in her demise, so don't let the enemy even get a glance of Asheville and captains will do much better playing her.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
+
<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
−
*
+
* 3-inch mount with good rate of fire, access to radar tracking
 +
* Access to 3-inch HE, APHE and HE-VT rounds allow USS Asheville to deal with a large array of targets
 +
* Nimble and quick, allowing Asheville to quickly get into position and reposition when spotted
 +
* 40 mm mount in the back can deal with offending aircraft or PT boats if 3-inch gun is knocked out
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
  
−
*
+
* Sparse and unprotected crew results in immediate knock-outs, even rifle-calibre machine guns are a threat
 +
* Main armament, single 3-inch gun, will quickly overheat
 +
* Large ship for crew size, likely to be spotted, leading to quick demise
 +
* Exposed ready rack behind 3-inch -gun mount, easy to hit and detonate
  
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
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=== Operational History ===
 
=== Operational History ===
−
[[File:USS Asheville (PG-84).jpg|thumb|400x400px|USS Asheville underway in 1966.]]
+
[[File:USS Asheville (PG-84).jpg|thumb|350px|USS Asheville underway in 1966.]]
 
Following her commissioning and shakedown cruise, the Asheville was homeported at San Diego, California. She departed the port in April and sailed to Hawaii, then Guam, then her final destination of South Vietnam to serve in the Vietnam War.<ref name=":0" /> She saw eight years of service in the Asian and Pacific theatre, though large parts were spent in port due to a shortage of men and engine parts to service her rather unreliable propulsion system. She frequently conducted blockade missions off of the Vietnamese coast, in an effort to prevent the flow of arms and supplies to the communist rebels in South Vietnam.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
 
Following her commissioning and shakedown cruise, the Asheville was homeported at San Diego, California. She departed the port in April and sailed to Hawaii, then Guam, then her final destination of South Vietnam to serve in the Vietnam War.<ref name=":0" /> She saw eight years of service in the Asian and Pacific theatre, though large parts were spent in port due to a shortage of men and engine parts to service her rather unreliable propulsion system. She frequently conducted blockade missions off of the Vietnamese coast, in an effort to prevent the flow of arms and supplies to the communist rebels in South Vietnam.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
  
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;Skins
 
;Skins
 +
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_ashville_class Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_ashville_class Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 
''Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
 +
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the ship;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
Line 91: Line 119:
  
 
=== References ===
 
=== References ===
 +
 
;Citations
 
;Citations
−
<references/>
+
<references />
  
 
;Bibliography
 
;Bibliography
 +
 
* Ashe, W., & Holland, R. (2006). Asheville, USS. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from <nowiki>https://ncpedia.org/asheville-uss</nowiki>
 
* Ashe, W., & Holland, R. (2006). Asheville, USS. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from <nowiki>https://ncpedia.org/asheville-uss</nowiki>
 
* Priolo, G. (1996). NavSource Online:Motor Gunboat/Patrol Gunboat Photo Archive. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from <nowiki>http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11084.htm</nowiki>
 
* Priolo, G. (1996). NavSource Online:Motor Gunboat/Patrol Gunboat Photo Archive. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from <nowiki>http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11084.htm</nowiki>

Latest revision as of 01:34, 14 May 2024

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
USS Asheville
us_ashville_class.png
GarageImage USS Asheville.jpg
USS Asheville
USA flag.png USA
IV Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
3.3 3.3 3.3
Class:
Research:75 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:250 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The Asheville-class, USS Asheville (PGM-84) is a rank IV American motor gun boat with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as part of the fleet closed beta test.

Being near the end of the coastal line, the armament and utility of the Asheville is greatly improved over previous gun boats, such as a rapid firing 3" gun and access to radar targeting module. Serving in the Vietnam war, Asheville excels in harassment tactics by destroying gun mounts of light bluewater ships and sinking coastal ships alike, then vacating the area before return fire can be sent.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back
Hull8 mm (steel)
Superstructure4 mm (steel)
Number of section6
Displacement245 t
Crew28 people

The USS Asheville suffers from a severe lack of armour, even against small arms fire. As a light coastal vessel, it does not have access to anti-fragmentation armour with a hull thickness barely surpassing 8 mm. This lack of armour is compensated for by impressive engines, allowing the vessel to reach speeds far higher than any other US ship of its size.,

Weighing in at 245 tonnes, the Asheville's damage model relies on hull sections to determine crew damage, rather than the internal compartments modeled on larger frigates. This means that any projectile capable of penetrating her hull has the potential to eliminate crew. For this reason, you should avoid showing your broadside to anyone with a rapid-fire auto-cannon.

With only a single main gun located on the bow, there's no substantial loss in firepower if you face the enemy bow-on. The long bow can also provide a short stand-off distance between light auto-cannons and the main magazine, but will not protect against AP rounds from anything larger. While her 3-inch mount is enclosed, it sports no anti-fragmentation armour commonly seen on some other frigates with the same weapon, such as USS Dealey or Japan's Chikugo. This means nearly any hit at its BR will completely disable your only primary weapon and is highly likely to start a fire.

Due to the bridge module spanning the entire length of the superstructure, it's easy for most weapons to tear it apart and leave the ship with no helm control until it is repaired. If the gun and bridge weren't big enough targets, there's also 200 ready-use shells stored on the deck between them, capable of causing substantial damage if hit.

Truly, the best armour she has is to remain unseen and hidden, primarily close to rocky locations or against any environmental cover that is big enough to conceal her.

Mobility

Speedforward / back
AB97 / 46 km/h
RB72 / 34 km/h

The Asheville is a pretty agile vessel, featuring a CODOG (Combined Diesel Or Gas) propulsion system, allowing it to reach high speeds quickly. It has a pretty responsive rudder even at low speeds. However, sometimes the rudder tends to "stick" when going backwards, making relatively hard to keep a constant heading while going on reverse. While it is not faster than many of the rest of coastal vessels seen in game, it certainly has a high endurance and speed for a vessel its size.

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode Upgrade Status Maximum Speed (km/h) Turn Time (s) Turn Radius (m)
Forward Reverse
AB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 97 46
RB/SB Stock ___ ___
Upgraded 72 34

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 743 → 3 447 Sl icon.png
RB3 518 → 4 422 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications67 300 Rp icon.png
130 400 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost1 500 Ge icon.png
Crew training72 000 Sl icon.png
Experts250 000 Sl icon.png
Aces940 Ge icon.png
Research Aces480 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
110 / 180 / 100 % Sl icon.png
166 / 166 / 166 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Seakeeping Unsinkability Firepower
Mods new ship hull.png
Dry-Docking
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship rudder.png
Rudder Replacement
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship screw.png
Propeller Replacement
Research:
5 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship engine.png
Engine Maintenance
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
620 Ge icon.png
Mods ship damage control crew.png
Damage Control Division
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods ship fire control crew.png
Fire Division
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods engine smoke screen system.png
Smokescreen
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new ship pumps.png
New Pumps
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
21 000 Sl icon.png
620 Ge icon.png
Mods new aa caliber turrets.png
Anti-Air Armament Targeting
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
40 mm HE clips
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods apcbc tank.png
76mm_usa_mk34_navy_AP_ammo_pack
Research:
2 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
5 200 Sl icon.png
150 Ge icon.png
Mods new aux caliber turrets.png
Auxiliary Armament Targeting
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
40 mm AP clips
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods he frag proxi fuze ship.png
76 mm HE-RF
Research:
2 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
4 900 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods new main caliber turrets.png
Primary Armament Targeting
Research:
5 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods ship rangefinder.png
Improved Rangefinder
Research:
5 600 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png

After researching the tool set and the fire protection system, you can either select the APHE shell for anti-ship duty or the HE-VT shell to combat enemy aircraft. Then, you can either focus on improving the mobility or the gunnery. The 40 mm additional belts can be left aside, as the default universal belt is already effective against both surface and air targets.

Armament

Primary armament

Turret3-inch/50 Mk.34 gun
Ammunition1500 rounds
Belt capacity150 rounds
Fire rate50 shots/min
Vertical guidance-18° / 85°
Main article: 3-inch Mk.34 (76 mm)

The main armament is the 76 mm Mk.34 gun located on the bow. It has an excellent rate of fire and elevation angles. It has access to HE, APHE, and HE-VT rounds. At its battle rating, HE rounds vary in effectiveness against lightly-armoured PT boats, and it currently takes multiple direct strikes to knock out even the most lightly-crewed of boats. APHE shells are of great use versus more armoured gun boats allowing you to deal with them way faster. HE-VT rounds combined with excellent gun elevation angles and radar allow you to deal with planes from a safe distance, compensating for the lacking dedicated anti-air armament (it should be noted that the Asheville only has a tracking radar onboard and not a search radar as well, so aerial target acquisition must still be done manually). Switching ammo type can take around 10 seconds. The gun also overheats quickly and it can take some time to bring it back online, which should be taken into account when engaging bigger or more numerous targets.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
100 m 1,000 m 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m
HC Mk.27 HE 8 8 8 8 8 8
APHE APHE 121 98 77 61 49 39
Shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(s) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HC Mk.27 HE 823 5.9 0 0.1 500 79° 80° 81°
APHE APHE 823 5.9 0.01 4 63.7 47° 60° 65°
Proximity-fused shell details
Ammunition Type of
warhead 		Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Arming
distance (m) 		Trigger
radius (m) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
AA Mk.31 HE-VT 823 5.85 0 0.1 548 15 352.8 79° 80° 81°

Secondary armament

Turret40 mm Bofors L/60 Mark 3 gun
Ammunition2000 rounds
Belt capacity4 rounds
Fire rate160 shots/min
Main article: Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)

The Asheville has a single 40 mm L/60 Mark 3 Bofors cannon located on the stern. While it might not seem extremely useful in combat, in practice it helps mitigate weaknesses of the primary armament. It provides a fast way to deal with threats directly behind the ship where the main gun can't cover or it can even be used to replace the main cannon during repairs. Its good damage output combined with a very short reload time allows you to shred any lighter enemy vessels. Overall, it's a great secondary to have for close quarters situations the main battery won't be able to handle.

  • Universal: AP-T · HEFI-T
  • 40 mm HE clips: HEFI-T · HEFI-T · HEFI-T · AP-T
  • 40 mm AP clips: AP-T · AP-T · AP-T · HEFI-T

Penetration statistics
Ammunition Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
10 m 100 m 500 m 1,000 m 1,500 m 2,000 m
HEFI-T 3 3 3 3 3 3
AP-T 81 78 68 58 49 41
Shell details
Ammunition Velocity
(m/s) 		Projectile
mass (kg) 		Fuse delay
(m) 		Fuse sensitivity
(mm) 		Explosive mass
(TNT equivalent) (g) 		Ricochet
0% 50% 100%
HEFI-T 874 0.9 0 0.1 67.13 79° 80° 81°
AP-T 874 0.89 - - - 47° 60° 65°

Anti-aircraft armament

2 х Turret2 x 12.7 mm Browning AN-M2 machine gun
Ammunition4000 rounds
Belt capacity200 rounds
Fire rate577 shots/min
Main article: AN-M2 (12.7 mm)

The Asheville has access to two twin AN-M2 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. They are effective against lightly armoured vessels such as the German LS3 and Soviet G-5, as well as low- or slow-flying aircraft such as floatplanes. When confronting aircraft, keep in mind that the general range that 12.7 mounts will accurately engage aircraft is about 500 m, giving limited coverage from incoming CAS. because of the 12.7 mm MG's limited range, its is advised to instead use the 3" inch HE-VT shells for defense, or to use the rear mounted 40 mm, as both of these weapons have a much more comfortable engagement distance.

Usage in battles

The Asheville currently has a peculiar playstyle compared to other coastal vessels due to updated damage modules and changes to 3" shells, Asheville is a glass cannon that can no longer hull break light PT boats as was possible in previous updates, nor survive for an extended period of time since the majority of crew is found in the bridge which can be easily knocked out. Because of this, positioning is the most important skill for a captain of an Asheville if they wish to produce results. Finding firing angles that apposing ships don't expect and hitting them in rapid succession until they die is the bread and butter of Asheville's gameplay. If the target fails to die after the fourth or fifth shot, get out. Any retaliation the Asheville faces is likely to end in her demise, so don't let the enemy even get a glance of Asheville and captains will do much better playing her.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • 3-inch mount with good rate of fire, access to radar tracking
  • Access to 3-inch HE, APHE and HE-VT rounds allow USS Asheville to deal with a large array of targets
  • Nimble and quick, allowing Asheville to quickly get into position and reposition when spotted
  • 40 mm mount in the back can deal with offending aircraft or PT boats if 3-inch gun is knocked out

Cons:

  • Sparse and unprotected crew results in immediate knock-outs, even rifle-calibre machine guns are a threat
  • Main armament, single 3-inch gun, will quickly overheat
  • Large ship for crew size, likely to be spotted, leading to quick demise
  • Exposed ready rack behind 3-inch -gun mount, easy to hit and detonate

History

USS Asheville (PGM-84) was the lead ship of the Asheville class, a series of seventeen patrol gunboats built for the US Navy. Completed in 1967, she saw service in the Vietnam War as a blockade ship and patrol vessel. Following the end of hostilities in Vietnam, Asheville returned to the United States as a training vessel; she would eventually serve as a training ship in the Great Lakes, and was transferred in 1977 to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy.[1][2]

Design and construction

The Asheville was designed as a small gunboat, and thus displaced 240 tons. She carried an armament of a single 3-inch (76 mm) gun at the bow, a 40 mm Bofors gun at the rear and two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns.[2] Being a patrol boat, she had a small crew complement of just 37. Equipped with a CODOG (combined gas and diesel propulsion) system, she could make a top speed of 40 knots (74 km/h).[2] Asheville was laid down on April 15th 1964 by the Tacoma boat-building company. She was launched on May 1st 1965, and commissioned on April 1st 1967.[2]

Operational History

USS Asheville underway in 1966.

Following her commissioning and shakedown cruise, the Asheville was homeported at San Diego, California. She departed the port in April and sailed to Hawaii, then Guam, then her final destination of South Vietnam to serve in the Vietnam War.[1] She saw eight years of service in the Asian and Pacific theatre, though large parts were spent in port due to a shortage of men and engine parts to service her rather unreliable propulsion system. She frequently conducted blockade missions off of the Vietnamese coast, in an effort to prevent the flow of arms and supplies to the communist rebels in South Vietnam.[1][2]

In December of 1972, the United States stopped its military involvement in Vietnam; this halted Asheville's combat activities. She remained in the Western Pacific for an additional two years, visiting a variety of Pacific ports. She then sailed for Chicago via the Panama canal, and arrived at her final destination in December of 1974. She served as a training vessel on the Great lakes between 1974 and 1977;[1] she was decommissioned on January 31st 1977 and simultaneously stricken from the navy list. She was then given to the Maine Maritime academy as a training vessel; her name is now taken by USS Asheville (SSN-758), a Los Angeles-class nuclear submarine.[1]

Media

Skins

See also

Links to articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

  • reference to the series of the ship;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

References

Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Ashe, W., & Holland, R. (2006)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Priolo, G. (1996)
Bibliography
  • Ashe, W., & Holland, R. (2006). Asheville, USS. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from https://ncpedia.org/asheville-uss
  • Priolo, G. (1996). NavSource Online:Motor Gunboat/Patrol Gunboat Photo Archive. Retrieved November 19, 2020, from http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/11084.htm


Tacoma Boatbuilding Co.
Motor Gunboats (PGM) 
Asheville-class  USS Asheville · USS Douglas

USA boats
Motor torpedo boats  PT-3 · PT-6 · PT-20 · PT-71 · PT-103 · PT-109 · PT-174
  PT-200 · PT-314 · Thunderbolt (PT-556) · PT-565 · PT-658 · PT-810 · PT-811 · PT-812
Motor gun boats  Kim Qui · LCS(L)(3) · PT-59 · PTF-7 · USS Candid · USS Asheville · USS Douglas · USS Flagstaff · USS Tucumcari · USS Cyclone
Armoured gun boats  LCM(6) Zippo

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