K2

K2

T22

Z22 Anton Schmitt

K2

T22

Z22 Anton Schmitt

Germany

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.3	4.3

Class:

Destroyer

Frigate

Research:5 900

Purchase:6 300

Show in game

Description

The K class, K2, 1941 was a K-class sloop built for the Royal Netherlands Navy to replace the aging Brinio-class gunboats. Originally seven ships were planned, but only three were laid down and two more ordered. By the time of the German invasion of the Netherlands, the ships were still incomplete and not yet launched. The K2 was laid down in 1939 and commissioned in 1942. Very little is known about her career except that she was hit by an aerial torpedo on 9th October 1944, heavily damaging her. She was towed to port and at the end of the war found in port of Horten, Norway. She was then towed to the Dutch port of Delfzijl where she sank by accident in November 1945. On 26th July 1946, she was raised and, after inspecting her, sold for scrap in 1947.

The K2 was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as part of the fleet closed beta test. Unlike any destroyer or even some light cruisers, the K2 features 40 mm thick belt armour protecting magazines with 50 mm plates protecting vital machinery such as engine and fuel tanks. The turret ammo elevators are surrounded by 60 mm armour as well as the turret itself are protected by 60 mm thick armour all-round making them immune to auto cannon and lower calibre fire. The bridge is protected by 35 mm rolled homogeneous armour all around, again making it much more protected than any of its contemporaries. As the K2 was designed to serve in coastal waters, her max speed is only 34 km/h. The main armament of four 120 mm cannons is on par with destroyers of other navies.

General info

Survivability and armour

Armourfront / side / back

Main fire tower50 / 60 / 35 mm

Hull16 mm (steel)

Superstructure5 mm (steel)

Number of section6

Displacement1 420 t

Crew184 people

As the K2 is a frigate, it's important to note that it is not fast with a top speed of 34 km/h (AB:47 km/h) which makes it as fast as a Killer whale. Indeed, the K2, could be compared to a Killer whale! It's not very fast, it can't manoeuvre very fast, it can't evade torpedoes at close range. However, it's very strong, with armour plates providing up to 60 mm of protection, and its Herculean size compared to other gunboats, it makes it look and feel very opposing. It packs a very almighty bite! With its two turrets carrying 2 x 120 mm L45 cannons, 2 x four-barrel Flakvierling 38 automatic cannons, 2 x 2 cm C/38 (20 mm) automatic cannons and 2 x 3.7 cm (37 mm) SK C/30 automatic cannons.

The storage for its ammunition is stored below the waterline, they are also encased by the fuel tanks which wrap around the sides behind the 60 mm thick armour plates, making torpedo strikes less likely to sink the ship, however, it is not impossible to be sunk by a single well-placed strike. When playing this Herculean motorboat, sail towards the capture zone, do not head out to sea like a lone killer whale, because the K2 will be sunk, by enemy destroyers which prey on large slow ships, like this, for easy targets.

Mobility

Speedforward / back

AB41 / 13 km/h

RB34 / 11 km/h

Mobility Characteristics
Game Mode	Upgrade Status	Maximum Speed (km/h)		Turn Time (s)	Turn Radius (m)
		Forward	Reverse
AB	Stock	30	21	~146.02	~135.56
	Upgraded	41	13	___	___
RB/SB	Stock	___	___	___	___
	Upgraded	34	11	___	___

Its top speed of 34 km/h can be achieved within 18 seconds, which is very a great time to be under full-steam. Its top speed in arcade battles of 47 km/h can also be achieved within 18 seconds, not bad for a ship that displaces over 1,420 tons of water.

The manoeuvrability of the ship is like a killer whale, it's good, but it's not the best - it can make short sudden movements to dodge torpedoes only if they are coming towards the stern of the ship. Turning requires a large area to be completed, it's one of these ships where it's better suited to go in a straight line and stay in capture zones.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB634 → 822

RB1 007 → 1 306

Total cost of modifications5 940

4 500

Talisman cost410

Crew training1 800

Experts6 300

Aces80

Research Aces135 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

60 / 130 / 100 %

106 / 106 / 106 %

Modifications

Seakeeping	Unsinkability	Firepower
Dry-Docking Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 Rudder Replacement Research: 330 Cost: 250 80 Propeller Replacement Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Engine Maintenance Research: 480 Cost: 360 115	Damage Control Division Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 Fire Division Research: 330 Cost: 250 80 Smokescreen Research: 330 Cost: 250 80 Shrapnel Protection Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Ventilation Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Ammo Wetting Research: 480 Cost: 360 115 New Pumps Research: 480 Cost: 360 115	Anti-Air Armament Targeting Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 37 mm Spgr Lh 37 Research: 300 Cost: 230 70 Auxiliary Armament Targeting Research: 330 Cost: 250 80 Primary Armament Targeting Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Depth Charges Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Improved Rangefinder Research: 250 Cost: 190 60 Bomb mortar Research: 480 Cost: 360 115

Armament

Primary armament

2 х Turret2 x 120 mm/45 L45 cannon

Ammunition240 rounds

Vertical guidance-5° / 45°

The primary armament consists of four 120 mm L45 cannons mounted in two turrets, one front, and one rear. The turrets can turn 360 degrees, making changing broadsides easier. The shell selection is not a selection. You only have at your disposal a high-explosive round with 2.7 kg of TNT. The guns traverse at an average rate, but have a slow reload.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		1,000 m	2,500 m	5,000 m	7,500 m	10,000 m	15,000 m
120 mm HE	HE	32	32	32	32	32	32

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (kg)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
120 mm HE	HE	808	20.5	0	0.1	2.7	79°	80°	81°

Secondary armament

2 х Turret2 x 3.7 cm SK C/30 mounting

Ammunition4000 rounds

The secondary armament consists of four 3.7 cm cannons, in two turrets, one front and one rear. They reload fast, at 30 rounds per minute. In terms of shells, you get a HE and an APCBC. APCBC should always be used, as it has both a higher explosive power, and higher penetration power. It is possible to hit and detonate the enemy ammo racks with these, especially the unprotected ammoracks most ships have for their rear turrets, above the waterline.

Penetration statistics
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
		10 m	100 m	500 m	1,000 m	1,500 m	2,000 m
Spgr L/4.1 Lh 37	HE	2	2	2	2	2	2
Psgr L'spur Zerl	APCBC	87	84	71	58	48	39

Shell details
Ammunition	Type of warhead	Velocity (m/s)	Projectile mass (kg)	Fuse delay (m)	Fuse sensitivity (mm)	Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g)	Ricochet
							0%	50%	100%
Spgr L/4.1 Lh 37	HE	1,000	0.75	0	0.1	27.4	79°	80°	81°
Psgr L'spur Zerl	APCBC	1,000	0.82	1.3	15	37.4	48°	63°	71°

Anti-aircraft armament

4 х Turret2 cm/65 C/38 automatic cannon

Ammunition2000 rounds

Belt capacity40 rounds

Fire rate480 shots/min

2 х Turret4 x 2 cm/65 Flakvierling 38 automatic cannon

Ammunition8000 rounds

Belt capacity40 rounds

Fire rate480 shots/min

2 х Turret13.2 mm Hotchkiss machine gun

Ammunition1800 rounds

Belt capacity30 rounds

Fire rate476 shots/min

The AA guns are very good for a ship of it's size and tier. A total of 12 2 cm autocannons and 2 13.2 machineguns will provide very effective cover from enemy planes.

Additional armament

Setup 16 x WBD depth charge

Setup 24 x WBG depth charge

Setup 36 x WBD depth charge

4 x WBG depth charge

There are depth charges and grenade launchers, which are somewhat needless, but provide a hazard of being detonated by enemy shots. It is best to not carry them.

Usage in battles

The K2 excels in close-range combat, its L45 cannons rip apart enemy ships with well-placed shots, smaller lighter ships can easily be knocked out with a single hit directly on them. The Herculean size and armour of the ship allows it to dish out blows and take some more, without much damage.

Critical hits will most likely cripple the ship, with areas not well armoured such as under and to the left of the stern, and the bow turret. HE rounds could cause the ammunition to detonate. The armour belt also extends just above the waterline, which means that sailors can be knocked out easily with AP or HE rounds. Along with this, if the turrets are knocked out, you'll most likely be easy picking for torpedo boats and other warships.

Another thing to keep in mind when playing the K2 is to avoid long-range engagements, as the poor manoeuvrability and low speed can make you get picked off early in the match. This is why it's important to stay focused on what threats are appearing in the combat zone. Some notable threats to it are bombers, destroyers, torpedo boats and light cruisers. To stay combat effective for as long as possible, be sure to make use of the game's A.I. system to make the AA independent so that it can engage small surface ships and air targets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Dual-mounted 120 mm cannon located in each turret, you can land more shells and with more accuracy
• 120 mm rounds offer great damage when hitting targets
• Heavily armoured, below the belt
• Good anti-air capabilities

Cons:

• Low rate of fire, long reload times with the fastest reload time being only 6.3 seconds
• Only has two turrets, and conscious enemies will focus on knocking these out first
• L45 cannons only have HE rounds, No AP or other rounds possible
• The armour is only located around and on the: belt, bridge & turrets
• Slow 24 km/h, (15 mph) stock, increases the vulnerability of being hit by torpedoes or bombs
• Outclassed by other vehicles close to its battle rating, such as SKR-7 or Ognevoy
• It is regularly pitted against much faster and larger destroyers

History

The K-class gunboats were ordered as a replacement to the outdated Dutch Brinio-class gunboats that preceded them. Originally, seven ships of the class were planned to be constructed, three of which were ordered and laid down right away. However, the German occupation of the Netherlands in 1940 abruptly ended the construction of the already laid down ships, with pending orders for the remaining ships getting cancelled. Following the occupation, all three uncompleted warships were captured after falling into German hands.

The Kriegsmarine decided to continue construction and to complete all three of the captured warships for use in the German war effort. Thus, the K-1, K-2 and K-3 were all subsequently completed by 1940/41 and were put into commission with the German navy by 1942. The three gunboats primarily saw service in Norwegian and German waters, performing patrols and other low-profile missions. K-1, the lead ship of the class, was sunk right at the end of WW2 in 1945 off the coast of Denmark. The К-2's back of the deck was damaged by a torpedo during another air attack of the allies. The vessel had been towed back to Germany but was never repaired till the end of the war. After the war she was towed to the Netherlands where it sunk for unknown reasons, it was raised from the seabed and scrapped in 1946.K-3 was the sole survivor of the class, being recommissioned into Dutch service after WW2 under the name "Van Speijk". K-3 remained in Dutch service until 1960, after which she was sold for scrap.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the K2 from live.warthunder.com.

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

• [Devblog] Kanonenboot K-2: The Dutch Conscript

Werf Gusto
Gunboats
K-class	K2

Germany frigates
	Kriegsmarine
K-class	K2
	Bundesmarine
Köln-class	Köln · Lübeck
	Volksmarine
Pr. 50	Karl Marx