R-41
Contents
Description
The R-41 class of boats was part of the R boat family, designed in Germany to serve as coastal ships and minesweepers before and during World War 2. This vessels served both with the Kriegsmarine and the Bundesmarine, and some were exported to third-world countries in the 1950s. The R-41 was a big improvement in the R boat family, all from vessels starting with the R-41 included an additional 37mm cannon. The R-41 had a displacement of 125 tons and was built between 1939 and 1943. This vessels participated in WW2 in coastal patrol and minesweeping. After WW2, the survivors of the R boat family were used by the German Minesweeping Administration and other Allied nations.
Introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X", the R-41 is relatively large for a gunboat of its BR. It lacks armor since it is made out of wood, thus, fires are extremely dangerous and API or HE shells will make a lot of damage on deck. However the R-41 is highly agile with its improved powerplant, while it has access to a decent armament capable of dealing with small coastal ships and enemy aircrafts. A good strategy is defending capture points from attackers that try to rush it with small and unarmored gunboats, that will be suitable targets for your 20mm cannons.
General info
Survivability and armour
The R-41 is constructed using mostly wood, the superstructure, and hull are wooden. The wooden construction of the R-41 means fire is one of the biggest threats to the survival of this ship, the hull will not absorb so much damage. There is no armour on the ship. The R-41 has a crew placement of 34, which provides a great attachment of sailors, which helps to increase the overall survivability of the R-41 dramatically compared to other ships in this tier.
However, the internal components of the R-41 are spaced out, meaning a good volley of enemy fire will not completely incapacitate the ship.
- The engine is placed, under the conning tower of the ship, with the transmission extending towards the stern (rear) to the Voith Schneider propulsion system.
- The transmission is under the waterline, which protects it from most enemy rounds, which would penetrate the ship.
- Enemy fire can destroy the Voith Schneider propulsion system as it extends above the waterline.
- Enemy fire can penetrate the ship's fuel and ammunition storage due to the fact that these locations are above the waterline.
Mobility
The R-41 is slow in comparison to other boats at this tier, however, it is equipped with a Voith Schneider propulsion system, which makes up for the slow top speed. The Voith Schneider propulsion system empowers the R-41 (and R-130) with a top speed of 50 km/h in arcade battles. In realistic and simulator modes, it has a top speed of 37 km/h, which is still respectfully fast for a naval ship.
Unlike other ships which use a conventional propeller & rudder system, the Voith-Schneider Propulsion (VSP) system uses a "cyclorotor" which provides incredible manoeuvrability, allowing incoming enemy fire and torpedoes to be dodged, just before they are about to impact the ship, without delay, whilst keeping the top speed almost the same. This effect is only partially modelled as of update 1.99.
Modifications and economy
| Seakeeping | Unsinkability | Firepower | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armament
Primary armament
The two cm/65 C/30 (20 mm) automatic cannons are equipped with a 40 round magazine. To best utilise the cannon in a naval battle environment, ideally use universal or the APT magazine choice. These provide the most stopping power in a ship to ship encounter. When operating the cannons, aim in front of the enemy ship, and adjust the fire by watching the tracer rounds hit the target. Locate the key areas which are important for the rival ship to survive and target those i.e. Bridge, Engine room, Ammunition storage areas.
The cm/65 C/30 (20 mm) automatic cannons work very well in close and medium-range engagement. However, at a long-distance engagement, they are not as effective as other types of guns or cannons.
When engaging enemy aircraft, the cm/65 C/30 (20 mm) automatic cannons are able to deliver a catastrophic blow to any enemy aircraft, which may decide your attack. The hitting power from these rounds, make this one of the most powerful anti-air deterrence in the game. With a few well-placed shots, Aim for the wing spars and engines, the enemy aircraft will soon be destroyed.
There are three ammunition types available:
- Universal: AP-T · AP · HEF-T · HEF
- 20 mm HET magazines: HEF · HEF-T · HEF · AP
- 20 mm APT magazines: AP · AP-T · AP · HEF
| Penetration statistics | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm) | ||||||
| 10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1,000 m | 1,500 m | 2,000 m | ||
| HEF-T | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| AP | 36 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 11 | |
| AP-T | 36 | 35 | 27 | 20 | 15 | 11 | |
| HEF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Shell details | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ammunition | Velocity (m/s) |
Projectile mass (kg) |
Fuse delay (m) |
Fuse sensitivity (mm) |
Explosive mass (TNT equivalent) (g) |
Ricochet | ||||||
| 0% | 50% | 100% | ||||||||||
| HEF-T | 835 | 0.12 | 0 | 0.1 | 10.54 | 79° | 80° | 81° | ||||
| AP | 785 | 0.15 | - | - | - | 47° | 60° | 65° | ||||
| AP-T | 785 | 0.15 | - | - | - | 47° | 60° | 65° | ||||
| HEF | 835 | 0.12 | 0 | 0.1 | 10.54 | 79° | 80° | 81° | ||||
These require a 4 to 5.2 second reload time to replace a used magazine with a new one. To get the stupendous 4 seconds reload time, the crew requires an ace qualification, with crew skills to be fully achieved in the main calibre reload speed field.
Additional armament
The WBF depth charge, holds 60 kg of an explosive charge, it is a great weapon in the hands of a skilled captain, the depth charge can be placed to cause destruction to enemy ships by exploding below. The only reason the depth charge should be used on these types of ships is if enemy ships get too close. Depth charges are more inline to be a defensive weapon, instead of an offensive weapon. This ship uses the Voith Schneider propulsion system which provides incredible manoeuvrability, it is very easy to manoeuvre the bow where these are placed and drop them all under the enemy ship, causing the rival to explode.
It is important to remember that if they are destroyed on deck, it could also destroy the ship.
Usage in battles
The R-boot R-41 is long, lacks any armour, but is highly manoeuvrable with its Voith Schneider propulsion system. This empowers sharp and fast turns which allow the ship to make sudden broadsides with its great armament, which is able to accurately knock out an enemy target with a good range. The propulsion system, allows enemy shells to be dodged and courses changed, putting enemy range finders to shame.
This boat could be compared to a lobster, you will not be the first to cap a zone, but you will get there. You will be able to defend off attackers, whether it be air or naval units.
It is important to turn the ship into them, keeping the profile small, until you are within range to turn the ship broadside to bear the powerful cannons on to the opposing ship. If it is possible to get as close as you can, then drop some depth charges under them to knock them out with a splash!
The 20 mm autocannons, when using the cannons, make sure to track each round and adjust them - as soon as the rounds start hitting they will be dealing damage to the enemy ship or aircraft.
The most dangerous foes which this ship could face is are small fast attack and cannon equipped ships such as the G-5, which small profile and incredible manoeuvrability allow it to get close, it packs a powerful 12.7 mm machine gun or for the G-5 (ShVAK) which features a 20 mm cannon.
The BMO, Pr.1124 early and others like this, offer a sleek stealthy silhouette which can be hard to detect and could be easily missed in the heat of battle. Which can also be hard to knock out since they are armoured very well with armour plating. These ships also offer firepower which can knock out some of the biggest and meanest ships, with some well-placed shots, HMCS Brantford, PC-451 are also to be watched out for.
These ships can be countered by knocking out the main armament, first with well-placed shots. Once this is done, aim for the centre of the ship, and bridge area where the majority of the crew is located and fire up down its length, until it is knocked out.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Powerful main armament composed of 20 mm cannons
- Hard-hitting ammo belts are capable of shredding most boats it sees at its BR
- Excellent handing, including a very fast rudder shift time
- Spaced out crew increases the survivability of the vessel as more shots are needed to incapacitate the crew
- A large crew count of 34 crew members offers greatly-improved survivability compared to its peers
Cons:
- Only two guns installed, with minimal protection
- Firing arcs are rather limited, with a blind-spot in the rear of the vessel
- Guns have only 40 rounds per magazine, with a lengthy reload time (up to 5.2 seconds with stock crew)
- Absolutely no armour protection at all; in fact, the ship is made of wood
- Fires are extremely damaging as they will destroy the ship's wooden structure
- Engines and ammunition are located above the waterline, meaning that they can be hit relatively easily
History
Developed in the inter-war period, the R-Boots (Raumbootes) were designed as minesweepers, and they had deliberately low draughts in order to operate close to the coast. The armament was limited due to the intended mission of the ships. Propulsion was provided by two MAN marine diesel engines, providing 1,836 horsepower each and driving two shafts. Construction utilized a metal understructure and wooden framing.
424 R-Boots were completed, and they continually saw service up until 1945. They were notably used during the 1940 invasion of Norway. Only 140 of these ships survived the war, with many captured by the Allies or divided up between the Allies as spoils of war. 24 R-Boots were eventually reintroduced to the West German Navy and operated until the 1960s.
The R-Boots, despite being built as minesweepers, were forced into other roles during the war. They were used for search-and-rescue (SAR), ship hunting, coastal patrol, and convoy escort, among other duties such as minelaying. The ships were rarely used in their intended role (minesweeping) because of the defensive nature of the war for the Kriegsmarine.
R-41 was the lead ship of an R-Boot class, significantly larger than the preceding R-25. It had a length of 37.8 m and a displacement of 125 tons. This class consisted of R-41 through R-129, and the class was constructed until 1943.
Media
- Skins
See also
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
| Schlichting-Werft | |
|---|---|
| Minesweepers (Räumbooten) | |
| Type R-41 | R-41 |
| Germany boats | |
|---|---|
| Motor torpedo boats | LS 3 · LS 4 Esau · KM-5 · VS-10 |
| S-38 · S-38b · S-100 · S-147 · S-204 Lang · S-701 | |
| R-301 | |
| V-990 | |
| Jaguar · Hugin · Pfeil | |
| Motor gun boats | R-41 · R-130 · Krischan der Große |
| Motor torpedo gun boats | Albatros · Bussard · MZ1 · Pr. 206 |
| Minelayers | VS-8 |
