LS 4 Esau
Contents
Description
The LS 4 Esau is a premium rank I German motor torpedo boat
with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.83 "Masters of the Sea" as part of the release of the fleet into open beta test.
General info
Survivability and armour
Survivability is taking advantage of its small size and maneuverability, and being extremely tactical in attack vectors. Avoid engagement as long as possible then strike fast and hard. While it can take a good deal of damage from rounds up to 40mm, it is big guns with HE found on BR 2.0 that are your greatest threat. The vulnerability in this unarmored tub is the side, limit exposure as much as possible. Hits on the bow or stern are manageable, minimal crew loss, giving you more time to press your attack. Damage is repaired fast and dries out faster. Again, avoid exposing your side to big cannons as they are often a 1 shot fatality!
Mobility
The LS 3 is an exceedingly capable boat, it can accelerate and decelerate very quickly and turn sharply. Top speed is very good, in the top 10 of fastest boats in game (excluding hydrofoils). Those qualities will offer a distinct advantage in tiny island maps were one can quickly duck between islands and pounce on targets when they don’t expect you. In open water it can do well by evasive weaving and use of smoke screens. Its turret is 360 degree azimuth by 90 degree elevation freeing you maneuver any way you need for perfect attack.
Armament
Primary armament
Main article: MG 151/20 (20 mm)
- One 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon (2x 600 rounds)
The 20 mm MG 151/20 can be deadly in proper hands, although surprisingly is it not as effective the the LS 3's 15mm cannon. At range the dispersion becomes excessive and it overheats faster thus needs higher still to be successful. It has an insane fire rate of 750 rates per minute, which means it can take small boats and aircraft's in its BR in seconds. However, this cannon overheats easily, so never keep firing for too long. At range fire short half second bursts. Like the AN/M2 MG (also a type found on aircraft), this gun has large belt capacity and long reloading time.
Torpedo armament
Main article: LT 1A/1
- Two 450 mm LT 1A/1 torpedoes
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 get 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).
Pros and cons
Summarize 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 - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".
Pros:
- Decently powerful MG 151 20mm cannon
- 360 degree turret with 90 degree elevation arc.
- High top speed can make it difficult to lead and destroy
- Very good manoeuvrability, can change direction quickly
- High ammo capacity, able to outlast contemporaries in a firefight with good trigger discipline
- Relatively high rate of fire
Cons:
- Gun is capable of overheating, limits the usefulness of high ammo capacity
- Very fragile, incredibly vulnerable to large cannons with HE rounds.
- Single gun eliminates almost all offensive capability if disabled
- Long reload time
- Low ammo count overall; limited to two magazines (although resupplied fast at cap point)
History
Leicht-S-Boot (Light-Torpedo boat, or Midget torpedo boat)
In the mid 1930’s the German navy considered small (12.5m long), fast torpedo boats launched from carrier ships as tactically viable ideas. Two boats of the class called Light (or Midget) Torpedo boat were built, the first (LS 1) was made of wood, while the second (LS 2) was all aluminum built by Dornier Flugzeugwerke. Yes, this is the same Dornier of the famed Do 17, Do 217, and Do 335 aircraft, but not an insane choice given Dornier well known history of making seaplanes.
At the time the desired engines (Daimer-Benz Maybach’s) were not available thus forced to used less powerful Jumo 205 Diesels, and neither were the torpedoes. Instead of torpedo boats they became minelayers, and combined with other issues resulted in disappointing performance and the idea was put on hold at start of war in Europe.
The next year the idea was revisited, this time Dornier’s all metal boat was chosen, Daimler-Benz MB 507 light Diesel engines and so were 45 cm torpedoes. In addition a new MG 151 15mm cannon was installed in a turret on the roof. Two were built, the LS 3 (delivered on the 14.10.1940) and LS 4. There is a deviation from historical and game at this point, as the records indicate the LS 3 carried 4 mines, not torpedoes, and the LS 4 would also have 15mm cannon, not 20mm (but the MG 151 was interchangeable, so would be easy to upgrade to MG151/20 20mm).
Over the years a total of 12 LS was built, with both Jumo 205 and Daimler-Benz MB 507, the latter carrying torpedoes. Surviving combat records place operations in the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Black Sea areas. Fate of the boats is lost, but it seems that at least one, LS 12, was captured and used by the Soviets after war.
Media
See also
Links to the 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
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- encyclopedia page on ship;
- other literature.
| 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 |
| Germany premium ships | |
|---|---|
| Motor torpedo boats | LS 4 Esau · KM-5 · S-204 Lang · S-701 |
| Minelayers | VS-8 |
| Sub-chasers | M-802 |
| Frigates | Lübeck |
| Destroyers | Jaguar · Luchs · T31 · Z20 Karl Galster · Z25 · Z47 |
| Light cruisers | Karlsruhe |
| Heavy cruisers | Prinz Eugen |
| Battleships | SMS Nassau |
