Battleship Gameplay Tactics

General Info

Battleship are the 'big-stick' damage dealers in Navyfield 2.

Being large and heavy makes them slow, however battleships have high DP and are tougher to destroy.

Being large targets means that battleships need to be aware of other battleships, aerial bombers, submarines and nearby destroyers who want to launch torpedoes at them.

How to use a Battleship (BB)

In an ideal situation (one where scouting is good and you can see your main guns score a hit) a BB should be looking to do damage to other BB's. [maybe CA/CL depending on the situation]

Multiple BB's on a team form a line to the opposing team. This line is to cover each other and to deny access to your CV's. Your CV is the team lifeline, providing protection and sight. Ultimately they gain you victory.

Engagement Tips

As with most ships, battleships should remain in motion at all times. Generally travelling in a line, but evading where necessary.

In early BB's ( teir IV + V's) players should remain grouped together with their team. Sinking stray enemies. And using team light/vision to shoot at opponents.

Later teir BB's can provide scouting for themselves allowing them the freedom to engage in BB to BB battles.

TIP: Always keep moving at maximum speed.

Battleships should always keep on the move. Especially when on the receiving end of an attack.

TIP: Retreat from the battle line when attacked by multiple battleships, or when you can't see the enemy.

TIP: Change speed and direction to throw off BB's targeting you.

Occassionally turning into or away from your opponent means they have to readjust their aim. But so do you.

In tier IV + V BB's, use auto aim and get used to hosing down your target with Main guns at max range. Use secondary guns if you know they are blind. If a DD appears close-by scouting your position, take this DD out quickly as it becomes a major threat to you.

Tier V bb's have one of the best ratios of DPS and are relatively small in size, making them very efficient at medium ranges. Use this to your advantage.

Remember: at-level the guns will make your shells inaccurate at longer range, especially if you have only 120% max morale instead of a fully boosted morale at 200%

Scouting

When your BB can equip a scout plane, do so immediately and practice with it.

A scout will give you vision over where you are shooting. This is a crucial point because without light (vision) you are vulnerable.

With the correct scouting you can anticipate enemy movement. It also reduces the chance of receiving surprise attacks.

Scout enemy planes.

Scouts also allow you to determine enemy plane movement. This is important, because it gives you insight into your enemy's ideas. Also you can see bomber squadrons from CV's. And all CV's will bomb their favourite targets: Battleships.

A bombing CV will be gunning for a big juicy battleship that isn't paying attention. Why? because CV's can get more damage and more rewards from BB's. And let's face it you would do the same, BB's are big easy targets.

Watch for fighter planes, as they can blast your scout out of the sky. Reducing you to having no light, no visibility and back into that nasty vulnerable state again.

TIP: Keep an eye on enemy scout plane locations to determine if you are able to get within range of other BB's without being spotted.

This is another crucial skill to develope. Determining the right time to "go for it" means you can successfully engage a target without getting shot at. Which is totally satisfying when executed correctly.

Late Game - Stalemates

Eventually when both teams are balanced and filled with experienced players, you will find a stalemate happens.

In these scenarios you can do two things:

Destroy all enemy scouts until they have none left, attacking them when they are blind.

Engage in a line battle at max range and try to goad the enemy towards you, picking them off one by one.

Usually a mix of the two is best because you get damage points while reducing the enemy's offensive capability.

Above all learn to be patient. A BB's fight is never quick and easy. It's a war of attrition with the most patient and level-headed player coming out victorious.

Manual Aiming

Although I mentioned using auto aim for the start, do not neglect Manual aiming completely. Give it a go to prepare yourself for the late tier BB's, where hitting all your shells on a target is even more vital, and can really make the difference.

View a more detailed look at Manual Aiming

First Battle Gameplay Tips

The initial battle screen can be a little daunting but relax it isn't so bad.

 Across the top is your ships' HP/DP bar (health), damage points you have dished out. Along the bottom is you ship direction (compass) and speed gauge. Available weapons and ammos.

 TIP: Always travel fast. A fast moving ship is harder to hit. DD's are small fast ships and should always be moving.

 At first you will want to engage with your guns, but don't rush in and bring too much attention to yourself.

 TIP: If you are getting shot at too much, retreat behind your team mates.

 TIP: Lead your target the further away your target is. Shells travel slowly, you will miss unless you aim in front of your target.

 TIP: Don't travel in straight lines. Keep spinning and turning. Make yourself a hard target to hit.

 TIP: When firing, bring all guns to bear on the target by turning to your broadside (or partly broadside). When the enemy are reloading turn your ship away form them. Give them the smallest target to shoot at.

Use auto aiming (clicking on the target) until you get into later Battleships. This is especially helpful as manual aiming in small ships is extremely tricky because of such fast-moving ships.

Target ships of similar level and line up a torpedo run. Torpedoes are your strongest weapon in early ships. But remember, they are slow and easy to avoid unless your target is very close. Always watch for torpedoes and listen out for torpedo warnings.

Be smart: learn to run away from, dodge, or steer between incoming waves of torpedoes. If you cant avoid being hit by torpedoes, take as few direct impacts as possible.

Surviving until the end, doing damage, sinking ships and capturing islands yield better result.

All of these tips are the key components of becoming a strong DD player. Many of the skills translate to almost all other ship types.