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QF STAAG Mark II (40 mm)

2022-06-28T01:41:41Z

U4045774: /* Description */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:QF STAAG Mark II (40 mm)}}

== Description ==

[[File:40mm QF STAAG Mark II.png|350px|thumb|left|The {{PAGENAME}} on the Battle (D14).]]
{{Break}}
The '''40 mm QF STAAG Mark II''' is a naval anti-aircraft twin mounting that consists of two British-produced, air-cooled Bofors 40 mm L/60 gun with onboard radar and fire control systems (radar functionality is not present in-game). The Bofors 40 mm L/60, also known as the "Bofors L/60", the "Bofors gun", or simply "the Bofors", was a highly successful Swedish anti-aircraft gun design of the interwar period and was widely used during the Second World War by both sides and in all theatres and remained in service long after the end of WWII.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|uk_destroyer_battle_tobruk}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_destroyer_battle_2series}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_destroyer_battle_cadiz}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_frigate_whitby_blackpool}}
* {{Specs-Link|uk_frigate_leopard}}

== General info ==

The QF STAAG Mark II has a barrel diameter of 40 mm and has a barrel length of 2.25 m. It has a magazine size of 4 rounds and has a rate of fire of 156 rounds per minute, though firing for too long will jam the gun.

=== Available ammunition ===

There are three ammunition choices available:

* 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}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===

All naval Bofors 40 mm L60 guns are virtually identical, the only difference between them being the rate of fire: all single mounts fire at 160 rpm, while twin and quadruple mounts fire at 156 rpm. They all fire the same ammunition from 4-round ammunition clips and have a short enough reload that they can sustain continuous fire as if there wasn't a reload at all. In other words, their cyclic rate of fire (mechanical rate of fire) is the same as their effective rate of fire (rate of fire with reload times taken into account). All naval Bofors 40 mm L60 guns can jam if fired for too long.

The only naval Bofors 40 mm L/70 currently present in the game is the [[MEL58 (40 mm)|MEL58]], which is, by and large, superior with a much higher rate of fire of 240 rounds per minute. The only other difference is the HE round: the MEL58's HE round has less explosive mass (0.03625 kg TNT eq.), but it has a higher muzzle velocity (1030 m/s).

It should be noted that [[4 cm Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm)|4 cm Bofors Flak 28]] is the only naval Bofors gun in-game with access to a pure HE ammunition choice, at the cost of not having any AP options. Every other naval Bofors gun has ammunition choices comprised of a mix of HE and AP, in ratios of 1:1, 3:1, or 1:3.

'''Compared to other common guns of similar calibre:'''

* [[3,7 cm SK C/30 (37 mm)]]: The 3,7 cm SK C/30 has a higher muzzle velocity for both its AP and HE rounds (1,000 m/s) and has a stronger AP round (87 mm @ 10 m, 0°; 0.0374 kg TNT equivalence); but it has a much slower rate of fire (30 rpm), has a weaker HE round (0.0274 kg TNT equivalence), and has a lower projectile mass for both its AP round (0.82 kg) and HE round (0.75 kg). This gun is single-shot and cannot jam.

* [[3,7 cm FlaK-Lafette C/36 (37 mm)]] and [[3,7 cm FlaK-Lafette LM/42 (37 mm)]]: These guns have a higher rate of fire (250 RPM); but they have a lower muzzle velocity for both their AP round (845 m/s) and HE round (815 m/s), have a weaker AP round (67 mm @ 10 m, 0°) and a weaker HE round (0.04403 kg TNT equivalent), and have a lower projectile mass for both their AP round (0.7 kg) and HE round (0.623 kg). These guns fire from a 5-round ammunition clip and have a very quick reload, so their cyclic rate of fire and effective rate of fire are practically identical. They cannot jam.

* [[70-K (37 mm)]]: The 70-K has a higher muzzle velocity for its HE round (880 m/s); but it has has a lower rate of fire (150 RPM), has a lower muzzle velocity for its AP round (880 m/s), has a weaker AP round (79 mm @ 10 m, 0°) and a weaker HE round ((0.05698 kg TNT equivalence), and has a lower projectile mass in both its AP round (0.758 kg) and HE round (0.72 kg). It fires from a 500-round magazine and can jam if fired for too long.

* [[2pdr QF Mk.IIc (40 mm)]] and [[2pdr QF Mk.VIII (40 mm)]]: These guns have a higher rate of fire (200 rpm) and have a lower projectile mass in their AP round (0.91 kg); but they have a lower muzzle velocity for its AP and HE rounds (701 m/s), have a weaker AP round (60 mm @ 10 m, 0°) and a weaker HE round (0.071 kg TNT equivalence), and have a lower projectile mass in both their HE round (0.82 kg). They fire from a 56 round magazine and cannot jam.

== Usage in battles ==

A twin mount of one of the best medium-range anti-aircraft cannons in the game, the QF STAAG Mark II provides very good AA coverage for any ships that it's mounted on. With a 0.0986 kg TNT equivalent explosive charge in each HE round, any hit on an enemy aircraft will usually result in critical damage, if not a kill. The rounds that these guns fire have an above-average muzzle velocity and projectile mass, resulting in a much further effective range than guns of a similar calibre: laterally (i.e. targeting surface targets), the maximum range is about 3.25 km.

Despite the guns' small magazine size of only four rounds, the reload is short enough that there isn't any noticeable difference between its cyclic rate of fire (the rate of fire only considering the mechanical speed of the gun) and its effective rate of fire (the rate of fire accounting for reload times). In other words, it can sustain virtually continuous fire, as if there was no reloading at all. However, this comes at the cost that if fired for too long, the gun can jam. For this reason, it can be advantageous to set the AI gunners to only target aircraft. If allowed to target surface targets, the AI gunners will often waste ammunition on targets well outside of the gun's maximum range, leaving the guns jammed when actually needed.

Since the QF STAAG Mark II is currently only mounted on destroyers in-game, there is no reason to use any ammunition option other than 40 mm HE clips since it contains the highest ratio of HE to AP rounds. While the AP rounds do have a very gun penetration for its calibre, armoured targets are more effectively dealt with using the destroyer's main armament anyway. With the 40 mm HE clips, the QF STAAG Mark II will have the highest effectiveness against its intended targets, aircraft and small boats.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Large explosive mass in HE round
* High-penetration AP round
* Very quick reload

'''Cons:'''

* Can jam if continuously fired for too long

== History ==

In 1928, the Swedish Royal Navy contracted the Bofors Company to design a suitable replacement for their Vickers 2-pounder guns anti-aircraft guns (the Vickers "Pom-Poms"). Work on the design began right away and a prototype model was produced by mid-1930. The prototype had a vertical sliding breech block design and was automatic. Upon firing, the recoil of the gun would open the breech and eject the spent casing out its rear whilst an autoloading mechanism would insert the next round into the empty breech, after which the action of the gun sliding back into place would close the breech once again, leaving the gun ready to fire once more.

While proving the potential of the design, the prototype failed to meet the specified rate of fire requirement of 130 rounds per minute. It wasn't until 1934 that a production model, 40 mm L/60 Model 1934, was ready. In the following years, minor improvements led to the development of 40 mm L/60 Model 1936, which would finally be accepted into Swedish service as 40 mm/60 Model 1936. Despite its name, the barrel length of the 40 mm L/60 Model 1936 was actually 2250 mm (56.25 calibres).

The British Army first purchased 100 Bofors guns in 1937 for examination and testing which were found to show satisfactory performance. However, many parts of the gun as originally designed were intended to be fashioned or fitted by hand, limiting the rate of production to a pace that couldn't possibly meet British demand. Thus, Britain acquired a licence to produce the gun domestically. Changes were made to the design to streamline mass production, including the conversion of measurements from metric to imperial. These changes not only vastly improved production efficiency, but they also lowered production costs.

The Stabilised Tachometric Anti-Aircraft Gun (STAAG) Mark II mounting was a post-war twin mounting with two mirrored OQF 40 mm Mark X guns mounted side-by-side. Weighing in at a total of 17.8 tonnes, the STAAG Mark II was one of the most complex anti-aircraft mounts of its time. The mount had its own stabilization systems and was triaxially stabilized, but not in the traditional sense; the mount itself was on stabilized on two axes, while the third came from lateral deflection of the guns themselves. Mounted to the rear and left of the guns, the STAAG Mark II carried the Type 262 radar, as well as a separate tracking radar and rangefinder, that provided onboard computers with target information, allowing the system to predict the target's movements. In this aspect, the STAAG Mark II was considered very accurate. The Mark X guns of the STAAG Mark II were water-cooled, and the STAAG Mark II had its own pumps to circulate water through the guns' water jackets. Additionally, the STAAG Mark II was hydraulically powered, able to elevate and train the guns at a rate of 35°/s both ways, and had an onboard backup generator in case power was cut to the system.

Sitting behind the gunshield and to the left of the guns was the gunner. Behind him was radar cabinet, just behind which sat the radar operator. Standing on a platform behind both of the guns was the commander, who had his own displays and controls. SAP, AP, and HE rounds were produced for the British Bofors guns, each weighing 0.894 kg (1.97 lbs.). Both SAP and AP were painted black with white tips, with AP being distinguished by a white ring painted on the body. HE, painted buff, had 0.068 kg (0.15 lbs.) of TNT and self-destroyed after travelling for approximately 3,200 m (3,500 yds). Rounds with tracer were indicated by an additional red ring. To either side of the commander at the rear of the firing platform were two ammunition hoists. Crewmen on the deck loaded ammunition into the hoists. Ammunition from the hoists was loaded by the crew on the firing platform through the top of the guns into ammunition "hoppers", from which the automatic loaders pulled the ammunition from. Spent cartridges were ejected out of the rear of the gun, down chutes redirecting them under the guns towards the front where they can be ejected safely away from the crew.

The STAAG Mark II replaced many of the older, yet similar Mark IV "Hazemeyer" mountings. Despite its technological advantages, the STAAG Mark II suffered from many of its own problems. The first of these problems was its weight of 17.8 tonnes, which was significantly heavier than mounts of its type, especially for a twin mount. Another problem was the complexity of the STAAG Mark II, which needlessly complicated maintenance and lowered reliability without showing enough improvements over other mounting designs to warrant it. A third issue was that the radar and other electrical equipment were carried directly on the mount itself, which put them under stress from the STAAG Mark II's movements and the vibrations from firing the guns. For these reasons, the STAAG Mark II did not remain in service for very long, soon replaced by the much simpler and more reliable Mark V twin mount.

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==


Other variants of the Bofors 40 mm gun within the game include:

* [[Bofors L/60 Mark 1 (40 mm)]]: US-produced, water-cooled twin mount
* [[Bofors L/60 Mark 2 (40 mm)]]: US-produced, water-cooled quad mount
* [[Bofors L/60 Mark 3 (40 mm)]]: US-produced single mount
* [[4 cm Bofors Flak 28 (40 mm)]]: German captured single mount
* [[2pdr QF Mk.IIc (40 mm)]]
* [[QF Mark V (40 mm)]]: British-produced, water-cooled twin mount
* [[QF Mark VII (40 mm)]]: British-produced single mount
* [[Bofors (40 mm)]]: Army version, mounted on various US and British anti-aircraft vehicles (SPAA)
* [[M266 (40 mm)]]: Bofors 40 mm L/70 (increased barrel length and rate of fire), mounted on [[M247|M247 Sergeant York]]

== External links ==


* [http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12.php#Use_by_Britain NavWeaps - USA Bofors 40 mm L/60 Model 1936]
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_40_mm_gun Wikipedia - Bofors 40 mm gun]

{{Britain naval cannons}}

[[Category:Naval cannons]]

HMS York

2022-01-11T00:52:33Z

U4045774: /* Scout plane */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_cruiser_york
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and 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.''

=== 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.''

{{NavalMobility}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/50 Mark VIII (203 mm)}}

''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|4 in QF Mark V (102 mm)}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)|Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}

{{main|Mk.IX (533 mm)}}

''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|Walrus Mk.I}}

Located amidships is a catapult with one Walrus Mk.I scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. The Walrus is equipped with only defensive machine gun turrets but it does carry 4 x 250 lb bombs. It also has the scout plane ability to cap zones and lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! Carrying a far heavier bomb load than other scout planes, this unit has a very good chance to sink enemy boats or even a destroyer. The Walrus Mk.I is the only naval launched amphibious aircraft in the game as it has a fully retractable main undercarriage.

== Usage in battles ==

The York is very much a sniping cruiser and should be played as such. While it lacks a huge broadside, it makes up for this with a fantastic 5 rounds/per minute RoF, which is one of the best reloads in the game for heavy cruiser firepower. For comparison, the American heavy cruisers fire 3 rounds/per minute, nearly half as quickly. Combined with good shell velocity, this can make the York a frightening opponent for other cruisers, with its guns doing immense damage. Better yet, 2/3rds of the York's firepower is positioned on the bow, meaning it can angle severely and still do a good amount of damage. The York is also a fairly nimble ship, and while it isn't very fast in a straight line, its low weight for a heavy cruiser means it can get up to speed well, and can turn very quickly.

The York suffers once the gap in distance is closed. Its armour is pretty terrible, even for a British cruiser. While the ammo racks are well-protected (and will prove a challenge for anything except other heavy cruisers), its belt armour is very flat and very weak. While its deck armour is strong, it's only rolled armour, meaning arcing shells, bombs, and rockets can do immense damage if they hit the superstructure. The guns are also very weak, with just 25 mm of armour around the turrets, meaning they can be knocked out very easily, even by light cruisers. In addition, the York lacks the beefy AA armament of many other British ships. It has only four 4-inch DP guns, and just a handful of 20 mm and 12.7 mm small arms guns to combat aircraft at close range. Combined with its weak armour, this can make the York an enticing target for aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fantastic rate of fire with its main battery guns can make it a menace in gunnery duels
* Small and nimble, can move around the battlefield very well
* A small target that can be difficult to hit, especially at long range
* Access to torpedoes with good speed and damage, which can ward off flanking cruisers effectively
* Well-armoured ammo racks mean one-shots are only possible for heavy cruisers
* One scout seaplane carrying a potent bomb-load.

'''Cons:'''

* Anaemic secondary armament that can leave it vulnerable at close range and against aircraft
* Tiny crew size - fires and flooding can kill it very quickly
* Poor belt and deck armour makes it vulnerable to arcing fire and bombs

== History ==

[[File:York, 1938.jpg|thumb|HMS York entering Havana harbour, 1938.]]
HMS ''York'' (90) was the lead ship of two ''York''-class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy. She served in the North American theatre before the war, and escorted Atlantic convoys in the first part of the Second World War. She also participated in the British Norway campaign, and was later reassigned to the Mediterranean Squadron. However, while in service with the Mediterranean fleet, she was disabled by Italian explosive motorboats. Critically damaged, her wreck was abandoned by the Allies. She was salvaged and scrapped in 1952.

=== Design and development ===
The ''York'' was based on the earlier ''County''-class cruisers, the first 8-inch heavy cruisers used by the United Kingdom. Lighter than the previous 10-thousand ton ''County''-class cruisers, the ''York'' displaced 8,250 tons standard.<ref name=":0">Lettens, J. (2008)</ref> The ''York'' carried eight 8-inch (203 mm) guns in four dual turrets; this was the standard armament for later British heavy cruisers.<ref name=":0" />She also carried two triple torpedo tube launchers. Her anti-aircraft armament was rather sparse, and was never improved sufficiently to grant her good AA performance. She could make a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h), and had an endurance of 24,600 km at 22 km/h.<ref name=":0" />

The ''York'' was laid down on May 16th 1927, and was launched on July 17th 1928. She was completed on May 1st 1930, and subsequently began serving with the British home fleet.<ref name=":1">Helgason, G. (1995)</ref>

=== Operational Service ===
The ''York'' entered service in 1930, serving as the flagship of the 2nd Cruiser squadron of the Home Fleet. Between 1934 and 1940, she served primarily with the North America/West Indies Station, though she was detached to the Mediterranean fleet for two years for the Italo-Abyssinian War.

At the start of the Second World War, ''York'' was based in Halifax as a part of Force F, a squadron tasked with hunting for commerce raiders and escorting convoys. She returned to the UK in late 1939, and underwent a refit before being assigned to the 1st Cruiser squadron of the Home Fleet. She also participated in the planned British invasion of Norway, and evacuated Anglo-French troops from Namsos following the German invasion.

In August of 1940, ''York'' was assigned to the 3rd Cruiser squadron of the British Mediterranean fleet. She participated in the Battle of Passero, where she sank the crippled destroyer ''Artigliere'', and escorted the carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' during her raid on the Italian fleet at Taranto.<ref name=":1" /> However, in early 1941, she was disabled by explosive MTBs of the Italian navy. German bombers further damaged the ship, which was considered to be damaged beyond repair.<ref name=":1" /> As a result, the British abandoned the ship and destroyed its armament prior to their evacuation from Crete; the wreck was salvaged and scrapped in 1952.<ref name=":0" />

== Media ==

''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== 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 ===
<references />

=== Works Cited ===

* Lettens, J. (2008, August 28). HMS York (1941). Retrieved November 16, 2020, from <nowiki>https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?123797</nowiki>
* Helgason, G. (1995). HMS York. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1187.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company}}
{{Britain heavy cruisers}}

HMS York

2022-01-11T00:47:54Z

U4045774: /* Scout plane */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_cruiser_york
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British heavy cruiser {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].

== General info ==
=== Survivability and 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.''

=== 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.''

{{NavalMobility}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armament ==
{{Specs-Fleet-Armaments}}
=== Primary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Primary}}

{{main|8 inch/50 Mark VIII (203 mm)}}

''Provide information about the characteristics of the primary armament. Evaluate their efficacy in battle based on their reload speed, ballistics and the capacity of their shells. Add a link to the main article about the weapon: <code><nowiki>{{main|Weapon name (calibre)}}</nowiki></code>. Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.''

=== Secondary armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Secondary}}

{{main|4 in QF Mark V (102 mm)}}

''Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armaments are defined as weapons chosen with the control <code>Select secondary weapon</code>. Evaluate the secondary armaments and give advice on how to use them. Describe the ammunition available for the secondary armament. Provide recommendations on how to use them and which ammunition to choose. Remember that any anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section. If there is no secondary armament, remove this section.''

=== Anti-aircraft armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-AA}}

{{main|20 mm/70 Oerlikon Mk.II (20 mm)|Vickers Mk.V (12.7 mm)}}

''An important part of the ship's armament responsible for air defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control <code>Select anti-aircraft weapons</code>. Talk about the ship's anti-air cannons and machine guns, the number of guns and their positions, their effective range, and about their overall effectiveness – including against surface targets. If there are no anti-aircraft armaments, remove this section.''

=== Additional armament ===
{{Specs-Fleet-Additional}}

{{main|Mk.IX (533 mm)}}

''Describe the available additional armaments of the ship: depth charges, mines, torpedoes. Talk about their positions, available ammunition and launch features such as dead zones of torpedoes. If there is no additional armament, remove this section.''

=== Scout plane ===
{{main|Walrus Mk.I}}

Located amidships is a catapult with one Walrus Mk.I scout plane which provides unique offensive and defensive abilities, expanding tactical options. Ship-launched scout planes fly just like regular tree units but lack munition choices and cockpit views. The Walrus is equipped with only defensive machine gun turrets but it does carry 4 x 250 lb bombs. It also has the scout plane ability to cap zones and lay down smoke cover (up to 3 times). Captains will be wise to remember to utilise the aircraft and consider when best to use it, for example to cap a point early or late in the match, to create a smoke screen to stymie enemy bombardment and repair, to attack enemy units directly, or perhaps something completely new! Carrying a far heavier bomb load than other scout planes, this unit has a very good chance to sink enemy boats or even a destroyer. The Walrus Mk.I also has retractable landing gear.

== Usage in battles ==

The York is very much a sniping cruiser and should be played as such. While it lacks a huge broadside, it makes up for this with a fantastic 5 rounds/per minute RoF, which is one of the best reloads in the game for heavy cruiser firepower. For comparison, the American heavy cruisers fire 3 rounds/per minute, nearly half as quickly. Combined with good shell velocity, this can make the York a frightening opponent for other cruisers, with its guns doing immense damage. Better yet, 2/3rds of the York's firepower is positioned on the bow, meaning it can angle severely and still do a good amount of damage. The York is also a fairly nimble ship, and while it isn't very fast in a straight line, its low weight for a heavy cruiser means it can get up to speed well, and can turn very quickly.

The York suffers once the gap in distance is closed. Its armour is pretty terrible, even for a British cruiser. While the ammo racks are well-protected (and will prove a challenge for anything except other heavy cruisers), its belt armour is very flat and very weak. While its deck armour is strong, it's only rolled armour, meaning arcing shells, bombs, and rockets can do immense damage if they hit the superstructure. The guns are also very weak, with just 25 mm of armour around the turrets, meaning they can be knocked out very easily, even by light cruisers. In addition, the York lacks the beefy AA armament of many other British ships. It has only four 4-inch DP guns, and just a handful of 20 mm and 12.7 mm small arms guns to combat aircraft at close range. Combined with its weak armour, this can make the York an enticing target for aircraft.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fantastic rate of fire with its main battery guns can make it a menace in gunnery duels
* Small and nimble, can move around the battlefield very well
* A small target that can be difficult to hit, especially at long range
* Access to torpedoes with good speed and damage, which can ward off flanking cruisers effectively
* Well-armoured ammo racks mean one-shots are only possible for heavy cruisers
* One scout seaplane carrying a potent bomb-load.

'''Cons:'''

* Anaemic secondary armament that can leave it vulnerable at close range and against aircraft
* Tiny crew size - fires and flooding can kill it very quickly
* Poor belt and deck armour makes it vulnerable to arcing fire and bombs

== History ==

[[File:York, 1938.jpg|thumb|HMS York entering Havana harbour, 1938.]]
HMS ''York'' (90) was the lead ship of two ''York''-class heavy cruisers built for the Royal Navy. She served in the North American theatre before the war, and escorted Atlantic convoys in the first part of the Second World War. She also participated in the British Norway campaign, and was later reassigned to the Mediterranean Squadron. However, while in service with the Mediterranean fleet, she was disabled by Italian explosive motorboats. Critically damaged, her wreck was abandoned by the Allies. She was salvaged and scrapped in 1952.

=== Design and development ===
The ''York'' was based on the earlier ''County''-class cruisers, the first 8-inch heavy cruisers used by the United Kingdom. Lighter than the previous 10-thousand ton ''County''-class cruisers, the ''York'' displaced 8,250 tons standard.<ref name=":0">Lettens, J. (2008)</ref> The ''York'' carried eight 8-inch (203 mm) guns in four dual turrets; this was the standard armament for later British heavy cruisers.<ref name=":0" />She also carried two triple torpedo tube launchers. Her anti-aircraft armament was rather sparse, and was never improved sufficiently to grant her good AA performance. She could make a top speed of 32 knots (59 km/h), and had an endurance of 24,600 km at 22 km/h.<ref name=":0" />

The ''York'' was laid down on May 16th 1927, and was launched on July 17th 1928. She was completed on May 1st 1930, and subsequently began serving with the British home fleet.<ref name=":1">Helgason, G. (1995)</ref>

=== Operational Service ===
The ''York'' entered service in 1930, serving as the flagship of the 2nd Cruiser squadron of the Home Fleet. Between 1934 and 1940, she served primarily with the North America/West Indies Station, though she was detached to the Mediterranean fleet for two years for the Italo-Abyssinian War.

At the start of the Second World War, ''York'' was based in Halifax as a part of Force F, a squadron tasked with hunting for commerce raiders and escorting convoys. She returned to the UK in late 1939, and underwent a refit before being assigned to the 1st Cruiser squadron of the Home Fleet. She also participated in the planned British invasion of Norway, and evacuated Anglo-French troops from Namsos following the German invasion.

In August of 1940, ''York'' was assigned to the 3rd Cruiser squadron of the British Mediterranean fleet. She participated in the Battle of Passero, where she sank the crippled destroyer ''Artigliere'', and escorted the carrier HMS ''Illustrious'' during her raid on the Italian fleet at Taranto.<ref name=":1" /> However, in early 1941, she was disabled by explosive MTBs of the Italian navy. German bombers further damaged the ship, which was considered to be damaged beyond repair.<ref name=":1" /> As a result, the British abandoned the ship and destroyed its armament prior to their evacuation from Crete; the wreck was salvaged and scrapped in 1952.<ref name=":0" />

== Media ==

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== 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 ===
<references />

=== Works Cited ===

* Lettens, J. (2008, August 28). HMS York (1941). Retrieved November 16, 2020, from <nowiki>https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?123797</nowiki>
* Helgason, G. (1995). HMS York. Retrieved November 16, 2020, from <nowiki>https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/1187.html</nowiki>

{{ShipManufacturer Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company}}
{{Britain heavy cruisers}}