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

Description

The K class, K2, 1941 is a rank I German gunboat with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.79 "Project X" as part of the fleet closed beta test.

General info

Survivability and armour

The Kanonenboot K-2 is a gunboat, 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 a Killer whale. Indeed, the Kanonenboot K-2, could be compared to a Killer whale! It’s not very fast, it can’t manavour 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 it’s 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 (20mm) automatic cannons and 2 x 3.7 cm (37mm) 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 cap zone, do not head out to sea like a lone killer whale, because the K-2 will be sunk, by enemy destroyers which prey on large slow ships, like this, for easy targets.

Mobility

Write about the ship’s mobility. Evaluate its power and manoeuvrability, rudder rerouting speed, stopping speed at full tilt, with its maximum forward speed and reverse speed.

Armament

Primary armament

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.

Broadly describe the ammunition available for the primary armament, and provide recommendations on how to use it and which ammunition to choose.

Secondary armament

Some ships are fitted with weapons of various calibres. Secondary armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control Select secondary weapon. Evaluate the secondary armament 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 anti-air armament, even heavy calibre weapons, belong in the next section.

Anti-aircraft armament

An important part of the ship’s armament responsible for air raid defence. Anti-aircraft armament is defined by the weapon chosen with the control Select anti-aircraft weapons. 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.

Special armament

Depth charges, mines, rocket launchers and missiles are also effective in skilled hands and can be an unexpected surprise for an opponent. Evaluate the ammunition of this type of armament and rate its performance in combat.

Usage in battles

The K-2 excels in close-range combat, it’s 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 will allow it to take its blow of enemy fire, without much damage.

However, if the enemy targets critical areas: Turrets, Bridge and anywhere above the waterline, which have a gathering of crew it can cause the ship to sink not all the ship is armoured. A few well-placed shots under and to the left of the stern and bow turrets with HE rounds could cause the ammunition to explode. Additionally, the armour only extends just above of the waterline which means, sailors can be knocked out with AP or HE rounds.

If the enemy is aiming to knock out the turrets, the ship will be unable to defend itself and make itself an easy target for a close-range torpedo attack, it cannot withstand multiple hits.

It’s important to stay focused on what threats are appearing in the combat zone, the biggest threats to it are aircraft destroyers, torpedo attack ships and light cruisers. To stay combat effective as long as possible make use the game A.I. system to control the anti-aircraft systems to engage small surface ships and air targets

TIP: To do this, look at the target, press X+2 & X+3

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Two powerful dual-mounted 120 mm cannon located in each turret.
• 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 - fastest reload time 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 the LCS(3), Pr. 206, Pr. 159, Type 140/141)

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

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

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

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