Ship:Kagero
| 127 mm/50 3rd Year Type on a Type C mount3 х 2 pcs. |
| Rate of Fire8.5 shots/min |
| Reload Time7 sec |
| Rotation Speed6.9 deg/sec |
| 180 Degree Turn Time26.1 sec |
| Firing Range8.6 km |
| Maximum Dispersion79 m |
| HE Shell127 mm HE Type1 |
| Maximum HE Damage2,150 |
| Chance of Fire9 % |
| Initial HE Velocity915 m/s |
| HE Shell Weight23 kg |
| AP Shell127 mm AP Type0 |
| Maximum AP Shell Damage2,200 |
| Initial AP Shell Velocity915 m/s |
| AP Shell Weight23 kg |
| 610 mm Quad2 х 4 pcs. |
| Rate of Fire0.6 shots/min |
| Reload Time101 sec |
| Rotation Speed deg/sec |
| 180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec |
| TorpedoType90 mod. 1 |
| Maximum Damage17,233 |
| Torpedo Speed62 knot |
| Torpedo Range10 km |
| Maximum Speed35 knot |
| Turning Circle Radius640 m |
| Rudder Shift Time4 sec |
| Surface Detectability Range6.6 km |
| Air Detectability Range3.1 km |
Kagerō — Japanese Tier VIII destroyer.
Due to a good balance of her main characteristics, Kagero was the most successful destroyer design in the Imperial Japanese Navy. She had extremely long-range, high-speed, oxygen-fueled torpedoes that made her considerably superior to all ships of her type in terms of torpedo armament power.
Modules
Compatible Upgrades
| Slot 1 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 2 |
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| Slot 3 |
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| Slot 4 |
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| Slot 5 |
Player Opinion
Performance
Kagerō is the Tier VIII entry on the IJN "torpedo boat" branch. Captains who have moved up from Akatsuki will find Kagerō familiar in many ways. Both should be accustomed to the A-X-Y turret arrangement of the main battery, her handling characteristics are nearly identical (similar turning circle radius and rudder shift time), and her anti-aircraft suite is still hardly worth mentioning. So, what's new?
For starters, Kagerō’s guns reload a little faster, though they do give up some range. This gives her more of a fighting chance when cornered by an enemy gunboat destroyer (such as Benson), especially if said enemy is already wounded. With that said, however, captains who have progressed this far up the line should know by now when to hang in a gun duel against an enemy destroyer and when discretion is the better part of valor — never court a gunfight with an American or Russian destroyer with lots of health. Kagerō’s detection radius is improved over Akatsuki; not only is her base detection radius of 6.84 km the lowest of all high-tier Japanese destroyers, she can equip Concealment System Modification 1
for a radius of 6.2 km.
Kagerō has some fairly glaring deficiencies compared to her counterparts at Tier VIII, though. Her speed is fairly pedestrian, her anti-aircraft guns are ineffective at shooting down enemy planes, and her main battery reload and turret traverse times are painfully slow. Unlike Akatsuki, she has two quad torpedo launchers, foregoing the tactical flexibility of three triple torpedo launchers. As nasty as her upgraded Type93 mod. 2 torpedoes are — and they hit very, very hard — their reload time means that getting off more than a few salvos in a match is tough. Luckily, Kagerō can give up Smoke Generator
in exchange for Torpedo Reload Booster
. This allows her to force an 8-second reload time on her torpedoes once every four minutes. Given her best-in-tier detection radius, this will be a worthwhile gamble for many captains.
The Japanese destroyer line becomes challenging to excel in at high tiers, but Kagero provides all the tools necessary for captains to do just that; they need only bring patience and a willingness to learn how to handle her.
Pros:
- Lowest detection range of all Tier VIII destroyers.
- Fast, powerful torpedoes that hit like freight trains.
- Good handling; same turning circle as her predecessors, quick rudder shift.
- Gains access to Torpedo Reload Booster
, allowing her to launch 16 torpedoes within ~10 seconds.
Cons:
- Mediocre top speed of 35 knots.
- Main battery is slightly improved from Akatsuki, but is still nothing special.
- Painfully long torpedo reload time, regardless of which torpedoes are equipped.
- Has to choose between Torpedo Reload Booster
or Smoke Generator
, unlike Akizuki.
Research
Availability of researchable upgrades for Kagerō is as follows:
- Hull: Upgrade to Hull (B) for improvement in several characteristics, including +15% health. Research of this module unlocks progression to IX Yugumo.
- Torpedoes: Upgrade to Type93 mod. 2 for swift, truly deadly, fish.
- Gun Fire Control System: Upgrade to Type8 mod. 2 for an extra 10% main battery range.
Optimal Configuration
Upgrades
The recommended upgrades for Kagerō are as follows:
- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1

- Slot 2: Engine Room Protection

- Slot 3: Torpedo Tubes Modification 1
* - Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1

- Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1

- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
Torpedo Tubes Modification 1 further protects her tubes from incapacitation and adds 5 kts to torpedo speed. Aiming Systems Modification 1
and Main Battery Modification 2
help her weak artillery if a hybrid build is desired.
Commander Skills
Concentrate on survivability, sneak, and torpedo performance. 'Grease the Gears' may prove useful, especially if you have an extra point to spend.
| Recommended Commander Skills | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost (points) |
Attack | Defense | ||||
1 |
★ |
★ |
|
|
★ |
★★ |
2 |
|
★★ |
★★ |
|
|
★★★ |
3 |
|
★★ |
★★ |
|
|
★ |
4 |
|
★★ |
★ |
|
★★★ |
|
| Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Not Useful | ||||||
Consumables
Kagerō can equip the following consumables:
- Slot 1: Damage Control Party

- Slot 2: Smoke Generator
or Torpedo Reload Booster 
- Slot 3: Engine Boost

- Slot 1: Damage Control Party
Kagerō captains must choose between equipping Smoke Generator
and a downgraded version of the Torpedo Reload Booster
consumable that Shiratsuyu and Akizuki have access to.
Signals
Considering that Kagero is a standard Japanese torpedo ship captains should focus on flags that increase her ability to cause damage over time and improve her torpedoes. It should also be noted that as a tech tree ship it is up to the captains discretion when running economic flags. While there is benefit to doing so it is not going to garner the same as a premium ship.
Recommended Signal Flags
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat | |||||
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![]() ★ |
![]() ★ |
![]() ★ |
![]() ★★ |
![]()
|
![]() ★★ |
![]()
|
![]() ★ |
![]() ★★★ |
![]() ★★★ |
![]()
|
![]() ★★★ |
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Gallery
-
Kagero fires her torpedoes at incoming enemy ships.
-
Kagero launches torpedoes at an enemy Tirpitz and Friedrich der Große from within her smokescreen.
-
Kagero speeds towards the enemy capture point under the cover of a cyclone.
Historical Info
Historical Gallery
References
- Japanese destroyer Kagerō (1938) - Wikipedia
- Kagerō-class destroyer - Wikipedia
- Stille, M. Wright, P. (2013). Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers 1919-45 (2): Asashio to Tachibana Classes. London, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd.
- Chesneau, R., Gardiner, R. (1980). Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. London, UK: Conway Maritime Press.





















