Ship:Malta

14.8

Malta

Aircraft Carrier | U.K. | Tier X

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points66,600

Secondary Armament #1

113 mm/45 QF Mk.7 mod.P on a RP 41 Mk.VII mount8 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range5 km

Rate of Fire12 shots/min

Reload Time5 sec

HE Shell113 mm HE Mk XVI

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,600

Initial HE Shell Velocity746 m/s

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell7 %

AA Defense

40 mm/56 OQF Mk.IX on a Mk.VI mount9 х 6 pcs.

113 mm/45 QF Mk.7 mod.P on a RP 41 Mk.VII mount8 х 2 pcs.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed33.6 knot

Turning Circle Radius1220 m

Rudder Shift Time16.9 sec

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range15.2 km

Air Detectability Range10 km

Battle Levels

12345678910

X

Special

Malta — British special premium Tier X aircraft carrier.

A large aircraft carrier project with an armored deck that was developed during the war years, drawing on the experience of military operations in the Pacific.

Malta was first released for sale on 13 October 2022, initially available for purchase in the Armory for 34,950 doubloons and in the Premium shop. She was later made available in the Armory for  268,000 Coal on 27 October 2022.

Modules

	Hit Points (HP)	Armor (mm)	Armor (mm)	Main Turrets (pcs.)	Secondary Gun Turrets (pcs.)	AA Mounts (pcs.)	Torpedo Tubes (pcs.)	Hangar Capacity (pcs.)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Malta	66,600	13	102		8	9/8				0	0

	Speed (knot)	Average Damage per Second (HP/min)	Loadout	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Blackburn Firebrand	137			2,190		0	0

	Maximum Torpedo Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Blackburn Firebrand	6,533	136	2,250		0	0

	Maximum Bomb Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Blackburn Firebrand		134	2,320		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 200,000 hp	33.6		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4
Slot 5
Slot 6

Player Opinion

Performance

Warning: The data presented in the AA Defense sidebar section may be incorrect.
Refer to the in-game Port screens for more useful data.

Malta Performance Section

HMS Malta is a T10 British carrier that excels in dealing consistent damage to all classes (with some exceptions in each class and subs). She is equipped with the standard carrier loadout of attack, bomber, and torpedo aircraft that boast high survivability, decent speed, fast plane regen, and massive reserves allowing her to carry out strikes in dense AA. Malta’s hull is comparable to that of the HMS Audacious with some exceptions pertaining to a raised citadel roof and increased citadel side plating.

Attack Aircraft

Malta’s attack aircraft carry high explosive rockets. One squadron contains 12 planes divided into 3 strikes that launch a total of 40 rockets per strike. Each rocket has decent alpha that, when coupled with a tight reticle and short aiming period, can be devastating to destroyers. With a high fire chance, these planes are also effective against battleships.

“Carpet” Bombers

Malta’s carpet bombers carry armor-piercing bombs with low penetration capabilities. Each squadron contains 15 planes divided into 3 strikes that drop 20 bombs per strike. As with other HMS carriers, these bombers drop from a high altitude although the bombs drop much quicker and with a tighter dispersion. The low penetration allows these planes to devastate light cruisers and bulky destroyers while also dealing decent damage against battleships and heavy/large cruisers.

Torpedo Bombers

Malta’s torpedo bombers have slow torpedo speed with decent alpha and high flood chance. Each squadron contains 12 planes with a strike consisting of 4 planes dropping a total of 4 torpedoes per strike. With high plane HP coupled with an in-flight repair consumable, these planes are able to strike into dense AA or strike multiple times against a single target.

Pros:

• Fast aircraft preparation time
• Large plane reserves and squadron sizes
• Solid alpha strike potential torpedoes and AP bombers
• Ap bombs are very effective against light cruisers and bulky destroyers
• High plane durability and speed so deals with anti air very well
• The torpedo bomber reticle does not have a penalty for adjustments during the attack phase

Cons:

• Vulnerable hull due to weak secondaries, AA and hull armor.
• Rockets only pen 28mm
• AP bombs can only citadel lightly armored targets
• Torpedoes disperse out from drop

Research

As a premium ship, Malta has no module upgrades to research.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Malta are:

• Slot 1: Air Groups Modification 1
• Slot 2: Aircraft Engines Modification 1
• Slot 3: Torpedo Bombers Modification 1
• Slot 4: Bombers Modification 1 or Torpedo Bombers Modification 2
• Slot 5: Flight Control Modification 1 or Squadron Consumables Modification 1
• Slot 6: Flight Control Modification 2

Commander Skills

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack			Defense		Support
1	Last Gasp Completely restores engine boost for the last attack squadron. ★★★	Improved Engine Boost +10% Aircraft engine boost time. ★★	Engine Techie -20% Engine Cooling cooldown time.	Air Supremacy -5% aircraft restoration time. ★	Direction Center for Fighters +1 fighter to CAP squadrons.	Search and Destroy +10% to action radius of Patrol Fighter and Interceptor squadrons.
2	Torpedo Bomber -10% torpedo arming distance. ★★★	Swift Fish +5% to torpedo speed.	Improved Engines +2.5% aircraft squadron speed. ★★★	Repair Specialist +1 In-flight Repair consumable +10% its action time. ★★	Secondary Armament Expert +10% flak and continuous damage -10% secondary battery reload time.	Patrol Group Leader +1 fighter to Patrol Fighter or Interceptor squadrons. ★
3	Sight Stabilization +7.5% aiming speed.	Enhanced Armor-Piercing Ammunition +3% damage from AP bombs and rockets.	Pyrotechnician +1% chance of HE rockets causing a fire. +5% chance of HE bombs causing a fire.	Aircraft Armor -10% continuous AA damage while in an aura. ★★★	Survivability Expert +25 aircraft HP per ship tier. ★★★	Interceptor Interceptors replace Patrol Fighters:  +10% action radius.  Invulnerable to fighters.  Cannot attack fighters.  Cannot spot ships. ★
4	Bomber Flight Control +5% speed all bomber types. ★	Proximity Fuze -10% (absolute) to target's torpedo protection. ★★	Close Quarters Expert Secondary batteries: +20% range -30% dispersion.	Enhanced Aircraft Armor -25% damage from flak. ★★★	Hidden Menace -15% ship detectability range. -20% Damage Control Party cooldown. +50% aircraft return time.	Enhanced Reactions -80% time before activated Patrol Fighters or Interceptors attack. +25% action time. +50% cooldown time. ★
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

Malta equips the following consumables:

Aircraft Carrier:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: CAP Fighter  – 4 charges

Attack Aircraft:

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  – 2 charges
• Slot 2: Patrol Fighter  – 3 charges

Torpedo Bombers:

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  – 2 charges
• Slot 2: Patrol Fighter  – 3 charges
• Slot 3: In-flight Repair  – 3 charges

Bombers:

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  – 2 charges
• Slot 2: Patrol Fighter  – 3 charges

Camouflage

As a premium ship, Malta comes with Default permanent camouflage and a set of permanent combat bonuses.

Signals

Recommended Signal Flags
Combat
Charlie Kilo +5% ship HP; +2.5% squadron HP.	Juliet Yankee Bissotwo -20% to flooding duration. ★	India Yankee -20% to fire duration. ★★★	Hotel Yankee -20% to damage received when ramming the enemy. +50% to damage dealt when ramming the enemy. ★	Victor Lima +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. +4% chance of torpedoes causing flooding. ★★★	India X-Ray +1% chance for HE bombs and shells with a caliber above 160mm causing a fire. +0.5% chance for bombs and smaller shells causing a fire. ★★★
Juliet Whiskey Unaone +15% chance of causing flooding. ★★★	Mike Yankee Soxisix +5% to secondary battery maximum firing range. -5% to maximum dispersion of secondary battery shells. -5% to secondary battery loading time. ★	November Echo Setteseven +5% continuous AA damage at all ranges. +5% damage from flak bursts. ★★★	Sierra Mike +5% to the ship's maximum speed. ★★★	November Foxtrot -5% reload time on all consumables. ★★	India Delta +20% to the amount of HP recovered when Repair Party  is used. ★★★
X-Ray Papa Unaone +10% action time of a Smoke Generator .	Sierra Bravo +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search  -10% reload time of Defensive AA Fire .

Gallery

Historical Info

Malta, Planned

Specifications

47,640 tons displacement, standard

273.4m length

259.1m beam

35.2m draft (mean)

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Machinery

8 Admiralty 3-drum boilers

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Performance

33.25 knots at 200,000 shaft horsepower

7,100 nm range at 20 knots

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Armor

Main belt: 102mm

Decks: 102mm main, ?mm upper deck

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Armament

Main

8 (4x2) 113mm QF 4.5-inch DP rifles

Anti-Aircraft

55 (8x6, 7x1) 40mm guns

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Aircraft

90 aircraft

HMS Malta was intended to be the first ship of her class of large aircraft carriers. Four ships were ordered in 1943, but changing priorities and wartime experience meant repeated changes to the design. All four ships were cancelled after World War II before they were laid down.

Background

In July 1942, the Royal Navy established a Future Building Commission to consider the fleet's requirements for the remainder of the war. The increasing size of new aircraft and the desire for a larger air group meant that a larger ship was necessary. In October 1943, a closed-hangar design with an armored flight deck was chosen. By April 1944, the design was almost ready for approval, but American experience in the Pacific showed the importance of launching large, coordinated strikes. This needed aircraft to be warmed up in the hangars, which was not possible with the Royal Navy’s current armored carrier designs. A new design was sought, resulting in an ‘open’ single hangar ship without flight deck armor. The armor was on the main deck, below the hangar deck, to protect the citadel. This led to ‘Design X’, which was felt to be too large to dock at several existing bases. Further redesigns resulted in Design ‘X1’ which was 50 feet shorter, and Design ‘Y’ which was 150 feet shorter. In April 1945, Design X1 was picked for further development.

The flight deck was a superstructure, US-style, and the hangar deck and sides below it were armored along the length of the citadel. The island was a split structure to allow the flight-deck expansion joint to move. Unlike previous British carrier designs, efforts were made to prevent the heavy anti-aircraft guns intruding on the flight deck area. The flight deck had four elevators, with two deck-edge elevators allowing aircraft to be rapidly spotted for launch. The carriers were expected to carry more than 90 aircraft, and were intended to have catapults that could launch a 30,000 lb aircraft. They would be fitted with arrestor gear that could safely land aircraft weighing up to 20,000 lbs.

The developed designs came up for approval in late August 1945 – just a fortnight after the end of the war with Japan – at which point the Board postponed further decisions. Although the ships had been ordered in 1943, work had never started, and in April 1944 Vickers had been instructed to not order any more material for their carrier, HMS Gibraltar. Although the Admiralty wanted a large carrier fleet in the post-war Royal Navy, Britain could not afford to build the new ships; indeed, many ships which were under construction at the end of the war had their construction paused or stretched out in order to reduce budget demands. Orders for the four Malta-class ships were cancelled by the end of 1945 with no work done.

Malta-class design

Historical Gallery

References

Ship Change Log

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.11.7.

Testing Changes

• DevBlog 341:
  • Preliminary characteristics.
• DevBlog 366:
  • Changed the parameters of attack aircraft (HE):
    • Decreased rocket dispersion ellipse by approximately 18%.
    • Reduced rocket launch interval from 0.08 to 0.06 s.

• Update 0.11.9:
  • Minor fixes to geometry and textures of the ship.
  • Available for purchase in the Armory for 34,950 doubloons and in the Premium shop on 13 October 2022.
  • Available for purchase in the Armory for 268,000 coal, three weeks after the update released (27 October 2022).
• Update 13.1:
  • Torpedo Bomber torpedo damage increased from 5,933 to 6,533.
  • Number bombs in payload on Dive Bombers decreased from 4 to 3.

Ships of U.K.

Aircraft Carriers