Ship:De Grasse

14.8

De Grasse

Cruiser | France | Tier VI

Tech Tree Position

General

Purchase priceSpecial

Hit Points31,200

Main Battery

152 mm/55 Mle 1930 on an Mle 1936 mount3 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire7.4 shots/min

Reload Time8 sec

Rotation Speed12 deg/sec

180 Degree Turn Time15 sec

Firing Range16.2 km

Maximum Dispersion144 m

HE Shell152 mm HE OEA Mle 1937

Maximum HE Damage2,200

Chance of Fire12 %

Initial HE Velocity870 m/s

HE Shell Weight55 kg

AP Shell152 mm AP OPfK Mle 1937

Maximum AP Shell Damage3,300

Initial AP Shell Velocity870 m/s

AP Shell Weight57.1 kg

Secondary Armament #1

100 mm/45 Mle 1933 on an Mle 1937 mount3 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range5.6 km

Rate of Fire15 shots/min

Reload Time4 sec

HE Shell100 mm HE OEA Mle 1928

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,400

Initial HE Shell Velocity780 m/s

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell6 %

Torpedo Tubes

550 mm tube lance-torpilles2 х 3 pcs.

Rate of Fire0.7 shots/min

Reload Time90 sec

Rotation Speed  deg/sec

180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec

Torpedo550 mm 23DT

Maximum Damage14,833

Torpedo Speed60 knot

Torpedo Range9 km

AA Defense

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929 on a CAD Mle 1929 mount2 х 2 pcs.

13.2 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1929 on a CAQ Mle 1929 mount1 х 4 pcs.

37 mm/50 CAIL Mle 1933 on a CAD Mle 1933 mount4 х 2 pcs.

100 mm/45 Mle 1933 on an Mle 1937 mount3 х 2 pcs.

152 mm/55 Mle 1930 on an Mle 1936 mount3 х 3 pcs.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed33.5 knot

Turning Circle Radius690 m

Rudder Shift Time8.8 sec

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range12.9 km

Air Detectability Range6.4 km

Battle Levels

12345678910

VI

Special

De Grasse — French special premium Tier VI cruiser.

According to the draft design in 1938, the light cruiser De Grasse was developed from the La Galissonnière-class ships, and shared their main advantages: improved armor and good main battery guns. She had distinctive AA armament, increased speed, and slightly reinforced torpedo tubes.
De Grasse was first released for sale on 9 June 2017 for the EU server and 19 June 2017 for the NA server.

Modules

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Dispersion (m)	Maximum HE Shell Damage (HP)	Chances of HE shells causing a fire on target (%)	Maximum AP Shell Damage (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
152 mm/55 Mle 1930 on an Mle 1936 mount	7.4	15	144	2,200	12	3,300		0	0

	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 ()
De Grasse	31,200	6	100	3	3	2/1/4/3/3	2			0	0

	Rate of Fire (shots/min)	Torpedo Tubes Reload Time (sec)	180° Turn Time (sec)	Maximum Damage (HP)	Torpedo Speed (knot)	Torpedo Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
550 mm 23DT	0.7	90	7.2	14,833	60	9		0	0

	IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%)	Maximum Firing Range (km)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
PCA n° 6 Mle 1		0		0	0

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 110,000 hp	33.5		0	0

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2
Slot 3
Slot 4

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.

De Grasse is a premium Tier VI French cruiser that is a development of the La Galissonnière class. Both ships feature triple 152mm turrets in an AB-X configuration firing identical shells, though De Grasse has a slightly longer range. Given how quickly she puts shells downrange and the fire chance on her high explosive rounds, De Grasse is a superb fire-starter and a threat to burn down enemy capital ships at ranges that make her difficult to hit.

Torpedo-wise, De Grasse features triple launchers instead of the twin launchers found on La Galissonnière, and each mount has a longer reload time as a result. De Grasse’s torpedoes are excellent long range harassment and area denial weapons, good for throwing around islands and into caps hoping to hit unsuspecting enemies; however, with only 3 fish on each side, captains shouldn't rely on them to devastate enemy battleships at close range.

Both ships have unimpressive secondaries and weak AA. While De Grasse’s anti-aircraft armament is sufficient for self-defense, her long range AA power is badly lacking even with Defensive AA Fire  active; she's not a ship that her teammates can rely on for anti-aircraft support. De Grasse is notably faster than La Galissonnière, but has a longer rudder shift time and a wider turning circle. She retains La Galissonnière's access to the Engine Boost  consumable, while adding access to a Catapult Fighter  that La Galissonnière doesn't have.

Captains who are veterans of La Galissonnière will feel right at home playing De Grasse, and will find the slight improvements to her rate of fire and torpedoes to be welcome upgrades.

Pros:

• Main battery turrets traverse quickly, taking only 15 seconds for a 180° turn.
• Good main battery range.
• Torpedoes have a range of 9.0 km with decent 60 knot speed.
• Wide torpedo launching angles.
• High top speed which can be increased with the potent French Engine Boost  consumable.

Cons:

• Deck armor is nearly non-existent; bomb hits from carriers can easily penetrate and land citadel hits.
• While her reload time is faster than both Émile Bertin and La Galissonnière, it is still slow compared to other cruisers carrying 152mm guns.
• Almost impossible to land hits at full range due to horrid dispersion.
• Only three torpedoes per side. Her torps should not be relied on to win fights with battleships.
• Secondary guns are quite disappointing; their damage output is very low.
• Anti-aircraft suite is woefully inadequate. Even with Defensive AA Fire  and Catapult Fighter , barely half of a Tier VI squadron can be shot down.
• The ship’s rudder can be incapacitated very easily.

Research

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

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for De Grasse are as follows:

• Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
• Slot 2: Engine Room Protection
• Slot 3: Aiming Systems Modification 1 for the decrease in dispersion.
• Slot 4: Steering Gears Modification 1 to help with the already poor rudder shift time; she has the worst rudder shift out of all the Tier VI cruisers (with Budyonny second-worst).

Commander Skills

Captains should focus their commander skills for De Grasse on protecting her modules and increasing the damage output by her main guns. However, it is not worth investing points in her weak secondaries and AA capabilities (they are 'beyond help').
Last Stand is critical as French cruisers are prone to steering damage.

Recommended Commander Skills
Cost (points)	Attack				Defense
1	Grease the Gears +15% main battery traverse speed. ★	Swift Fish +5% torpedo speed.	Consumable Specialist −7.5% cooldown time of all Consumables except:  Damage Control Party   Repair Party .	Gun Feeder -40% time to switch shell type.	Incoming Fire Alert Receive a warning of a salvo fired at your ship from more than 4.5km.	Last Stand The ship remains able to move and maneuver - slowly - while the engine or steering gears are incapacitated. ★★★
2	Demolition Expert +1% chance of main and secondary HE shells causing a fire. +15% to the fragmentation damage area of HE ordnance fired at submarines. ★★	Fill the Tubes -10% torpedo tubes reload time.	Consumables Enhancements +10% action time of Hydroacoustic Search, Surveillance Radar, Smoke Generator, & Engine Boost. ★	Eye in the Sky Spotting Aircraft: • +2 charges • -50% cooldown time.	Priority Target The detection indicator will show the number of enemies targeting you with main battery. ★★	Focus Fire Training In an active priority AA sector: •  +1.5% (to 5%) immediate damage. •  +25% continuous damage. •  +1 flak burst per salvo. −10% aircraft preparation time. −15% reload time of Airstrike armament.. ★★
3	Heavy HE and SAP Shells +10% HE and SAP shell damage. +15% ship detectability guns 149mm and up.	Pack a Punch +15% torpedo damage. +20% secondary battery range..	Adrenaline Rush -0.2% reload time of all armaments per 1% HP lost +0.2% AA continuous damage per 1% HP lost. ★★	Heavy AP Shells +5% damage for AP shells 190mm and larger.	Superintendent +1 charge to all consumables. ★★	Survivability Expert +450 HP per ship tier.
4	Top Grade Gunner -10% reload time of secondary batteries If enemy ship is spotted within detectability range, -8% reload time of main battery. ★	Outnumbered If there are fewer allies than visible enemies within the ship's base main caliber firing range: +8% ship speed -10% main battery dispersion. ★★	Radio Location Shows the direction to the nearest enemy ship. The enemy is alerted that a bearing has been taken.. ★	Inertial Fuse for HE Shells +25% armor penetration of HE shells Base fire chance reduced by half.	Concealment Expert -10% detectability range of the ship. ★★	AAA & ASW Expert +25% continuous AA and flak damage. +15% damage inflicted by depth charges. While AAA is active: −50% ship consumables reload time..
Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful      ★★ - Frequently Useful      ★ - Occasionally Useful     No stars - Not Useful

Consumables

De Grasse can equip the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party 
• Slot 2: Defensive AA Fire  or (Hydroacoustic Search 
• Slot 3: Engine Boost 
• Slot 4: Catapult Fighter 

Hydroacoustic Search is recommended to increase De Grasse's anti-DD capabilities.

Note that the Fighter is in the fourth slot while other aircraft equipped French cruisers have them in the third slot.

Camouflage

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

Signals

Like other French cruisers, De Grasse benefits significantly from signal flags that increase HE fire chance, for example Victor Lima () and November Foxtrot () reduces the cool-down timer for consumables which is especially useful for the potent engine boost consumable. Sierra Mike () is also highly recommended to increase the ship’s top speed.

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

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  De Grasse comes with her originally planned 152mm main battery.
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  De Grasse is stalked by torpedo bombers from an enemy Ranger.
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  Ranger’s dive bombers land hits on De Grasse while she maneuvers to evade a torpedo attack.
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  Flag of De Grasse. Given to players who purchased a special bundle containing De Grasse.

Historical Info

De Grasse, 1938

Construction

Construction begun at Lorient Naval Dockyard; Lorient, France

Laid down: 28 August 1939

Launched: 11 September 1946

Construction completed at Brest Naval Dockyard; Brest, France

Commissioned: 10 September 1956

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Specifications

8,000 tons displacement, standard

176.3m length

18.1m beam

5.54m draft

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Machinery

4 Indret boilers, 2 Rateau-Bretagne turbines

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Performance

33 knots at 110,000 shaft horsepower

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Armor

Main belt: 100mm

Torpedo bulkhead: 18mm

Armoured Deck: 38mm

Transverse Bulkheads: 60mm

Turrets: 40-100mm

Conning tower: 95mm

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Armament

Main

Nine (3 x 3) 152mm/50 Mle 1936

Secondary

Six (3 x 2) 100mm/45 Mle 1933

Anti-Aircraft

Eight (4 x 4) 37mm/50 Mle 1933

Eight (2 x 2, 1 x 4) 13.2mm Mle 1929

Torpedoes

Six (2 x 3) 550mm tubes

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Aircraft

Float Planes

1 Loire 130 reconnaissance plane

1 Loire 210 fighter plane

2 Catapults

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Complement

690 men

De Grasse at anchor, location unknown, circa 1961.

Design

By 1936, the Marine Nationale was looking for the next generation of cruisers to succeed the then-modern La Galissonnière-class of ships. Still adhering to the limitations imposed by the 1936 London Naval Treaty, France sought to construct a new type of light-cruiser under the 8,000 ton benchmark. Rationally, as successors to the 7,500 ton La Galissonnière-class cruisers, the new light cruiser De Grasse would use the extra displacement to improve on the deficiencies discovered on the preceding light cruisers: specifically, the aviation facilities, the armament suite, and propulsion.

Originally designed in 1936, the cruiser was planned to have no less than two aircraft catapults, and the facilities to carry up to three individual aircraft. Furthermore, a series of lifts and tracks between the hangar and catapults were implemented to automate the process of launching aircraft. By positioning the dual-hangar amidships, De Grasse would use a single-funnel design, as opposed to her predecessor. The space on top of the hangars was used to install light AA and secondary fire directors. However, it was discovered that the aviation facilities were very cramped and she would be top heavy in this configuration. Therefore, by the 1938 design proposal, she was limited to a single hangar, which meant a rearrangement of light AA and fire control.

De Grasse’s main armament was of particular concern (due to the underperformance of her predecessors). After a few design proposals, it was decided to use the same rifles and configuration as La Galissonnière-class, but the turrets themselves would be modified triple-gun versions of the dual-purpose guns mounted on battleship Richelieu. Although they were heavier, these new mounts would have the ability to engage both surface and air threats, as they could elevate the guns up to +70˚. Additionally, these new mounts had the ability to reload at any elevation, offering a significant increase in rate of fire. Since the hoists for the shells and power were displaced off to the side of the guns, the turret could fit the smaller dimensions of a cruiser.

Similarly, there was a revision of the AA suite of the De Grasse class. They would mount the completely novel twin 100mm Mle 1933 DP guns in fully-enclosed pseudo turrets – type avisos-dragueurs. Not only were they better protected, but they could also be directed via centralized fire control. Unfortunately, due to weight and necessary space for dedicated magazines, only a few could be fitted. The three guns were all placed aft, which gave excellent rear cover but poor front cover. To compensate for this weakness in her AA arrangement, four (4) twin 37mm Mle 1933 AA guns were positioned forward. Another improvement from the La Galissonnière class, De Grasse mounted 2 triple 550mm torpedo tubes, one on each side, amidships.

To ensure there was not any loss of performance due to the increase in displacement, an improvement in main propulsion was required. While the internal layout was similar to her predecessors, new machinery was installed in place of the old. Boilers that were akin to the models used in contre-torpilleurs – which would operate at higher-pressure loads – and turbines that could be configured for multi-pressure work were installed. Ultimately, her designers were able to increase De Grasse’s power from 100,000 to 110,000 shaft horsepower, resulting in a top speed above 32 knots.

In the end, De Grasse was a cruiser that shared design characteristics of the La Galissonnière class and cruiser Algérie. Her hull was superficially similar to her predecessors, albeit with a more flared and narrow bow to increase sea keeping. Her superstructure was akin to the heavy cruiser: built around a central tower and a single funnel amidships. De Grasse used a combination of high tensile steel and duralumin – on the hull and superstructure, respectively – to decrease displacement and top weight. To save design time, a similar armor profile as the La Galissonnière class was used on De Grasse as well.

With her design finalized, De Grasse was laid down on 28 August 1939 at the Lorient Naval Dockyards. The commencement of the Second World War in September 1939 halted her construction, and she was not launched until 11 September 1946. In 1951, she was towed to Brest Naval Yard and was finally completed as an anti-aircraft cruiser with a radically different main battery configuration. She was commissioned into the Marine Nationale on 10 September 1956.

Service

Despite being laid down nearly two decades earlier, De Grasse finally entered service in 1956, becoming the flagship of the French Mediterranean Squadron. Her service in the Mediterranean was largely uneventful, serving there from 1956 until she was taken out of service momentarily in 1964. Following two years of conversions, she re-entered the Marine Nationale as the flagship of the Nuclear Testing fleet, bound for the French Polynesia. There she would remain until she was decommissioned in 1973, and sold for scrap in 1974.

Historical Inaccuracies

• De Grasse is represented in World of Warships in the configuration she would have had if she had been completed using her original design. Her as-built armament in 1956 was reminiscent of the Atlanta-class light cruisers of the U.S. Navy, comprised of eight (8) twin 127mm dual-purpose turrets.
• The dazzle camouflage scheme is actually the historical camouflage of Gloire, a La Galissonnière-class cruiser. De Grasse was never camouflaged.

Historical Gallery

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  De Grasse as completed.
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  A bow view of De Grasse.
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  De Grasse, date and location unknown.
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  Colbert, sister ship to De Grasse. She retains her armament as completed.
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  Colbert post-modernization.

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References

1. French cruiser De Grasse - Wikipedia
2. La Galissonnière-class cruiser - Wikipedia
3. Armada: De Grasse - World of Warships Official Channel - YouTube

Ship Change Log

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.6.5.
• Update 0.6.6:
  • Available for purchase in the Premium store.
• Update 0.6.7:
  • Information about the year of the ship's release was corrected. The entry "Commissioned: 1956. Number in the series: 1" has been changed to "Project year: 1938". This was done due to the cardinal differences between the 1938 project and the ship that entered service in 1956.
• Update 0.6.11:
  • Available for purchase for doubloons in the client.
• Update 0.6.12:
  • Detectability when firing main guns in smoke changed to 6.72 km.
• Update 0.6.13:
  • Fire extinguishing time now 30 s instead of 60 s.
  • Improved display of thin elements.
• Update 0.6.15:
  • A bonus was added to the "Type 10" permanent camouflage - a 10% discount to the cost of post-battle maintenance.
• Update 0.7.7:
  • Became unavailable in the game client for purchase with doubloons.
• Update 0.7.9:
  • Minor fixes to geometry and textures.
  • Became available in the game client for purchase for doubloons.
• Update 0.7.10:
  • The range of the Hydroacoustic Search consumable was unified - 4 km for detecting ships, 3 km for detecting torpedoes.
• Update 0.9.2:
  • HE shell penetration increased from 24 to 25 mm.
  • Armor thickness was changed: deck armor increased from 16 to 25 mm.
• Update 0.10.0:
  • The firing range of the secondary battery was increased to 5.6 km.

Ships of France

Cruisers