Ship:Rhein

14.8

Rhein

Aircraft Carrier | Germany | Tier IV

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price11000 exp

Purchase price1,000,000

Hit Points31,500

Secondary Armament #1

88 mm/76 SK C/32 on a Dop. L. C/32 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range4.5 km

Rate of Fire15 shots/min

Reload Time4 sec

HE Shell88 mm Spr.Gr.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,000

Initial HE Shell Velocity950 m/s

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell4 %

AA Defense

37 mm/69 Flak M42 on an LM/42 single mount4 х 1 pcs.

88 mm/76 SK C/32 on a Dop. L. C/32 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed26 knot

Turning Circle Radius760 m

Rudder Shift Time12.1 sec

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range9.3 km

Air Detectability Range7.5 km

Battle Levels

12345678910

14.8

Rhein

Aircraft Carrier | Germany | Tier IV

Tech Tree Position

stock

 top

General

Research price11000 exp

Purchase price1,000,000

Hit Points32,300

Secondary Armament #1

88 mm/76 SK C/32 on a Dop. L. C/32 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Firing Range4.5 km

Rate of Fire15 shots/min

Reload Time4 sec

HE Shell88 mm Spr.Gr.

Maximum HE Shell Damage1,000

Initial HE Shell Velocity950 m/s

Chance of Fire on Target Caused by HE Shell4 %

AA Defense

37 mm/69 Flak M42 on an LM/42 single mount4 х 1 pcs.

88 mm/76 SK C/32 on a Dop. L. C/32 mount2 х 2 pcs.

Maneuverability

Maximum Speed26 knot

Turning Circle Radius760 m

Rudder Shift Time8.6 sec

Concealment

Surface Detectability Range9.3 km

Air Detectability Range7.5 km

Battle Levels

12345678910

IV

1,000,000

Rhein — German Tier IV aircraft carrier.

A light fleet carrier design developed during World War II that was set to go into serial production. Similar to many ships designed in Germany at that time, Rhein was supposed to be equipped with a diesel propulsion plant.

Rhein was released on 7 July 2020.

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 ()
Rhein (A)	31,500	10	60		2	4/2				0	100,000
Rhein (B)	32,300	10	60		2	4/2				3,000	250,000

	Speed (knot)	Average Damage per Second (HP/min)	Loadout	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Ar 68	114			1,090		0	50,000

	Maximum Torpedo Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Ar 95b	3,000	111	1,300		0	50,000

	Maximum Bomb Damage (HP)	Speed (knot)	Hit Points (HP)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
He 50		96	1,160		0	50,000

	Maximum Speed (knot)		Research price (exp)	Purchase price ()
Propulsion: 35,000 hp	26		0	40,000

Compatible Upgrades

Slot 1
Slot 2

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.

Rhein sits at tier IV as the first German aircraft carrier that players have access to. Rhein introduces the hallmarks of the German carrier line to captains: namely AP rockets that deal citadel damage, torpedoes with fast speed and low alpha damage and AP Bombers that dive from a high initial altitude. Rhein’s AP rockets differ from other nation’s attack aircraft in that they rely on citadel damage rather than penetrations and fires. Due to this, AP rockets are subject to non-penetrations and ricochets, just like normal ship-fired AP shells. Her attack planes require a broadside to get citadel hits, as angled targets will be nearly immune to her attacks. Her attack planes also only fire a limited number of AP rockets per attack run with only two attack runs per squadron. In addition to her low rocket penetration that only allows her to attack cruisers, Rhein’s AP rockets have limited effectiveness. Much like the rest of the line, Rhein has access to both fast torpedo planes and torpedoes. This is offset by her low torpedo alpha damage, which is the lowest of all tier IV carriers. This does not mean they are useless, however. The fast torpedo speed and low arming distance that her fish possess can make battleships dodging her strikes near impossible and surprise number ships like cruisers and destroyers at the hands of a skilled captain. The most distinctive feature of Rhein however comes in the forms of her AP bombers - they pack a great cruise speed, excellent citadel damage and great bomb penetration. She is able to citadel nearly every battleship and cruiser in her matchmaking spread. Unlike Japanese carriers, German carriers start their attack run at a high initial altitude and dive downwards towards their target, and Rhein is no exception. This enables her to reposition her bombers and make repeat strikes with ease, as the bomb reticule is placed directly under a squadron. Rhein’s AP bombers only drop two bombs however, which makes attacking nimbler and thinner ships like cruisers more difficult. However, she will devastate slower battleships who cannot hope to escape her fast planes. Rhein’s planes are not the only highlight of the ship. She possesses the highest ship speed - 26 knots - among all tier IV carriers in the game. While she cannot outrun a pursuing cruiser or destroyer, her speed enables her to reposition more easily than other carriers at her tier like the infamously slow Langley. Her secondaries, while only consisting of four 88mm guns (105mm on Hull B) in twin turrets, reload quickly and have the furthest range, with a base range of 4.5km. Her AA is also excellent for a tier IV carrier. It has long range, flak bursts, and high DPS. This will make enemy CVs a little gun-shy about attacking her. Overall, Rhein has a specialized allows her to deal effectively with cruisers and battleships. However, due to the nature of her armament, she has limited effectiveness against a cautious and wary destroyer captain. Her ship speed is best in her class and tier, and her secondaries, while unable to stop a pursuing ship, can nonetheless contribute to the fight. Rhein introduces captains to the major qualities of the tech tree German aircraft carriers and is a worthy start to the line.

Another side-note, written by a different author: Rhein's armor scheme is very, very weird. It is nearly impossible to citadel her, but it can be done. Her torpedo protection is very thick, and very long. It covers nearly the entire length of the ship, and it also extends well above the waterline. Any HE shell that hits it will yield a torpedo protection hit, and deal no damage. In fact, most AP shells, at most ranges and angles, will do the same. Players wishing to damage the Rhein must aim significantly above the torpedo protection (luckily, it is quite visible at close range). If this wasn't annoying enough for attackers, shooting AP above the torpedo protection system will almost always result in overpenetrations, except by very small caliber AP (which will shatter at longer ranges). At close range, enemy captains must aim between the lifeboats on the side of the ship and the torpedo protection system. This means that, in terms of taking citadel hits, destroyer-caliber AP is actually the largest threat to Rhein, alongside bombs and plunging fire. In terms of armor, Rhein is absolutely a troll - nearly impossible to citadel with AP, regardless of range and angle causing enemies to load HE and earn torpedo protection hit ribbons instead. However, Rhein's armor should not be relied upon to save her from attack entirely.

Pros:

• Very good concealment
• Relatively fast secondary battery fire rate
• Aircraft have high speeds
• The dive bombers' aiming is accurate

Cons:

• Only 4 secondary guns, though still better than Langley or Hosho in terms of range
• Aircraft are fragile, may lose planes quickly under Tier 5 AA fire
• The torpedoes do not do much damage
• Attack aircraft can only attack up to 2 times

Research

• Research the B hull.
• Proceed to Weser.

Optimal Configuration

Upgrades

The recommended upgrades for Rhein are as follows:

• Slot 1: Air Groups Modification 1
• Slot 2: Aircraft Engines Modification 1

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

Rhein can equip the following consumables:

• Slot 1: Damage Control Party  unlimited
• Slot 2: CAP Fighter  4

CV consumables are automatically activated when needed.

The consumables available for each plane type for Rhein is as follows:

Attack Aircraft

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  3

Torpedo Bombers

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  2

Dive Bombers

• Slot 1: Engine Cooling  2

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 Gallery

References

Ship Change Log

• Available for testing by supertesters in the game starting from Update 0.9.4.

Testing Changes

• Apr 7, 2020:
  • Preliminary characteristics.
• DevBlog 13:
  • The parameters of the aiming circle and accuracy settings of attack aircraft were changed, and the height of their flight during the attack was decreased. Now it will become easier to conduct the next attack, however, the aiming cone will expand faster when moving.
  • HP pool of attack aircraft and bombers increased (unlisted details).
  • Torpedo damage increased (unlisted details).
  • Engine Cooling consumable action time for torpedo bombers and bombers increased from 5 to 10 s, and the number of charges increased by 1.
• DevBlog 23:
  • Attack aircraft parameters were changed:
    • Rocket armor penetration increased.
    • Height of attack decreased.
    • Angle of the attack decreased.
    • Vertical dispersion slightly decreased.
  • Torpedo bombers parameters were changed:
    • Aiming speed increased.
    • Launching cone's dispersion when turning during the attack increased.
  • Stock torpedo parameters were changed:
    • Maximum torpedo damage decreased from 6,200 to 3,600.
    • Range decreased from 6 to 2 km.
    • Speed increased from 25 to 50 knots.
    • Arming distance decreased to 403 m.
    • Detectability increased to 1.3 km.
• DevBlog 33:
  • Flooding chance of stock and researchable torpedoes decreased by some amount (unlisted change).
  • Maximum AP bomb damage of stock and researchable bombers increased from 3,000 to 4,000.
• DevBlog 39:
  • Increased accuracy of secondary battery to be similar to that of Massachusetts.
  • Attack aircraft parameters were changed:
    • Height of attack increased.
    • Accelerated aiming of the sight.
    • Decreased attack preparation time from 5 to 4 s.
    • Ricochet angle for rockets increased from 60 to 70 degrees.
    • Rocket damage increased from 1,600 to 1,700.
• DevBlog 48:
  • Attack aircraft preparation time decreased from 4 to 2.5 s.
  • Maximum torpedo damage decreased from 3,600 to 3,000.
  • Torpedo flooding chance decreased from 31 to 25%.

• Update 0.9.6:
  • Available for completing a combat mission dropped as a random drop from the "German Aircraft Carriers" container.
• Update 0.9.7:
• Introduced into the game as a researchable ship.
  • The name of the aerial torpedoes was updated.
  • Bombers now climb more smoothly when taking off.
• Update 0.9.11:
  • Fixed geometry and textures of the ship.
• Update 0.10.0:
  • The speed of the patrol fighters was increased to 187 knots.

Ships of Germany

Aircraft Carriers