Ship:Gearing
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| Research price236000 exp |
Purchase price19,500,000  |
| Hit Points19,400 |
| 127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.38 mount3 х 2 pcs. |
| Rate of Fire20 shots/min |
| Reload Time3 sec |
| Rotation Speed25 deg/sec |
| 180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec |
| Firing Range11.1 km |
| Maximum Dispersion98 m |
| HE Shell127 mm HE Mk32 |
| Maximum HE Damage1,800 |
| Chance of Fire5 % |
| Initial HE Velocity792 m/s |
| HE Shell Weight24.5 kg |
| AP Shell127 mm AP/SC Mk38 |
| Maximum AP Shell Damage2,100 |
| Initial AP Shell Velocity792 m/s |
| AP Shell Weight25 kg |
| 533 mm Mk142 х 5 pcs. |
| Rate of Fire0.6 shots/min |
| Reload Time103 sec |
| Rotation Speed deg/sec |
| 180 Degree Turn Time7.2 sec |
| TorpedoMk16 mod. 1 |
| Maximum Damage19,033 |
| Torpedo Speed66 knot |
| Torpedo Range10.5 km |
| Maximum Speed36 knot |
| Turning Circle Radius640 m |
| Rudder Shift Time3.3 sec |
| Surface Detectability Range7.3 km |
| Air Detectability Range3.4 km |
Gearing — American Tier X destroyer.
The Fletcher-class destroyers didn't quite meet the requirements of the U.S. Navy: The ships' contours and inadequate AA defenses were subject to criticism. The new class of destroyers had an elongated hull, which resulted in an increase in displacement but solved the stability issue. Most of the ships entered service after the end of World War II and served in the navies of 12 countries during the Cold War. USS Gearing didn't participate in World War II either—she was used to conduct training operations in the 1940s and 1950s.
Five of the class are preserved as military museum ships: USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. in Fall River, Massachusetts; ROKS Jeon Ju (ex-USS Rogers) in Dangjin, South Korea; ROCS Te Yang (ex-USS Sarsfield) in Tainan City, Taiwan; TCG Gayret (ex-USS Eversole) in Izmit, Turkey; and USS Orleck in Jacksonville, Florida.
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 ( ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 127 mm/38 Mk.12 on a Mk.38 mount | 20 | 7.2 | 98 | 1,800 | 5 | 2,100 | 0 | 1,900,000 |
 | 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 ( ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gearing | 19,400 | 13 | 21 | 3 | 12/2/2/3 | 2 | 0 | 2,650,000 |
 | 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 ( ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk16 mod. 1 | 0.6 | 103 | 7.2 | 19,033 | 66 | 10.5 | 0 | 2,500,000 | |
| Mark 17 | 0.5 | 116 | 7.2 | 17,900 | 66 | 16.5 | 30,000 | 2,500,000 |
 | IDS_SHIP_PARAM_SUO_INCREASE_DIST (%) | Maximum Firing Range (km) | Research price (exp) | Purchase price ( ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mk10 mod. 1 | 0 | 0 | 1,600,000 |
 | Maximum Speed (knot) | Research price (exp) | Purchase price ( ) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Propulsion: 60,000 hp | 36 | 0 | 1,750,000 |
Compatible Upgrades
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| Slot 2 |
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| Slot 3 |
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| Slot 4 |
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| Slot 5 |
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| Slot 6 |
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Player Opinion
Performance
Refer to the in-game Port screens for more useful data.
Overview
The Tier X Destroyer Gearing is the penultimate ship of the American destroyer line, and the successor to Fletcher. With further upgrades to her torpedo battery, she represents the final step in the shifting role of American destroyers from gunboats to torpedo boats. Despite her torpedo-focused role, Gearing is a versatile ship that can play around with her artillery when the situation favorably calls for it. The excellent area denial and team utility provided by her presence makes her a solid ship for both casual and competitive play.
Hull
Gearing possesses a hull that is wider and longer than Fletcher, which allows her to fit more armament on her deck, at the cost of maneuverability. With Survivability Expert, Gearing has 2,650 more hit-points than her predecessor, for a maximum hit-point value of 22,900, which is relatively low compared to other Tier X destroyers. Gearing is one of the few destroyers at Tier X that has armored plating, which can be considered as both a blessing and a curse. The sides of her midsection have 21 mm of plating, compared to the 19 mm of plating that is found everywhere else on the ship. This causes HE shells that do not have the ability to penetrate 21mm of armor to shatter on the plating, dealing no damage to the ship. However, the presence of 21mm plating makes Gearing more susceptible to taking increased damage from AP shells and rockets, due to them having an easier time arming on her plating and causing full penetrations. Her additional plating is an overall negative addition, as it only helps her when fighting a few destroyers at her tier, at the cost of potentially taking more damage than usual from half of the destroyers found at the same tier.
Her 36-knot base top speed is half a knot slower than her predecessor, and is relatively slow compared to her peers. Still, the inclusion of her Engine Boost 
consumable gives her an edge, when comparing her speed to destroyers that lack it. Gearing’s hull is a clear downgrade from her predecessor when it comes to her maneuverability, as her rudder shift time is 0.3 seconds slower, and her turning radius increases to 640 m. Despite this, she has above average handling when compared to the majority of destroyers that are at her tier. The combination of Gearing’s larger hull with her worse handling makes her a clumsier ship to sail, and captains will need to be aware of that fact when engaging other ships in battle.
With standard concealment upgrades and captain skills, Gearing has a surface concealment of 5.9 km, giving her above average concealment when compared to her peers. She already has the ability to comfortably outspot most of the destroyers at her tier, but she can be built to have even better concealment. As a Tier X tech tree ship, Gearing has access to an unique upgrade, which provides her with an alternate playstyle. Improved Hull Concealment (
) goes into slot 5 in lieu of the traditional Concealment System Modification 1 
, decreasing her surface detectability to 5.6 km, at the cost of reducing her main battery reload by 15% and torpedo reload by 5%. This upgrade allows Gearing to match the concealment of Shimakaze, allowing them to be tied for the stealthiest destroyers at Tier X. Depending on their playstyle, captains have the flexibility to choose between having improved damage output or better stealth, with the addition of the unique upgrade.
Overall, Gearing’s hull appears to be a downgrade from Fletcher; slower, clumsier, and easier to hit. However, these sacrifices are made in order to accommodate her improved armament, which are well worth the trade-offs.
Firepower
After three predecessors with essentially the same main battery, Gearing finally gets an incremental improvement in her main battery firepower. She adds another gun, for a total of six guns housed in three twin turrets, with two turrets at the bow and one turret at the stern. Her turrets have a fast 180° turn time of 7.2 seconds, making it easy to bring her guns to bear. Her main battery reload drops from 3.3 seconds to 3 seconds, giving her an overall noticeable improvement in raw damage output. Still, Gearing’s damage per minute values are just average for a Tier X destroyer, and the improvements she receives are not enough to make her main battery worth building into. All of the shortcomings regarding the main batteries of American destroyers are present, as she has the worst ballistics and high explosive fire chance for a Tier X destroyer. Her floaty shells are a significant disadvantage when taking fights with other ships, as it makes it easy for ships to dodge and mitigate damage, while potentially taking more damage in return due to the enemy simply missing less shells. A 5% HE firechance is not as big of a deal when facing low-to-mid tier ships, as their innate Fire Resistance Coefficient (FRC) is relatively low. However, ships at Tier X have an FRC value of 0.5, meaning that the effective fire chance for an HE shell gets cut in half. This means that tier for tier, Gearing has a harder time setting fires on equal tier enemy ships, when compared to her predecessors, who have the same HE shells and only marginally slower rates of fire. To add insult to injury, Gearing’s main battery range is reduced to 11.1 km from the 12.9 km range of the Fletcher, which gives her less coverage for her artillery, and pressures her to play in riskier positions to be able to utilize it.
In contrast, Gearing’s torpedoes are the star of the show, and are the standout feature of the ship. Captains start out with the Mk16 mod. 1 torpedoes found on the Fletcher, and have the option to research and equip the Mk17 torpedoes. Both torpedo options are excellent depending on the use case, and have their own sets of strengths and weaknesses. The Mk16 torpedoes have an excellent alpha of 19,033 damage per torpedo, range of 10.5 km, 323% flooding chance per torpedo, and reload every 103 seconds per tube. The Mk17 torpedoes have a lower alpha of 17,900 damage per torpedo, an excellent 16.5 km of range, a lower flooding chance of 301%, and a longer reload at 116 seconds. Both torpedoes share the same speed of 66 kt and detectability at 1.4 km. The Mk16 torpedoes have better raw damage output than the Mk17s, due to their greater alpha and faster reload, but have a limited 10.5 km range, which limits overall torpedo coverage and places the player in riskier situations in order to utilize them effectively. While the Mk17 torpedoes have slightly less damage output and take longer to reload than the Mk16s, having 16.5 km torpedoes allows captains to deny vast amounts of area, and are a better tool to hinder pushes. The extended range allows Gearing to launch outside the radius of 12 km radars without being detected, which realistically cannot be done with the Mk16 torpedoes. Both torpedo choices are excellent options to use in battle, but to get the most out of Gearing, captains should use the Mk17 torpedoes, as they are unique to her. Players that enjoy using the shorter-ranged but higher-damage Mk16 torpedoes are better off playing Fletcher instead, as there is basically no difference between stock Gearing and upgraded Fletcher in terms of torpedo prowess. In exchange for three seconds of torpedo tube reload, Fletcher tier-for-tier has a superior hull when compared to Gearing, and has a more forgiving matchmaking spread being a Tier IX ship. When compared to other destroyers at Tier X, Gearing with her Mk17 torpedoes has formidable torpedo prowess that has no crippling weaknesses in any area. They have average damage, reload, speed, and stealth for her tier, while having the 2nd longest torpedo range in the entire game. Other torpedo boats may have better parameters in a specific area, but they pay by falling short in other areas.
Gearing is an excellent torpedo-focused destroyer that happens to have adequate main battery firepower to bolster her damage output. Her artillery objectively isn’t terrible by Tier X destroyer standards, and it can still do meaningful amounts of damage in the right situations. However, her main battery firepower is simply not good enough to invest into, as there are too many compromises to outweigh the small benefits of building into her guns. It is simply too risky to use them outside of close range or from cover, due to their low range and horrible shell ballistics. Her torpedoes, on the other hand, are the crux of the ship’s gameplay, and have basically every desirable trait one could ask for. With this in mind, it would be more effective for her gameplay and battle impact to invest into her torpedo battery.
Anti-Aircraft
Gearing’s AA battery is average for a Tier X destroyer. She has a 5.8 km long-range aura, 3.5 km medium-range aura, and 2 km short-range aura. She puts up three flak clouds, and deals average damage on all three auras. When compared to Fletcher, Gearing essentially has no meaningful improvement in terms of her AA performance, which really isn’t a big concern anyways, as Gearing is able to see the same aircraft carriers in her matchmaking spread as her predecessor. Gearing has the option to boost her AA defenses by taking Defensive AA Fire 
, which gives an increased bonus to the continuous damage of tech tree American destroyers. Even with DFAA equipped, Gearing’s AA still cannot compete with the AA batteries of some of her peers, as her damage, range, and flak count is just not good enough to shut down enemy strikes. While she is able to inflict some losses on enemy squadrons, competent carrier players are easily able to get strikes through with minimal losses.
Anti-Submarine
Gearing has very good damage output against enemy submarines, but without the assistance of allied spotting, she can only capitalize on the enemy’s mistakes. Her depth charges are among the best of all Tier X destroyers, boasting an excellent alpha of 5,100 damage, excellent flooding and fire chance, and a consistent drop pattern that makes it easy to hit submarines. Due to her great speed and maneuverability, it is easy for her to chase down spotted submarines and not get outmaneuvered by them. However, she is reliant on external spotting, whether through Hydroacoustic Search 
, Submarine Surveillance 
, or the sub exposing itself in detection range, as she has no tools to directly spot them herself.
Consumables
In a similar fashion to other American destroyers, Gearing has a smoke screen that has a 30-second action time, producing puffs with a 130-second dispersion time. This means that Gearing is able to make massive smoke screens that stay on the water for a long period of time. She can effectively use her excellent smokes to create cover for herself to fire at enemies with her guns, or to provide cover for allied ships. Captains can further extend the action time of their smoke screens by equipping Smoke Generator Modification 1 
in the third module slot. Just like other American destroyers from Tiers V through X, Gearing can choose between Engine Boost and an improved Defensive AA Fire with higher bonuses to continuous damage. Using the DFAA consumable allows her to stand a better chance at repelling aircraft, while her Engine Boost consumable increases her acceleration and top speed, allowing captains to quickly reposition around the map. It is a better choice for captains to take Engine Boost over DFAA, as Gearing’s AA batteries are simply not good enough to justify the loss in general utility and survivability that having an Engine Boost can bring to a destroyer. In fact, having the improved acceleration and speed of an engine boost can help her mitigate damage done by carrier strikes, in addition to the damage mitigation it can provide in a surface engagement.
Gameplay
Gearing is a destroyer that brings excellent damage potential and unparalleled team utility to the table when it comes to both casual and competitive play. Gearing’s torpedoes offer unparalleled versatility that make them usable in almost every situation imaginable. They have the damage output to be an immediate threat to enemy ships nearby, while also having the stealth and range to be a threat to ships far away. Gearing’s artillery is a welcome addition to her arsenal, but should not be used if it leads to unfavorable trades, or to her death. In battle, Gearing should be played as a frontline destroyer that supports her teammates in order to secure victory. Gearing’s stealth, especially with the Unique Upgrade, allows her to play directly for objectives, and gives her unparalleled spotting capacity. The inclusion of the Unique Upgrade gives captains great flexibility to min-max their damage output or their stealth. Her excellent smoke screen can be used to provide cover for herself where she can directly capitalize on enemy mistakes, or better yet, give allies insanely valuable cover to help them disengage from enemy fire, or to bolster their own damage output. It is for all these reasons that Gearing can be seen in competitive level play, as there is no ship with the same level of stealth, utility, and damage output. Players usually take Gearing with the Unique Upgrade and pair them up with a radar cruiser such as Alexander Nevsky, Des Moines, and Minotaur on a flank. The destroyer’s role is to smoke up the cruiser, launch torpedoes at enemy positions, and to play for the objective once it is safe to do so. The cruiser’s role is to dish out damage to enemy ships and prevent captured objectives from being retaken, with the help of their radar. This kind of symbiotic relationship is often seen in competitive play, and is a role that Gearing is well suited towards.
Pros:
- High rate of fire
- Average HE and AP damage per minute
- Fast turret traverse
- Torpedos with good damage and the second highest range in the game (Mk17)
- Great depth charge damage
- Fast rudder shift time and small turning radius
- Midsection can shatter HE shells that have 20 mm of penetration or less
- Great concealment, especially with the Unique Upgrade
- Long smoke duration
Cons:
- Floaty shell arcs makes hitting targets at long range difficult
- Short main battery range
- Worst HE shell fire chance for its tier (5%)
- AA will not stop a determined airstrike
- Is more susceptible to eating AP penetration damage
- Long Smoke Generator cooldown
Research
- Torpedoes: The Mk17 torpedoes reload slower and don't hit quite as hard, but travel significantly farther and are just as stealthy as the Mk16 mod 1's.
Optimal Configuration
Gearing should be built in order to maximize her torpedo armament as that is her strongest tool. Captains can choose upgrades that also enhance her overall team utility.
Upgrades
The recommended upgrades for Gearing are:
- Slot 1: Main Armaments Modification 1
- Slot 2: Engine Room Protection
or Engine Boost Modification 1 
- Slot 3: Torpedo Tubes Modification 1
or Smoke Generator Modification 1 - Slot 4: Propulsion Modification 1
- Slot 5: Concealment System Modification 1 or Improved Hull Concealment ()
- Slot 6: Torpedo Tubes Modification 2
There is some variety when it comes to optimal upgrades for Gearing, whether captains want to focus on her damage output or stealthiness. For the first slot, Main Armaments Modification 1 is vital in order to keep her artillery and torpedoes from getting knocked out during the heat of battle. For slot 2, Captains can choose between Engine Room Protection or Engine Boost Modification 1 in order to have better protected engines and rudder, or a longer lasting Engine Boost. For slot 3, captains are able to choose between Torpedo Tubes Modification 1 to bolster torpedo speed and tube survivability, or Smoke Generator Modification 1 in order to extend the action time of her Smoke Generator. Propulsion Modification 1 is the best upgrade for Slot 4, as it greatly improves Gearing’s handling and acceleration, giving captains an easier opportunity to mitigate incoming damage. For Slot 5, Concealment System Modification 1 is recommended in order to enhance her concealment. Captains that want even better concealment should take Improved Hull Concealment () if they want best in tier stealth characteristics. However, this stealth comes at the cost of 15% main battery reload time and 5% torpedo reload time, which slightly decreases her own damage potential. Finally, Captains should choose Torpedo Tubes Modification 2 in Slot 6 for a significant reduction in torpedo tube reload time.
Commander Skills
Preventative Maintenance at Level 1 and Last Stand at Level 2 are must-haves for Gearing commanders. Both are crucial for any destroyer, as they reduce the probability and severity of engine or rudder failure. Losing steering or engine power during the heat of battle is likely to cost captains their ship, so it is imperative that they are protected. Swift Fish or Consumables Enhancements are nice but optional Level 2 skills for captains to take if they have remaining points left over.
Level 3 offers a number of good options. Survivability Expert is an essential pick, buffing Gearing’s health pool by 18%. Fill the Tubes is valuable for captains looking to cut down the reload of their torpedo tubes. Superintendent is a strong choice for utility and teamplay, as it gives players more charges of smoke screen and engine boost that is able to be used over the course of a match. Adrenaline Rush can provide valuable boosts in her damage output over the course of a match.
Concealment Expert is recommended as the first Level 4 skill as it helps Gearing achieve competitive concealment values. Radio Location is occasionally useful in casual play and a necessity in competitive play, as it gives captains a bearing on the location of nearby enemy ships.
Recommended Commander Skills 
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| Cost (points) |
Attack | Defense | ||||
1 |
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 ★ |
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 ★★★ |
2 |
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 ★ |
 ★ |
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 ★★★ |
3 |
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 ★★ |
 ★★★ |
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 ★★ |
 ★★★ |
4 |
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 ★★ |
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 ★★★ |
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| Key: ★★★ - Extremely Useful ★★ - Frequently Useful ★ - Occasionally Useful No stars - Not Useful | ||||||
Consumables
Gearing can equip the following consumables:
- Slot 1: Damage Control Party
- Slot 2: Smoke Generator
- Slot 3: Engine Boost or Defensive AA Fire
Defensive AA Fire is not recommended over Engine Boost due to the ship's mediocre AA.
Signals
Sierra Mike (
) is a must-have to increase Gearing's maximum speed. Victor Lima (
) and India X-Ray (
) are worthwhile picks to increase her firestarting capability. Juliet Whiskey Unaone (
) is recommended to increase the flooding chance of her torpedoes. November Foxtrot (
) is useful for reducing the long cooldown of her Smoke Generator and getting her Engine Boost up faster. X-Ray Papa Unaone (
) is useful to increase her Smoke Generator duration.
Recommended Signal Flags 
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| Combat | |||||
 ★★★ |
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 ★★★ |
 ★★★ |
 ★★★ |
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 ★ |
 ★★★ |
 ★★★ |
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 ★★★ |
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Gallery
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A 2015 screenshot featuring two Gearing class destroyers prior to the 2022 visual revamp.
Historical Info
Historical Gallery
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References
External Links
