Japanese DD line

[NZN | Sturmtiger]

Hello there fellow captains!
I'am looking at japanese DD lines right now and I am not sure which DD is better.
I see that there is Shimakaze with nice torps and Harugumo with nice AA and better survi.
It may look like replication of existing topics about both DD's but every topic I found was outtaded (more than 1 year old) and I would love to see accurate, fresh data from you guys.

Kind regards,
SweetFluffySturmtiger

[noralovro504]

It is simple, Shima line for torpedo boat, Harugumo line for gunboat.
These two lines are different as different playstyle is required. With Shima I hardly use Guns, only if have to. I play Shima as stealthy torpedo spammer. Although more than 2 min reload is sometimes hard to handle.
Harugumo I use mostly for hunting other DDs and setting fires, if I catch something with torps, good for me. Harugumo also has long torp reload, but has a booster so you can fire 10 torps in short time. But mostly I use her fast reload Guns. Even Gearing has trouble when face to face with Harugumo exchanging fire in short range.
Now, depends on you, what style you prefer.

[NZN | Sturmtiger]

You mentioned Gearing. Is it good boat?

[noralovro504]

Originally posted by Sturmtiger:

You mentioned Gearing. Is it good boat?

I have Fletcher, not Gearing, but mostly I play wirh premium Benham, as I found Benham (tier IX) one of the best DDs in game. Benham has torps from two sides and can deploy 20 torps with relatively short reload. Benham Guns are also fast.
I played against Gearing many Times, and it is a worthy opponent, no doubt, it is a very good DD.

[ex-Admiral]

Originally posted by noralovro504:

I have Fletcher, not Gearing, but mostly I play wirh premium Benham, as I found Benham (tier IX) one of the best DDs in game. Benham has torps from two sides and can deploy 20 torps with relatively short reload.


Benham Guns are also fast.

16 torps
https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/Ship:Benham

[Maj.Tryhard]

I just wanna point out that while Japanese torpboats are having a hard time with the current meta(their strength is stealth, which has a lot of strong counters,) I still enjoy them a lot. It's very difficult, but it feels great when you land a good torpedo salvo.

In all fairness though, the gunboat line is prolly the safe bet.

[noralovro504]

Originally posted by WoWS Admiral:

Originally posted by noralovro504:

I have Fletcher, not Gearing, but mostly I play wirh premium Benham, as I found Benham (tier IX) one of the best DDs in game. Benham has torps from two sides and can deploy 20 torps with relatively short reload.


Benham Guns are also fast.

16 torps
https://wiki.wargaming.net/en/Ship:Benham

😄😄😄 You are right, 16.
But they look like 20.😂

[noralovro504]

Originally posted by Maj.Tryhard:

I just wanna point out that while Japanese torpboats are having a hard time with the current meta(their strength is stealth, which has a lot of strong counters,) I still enjoy them a lot. It's very difficult, but it feels great when you land a good torpedo salvo.

In all fairness though, the gunboat line is prolly the safe bet.

I also feel better with Harugumo than with Shimakaze, my stats show that clearly.
I play now Shima with 12 km torps, but my best game was with 20 km torps, despite their visibility.
Benham and Cossack are my favourite DDs, got Grozovoi recently, but still did not manage to get this ship working properly.
Benham torps are her main stenght, and Cossack with 5.5 km detectability and hydro is amazing spotter.