HMS Rodney Review: A Heavyweight Puncher
The HMS Rodney is a Tier VII Royal Navy premium battleship available in the Blitz Pass. This Nelson-class ship is a slow, fragile, yet hard-hitting battleship specializing in AP damage. While sharing similarities with her sister ship, HMS Nelson, the Rodney distinguishes herself through her AP focus and access to heavy repair teams.
Overview
Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect when commanding the HMS Rodney:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Effort Requirement: Low
- Potential Damage Output: High
- Potential Game Influence: Moderate
My Performance
I’m thoroughly enjoying this ship and plan to rack up many more battles.
Recommended Equipment
To maximize the Rodney’s performance, I suggest the following equipment setup:
- Slot 1: Reload (-5%) – Improves the ship’s biggest weakness: its reload time.
- Slot 2: Acceleration (+20%) – Helps offset the ship’s sluggishness and improve positioning.
- Slot 3: Concealment (+10%) OR Rudder Shift (+15%) – Concealment is generally more beneficial for Rodney’s static playstyle. However, if you struggle with positioning and avoiding early fire, rudder shift can be a viable alternative.
- Bonus: Advanced Gun Director – Extends the ship’s already impressive range, providing a slight indirect buff to dispersion.
Rodney vs. Nelson: A Tale of Two Sisters
While visually similar, the Rodney and Nelson have distinct strengths. Here’s a comparison to help you decide which ship best suits your playstyle:
Rodney’s Advantages:
- Superior Gun Range: Especially potent with the Advanced Gun Director bonus.
- Devastating AP Performance: Higher damage, penetration, and citadel potential compared to Nelson.
- Heavy Repair Teams: Allows for faster healing of a larger portion of HP, increasing survivability.
- Precise Aim I Consumable: Enhances accuracy, particularly useful for long-range engagements.
- Slightly Tighter Turning Circle: Offers a marginal advantage in maneuverability.
- Slightly Faster Acceleration: A minor edge in reaching crucial positions.
Nelson’s Advantages:
- Formidable HE Performance: Excels at setting fires and dealing consistent damage, particularly against destroyers.
- Faster Main Battery Reload: Allows for a higher damage output over time.
- Significantly Better Concealment: Provides an advantage in choosing engagements and dictating the terms of battle.
- Higher Silver Income: Beneficial for players looking to maximize their earnings.
- Slightly Higher HP Pool: Offers a marginal advantage in withstanding damage.
In a nutshell: Rodney reigns supreme in long-range engagements with her powerful AP salvos and enhanced survivability. Nelson, with her HE prowess and superior concealment, excels at mid-range encounters and destroyer hunting.
Firepower: Unleashing Devastating Salvos
The Rodney’s nine 406mm guns are a force to be reckoned with.
The Rodney’s firepower is where she truly shines. Her nine 406mm guns pack a serious punch, delivering some of the highest damage per salvo at Tier VII. Unlike her sister, the Rodney favors AP shells for maximum damage output.
Here’s what makes her guns truly fearsome:
- High Damage per Shell: Each AP shell can cripple cruisers and significantly damage battleships.
- Good Shell Dispersion: Unlike many battleships at this tier, the Rodney enjoys relatively tight groupings, increasing the chance of landing devastating hits.
- High Citadel Chance: Combined with her accurate guns, the Rodney excels at crippling enemy ships with well-placed salvos.
Mastering Your Aim:
While the Rodney’s guns are powerful, they are not a replacement for good aim. Here’s a quick guide to maximizing your damage:
- Battleships: Target turrets and deck for maximum damage. Avoid aiming at the belt, as the shells are unlikely to penetrate.
- Cruisers: Aim for the belt (sides of the hull). Avoid the bow and stern to prevent overpens and reduced damage.
HE Shells: A Niche Role:
While the Rodney possesses decent HE shells, they are best reserved for engaging destroyers. Stick to AP for optimal performance against all other ship classes.
The Bow Tanking Advantage:
The Rodney’s all-forward turret layout offers a unique advantage: bow tanking. By angling your ship, you can maximize your firepower while minimizing your exposed profile. This tactic is particularly effective at longer ranges, allowing you to unleash devastating salvos while presenting a smaller target.
Protection: A Glass Cannon
The Rodney’s Achilles’ heel is her fragile armor. Here’s a breakdown of her strengths and weaknesses:
Weaknesses:
- Thin Deck Armor: Highly vulnerable to plunging fire from cruisers and battleships.
- High Citadel Risk: Well-placed salvos can inflict devastating damage.
- Low Damage Reduction: Typical of Royal Navy battleships, the Rodney suffers from reduced damage mitigation.
Strengths:
- Strong Belt Armor: When angled correctly, the Rodney can withstand a surprising amount of fire.
- Decent HP Pool: Provides a buffer against enemy fire.
- Heavy Repair Teams: Significantly enhances survivability by allowing for rapid healing of a large portion of HP.
Maximizing Survivability:
- Angling is Key: By angling your ship, you can bounce shells off your strong belt armor and minimize the exposed area of your vulnerable deck.
- Utilize Bow Tanking: The Rodney’s turret layout allows for effective bow tanking, maximizing firepower while minimizing exposure.
- Strategic Positioning: Avoid being caught in the open or engaging multiple enemies simultaneously.
Heavy Repair Teams: A Game Changer:
The Rodney’s heavy repair teams are a significant advantage, allowing her to recover from damage quickly and efficiently. This ability encourages a more aggressive playstyle, knowing that you can quickly replenish lost HP.
Note: At the time of this review, the heavy repair teams are bugged, causing the Rodney to take more fire and flood damage than intended. Wargaming has confirmed that this bug will be addressed in an upcoming patch.
Evasion: Maneuvering a Behemoth
With a top speed of 22-23 knots and sluggish acceleration, the Rodney is not known for her agility.
Key Points:
- Rudder Shift is Your Friend: The Rodney’s fast rudder shift allows for quick turns, enabling you to dodge torpedoes and present a smaller profile to enemy fire.
- Strategic Positioning is Crucial: Due to her low speed, the Rodney struggles to reposition quickly. Choose your engagements carefully and avoid being caught out of position.
- Concealment Matters: While not her strong suit, utilizing concealment effectively can delay detection and allow you to dictate the terms of engagement.
Anti-Air: Woefully Inadequate
The Rodney’s AA defenses are practically nonexistent, making her an easy target for aircraft carriers.
Key Points:
- Pathetic Large Caliber AA DPS: The Rodney’s large caliber AA guns are woefully inadequate, leaving her vulnerable to long-range airstrikes.
- Short-Range AA Offers Little Protection: While her short-range AA is decent, it’s only effective when planes are practically on top of you.
- No Defensive AA Fire Consumable: Further exacerbates her vulnerability to air attacks.
Survival Tips:
- Stick Close to Allies: Seek cover from friendly ships with stronger AA capabilities.
- Hope for the Best: With limited defensive options, your best bet is to pray the enemy carrier focuses on other targets.
Final Verdict: A Brawler with a Punch
The HMS Rodney is a powerful yet fragile battleship that rewards players who can leverage her strengths while mitigating her weaknesses. Her devastating AP salvos, enhanced survivability through heavy repair teams, and unique bow tanking capabilities make her a formidable opponent in the right hands. However, her lackluster speed, fragile armor, and nonexistent AA defenses require careful positioning and strategic decision-making.
If you enjoy a straightforward, hard-hitting playstyle and can adapt to her limitations, the HMS Rodney is a rewarding addition to any fleet.
