World of Warships: Legends ship guide

Cossack 38

Beta
Destroyer gunboatWin DD duels and cap fights with gun DPM.
Playstyle
  • Hold concealment edges on the contested cap at 6.8 km detection
  • Avoid: Burning the 6.8 km concealment advantage on guns
Key characteristics
2 sigma accuracyHigh HE / fire outputHigh AP DPMLobs over islandsWeak AA

Variant of Cossack

This ship shares its hull with Cossack. Specific stat and loadout differences are shown on the Specs tab.

Community Data

Cossack 38 Community Stats

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Playstyle

Overview

Cossack 38 is a Tier VI British stealth-leaning destroyer with strong surface detection (6.8 km). The kit opens detection windows most peer DDs cannot match, so her value is contesting caps from concealment edges where the detection band holds. Standout traits: best smoke duration in T6 DDs (20 s) and top-decile armor plate in T6 DDs (20 mm).

Positioning

Hold concealment edges on the contested cap at 6.8 km detection. The band opens windows for unspotted torpedo drops and clean repositions; lean into the gaps your peer DDs cannot read, and back out before detection closes.

Potato Avoidance

Burning the 6.8 km concealment advantage on guns

Every salvo lights you up and gives back the detection edge that makes the kit work; reserve guns for finishing damage on already-spotted ships, and prioritize torpedo drops you can fire while undetected.

Signature Traits

Long-burning smoke

20.0 s Smoke Generator duration, best of T6 DDs. Holds the smoke shield longer.

Long-duration sonar

180.0 s Sonar duration, best of T6 DDs.

Heavy armor

20.0 mm max plate, top decile of T6 DDs.

HE DPM machine

181333 HE DPM, top decile of T6 DDs. Sustained fire pressure.

Weak AA

59.0 AA DPS, bottom decile of T6 DDs. Aircraft chew through with impunity; lean on positioning over AA.

Short AA reach

2.5 km AA reach, bottom quartile of T6 DDs. Drops bombs and rockets land before AA bites.

Acquisition

How to get Cossack 38

Cossack 38 is a Premium ship and not available to unlock in the Tech Tree. Acquisition path: Containers. Container chances are shown as the listed odds of receiving this exact ship, dividing grouped ship-pool odds across the resolved ships and including nested container paths when a crate can drop another crate.

Best listed chance for this ship

  • Spectral Vault 5.0 0.4375% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Spectral Vault 5.0 · 1 of 40 ships
  • Spectral Vault 4.0 0.190625% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Spectral Vault 4.0 · 2 paths combined · 1 of 40 ships
    Show 2 paths
    • Spectral Vault 4.00.125%
    • Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.065625%
  • Spectral Vault 3.0 0.109094% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Spectral Vault 3.0 · 4 paths combined · 1 of 40 ships
    Show 4 paths
    • Spectral Vault 3.00.075%
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.01375%
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.013125%
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.007219%
Show all 7 containers (4 more)
  • Mystic Lantern 0.102273% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Mystic Lantern · 1 of 44 ships
  • Spectral Vault 2.0 0.039722% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Spectral Vault 2.0 · 7 paths combined · 1 of 40 ships
    Show 7 paths
    • Spectral Vault 2.00.025%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.0075%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.0025%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.001375%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.001313%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.001313%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000722%
  • Spectral Vault 1.0 0.004716% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Spectral Vault 1.0 · 12 paths combined · 1 of 40 ships
    Show 12 paths
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.00.00225%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.00075%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.000675%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000225%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000138%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000131%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000124%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000118%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000118%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000072%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000065%
    • Spectral Vault 1.00.00005%
  • Mystic Box 0.002273% Tier VI Premium ship Event containers · Mystic Box · 1 of 44 ships
Official WG availability sources
  • Official WoWS Legends container odds Containers Official container drop rows linked below include direct and nested effective ship odds.
  • Through the Spy Glass: HMS Cossack '38 Ship feature / release Start: 2022-10-31 · End: open/unknown end Official Through the Spy Glass feature for this ship; useful as a release/availability source, but not a guaranteed current-store listing.
Show direct source rows

Builds Beta

Build for concealment, torpedo reload, gun range/reload, smoke utility, and survivability.

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Cohort position

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Where Cossack 38 sits among Tier VI DDs (33 ships). Notable standouts are shown first; the rest of the cohort-ranked stats are in the expand below. Acquisition variants (Black Friday, Founders Edition) are counted once with their base ship, not as separate peers.

Top 10%Fires per minute8.53 (2/33) Top 10%HE DPM181,333 (2/33) Top 10%AP DPM224,000 (4/30) Top 25%Stealth profile6.8 km / 3.4 km (9/33 / 9/33) Top 25%Acceleration9.8 s (8/33) Top 25%AP arming threshold20 mm (6/30) Top 25%Max armor20 mm (7/33) Top 25%Citadel belt20 mm (6/32) Top 25%Stern armor19 mm (9/32) Bottom 25%Main battery caliber120 mm (27/33) Bottom 25%Engine power44,000 hp (29/33) Bottom 25%Turn-speed retention72.1 hp/m (29/33) Bottom 25%Power-to-weight17.47 hp/t (29/33) Bottom 10%AA DPS59 (32/33) Bottom 10%AA threat125 (31/33) WorstNo secondaries (30 of 33 in cohort) WorstAA range2.5 km (1 of 4 tied)
See 19 mid-pack stats

Not standouts for Cossack 38 -- here's where she sits on every other ranked stat in the cohort. Stats tagged NORM are tied across more than half the cohort, so the value is the cohort default rather than a standout.

Hit points14,800 HP(23/33) Max speed36 kt(23/33) Rudder shift4.7 s(16/33) Traverse-to-turn ratio5.75 ×(15/33) Main battery range10.63 km(23/33) Main battery reload4.5 s(17/33) HE fire chance8%(17/33) Main dispersion94.7 m(21/33) AP velocity808 m/s(20/30) HE velocity808 m/s(23/33) Displacement2,519 t(13/33) Torpedo range8.01 km(23/33) Torpedo damage15,433(14/33) Torpedo speed61 kt(21/33) Torpedo reload80 s(13/33) Bow armor19 mm(10/32) NormAP fuse timer0.01 s(26 of 30 tied at this value) NormAP ricochet start45°(27 of 30 tied at this value) NormAP auto-bounce angle60°(27 of 30 tied at this value)

All values are ship base stats with modifications and upgrade changes denoted inline.

Sonar 3.89 kmSmokeEngine Boost
Survivability
Hit Points14,800
Displacement2,519 t
Armor range10–20 mm
Plate armor thicknesses10, 15, 16, 19, 20 mm
Armor material/layer entries23
Fire resistance30%
Fire duration30 s
Torp Reduction0%
Magazine HP
ƒThe magazine is the module a detonation comes from. Penetrating hits to it raise the detonation chance from 1% toward 30% as its HP is worn down, so a larger magazine pool rides out citadel hits longer before a detonation becomes likely.
7,400
Steering gear HP
ƒDurability of the steering gears. As this pool drops, hits are likelier to jam the rudder; unlike most modules the steering can be knocked out and repaired but is never permanently destroyed.
4,400
Main Battery
ModuleArtillery: 120 mm/45 CPXIX
Mounts / barrels4 mounts / 8 barrels
Reload time5 s
Firing range10.6 km
Turret traverse10 °/s
Shell Grouping (σ)
ƒShell grouping (sigma); shown in-game as Shell Grouping.
2
Max Horiz Disp
ƒHorizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (10633/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 94.7 m
94.7 m
Max Vert Disp
ƒVertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 94.7 × 0.6 = 56.8 m
56.8 m
Med Horiz Disp
ƒ50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 94.7 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 30.3 m
30.3 m
Med Vert Disp
ƒ50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 56.8 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 18.2 m
18.2 m
Turret turn time
ƒ180 degrees / 10 deg/s traverse speed = 18 s.
18 s
Base shells/min
ƒ8 broadside guns x 60 / 5 s base reload = 96.
96
HE shells
HE Damage1,700
HE Velocity808 m/s
Fire Chance8%
HE penetration
ƒ20 mm ≈ 120 mm caliber / 6 (standard HE penetration ratio).
20 mm
HE full-salvo alpha
ƒ1,700 HE damage x 8 broadside guns = 13,600.
13,600
Base HE DPM
ƒ13,600 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5 s base reload = 163,200.
163,200
Base fires/min
ƒ8 HE shells x 60 / 5 s reload x 8% fire chance = 7.68.
7.68
AP shells
AP Damage2,100
AP Velocity808 m/s
Min Ricochet45 deg
Guaranteed Ricochet60 deg
Fuse Timer0.01 s
Fuse Threshold20 mm
AP overmatch
ƒfloor(120 mm caliber / 14.3) = 8 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).
8 mm
AP Pen Close
ƒCanonical community AP formula (jcw780/wows_shell), evaluated at muzzle velocity: 1e-7 × Krupp × mass^0.69 × caliber_m^-1.07 × v0^1.38 = 1e-7 × 2438 × 22.68^0.69 × 0.12^-1.07 × 808^1.38 = 208.9 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.
208.9 mm
AP Pen Far
ƒSame formula at the ship's max firing range (13.3 km), where the shell has slowed to 236.8 m/s: 1e-7 × 2438 × 22.68^0.69 × 0.12^-1.07 × 236.8^1.38 = 38.4 mm.
38.4 mm
AP full-salvo alpha
ƒ2,100 AP damage x 8 broadside guns = 16,800.
16,800
Base AP DPM
ƒ16,800 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5 s base reload = 201,600.
201,600
AP AOE Radius
ƒAP shell over-penetration splash radius; scales with shell mass. Wickes 102mm = 3, standard 152mm CL ~ 20, Iowa 406mm ~ 270, Yamato 460mm = 400, Incomparable 650mm = 550 (max). Larger value = bigger splash damage area when AP over-pens.
8
Torpedoes
ModuleTorpedoes: 533 mm QR Mk II
Launchers / tubes1 launchers × 4 tubes = 4 tubes
Reload time80 s
Projectile speed61 kt
Range8.01 km
Maximum simulated damage14,333 (est.)
Alpha damage43,000
Torpedo detectability1.3 km
Torpedo launcher traverse25 °/s
Torp Turn7.2 s
Torp Arming188 m
Per-side salvo damage
ƒper-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.
57,332
AA Defense
AA mount points3
Close-range AA DPS
ƒSum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (12×3.5×1) + (5×3.5×0.95) = 59. Covers AA-only mounts plus dual-purpose secondaries (Bismarck 105mm, USN 5"/38 cruiser secondaries) and dual-purpose main batteries (Sumner-class 5"/38, Akizuki-line 100mm). Formula validated against in-game captures on California, Sumner, Manfred von Richthofen, Dante Alighieri (exact) and within +/-17% on the remaining verified ships.
59
Maximum AA range
ƒLongest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.
2.5 km
40 mm/39 QF Mark VII1×4 40mm
12.7 mm Mk III2×4 13mm
Medium aura
DPS12
Range2.5 km
Near aura
DPS5
Range1.2 km
Total DPS in Aura
ƒMedium 12 + Near 5 = 17
17
Maneuverability
Engine moduleEngine: 44,000 hp
Engine power44,000 hp
Maximum speed36 kt
Turning circle radius610 m
Engine power multiplier speed threshold7 kt
Traverse-to-turn ratio5.7× slow
Concealment
Detectability by sea6.8 km
Detectability by air3.4 km
Smoke firing penalty2.42 km
Detect after firing main guns6.8 km
Detect Fire Sea8.8 km
Detect Fire Air6.4 km
Guaranteed Detect2 km
Consumables
Damage Control Party∞ charges · 40 s reload · 5 s active
Smoke Generator6 charges · 60 s reload · 20 s emit / 40 s cloud active
Engine Boost2 charges · 180 s reload · 120 s active · +8% speed bonus
Sonar3 charges · 120 s reload · 180 s active · 3.89 km ship detect · 2.78 km torpedo detect

See all derived stats

Show

Numbers the spec table cannot show directly: alpha-strike math, DPM, dispersion, AP penetration. Click the formula chip on any row to reveal how it is calculated.

Main battery formulas

Shell Grouping (σ)2
Shell grouping (sigma); shown in-game as Shell Grouping.
Max Horiz Disp94.7 m
Horizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (10633/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 94.7 m
Max Vert Disp56.8 m
Vertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 94.7 × 0.6 = 56.8 m
Med Horiz Disp30.3 m
50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 94.7 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 30.3 m
Med Vert Disp18.2 m
50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 56.8 × 0.32 (σ=2) = 18.2 m
AP Pen Close208.9 mm
Canonical community AP formula (jcw780/wows_shell), evaluated at muzzle velocity: 1e-7 × Krupp × mass^0.69 × caliber_m^-1.07 × v0^1.38 = 1e-7 × 2438 × 22.68^0.69 × 0.12^-1.07 × 808^1.38 = 208.9 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.
AP Pen Far38.4 mm
Same formula at the ship's max firing range (13.3 km), where the shell has slowed to 236.8 m/s: 1e-7 × 2438 × 22.68^0.69 × 0.12^-1.07 × 236.8^1.38 = 38.4 mm.
HE penetration20 mm
20 mm ≈ 120 mm caliber / 6 (standard HE penetration ratio).
AP overmatch8 mm
floor(120 mm caliber / 14.3) = 8 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).
AP AOE Radius8
AP shell over-penetration splash radius; scales with shell mass. Wickes 102mm = 3, standard 152mm CL ~ 20, Iowa 406mm ~ 270, Yamato 460mm = 400, Incomparable 650mm = 550 (max). Larger value = bigger splash damage area when AP over-pens.
Broadside guns used for alpha8
All 8 barrels bear on the broadside.
Turret turn time18 s
180 degrees / 10 deg/s traverse speed = 18 s.
HE full-salvo alpha13,600
1,700 HE damage x 8 broadside guns = 13,600.
AP full-salvo alpha16,800
2,100 AP damage x 8 broadside guns = 16,800.
Base HE DPM163,200
13,600 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5 s base reload = 163,200.
Base AP DPM201,600
16,800 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 5 s base reload = 201,600.
Base shells/min96
8 broadside guns x 60 / 5 s base reload = 96.
Base fires/min7.68
8 HE shells x 60 / 5 s reload x 8% fire chance = 7.68.

Torpedoes

Torpedo detectability1.3 km
Estimated torpedo reaction time8.2 s
detectability / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).
Torpedo speed61 kt
Travel time to max range50.5 s
range / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).
Tube count4
1 launchers x 4 tubes.
Per-side salvo4 torpedoes
4 (centerline launchers train across - full salvo to either side).
Full-salvo damage57,332
tube count x per-torpedo simulated damage (all torpedoes hitting).
Per-side salvo damage57,332
per-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.

AA defense

Close-range AA DPS59
Sum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (12×3.5×1) + (5×3.5×0.95) = 59. Covers AA-only mounts plus dual-purpose secondaries (Bismarck 105mm, USN 5"/38 cruiser secondaries) and dual-purpose main batteries (Sumner-class 5"/38, Akizuki-line 100mm). Formula validated against in-game captures on California, Sumner, Manfred von Richthofen, Dante Alighieri (exact) and within +/-17% on the remaining verified ships.
Maximum AA range2.5 km
Longest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.
AA threat index125
SUM over AA auras of (aura DPS x aura range km). A plane crossing the AA bubble is exposed to each aura for a time proportional to that aura's range, so long-reach DPS is worth more than the same DPS in a short bubble. Units: DPS*km; used to rank overall AA threat across the cohort.
Near aura range1.2 km

Armor

Hull HP 14,800, distributed across 5 hull zones, each with its own plate thicknesses, saturation cap, and pen thresholds. HP caps are the exact in-game values, not estimated.

Section Plates HP cap Threats Tactic
Bow19 mm primary (range 15–19 mm)2,300 (16% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ (Graf Spee, Scharnhorst)Angle bounces 203mm19 mm: HE pens from 127mm+
Bow-tank fits behind this exterior plate. Saturation is FAST here; the cap is often only a few thousand HP.
Hull (midship)19 mm11,100 (75% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ (Graf Spee, Scharnhorst)Angle bounces 203mm19 mm: HE pens from 127mm+
Largest HP pool. Citadel sits behind these plates; thinner deck and side plating absorb the rest.
Stern19 mm primary (range 15–19 mm)1,400 (9% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ (Graf Spee, Scharnhorst)Angle bounces 203mm19 mm: HE pens from 127mm+
Mirror of bow. Same fast saturation.
Citadel20 mm primary (range 10–20 mm)≈ 165,500 (effectively no cap)
Citadel pen ×0.50 damageOver-pen: ×0.10 damage
Effectively no cap; citadel pool sits at ~165k HP on every ship. Damage is gated by pen/over-pen multipliers instead (×0.50 direct pen, ×0.10 over-pen).
Turret (module, per magazine)separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP7,400 magazine HPMagazine detonation1–30% chance · below ~75% HPPer-turret powder-magazine HP. Detonation chance scales from 1% (no mag damage) to 30% (full mag damage); this range is the in-game value. Detonation can't roll while the ship is above ~75% HP (the standard detonation-protection threshold, not a per-ship stat). Smaller magazines saturate to the 30% ceiling faster.
AA mount (40 mm mount)separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP200 per-mount HPDestroyed at 0 HPPer-mount HP for the heaviest AA on this ship. An AA mount destroyed at 0 HP stops shooting down planes for the rest of the battle; DCP does not repair destroyed mounts. HE shells specifically target AA mounts since the small-caliber HP pool falls fast.
Rudder (module)separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP4,400 module HPIncapacitated at 0 HPWhen module HP reaches 0 the rudder locks at its current angle until DCP repairs it. Repair via Damage Control Party.

Saturation cap = HP a section can absorb before further damage to it is reduced (the "bow-tank" effect). Citadel pool is ~165k on every ship (effectively no cap); damage is gated by pen/over-pen multipliers instead. Superstructure saturates fast but HE always pens regardless of the plate thickness. Rudder (and other module HPs) are a separate pool from ship HP: damaging a module doesn't drain ship HP. Incapacitated modules like the rudder and engine are restored by DCP, but secondary and AA mounts destroyed at 0 HP stay out for the rest of the battle.

Shell ballistics chart

AP penetration, impact velocity, flight time and impact angle vs range. Click to load the interactive chart.
Exteriors

Skins & permanent camouflages

Every custom exterior Cossack 38 can equip, from in-game data.

  • Cossack 38 default exterior
    DefaultThe ship’s standard exterior

Primary official WG sources

Filtered to official World of Warships: Legends pages where this ship is a focus, reward, line member, or high-context variant mention.