Sampson Build & Guide | WoWs Legends

Playstyle

Overview

Sampson is a Tier II American stealth-leaning destroyer with strong surface detection (5.7 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 AP shell velocity in T2 DDs (884) and best flat HE shells in T2 DDs (884).

Positioning

Hold concealment edges on the contested cap at 5.7 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 5.7 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

Flat AP shells

884.0 m/s AP muzzle velocity, best of T2 DDs. Flatter trajectory, less lead, harder to dodge.

Flat HE shells

884.0 m/s HE muzzle velocity, best of T2 DDs. Flatter trajectory, easier to land at range.

Heavy citadel belt

13.0 mm citadel belt, best of T2 DDs. Citadels through angle are rare.

Fast HE shells

8.36 s HE flight time to max range, top decile of T2 DDs. Harder to dodge.

Thick stern plate

13.0 mm stern, top decile of T2 DDs.

Slow reload

6.3 s reload, bottom decile of T2 DDs. Salvos punish more, but cycle is slower than peers.

Acquisition

How to get Sampson

Sampson is a Premium ship and not available to unlock in the Tech Tree. Acquisition path: Premium/Event.

Premium/EventAvailability usually depends on store rotations, event reruns, collaborations, coupons, or special offers.

Builds Beta

Albert Gleaves, Arleigh Burke, and Bumblebee are useful American destroyer commander directions. Inspirations usually start with concealment, then add HP, torpedo reload, gun performance, or speed depending on whether you want safer scouting or harder cap fights.

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Commanders frequently paired with this ship Albert Gleaves Arleigh Burke

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Cohort position

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Where Sampson sits among Tier II DDs (20 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.

BestAP velocity884 m/s (1 of 3 tied) BestHE velocity884 m/s (1 of 3 tied) BestCitadel belt13 mm (1 of 4 tied) Top 10%Traverse-to-turn ratio5.97 × (3/20) Top 10%Stern armor13 mm (3/20) Top 10%Deck armor13 mm (3/20) Top 25%Hit points9,100 HP (6/20) Top 25%Torpedo reload23 s (4/20) Top 25%Max armor13 mm (4/20) Bottom 25%Main battery reload6.3 s (18/20) Bottom 25%AP DPM32,381 (17/18) Bottom 25%Engine power17,500 hp (18/20) Bottom 25%Turn-speed retention33.7 hp/m (18/20) Bottom 25%Power-to-weight14.06 hp/t (18/20) Bottom 25%Torpedo range4.5 km (18/20) Bottom 25%Torpedo damage6,033 (17/20) Bottom 10%Fires per minute1.14 (19/20) Bottom 10%HE DPM28,571 (19/20) WorstBow armor6 mm (1 of 10 tied)

See 19 mid-pack stats

Not standouts for Sampson -- 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.

Max speed34 kt(12/20) Concealment5.66 km(15/20) Air detection2.83 km(15/20) Rudder shift3.5 s(15/20) Main battery caliber102 mm(9/20) Main battery range8.61 km(14/20) HE shell damage1,500(8/20) HE fire chance6%(9/20) AP shell damage1,700(9/18) Main dispersion79.6 m(13/20) Acceleration10.2 s(15/20) AP arming threshold17 mm(9/18) Displacement1,245 t(14/20) AA DPS10(12/20) AA range2 km(11/20) AA threat21(11/16) Torpedo speed54 kt(9/20) NormAP fuse timer0.01 s(16 of 18 tied at this value) NormAP ricochet start45°(17 of 18 tied at this value)

Peers in this cohort

Show all 19 peers

Stats & specs

Customize in the Build Tool →Shell ballistics chart More tools in the WoWS Legends Data Lab

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

SmokeEngine Boost

Survivability

Hit Points9,100

Displacement1,245 t

Armor range6–13 mm

Plate armor thicknesses6, 9, 13 mm

Armor material/layer entries24

Fire resistance3.3%

Fire duration30 s

Torp Reduction0%

Magazine HP

ƒ

The 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.

4,600

Steering gear HP

ƒ

Durability 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.

2,700

Main Battery

ModuleArtillery: 102 mm Mk12

Mounts / barrels4 mounts / 4 barrels

Reload time7 s

Firing range8.6 km

Turret traverse11.5 °/s

Shell Grouping (σ)

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Shell grouping (sigma); shown in-game as Shell Grouping.

2

Max Horiz Disp

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Horizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (8609/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 79.6 m

79.6 m

Max Vert Disp

ƒ

Vertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 79.6 × 0.6 = 47.7 m

47.7 m

Med Horiz Disp

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50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 79.6 × 0.319 (σ=2) = 25.4 m

25.4 m

Med Vert Disp

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50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 47.7 × 0.321 (σ=2) = 15.3 m

15.3 m

Turret turn time

ƒ

180 degrees / 11.5 deg/s traverse speed = 15.7 s.

15.7 s

Base shells/min

ƒ

2 broadside guns x 60 / 7 s base reload = 17.1.

17.1

HE shells

HE Damage1,500

HE Velocity884 m/s

Fire Chance6%

HE penetration

ƒ

17 mm ≈ 102 mm caliber / 6 (standard HE penetration ratio).

17 mm

HE full-salvo alpha

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1,500 HE damage x 2 broadside guns = 3,000.

3,000

Base HE DPM

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3,000 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 7 s base reload = 25,714.

25,714

Base fires/min

ƒ

2 HE shells x 60 / 7 s reload x 6% fire chance = 1.03.

1.03

AP shells

AP Damage1,700

AP Velocity884 m/s

Min Ricochet45 deg

Guaranteed Ricochet60 deg

Fuse Timer0.01 s

Fuse Threshold17 mm

AP overmatch

ƒ

floor(102 mm caliber / 14.3) = 7 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).

7 mm

AP Pen Close

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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 × 1451 × 14.97^0.69 × 0.102^-1.07 × 884^1.38 = 125.7 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.

125.7 mm

AP Pen Far

ƒ

Same formula at the ship's max firing range (10.8 km), where the shell has slowed to 293.1 m/s: 1e-7 × 1451 × 14.97^0.69 × 0.102^-1.07 × 293.1^1.38 = 27.4 mm.

27.4 mm

AP full-salvo alpha

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1,700 AP damage x 2 broadside guns = 3,400.

3,400

Base AP DPM

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3,400 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 7 s base reload = 29,143.

29,143

AP AOE Radius

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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.

3

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Torpedoes

ModuleTorpedoes: 450 mm double

Launchers / tubes4 launchers × 2 tubes = 8 tubes

Reload time23 s

Projectile speed54 kt

Range4.5 km

Maximum simulated damage5,433 (est.)

Alpha damage16,300

Torpedo detectability0.9 km

Torpedo launcher traverse25 °/s

Torp Turn7.2 s

Torp Arming167 m

Per-side salvo damage

ƒ

per-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.

43,464

AA Defense

AA mount points2

Close-range AA DPS

ƒ

Sum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (3×3.5×1) = 10. 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.

10

Maximum AA range

ƒ

Longest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.

2 km

37 mm Maxim2×1 37mm

DPS3

Range2 km

Maneuverability

Engine moduleEngine: 17,500 hp

Engine power17,500 hp

Maximum speed34 kt

Turning circle radius520 m

Engine power multiplier speed threshold7 kt

Traverse-to-turn ratio6.0× slow

Concealment

Detectability by sea5.66 km

Detectability by air2.83 km

Smoke firing penalty2 km

Detect after firing main guns5.66 km

Detect Fire Sea7.66 km

Detect Fire Air5.83 km

Guaranteed Detect2 km

✦

Consumables

Damage Control Party∞ charges · 40 s reload · 5 s active

Smoke Generator2 charges · 240 s reload · 15 s emit / 109 s cloud active

Engine Boost2 charges · 180 s reload · 120 s active · +8% speed bonus

Module options (1)

Stats above use the fully-upgraded modules. These are the research-tree alternatives; trade-offs are flagged.

HullUpgrade

Turret traverse11.5 → 10 °/s

See all derived stats

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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 Disp79.6 m

Horizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range. (R/30·(idealRadius−minRadius)/idealDistance + minRadius)·30 = (8609/30·(8−0.5)/1000 + 0.5)·30 = 79.6 m

Max Vert Disp47.7 m

Vertical dispersion ellipse height at max range = max horizontal × radiusOnMax = 79.6 × 0.6 = 47.7 m

Med Horiz Disp25.4 m

50%-hit horizontal radius = max horizontal × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 79.6 × 0.319 (σ=2) = 25.4 m

Med Vert Disp15.3 m

50%-hit vertical radius = max vertical × GetHalfHitsRatio(σ) = 47.7 × 0.321 (σ=2) = 15.3 m

AP Pen Close125.7 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 × 1451 × 14.97^0.69 × 0.102^-1.07 × 884^1.38 = 125.7 mm. Matches the in-game spec card.

AP Pen Far27.4 mm

Same formula at the ship's max firing range (10.8 km), where the shell has slowed to 293.1 m/s: 1e-7 × 1451 × 14.97^0.69 × 0.102^-1.07 × 293.1^1.38 = 27.4 mm.

HE penetration17 mm

17 mm ≈ 102 mm caliber / 6 (standard HE penetration ratio).

AP overmatch7 mm

floor(102 mm caliber / 14.3) = 7 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).

AP AOE Radius3

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 alpha2

Barrels that can bear on one beam (2 of 4); casemate/wing mounts only fire one side.

Turret turn time15.7 s

180 degrees / 11.5 deg/s traverse speed = 15.7 s.

HE full-salvo alpha3,000

1,500 HE damage x 2 broadside guns = 3,000.

AP full-salvo alpha3,400

1,700 AP damage x 2 broadside guns = 3,400.

Base HE DPM25,714

3,000 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 7 s base reload = 25,714.

Base AP DPM29,143

3,400 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 7 s base reload = 29,143.

Base shells/min17.1

2 broadside guns x 60 / 7 s base reload = 17.1.

Base fires/min1.03

2 HE shells x 60 / 7 s reload x 6% fire chance = 1.03.

Torpedoes

Torpedo detectability0.9 km

Estimated torpedo reaction time6.4 s

detectability / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).

Torpedo speed54 kt

Travel time to max range32.1 s

range / (speed kt x 2.6 community game-speed factor).

Tube count8

4 launchers x 2 tubes.

Per-side salvo8 torpedoes

8 (centerline launchers train across - full salvo to either side).

Full-salvo damage43,464

tube count x per-torpedo simulated damage (all torpedoes hitting).

Per-side salvo damage43,464

per-side salvo x per-torpedo simulated damage.

AA defense

Close-range AA DPS10

Sum across every AA aura on this ship of (aura.continuous_damage x 3.5 x aura.hit_probability). Here: (3×3.5×1) = 10. 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 km

Longest-reaching aura across AA-only + dual-purpose auras.

AA threat index21

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.

Armor

Hull HP 9,100, 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
Bow	6 mm	1,600 (18% of HP)	Overmatched by 127mm+ (Farragut, Shenyang)6 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.
Stern	13 mm primary (range 6–13 mm)	900 (10% of HP)	Overmatched by 203mm+ (Furutaka)Angle bounces 152mm13 mm: HE pens from 127mm+	Mirror of bow. Same fast saturation.
Citadel	13 mm primary (range 6–13 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).
Superstructure	6 mm primary (range 6–13 mm)	200 (2% of HP)	Any HE ≥16 mm pens at full damage	Any HE ≥16 mm pens at full damage. HE-spam target, and the section saturates fast (often only a few thousand HP).
Turret (module, per magazine)	separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP	4,600 magazine HP	Magazine detonation1–30% chance · below ~75% HP	Per-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 (37 mm mount)	separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP	200 per-mount HP	Destroyed at 0 HP	Per-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 HP	2,700 module HP	Incapacitated at 0 HP	When 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 Sampson can equip, from in-game data.

DefaultThe ship’s standard exterior

Sampson

Sampson Community Stats