World of Warships: Legends ship guide

Z-44

Beta
Germany · Tier VIII · Destroyer · Premium
Stealth destroyerBest-in-class concealment: win caps from detection ranges peers cannot reach.
Playstyle
  • Hold concealment edges on the contested cap at 6.7 km detection
  • The band opens windows for unspotted torpedo drops and clean repositions
  • Avoid: Burning the 6.7 km concealment advantage on guns
Key characteristics
Long torps (12 km)SmokeEngine BoostShort gun range
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Community Data

Z-44 Community Stats

Across 7,000+ Standard battles from 190+ players, Z-44 averages a 57% win rate, 46,900 damage and 0.9 kills per battle, and survives 45% of them.

Community Data

Z-44 Community Stats

Log in to GamingDiver and upload your data to see Community Data for Z-44: community win rate, damage, survival, spotting, and your own comparison.

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Playstyle

Overview

Z-44 is a Tier VIII German stealth-leaning destroyer with strong surface detection (6.7 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. The trade is short gun range in T8 DDs (10.7 km, 25th of 28).

Positioning

Hold concealment edges on the contested cap at 6.7 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. Your guns lose penetration at range, so aim AP at broadsides you can still citadel and put HE into superstructures and upper-hull sections, rather than the bow-in or belt armor your shells bounce and shatter on. Shooting from the cloud gives you away at 2.5 km, and a destroyer here is spotted at about 7 km, so you see it coming with roughly 4.5 km to spare. Vision is mutual: past the 2 km guaranteed ring you cannot see out either, and nothing in her kit sees through it, so pop the smoke where someone is already lighting the enemy or you will sit in it with nothing to shoot. Enemy sonar (about 4.7 km) and radar (about 9 km) read straight in regardless.

Potato Avoidance

Burning the 6.7 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

Improved HE penetration

HE pen at the 1/4 caliber ratio instead of the standard 1/6. HE-spam is a real damage option here, not just a fire-starter, shared by 6/28 T8 DDs.

Engine Boost

+8% speed (about +2.9 kt), 120 s duration. Engine Boost consumable gives a small speed nudge - useful for closing a gap or steadying a torpedo run, not for running anything down.

Big torpedo salvo ↗

10 tubes per side, best of T8 DDs. More torpedoes per launch: spread wide to cover a reposition, or tight for more hits on a thin target.

Short gun range ↗

10.7 km main battery reach, bottom quartile of T8 DDs. Outranged by peers; close distance or lean on terrain.

Short AA reach ↗

3 km AA reach, bottom decile of T8 DDs. Bombs and torpedoes drop before AA bites.

Acquisition

How to get Z-44

Z-44 is a Premium ship and not available to unlock in the Tech Tree. Acquisition paths: Event currency, Campaign, and 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.

While you save up, check active promo codes for free doubloons, camouflages, and other rewards.

Best listed chance for this ship

  • Super VIII crate 4.761905% One of the Tier VIII Premium ships Event · Super VIII crate · 1 of 21 ships
  • Santa Level 5 1.25% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Santa Level 5 · 1 of 10 ships
  • Spectral Vault 5.0 0.657895% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Spectral Vault 5.0 · 1 of 19 ships
Show all 13 containers (10 more)
  • Santa Level 4 0.425% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Santa Level 4 · 2 paths combined · 1 of 10 ships
    Show 2 paths
    • Santa Level 40.3%
    • Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.125%
  • Spectral Vault 4.0 0.256579% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Spectral Vault 4.0 · 2 paths combined · 1 of 19 ships
    Show 2 paths
    • Spectral Vault 4.00.157895%
    • Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.098684%
  • Santa Level 3 0.13625% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Santa Level 3 · 4 paths combined · 1 of 10 ships
    Show 4 paths
    • Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 50.0625%
    • Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 40.045%
    • Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.01875%
    • Santa Level 30.01%
  • Spectral Vault 3.0 0.053224% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Spectral Vault 3.0 · 4 paths combined · 1 of 19 ships
    Show 4 paths
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.019737%
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.017368%
    • Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.010855%
    • Spectral Vault 3.00.005263%
  • Mystic Lantern 0.043478% Tier VIII Premium ship Event · Mystic Lantern · 1 of 23 ships
  • Santa Level 2 0.041688% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Santa Level 2 · 6 paths combined · 1 of 10 ships
    Show 6 paths
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 40.015%
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 50.009375%
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 40.00675%
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.00625%
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.002812%
    • Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 30.0015%
  • Champion's Box 0.02725% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Champion's Box · 4 paths combined · 1 of 10 ships
    Show 4 paths
    • Champion's Box → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 50.0125%
    • Champion's Box → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 40.009%
    • Champion's Box → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.00375%
    • Champion's Box → Santa Level 30.002%
  • Spectral Vault 2.0 0.010454% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Spectral Vault 2.0 · 6 paths combined · 1 of 19 ships
    Show 6 paths
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.003158%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.001974%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.001974%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.001737%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.001086%
    • Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.000526%
  • Santa Level 1 0.009878% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Santa Level 1 · 8 paths combined · 1 of 10 ships
    Show 8 paths
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 50.003125%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 40.00225%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 50.001406%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 40.001012%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.000938%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 30.0005%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 3 → Santa Level 4 → Santa Level 50.000422%
    • Santa Level 1 → Santa Level 2 → Santa Level 30.000225%
  • Spectral Vault 1.0 0.001295% Tier VIII Premium ship Archived · Spectral Vault 1.0 · 9 paths combined · 1 of 19 ships
    Show 9 paths
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000284%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000197%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000178%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000174%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.00.000156%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000109%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.0 → Spectral Vault 4.0 → Spectral Vault 5.00.000098%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.000053%
    • Spectral Vault 1.0 → Spectral Vault 2.0 → Spectral Vault 3.00.000047%
Official WG availability sources
  • "Wagen Un Winnen" Campaign Breakdown Campaign Start: 2023-08-28 · End: 2023-10-01
    • Upon reaching milestone 100 with an active Admiralty Backing, you’ll be rewarded with Z-44, a German Tier VIII Premium destroyer with gameplay that revolves around her potent torpedo armament.
  • Autumn Update: Risk It And Win Campaign Start: 2023-08-24
    • Z-44 arrives as the ultimate prize of this update's campaign!
    • German Tier VIII Premium destroyer Z-44
  • Anniversary Update: Operation Piñata Event currency Start: 2025-07-31
    • You'll also receive three coupons, each providing 30% off select Premium ships of a specific tier, along with an additional coupon granting a 30% discount on Hizen, Marlborough, or Z-44. These three ships will be available for Piñatitas—this birthday's special currency—which you can find in various sources throughout the update, including the Anniversary Gift.
  • Legendary Birthday in Piñata Style Event currency Start: 2025-08-01
    • These three ships—Japanese Tier VIII Premium battleship Hizen, British Tier VIII Premium battleship Marlborough, and German Tier VIII Premium destroyer Z-44—will be available for Piñatitas during this update.
Show direct source rows

Want the full picture? Each container page charts the odds as you open more crates - including pity guaranteed-reward timers and, for GD Supporters, pack math personalized to your port.

Builds

Pair with a commander whose unique skill complements her main armament; check the build tool for current recommendations.

Erich Bey

WG official

WG official build from Through the Spy Glass: Z-44.

Source: Through the Spy Glass: Z-44

Open in Build Tool →

Commanders frequently paired with this ship Erich Bey

Have a build you swear by? Open it in the Build Tool and hit Save build to share it here, or browse the Ship Builds guide for proven loadouts across the fleet.

Cohort position

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Where Z-44 sits among Tier VIII DDs (27 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%Torpedo reload75 s (3/27) Top 25%Stealth profile6.74 km / 3.37 km (5/28 / 4/28) Top 25%AP shell damage3,000 (6/26) Top 25%Main dispersion95.1 m (8/28) Top 25%Torpedo range12 km (6/27) Bottom 25%Main battery range10.68 km (25/28) Bottom 25%Fires per minute4.5 (22/26) Bottom 25%HE DPM116,250 (22/26) Bottom 25%Effective HE DPM (incl. fire)153,137 (23/26) WorstAP pen at 10 km44 mm (1 of 2 tied) WorstAA range3 km (28/28)
See 29 mid-pack stats

Not standouts for Z-44 -- 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 points19,400 HP(18/28) Max speed36.5 kt(13/28) Smoke fire bloom2.53 km(10/28) Rudder shift4.4 s(11/28) Turning circle670 m(11/28) Main battery caliber128 mm(13/28) Main battery reload4 s(15/28) HE fire chance6%(17/26) AP DPM225,000(11/26) AP velocity830 m/s(17/26) HE velocity830 m/s(15/26) Time to 90% speed16.5 s(13/28) Acceleration (0-12 kt)5 s(13/28) AP fuse timer0.01 s(14/26) AP arming threshold21 mm(13/26) Engine power70,000 hp(12/28) Power / turn radius104.5 hp/m(11/28) Displacement3,542 t(11/28) Power-to-weight19.76 hp/t(14/28) AA DPS243(12/28) AA threat729(21/28) Torpedo damage≈13,400(21/27) Torpedo speed68 kt(8/27) Torpedo reaction time7.1 s(9/27) NormAP ricochet start45°(19 of 26 tied at this value) NormAP auto-bounce angle60°(19 of 26 tied at this value) NormTurn speed retained81%(24 of 28 tied at this value) NormMax armor20 mm(24 of 28 tied at this value) NormCitadel belt20 mm(24 of 28 tied at this value)
Survivability
Hit Points19,400
Displacement3,542 t
Hull dimensions
ƒLength x beam at the waterline, plus draft. Length matters when dodging torpedoes; beam and draft shape how hard the ship is to hit.
127 x 11.78 m
Armor range13–20 mm
Plate armor thicknesses13, 19, 20 mm
Armor material/layer entries22
Fire resistance
ƒtop hull: 1 − 0.6004 fire coefficient = 40%. Lowers how often hits set you on fire. It does not reduce the damage a burning fire does per second; fires burn at the full rate on every ship.
40%
Fire duration30 s
Fire damage
ƒOne unattended fire: 0.003 of max HP per second (0.3%) × 30 s = 0.09 of the pool; 0.09 × 19,400 HP = 1,746 HP on this ship. 4 fire points can burn at once.
0.3% of HP per second
Flood duration40 s
Flood damage
ƒOne unattended flood: 0.0025 of max HP per second (0.25%) × 40 s = 0.1 of the pool; 0.1 × 19,400 HP = 1,940 HP on this ship.
0.25% of HP per second
Torp Reduction
ƒ1 − 0.333 hull torpedo-damage coefficient / 0.333 unprotected baseline = 0%. Reduces torpedo hit damage. It does not affect flooding: floods start as often and tick at the full rate.
0%
Magazine HP
ƒPer-turret powder-magazine HP, a separate pool from the ship's. Penetrating hits wear it down and the turret is likelier to be knocked out as it falls, so a larger pool keeps the guns firing through punishment that silences a peer's.
9,700
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.
5,800
Repairable: penetration50%
Repairable: steering gear50%
Section HP
Bow section HP
ƒDamage saturation pool for the bow: penetrations here deal their normal share until twice this much penetration damage has landed on the section (2 × 2,900 = 5,800), then further hits on it deal half damage. A penetration deals 0.33 × the shell's max damage; once the section is saturated it deals exactly half of that (0.5 × 0.33 = 0.165 × max damage), so a 3,000-damage shell's pen goes from 990 to 495. Overpens (0.1 × max damage) and citadels (1.0 ×) ignore saturation. Pens on the ship's other, unsaturated sections still deal the normal 0.33 ×. A larger pool keeps that part of the ship taking full damage for longer; a small one saturates fast and protects the ship's HP.
2,900
Casemate section HP
ƒThis section has no practical saturation cap: every hit here keeps dealing its normal share of damage (on most ships the citadel; on many destroyers the casemate).
No saturation cap
Hull section HP
ƒDamage saturation pool for the hull: penetrations here deal their normal share until twice this much penetration damage has landed on the section (2 × 14,600 = 29,200), then further hits on it deal half damage. A penetration deals 0.33 × the shell's max damage; once the section is saturated it deals exactly half of that (0.5 × 0.33 = 0.165 × max damage), so a 3,000-damage shell's pen goes from 990 to 495. Overpens (0.1 × max damage) and citadels (1.0 ×) ignore saturation. Pens on the ship's other, unsaturated sections still deal the normal 0.33 ×. A larger pool keeps that part of the ship taking full damage for longer; a small one saturates fast and protects the ship's HP.
14,600
Superstructure section HP
ƒDamage saturation pool for the superstructure: penetrations here deal their normal share until twice this much penetration damage has landed on the section (2 × 1,300 = 2,600), then further hits on it deal half damage. A penetration deals 0.33 × the shell's max damage; once the section is saturated it deals exactly half of that (0.5 × 0.33 = 0.165 × max damage), so a 3,000-damage shell's pen goes from 990 to 495. Overpens (0.1 × max damage) and citadels (1.0 ×) ignore saturation. Pens on the ship's other, unsaturated sections still deal the normal 0.33 ×. The superstructure is not exempt: it saturates exactly like the bow and stern, so shells aimed at it stop dealing full damage once this pool is used up. A larger pool keeps that part of the ship taking full damage for longer; a small one saturates fast and protects the ship's HP.
1,300
Stern section HP
ƒDamage saturation pool for the stern: penetrations here deal their normal share until twice this much penetration damage has landed on the section (2 × 1,600 = 3,200), then further hits on it deal half damage. A penetration deals 0.33 × the shell's max damage; once the section is saturated it deals exactly half of that (0.5 × 0.33 = 0.165 × max damage), so a 3,000-damage shell's pen goes from 990 to 495. Overpens (0.1 × max damage) and citadels (1.0 ×) ignore saturation. Pens on the ship's other, unsaturated sections still deal the normal 0.33 ×. A larger pool keeps that part of the ship taking full damage for longer; a small one saturates fast and protects the ship's HP.
1,600
Main Battery
ModuleArtillery: 128 mm L/45 LC/34
Mounts / barrels5 mounts / 5 barrels
Reload time4 s
Firing range10.7 km
Turret traverse9 °/s
Turret armor8 mm
Turret traverse arcs
ƒHow far each mount can train, in degrees to either side of the mount's own facing. A rear turret with ±150° leaves a 60° blind wedge over the bow; one-sided arcs are wing mounts that cover a single side. The data does not say which way each mount faces, so the arcs are listed per mount without bow/stern angles.
3x ±126°, ±155°, ±152°
Guns to bear
ƒ180° − 126° (the most restricted aft-facing mount's arc) = 54° off bow; 180° − 126° (the most restricted forward-facing mount's arc) = 54° off stern. How far off the bow (or stern) the ship must angle before every main turret can fire: the widest blind wedge among the rear-facing (or forward-facing) mounts, from each mount's trainable arc.
54° off bow / 54° off stern
Shell Grouping (σ)2
Dispersion type
ƒIn practice: the baseline curve for a standard destroyer -- at max range (10.7 km) shells land in an ellipse about 95 m wide and 57 m tall. Also on this curve (225): AL Avrora, AL Yukikaze, AL Z24, Acasta, Achilles, Adriatico, Aigle, Akatsuki, Akizuki, Albany, Allen M. Sumner, Attilio Regolo and 213 more.
Standard destroyer
Max Horiz Disp
ƒHorizontal dispersion ellipse width at max range, from the dispersion model: σH=(R30·idealRadius−minRadiusidealDistance+minRadius)·30 =(1068330·8−0.51000+0.5)·30=95.1m
95.1 m at 10.7 km
Max Vert Disp
ƒVertical dispersion ellipse height at max range: σV=σH·radiusOnMax =95.1·0.6=57.1m
57.1 m at 10.7 km
Med Horiz Disp
ƒ50%-hit horizontal radius: σH,50=σH·0.6σ =95.1·0.62=28.5m
28.5 m at 10.7 km
Med Vert Disp
ƒ50%-hit vertical radius: σV,50=σV·0.6σ =57.1·0.62=17.1m
17.1 m at 10.7 km
Turret turn time
ƒ180 degrees / 9 deg/s traverse speed = 20 s.
20 s
Shells/min
ƒZero upgrades: 5 broadside guns x 60 / 4 s base reload = 75. All upgrades (Main Battery Mod. 3 = -10% reload): 5 broadside guns x 60 / 3.714 s (3.6 s = 26 ticks) all-upgrades reload (4 s × 0.9 Main Battery Mod. 3 = 3.6 s) = 80.8.
Initial: 75 → 80.8
HE shells
HE alpha1,550
HE Velocity830 m/s
Fire Chance6%
HE fire DPM vs T8 BB36887
Effective HE DPM vs T8 BB153137
HE penetration
ƒ32 mm ≈ 128 mm caliber / 4 (improved HE penetration: German BBs, Yamato-class, and a handful of others).
32 mm
HE full-salvo alpha
ƒ1,550 HE damage x 5 broadside guns = 7,750.
7,750
HE DPM
ƒZero upgrades: 7,750 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 4 s base reload = 116,250. All upgrades (Main Battery Mod. 3 = -10% reload): 7,750 HE full-salvo alpha x 60 / 3.714 s (3.6 s = 26 ticks) all-upgrades reload (4 s × 0.9 Main Battery Mod. 3 = 3.6 s) = 125,192.
Initial: 116,250 → 125,192
Fires/min
ƒZero upgrades: 75 shells/min × 0.06 (6% fire chance) = 4.5. All upgrades (Main Battery Mod. 3 = -10% reload): 80.8 shells/min × 0.06 (6% fire chance) = 4.85.
Initial: 4.5 → 4.85
AP shells
AP alpha3,000
AP Velocity830 m/s
Min Ricochet45 deg
Guaranteed Ricochet60 deg
Fuse Timer0.01 s
Fuse Threshold21 mm
AP overmatch
ƒfloor(128 mm caliber / 14.3) = 8 mm (AP auto-penetrates plating this thick or less).
8 mm
AP Pen Close
ƒAP formula evaluated at muzzle velocity: P=10−7·K·m0.69·d−1.07·v01.38 =10−7·1640·280.69·0.128−1.07·8301.38=157.4mm.
157.4 mm point-blank
AP Pen Far
ƒSame formula at the ship's max firing range (10.7 km), where the shell has slowed to 314.9 m/s: P=10−7·1640·280.69·0.128−1.07·314.91.38=41.3mm.
41.3 mm at 10.7 km
AP full-salvo alpha
ƒ3,000 AP damage x 5 broadside guns = 15,000.
15,000
AP DPM
ƒZero upgrades: 15,000 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 4 s base reload = 225,000. All upgrades (Main Battery Mod. 3 = -10% reload): 15,000 AP full-salvo alpha x 60 / 3.714 s (3.6 s = 26 ticks) all-upgrades reload (4 s × 0.9 Main Battery Mod. 3 = 3.6 s) = 242,308.
Initial: 225,000 → 242,308
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.
10
Torpedoes
ModuleTorpedoes: 533 mm Fünfling
Launchers / tubes2 launchers × 5 tubes = 10 tubes
Reload time75 s
Projectile speed68.0 kt
Range12 km
Maximum simulated damage
ƒMost targets only intersect one hull section, so a hit transfers about 1/3 of the warhead alpha (2/3 when the warhead blast >= 5000 and the burst reaches a second section). For this ship: Dsim=α·c=40,200·0.333=13,400. In battle, a hit on the torpedo belt deals the per-hit figure × (1 − the target's torpedo protection %), a bow or stern hit deals it in full, and a torpedo never counts as a citadel hit.
≈ 13,400
Maximum damage (ammunition)
ƒ40,200 warhead alpha / 3 + 1,000 blast = 14,400. Warhead alpha / 3 plus the blast addend: the per-torpedo damage figure. The 'Maximum simulated damage' row above applies target geometry to the same warhead.
14,400
Torpedo module damage
ƒPer-torpedo module/blast damage parameter. Most torpedoes carry 500 to 2,000; ships announced by WG as dealing increased module damage carry 9,000 to 12,000, so their hits knock out engines, rudders, and turrets far more often. Comparative figure.
1,000
Torpedo detectability1.3 km
Reaction time
ƒHow long a target has to dodge after your torpedo is spotted at its detectability range (lower means less warning): treact=1.3 km68 kt×2.6855=7.1 s. 2.6855 converts knots to m/s on the game clock. Base value; commander torpedo-concealment skills lower it further.
7.1 s
Flooding chance
ƒThis torpedo carries a flooding-chance value of 2.27 per hit, shown as 2.27×100=227%. Values above 100% are normal: in battle the base chance is scaled down by the target's torpedo protection (the Torp Reduction stat on its Survivability card) and any flood-resistance modifiers, so a value above 100% keeps flooding likely even through partial protection.
227%
Torpedo launcher traverse25 °/s
Launch arcscentreline 240°, 260°
Torp Turn
ƒTime to rotate the launchers 180 deg: tturn=180°25°/s=7.2s.
7.2 s
Torp Arming213 m
Per-side salvo damage
ƒOne side firing, all torpedoes hitting: per-side tubes x per-torpedo simulated damage = 10 x 13,400 = 134,000. Each hit on the target's torpedo belt is reduced by its torpedo protection %.
134,000
AA Defense
AA mount points7
Maximum AA range
ƒLongest-reaching family on the in-game AA card. Base AirDefense aura max range is 3 km; dual-purpose mount auras extend it.
3 km
30 mm Flak 387×4 30mm
Near aura
Guns30 mm Flak 38
Continuous DPS
ƒEffective DPS: 73 raw aura damage × 3.5 × 0.95 hit probability = 243 - the same in-game units as the Close-range AA DPS headline.
243
Range3 km
Maneuverability
Engine power70,000 hp
Maximum speed36.5 kt
Turning circle radius670 m
Rudder shift time4.4 s
Engine power-boost threshold7.0 kt
Engine spool-up time7.7 s
Reverse spool-up time3.8 s
Reverse speed
ƒtop speed / 4 + 4.9 = 36.5 / 4 + 4.9 = 14.0 kt. Base value; speed modifiers scale it.
14.0 kt
Crash stop
ƒSeconds from top speed to a dead stop after ordering full reverse: reverse power winds in over the reverse spool-up while water drag does most of the braking, using the ship's own reverse-power ratio. The full curve is on the acceleration chart. Full reverse stops about a quarter faster than a plain Stop order from top speed.
15.3 s
Engine boost threshold (reverse)
ƒSpeed below which the engine's built-in power boost applies in reverse.
12.6 kt
Acceleration 0-90%
ƒTime to reach 90% of top speed (32.9 kt of 36.5 kt).
16.5 s
Acceleration 0-99%
ƒTime to reach 99% of top speed (36.1 kt of 36.5 kt). 99% rather than 100% because true top speed is asymptotic (thrust meets drag), so the last fraction of a knot is never quite gained.
27.4 s
Guns in a full turn
ƒWith the rudder hard over the hull turns 7.2°/s, so a target drifts across the bow at that rate. Turret traverse minus hull turn: 9 − 7.2 = +1.8°/s, so the guns hold the target through the turn. Main Battery Mod. 2 (+20% traverse) and Mod. 3 (−15%) move this line.
hold target (+1.8°/s spare)
Concealment
Detectability by sea
ƒBase value, no camouflage. With a Grade IV permanent camo (or any disposable camo): 6.74 km x 0.955 = 6.44 km. Camouflage does not change detectability by air.
6.74 km
With Grade IV camouflage (sea)
ƒDetectability by sea 6.74 km x 0.955 (Grade IV permanent camo or any disposable camo) = 6.44 km.
6.44 km
Detectability by air3.37 km
Smoke firing penalty2.53 km
Detect when firing (sea)
ƒmax(main battery range, sea detectability 6.74 km) = 10.68 km. Equal to the ship's main battery range (never below base detectability): firing makes you visible to everyone you can reach.
10.68 km
Detect when firing (air)
ƒAir detectability 3.37 km + gun-firing bloom 2.56 km = 5.93 km. The bloom tracks main-battery caliber 128 mm × 0.020 = 2.56 km.
5.93 km
Detect when on fire (sea)
ƒSea detectability 6.74 km + 2.0 km while burning = 8.74 km.
8.74 km
Detect when on fire (air)
ƒAir detectability 3.37 km + 3.0 km while burning = 6.37 km.
6.37 km
Guaranteed Detect2 km
✦
Consumables
Damage Control Party∞ charges · 40 s reload · 5 s active
Smoke Generator2 charges · 240 s reload · 20 s emit / 77 s cloud active · 450 m radius
Engine Boost2 charges · 180 s reload · 120 s active · +8% speed bonus

Under the hood

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

The constants behind the formulas and the long tail: shell and dispersion inputs, fixed-range anchors, salvo math, layered AA. Click the formula chip on any row to see how it is calculated.

Main battery formulas

vs standard DDStandard
The standard destroyer dispersion curve.
Shell scatter width @ 5 km52.5 m
(166.7 × (8 − 0.5) / 1000 + 0.5) × 30 = 52.5 m. Horizontal scatter at a fixed 5 km, from the same dispersion model as the rows below - a knife-fight-range anchor comparable across ships.
Shell scatter width @ 10 km90 m
(333.3 × (8 − 0.5) / 1000 + 0.5) × 30 = 90 m. How wide your shells scatter at 10 km, from the same dispersion model as the max-range figure above. Picking a fixed range makes this number directly comparable from ship to ship: max-range dispersion makes a longer-range gun look worse even when it's tighter at any common range. The interactive Dispersion tab on the Charts card plots the full curve from 0 to max range.
Shell scatter height @ 5 km25.2 m
How tall the scatter ellipse is at a fixed 5 km, from the same model, comparable from ship to ship. The height/width ratio is a piecewise-linear curve through three points from the ship's own dispersion data: radiusOnZero=0.2 at 0 m, radiusOnDelim=0.5 at delim·Rmax=0.5·10683=5342 m, and radiusOnMax=0.6 at 10683 m. Below the kink: k=0.2+(0.5−0.2)·50005342=0.4808, so σV=σH·k=52.5·0.4808=25.2m.
Shell scatter height @ 10 km52.8 m
How tall the same scatter ellipse is at 10 km. Comparable from ship to ship for the same reason as the width value above. The height/width ratio is a piecewise-linear curve through three points from the ship's own dispersion data: radiusOnZero=0.2 at 0 m, radiusOnDelim=0.5 at delim·Rmax=0.5·10683=5342 m, and radiusOnMax=0.6 at 10683 m. Above the kink: k=0.5+(0.6−0.5)·10000−534210683−5342=0.5872, so σV=σH·k=90·0.5872=52.8m.
AP pen 5 km81 mm
AP penetration at a fixed 5 km, from the same ballistic curve as AP Pen Close/Far: the shell's impact velocity at that range fed through the AP formula P=10−7·K·m0.69·d−1.07·v1.38 =10−7·1640·280.69·0.128−1.07·512.11.38=81mm, where 512.1 m/s is the shell's speed when it arrives at 5 km (from 830 m/s at the muzzle). Fixed anchors make ships directly comparable at the same fighting distance; the Charts card plots the full curve.
AP pen 10 km44 mm
AP penetration at a fixed 10 km, from the same ballistic curve as AP Pen Close/Far: the shell's impact velocity at that range fed through the AP formula P=10−7·K·m0.69·d−1.07·v1.38 =10−7·1640·280.69·0.128−1.07·330.61.38=44mm, where 330.6 m/s is the shell's speed when it arrives at 10 km (from 830 m/s at the muzzle). Fixed anchors make ships directly comparable at the same fighting distance; the Charts card plots the full curve.
HE flight time @ 10 km7.32 s
How long an HE shell takes to reach a target at a fixed 10 km, from the same numerically integrated trajectory the Charts card plots. The shell slows under quadratic air drag, adrag=kρv2, where ρ is air density from a standard-atmosphere profile and k bundles the shell's drag coefficient, caliber and mass: k=πCdd28m=π·0.3447·0.12828·28=7.92×10−5. That runs from a 830 m/s muzzle velocity in 0.02 s steps under gravity 9.8 m/s² until the shell lands, then divides by 2.77 because the game clock runs faster than real time. Lower is better, since a faster shell is harder to dodge and needs less lead.
AP flight time @ 10 km7.32 s
How long an AP shell takes to reach a target at a fixed 10 km, from the same numerically integrated trajectory the Charts card plots. The shell slows under quadratic air drag, adrag=kρv2, where ρ is air density from a standard-atmosphere profile and k bundles the shell's drag coefficient, caliber and mass: k=πCdd28m=π·0.3447·0.12828·28=7.92×10−5. That runs from a 830 m/s muzzle velocity in 0.02 s steps under gravity 9.8 m/s² until the shell lands, then divides by 2.77 because the game clock runs faster than real time. Lower is better, since a faster shell is harder to dodge and needs less lead.
Improved HE PenYes
This ship's HE shells use a 1/4 (~0.25) caliber-to-pen ratio instead of the standard 1/6 (~0.167) - 0.25 in this case. Lets HE pen ~32mm armor instead of ~21mm. Hits every German cruiser (150mm CL, 203mm CA) and BB (350mm+), British heavy cruisers / Lion / Nelson, a handful of other premiums.
Guns per full salvo (alpha, DPM)5
5 mounts × 1 barrels = 5; all 5 bear on the broadside.

Model inputs

Krupp (AP)1,640
Armor-penetration constant of the AP shell; penetration scales straight with it, so a 10% higher Krupp is 10% more penetration at every range.
AP shell mass28 kg
Enters penetration as mass^0.69 and slows the shell's drag deceleration, so a heavier shell keeps more velocity at range.
AP drag coefficient0.3447
Air drag on the AP shell in flight; lower keeps velocity, and with it penetration, at long range.
AP muzzle velocity830 m/s
Starting speed of the AP shell; penetration scales with velocity^1.38.
HE muzzle velocity830 m/s
Starting speed of the HE shell; sets its flight time and lead.
idealRadius8
Horizontal dispersion growth per idealDistance of range, in 30 m units; the slope of the scatter-width line.
minRadius0.5
Horizontal dispersion at zero range, in 30 m units; the intercept of the scatter-width line.
idealDistance1,000 m
Range step over which horizontal dispersion grows by idealRadius.
taperDist4,000 m
Inside this range the scatter width tapers toward minRadius instead of following the line.
radiusOnZero0.2
Vertical scatter as a share of horizontal at zero range.
radiusOnDelim0.5
Vertical scatter as a share of horizontal at the delim point.
radiusOnMax0.6
Vertical scatter as a share of horizontal at maximum range.
delim0.5
Where the vertical-scatter curve bends, as a share of maximum range.

Torpedoes

Estimated torpedo reaction time7.1 s
1300 m / (68.0 kt × 2.6855) = 7.1 s. detectability / (speed kt x 2.6855 m/s per knot on the game clock).
Torpedo speed68.0 kt
Travel time to max range65.7 s
12000 m / (68.0 kt × 2.6855) = 65.7 s. range / (speed kt x 2.6855 m/s per knot on the game clock).
Tube count10
2 launchers × 5 tubes.
Per-side salvo10 torpedoes
2 launchers × 5 tubes = 10, all to either side (centreline launchers train across - full salvo to either side).
Full-salvo damage134,000
All tubes hitting one target: tubes x per-torpedo simulated damage = 10 x 13,400 = 134,000. Each hit on the target's torpedo belt is reduced by its torpedo protection %.

AA defense

AA DPS at max range243
Only families that reach 3 km contribute at the outer edge of the AA bubble. In-game families: 30mm Flak 38 7x4 -> 243 DPS @ 3 km.
AA DPS layered by range243 DPS @ 3 km
@ 3 km: 243 from one family. Cumulative AA DPS at each family range threshold. Inner ranges stack the outer families, so a target closing the distance hits stronger AA bubbles as it crosses each band.
AA DPS at point-blank243
243 = 243 DPS: the sum of every family's average DPS, achievable only inside the closest-range family (3 km).
AA threat index729
243 × 3 = 729. 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 range3 km
Open in Charting Tool

Ship Charts

Background

The Type 1936B-class destroyer was a modification of the preceding Type 1936A class, which retained the same hull design but reverted to the lighter main armament of earlier destroyers to reduce top weight and improve their seakeeping capabilities.

Armor Beta

Hull HP 19,400, distributed across 5 hull zones, each with its own plate thicknesses, saturation cap, and pen thresholds.

Bow & stern19 mm

Overmatched by 134+ AP guns across the bracket. Can’t reliably bow-tank; gets bow-citadelled and overpenned.

Farming19 mm

Superstructure and extremities take HE pens and AP overpens from nearly any gun: steady chip damage. Fire resistance 40%, fires burn 30s. Range-by-range in the Compare tool →

Section Plates HP cap Threats Tactic
Bow19 mm primary (range 19–20 mm)2,900 (15% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ AP (Scharnhorst '43, Schill)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 mm14,600 (75% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ AP (Scharnhorst '43, Schill)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 19–20 mm)1,600 (8% of HP)
Overmatched by 283mm+ AP (Scharnhorst '43, Schill)Angle bounces 203mm19 mm: HE pens from 127mm+
Mirror of bow. Same fast saturation.
Citadel20 mm primary (range 13–20 mm)≈ 165,500 (effectively no cap)
Citadel pen: full damageOver-pen: ×0.10 damage
Effectively no cap; citadel pool sits at ~165k HP on every ship. An AP citadel penetration deals the shell's full damage, the biggest single hit available; only over-penetrations are damped, to ×0.10.
Turret (module, per magazine)separate HP pool, does not drain ship HP9,700 magazine HPTurret knocked outPer-turret powder-magazine HP, a separate pool that does not drain ship HP. As it is worn down the turret is likelier to be knocked out, and a smaller pool gets there faster.
AA mount (30 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 HP5,800 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.

Balance History

Balance updates affecting Z-44. Cards are condensed; use each source link for full context.

Buff ×3Main Battery ×4
2024-12-12

Ministry of Balance: Breaking the Ice

  • The destroyer battleground in and around Tier VIII has become very dynamic in the past year, so Z-44 is getting an improvement to her main battery so she can defend herself in battle.
  • Main battery gun reload time reduced from 4.2 to 4.0 s.
  • Main battery HE shell maximum damage increased from 1,500 to 1,550.
Read the full official post
Exteriors

Skins & permanent camouflages

Every custom exterior Z-44 can equip.

  • Z-44 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.