In the beginning was the gun…
Or, to be more precise—it was a project for a dual-purpose 127 mm Type 1 gun
for a ship's coupled turret mount
that was developed by Japanese designers during the war.
For various reasons, they only managed to produce a single prototype of the gun,
which was later found by the Americans among the debris of the gun-mount shop
at the Kure Naval Arsenal in December 1945
In World of Warships, we’ve recreated this mount in 3D
and designed a ship based on a Shimakaze-class destroyer
to carry it into battle.
That's how destroyer Hayate,
a very special Japanese Tier X ship, was born.
A detailed study of the trophy captured at Kure
showed that the advantages of the project,
in comparison with older 127 mm main armament mounts,
were its fixed ammunition and an increased rate of fire.
These advantages would have provided
an edge in artillery duels against light enemies,
and significantly enhanced the AA capabilities of a ship
firing at high-altitude targets.
All these characteristics have been preserved in the virtual model.
Looking at what my colleagues have created,
it’s clear to me that such an outstanding main battery
and powerful torpedo armament make the ship highly interesting—
perhaps even controversially so, to some extent.
One of Hayate’s main features
is that she can be customized to suit two different gameplay styles—
she can be either a torpedo destroyer or a main battery destroyer.
Both approaches can be quite effective,
so the decision is entirely yours,
rather than being predetermined by the ship's parameters.
Torpedo Destroyer.
The destroyer is equipped with two quintuple-tube torpedo launchers.
The torpedoes can deal heavy damage and have a range of 12 km.
When correctly customized, the ship can be transformed
into quite a dangerous "torpedo boat,"
especially if taking the radical approach of replacing Smoke Generator
with Torpedo Reload Booster,
which allows a further 10 torpedoes to be launched at an enemy
just 8 seconds after the first salvo.
The main targets for Hayate’s torpedoes
should be battleships and cruisers with low maneuverability.
Because of this, you should remember
that capturing Key Areas without smokes is a risky deal.
The ship's visibility to enemies is 7.74 km,
so she can easily fall under focused fire.
You had better leave the capture of Key Areas for later stages of battle,
at the point when the situation on a map becomes more predictable.
When focusing on her torpedo armament,
you should avoid enemy destroyers if possible.
Hayate is capable of fighting back,
but it will cost a significant part of her HP pool
Moreover, despite having decent AA defenses for a destroyer,
she should still stay alert for incoming enemy aircraft when her HP is low.
Artillery Destroyer.
When playing the artillery variant of the ship,
focus on her smokes and powerful guns.
It's slightly easier to capture and hold Key Areas
with this variant of the destroyer,
as long as you always watch out for enemy ships equipped with radar.
As for destroyers, thanks to her 5-second reload time,
six guns, and the high damage of her HE shells,
Hayate can deal decent damage per minute.
The ballistics of her guns allow for firing at maneuvering targets as well.
Hidden behind a smoke screen,
you can freely choose any target within firing range.
In this configuration, Hayate’s torpedoes still pose a threat.
But I have to admit that the ship possesses
mediocre maneuverability and cruising characteristics,
which is why you should consider
your firing position and routes of retreat carefully.
Skills and upgrades should be selected
according gameplay style.
We recommend the following upgrades for the artillery destroyer:
Main Armaments Modification 1;
Engine Room Protection; Aiming System Modification 1;
Propulsion Modification 1;
Concealment System Modification 1;
and Main Battery Modification 3.
Commander skills: For 10 skill points:
Priority Target; Last Stand;
Basic Firing Training; and Concealment Expert.
For 19 skill points, additionally: Survivability Expert;
Superintendent; Adrenaline Rush; and Preventive Maintenance.
We recommend the following upgrades for the torpedo destroyer:
Main Armaments Modification 1;
Engine Room Protection; Torpedo Tubes Modification 1;
Propulsion Modification 1; Concealment System Modification 1;
and Torpedo Tubes Modification 2.
Unlock the following skills for your Commander:
For 10 skill points: Priority Target; Last Stand;
Torpedo Armament Expertise; and Concealment Expert.
For 19 skill points, unlock the same skills as for the artillery destroyer:
Survivability Expert; Superintendent;
Adrenaline Rush; and Preventive Maintenance.
It's up to you to decide between guns and torpedoes.
The Japanese destroyer has really huge potential,
and the two gameplay styles are like two different worlds
that offer true challenges for those brave players who are willing to explore them.
You can add destroyer Hayate to your Port
in exchange for 2,000,000 Free XP and 1 credit.
The destroyer comes with a permanent camouflage
which provides an array of decent bonuses:
+100% XP and +20% credits per battle,
and 50% off her post-battle maintenance cost.
Good luck, Captains!
And remember that the ship’s name is pronounced
with each syllable stressed—HA-YA-TE.