Their defeat in the Battle of Midway
saw the Imperial Japanese Navy lose four aircraft carriers
and around 250 planes, as well as their best pilots.
In response to this, the Japanese high command
decided that desperate times required desperate measures.
That's how a unique ship came into existence,
and I'm going to tell you her story.
Please welcome Japanese Tier VI Premium battleship Ise.
The fate of battleship Ise and her sistership Hyuga
is a vivid example of the changes in naval warfare
that happened with the outbreak of World War II.
The Japanese were in dire need of deck aviation,
so in late 1942, their high command decided to convert Ise—
a ship that was 25 years old at the time—
into a full-fledged carrier.
However, a lack of time and resources
forced them to adopt a hybrid battleship-carrier variant.
Her four twin-barreled 356 mm turrets were preserved,
while her two aft turrets were demounted to make space for a flight deck.
It was used to accommodate and service aircraft
that were launched with the help of two catapults.
In October 1943, the reconstructed Ise rejoined the Navy,
but failed to have a significant impact on the course of the war.
Ise was damaged during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
After the necessary repairs,
she operated in the South China Sea.
From February 1945,
the battleship was laid up at Kure due to lack of fuel,
and that's where she was sunk by American aircraft on July 28.
Japanese battleship Ise is the first hybrid in our game.
Her unique capabilities open up some interesting gameplay options.
Ise is armed with eight 356 mm guns with a long firing range.
She also has a solid HP pool.
The battleship thrives in medium- and long-range engagements.
However, her primary feature
is the squadron of torpedo bombers she carries.
Ise is inferior to same-tier battleships in terms of her firepower.
It's essential for her to utilize a combination of her main guns and aviation
to come out on top in battle.
Your aircraft will help you scout out possible enemy positions
and attack any enemies that are loitering behind islands.
Be careful though— the battleship herself will be vulnerable
while you are in control of her squadron.
Ise has a squadron of four planes on her deck.
Each plane is armed with two torpedoes.
While the squadron has an admirably large HP pool,
it can attack only once per sortie.
Unlike the planes carried by aircraft carriers,
the battleship's aircraft take off with acceleration
and can use Engine Boost at the same time.
While the aircraft lack consumables,
the entire squadron is restored simultaneously rather than plane by plane.
The aircraft servicing time is 120 seconds.
As for possible upgrades,
I recommend installing those that increase the ship's survivability
and main battery characteristics.
For this reason, mount Main Armaments Modification 1 in the first slot;
Damage Control System Modification 1 in the second slot;
Aiming Systems Modification 1 in the third slot;
and Damage Control System Modification 2 in the fourth slot.
Thanks to her unique combination of combat capabilities,
I'm sure that battleship Ise
will find her admirers and make battles in World of Warships
even more interesting.
You have a chance to park this unusual ship in your Port
by participating in our contest!
To participate, you need to subscribe to our channel,
like this video, and provide the correct answer to the following question:
What project was initially planned to be the basis of battleship Ise?
Don't forget to specify your nickname and the server you play on.
We'll determine the winner by a random draw
and announce their name in a comment with the next Armada episode.
They will receive an Admiral Pack that includes battleship Ise,
a Commander with 10 skill points, the Type 21 camouflage,
a commemorative flag, and other useful items!
Participate in the draw, leave comments, and good luck, Captains!