USN DD Burrows Line - Gunboat Captain Build & Strategy Guide
- The Burrows line consists of gunboat-oriented destroyers featuring comfortable long-range shell ballistics and powerful Semi-Armor-Piercing (SAP) ammunition. They carry an Exhaust Smoke Generator that can be activated or deactivated on demand, allowing for rapid disengagements or extended damage farming based on tactical requirements.
- Note that the minimum smoke deployment duration per activation is 20 seconds, with a 25-second cooldown between uses.
- Trade Main Battery and AA Specialist (BFT) and Grease the Gears (GtG) for Fearless Brawler (FB) if you are confident in open-water gunboating and throttle-dodging.
- Smoke Generator duration cannot be modified by signals or skills; do not equip Smoke Generator Modification 1 or related signal flags.
- Alexander Ovechkin is an exceptional commander choice for USN destroyers due to his improved Survivability Expert (SE) skill.
- If you do not have Engine Boost Modification 1, equip Engine Room Protection (ERP).
- Applies to Hughes, Osborne, Christopher, and Burrows.
Strategy Guide
Burrows excels at dealing consistent damage from flexible positions, leveraging her unique on-demand smoke mechanics to control the pace of engagements. Unlike traditional USN destroyers that rely on stationary, long-duration smoke screens, the Burrows line is designed for dynamic gunplay.
Weaponry and Ammunition
The line features comfortable long-range shell ballistics and access to SAP shells, enabling high raw damage output against broadside destroyers, light cruisers, and battleship superstructures across all operational ranges.
On-Demand Smoke Mechanics
The defining feature of the Burrows line is the ability to toggle Smoke Generator deployment on and off as needed:
- Disengaging: Trigger a brief 20-second burst of smoke to break line of sight immediately and escape unfavorable engagements without wasting full consumable charges.
- Damage Farming: Maintain smoke deployment for extended stationary farming when positioning safely relative to enemy Surveillance Radar and Hydroacoustic Search threats.
Engagement Style and Positioning
Depending on your skill level and captain skill setup, you can alternate between island-assisted smoke farming and active open-water gunboating. Because her shell velocity is superior to traditional USN destroyers (such as Gearing), Burrows is not limited to close-range fights, allowing effective support from safer distances and flanking vectors.