Battleships - Germany KM BBs
Secondary Build and Strategy Guide
KM BBs - Secondary Build
- Build focus: Maximum secondary firepower
- Playstyle: Close-range German battleship brawler
- Build trade-off: Sacrifices some concealment for stronger secondaries
- PvP note: Casual alternative rather than a competitive PvP setup
- Recommended alternatives: Schlieffen Line Standard Build and Libertad Line Standard Build are stronger dedicated secondary battleship options
- Main-battery option: Swap Manual Secondaries for Close Quarters Combat if you want to improve main-gun performance
- Concealment option: Swap Manual Secondaries for Concealment Expert if you want to get closer before being detected
- Bismarck & Friedrich der Große: Take IFHE instead of Grease the Gears to allow 105mm secondaries to penetrate 32mm armor
- Großer Kurfürst: Consider using the Legendary Upgrade if available
- Hydro option: Use Hydroacoustic Search Modification; use Damage Control System Modification 1 if unavailable
- Key strength: Strong close-range pressure combined with German Hydro
- Key weakness: Secondary performance is notably weaker than the dedicated secondary lines
- Alternative build: A dedicated Preussen Line Tank Build is available for a more balanced battleship setup
- Applies to: Scharnhorst '43, Bismarck, Tirpitz, Friedrich der Große, Pommern, Preußen, Großer Kurfürst and Hannover
This secondary build pushes the German battleship line's secondary armament as far as possible while giving up some concealment and other general-purpose benefits. It is primarily intended as a casual alternative or for PvE modes rather than a build for players focused on maximizing competitive PvP performance.
The German battleships have always been associated with close-range combat, but this build should be approached with realistic expectations. The Schlieffen and Libertad lines are stronger alternatives when the main objective is dedicated secondary damage. The KM BB setup is more about enjoying the brawling playstyle on ships that otherwise use a standard battleship build.
The build gives you several options depending on how you want to play. Manual Secondary Battery Aiming can be exchanged for Close Quarters Combat if you would rather improve the main battery during close fights. Alternatively, you can replace it with Concealment Expert when getting into secondary range before being detected is more important to you.
Bismarck and Friedrich der Große have an additional consideration. Their 105mm secondary guns benefit significantly from IFHE, allowing them to penetrate 32mm armor. If you are running those ships with this secondary setup, IFHE should be taken instead of Grease the Gears. The larger penetration threshold gives the secondary battery much more reliable direct damage against common battleship armor.
Großer Kurfürst is another ship worth considering separately if you own her Legendary Upgrade. The upgrade can further support the ship's close-range identity and gives you another reason to experiment with the secondary specialization rather than simply using the standard tank setup.
Hydroacoustic Search is one of the most important tools when playing this build. Use it while closing the distance to improve your awareness of incoming torpedoes and nearby ships. In a secondary build, you will naturally spend more time close to the enemy, so Hydro becomes especially valuable during pushes and fights around islands.
The basic strategy is to find an opening, get into secondary range and let the supporting weapons do their work. Avoid charging directly into several enemy ships at once. German battleships can survive close-range fights well, but the secondary armament is noticeably less powerful than that of the specialized secondary lines, so taking unnecessary damage on the approach can quickly outweigh the benefit of the build.
Hydro also makes the German battleships particularly comfortable when fighting around islands. These positions can help you close the distance while reducing the number of enemy guns that can engage you at once. Once you reach secondary range, keep moving and adjust your angle rather than sitting completely stationary in front of the enemy.
If you prefer a more balanced setup with stronger overall survivability and main-battery performance, use the dedicated Preussen Line Tank Build instead. That setup is better suited to players who want the German battleships to perform effectively across a wider range of engagements rather than specifically maximizing their secondaries.
The secondary KM BB build works best when the battle gives you a genuine opportunity to fight at close range. Use Hydro to manage torpedo threats, exploit islands and terrain to close safely, then let the secondary battery pressure enemies while the main guns provide the burst damage.
Remember that this is primarily a fun alternative rather than the strongest competitive secondary setup. The German Schlieffen and Pan-American Libertad lines are more specialized for the role, but the KM battleships can still deliver enjoyable close-range gameplay when the right opportunity appears.