Cruiser - U.S.A. Tier X Hawaii
Captain & Ship Build and Strategy Guide
- Build focus: Main battery DPM, survivability, concealment and close-range combat
- Main battery: Rapid-firing destroyer-caliber guns with exceptionally high DPM
- Alternative Fire Mode: Increases DPM by approximately 40% while significantly worsening shell ballistics
- Recommended Alt Fire range: Approximately 8–10 km or closer, unless you are confident with the floatier shells
- Captain build: Similar to other U.S. super-light cruiser builds
- Survivability Expert: Can be replaced with Top Grade Gunner because Hawaii already has a high HP pool
- Hydro upgrade: Hydroacoustic Search Modification 1 is recommended
- Alternative upgrade: If you do not have the Hydro modification, use Damage Control System Modification 1
- Playstyle: Close-range powerhouse that combines extreme DPM with a durable, difficult-to-citadel hull
- Positioning: Use islands aggressively to close distance and exploit the Alternative Fire Mode safely
- Key strength: Exceptional DPM, high HP pool and strong protection against citadel damage
- Key weakness: Alternative Fire Mode has dramatically worse ballistics and is difficult to use effectively at long range
- Historical note: Hawaii represents the proposed SCB 83 conversion of the ship into a command vessel for carrier task forces
- Applies to: U.S.A. Tier X Hawaii
Hawaii is a Tier X American large cruiser built around an unusual combination of destroyer-caliber guns, an extremely high rate of fire and a powerful Alternative Fire Mode. Her already impressive DPM can be increased by approximately 40% through the alternative firing mode, but the trade-off is drastically worse shell ballistics. This makes Hawaii a cruiser that becomes substantially more dangerous as the engagement range decreases.
The ship's unusually high HP pool and difficult-to-citadel hull allow her to operate much closer to the enemy than the term "light cruiser" might initially suggest. Instead of relying entirely on concealment to avoid damage, Hawaii can use her durability together with islands, maneuverability and Hydroacoustic Search to establish aggressive positions.
The recommended captain build follows the general approach used for other U.S. super-light cruisers. The major adjustment is that Hawaii's high HP pool allows you to give up Survivability Expert in favor of Top Grade Gunner. This puts additional emphasis on her already exceptional offensive capabilities without sacrificing as much survivability as it would on a more fragile cruiser.
Hydroacoustic Search Modification 1 is the preferred upgrade for the build. Hawaii's intended close-range gameplay brings her into areas where torpedoes and concealed ships become serious threats, so extending Hydro duration directly supports her preferred role. If the Hydro modification is unavailable, Damage Control System Modification 1 is a practical alternative.
The main battery is the foundation of Hawaii's offensive power. Her rapid-firing destroyer-caliber guns allow her to put an enormous volume of shells onto enemy ships in a very short period. The individual shells are not designed to produce enormous alpha damage; instead, the ship overwhelms targets through sustained fire and repeated hits.
The Alternative Fire Mode is what pushes this DPM into extreme territory. Activating it increases the ship's damage output by approximately 40%, but the resulting shells have significantly worse ballistics. The additional firepower is therefore most useful when you can reliably hit targets at shorter ranges.
A practical rule is to use Alternative Fire Mode at around 8–10 km or closer. You can use it from farther away if you are confident with the altered shell trajectory, but the worsening ballistics quickly becomes the limiting factor. At close range, the increased DPM is much easier to convert into real damage.
This makes island positioning one of the most important skills for Hawaii. Islands allow you to approach the enemy while limiting incoming fire, then emerge at a range where Alternative Fire Mode can be used effectively. The result is a short-range engagement in which Hawaii's extremely high DPM can overwhelm targets before they have time to respond effectively.
A map such as Sunset Islesis an excellent example of where Hawaii can thrive. The numerous islands create natural approaches, firing positions and disengagement routes that allow the cruiser to minimize the time spent exposed while closing into its preferred engagement range.
Hawaii can still fight at long range when necessary. The standard firing mode provides a more manageable trajectory and allows the ship to remain useful when approaching the enemy would be too dangerous. However, long-range combat does not unlock the full potential of the ship. The closer she can safely operate, the more valuable Alternative Fire Mode becomes.
The key word is safely. Hawaii is durable for a cruiser, but she is not immune to battleship fire. The high HP pool gives you room to make controlled trades, but charging directly into several enemy ships simply because you have more health is still a poor strategy.
Instead, use islands to limit the number of ships that can fire at you. Hydro can provide warning against torpedoes and help identify nearby threats, while your main battery can continuously punish targets that are unable to disengage.
Against cruisers, Hawaii is particularly dangerous at close range. The combination of extreme DPM and sustained fire can quickly overwhelm lightly or moderately armored targets. Use Alternative Fire Mode when the target is within the range where the altered ballistics remain manageable, and focus your fire on ships that cannot easily break line of sight.
Against battleships, the same high volume of fire can produce consistent pressure, although target selection becomes more important. Use vulnerable sections and appropriate ammunition rather than relying entirely on raw shell volume. At close range, positioning and island cover become increasingly important because battleship return fire can still remove large portions of Hawaii's HP.
Destroyers are another excellent target for a rapid-firing U.S. cruiser. Hawaii can put a large number of shells into a DD during a short spotting window, and Hydro gives additional protection when operating near capture areas. Do not, however, chase a destroyer deep into hostile territory simply because the guns are capable of dealing with it.
The Alternative Fire Mode should be used with particular care against smaller and maneuvering targets. The increased DPM is valuable only if enough shells actually reach the target. At longer distances, the floatier trajectory can make hitting destroyers substantially more difficult, so reverting to the standard firing mode may produce better real-world results.
The opening phase should generally focus on establishing a strong island-supported position. Look for areas where you can approach the enemy while remaining protected from multiple battleship firing lanes. Hawaii's high HP pool means she can absorb some damage during the setup, but preserving that health increases the number of aggressive opportunities available later.
Avoid staying completely stationary once you begin firing. Enemy players can quickly learn your position and begin targeting the island or firing lane. Make small positional adjustments, change firing angles and use your concealment to break contact when the enemy focus becomes excessive.
Hydroacoustic Search is particularly useful when moving around islands. Hawaii's close-range role naturally places her in environments where torpedoes are likely to be launched, and Hydro provides the additional warning required to continue pushing without walking directly into a torpedo spread.
One of Hawaii's biggest advantages is that she does not have to disengage from every moderate amount of incoming fire. Her high HP pool gives the captain more flexibility to remain in a contested position while the guns continue firing. The goal is to take controlleddamage while ensuring that the enemy is receiving considerably more pressure in return.
This makes Top Grade Gunner a logical build choice in place of Survivability Expert. Because Hawaii already has a substantial HP reserve, the offensive value provided by TGG can have a greater impact on the overall build. The exact choice still depends on playstyle, but the ship has enough inherent durability to make the trade reasonable.
When fighting around islands, think several moves ahead. You want to know where you will go after the first firing position becomes unsafe. Hawaii can survive a mistake better than many light cruisers, but her strongest gameplay comes from maintaining a cycle of controlled aggression and repositioning rather than sitting in one location until destroyed.
The ship's shell volume also makes concentrated fire extremely important. Instead of spreading your salvos across several targets, focus the guns on one enemy whenever possible. The enormous DPM becomes much more valuable when it rapidly removes individual ships rather than distributing damage across the entire enemy formation.
This is particularly effective against enemy cruisers. A cruiser that is already damaged and attempting to disengage can be finished quickly if Hawaii can maintain line of sight. Once the target is removed, disengage or select the next vulnerable ship rather than remaining exposed without a clear objective.
Against battleships, the correct engagement distance depends heavily on their supporting fleet. A battleship alone may be approachable at closer range, while a battleship protected by several cruisers should usually be attacked from farther away. Hawaii's flexible firing modes allow her to adapt to both situations.
The standard firing mode is useful when you cannot safely close the distance. Use it to maintain pressure and work toward a better position. Once islands, enemy movement or allied pressure create a safe opportunity to close inside approximately 8–10 km, Alternative Fire Mode can be activated to maximize DPM.
The transition between firing modes should therefore be based on target range and shell flight time, not simply on which mode has the higher theoretical damage. If you cannot consistently hit the enemy with the alternative trajectory, the additional theoretical DPM provides no practical benefit.
Mid-game is generally where Hawaii can begin to exploit her close-range strength more aggressively. Enemy formations usually start to fragment, making it easier to identify isolated targets. Use concealment and islands to close the distance and choose fights where only one or two enemy ships can realistically focus you.
Once inside the preferred range, activate Alternative Fire Mode and concentrate on the most vulnerable target. The increased DPM can rapidly strip HP from cruisers and exposed larger ships, particularly when the enemy is already distracted by another friendly ship.
Do not stay committed if the enemy begins establishing a crossfire. Hawaii's durability allows some mistakes, but crossfire is still extremely dangerous. Use islands and movement to eliminate one angle of attack whenever possible and force the enemy to engage you from a single direction.
The same principle applies when retreating. If you need to withdraw through open water, consider switching back to the standard firing mode if the alternative trajectory becomes difficult to use. Maintaining reliable fire while disengaging is often more valuable than retaining the theoretical maximum DPM.
Hawaii's historical concept is also unusual. The in-game ship represents the proposed SCB 83 conversion of Hawaii into a command ship intended to coordinate carrier task forces. The concept reflects the post-war period's interest in converting existing large ships into specialized fleet command platforms.
The historical concept fits the in-game ship surprisingly well. Hawaii is not simply a conventional cruiser with large guns; she is a versatile platform that can provide sustained firepower while operating aggressively in support of the fleet. Her high DPM makes her capable of suppressing targets, while her durability allows her to stay involved when other light cruisers would have to retreat.
The biggest mistake with Hawaii is using Alternative Fire Mode at all ranges. The roughly 40% DPM increase is tempting, but the drastically worse shell ballistics can turn the gun battery into a liability when targets are too far away. Use the mode where the shells can reliably hit, generally around 8–10 km or closer.
Another mistake is playing Hawaii as a conventional long-range cruiser for the entire game. While the standard firing mode allows her to farm from range, this does not take full advantage of the ship's unique mechanics. Look for safe opportunities to close the distance and unlock the increased DPM.
At the same time, do not confuse close-range capability with a requirement to brawl every opponent. Hawaii is strongest when islands and positioning allow her to reach the desired range without taking excessive damage. The best engagement is one where the enemy is trapped or distracted and cannot easily escape your DPM advantage.
In the late game, this becomes considerably easier. Fewer enemy ships mean fewer guns available to punish Hawaii, while isolated targets provide ideal conditions for close-range Alternative Fire Mode. A surviving Hawaii with most of her HP intact can become extremely oppressive during the final stages of a battle.
This is also when Hydro becomes particularly useful. Remaining enemy destroyers often become more aggressive around objectives, and Hydro can provide the warning needed to operate around islands without being surprised by torpedoes. With fewer enemy ships supporting each other, Hawaii can afford to take more aggressive positions.
Do not waste the late-game advantage by chasing a single ship across the map. Hawaii's DPM is most valuable when she can influence objectives and eliminate important targets. Use her speed and positioning to take the shortest route toward the next meaningful engagement rather than following an enemy that is already retreating safely.
The biggest strategic principle is simple: use range when you need safety and close-range Alternative Fire Mode when you have the positional advantage. Hawaii is at her best when the captain can move between these two modes instead of forcing one style regardless of the battlefield.
Overall, Hawaii is a unique U.S. Tier X large cruiser with rapid-firing destroyer-caliber guns, an Alternative Fire Mode that increases DPM by approximately 40% and a high HP pool that allows her to operate aggressively. Her true strength appears at close range, where islands and good positioning allow the captain to exploit the alternative firing mode without being overwhelmed by return fire.
The ideal Hawaii captain should play around islands, maintain good map awareness and choose carefully when to switch firing modes. Use standard fire at range, close inside roughly 8–10 km when the situation allows, activate Alternative Fire Mode and unleash the ship's full DPM. Preserve enough HP to repeat this process throughout the battle and Hawaii becomes a formidable close-range powerhouse.