New German Cruisers Joining the Game in 14.8: Here's What We Know!
Update 14.8 brings Early Access to a new line of German cruisers. Meet Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, Knesebeck, Manteuffel, and Prinz Adalbert! This branch will have access to an oft-requested mechanic—manual control of the Secondary Battery.
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What Makes These Cruisers Special?
Compared to the existing branch of German Cruisers, these ships will specialize in closer-quarters combat using their large main battery guns, which have good accuracy but relatively short firing range, and their improved Secondary Batteries. Combined with the typical German traits of Improved Hydroacoustic Search, as well as their solid protection, these ships will be able to take the fight to the enemy despite their large size and poor handling for cruisers.
We are very pleased to announce the newest branch of researchable ships coming to the game—German heavy cruisers! This branch will start at Tier VI and consist of 5 ships: Deutschland, Admiral Scheer, Knesebeck, Manteuffel, and Prinz Adalbert.
Along with the release of this branch, we are introducing an often-requested mechanic - manual control of your Secondary Battery. This feature will launch with the new German cruisers—starting from the Tier VIII Knesebeck and above—but that does not mean it will be solely a feature of this line, as other ships in the future may also benefit from this new ability.
Important elements to note when controlling secondary batteries:
- You will be able to swap between main and secondary battery controls, like you do with other types of armament, for example, between main battery guns and torpedoes.
- When they are not being manually controlled, they act the same as other secondary batteries.
- Your main guns will track the crosshair while you are operating the secondary battery.
- When switching to manual control of your secondaries, their characteristics may change compared to automatic mode.
- For these cruisers, this results in a small buff to the range of secondary guns.
- While manual control is active, the secondary mounts that don't have an angle of fire on the crosshair will not automatically target or fire upon enemy ships.
All signals and skills that impact secondaries will continue to function as they currently do.
Visual Showcase: Special Camos
To celebrate the addition of the new branch, WG have prepared three permanent camouflages for Knesebeck, Manteuffel, and Prinz Adalbert!:
Ship Pages
| Nation/Tier/Ship | Ship Type | WG Base Value | Dev Status | Ship Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  X Prinz Adalbert |
Cruiser | WIP | Ship Page | |
| IX Manteuffel |
Cruiser | WIP | Ship Page | |
| VIII Knesebeck |
Cruiser | WIP | Ship Page |
For New Players: Understanding Cruiser Basics
If you're new to World of Warships, here's why cruisers matter:
Beginner Tip: Cruisers are the "middle ground" between destroyers and battleships. They offer a balance of firepower, speed, and utility that makes them excellent for learning game mechanics.
German cruisers in particular are known for:
- Strong AP shells that punish broadside targets
- Good anti-aircraft capabilities at higher tiers
- Armor that works best when angled properly
- Versatility in multiple combat scenarios
When Can We Expect These Ships?
As these ships are currently in Supertest, we can expect them to arrive in the game in Update 14.8. Wargaming typically makes adjustments based on Supertest feedback, so the final versions might differ slightly from what we're seeing now.
Stay tuned to WoWS Gamer Blog for more updates as we receive additional information about these exciting new additions to the German cruiser line!
