Cruiser
[SYSTEM_DOSSIER // NAV-05] // HEAVY SURFACE COMBAT / FLEET FIREPOWER
Cruiser
The Cruiser is the king of the surface fight: a high-HP fleet centerpiece built to break enemy ships, provide meaningful air defense and project long-range firepower against naval and strategic targets. Higher levels combine 100-range surface engagements, 100 radar, cruise-missile capacity and heavy damage to ships, buildings and population targets. Its defining weakness is just as important: the Cruiser has no sonar and cannot independently detect hidden submarines.
DossierNAV-CRU-05
ClassCRUISER
Levels1–5 VERIFIED
Doctrines3 VERIFIED
Primary RoleHEAVY SURFACE / STRIKE
WesternDays 3 / 9 / 15 / 20 / 26
EasternDays 3 / 9 / 15 / 20 / 26
EuropeanDays 3 / 9 / 15 / 20 / 26
Naval Fleet05 / 08 LIVE
Cruiser Combat Identity
Surface ATK // L5
20–22
Western Ticonderoga peaks at 22; Eastern Slava and European Absalon reach 20.
Aircraft DEF // L5
4–5
European doctrine pushes aircraft damage hardest; Eastern also fields strong anti-air values.
Surface Range / Radar
75 → 100
Later Cruiser levels fight surface targets at 100 range with 100 radar coverage.
HP // L5
75–83
Eastern Slava reaches the highest verified HP at 83.
// Cruiser Combat Identity //
● FLEET CENTERPIECE / HEAVY SURFACE GUN
Surface Dominance
Cruisers carry the largest verified surface-ship attack values in the current Naval Fleet dossiers. They are built to win ranged surface exchanges and punish expensive enemy ships.
Air & Missile Defense
The aircraft, helicopter and missile columns remain separate. European doctrine especially increases aircraft damage, while Eastern also brings strong air-defense values.
Strategic Firepower
Buildings and population targets retain their own damage columns. Cruise missiles add another strike layer and must never be merged into the normal combat vector.
Doctrine Research Timing
[DOC-W // WESTERN]
Western Doctrine
Cruiser Levels 1–5
Research Days
3 → 9 → 15 → 20 → 26
Class Names
L1–2 California-class · L3–4 Virginia-class · L5 Ticonderoga-class
Doctrine Edge
+10% surface-ship damage and -25% upkeep. L5 reaches 22 surface ATK and 75 HP.
[DOC-E // EASTERN]
Eastern Doctrine
Cruiser Levels 1–5
Research Days
3 → 9 → 15 → 20 → 26
Class Names
L1–2 Kresta II-class · L3–4 Kara-class · L5 Slava-class
Doctrine Edge
+10% HP and +33% soft + hard damage. L5 reaches the highest verified Cruiser HP at 83.
[DOC-EU // EUROPEAN]
European Doctrine
Cruiser Levels 1–5
Research Days
3 → 9 → 15 → 20 → 26
Class Names
L1–2 Tiger-class · L3–4 Vittoria Veneto-class · L5 Absalon-class
Doctrine Edge
+25% aircraft damage and -7.5% mobilization cost. The aircraft columns are visibly stronger than Western at equivalent levels.
Doctrine Combat Progression // Surface, Air & Strategic Targets
| Level | Western Ship | Eastern Ship | European Ship | W Aircraft | E Aircraft | EU Aircraft | Building | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 1.5 | 3 |
| L2 | 13.8 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3 |
| L3 | 16.5 | 15 | 15 | 3 | 3 | 3.8 | 2 | 3.5 |
| L4 | 19.3 | 17.5 | 17.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| L5 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Heavy Surface Damage — Without Forgetting Air & Cities
The Cruiser is defined by surface firepower, but its value is broader than one number. Aircraft, helicopter, missile, surface-ship, submarine, building and population targets remain separate combat columns. Western maximizes surface damage, Eastern maximizes survivability and soft/hard damage, and European pushes aircraft damage hardest.
Range, Radar & Survivability
| Level | Main Surface Range | Air Range | Radar | Deep Water SPD | Shallow Water SPD | Western HP | Eastern HP | European HP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | 75 | 50 | 75 | 4.50 | 2.25 | 50 | 55 | 50 |
| L2 | 75 | 50 | 75 | 4.50 | 2.25 | 60 | 66 | 60 |
| L3 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 4.50 | 2.25 | 65 | 72 | 65 |
| L4 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 4.50 | 2.25 | 70 | 77 | 70 |
| L5 | 100 | 50 | 100 | 4.50 | 2.25 | 75 | 83 | 75 |
Cruise Missiles & Fleet Properties
| Level | Cruise Missile Capacity | Reload | Surface Range | Radar | Sonar | Sub Detection | Deep / Shallow SPD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L1 | 2 | 12h | 75 | 75 | None | No | 4.5 / 2.25 |
| L2 | 2 | 12h | 75 | 75 | None | No | 4.5 / 2.25 |
| L3 | 3 | 12h | 100 | 100 | None | No | 4.5 / 2.25 |
| L4 | 3 | 12h | 100 | 100 | None | No | 4.5 / 2.25 |
| L5 | Higher-level capability retained | 12h where supplied | 100 | 100 | None | No | 4.5 / 2.25 |
// Critical Detection Rule //
● DAMAGE ≠ DETECTION
No Sonar
The supplied Cruiser properties do not show sonar. The Cruiser therefore does not independently search for submerged submarines.
Submarine Damage
The combat table still contains a submarine target column. That means it can deal damage when a submarine is revealed or otherwise engaged, but that is not the same as detecting it.
Escort Requirement
Pair the Cruiser with a sonar-capable escort such as a Destroyer or another suitable detector. That closes the biggest hole in an otherwise dominant surface platform.
Upgrade Breakpoints
L1 → L2 // Raw Power
Surface damage and HP jump immediately while the Cruiser keeps 75 surface range, 75 radar and 4.5 / 2.25 movement.
L2 → L3 // 100-Range Breakpoint
The key strategic breakpoint: main surface engagement range rises 75 → 100 and radar rises 75 → 100. This changes how the Cruiser controls naval space.
L3 → L4 // Heavy Fleet Killer
Surface attack climbs to 19.3 Western / 17.5 Eastern-European while doctrine-specific air and hard/soft target values keep scaling.
L5 // King of the Sea
Western reaches 22 surface ATK, Eastern reaches 83 HP, and European reaches 5 aircraft damage. The Cruiser is at its strongest — but still blind to hidden submarines without escort.
// Final Player Verdict //
● KING OF THE SURFACE FIGHT
Use It For
Breaking surface fleets, anchoring expensive naval stacks, absorbing punishment, providing useful air defense and projecting long-range damage into ships, buildings and cities.
Doctrine Choice
Western is the strongest surface hitter and cheaper to maintain. Eastern is the toughest and gains soft/hard damage. European provides the strongest aircraft-damage profile and cheaper mobilization.
The One Big Warning
Do not sail it blind. A Cruiser without sonar support can be stalked by submarines it cannot independently detect. Protect the king with a proper underwater screen.