Weapon types in Modern Warships

Modern Warships is known for its incredible variety of weaponry and the ability to combine it in unique builds that reflect your boldest tactical visions. We’ll cover aviation in a separate article, but today we’ll dive into the wide range of equipment you can install on ships—and the strategies they enable.

Currently, Modern Warships features over 1,000 different modules, including those locked to specific ships and aircraft. To avoid getting overwhelmed, we’ll walk through the main categories of ship-based equipment and showcase some standout examples.

There are six primary types of ship-mounted equipment in Modern Warships:

• Missile Battery

• Cannon

• Autocannon

• Air Defense (AA)

• Grenade Launcher

• Torpedo Launcher

I. Missile Battery

Missiles are the backbone of any modern warship's offensive capability.

They fall into two main categories:

• Fire-and-forget missiles: Once you lock onto a target and launch, the missile guides itself to its destination. A great example is the Chinese cruise missile DF-100.

Steam post image DF-100

• Laser-guided missiles: These track the direction of your aim right up to impact. They require greater precision and skill but let you strike exposed modules hiding behind terrain. Experienced commanders have even mastered "lobbing" these missiles over cover to damage ships lurking behind obstacles. The most beloved example? The X-51 Waverider.

X-51 Waverider

Some missiles can be launched from underwater, ideal for submarine captains. Others are designed to engage submerged targets, activating a torpedo stage on impact.

AA missiles, like the RIM-174, can be used to target airborne threats—occupying a missile slot while giving you full control over your target. Invaluable against enemy carriers.

RIM-174

Some missile batteries launch a single, high-durability missile capable of breaking through enemy air defenses and dealing massive damage. Others launch a salvo of smaller missiles designed to overload defenses and ensure at least some hit.

Missiles also vary in trajectory: some skim just above the water, while others arc high to strike enemies hiding behind terrain.

A few rare and powerful missiles are immune to countermeasures. One example is the Oreshnik, mounted on the Russian battleship Kronshtadt.

Steam post image Oreshnik

II. Cannon

Artillery installations are used across many ships but shine brightest on battleships and fast, elusive cruisers or destroyers equipped with multiple gun slots.

In Modern Warships, artillery ships are as popular as missile-focused ones. Long-range gunnery requires real skill—factoring in target distance, shell travel time, and enemy movement. But a well-aimed hit deals guaranteed, uncounterable damage. Some legendary battleships can wipe out over 75% of an enemy’s health in a single full-gun salvo.

Steam post image Yamato battleship cannons

Cannons can't hit underwater targets, but some dual-purpose turrets can engage aircraft, offering additional AA coverage. The Chinese H/PJ-45B is a great example.

Steam post image H/PJ-45B

Usually, MW players pick cannons based on their play style. For stealthy snipers, weapons with high single-shot damage and long reload times are better, like the legendary German Monarc you can get in the store.

Steam post image Monarc (155 mm)

Fans of close combat should take a look at rapid-fire cannons that fire frequently and deal significant damage to the enemy, but have a wide spread.

The game also features cutting-edge railguns with extreme shell velocity and high damage. The EMRG Konig is a top-tier railgun.

Steam post image EMRG Konig (180mm)

III. Autocannon

This equipment type operates autonomously, requiring no input from the player. It includes missile-based, ballistic, and hybrid variants. A versatile example is the Seahawk Sigma (30mm).

Seahawk Sigma

Autocannons automatically fire on all targets within range. Some models can even engage air and underwater threats.

Install and forget—autocannons offer consistent damage and hands-free defense.

IV. Air Defense (AA)

An essential class for defending your ship against enemy missiles and aircraft. Like autocannons, AA systems operate automatically.

There are four main AA types:

• Missile-based

• Ballistic (gun-based)

• Hybrid

• Laser

Missile-based AA, like SPYDER-MR, launch guided rockets at air targets. They deal strong damage but can be deceived by flares.

SPYDER-MR

Ballistic AA, such as CIWS-II (30mm), rains down high-rate fire at close range. It's excellent up close but struggles against distant or agile aircraft.

CIWS-II

Hybrid AA, like the Garpun (30mm), combines missile and ballistic firepower, making it effective at multiple ranges.

Garpun

Laser AA, such as Japan’s HPLS 100, hits instantly, with no projectile delay or spread—and it looks spectacular in action.

HPLS 100

The key to survival? Smart module selection before battle. A well-equipped ship is a ship that lives.

V. Grenade Launcher

A fan-favorite class that delivers devastating area damage at short and medium ranges.

Most grenade launchers require manual aiming and prediction of enemy movement. Some, like the Russian RPK-1 Vikhr, use guidance systems, behaving more like missiles—but can still be diverted by flares.

RPK-1 Vikhr

Many can engage underwater targets such as submarines and torpedoes. Others lack this ability but make up for it with superior accuracy and splash damage. A great example is the Turkish TRG-300 Tiger (300mm).

TRG-300 Tiger

A few unique modules also function as AA, like Israel’s C-AS—though these are rare exceptions.

C-AS

When choosing a grenade launcher, pay attention to AOE (Area of Effect) damage. Not only can it hurt clustered enemies, it can also disrupt enemy missile targeting during launch—a powerful close-quarters advantage.

VI. Torpedo Launcher

Torpedoes are the calling card of submarines and their main opponents, frigates. They allow the former to inflict enormous damage without leaving the water, while the latter use torpedoes as their main weapon against submarines.

Torpedoes vary in performance but follow a common pattern: manual aim, launch, guided path, and massive impact. Their slower speed means enemies might dodge behind cover—though large ships like battleships or carriers often can’t escape. A perfect example of a heavy-hitter is the nuclear Mark-45 ASTOR. Two of these hitting home can cripple almost any ship.

Mark-45 ASTOR

Unjammable torpedoes, like the Turkish Akya (533mm), are especially dangerous. Even submarines with countermeasures can’t stop them.

Akya

Choosing the right equipment is an art form. Want to rain nuclear fire? Set up an ambush with laser AA? Dominate the seas from beneath the surface? In Modern Warships, your ship becomes what you make it—an elusive predator, a floating fortress, or something entirely unique.

Tell us in the comments: which equipment class is your favorite? And stay tuned for the next article, where we’ll cover the full power of aviation! 🛩️