Tashkent

Overview

Tashkent is a shipgirl in Kantai Collection, modeled after the lead ship of the Tashkent-class destroyer leaders of the Soviet Navy. Introduced during the Winter 2018 Event, she was the first native Soviet destroyer added to the game. Due to her impressive hull size for a destroyer, she earned the moniker Sky-Blue Cruiser. Bright and dependable, she stands out as a highly versatile fleet member capable of handling various combat roles.

Appearance

She has long French-beige hair bound into low twintails with white-striped black ribbons, amber eyes, and a prominent hair strand poking out from her black papakha hat adorned with three stars. She wears red hairpins on her bangs and side hair, a tattered white scarf, an anchor pendant, a black inner top beneath an untucked red long-sleeved shirt, a white coat with red lining, and a sky-blue shawl marked with white dotted lines. Her outfit is completed by a black waist band, black fingerless gloves, a black pleated skirt, brown stockings, and black thigh-high boots. Her sky-blue rigging includes a funnel-like back unit with dual arms holding two 533mm triple torpedo tubes on the left, and two 130mm twin gun mounts, depth charges, and a shield on the right.

Personality

Tashkent possesses a bright, cheerful, and relaxed demeanor with a slightly boyish yet mature charm. She refers to the Admiral and her peers as Comrades and frequently incorporates Russian terms like Zdrastvuiche! and Ura! into her speech. In battle, she exhibits a spirited and fiercer side. She takes great pride in her nickname, Sky-Blue Cruiser, though being praised directly makes her embarrassed. She displays a teasing yet warmly affectionate attitude toward the Admiral, often hiding her true feelings behind the excuse of comradely affection when offering gifts.

Abilities

Tashkent possesses four equipment slots and Medium attack range, features extremely rare for a destroyer. She boasts the highest initial durability (39) among destroyers alongside high base luck (43). Her high base anti-submarine warfare stat allows her to perform opening anti-submarine attacks effortlessly when equipping sonars and depth charge launchers across her four slots. She can adapt to roles ranging from anti-ground and night combat to fleet transport. While initially categorized as High speed, her slot count allows easy configuration up to Fastest speed status. However, her ammunition consumption is unusually heavy for a destroyer, matching that of light cruisers.

Background

In historical context, Tashkent was a destroyer leader commissioned by the Soviet Navy but constructed by the Italian shipbuilding firm OTO in Livorno, Italy, earning her the Soviet nickname Italiyanets (The Italian). In Kantai Collection, she debuted as a limited drop ship during the Winter 2018 Event. Due to her rare drop conditions and high tactical value, acquiring her became a major goal for many players during event campaigns.

Relationships

Tashkent maintains a close, trusting relationship with the Admiral, whom she addresses affectionately as a comrade. Among fellow Soviet fleet members, she shares strong ties with the battleship Gangut and the destroyer Verniy. She shares specific equipment bonuses and shield designs with Verniy, with whom she is often grouped alongside Gangut in body size comparisons. Additionally, due to her large hull, high speed, and unique position as a single-ship leader class, she is frequently linked to other large destroyers like Shimakaze and Mogador.

Trivia

The name Tashkent is derived from the capital city of Uzbekistan, originating from Turkic words meaning Stone City. The historical city is famously home to the Navoi Theater, constructed in part by Japanese prisoners of war, which miraculously survived the destructive Tashkent earthquake unharmed. In reality, the ship Tashkent achieved a trial speed exceeding 43 knots and possessed an incredible engine output of nearly 130,000 horsepower, an output comparable to that of the Yamato-class battleships.