Conclusion
Every ship has a speed: Slow, Fast, Fast+ or Fastest. A fleet is only as fast as its slowest ship, and many maps route you by fleet speed — sometimes “all Fast+” or “all Fastest” overrides every other rule.
You raise speed with engine equipment: the Improved Kanhon Turbine (改良型艦本式タービン) plus boilers — the Enhanced Kanhon Boiler (強化型艦本式缶) or the New Model High Pressure-Temperature Boiler (新型高温高圧缶). Going by the wiki's table, a turbine plus any one boiler is the usual first step: it makes a slow ship Fast and a fast ship Fast+.
Why Speed Matters
- Routing. Some branches check for any slow ship, “all Fast+” or “all Fastest”. The wiki lists normal maps such as 3-2 and 5-1 and Extra Operations such as 4-5 and 5-5, and events use these checks often. See Routing Explained.
- Combined fleets. Slow battleships and aviation battleships boosted to Fast+ can go in the 2nd fleet, sharing the limit with fast battleships.
- Evasion. Ships boosted to Fast or above appear to get slightly better evasion.
The First Step: Turbine + One Boiler
- The wiki calls this the minimum guarantee: turbine + 1 boiler makes almost any slow ship Fast, and any fast ship Fast+.
- The turbine can go in the reinforcement expansion slot (補強増設), which saves a regular slot.
- Ships that can't equip engine gear can't be sped up at all — mainly destroyer escorts and unremodeled Maruyu.
- A few ships get Fast from a single item: Samuel B. Roberts (pre-Mk.II) and Yuubari Kai Ni Toku with just a turbine; Houshou Kai Ni, I-201, I-203 and Inagi Kai Ni with just a new-model boiler.
Going Further: Fast+ and Fastest
| Group (wiki's label) | Examples | Fast+ | Fastest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast A | Shoukaku class, Taihou, Tone and Mogami classes, Shimakaze | Turbine + 1 enhanced boiler | Turbine + 1 new-model boiler, or 2 enhanced boilers |
| Fast B1 | Kongou class, Iowa, Souryuu, Hiryuu, Agano class | Turbine + 1 enhanced boiler | Turbine + 1 new-model + 1 enhanced boiler |
| Fast B2 (most fast ships) | Most fast battleships, carriers, cruisers and destroyers | Turbine + 1 enhanced boiler | Turbine + 2 new-model boilers, or 3 enhanced |
| Fast C | Kaga, seaplane tenders, Yuubari (before Kai Ni) | Turbine + 1 boiler | Not possible |
| Slow A | Yamato class, Nagato class Kai Ni | Turbine + 1 new-model + 1 enhanced boiler | Turbine + 1 new-model + 2 enhanced boilers |
| Slow B (most slow ships) | Most slow battleships, aviation battleships, slow light carriers, seaplane tenders | Turbine + 2 new-model boilers, or 3 enhanced | Not possible |
| Slow C | Most submarines, Akashi, Akitsu Maru, Hayasui, Béarn | Not possible (Fast is the limit) | Not possible |
A new-model boiler can stand in for an enhanced boiler in any of these. Some combinations need 5 slots or the reinforcement slot. Remodels can move a ship to a different group, so check the wiki for your specific ship.
FAQ
How do I see a ship's speed?
It's shown in the ship's stats as 低速 (slow), 高速 (fast), 高速+ (fast+) or 最速 (fastest). The fleet's speed is that of its slowest ship.
Which ships are slow by default?
Among battleships: Nagato, Mutsu, Ise, Hyuuga, Fusou, Yamashiro, Yamato, Musashi and others. Among light carriers: Houshou, Hiyou, Junyou and the Taiyou class, among others. Heavy cruisers and torpedo cruisers are all fast.
Is speeding up worth the slots?
When a map's routing needs it, yes — it often decides the route. Otherwise those slots usually do more as guns or planes.
Where can I plan fleet speed?
The Fleet Builder shows the fleet's speed as you add ships.
Continue reading
More KanColle guides
KanColle guide home · 1-5 Guide: Fleet and Anti-Submarine Tips · 1-6 Guide: Route and Fleet · 2-4 Guide: Okinoshima Sea Area · 2-5 Guide: North and South Routes · Construction: Build Time Lookup & Recipes · Daily Quests: Full List and Routine · Dock Full? Expanding Space and What to Scrap · EXP Calculator · Equipment Development Recipes · Equipment Improvement (Akashi's Arsenal) · Event Difficulty Explained · Event Ship Locks (Tags) Explained · Exercises (PvP) Explained · Expedition Efficiency Calculator · Expedition Requirements: Every Expedition · Fatigue and Sparkling Explained · Fleet Builder · Heavy Damage: When to Retreat · How to Get Akashi · How to Get Destroyer Escorts · How to Remodel (Kai, Kai Ni) · How to Unlock the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Fleet · Land-Based Air Squadrons for Beginners · Marriage (Kekkon Kakko Kari) Explained · Playing KanColle Without Japanese · Quest Not Completing? Common Reasons · Routing Explained: How the Compass Decides · Running Out of Resources? How to Recover · UI Translation: Every Menu Button Explained · Which Ships to Remodel First · Your First Event: How to Prepare · Your First Week as a New Admiral