Combat/Artillery Spotting

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Introduction:

This page studies the trigger rates & effectiveness of Artillery Spotting (弾着観測射撃), based on preliminary in-game testing. An optimal use of Artillery Spotting could considerably improve your fleet's daytime combat performances.

In brief, Artillery Spotting (aka. Day Battle Special Attacks) consists of two types of attack: Cut-In [CI] & Double Attack [DA]. When activated, the attacking ship receives a damage output (post-cap) & accuracy bonus. You need to achieve at least Air superiority (AS) during aerial combat, and at least 1 seaplane equipped on the ship. The plane count can't be 0. More details could be found on the page Game Mechanics -> Artillery Spotting .

Typical Set Ups for Artillery Spotting:

All the typical set ups are listed below, click here to see more possible combinations. Notice that any other combination will NOT affect their attack modes or trigger rates.

Double Attack

....................2 x Main + Seaplane..........................................(basic setup)
............2 x Main + Seaplane + Seaplane
............2 x Main + Seaplane + Radar

>> DA Damage: 120% (post cap) x 2. More powerful for ships with high shelling accuracy and against higher evasion, lighter armor units.

Cut-In

..........................1 x Main + Sec + Seaplane....................................(basic setup)
.................1 x Main + Sec + Seaplane + Radar.......................(highest CI chance)
.................1 x Main + Sec + Seaplane + AP shell

>> CI Damage: 110% / 120% / 130%. Works well for ships with high firepower while giving more chances for Artillery Spotting.

>> Set up #2 triggers either secondary gun CI (110%) or radar CI (120%).

Hybrid (DA+CI)

......................2 x Main + Sec + Seaplane
......................2 x Main + AP shell + Seaplane

>> CI Damage: 130% / 150%. More CI expected than DA. Giving the highest base rate for triggering Artillery Spotting.

The Trigger Chance of Artillery Spotting: (Beta ver.)

Possible factors are listed below, followed by their estimated effects from experiments. These are best fit values from experiments, might be different from the actual ones, but they do give good estimates on the activation rates. To see how effects from each factor were evaluated, you may consult Mid-Term Report on the ASTRE Project.

The first 5 factors are assumed to have more solid basis:

Being the flagship / 旗艦 (+15% on both rates)
Radar & type / 電探 (+30% CI chance, +10% DA chance, maximum)
Air control state (AS. AS+) / 制空権の状態 (-12% on both if only Air Superiority (AS) is achieved)
Fleet total LoS (FLoS) / 艦隊合計索敵値 (+8% DA rate, +10% CI rate, per 100 additional FLoS)
LoS stat on Seaplane / 水上機の索敵補正値 (minimal effects)

The following factors have negligible effects on the trigger rates:

Type / number of caliber guns / 砲種 / 砲の数 (to be further evaluated)
Health state / 損傷 (Negligible effect on DA chance; Currently no test on CI chance)

The following factors might have an effect on the trigger rates:

Fatigue / 疲労度 (No effect ?)
Level / レベル (Preliminary test suggests for ships below level 60, leveling marginally affects DA chance)
Formation / 陣形

Detailed Explanation:

1. Before we start, let's assume a standard situation, in which Fleet total LoS = 300, test ships are beyond minor damage(小破未満) and morale condition = 49. Fleet formation Line Ahead, and Air Supremacy (AS+) is achieved. Based on preliminary test results from 艦これ-チラ裏検証 & Homu Test, we may come up with the following hypothesis:

- BB(V) / CA(V) equipped with 2 x Main + 1 Seaplane has DA rate ~ 50%

- BB(V) / CA(V) equipped with 1 x Main + Secondary + Seaplane has CI rate ~ 50%

2. As fleet total LoS increases from 300 -> 400, the trigger rates increase slightly: (source)

- BB(V): DA rate + 8%, per 100 additional FLoS

- CA(V): DA rate + 6%, per 100 additional FLoS ~ ?

- Ships of any type: CI chance + 10%, per 100 additional FLoS

3. If an additional seaplane is added onto the 4th slot: (source)

- DA rate +5%

- CI rate +0% ~ ?

- Actual effects are to be further tested.

4. If we use a radar on the 4th slot, and compare it with the standard situation: (source)

- DA rate rises by 3% ~ 10%

- CI rate rises by ~30%.

- List of Radars with Estimated Artillery Spotting Rate Modifier

	CI chance bonus Estimate	LoS stat	DA chance bonus Estimate	Accuracy stat
No.22 (S) Surface	+26%	+5	+3%	+3
No.33 (S) Surface		+7	+3%	+5
No.22 (S) Surface Kai4		+5		+8
No.32 (L) Surface	+30%	+10	+10%	+8
FuMO25 (L) Radar	+26%	+9	+6%	+10
No.14 (L) Air Radar	+30%	+5	+3%	+4
No.21 (L) Air Radar	+22%	+4		+2

5. Different seaplane scouts may vary slightly in their DA chance bonus: (source)

- Type 0 Observation Plane & Prototype Seiran (+ 6 LoS) give slightly higher bonus ?

- Night Scout (+ 3 LoS) provides slightly less bonus ?

- Negligible effect on CI chance.

- List of Seaplanes with Estimated DA Rate Modifier (Rough estimates)

	LoS stat	DA chance bonus Estimate	Accuracy stat
Night Scout	+3	-2%	+1
Type 0 Recon	+5	+0%	+1
Zuiun	+6		+1
Type 0 Observation	+6	+2%	+2
Prototype Seiran	+6	+2%	+1

6. For standard BB(V)s, aka non-Yamato class BBs, radars could be replaced by AP Shells for a cut-in setup (Main + Sec / AP / Seaplane), which gives ~20% trigger chance bonus on CI (source). However, you could also use AP shells (or Secondary) for a hybrid set up (2 Main / AP (or Secondary) / seaplane). In the standard situation, the combined Artillery Spotting chance is around 70%.

- AP shell hybrid setup (with "fit gun"): CI = ~38% & DA = ~32%. ?

- AP shell hybrid setup (with "overweight gun"): CI = ~43% & DA = ~27%. ?

- Secondary gun hybrid setup: CI = ~50% & DA = ~20%. ?

- For hybrid setup, every 100 additional LoS will only increase CI chances by 5%. ? (source)

- Replacing Type 0 Recon by Type 0 Observation Seaplane will increase DA rate by 3%. ? (source)

- These estimates are based on very limited test results, thus lower credibility.

- Brief Conclusion: Huge caliber guns and/or secondary gun on standard BB(V) would trade some DA for more CI chances.

7. If Air Superiority [AS] rather than Air Supremacy [AS+], then both rates fall significantly: (source)

- Both CI & DA chance falls by at least 12%

- In the case of a hybrid setup, CI chance falls by 11% while DA rate -7%. ?

- If you're using the hybrid setup, it's more recommended to achieve Air Supremacy (AS+) for your fleet.

8. The flagship has a significantly higher chance (+15%) of triggering Artillery Spotting: (source)

- In the case of a hybrid setup, CI chance +7.5% while DA rate +7.5%. ?

File:-チラ裏検証-.jpg

800x800px

Image source: 艦これ-チラ裏検証- .

Explanation: Blue = DA, Yellow = CI, Brown = Single attacks.

TOP LEFT: Trigger rates for flagship (outer) & companion ship (inner) with hybrid setup
TOP RIGHT: The plotting of artillery spotting rate versus fleet total LoS (flagship status &/or equipment bonus NOT excluded)
BOTTOM LEFT: Flagship & her companion ships with DA basic setup.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Flagship & her companion ships with CI basic setup.

Artillery Spotting Trigger Rate Estimate: (Beta ver.)

NOTE: As mentioned before, these calculation only serves as rough estimates on your ship's artillery spotting chances. More credible tests (#ATK > 170 for p > 80%, while #ATK > 256 for p < 60%, minimun) are required to come up with a better formula. Deviations from actual test results are supposed to be less than 5%, otherwise reworking on the formula should be considered. This does not include effects from HP status(小破・中破), and undetermined factors like formation & special ships / maps, etc. The estimates on which the true probability is closer to 50% will be less accurate.

Here's an example calculation in chart format, with sign convention:

Base Rate	Flagship Status	Air Superiority (AS) Penalty	Radar Modifier	Fleet LoS Modifier	Seaplane Modifier
50%	+15%	-12%	[+30%]	(+10%)	<0%>

Sample Calculation for DA:

1) Fuso Kai, AS+, FLoS = 300, equipped with 2 main, #32 radar & Zuiun. will have a:

DA chance of ...
50%(Base) + 10%[Radar Modifier] + 0%(LoS Modifier) +1%<Seaplane> = 61%

2) Prinz Eugen Kai, AS+, FLoS = 300, equipped with 2 main, FuMO32 & Ar196 will have a:

DA chance of ...
50%(Base)+ 8%[Radar Modifier]+ 0%(LoS Modifier) +1%<Seaplane> = 59%

3) Chikuma Kai, AS+, FLoS = 400, equipped with 2 main, #22 radar & Type 0 Observation will have a:

DA chance of ...
50%(Base)+ 3%[Radar Modifier]+ 6%(LoS Modifier) +2%<Seaplane> = 61%

4) Haruna Kai, {flagship}, AS+, FLoS = 300, equipped with 2 main, #22 radar & Type 0 Recon will have a:

DA chance of ...
50%(Base)+ 15%{Flagship Modifier} + 3%[Radar Modifier]+ 0%(LoS Modifier) = 68%

5) Mutsu Kai, {flagship}, AS, FLoS = 300, equipped with 2 main guns, #22 radar & Type 0 Recon will have a:

DA chance of ...
50%(BB Base)+ 15%{Flagship Modifier} - 12%(Air Superiority) + 3%[Radar Modifier]+ 0%(LoS Modifier)= 56%

Sample Calculation for CI:

1) Fuso Kai, AS+, FLoS = 300, equipped with 1 main + 1 sec, #22 Surface radar & seaplane will have a:

CI chance of ...
50%(BB Base)+ 26%[Radar Modifier]+ 0%(LoS Modifier) = 76%

2) Atago Kai, AS+, FLoS = 300, equipped with 1 main + 1 sec, FuMO25 radar & seaplane will have a:

CI chance of ...
50%(CA Base)+ 26%[Radar Modifier]+ 0%(LoS Modifier) = 76%

3) Mutsu Kai, AS+, FLoS = 400, equipped with 1 main + sec, AP shell & seaplane will have a:

CI chance of ...
50%(BB Base)+ 20%[AP Shell Modifier]+ 10%(LoS Modifier) = 80%

4) Kumano Kai, AS+, FLoS = 400, equipped with 1 main + 1sec, #32 Surface radar & seaplane will have a:

CI chance of ...
50%(CA Base)+ 30%[Radar Modifier]+ 10%(LoS Modifier)= 90%

Sample Calculation for Hybrid Setup: (Rough estimate)

1) Mutsu Kai, AS+, FLoS = 400, Type 0 Recon, AP shell setup with 41cm x 2:

Total artillery spotting rate = 70%(BASE) + 5%(LoS Modifier) = 75%.
- CI% = 38%(AP BASE) + 5%(LoS Modifier) = 43%
- DA% = 32%(AP BASE) = 32%

2) Kongou Kai Ni, AS+, FLoS = 400, Type 0 Obsv., AP shell setup with 46cm x 2:

Total artillery spotting rate = 70%(BASE)+ 5%(LoS Modifier) + 3%<Type 0 Obsv.> = 78%
- CI% = 43%(AP BASE, Overload) + 5%(LoS) = 48%
- DA% = 27%(AP BASE, Overload) + 3%(Obsv.Seaplane) = 30%

3) Nagato Kai, AS, FLoS = 400, Type 0 Obsv., AP shell setup with 46cm x 2:

Total artillery spotting rate = 70%(BASE) - 18%(Air Superiority)+ 5%(LoS Modifier) + 3%<Type 0 Obsv.> = 60%
- CI% = 43%(AP BASE, Overload) - 11%(Air Superiority)+ 5%(LoS) = 37%
- DA% = 27%(AP BASE, Overload) - 7%(Air Superiority)+ 3%(Obsv.Seaplane) = 23%

Effectiveness of Artillery Spotting

DA:

- Lower activation rate compared to daytime CI.

- If each attack is counted separately, DA increases shelling accuracy (source, scratches are not counted).

- More dependent on accuracy if you wish to maximize the damage output (120% post-cap x 2 hits)

- For CA(V) using DA setup + radar: ()

If head-on, T-disadvantage and/or low firepower, DA would usually be a double-scratch on the enemy with heavy armor (unless critical).

- For BB(V) using DA setup + radar: ()

If high activation rate guaranteed (eg. flagship), DA is recommended for enemy weaker than Ru-Class Battleships. (source).
In another word, if either attack could wreck the enemy, preferably using DA due to higher chance of hitting the target.
AP shells are accessible to BB(V), but provides a lower base DA chance (more Cut-In expected).
When facing extremely tough enemies at the boss node (eg. Battle Princess, Water Demon), DA is preferred over CI for non-Yamato class battleships. After 3 pre-boss battles, their attack powers could barely hit 160 (see "remaining ammo modifier"). Even if they do, the resulting damage after armor reduction would be small numbers. In this case, DA will be a double scratch on the target, causing ~10% of the target's current HP as damage. For Water Demon, it will be 40+ damage per hit.

CI:

- Activate frequently during daytime battle (w/ radar), more reliable trigger-rate-wisely.

- It gives accuracy boost. (source 1, 2)

- For CA(V) using CI setup + radar: ()

Maximum damage is 120% post cap, when radar CI is triggered.
Despite the highest activation rate, it provides a chance (~40%) to trigger secondary gun CI, which has only 110% damage modifier post-cap. This will be awkward when facing heavy armor enemies.
Therefore, not recommended against ships stronger than CA.
If you're confident with your firepower, avoiding overkill on weak enemies, and/or pursuing higher activation rate, CI + radar is usually a good choice. For example, to prevent ships from stealing MVP.

- For CA(V) using secondary gun hybrid setup: ()

Since an additional gun is added, while the CI damage modifier is 130% post-cap, this setup is more powerful than the previous one.
Therefore, recommended against tougher enemies.
However, it does not provide vital bonus on accuracy or LoS. Besides, this setup will shift DA to Cut-In during night battle, the trigger chance of which is very luck-dependent.

- For BB(V) using AP shell:

130% post-cap damage for CI setup + AP. ()
150% post-cap, for AP shell hybrid setup. ()
Trigger rates are less volatile with respect to the changes in FLoS, but more penalized when Air Supremacy (AS+) is not achieved.
Preliminary study shows AP shell provide 10+ additional firepower against enemies with heavy armor. Therefore, this setup is quite recommended when dealing with Ru-Class Battleships and above.
When facing extremely tough enemies at the boss node (eg. Battle Princess, Water Demon), cut-ins would usually result in scratchy damage (see "remaining ammo modifier"), while DA could do it twice. In this case, the AP shell hybrid setup is only recommended for Yamato class battleships.

General:

- Artillery Spotting (DA & CI) cannot miss, but may scratch the target due to weak shelling power and/or low accuracy. Scratching will inflict ~10% of the target's current HP as damage.

- In-depth study on the effectiveness of BB(V) using AP hybrid setup: Comparative study on DA vs CI with sample enemies (by Nainodel).

- Preliminary test results [Source 1][2] shows the overweight penalty (eg. using too many 46cm on FBB) will somehow lower shelling accuracy from single attacks. It is suspected that this would affect Artillery Spotting, too. Nevertheless, the penalty could be largely offset by either leveling (married ships), high morale (as high as possible), or using a fit gun for the BB (eg. 35.6cm on Kongou Class). Accuracy bonus from equipment would be helpful in countering the penalty.

Practical Use in Game & Suggestions

Level up your ships & marry them. Ship levels affect their individual LoS stat, and a high FLoS would guarantee your ships to DA/CI frequently in battles. Also, if we assume a linear LoS growth, lv150 ships would have 50% more LoS than lv99 ships. It means if your central fleet is at lv99, they'd probably have FLoS ~400 (+8% DA/CI chance). When they're leveled up to lv150, you'll have FLoS ~600 (+24% DA/CI chance).
Since fatigue doesn't seem to penalize the trigger rates while DA / CI boosts shelling accuracy, you could use it to counter fatigue. For example, leveling your ships at 3-2a with red faces. This method could drastically speed up your leveling, but less resource friendly (more buckets & repair cost).
If ELoS (effective LoS) is prioritized, you wish to have more seaplane bombers, and/or you don't have good radars, equip an extra seaplane on your 4th slot is usually a good choice.
For newer players, hybrid setup is recommended since your FLoS (fleet total LoS) is usually very low, which in turn will significantly penalize your ship's artillery spotting chances. Hybrid setup, however, has the highest base trigger chances while not so affected by FLoS. However, you should always get AS+（制空権確保） and maximize your ship's firepower through modernization. Please be aware that using 2 x Main + 1 x Sec would force your ship to do CI in night battles, the trigger rate of which is very dependent on luck stat & placement (flagship)..

Uncertainty

In K-Test, if we compare no.7.8.9 versus no.15, we could see as FLoS increased from ~250 to 356, DA chance from Takao Class CAs didn't change at all. According to the FLoS calibration method, this gives an error of 8.5%, which is way above our tolerance. Is that a coincidence or something?