Winter 2019 Event

The "Winter 2019 Event", Interception! Operation Buin Defense is scheduled to begin on the December 26th, 2018, on the day following Christmas and will be a small scale event. Given it's size the likely length of the event will be 2 weeks and X number of days (Depending on delays or other issues) and should last till sometime during Early - Mid Jaunary, 2019

The known details based on what Kensuke Tanaka mentioned in his interview about the Event of the event will be based around the Central Solomon Islands where Rabaul will be providing air support for the campaign. What is known is that the Campaign will begin from Buin as you take a rat transport fleet through the Battle of Blackett Strait, following this will be an intense air battle where Rabaul Airbase will provide suppot with its' Land Based Planes and Carrier based planes, and then finally a transportation operation to provide support for Buin Anchorage.

It's been noted that while this event will only be 3 maps big, the main difficulty will come for players playing Normal or Hard Difficulty. They also encourage players to train torpedo squadrons and prepare your air forces for this event. Surface Radars will be the key to success to the first map, while having strong LBAS planes are vital for the later maps.

There will be a total of 4 new ships that will be released with this event.

For additional information regarding event-related subjects and content, please refer to the following links:

• Combined Fleet
• Armor Reduction
• Land-Based Air Squadron
• Transport Operation
• Anti-Air Cut-In
• Line of Sight
• Improving Ship Speed (May become a part of event map requirements)
• Vanguard Formation
• Striking Force Fleet

Historical Background

Disclaimer: The following information is based upon a summary of World War II history and may not have any influence on the game itself. This is for historical reference only.

Battle of Blackett Strait

Information

New Ships

Currently, the devs have noted that there will a total of 4 ships that will be introduced.

Destroyer

• The Asashio-Class Destroyer Minegumo (should be available on the First event map (E-1)
• A Destroyer associated with Tawi-Tawi Anchorage
• One other Destroyer of unknown origin.

Seaplane Tender

• The Advanced, Fast Seaplane Tender, Nisshin (Should be avalaible on the final Event Map (E-3)

New Equipment

• Type 2 Land Based Reconnaissance Aircraft

Friend Fleet

Fleet Formations

Kanmusu	Equipment 1	Equipment 2	Equipment 3	Equipment 4

Friend Fleet Voice Lines

Ship	Japanese/English	Notes
Destroyers
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Light Cruisers
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Battleships
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Light Carriers
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Standard Carriers
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Auxiliaries
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Mechanics

Participation requirements

• Must have a 75% sortie win ratio.
• Must have 5 empty ship slots for new ships.
• Must have 20 free equipment slots.

Special Mechanics

1. The difficulty system first used in Spring 2015 Event returns: you can choose between Operation A (甲, Hard), Operation B (乙, Medium), Operation C (丙, Easy) or Operation D (丁, Very Easy) .
   • Choosing A or B requires certain HQ Level (HQ Lv 35 for B / 80 for A in Spring 2015 Event).
   • An important note to all Admirals intending to clear the event on Hard difficulty - further (new) conditions now apply:
     • When switching difficulty from any other difficulty to Hard, the map's debuff mechanism (where applicable) will be reset.
       • Switching between any other difficulties will not reset the debuff mechanism.
2. The debuff system from Summer 2015 Event's final map, where certain nodes had to be killed to reduce boss armor will return.
3. Returning this event will allow a fleet with seven ships (Striking Force Fleet) to sortie to certain event maps that allow single fleet operations starting from E-2, and also includes the final map of the event.
   • The Striking Force cannot be sortied during exercises or sent on expeditions while it contains seven ships.
   • The Striking Force can only be created and used in the third fleet in the menu (out of a total of four fleets).
   • A Striking Force with a flagship that carries a new piece of equipment, the Striking Force Fleet Command Facility, will be able to make use of the new Single Ship Evacuation mechanic.
     • The new Single Ship Evacuation mechanic that will become available for the Striking Force as of E-4 allowing a single ship in the fleet to retreat from the battlefield after an enemy engagement if she suffered heavy damage.
       • It is possible for the damage to become even worse during a Single Ship Evacuation.
       • Unlike the Combined Fleet's evacuation mechanic, it does not require an escort destroyer.
     • The new Striking Force Fleet Command Facility will become obtainable and useable via the old Fleet Command Facility and the Action Report that can be earned in the upcoming Fall Event. The Fleet Command Facility, as well as the new Action Report item, will be obtainable on all difficulty levels, including Medium and Easy Mode.
     • Supplementary information regarding the new Striking Force Fleet Command Facility and the Single Ship Evacuation it allows when carried by the striking force's flagship:
       • The evacuation does not require an escort destroyer.
       • The evacuation consumes the ship's entire fuel & ammo reserves.
       • Only one ship can be evacuated per battle.
       • The damage the ship suffered may become worse during the evacuation, but she will never sink.
4. Returning this event, the Vanguard Formation can be used .
   • This formation will organize the fleet such that the 3rd-6th/7th ships protect the Flagship and 2nd Ship of the Fleet.
     • In addition, the formation allows for ships to become more evasive in combat situations, especially with well-trained Destroyer.
     • This formation is also available only during the duration of the event.
     • The formation will be usable by both normal fleets as well as the Striking Force Fleet.
5. New: NPC Friend Fleets have been introduced into the game.
   • Friend Fleets act as another unit that appears in particular battles to help aid your fleet when attacking the enemy at the start of night battle.
     • NPC Friend Fleets are selected from a randomized preset list of ship.
     • Depending on who you have in your fleet can also influence who will be arrive to aid you in battle.

Quick Info Table

Classification	Map	Name	Fleet Type?	Land-Based Air Squadron?	Friendly Fleet?	Color of Tag	Tag Condition & Deployment Restriction	Difficulty Restrictions	Notes
Main Operation	E-1		???	No	???		Tagging: Ships not already color-tagged will be tagged with the color associated with the map when deployed. This tag exists on all difficulties and is not reset on remodel, etc. Deployment Restriction: Normal or Hard: Must have either the same-colored tag or no tag. There will be 2 additional locks for Hard mode players in E5.	No restrictions. All difficulties OK
	E-2	???	???	Yes	???			In order to play these maps on hard, you must complete the previous map* on either normal or hard. (e.g., to do E-2 on hard, you must complete E-1 on normal or hard.)
Final Operation	E-3	???	???	Yes	???