The Fall 2016 event Announcement! The Third Fleet Operation Act is schedule to begin on November 18th, 2016 following the November 4th Update.
Currently the theme of the event is speculated to be based upon the "Third Fleet Operation Act", an operation to attempt to eliminate the US Carrier forces. This operation begins from the aftermath of the Doolittle Raid in which the Japan made an attempt to intercept and try to take out the USS Hornet, all the way to the Battle of the Coral Sea, which was the last major attempt at the operation before the Decisive Battle at Midway.
The KanColle staff have revealed that the event will be a normal scale operation which will consist of 5 maps" (3 Main + 2 Extra Operations), will require a large expansive fleet, and will require to have multiple fleets for harder difficulties. Additionally, it has been revealed that one of the new ships will be the American Aircraft Carrier Saratoga, and the recent KanColle Festival de Beaujolais Nouveau has revealed the face and voice of the French Seaplane Tender Commandant Teste.
The details regarding the event have revealed that the event will consist of some of the following operations:
Disclaimer: The following information is based upon a summary of World War II history and may not have any influence with the game itself. This is for historic reference only.
Post Doolittle Raid
Following the American's attack on the Japan's mainland on the Doolittle Raid (which resulted in several of Japan's main key structures taking major damage and Ryuuhou being damaged delaying her launch as a light carrier), Japan began to conduct a counter measure known as the "Third Fleet Operation plan" an operation to attempt to organize a fleet to take out the American Carrier forces which may threaten their operation to expand their growing boundaries across the Pacific Ocean.
The first attempt at this was to attempt to take out the USS Hornet following after the raid it conducted on the Japan Mainland. Japan would organize a fleet to attempt to intercept Hornet which consisted of:
The plan was to organize these ships to use for the operation and while most were able to participate in the operation, Standard Carriers Souryuu and Hiryuu were too far away to help assist as they were returning from the Indian Ocean Raid. The attempt to search and intercept the USS Hornet would end in failure as they were unable to engage the American Carrier.
Information
New Ships
As of current, multiple ships have been confirmed to appear in the event which include:
The difficulty system first used in Spring 2015 Event returns: you can choose between Operation A (甲, Hard), Operation B (乙, Medium) or Operation C (丙, 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.
If you are playing on Hard difficulty, it is necessary to preserve the strongest elements of your fleet for the final map.
The final map utilises a separate fleet-lock on Hard mode (refer to the two images on the right below). Do take this into account before committing any ships to the main operation.
The armor-reducing system of the Summer 2015 Event's final map, where certain nodes had to be killed to reduce boss armor, is likely to return, but in a simplified version (see above for new changes regarding this).
Operation A (甲, Hard) and Operation B (乙, Medium) will require you to have mutiple fleets ready, which suggests fleet locking (again, see above).
The initial maps will focus on transport operations (Lighter ships, such as CLs and DDs likely), while the later maps will focus on heavy ships (CVs and BBs).
Event Maps
Quick Info Table
Classification
Map
Name
Combined Fleet?
Land-Based Air Squadron?
Color of Tag
Tag Condition & Deployment Restriction
Difficulty Restrictions
Notes
Main Operation
E-1
The Maritime Transport Operation
No
No
Blue
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. As per above, E-5 has an orange ship lock exclusive to Hard mode; outside of Hard mode, all ships sortied during previous maps can be used in E-5. Deployment Restriction: Normal or Hard: Must have either the same-colored tag or no tag. Easy: No restrictions.
In order to play these maps on hard, you must complete the previous map* on either normal or hard. (e.g., to do E-4 on hard, you must complete E-3 on normal or hard.)
Surface battle involving Anti-Air and fighting a Carrier Task Force
E-3
Announcement! The Third Fleet Operation Act!
Yes
No
Green
Search and Destroy Mission (Abyssal Combined Fleet boss)
IF Fleet consist of less than 3 DD or have CV and BB in fleet
F
No BB or CV and fleet has 3 DD
D
E
Fleet has a BB or CV and less than 3 DD
H
No BB or CV in fleet and fleet has 3 DD
H
G
LOS check failed, if fleet consist of slow ship, less than 2 DDs
L
LOS >= 12(?) fleet consist of more than 2 DDs and all fast ship
I
J
LOS check (??)
K
LOS check failed
Tips
Recon planes, whether seaplanes or Saiuns, are needed to get enough LOS to reach the boss node.
Keep in mind that 0-slot seaplanes still contribute LOS (e.g. Yuubari)
4DD + 1CL + 1(CAV or CVL) is one recommended composition. This routes via either A-BDHL or A-CFHL to reach the boss node
The north route appears to be significantly easier than the south route
1CL + 4DD + 1FBB goes ACFHL and grants a second shelling phase to lob more depth charges with, but the lack of a Saiun may result in Red T's and failed LOS checks.
If the FBB is Roma or Italia, she can get artillery spotting with a seaplane fighter and an observation seaplane.
You can overcome the LOS deficiency with a sub-hunter who can carry a surface radar or seaplane and still achieve preemptive ASW, such as Asashio or Isuzu.
Preliminary reports indicate that Kinu Kai Ni may contribute extra to reducing the transport bar; in addition to her high ASW, this makes her an excellent ship for this map.
On Hard Mode, killing the Sub Hime without a second shelling phase will be difficult. You may need to resort to A-ranking your way to victory on this map by using Line ahead to take out the surface ships along with the lesser subs that may be present.
Show/Hide Nodes and Enemy Encounters
Nodes and Enemy Encounters
Node
Pattern
Xp
Node Info
Form
Air
A Active Branching
Pattern 1
Active Branching
B 任務部隊 偵察潜水艦 II群 Recon Task Group Submarine Group II
(BB + CV) is 3 or less, no BB in escort fleet, and (fleet contains 6+ historic fleet members or escort fleet contains 3DD)
C
E
If STF has 1 CV or CVL?
G
If STF has 2 CVL?
E
H
Active Branch
I
Active Branch
I
H
If Fleet has more than one FBB
K
Carrier Task Force with 2+ FBB and 4 CV/CVL and less than 2 DD and/or a low number of historic fleet members (?)
L
If Fleet only has one FBB + LoS check?
O
LoS check Fail?
J
O
LoS check Fail
Q
LoS check
Tips
CTF is recommended
Bring member of E-2 into E-3 to conserve fleet if possible.
Recommended Composition: 1 FBB, 2 CV, 0-2 CVL, 1-3 CA + CL, 3 DD, 0-2 CA, 0-2 CLT without historic fleet set up.
1 FBB, 2 CV, 0-2 CVL, 1-3 CA + Any escort without FBB if fleet contains 6+ historic ships
STF is not recommended due to the air strength of the enemy composition, but for easier difficulties it may be viable. 2 BB, 3 CA, 1 CV, / 1 CL, 2 CLT, 3DD.
Reports suggest there may be branching involving a historic fleet composition which requires you to have 6 or more of the below ships:
This map is a double operation (transport & combat). Plan your transport and combat fleet accordingly.
Route Support and Boss Support expeditions are recommended for the Boss elimination phase.
For the transport phase, 2CAV + 3DD + 1CL takes the shortest route (CHKM), provided you pass the LOS check.
Three max-rank seaplane fighters on Normal or Hard Mode will allow you to achieve air parity (88+ airpower) against the Wo-Kai at Node H.
Consider the LOS requirement when choosing your fourth plane.
Whether or not you achieve air parity, a Route Support expedition will help greatly in passing Nodes C and H.
A 3CVL + 3DD composition allows air superiority (198+ airpower) to be taken, but takes a longer route via F
Boss Elimination Phase Recommendations:
2DD + 1CL + 1FBB + 2CVL takes the shortest route (OPSQV) as long as all the ships are fast.
This fleet can achieve Air Superiority against the boss on Normal Mode (266+ airpower, 278+ on final form), but not on the final form of Hard Mode (518+ airpower).
2FBB + 2CAV + 2CV can achieve air superiority against the final form of the boss on Hard Mode, but must pass through OPRSQV, which will face an extra carrier force.
The above mentioned ships will do larger than usual damage against the boss fleet and are considered important to bring if you own them.
Given the the distance your fleet has to cover, it is impossible to reach the boss from the original starting point. However, a new mechanic allows you to unlock a hidden starting point it is highly recommended to organize a fleet to go from the starting point to node A
To unlock the starting point, you need to complete the following tasks:
Successfully intercept an Air Raid Twice
Score an S rank on the Air attacks nodes C and D
Defeat the enemy combined fleet entirely on node A and score an S rank. On Hard, it must be done 3 times.
Completing the above condition should unlock a new starting point located very close to the boss node allowing for easy access to take down the Abyssal Jellyfish Princess.
Successfully Intercept an Enemy Air Raid Base Attack 4 times(white text).
Eliminate a number of Transport ships which varies upon difficulty:
Easy 10 kills
Normal 20(?) kills
Hard: 30+ (?) kills
Upon completing the conditions, you will hear a ding sound indicating that you have completed the task and now the armor reduction mechanic is now in effect.
Use a slow ship to help reach node K and N
To reach Node A from the new starting point. Use a surface task force consisting of 3 Battleships, with one being slow.
If you use a surface task force with 5 BB (with one or more slow) with one FBB in escort, you can successfully reach node F which with in combination of Node A can help you score 6 Transport kills per run.
For boss kill, it's recommended to use an all fast fleet Carrier Task force to reach the boss node with more fuel and ammo.
