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 This is for historical reference only.
Information
New Ships
Currently, the devs have noted that there will a total of 4 ships that will be introduced.
Destroyer
Seaplane Tender
- Nisshin - E3 reward
New Equipment
New Enemy Vessels
New Enemy Equipment
Friend Fleet
As of current, there are no Friend Fleet in this event operation.
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
- 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.
- When switching difficulty from any other difficulty to Hard, the map's debuff mechanism (where applicable) will be reset.
- The debuff system from Summer 2015 Event's final map, where certain nodes had to be killed to reduce boss armor will return.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- This formation will organize the fleet such that the 3rd-6th/7th ships protect the Flagship and 2nd Ship of the Fleet.
- 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.
- 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.
- New: Enemy Radar Ambush Nodes is introduced into the game.
- Entering this node will result in your fleet facing off against an enemy fleet that will ambush and attack your fleet
- Your Fleet will not be able to fight against the enemy Fleet.
- By meeting certain conditions, you can evade these nodes.
- Entering this node will result in your fleet facing off against an enemy fleet that will ambush and attack your fleet
Quick Info Table
| Classification | Map | Name | Fleet Type? | Land-Based Air Squadron? | Friendly Fleet? | Color of Tag | Tag Condition & Deployment Restriction | Difficulty Restrictions | Notes |
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| Main Operation |
E-1 | Central Solomon Tokyo Express Naval Battle | Single | No | No | 
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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 | Operation 603 | Single / Combined | Yes | No |  
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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 | Southern Seas 4th Garrison Reinforcement Operation | ??? | Yes | ??? | 
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Event Maps
E-1
Information
(Phase 1 - Transport Phase):
(Phase 2 - Boss: Abyssal Nimbus Princess):
Key Rewards:
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Branching rules
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Tips
About Ambush Nodes On this event map, player will get to experience a new mechanic known as an Enemy Ambush Node. There nodes are generally encountered only if your fleet meet specific conditions which redirect them along a path to this node. Similar to the way LoS check are done in maps. For this event, Ambush Nodes mainly occur if your fleet does not meet the Surface Radar requirements and if you land on one, you will enter a battle. During these battle, your fleet will not participate in attacking the enemy fleet, but the enemy will attempt to attack your fleet. Your will consume 4% of it's total fuel in the sequence. It's recommended to try to do what you can to avoid hitting these nodes as much as possible. This map is divided into 2 phase, a Transportation phase and a Killing phase. Both objectives will need to be completed in order to complete this map. Most battle in this map mainly consist of simple fights which will pit your fleet up to 4 enemy ships mainly consisting of subs, DDs or CLs mixed with DDs. Most of these fights can be won easily, espcially with an expeirenced fleet. For this guide, the focus will be on the boss nodes and requirements needed for completing the objectives.
Recommended Composition 1 CL, 4 DD or 5 DD Route: B-C-E-F-G Have your fleet drum and Daihatsu, but keep a balance between combat and TP gear to get the best outcome to deplete the TP gauge. The TP phase here is small so completing should only take a short while to do. Boss is a Tsu-class with Destroyers and should be overall easy to S rank if you equip your fleet properly. It is also possible to use a Boss support fleet here and load your fleet with only drums and Daihatsu to maximize your TP gain which cam make it possible to complete it in as short as 2 runs. Phase 2 - Battle Against the Abyssal Nimbus Princess Recommended Composition Casual and Easy - 1 CAV, 1 CLT, 4DD (2 Surface Radars needed to complete the objective) Route: B-H-C-L To be able to reach the boss node, your fleet will need to have radars equipped to each of them, from those radars you will need a certain amount of Surface Radars equipped on your ships along with 1 Surface Radar equipped on the flagship (2 (Easy) /5 (Medium+) Surface Radars overall needed) in order to reach Node L. Players on Easy and Casual will need heavier ships along with a flagship with a surface radar to being directed to the boss and avoid being tossed into the dead end node or getting stuck in ambush nodes. Easy will need 1 CA(V)+CLT while Casual will need 2 CAV+1CLT. Once your fleet reached the boss will battle the Abyssal Nimbus Princess who will consist of herself + 3 CL and 2 other DDs. The fight is simple, but having a Boss Support Fleet will help make it easier to concentrate on attacking the boss herself. As such, a Boss Support Fleet is recommended for this map. In addition to this, ships from the Asashio-class, Shiratsuyu-class , and Yura all can deliver a damage modifier to the Nimbus Princess which consist of a value of 1.3x the normal damage value. Murasame can deliver 1.5x the normal damage value. Bringing a few ships from this group should easily help you win the battle even with double attack shelling. However, if you face complication with the boss, bringing in a DD with Torpedo Cut ins can be an alternative. The event guides are to be constructed through the respective Event map page guide and reviewed by editor staff / collaboration committee before being approved here. Do not under any circumstance update the guides through this page or attempt to fix them through this page. Please only update guides through their respective sandbox pages.
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E-2
Information
Boss:
Key Rewards:
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Branching rules
Branching compositions were reported over the course of the event. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tips
The event guides are to be constructed through the respective Event map page guide and reviewed by editor staff / collaboration committee before being approved here. Do not under any circumstance update the guides through this page or attempt to fix them through this page. Please only update guides through their respective sandbox pages.
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Ship drops | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
E-3
Information
Boss:
Key Rewards:
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Branching rules
Branching compositions were reported over the course of the event. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Tips
The event guides are to be constructed through the respective Event map page guide and reviewed by editor staff / collaboration committee before being approved here. Do not under any circumstance update the guides through this page or attempt to fix them through this page. Please only update guides through their respective sandbox pages.
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