Sandbox/2018WinterReview

Note: All info is currently based upon initial reports, so take the advice with caution before using your fleet regarding what may come in later missions.

Event Planning

This map utilizes the same locks as E-2. However, Fast speed is no longer a hard requirement, although some restrictions still apply (maximum number of ships with base Slow speed, regardless of use of engine equipment; see branching rules).

Tag Notes

• This map requires you to organize the Kurita Fleet and Nishimura Fleet.
  • For more details on Historical Kurita/Suzuki and Nishimura Fleet members, please view the Historical Background for more details.
• Ships formed in the Combined Fleet will use the Kurita Fleet Tag.
  • When forming the Kurita Fleet, you can use both the Kurita and Suzuki Fleet members.
• Ships formed in the Striking Force Fleet will be marked as the Nishimura Fleet Tag.

Recommended Composition:

• Nishimura Fleet Composition:
  • Standard Nishimura Fleet Composition - 2 BBV, 1 CAV, 4DD (Nishimura Fleet members required Easy - 3 , Normal - 5, Hard - 6)
    
  • Nishimura Fleet + Sub - 2 BBV, 1 CAV, 3DD, 1 SS(V) (Nishimura Fleet members required Easy - 3 , Normal - 5, Hard - 6) Will have to go through one more node
    
• Kurita Fleet Composition:
  • 2-4 (F)BB, 0-2 CA(V) 2 CVL / 1 CL, 1-2CA, 2-3 DD, 0-1 CLT (Kurita Fleet members required Easy - 5 , Normal - 7, Hard - 10) - At most 3 Slow ships are allowed (Note: The slow ships that can be used are based upon their original speed. Modifying their speed using turbines and boilers to make their speed Fast will not override the speed restriction.)

Unlocking the Boss Node

• Casual: Reach Node M
• Easy: Reach Node N
• Med+: Score A+ Rank at Node N

About Friend Fleets
Beginning with this map, players will be introduced to a new mechanic known as the Friend Fleet. This mechanic causes a random fleet of NPC allies to aid you in battle at the boss node, once the night battle sequence commences. The NPC friend fleets vary in actual utility in combat due to composition and equipment.

In this battle, there are 5 different possible Friend Fleets that can arrive to help:

• Nishimura Fleet - Fusou, Yamashiro, Mogami, Michishio, Yamagumo, Asagumo, Shigure
• Destroyer Division 19 - Ayanami, Shikinami, Isonami, Uranami
• Cruiser Division 4 - Takao. Atago, Choukai, Maya
• European Grand Fleet - Warspite, Ark Royal, Richelieu, Jervis
• Guadacanal Fleet - Kirishima, Hiei, Yuudachi, Harusame, Yukikaze, Amatsukaze

Do note that:

• It is possible to influence who decides to appear by including certain members of your fleet, which will prevent certain friend fleets from appearing in battle. (e.g. using Maya will prevent Cruiser Division 4 from appearing.)
  • Obviously, you should take into account overall fleet strength before making any decision to do so, as this will likely adversely affect your fleet's combat capabilities.
• However, Destroyer Division 19 will always have a chance to appear regardless of whether or not you put any of their members in the main fleet.
• Out of the available NPC Friend Fleets, the Nishimura Fleet is the most useful fleet, since it can attack a total of 7 times. However, they arrive in varying states of damage, apparently from Surigao.
• For more details, please refer to the Friend Fleet Section.

Nishimura Fleet's Section

Overall, the Nishimura phase is nearly identical to its E-2 counterpart. However, there will be encounters with submarines in mixed fleets, as well as air battle nodes. Plan your LBAS deployment accordingly to defend the fleet as they advance into the night battle section of the map. Once you reach the night battle areas, proceed to vanguard formation to protect the fleet until you reach the point you need to get to depending on the difficulty (Node M for Easy and Node N for Normal, Score an A+ rank on N for Hard). Additionally, bringing Skilled Lookouts can help with battles involving PT Imps.

Node N contains an enemy fleet consisting of mostly (if not all) battleships. Use Line Ahead and the rest should be fairly straightforward as long as your fleet is capable of double attacking.

Once the prerequisite condition (above) has been completed, the path to the boss will appear.

Recommended LBAS for Nishimura Fleet

• 3 Bombers 1 ASW Bomber to Node F (node with mixed enemy fleet including 1 submarine)
• 4 Fighters / Interceptors to Node C (air battle node)
  • It is also possible to send this LBAS squadron - with Bombers - to Node H instead, but that node is less likely to give you trouble with the right equipment and formation.

Use of the route/node support expedition is recommended. Please note that Node N is not a boss node.

Battling the Escort Water Princess

In the Kurita Fleet section, the combined fleet will have to face a number of battles, including 2 air battle nodes and 2 battles against fleets consisting of mostly Nu-class type Light Carriers. Due to the amount of air power you will need to face and the difficulty you select, you may need to either organize a full fighter set-up on both CVLs or 1 Dive Bomber (preferably Fighter-Bomber, for the same reasons listed in the E-2 section), 3 Fighters just so you can maintain enough air power to slightly hold out or slightly overpower the carrier fleet. Musashi's second remodel can also fit a seaplane fighter into her fifth slot to provide supplementary fighter power.

However, this map involves multiple air battles (with very high fighter power requirements), so there remains a possibility that your CVLs' bomber slots may get wiped before you reach the boss. Even with a full fighter loadout, your fighter power will also suffer losses en route to the boss due to this. Given that the boss node also requires a fairly high amount of fighter power, do take this into account before committing bombers to your set-up.

Bringing Maya Kai Ni (also a Kurita Fleet member) is recommended. Consider deploying LBAS, especially for Node Q, which can have a large number of light carriers present. But please also see below for other nodes that are likely to require LBAS support.

At the pre-boss node (R), the fleet will have to take on a full battleship combined fleet consisting of 6 Ru-class Battleships along with an escort fleet of powerful Destroyers and Light Cruisers. On harder difficulties, an LBAS full of land-based bombers may be needed for this node to make things easier (prior to Last Dance).

FCF is useful for retreating damaged ships, but this may offroute your fleet if utilised early enough, especially on harder difficulties, where up to 10 Kurita Fleet ships are required for the shortest route to the boss. Generally, it is safe to use (that is, without potentially off-routing your fleet) after Node R (the pre-boss node), as the next node will be the boss node. There is also no LoS check between the pre-boss and boss nodes.

Upon reaching the boss node, you will encounter the Escort Water Princess who will be in a combined fleet consisting of transports, a Nu-class carrier, and some Ru-class battleships, along with some CAs and DD in the escort fleet. If possible, consider bringing at least 1 LBAS (1 Fighter 3 Bombers) here if you are willing to risk taking potential damage from the other nodes. This will also help to whittle down the fighter power requirement before the air battle phase.

During the night battle sequence after the Friend Fleet has completed its attack, note that the Escort Water Princess is unable to attack any of your fleet members only if your fleet does not use a searchlight. However, due to how high her armor is, being able to improve your crit chances may be the difference between being successful and failing. So while you can depend on using just Star Shell and the Type 98 Recon Seaplane (Night Scout) to take on the princess, keep in mind that it may be hard to score the necessary crit you need. So if necessary, only consider bringing the Searchlight if you're willing to risk having the Escort Water Princess attacking one of your members in exchange for a better chance at achieving victory.

Finally, players on harder difficulties should consider using Heavier battleships to aid them in battle such as Yamato, Musashi and Nagato. However, keep in mind that this map will be a major fuel and ammo sink as you try to complete the map. Also bear in mind that speed is still an important matter, as you are limited to 3 ships with an base speed of "Slow".

Also, Support Shelling Fleets for both the route and the boss are highly recommended especially on harder difficulties.

LBAS Recommendations

• 4 Land-Based Fighters - For carrier nodes, if necessary

Node Q is the most significant threat in this regard, so if necessary, consider organizing fighters to take out the planes from the carriers. Most Carrier nodes required a Distance of 5 to reach.

• 4 Land-Based Bombers - For Node R

Because Node R is full of Battleship Ru-Class, there are chances you will be likely get hit hard by them. Because of this, using an LBAS here can be helpful in eliminating some of them to improve your chances of passing this node. This node requires a Distance of 5 to reach.

• 1 Interceptor / Land-Based Fighter , 3 Land-Based Bombers - For Boss node

The boss node is a priority target, as the fleet there consists of many strong and possibly tough ships depending on the difficulty. You can bring a single fighter/interceptor along with 3 Land-Based Bombers to max out your chances of taking out some units before the start of the fight, and to whittle down the enemy fleet's fighter power at the same time. Distance of 4 to reach the boss.

On Last Dance, you will likely need to commit both LBAS to the boss node to maximise your chances of victory. As above, both support expeditions are recommended, as well as sparkling your entire combined fleet to improve your chances of making it to the boss (especially at the pre-boss node).