Summer 2023 Map E-5 - The Atlantic Wall

[goesto11]

@silentcap: FYI - check out the locking thread for some ships you should save for E-6 & E-7. Generally, E-5 is simply use least necessary to get job done. For example, don't need Bismarck here for unlocking & E-6P1, but from what I've seen, if not here, then where? Thus decided to put for unlocking & E-5P1. That being said, I still have a lot of FBB for EO - Iowa, Hiei K2c, Haruna K2b, one ITA FBB, both French FBB, and main SoDak (and some dupes as well).

[silentcap]

@goesto11

I checked @Ken G's Summer 2023 Event Fleet Locking Advice thread and noticed that all the ships highlighted (the must haves) for E-6 are ships that I haven't used yet.

Right now, I'm trying to create fleet comps for this map (E-5) by using @Ken G's, @Kahlev's, and @Yarrik's fleet comps as basis with a rule of not using any Euro ship (and USN too for good measure).

BTW, are there any Japanese ships that I shouldn't use here? Not because they are necessary for the next maps but because they will surely make the next maps that doesn't use any of this map's tags a bit easier.

[goesto11]

@silentcap: You can use SOME Euro ships here. ITA CL are very popular and I'll be using both. You can use Heywood here as well if you want (assuming you have Johnston & Fletcher MkII left). Frankly, with the AACI change, I'm not sure I will even use Fletcher or Johnston for E-6 or E-7 as this is a very Brit centric "D-Day" theme. Can use Houston as well here.. As for orange tag CV, the only debate is really whether to use Ark Royal. If you have a dupe, then sure. Some say Ark Royal for E-6 (usually with Saratoga or Intrepid), and some say Ark Royal here, Intrepid & Saratoga for E-6 and the probably Kaga for E-7 (though you can use some E-6 tags on E-7). It varies. As for IJN, you can look at the reports and see for yourself and use same/similar as others used.

[goesto11]

E-5 Hard Cleared. As an added bonus, I got C.Cappellini while clearing.


Unlocking Phase

Node G Fleet (Nodes H & J very similar) (No duplicates used)


Nodes L1 & L2 Fleet (No duplicates used)


Comments: The sub nodes are fine, but the route to Nodes L1 & L2 is a bit treacherous. Smoke + Vanguard work well enough for Node D, but you will want Strike Force FCF here. Be prepared to spend some buckets. That's a theme of this map. It's not hard, but your ships take a beating.


Part 1 HP Gauge #1

Main Fleet (Duplicates: Ark Royal)


Escort Fleet (Duplicates: Prinz Eugen)


No support expeditions

Comments:

• Regarding Ship Choices (all phases):
  
  • If I did not have an Ark Royal duplicate, would have used Victorious as others did. Thought about Victorious anyway, but liked Souryuu's slots a bit better, and had 3 historic CV (for E-5 P2 & 3 below) as it was so figured I'd be fine without Victorious bonus. Still, one could argue smarter/min-max fleet would have had Victorious.
  • As for CA - Prinz Eugen dupe an obvious choice - may very well be the case you can safely use original here. Regardless, IMO you have some latitude with CA choice here, as E-5 is all about CV and CTF.
  
  
• Passing rate was mediocre, but easy enough when you do reach the boss node.
• You can get plane slots emptied during P1. For example, F4U-4 and Swordfish on Ark Royal got wiped once each as did Hornets AU-1. I decided not to re-rank planes and see how it went for the rest of the map as I had some spare airpower anyway. Worked out, but YMMV on that.

Part 2 HP Gauge #2

Main Fleet (Duplicates: Ark Royal)


Escort Fleet (Duplicates: Prinz Eugen)


No support expeditions:

Comments:

• 130 points for S-rank win (always S-ranked). Not sure I could squeeze 150 points without making sacrifices I didn't like, so left it at this.
• Smoke at Node P helps. Not sure if you need double smoke though.
• Passing rate was great - no retreats, and as noted, S-rank at the boss node is easy.

Part 3 HP Gauge #3

Main Fleet (Duplicates: Ark Royal)


Escort Fleet (Duplicates: Prinz Eugen)


LBAS: Groups 1 & 2 to boss node Y (range = 2)
- Group 1: Do-217+Hs293, Ki-102b + missle, T4 Hiryuu skilled, B-25
- Group 2: Do-217+Hs293, SM 79 BIS, Type 1 Hiryuu Skilled, B-25
- Group 3: Reppuu 352AG skilled, Proto Shuusui, Me163b, Shuusei

Boss shelling support used for final kill, but I'd say it's more optional than mandatory as long as you debuff.

Comments: LBAS may be the real MVP here. CVCI bit RNG as you can get some big crits, but also some disappointing numbers. Still, your CVs will do the bulk of the work - just make sure to do the plane "sudoku" and have one plane from each group + wildcard on each CV to maximize damage potential.

Debuffing Comments:

• Debuffing is definitely recommended.
• Others have done a good job of listing fleet examples so I'll forgo those.
• With good fighters/interceptors in LBAS Group 3, you should have enough airpower from that group alone to satisfy the debuffing requirement. I had around 465 defensive airpower for LBAS Group 3, and had no issue getting AS while doing the other requirements.
• Lastly, you leave AS at Node V as the last requirement and start your LD runs because you'll almost certainly get AS at Node V while on your way to the boss node (the boss will be debuffed when you reach the boss node)

[silentcap]

E-5 Hard Cleared

Phase 1
Kinugasa (lv87): 2x20.3cm (no.2) (+9,+9), T0 M11B Skilled, T3 Shell (max) [T3 Shell]
Intrepid (lv98) (dupe): Tenzan M12 Murata, F4U-4 (+1), Ju87C K2 KMX, FR-1 Fireball
Hornet (lv96) (dupe): TBM-3W+3S, AU-1, Ju87C K2 KMX, F6F-5 (+1)
Grecale (lv90): 10cmHA+FD, 20cm Rocket, WG42
Mogami (lv83) (dupe): 2xKyoufuu Kai (+1,+1), Kyoufuu K2, Zuiun K2 (634 AG/Skilled)
De Ruyter (lv95): SK+SG Radar (+3), 2xWG42
+
Abruzzi (lv94): 20.3cm (no.3) (+6), 6inch Triple Mk.16 mod.2, Loire 130M, WG42
Richelieu (lv99) (dupe): 2x38cm Quad, SO3C Seamew Kai, T3 Shell K2
Fletcher (lv96) (dupe): 5inch Mk.30 Kai+GFCS Mk.37, 5inch Mk.30 Kai, GFCS Mk.37 (+2)
Umikaze (lv82) (dupe): 10cmHA+FD (max), 12.7cm Type-B K4+AAFD (+5), Tank Daihatsu
Kawakaze (lv82) (dupe): 2x12.7cm Type-B K4+AAFD (+1,+6), Tank Daihatsu
Makigumo (lv99): 2x12.7cm Type-D, Tank Daihatsu [SLO+ (+2)]

Phase 2
Hornet (lv96) (dupe): TBM-3W+3S, AU-1, Shinden Kai, F6F-5 (+1)
Katsuragi (lv97): Ju87CK2 KMX, Barracuda Mk.II (+2), Re.2005 Kai, Reppuu M11
Graf Zeppelin (lv99): Ju87CK2 KMX, Barracuda Mk.II (+2),2xFW190T Kai
Intrepid (lv99) (dupe): F4U-4 (+1), Swordfish MK.III Skilled, FR-1 Fireball, T0M53 Iwamoto (max)
Mogami (lv84): 4xDrum
Kinugasa (lv88): 2x20.3cm (no.2) (+9,+9), T0M11B Skilled, T3 Shell (max), [T3 Shell]
+
Abruzzi (lv95): 20.3cm (no.3) (+6), 6inch Triple Mk.16 mod.2, 2xDrum [SLO]
Grecale (lv91): Hedgehog (+2), HF/DF+T144/147 ASDIC (+2), Drum
Fletcher (lv96) (dupe): 5inch Mk.30 Kai+GFCS Mk.37, 5inch Mk.30 Kai, GFCS Mk.37 (+2)
Umikaze (lv83) (dupe): 3xDLC
Kawakaze (lv83) (dupe): 3xDLC
Makigumo (lv99): 3xDLC [SLO+ (+2)]

Phase 3
Hornet (lv97) (dupe): TBM-3W+3S, F4U-4 (+1), Shinden Kai, F4U-2 Night Corsair
Intrepid (lv99) (dupe): AU-1,Swordfish Mk.III Skilled, T0M53 Iwamoto (max), FR-1 Fireball
Katsuragi (lv97): Ju87CK2 KMX, Barracuda Mk.II (+2), Reppuu M11, Fw190T Kai
Graf Zeppelin (lv99): Ju87CK2 KMX, Barracuda Mk.II (+2), Fw190T Kai, Reppuu K2
Mogami (lv85) (dupe): 2x20.3cm (no.3) (+6,+6), Fairey Seafox Kai, Kyouufuu K2
De Ruyter (lv96): 2x6inch Triple Mk.16 mod.2, S9 Osprey(+6)
+
Abruzzi (lv95): 4x61cm Quad Oxy LM (max, max, max, max) [SLO+ (+8)]
Kinugasa (lv89): 2x20.3cm (no.2) (+9,+9), Loire 130M, Searchlight (max) [T3 Shell K2]
Umikaze (lv84) (dupe): Mk.32 ASW (Mk.2), HF/DF+T144/147 ASDIC (+2), Smoke Generator Kai (+2)
Fletcher (lv96) (dupe): 533mm Torpedo, 533mm Torpedo, HF/DF+T144/147 ASDIC
Makigumo (lv99): 12.7cm Type-D K2, 61cm Quad Oxy LM (max), SG Radar (Initial) [SLO+ (+2)]
Grecale (lv91): 61cm Quad Oxy LM (max), 2x61cm Quad Oxy (max, max) [SLO+ (+4)]

Finally cleared this map at last. When I started this map, I felt that just unlocking the first boss node was an entire phase on its own given the difficulty that I experienced trying to reach nodes L1 and L2. On the other hand, clearing phases 1 and 2 as well as chipping phase 3 proved to be easier in comparison. There's still the odd retreat here and there but none of them are frustrating.

However, once I reached LD of Phase 3, the nodes on the way suddenly got a 50-50 chance of forcing a retreat as they seemingly got aimbot accuracy in taiha-ing at least one ship in my fleet. Thinking about it again, I guess that's probably to balance the fact that there's only one surface battle node on the way (the other nodes are a sub node and an airstrike node).

Now on the phase 3 LD kill, double chevron LBAS bombers have this knack of sending the BB Himes to chuhua in one hit provided they didn't sink a full health BB Hime in one shot (which they did about half the time in all of my LD attempts). The Ne Kais fare a little better only because the LBAS bombers seem to prioritize the BB Himes in all my LD attempts. With the correct plane loadouts, my CVs in the main fleet have good odds of critically damaging the boss' meatshields if not sink them outright. Even the boss isn't safe from this (Intrepid nailed her with a CVCI sending her to chuhua in the process). Also, the debuff seem to weaken the boss to the point even CAVs and CLs can deal 100+ damage total on her with a daytime double attack.

By the end of day battle, only the boss (at taiha) remained which finished this map for me once I entered night battle.

[Ink20]

E5H done.

L1/L2
Italia: 16inch+GFCS +9, quad 38cm kai, AP kai +4, loire130, sanshiki k2 +2
Haguro: 20.3cm(3) +10, 20.3cm(3) +9, loire130, smoke kai +2, sanshiki kai +9
Katsuragi: iwamoto +10, shinden, ryuusei(CD1/skilled) +2, corsair(ace)
Helena: 6inch mod2 +2, GFCS+5inch CD, wg42, seamew +2
Heywood: 5inch+GFCS, 5inch+GFCS, wg42
Shimakaze: 10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +10, wg42
Teruzuki: 10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +10, wg42

Reaching the final node was harder than it looks even with vanguard and smoke (air nodes weren't a problem even with AP, though) but I always got the A-rank during the day (never got a bad engagement, though). I wanted to use a CAV since sanshiki doesn't work against this kind of installation but it looked like a waste.

P1(S-S-S-S-S)
Ark Royal: tenzan murata, ryuusei(CD1/skilled) +2, corsair(ace), night corsair, SDP+ +10
Hornet: ryuusei(CD1/skilled), tenzan murata +2, fireball, re2005, SDP+ +7
Roma: 16inch+GFCS +9, quad 38cm kai +9, AP kai +4, seamew, sanshiki k2 +2
Garibaldi: 20.3cm(3) +9, 20.3cm(3) +9, wg42, seamew
Tone: 20.3cm(3) +9, 20.3cm(3) +9, seamew +2, sanshiki kai +9/wg42
Suzutsuki: 10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +10, SK+SG +10, t94 AAFD +10
+
Gotland: 20.3cm(3) +10, 20.3cm(3) +9, m4a1, seafox
Umikaze: 10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +9, ho-ni, tslo +8
Kasumi:10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +9, ho-ni, tslo +4
Ooi: minisub D, sextorp +9, sextorp +9, ETSCF +4
Yuudachi: 10cm+AAFD +9, 10cm+AAFD +9, wg42, tslo +2
J.Bart: quad 38cm kai +9, quad 38cm deux +2, AP kai +4, loire130

This part was very easy but the enemy has strong AA so planes lost some rank even with AS/AS+ and shootdown resistance. I used Ooi here just for the Otorp and since I don't think I'll need her later.

P2(-153-153-148-r-148pts)
Ranger: TBM-3D, ryuusei(CD1/skilled), f4u4, re2005
Ark Royal: suisei egusa, swordfish mk.III, fw190A-5, night corsair, SDP+ +10
Hornet: TBM-3W+3S, f4u7, ryuusei(CD1/skilled) +2, re2001, SDP+ +7
Victorious: barracuda mk.II +1, au1, keiun, fw190
Suzutsuki: 10cm+AAFD +10, drum/10cm+AAFD +10, smoke kai +2, t13 radar kai +10 / swapped with Umikaze
Gotland: daihatsu, daihatsu, daihatsu, daihatsu
+
Garibaldi: 20.3cm(3) +10, 20.3cm(3) +9, drum, loire130
Umikaze: ho-ni, panzerII, panzerIII, rk2 +10
Yuudachi: drum, drum, drum, rk2 +10
Kasumi: ho-ni, ho-ni, panzerII, rk2 +10
Ooi: OTO152mm +9, OTO152mm +9, minisub D, ETSCF
Tone: drum, drum, drum, drum

Got a retreat at the sub node (smoked but the Otorp didn't care) but that was another easy part (S-ranked during the day even the boss in vanguard once).

P3(r-r-A64/1030-r-S-A148/1030-S-S-S-?-S)
Ranger: TBM-3D, ryuusei(CD1/skilled), f4u4, re2005
Ark Royal: suisei egusa, swordfish mk.III, fw190A-5, night corsair, SDP+ +10
Hornet: TBM-3W+3S, f4u7, ryuusei(CD1/skilled) +2, re2001, SDP+ +7
Victorious: barracuda mk.II +1, iwamoto +10, au1, fw190
Suzutsuki: 10cm+AAFD +10, 10cm+AAFD +10, SK +10, t94 AAFD +10
Gotland: GFCS+5inch CD, 5inch CD +2, smoke kai +2, seamew +2
+
Garibaldi(30): sextorp +9, sextorp +9, sextorp +9, loire130, tslo +1
Tone: 20.3cm(3) +10, 20.3cm(3) +9, night zuiun, starshell
Yuudachi(23): 12.7cm D +9, quad ox LM +10, GFCS +2, tslo +2
Umikaze(22): 12.7cm D k3, quad ox LM +10, GFCS, tslo +8
Kasumi(40): quad ox LM +10, quad ox LM +10, quintorp +9, tslo +4
Choukai: 20.3cm(3) +9, 203mm +9, seamew, searchlight +10

LBAS1: mosquito FB, do217 E-5, ki102+missile +1/ do217 E-5, ki102+missile
LBAS2: mosquito FB, do217 K-2, B25, B25 +2

Boss support (only for debuffed LD): *Italia*, *Roma*, Warspite, G.Bay, Kawakaze, Naganami

Yesterday I didn't have the time to do the debuff so I just wanted to check how hard the undebuffed boss was (I had battles under red-T while chipping that went quite well) but I got a red-T and all the hime were still there after the day battle with the boss untouched so I just refreshed the game.
Today I did the debuff (had the stupid idea to send a LBAS to L2 so a ki102 was wiped out and I had to replace it with a do217), reached the boss with Kasumi medium damaged at the sub node and got red-T again but this time only the heavy damaged boss was left after the day. At night Garibaldi and Umikaze failed their CI, the others except Yuudachi did just 2-digits damage but Choukai managed to finish the boss.
As for equipment, I tried to fix shelling order using 203mm/SK in place of the better 20.3cm(3)/SK+SG (I was also thinking of using a jet or SCAMP on Victorious and replacing Ranger with Taihou because CVB and RE) and Tone had a night zuiun just in case the starshell didn't proc.
As for combined fleet formations and airstate, I used line ahead except on sub and air nodes (line abreast+smoke and diamond) and always got AS/AS+ without planes being wiped out (except during debuff).

Drops: Cappellini

[Etrigan]

E-5H in progress. I'm running behind, but I just finished the unlocking portion and figured I'd post this. BLUF: SFFCF and Vanguard are your friends.

Went 7 for 7 on the unlock runs. 3 runs were saved by being able to retreat a ship, once each from nodes C, D and I. Two of those were L node runs and the ship retreated was carrying a tankatsu, but I squeaked out the A rank anyway. Line Abreast at the pure sub nodes while working on H, J, and G, Vanguard at all other pre-boss nodes (including D with smoke when going to L).

Comps below. No support used

[+] Spoiler

For all comps, Akizuki was the only dupe

Nodes H and J


Node G


Nodes L1/2

[goesto11]

@Etrigan: GL - E-5H should not be a problem for you.

[Etrigan]

@goesto11 Thanks! Just fretting over shiplocks; you'd think I'd have this down by now....

- - - Updated - - -

Has there been ANY word on FF yet? I don't need it (yet), but it'd be nice as a gauge of how much longer this event will last.

[goesto11]

@Etrigan: LOL no worries on the ship-lock fretting. I'm right there with you. As for FF, don't know of anything yet, but I imagine soon. My guess is event last about 2 months so I expect FF fairly soon with the usual 2 rounds with 2nd FF about 1 week from event end. Guessing E-6 & E-7 (surely) get FF, not sure about other maps though. That makes it about a 2 month event. However, all just my speculation. Hopefully I can clear E-6H shortly, I'd like to be on E-7 before FF given how much there is of it. Seriously, 5 phases + gimmicks is just overkill.

Bit OT, but what's surprising to me is that on discord there are some players who were waiting for FF to start the event due to E-1H. E-1 may not even get a FF (or if so a good one), let alone this is a huge event with a lot to do. Still, a couple people starting just today after waiting on FF.