Early Spring 2024 Map E-4 - New Operation Z (revised)

[Ink20]

@silentcap
You can also try to replace SPF with a night scout on AS and/or a minisub on AV.

[goesto11]

@Ink20: Good point about Ko-hyoteki on Mikuma AV. Missed that. As for the night scout, only issue is can get emptied. Rare, but happened to me once during Part 3.

[ofi123]

LBAS #1: Taitei, Ginga (Skilled), 2xB-25 (non-mod, +2)
LBAS #2: 2xGinga (non-mod, +3), 2xT1 Land Attacker (Nonaka Squadron) (+2, non-mod)
LBAS #3: 2xShinzan (+7, non-mod), Shinzan Kai (+2), T1 Land Attacker (Hachiman Force)

Bonus from the same group doesn't apply more than once, so you are better off not using shitzan at all and split the nonaka between 2 and 3. If you still have better LBA after replacing the 2 shitzan, replace hachiman as well.

[silentcap]

@Ken G, @goesto11, @Ink20, @ofi123, and whoever I missed (because my browser is lagging).

Thanks for the answers and tips. Already cleared Phase 3 about an hour ago after I followed @Ken G's tip of spreading out the Ka-Tsu tanks in the fleet. Took me 2 attempts total after that.

Now, time to bash my head on Phase 4. Managed to reach the boss node for the first time in 2 runs but got a D-Rank. Managed to send the boss to chuuhua in the process though so it's not all bad. Just like with Phase 3, I copied @Ken G's fleet comp for Phase 4 with a few minor changes (i.e. the dupe Atlanta in the main fleet got replaced with a CL equipped for OASW while one of the DDs in the escort fleet is set up for AACI).

edit: Don't have enough high-end ASW gear to equip an entire combined fleet with it so this chipping the P4 bar might suck a bit.

[goesto11]

@silentcap: Glad you got past Part 3. For Part 4, keep in mind that there is an "armor piercing" element as wel. "Armor Piercing ASW" are as follows:

- DCR: Type 95 Depth Charge, Type 2 Depth Charge, Lightweight ASW Torpedo, Hedgehog, Type 2 Depth Charge Kai Ni
- DCP: RUR-4A Weapon Alpha Kai, Mk.32 ASW Torpedo.

So while not "high end" Type 2 DC do have their use here. Could use a T95 DC here and there if running out of Type 2 DC. That being said, if you lack a lot of good ASW, probably best to debuff the boss for LD. I'm NOT 100% sure about the armor piercing mechanic, so I just made sure to have 1 "armor piercing" ASW and max out ASW syngergy as best as possible.

And yes, P4 chipping is a bit of a grind.

[ofi123]

the dupe Atlanta in the main fleet got replaced with a CL equipped for OASW while one of the DDs in the escort fleet is set up for AACI

Personally I prefer the AACI to be in the main fleet over the escort, mainly because the escort is the one doing the oasw.

[Ink20]

And the escort fleet also goes in NB to finish the boss.

[Kahlev]

You know, i didn't bother trying at the time, but i wonder how one or 2 bases with Toukai would do at the boss node on Phase 4. At the very least (if you don't get deplaned) it would allow to kill the escort sub so you can focus on the main boss.

[ofi123]

@Kahlev

For chipping I don't think it's worth since day kill is already possible without bringing a single toukai.

For LD I had thought about using a toukai per base post clear. I was using 2 bases to boss even for LD, full anti-surface setup. I tried to sim it but there's no difference between full anti-surface 2 bases vs 2 bases with 1 toukai each. I tried to make both bases 2 toukai + skilled yura for full asw but the kill rate drops instead. So to save brainpower and even reranking LB keeping the LB at full anti-surface is best.

EDIT: Did 3 bases to boss sim. Looks like it's the opposite for 3 bases, 3 bases with 1 toukai each have a higher boss kill rate than 3 bases with full anti-surface. Given the 3 bases with 1 toukai each is a ~5% higher kill rate than the others, 1 taitei 1 toukai 2 bombers is the optimal setup for 3 bases. For 2 bases just go 1 taitei 3 bombers.

3 bases with 1 toukai > 2 full bomber 1 full toukai base > 3 full anti-surface base

[silentcap]

@goesto11

Thanks for the tip. Looks like I'll have to reorganize the ASW gear on my OASW ships once I reach LD.

@ofi123

Just curious. Will I still reach the P4 boss if I'm 1 CL short in my combined fleet?

I currently have 6 CLs in my combined fleet much like @Ken G's and I plan to move the AACI DD that I have in my escort fleet to the main fleet to serve the AACI role there (replacing a CL) while I put another OASW DD in the escort fleet.