Board Thread:Fleet's Prepared-ness/@comment-33295205-20180121140200/@comment-26082284-20180123213747

Looking at your fleet I'd say you're more than ready. Especially commendable is that you put effort into number of varied DDs and didn't forgot to level CLs and CVLs. Those are often left underleveled to disastrous effects.

Equipment-wise you seem to have all the basics covered, but since you might want to challenge harder difficulties there are couple of points I'd like to rise. But before that, on side note: I noticed that you have a number of unimproved Zero 21 and Zero 52. Maybe you don't know or learned only recently, but those made through quests inherit improvements. So you should always start with basic Zero 21, improve it to +10 at low cost, and only then convert it into Zero 21 skilled through quest. And if you convert that into Zero 52 it still keeps improvement. Zero 52 skilled +max is definitely among the best fighters in game and are relatively easy obtainable through that method.

Now, back to the point. First thing you probably can't help about anyway: you don't have any night planes. Since half of USN carriers in that battle had at least a couple of night fighters, and Independence even carried whole Night Air Group, I expect night air combat to play significant role in the event. Even if you tried crafting for Sara (and you can with Kamoi), your chances without putting dent in your stockpiles are probably single digit unfortunately.You can't do anything about that, but be ready. You might also consider converting Iwai Zero into fighter-bomber. For some weird reason Iwai Zero 62 FB and Swordfishes are only planes other than dedicated night planes that give bonus damage to night air strikes. It's small and of little consequence now, but you might find it useful in the future. Also, keep your AA eqipment in best possible condition. It WILL be needed this event. Good idea with improving air radars. If you can, try to max them (one 13 kai and one 21 kai) before event. With improvements they have good bonuses to fleet AA, and maxed out 21kai becomes the best air radar in game, perfect for Maya-sama.

Another point is your lacking anti-installation equipment. With two Wurfgerats and one (unimproved) tank you'd have to rely on sanshikis. Which will be allright with soft installations, but hardened ones (like pillbox imps) might prove a bit of a problem. Especially if devs pit lighter fleet against them. Right now you could equip one dedicated CL/DD, and one multi-role and that's it. No problem for easy, but on hard and maybe on medium it might be difficult. I'd strongly suggest converting one daihatsu into tank-carrying, and if you can spare resources improving it (and a tank too). You might think there won't be need for that, but remember that the whole point of operation was preventing Americans from landing on Leyte. In alt-history version in game we might expect maps involving shelling some reinforced beachheads or supply depots, and meybe even some installation mid-boss.

Now, all the above is only valid if you want to challenge hard, as even on medium what you already have should be enough. Also, I might be wrong about installations and night combat, but I won't be wrong about a lot of focus on air combat - be ready with best AACI and strong fighter force.