User blog comment:Kuras/Fall Event 2016/@comment-24.253.50.238-20161202111411/@comment-25289497-20161202123756

First, I think you have to check whether you have adequate fighters for E-5 Hard. You'll need 600+ fighter power for many of the nodes in this map. Besides that, you also need to be able to score "perfect air defenses" to open up the hidden starting point (and to weaken the boss), which again requires a lot of good fighters and interceptors. If you aren't able to score those "perfect air defenses", you will not be able to unlock the hidden starting point, which makes clearing this map impossible (I haven't tried it though). So this should be your first concern.

Not having Sakawa and Prinz Eugen is definitely a big disadvantage, but if you are just aiming to clear the map (no S ranks), it should still be doable. Though, it requires more luck of course. You can opt for equipping torpedo cut-in setups on more of your shipgirls. If you do have Nagato, I definitely recommend sortieing her too. Otherwise, just sortie your best shipgirls here. You may want to sortie the Yamatos as well, but I would only do it if you think it's necessary after a couple of runs, since they eat a lot and might not be needed. Choukai Kai Ni or Haguro Kai Ni for CA and Sendai-class for CL. If you still have Abukuma, you can sortie her too. Alternatively, you can sortie Bismarck Drei in your escort fleet instead of the CA or CLT. If you still have Maya Kai Ni, you can sortie her too, preferably in the main fleet, but AACI is necessary in any case imo.

Since you do not have Sakawa and Prinz Eugen, weakening the boss should definitely be done.

As you can see in my replays, my aerial support were able to deal quite a lot of damage to the enemies at the boss node. They were even capable of taking down the Himes. Hopefully you'll be this lucky as well. :D

Good luck! ^_^