Talk:List of fleet standard aircraft carriers by upgraded maximum stats/@comment-121.210.128.112-20131228100005/@comment-87.145.116.118-20131228121921

Her opening damage during farming is better than Akagis and only 3% under Kaga's. Damage is calculated using sqr(slot count)*plane strength, so using the first three slots (Saiun or green guns in the last slot):

Kaga = http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2*sqr%2820%29%2Bsqr%2846%29

15.72

Akagi = http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2*sqr%2820%29%2Bsqr%2832%29

14.60

Taihou = http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=2*sqr%2824%29%2Bsqr%2830%29

15.27

If you only use a single plane for initial strike, the difference is more pronounced, yes, but this comes at the cost of your fighter wing. Having 46 planes for the initial strike on Kaga is cool and all, but it only translates to about 20% more damage (sqr(30)/sqr(46)), while you lose 10% in fighter strength (sqr(20)/sqr(24)), and the added initial damage is wasted in the shelling phase, so those 20% are not as useful as they sound.

The high base damage provides consistent, long-term shelling damage almost immune to plane losses, and having evenly distributed plane counts gives you the same advantage that Shoukaku gives you: a better averaged performance.

I agree that my evidence is lacking as to the chuuha damage. Until I can provide a better data set, do what you will.