Combat/Combined Fleet

(This page is created in anticipation that combined fleets will be a regularly featured system in events and may eventually be available to future normal maps.) The combined fleet system was first introduced in the Summer Event of 2014 specially for the Battle of Midway. It is made using two fleets such that during a sortie, a total of 12 ships are involved as opposed to the usual 6. The combined fleet system has again been used in the Autumn Event of 2014, and the Winter Event of 2015 but with revised mechanics. This page will keep up to date with the most relevant mechanics.

Update: It appears that the same mechanics are in place for this event, so this page is entirely usable.

Composition
Combined fleets (連合艦隊 rengou kantai) (when available, i.e. events only as of now) are formed by viewing the second fleet, and then dragging the "/2" icon over the "/1" icon (refer to picture on the right). The 1st fleet is the main fleet and, in general, comprises the heavy ships, while the second fleet is a lighter "escort" fleet, and comprises the lighter ships.

There are currently two different types of Combined Fleets available for use: Each type of combined fleet has different composition requirements. In  some cases , you will be given the option to choose between which combined fleet you want to make. In other cases, you will be told which fleet to create for sortieing. When choosing between the two different types of combined fleets, besides fleet composition requirements, also do note that the combat order is different for each type, so do bear that in mind as well (see Combat Phases).
 * The Quick Response Naval Task Force (機動部隊 kidou butai)
 * The Surface Naval Task Force (水上部隊 suijou butai)

Quick Response Naval Task Force (機動部隊)
Main (fleet 1): Escort (fleet 2):
 * Maximum of 2 BB/BBV
 * Minimum of 2 CV/CVL
 * Exactly 1 CL (CLT does not count)
 * Minimum of 2 DD
 * Maximum of 2 CA/CAV
 * Maximum of 2 BBs (fast only)
 * Maximum of 1 AV
 * No slow ships

Surface Naval Task Force (水上部隊)
Main (fleet 1): Escort (fleet 2):
 * Minimum 2 of a combination of CL/CA/CAV/BB/BBV
 * Maximum of 1CV or 2 CVL
 * Maximum of 4 BB
 * Maximum of 4 CA/CAV
 * Exactly 1 CL (CLT does not count)
 * Minimum 2 DD
 * Maximum of 2 CA/CAV
 * Maximum of 2 BBs (fast only)
 * Maximum of 1 AV
 * No slow ships

Combat Mechanics
The combat flow for the Combined Fleet is quite different from a normal fleet battle, since there are two fleets involved.

Fleet Formations
For different combined fleet types, the colours may be different, but the formations' effects are the same in combat.

Combat Phases
This is where there is a difference between the two types of combined fleets. The difference between the two is that for the Quick Response Naval Task Force, the escort fleet engages first, while for the Surface Naval Task Force, the main fleet engages first. Each phase in itself is similar to a normal non-combined fleet combat. For a full run through on what each phase does, please see Combat:Combat Stages.

General Notes

 * Anti-submarine warfare takes place following the same order as stated above, except that phases like aerial combat cannot occur for obvious reasons.
 * The main fleet will not take part in anything related to torpedoes.
 * The miss and scratch rate for combined fleets appear to be higher; probably to balance out the 12 vs 6 system.
 * If a fleet does no damage in a battle (e.g. main fleet takes out all of enemy before escort fleet can fire, or vice versa), then the MVP for that fleet defaults to the flagship. Otherwise, MVP is awarded as normal on a per-fleet basis.
 * Fleet command facility cannot retreat 2nd Flagship. Advance at your own risk.
 * There is currently no hard evidence whether the 2nd Flagship can sink or not. Until credited evidence has been provided or a general consensus has been reached, players are advised to treat the 2nd Flagship as sinkable until further notice.

Fleet Command Facility
The Fleet Command Facility (stock equipment of Ooyodo Kai) allows a destroyer in the second fleet of a combined fleet to escort a heavily damaged ship in the first fleet away from the sortie. This may find good use if you tend to encounter just one ship going red on the pre-boss node most of the time. See this video for better explanation. (Credits to Nekomahjong)
 * Must be equipped in the flagship of the first fleet and needs a non-flagship DD not heavily or moderately damaged  for it to give the option to escort the ship.
 * The screen will show up after [Results], and before the [Continue/Retreat] screen. The heavily damaged ship and another DD will show up, with green sentences. Left button will remove the damaged ship and a DD from combat and they will lose 25 morale. Right button will continue without escorting.
 * Both ships (the damaged ship being escorted back and the ship escorting her back) will be permanently out of the rest of the sortie.
 * As of the Autumn 2014 event, escort ships are counted out of the score calculation, allowing you to get an A or S rank as long as you fulfill the usual criterion.