IJN ships are general weaker in hull and thus they can hardly beat KM or RN ships one on one. However, with their fast speed and high damage output, with skills, tactical mind and synergy with others. IJN can form a strong force in field. The core naval philosophy of IJN is using suppressive speed and damage output to reduce enemy’s number in a short time, and to build a long-game advantage. Like the (infamous) surprise Attack on Pearl Harbour, or suicidal Kamikaze attack, Japanese ships never worries about being sunk or damaged, but only care about how much return can one sacrifice win back. Ship buildings follow the above mentality. Torpedo is strongest in Japs. IJN DDs have strong and long range torps that can easily sink enemy CL and CA. Some of the IJN SS has 8 bow launch that make them able to sink multiple ships in one strike. Torpedo tactics need ships to get close to opponents (and avoid getting sunk). As such, IJN has also some ships to help friends to get close. Kitakami can firework 50 torps to disperse enemy ships’ formation, making SSs can infiltrate through the sonar net. Asama brings a BB cannon to help SS to sink DD/CL with sonar. Don’t use Mogami 1944 as a knitting CV. Bring her front with fighters and cover our SS go front without spotted by scout planes. IJN SS is fasted at all and have 47 knot OH speed on surface. They can sneak in and hunt for B.B. and CV. SS is the biggest threat against IJN ships. Most IJN ships are weaker and eating torps is unaffordable for them. If you are using low level DD (or DD50), don’t hesitate to bring hedgehog and invest a bit in FCS to kill SS, and to chase bombers and torp planes (they are in group of five) with your auto AAW and high speed. The longer that both you and IJN CA survive, the longer advantage that we enjoy. Last but not the least is IJN CVs. Most of them has fast speed and high number of flights (after they vetted). These allow IJN CVs stay close with the fleet and protect the ships from air strikes. Don’t be hurry to send torp planes to hunt large ships. Let our CA to hunt some CL with AAW first. However, it’s not bad to some one squad of bombers to make quick attack on med-size ship as an early attack (and let them die to save the time of return flight...). IJN CV is very strong in late game since their fast speed (up to 47 OH speed) can help them knit against BB or SS. effectively. So never die too fast. One more thing. Do not mind doing tactical retreat if facing fiece defence in front of you (like Crossing the T formation has been set up). Don’t get trapped. Use your speed to re-organise your attack at the other side of field. Japanese has created Otsu Tactic （乙戰術）to overcome Crossing the T, split the fleet, attack the head and tail of opponent line of fleet. So, if you use IJN BBs, never forget that you have faster speed then other nations’. Manoeuvre your ship aside and face your starboard to their bow or stern. I’m not an IJN player so perhaps more sharings from you are needed. Feel free to share here and wish you enjoy the Fast and Furious of IJN ships!

Typo: I’m not an IJN BB player......

CL18 has great auto AAW and can shoot down low flying torp plane/ bomber easily. it is nightmare for SS too with its speed and long sonar, able to dodge torps in mid range from SS and kick them when they’re out of oxygen. Use a CL to tag a SS, isn’t it worthwhile?

Thanks baldrick, emergent deep dive really an essential skill for SS player.

I’m now lv57 and got Kongo and Hiryu. I’m not intending to level Kongo (just use it as harbour assualt) but I was planing to upgrade Hiryu since has most number of planes in its level. However when I start working on levelling many problems occur: 1) The steel required is extremely high. I need to use farm steels in battles. 2) The crew XP got in battles are extremely few, only 2-3 XP but it needs 1000 XP to level up a pilot. 3) Opearation of CV is also not easy. It is almost impossible to sink 2BB and 1CV by only a new, untrainined CV. My question: How do other experienced player level their CV? Also, as training cost is so damn high, should I give up levelling Hiryu and continue to farm resource / build base buildings with my DD, CL, CA (which are all in vet level) until I can buy some CVs at lv 68 or 79? Any BB or CV are worthy to level?

My CV could do 2xxxx attack point on flight only

So many new players using 5v5 beginner match in GB. When there is no CV, SS and BB, simplest way to win is send the ship front, torp, kill and die (i was also before, good way to farm steel :P) however GB is another business, it needs more synergy and cooperation. Even one more extra shot of BB or SS can change the game in close combat. Sink number doesn’t count much in game (just for achievement), I don’t mind letting DD/CL to sink an heavily damaged ship, and reserve my torpedos on other new target. win together and earn 30 crew XP matter most.

Gangbanging is always better than 1-on-1, and the best way to hunt BB is using fast ships to dogfight with BB and let CV / SS kill them with torps. DD dogfighting skill against BB: move parallel with BB in zig-zac form. Move close me after BB shoot its heavy gun, circle around it to lure its gun away from your main fleet, use torps to force it turn aside to incoming torp planes...... And don’t get killed! CV/SS owns BB, BB owns CA/ CL, CA / CL owns DD, and DD/CL owns CV/SS... (I’m a SS CV player so I don’t mind sharing this )

Thanks Baldrick! Just a reminder to DD/CL player: Don’t try to be a lone wolf hero and rush into opponents! You can’t kill a BB but you can protect CV/BB from SS. The longer they stay in field, the bigger threats to the opponent. bring your AA guns to field. Fighters of CVs sometimes just keep dogfighting with opponents’ fighters and they can’t shoot down torp planes. Your AA guns will save so much CV if you stay close with them. Bring also your hedgehog too for SS and CL18. Life matters! So many times I saw groups of DD and CL rushing into fires of BB......

I agree most of it. Just I am fine with my IJN CV55 since she is one of the CV with largest number of planes to deploy. Controlling CV is more tactical and less relying on the spec of ships. A vet CV55 is still a beast when fighting with advanced CVs. Don’t forget that the repairing cost of level four CV reaches over 12k steel so it’s not easy to level them. My Hiryu is almost vetted and I’m now Lv7x. I’m now both using CV55 and SS68 and planning to vet them both before I purchase Yamato (or Super Yamato). i also skipped my first level BB and SS btw.

But sometimes it’s like playing paper-rock-scissor, if there is no CVs in opposition there is no use to own the sky. And the opponent fleet can easily rush in without the suppression of torps XD...... Anyway this is the fun of tactics!

Is there any tips on using AA gun? Seems is unable to adjust the shooting angle and there seems to have no auto targeting.

Thanks for your help! my CV55 is getting better in great battle. I tend to send two squads of flight and one scout to ensure air superiority first. Then depends on the number of CV opponents has, send out torp plane to attack. I have to trust my team that can kill and keep my support role.

Ya field management is a key. Btw are there any attack points/ bonus of hitting down planes or SS?

Mogami 1944 is good in great battle for field management. I always start with sending a squadron of fighters in the middle of the field to escort the way of my torpedo planes, also it can kill opponents’ scouts.

Oh thanks god that there are replies in this forum! My crew is in vet only and it does has 63 knot max speed. Though I haven’t tried KM yet but I think the combat philosophy of IJN is quite different to other nations. Jap’s ships have great torpedos but weak hulls, this makes Jap’a DD or CL can’t stay long in the field. ‘Torp and die’ is my strategy. I usually pick up pairs of CLs at the beginning of battle, rush in with OH speed and then throw in torps in close range. Thanks to that most ships doesn’t has bulge armour upgrade (it cost three points in armour!), torps Usually I can kill at least two ships and sometimes three with my three salvo of torps (5 torps per shots, 3740 damage each). It’s advantageous for my team in mid-game management.

It worths. Cheap upgrading and training cost make it easily reaches to complete model. It’s a good boat to farm steel in, mostly, beginner match before you reach lv60. I upgraded it’s engine and torpedo to lv3. With its max OH speed at 63 knots, it can easily ‘feed’ some torps to CA or CV in close range (and quickly die for another match XD). You’ll need a lot of steel in upgrading your first lv50 CV Hiryu or SS (just forget about the first BB, or forget about all Lv50 BB, CV or SS since the crew training speed is too slow). Farm with Shimakaze, upgrade buildings to lv 10 and reach lv60. Then start our journey in BB60.

Isn't Gamelin a CL of French Navy? Why it is listed as a Soviet CL? http://www.navyfield.com/Store/View.aspx?num=31&page=1&category=A