Battlestations: Midway/Battle of Samar: Difference between revisions

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{{Header Nav|game=Battlestations: Midway}}
{{Header Nav|game=Battlestations: Midway}}
{{needimage|needed='''Screenshots showing what the battle is like and displaying various tactics.'''}}
<p style="border:3px solid #000000;background-color:#ffff88;text-align:center">'''With the shutdown of GameSpy, these pages are no longer relevant. They have been preserved for historical purposes.'''</p>
[[Image:BSM SamarMap.png|right|thumb|Neither American fleet stands a chance alone against the Japanese fleet.]]
'''American Objectives'''
'''American Objectives'''
*Sink the ''Yamato''
*Sink the ''Yamato''
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*''Yamato'' must survive
*''Yamato'' must survive


This is a rather interesting battle, and is the only map that contains the ''Yamato'' aside from [[Battlestations: Midway/Battle of the Sibuyan Sea|Sibuyan Sea]]. The Allies are separated into two fleets, each with a few destroyers, a carrier, and a battleship. The Japanese have a similar fleet, but instead with one carrier, one battleship, and multiple escorts.
This is a rather interesting battle, and is the only multiplayer map that contains the ''Yamato'' aside from [[Battlestations: Midway/Battle of the Sibuyan Sea|Sibuyan Sea]]. The Allies are separated into two fleets, each with a few destroyers, a carrier, and a battleship. The Japanese have a similar fleet, but instead with one carrier, one battleship, and multiple escorts.


The ''Yamato'' is extremely tough, but it isn't invincible - the Allied carriers in particular have a strong advantage over it, and it can even fall to the American battleships if the Americans are skilled in naval warfare.
The ''Yamato'' is extremely tough, but it isn't invincible - the Allied carriers in particular have a strong advantage over it, and it can even fall to the American battleships if the Americans are skilled in naval warfare.
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'''Japanese Slots'''
'''Japanese Slots'''
*Yamato (BB) - ''Yamato''<br />Fubuki (DD) - ''Harukaze''
*Yamato (BB) - ''Yamato''<br />Fubuki (DD) - ''Harukaze''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Asagumo''<br />Akagi (CV) - ''Zuihō''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Asagumo''<br />Akagi (CV) - ''Akagi''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Asakaze''<br />Takao (CA) - ''Takao''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Asakaze''<br />Takao (CA) - ''Takao''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Hagikaze''<br />Takao (CA) - ''Atago''
*Fubuki (DD) - ''Hagikaze''<br />Takao (CA) - ''Atago''
{{col|2|end}}
{{col|2|end}}
*Note: The ''Zuihō'' is in fact the ''Akagi'' in the Xbox 360 version.
==American Strategy==
==American Strategy==
[[ Image:BSM SamarAvengerAtk.PNG|right|thumb|Torpedoes are your primary weapon against the ''Yamato''.]]
[[Image:BSM SamarAvengerAtk.png|right|thumb|Torpedoes are your primary weapon against the ''Yamato''.]]
The first thing the first two players '''MUST''' do is ''move the carriers''. Have them run as far away from the ''Yamato'' as possible - its range is godly and all ships must stay away from it at all costs.
The first thing the first two players '''MUST''' do is ''move the carriers''. Have them run as far away from the ''Yamato'' as possible - its range is godly and all ships must stay away from it at all costs.


What comes next depends on what kind of players you're playing. Ideally, your carriers should be putting up torpedo bombers and hitting the ''Yamato'' with all of them simutaneously while the ''New York'' and the ''Pennsylvania'' take on the escorting warships. The battleships are crucial, as they are your biggest source of firepower. While carriers are technically stronger than battleships, they only work if they're kept out of battle.
What comes next depends on what kind of players you're playing. Ideally, your carriers should be putting up torpedo bombers and hitting the ''Yamato'' with all of them simultaneously while the ''New York'' and the ''Pennsylvania'' take on the escorting warships. The battleships are crucial, as they are your biggest source of firepower. While carriers are technically stronger than battleships, they only work if they're kept out of battle.


Regardless, massing the two fleets is essential. By providing each other with additional firepower, you'll truly understand the old maxim "United we stand, divided we fall". Ultimately no one ship is capable of sinking the ''Yamato'' alone, so it must be done as a cohesive team.
Regardless, massing the two fleets is essential. By providing each other with additional firepower, you'll truly understand the old maxim "United we stand, divided we fall". Ultimately no one ship is capable of sinking the ''Yamato'' alone, so it must be done as a cohesive team.
[[Image:BSM SamarBBvsYam.png|left|thumb|Battleships and torpedoes, torpedoes and battleships. Try something else, and you're done for.]][[Image:BSM SamarFubukiHit.png|right|thumb|Have your other ships hit the escorts.]]
Your opponents know you're going to be hitting the ''Yamato'' with everything you've got, so in the event the enemy splits their fleets up, you can hit the ''Akagi'' instead. By doing this, you can secure the skies to yourself and ultimately air bomb the ''Yamato'' into oblivion. If you do attempt to air bomb the ''Yamato'' though, be wary of destroyer screens - destroyers have excellent anti-aircraft capability, and even the high-flying dive bombers will have trouble hitting the ''Yamato''.


Your opponents know you're going to be hitting the ''Yamato'' with everything you've got, so in the event the enemy splits their fleets up, you can hit the ''Zuihō'' instead. By doing this, you can secure the skies to yourself and ultimately air bomb the ''Yamato'' into oblivion. If you do attempt to air bomb the ''Yamato'' though, be wary of destroyer screens - destroyers have excellent anti-aircraft capability, and even the high-flying dive bombers will have trouble hitting the ''Yamato''.
In the event you engage yourself in a ship-to-ship battle with the ''Yamato'', you should aim at taking out her guns. She only has three major guns, so taking out even one can severely reduce the amount of shells she can fire per volley. You need sniper-like accuracy to hit them from a ship, but dive bombers can easily hit them. It is almost essential to engage 2 on 1. It is your best bet at taking down Yamato
 
In the event you engage yourself in a ship-to-ship battle with the ''Yamato'', you should aim at taking out her guns. She only has three major guns, so taking out even one can severely reduce the amount of shells she can fire per volley. You need sniper-like accuracy to hit them from a ship, but dive bombers can damage - and destroy - them with ease.


If you're extremely pressed for time, crash your planes into the enemy warships. Doing so does negligable damage, but if you crash the entire squadron, you will be able to put more planes in the air faster - and ultimately cause more damage. Landing planes saves them, true, but what planes are no good in your hangars when you're under fire from the biggest battleship in history.
If you're extremely pressed for time, crash your planes into the enemy warships. Doing so does negligible damage, but if you crash the entire squadron, you will be able to put more planes in the air faster - and ultimately cause more damage. Landing planes saves them, true, but what planes are no good in your hangars when you're under fire from the biggest battleship in history.


==Japanese Strategy==
==Japanese Strategy==
The Japanese strategy is different from the Americans. You have the direct firepower advantage in the form of the ''Yamato'', and the enemy only has destroyers to back them up - easy prey for your heavy cruisers. Always keep the fleet together.
[[Image:BSM YamatoPennsylvania.png|right|thumb|The ''Yamato'' can easily take on the Allied battleships, but probably not simultaneously. Don't let them combine the fleets.]]
The Japanese strategy is different from the Americans. You have the direct firepower advantage in the form of the ''Yamato'', and the enemy only has destroyers to back them up - easy prey for your heavy cruisers. Always keep the fleet together, and focus your fire on one group at a time. Never go alone.


The ''Yamato'' doesn't have a lot of anti-aircraft weapons, so the Fubuki-class destroyers are instrumental in protecting the ''Yamato'' and the ''Akagi'' from enemy air attack. When you see a bunch of planes charging the ''Yamato'', assume they're torpedo planes and put a destroyer in between the ''Yamato'' and the enemy aircraft, and adjust so that you're broadside to the enemy. This allows a destroyer to bring all its anti-aircraft weapons to bear on the enemy at once. Additionally it makes the ''Yamato'' a more difficult target, since torpedoes will hit the destroyer first. Destroyers are quite good at absorbing torpedo hits, too - just make sure all your personnel are on water repair duty.
The ''Yamato'' doesn't have a lot of anti-aircraft weapons, so the Fubuki-class destroyers are instrumental in protecting the ''Yamato'' and the ''Akagi'' from enemy air attack. When you see a bunch of planes charging the ''Yamato'', assume they're torpedo planes and put a destroyer in between the ''Yamato'' and the enemy aircraft, and adjust so that you're broadside to the enemy. This allows a destroyer to bring all its anti-aircraft weapons to bear on the enemy at once. Additionally it makes the ''Yamato'' a more difficult target, since torpedoes will hit the destroyer first. Destroyers are quite good at absorbing torpedo hits, too - just make sure all your personnel are on water repair duty.
[[Image:BSM YamatoYorktown.png|left|thumb|If you can get in range, take down the enemy carriers as soon as possible. Be careful, though, if one of the enemy battleships is still in play.]]
The carrier has some interesting tricks up its sleeve too. Most players put up three wings of fighters to protect the ''Yamato'' against torpedo strikes. The Americans are so pressed on the ''Yamato'', though, it is entirely possible to harness the full attacking power of the ''Akagi'' and charge the enemy battleships with bombers. Do this only if you have full confidence in your Fubukis to take most if not all air defence responsibilities. In charging the enemy battleships with torpedo planes, you force the enemy on the defence - and the enemy carriers to put up fighter wings instead of bomber wings, which can help the ''Yamato'' close the distance with the enemy carriers.


The carrier has some interesting tricks up its sleeve too. Most players put up three wings of fighters to protect the ''Yamato'' against torpedo strikes. The Americans are so pressed on the ''Yamato'', though, it is entirely possible to harness the full attacking power of the ''Zuihō'' and charge the enemy battleships with torpedo planes. Do this only if you have full confidence in your Fubukis to take most if not all air defence responsibilities. In charging the enemy battleships with torpedo planes, you force the enemy on the defence - and the enemy carriers to put up fighter wings instead of bomber wings, which can help the ''Yamato'' close the distance with the enemy carriers.
The Takaos are technically the least important ship, but should be utilized. As heavy cruisers, they can still put the hurt on the enemy battleships and destroyers with torpedoes and their gunfire, causing enough damage for the Yamato to finish them off. The two cruisers can easily take on one battleship. They can be very useful when coordinated with the ''Yamato''.


The Takaos are in fact the least important ship, as they are primarily effective against enemy destroyers. That said, if you manage to sink the enemy battleships, you can have the Takaos go on an enjoyable full-forward romp through the area and sink enemy destroyers at your leisure. That said, watch out for their torpedoes, as well as carrier-borne aircraft. They can also help support the effort against the American battleships.
The Fubukis are among the most important ship here, as they are the core of your anti-air operation. Not much can penetrate a screen of Fubukis backed by Zeroes. Fubukis are especially good against the low-flying torpedo bombers, and can shred them to bits easily. As with ships, always seek broadside engagements with planes, as it allows you to bring all your dual-purpose cannons to bear on them. The mission becomes considerably easier if the Takaos or ''Yamato'' alone manage to sink the enemy battleships; then the ''Yamato'' can simply annihilate enemy destroyers and ultimately sink the carriers, winning the mission.


The Fubukis are among the most important ship here, as they are the core of your anti-air operation. Not much can penetrate a screen of Fubukis backed by Zeroes. Fubukis are especially good against the low-flying torpedo bombers, and can shred them to bits easily. As with ships, always seek broadside engagements with planes, as it allows you to bring all your dual-purpose cannons to bear on them. You may end up cutting off the ''Yamato'', but the Japanese are nice drivers - they'll forgive each other.
{{Footer Nav|game=Battlestations: Midway|nextpage=Battle of the Surigao Strait|prevpage=Islands of Solomon}}
{{Footer Nav|game=Battlestations: Midway|nextpage=Battle of the Suriago Strait|prevpage=Islands of Solomon}}