The TB dropping point blank really needs to be fixed. It's nearly impossible to dodge even in a Destroyer. They should increase the lethality and accuracy of AA the closer the aircraft are to you.
I agree. However, the survivability of TB's has been lowered. I don't know where this kicks in though, you'd have to ask Bullet.
I wish I had recorded the worst one.
I quite literally was looking toward open water. No smoke. Suddenly a destroyer appeared 1.2K from me and his torps appeared as well, as they were about to hit me. He, quite literally, came out of nowhere. As soon as his torps hit me, he disappeared again. Then reappeared at about 4.5K. Still in open water and no smoke to be seen.
One of the other players commented, "Why did you drive right to that destroyer?". Apparently the other player could see him, but I could not.
That was the worst case.
Plane torps are pretty ugly and can catch you by surprise if you are not careful. They seem to be able to disappear as well.
Yeah, DD detection range is a PITA and Manual drop from the TB's is just as bad. If you haven't already, pick up the Captain Skill Situational Awareness (if you have reached that level). It will help you out quite a bit with DD's. With it, 9/10 you've been surface detected but see nothing, it's a DD. If you don't have HE loaded when this happens, depending on your reload, start loading HE. If your reload will take you some time, just toggle HE to be loaded next shot. Usually when I have this happen in my BB, I already have AP loaded. So I'll toggle HE for my next set of rounds and try to crit the DD with my AP, if I don't outright destroy it; which has happened.
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I assure you the Kawachi is not a match for a New Mexico or New York.
100% of the times I try to advance my Japanese BB line I end up in a very one sided duel with one of those two BBs. One one occasion both.
I spent most of my time in PvE in the Kawachi, but I have used her in PvP. She does have bad range, and this will net you trouble in PvP. You need to be sneaky, using land as cover to close the distance and/or keep your nose on them, or get plain lucky.
Once you've closed the distance, she'll surprise you with how much damage she can do.