IJN Kongo

"Focus [on] the Kongo. [It] just sunk our Nag[ato] and Des [Moines]." - *Player witnessing the raw firepower of the Kongo*

"We are done. The Kongo took the South Dakota and the Dunkerque." - *My own words(Thathsilu774) after seeing a Kongo take down a South Dakota and a Dunkerque*

## Overview

IJN *Kongo* was a Japanese battleship featured in the game. *It is available at lvl 16*.

## Background History

**Kongō (金剛, "Indestructible Diamond")** was the first of the Kongo-class battlecruiser. She was laid down in 1911 in Barrow-in-Furness, Britain; sold to Japan; and commissioned in 1913. She received two huge reconstructions in 1929 and 1935. These reconstructions dramatically increased hull plating, weapon firepower, and speed. Additionally, her superstructure was completely rebuilt. She was then reclassified as a fast-battleship to accompany the growing carrier fleet.

She served in the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, taking part in many major conflicts in the Pacific War during WWII. She was used to support troop landings and respond to US aircraft carrier raids. She was credited with sinking two US destroyers.

On November 21st, 1944, she was heading towards Kure with the first fleet, which included *Yamato*, *Nagato*, and several other destroyers. While heading towards Kure, the US submarine, USS *Sealion* (SS-315), made radar contact with the fleet. Sealion fired six torpedoes, two hitting *Kongo* and a third sinking the Japanese destroyer *Urakaze*. The *Kongo* was taking on water and broke off from the fleet. She was listing at a 45 degree angle and the crew abandoned ship. During the evacuation, the front 14-inch magazine detonated and the ship rapidly sunk with over half of the crew. Only 237 survivors were rescued by the destroyers *Hamakaze* and *Isokaze*.

## Tactics

This Japanese warrior embodies the Japanese naval doctrine of speed and firepower during the 1920's. With a high speed reaching up to 36.5 knots and powerful guns that rivals *Bismarck* (albeit *Bismarck* gets better damage benefits from flag upgrades) with AA suite that deals up to 1000K DPS and cruiser like handling (which makes her a bane for aircraft carriers). To top it all off, a max hp of 268K makes her a extremely strong tank being capable of taking hits to the chin and deliver it back with interest. The *Kongo* is not very picky about how it should be employed and it is up to the player to choose what build they can go with the *Kongo*. It should be noted that *Kongo* is also one of the most cost efficient ships to use in terms of money spent to damage dealt ratio among the high tier battleships.

### Playing as a Kongo

The Kongo to the low tier is what the ''Super-Alsace'' is to top tier - a floating fortress. The ''Kongo'' embodies brute force and speed as the soul of the Japanese Navy, taking the top spot for low-tier battleships. Her amazing speed, firepower, and armor enables her to become a frontline ship, often leading the fleet while tanking and delivering powerful damage. The ship can in fact take on multiple enemies at once and sink all of them while surviving (in the hands of an experienced player that is).

She can solo a ''Dunkerque'', ''Rodney'', ''Fuso'', and ''South Dakota'' or basically any other battleship. She is not a picky ship and she can tank a lot more than most other ships. She excels in mid range fights while being let down in close range fights due to her poor secondary damage and in long range due to her very inconsistent accuracy. *Kongo*, unlike the *Nagato* does not have poor dispersion, it's just that her salvos tend to be very inconsistent. Sometimes, she can even nail DDs across the map with pinpoint accuracy if the dispersion is on your side. But when it isn't even hitting cruisers can be difficult.

Her AA is moderate but still is not capable of swatting at least three bombers out of the sky, so be careful with aircraft carriers. With a base alpha of 38k, she is second to only *Nagato* in alpha strike damage but is far faster, making her a dangerous opponent in a one on one scuffle. American flag is recommended for maximum damage but Brazilian flag can work for a survivalist build. She can either be a destructive diamond or an indestructible diamond. The choice is yours... unless you have pirate flag, which then makes her her namesake: the indestructible diamond.

### Playing alongside Kongo

The *Kongo* is very powerful, but that doesn't mean it doesn't need support. Destroyers will need to escort the *Kongo* to make a more threatening close range fight, combining the *Kongo's* awesome firepower with torpedoes of a destroyer. Destroyers will also swat any annoying bombers out of the sky looking to sink the *Kongo*. Cruisers, on the other hand, can offer even more firepower to really scrap up the enemy team. *Des Moines* has amazing firepower to help take down large opponents, *Brooklyn* has 15 shells to plunge into destroyers, and *Admiral Hipper* or can act as deterrent with torpedoes while setting anyone on fire who sets their eyes on the *Kongo*. Battleships add raw strength through firepower and speedy battleships will be able to keep up the good work to keep tearing the enemies apart alongside the *Kongo*. Aircraft carriers can distract and help weaken enemy ships when the *Kongo* is in trouble. They can also take out any enemy aircraft carriers who come up as a threat to the *Kongo*. Remember, if your Kongo proves to be a good player, keep them alive. You'll need them in the end.

In addition, her pairing with the *Fuso* creates a solid form against all attacks. *Kongo* acts as a battleship destroyer while *Fuso* cleans up destroyers and cruisers. Their combined AA also makes it incredibly hard to land an accurate blow from carriers without risking all their bombers.

### Playing against Kongo

Depending on what ship type you are playing, your approach against *Kongo* will be differing. For other battleships, your goal is to close the gap and force *Kongo* into a Brawl if your main battery can achieve at least 30k base alpha and you boast some dangerous secondaries (*Dunkerque* or *Nagato* for example). The goal is to outlast her with help from your secondaries as *Kongo* has good main battery punch but her secondaries often let her down. For destroyers you should also close the gap for a torpedo run, but like any torpedo run, be careful on when you employ it. And for cruisers, try to use your own superior speed and you're smaller size to kite the *Kongo* and make her miss most for her shells while you continuously rain lead on it. As for carriers, the strategy remains the same for dealing with battleships.

## Advantages and Disadvantages

**Advantages**

* One of the best DPM on the main guns, 210K (second to only Nagato, which has 230K)
* Extremely fast BB
* Gigantic HP pool of 268K with flags
* Powerful Guns
* Good AA
* Butter Smooth mobility

**Disadvantages**

* The guns suffer from inconsistency when it comes to dispersion
* The secondaries might disappoint you if you're used to the Nagato or Fuso
* Has a big free board

## Editor/Contributor's Opinion

1) **XercesDenial** :- OPness is strong in this one.. When will the developers realize this? "

2) **Thathsilu774** :- " 268K HP monster will destroy and crush you if you dare to challenge this "

3) 123ASAP:- "Ahh F\*\*\* not her again"

## Trivia

* IJN *Kongo* was part of the most successful Japanese battleship action of WWII, heavily damaging the runways of the Henderson Field air base, as well as nearly destroying all the aviation fuel and damaging 48 of 90 warplanes
* IJN *Kongo* was the only Japanese battleship to be sunk by a submarine

### In game inaccuracies

* The in game *Kongo* is a very overpowered ship, having a much higher firepower and survivability than the *Fuso*, *South Dakota*, and *Nagato*; which, historically, excel at those departments more than the *Kongo*.
	+ Could be attributed to her relatively successful and active career compared to the other ships mentioned, and the fact that she put a very good fight against the South Dakota and Washington despite having inferior armor, gun optics, firepower, and guidance. during Guadalcanal.