Conclusion
Destroyer escorts (海防艦, Kaibōkan, DE) mostly come from map drops, events and limited-time quests. In the wiki's normal-map drop tables, the most accessible source is the 1-5 boss, which lists Kaibokan No.4 and No.22. World 7's 7-4 has the widest selection.
They're worth having: the wiki notes they can do opening anti-submarine attacks at only 60 ASW (other ships need 100), and they cost about as little to run as submarines.
Where Destroyer Escorts Drop
| Map | Where | Destroyer escorts listed | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | Boss (J) | Kaibokan No.4, Kaibokan No.22 | The most accessible option — 1-5 is the first Extra Operation map. See 1-5 Guide. |
| 2-3 | Boss (N) | Nomi | |
| 7-4 | Route nodes | Matsuwa, Sado, Hiburi | World 7 must be unlocked first. |
| 7-4 | Boss (P) | Tsushima, Hirado, Mikura, Hiburi, Daitou |
From the summary drop table on the wiki, checked October 2026. Drop tables can change without notice, and some rare ships only drop from specific enemy fleets — check recent drop reports before farming.
Other Ways to Get Them
- Events. Destroyer escorts often appear as event drops or clear rewards.
- Limited-time quests. For example, Etorofu has been a choose-one reward in several seasonal quests alongside Matsuwa, Sado, Tsushima and Fukae, according to her wiki page.
- Keep a free ship slot and at least 4 free equipment slots, or nothing can drop. See Dock Full?
What They're Good (and Bad) At
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Very high ASW for their size; opening ASW at 60 ASW with a sonar | Weak firepower, no torpedoes — nearly useless against surface ships and at night |
| Running costs and repair times close to submarines | The lowest durability of any surface combat ship |
| Good AA and evasion for a small ship | Slow, and most can't equip engine gear, so they can't be sped up |
| Can stand in for destroyers in many expeditions | Not every expedition accepts them in place of destroyers |
| As modernization feed, they raise ASW, luck and HP |
FAQ
Can I build destroyer escorts?
They don't appear in the wiki's normal construction recipe table, so plan around drops, events and quests.
Are they good for 1-5?
Yes — the wiki lists 4 destroyer escorts as a fleet that reaches the 1-5 boss by the shortest route, and their low opening-ASW threshold suits it.
Do they count as destroyers for routing?
Many routing rules count them together with destroyers (駆逐+海防), but not all. Check the specific map. See Routing Explained.
Should I bring them to events?
For anti-submarine nodes and some expeditions, yes. Against surface fleets, their low durability makes them risky.
Continue reading
More KanColle guides
KanColle guide home · 1-5 Guide: Fleet and Anti-Submarine Tips · 1-6 Guide: Route and Fleet · 2-4 Guide: Okinoshima Sea Area · 2-5 Guide: North and South Routes · Construction: Build Time Lookup & Recipes · Daily Quests: Full List and Routine · Dock Full? Expanding Space and What to Scrap · EXP Calculator · Equipment Development Recipes · Equipment Improvement (Akashi's Arsenal) · Event Difficulty Explained · Event Ship Locks (Tags) Explained · Exercises (PvP) Explained · Expedition Efficiency Calculator · Expedition Requirements: Every Expedition · Fatigue and Sparkling Explained · Fleet Builder · Fleet Speed: Slow, Fast, Fast+ and Fastest · Heavy Damage: When to Retreat · How to Get Akashi · How to Remodel (Kai, Kai Ni) · How to Unlock the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Fleet · Land-Based Air Squadrons for Beginners · Marriage (Kekkon Kakko Kari) Explained · Playing KanColle Without Japanese · Quest Not Completing? Common Reasons · Routing Explained: How the Compass Decides · Running Out of Resources? How to Recover · UI Translation: Every Menu Button Explained · Which Ships to Remodel First · Your First Event: How to Prepare · Your First Week as a New Admiral