Taiho Air Group (in RHS)

[el cid again]

This ship is somewhat similar to the Unryu in air group - but it is a larger ship.

By the time it completes, the JNAF has reorganized. Carrier air groups (Kokutai) are now based ashore, and typically serve three carriers. The fighter elements are now organized in loose duces (flights of four) and each Squadron (if that is the right translation) gets 16 planes. There are two different fighter squadrons on a large carrier - one called fighter and one called fighter bomber - although that refers to their role rather than implies they are not the same plane type - which is often the case. It was not this way in RHS before - nor in most references - but the way naval air organization works (see Japanese Naval Aces and Fighter Units in World War II for an English description of the reorganization) it should be there are 32 fighters in two squadrons of 16 on the Taiho. There should also be a carrier bomber squadron and a carrier attack squadron - both multiples of 9 planes - and probably both having 18 planes (although 27 and 9 is the other possibility). There is also the possibility of two different flights of C6N aircraft - recon and night fighter - the first of 3 planes and the latter of 4. [Only if this is true does the hanger get filled to its design capacity] Actually, no particular planes or crews belong to the ship (modern USN does this now) and organization is somewhat flexable - and could be varied from time to time. I outline here the normal case. 32 fighters, 36 bombers, 7 specialist aircraft.

The "improved Taiho" class air group would be identical, but 9 planes fewer - there would be 9 fewer torpedo bombers most likely. In numeric terms, hanger (and group capacity) of Taiho = 75 machines, while G15 = 66 machines.

[el cid again]

Testing this air group indicates that six squadrons now are permitted in WITP - another change from a year ago.

[herwin]

IJN torpedo bombers were folding wing aircraft and took up marginally less space than A6Ms and Judys.

[el cid again]

It depends. The last generation torpedo bomber was truly gigantic - heavy - and also a dive bomber! It could not fit on the smaller carriers - although I gather that was due to height. Indeed, height was endemic as an issue: Hiyo and Junyo could not put anything but Zeros in one of their hangers due to height issues. Most of these ships start with mid war planes, but eventually they all go over to a plane we cannot simulate. CHS simulates it as two different planes!