Ki-45 KAIa Nick

[TheTomDude]

Two questions about this plane:

01 Is there any use for these planes before 1944 when there's a squadron arriving?
These planes are available since May 1942. But I cannot find a single squadron that can upgrad to this plane. Some can upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIb which is only available later. But why having a plane in the production lines if you cannot use it?

02 Can FBs beeing effectively used as Fighters or are they distinctively inferior?

[EUBanana]

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude
02 Can FBs beeing effectively used as Fighters or are they distinctively inferior?

I don't know about Nicks, but Beaufighters are fighter/bombers and have absolutely slaughtered Betties in my Guadalcanal scenario. I have a squadron of Beaus and a squadron of P40s defending, and the Beaus outstrip the P40s in kills about 4 or 5 to 1. So certainly 'firepower' is a major, maybe even the major, deciding factor when shooting down bombers.

[DeriKuk]

They are excellent gun platforms for slaughtering unescorted bombers . . . especially heavies like B17s.

[Q-Ball]

They were useless in WITP, I wonder if it will be that way in AE. But in WITP, sure they could get some licks in against unescorted bombers, but I didn't think they were any better at that than Tojo or Tony.

[castor troy]

ORIGINAL: hjalmar99

They are excellent gun platforms for slaughtering unescorted bombers . . . especially heavies like B17s.

what armament do they have? None of I can think of that should them enable to "slaughter" Allied 4Es.[&:]

[TheTomDude]

Anyone knows an answer for question 01? Is there a list with all the possible upgrades?

[JohnDillworth]

what armament do they have? None of I can think of that should them enable to "slaughter" Allied 4Es

I think later in the war they up-gunned them to a 37mm canon and 2x20mm. And it was effective against B-29's!

[Puhis]

The KAIa had 2x12.7mm machine guns in nose and 1 20mm Ho-3 cannon in ventral tunnel. The Ki-45 KAIb added a 37mm cannon. First 37 mm could only fire about two rounds per minute, because it was manually reloaded. Later 37mm automatic cannon was added.

Ki-45 was also used against PT boats. Have anyone tried that in WitP?

[m10bob]

They make good long range escorts (for bomber groups making a morale check), and they are good for recon.

[dasboot1960]

Not sure, but I believe they were also later set up with 'shrage-musik' installations. Upward oblique mounts behind the pilot. Also Ki-46 Dinah.

[CEDeaton]

A manually reloaded canon in an aircraft? There must've been a Cannon Loaders Union rep on the factory floor.

No wonder they lost the war!

[Mike Solli]

Whoa, triple post. Never did that before. [:D]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

Two questions about this plane:

01 Is there any use for these planes before 1944 when there's a squadron arriving?
These planes are available since May 1942. But I cannot find a single squadron that can upgrad to this plane. Some can upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIb which is only available later. But why having a plane in the production lines if you cannot use it?

02 Can FBs beeing effectively used as Fighters or are they distinctively inferior?

The following at start Sentai/Chutai (with PDU off) upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIa:

Unit (Max # Planes)

84 IF Chutai (12)
4 Sentai (36)
13 Sentai (42)
5 Sentai (30)

[Mike Solli]

Double post. Sorry.

[tigercub]

You want this plane for killing all bombers and PT and small ships as has been said...

Tiger!

[TheTomDude]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

Two questions about this plane:

01 Is there any use for these planes before 1944 when there's a squadron arriving?
These planes are available since May 1942. But I cannot find a single squadron that can upgrad to this plane. Some can upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIb which is only available later. But why having a plane in the production lines if you cannot use it?

02 Can FBs beeing effectively used as Fighters or are they distinctively inferior?

The following at start Sentai/Chutai (with PDU off) upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIa:

Unit (Max # Planes)

84 IF Chutai (12)
4 Sentai (36)
13 Sentai (42)
5 Sentai (30)

Cheers Mike.

[TheTomDude]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Double post. Sorry.

Cheers Mike. [;)]

[TheTomDude]

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

Whoa, triple post. Never did that before. [:D]

Cheers Mike. [:D]

[TheTomDude]

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

Two questions about this plane:

01 Is there any use for these planes before 1944 when there's a squadron arriving?
These planes are available since May 1942. But I cannot find a single squadron that can upgrad to this plane. Some can upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIb which is only available later. But why having a plane in the production lines if you cannot use it?

02 Can FBs beeing effectively used as Fighters or are they distinctively inferior?

The following at start Sentai/Chutai (with PDU off) upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIa:

Unit (Max # Planes)

84 IF Chutai (12)
4 Sentai (36)
13 Sentai (42)
5 Sentai (30)

Cheers Mike.

I checked it and they all upgrade to other planes like the Ki-45 KAIc or d. But not the "a" version that is beeing built. So..... [&:]

[Mike Solli]

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

ORIGINAL: TheTomDude

ORIGINAL: Mike Solli




The following at start Sentai/Chutai (with PDU off) upgrade to the Ki-45 KAIa:

Unit (Max # Planes)

84 IF Chutai (12)
4 Sentai (36)
13 Sentai (42)
5 Sentai (30)

Cheers Mike.

I checked it and they all upgrade to other planes like the Ki-45 KAIc or d. But not the "a" version that is beeing built. So..... [&:]

Scenario 1 with PDU off? Hmm, gotta check tonight.