Does the KI-46-II Dinah have a camera?

[Sieppo]

Or does one have to use it in 6000 feet? Or is it so fast, that intercepting it is not a problem in mid 42?

[Theages]

The Dinah II is a recon plane. All recon planes are considered to be equipped with all the necessary equipment (camera) for recon missions.

[Sieppo]

I've been thinking that but as like for the Babs, I do not remember seeing it mentioned anywhere (it's not mentioned in the plane data) so I've kept them at 6000ft and they are dying like flies.. The only mention of a camera in the manual states:

"Reconnaissance planes have extraordinarily long range and are used
exclusively to spot enemies. Though Recon aircraft are your primary
assets and are typically unarmed, it is possible to order specialized Allied
Fighter units to perform “Tac Recon”. These Aircraft were armed and
regularly fought their way into targets, some pilots even scored as aces.
The presence of a camera device on a fighter will identify these units.
Their missions can add to the Detection level of their targets. A similar
role is performed by certain Japanese Army Air Force Light Bombers. "

This does not tell me IF a recon plane will have a camera, just that it MIGHT have one. But if ALL recon planes have one, it's ok.

[crsutton]

ORIGINAL: Theages

The Dinah II is a recon plane. All recon planes are considered to be equipped with all the necessary equipment (camera) for recon missions.

I do not think this is the case.

Camera equipped planes-even Allied fighters with cameras spot much better. Recon planes without cameras must fly over a target for a few days in order to build up a healthy detection level. Allied aircraft with cameras can usually come away with a high detection level on the first pass. Makes sense when you think about it.

[Sieppo]

I think the Babs is the only Japanese plane, from which I have heard the camera sound-effect during the replay.. It's weird that the plane data won't display such an important detail. Maybe the editor?

[Puhis]

Just use Dinah at 20000 ft and don't worry about the camera.

[Bearcat2]

Camera equipped planes are the ones with device 1853; like the F-10 Mitchell or F4 Lighting. No device 1853 means no camera. Some Japanese light bombers have cameras, like the Ki-36 Ida or Ki-51 Sonia.

[Sieppo]

Ok thanks, good to know! I'll think about putting Sonia's into recon.

I just checked and the Sonia's aircraft data indeed says CAMERA (babs or dinah do not mention it)!! So there IS NO camera in those recon planes after all.. But I've gotten some recon from 20k feet so maybe I'll just continue on that altitude on all recons..

[obvert]

The fact that there is no camera on Dinah, Babs, Irving or Judy recon planes is really odd, and I've wondered about this choice for a while. It must be a balance thing to resemble the better Allied organization and implementation of recon images for use by front line units immediately. The Japanese were obviously very capable of photographing at a high level and putting these cameras on any recon plane, but in game they're not there.

Flak takes out a bunch of recon if it's heavy in the base, even at 20k. CAP is tough too and I have lost a lot of very quick late war recon planes when CAP numbers rise unexpectedly, even though many of the recon planes are flying faster and 10k higher than the CAP is set. Oh, well.

You're still better off using dedicated recon units and planes, not the Sonias and Idas. They can supplement in certain places, especially China, but if flak or CAP is present you'll lose too many for them to be useful. Any bomber also raises the DL by bombing, and the good 70+ exp pilots give decent recon and of course the magic recognition of actual enemy units by name when bombing ground troops. [8|]

[pws1225]

A search of the airframe database indicates that the following IJA aircraft carry a camera (device 1853):

KI-36 Ida
KI-46 III Dinah
KI-51 Sonia
KI-54 Patsy
KI-95

[Lokasenna]

Solution: get the Ki-46 III ASAP?

ORIGINAL: obvert
the magic recognition of actual enemy units by name when bombing ground troops. [8|]

Yeah, this irks me. I don't understand what purpose it serves by being in the combat report. The defender can always check the status of the units in the hex the next day, and it's not like the combat report tells you which unit the casualties come from when multiple units show up, so...