Twin Engine Fighters (and some training questions)

[walkerd]

Received my first Ki-45's and wondering how other players use their 2E fighters? I like the look of the A model with the high accuracy 20mm, I am thinking of the traditional anti bomber role.

Is the only in-game mechanic they suffer from low maneuver ratings? If so, they have a high altitude and could be used on sweeps (my game is heading toward who can fly the highest air to air model).

The very low accuracy 37mm canon. Any use? Anti shipping?

Also a quick question regarding pilot training. How much do people cross train pilots? Is it worth training your patrol aircraft in Nav attack in order to increase torpedo attack chance? Would that even work?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

- KI-45 is best used as bomber interceptor
- A second use is anti shipping against unarmored targets
- Avoid using it against single engine fighters

More important: only model "A" (20mm) works against bombers. so never upgrade to "B" or "C" (37mm) unless you want anti shipping only

For training: better to read AARs, opinions differ. Carrier bomber pilots should always cross train, ground based depends. I personally avoid using Patrol aircraft on nav attack... they are too valuable to waste

[sanderz]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury


More important: only model "A" (20mm) works against bombers. so never upgrade to "B" or "C" (37mm) unless you want anti shipping only

do you mean the code forbids any weapon above 20mm from hitting in air to air combat or just that the chances of a hit are very very low

[Jorge_Stanbury]

chances are low

[rustysi]

As J_S says the Ki-45 is best as a bomber interceptor. Use it at bases that can't be reached by Allied fighters. Again he's right that only the first model need be produced. The heavier armament of the later models is just too inaccurate to be much good. These are modeled this way because of their low rate of fire. If you're not aware you can check the stats of these weapons from the menu bar. There's a plane database there that has everything.

Also a quick question regarding pilot training. How much do people cross train pilots? Is it worth training your patrol aircraft in Nav attack in order to increase torpedo attack chance? Would that even work?

MHO is that you may as well train pilots in supporting skills. Here's what I mean. Patrol A/C (as one example) need Nac Search skills (BTW J_S is right again, patrol A/C should not be used for Nav attack), so you'll want to train up to about a level of 70. They also need to have an experience of about 50 (to reduce op losses) and a defense level of about 70 in case they're jumpped. Well from my experience the latter two take longer to reach than the primary skill (Nav Search). So once most pilots reach about 70 Nav Search I then switch them to Nav Attack. What? Wait, I just said they're not for naval attack. Right, they're not, but while on patrol they will occasionally attack. Well how they gonna hit anything with a naval attack level of 12. So while I'm working on getting their other numbers up they may as well be learning how to bomb a little. Notice I said bomb, again in my experience, patrol A/C use bombs when on patrol not torps. Now these skill numbers are just my preference you can substitute any others you may desire. One I would stick to is the experience of 50 (give or take a couple) though, as anything less just seems to lead to high op losses. Also keep in mind to get to the higher skill numbers the training time gets exponentially longer.

Is the only in-game mechanic they suffer from low maneuver ratings? If so, they have a high altitude and could be used on sweeps (my game is heading toward who can fly the highest air to air model).

I don't think the Ki-45's will do well against Allied fighter A/C, but I haven't really tried it. As to the stratosphere sweeps, there's been a lot of discussion on the subject here, and I'll not go into that now. If you're interested in the matter I suggust you do a search.

[Tokyo Boy]

On paper = armor + good weapons + correct speed and mvr. it seems to be the best choice for air base strafing, no ?
I don t know if it s a good idea but I plan to use it that s way

[Yaab]

Sort of. On one hand, Ki-45 can withstand serious damage due to its high durability. On the other hand, its high durability coupled with its service rating mean that any damaged Ki-45 will spend considerable time in repair. It can be a Jap equivalent of the Allied p-38.

[Hyacinth]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

- KI-45 is best used as bomber interceptor
- A second use is anti shipping against unarmored targets
- Avoid using it against single engine fighters

More important: only model "A" (20mm) works against bombers. so never upgrade to "B" or "C" (37mm) unless you want anti shipping only

For training: better to read AARs, opinions differ. Carrier bomber pilots should always cross train, ground based depends. I personally avoid using Patrol aircraft on nav attack... they are too valuable to waste

How will it work in ground attack role? Any plane worth to produce for that role?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

That's what bombers are for

and pilot matters more than plane

Ki-45 would work better than any other early fighter (2 250kg bombs + armor) but worst than 2E bombers (Sally). But understand that even with armor, you will see heavy losses if there is AA in place.

Another question is: are you planning to cross train your fighter pilots in Air + Low Nav + Low ground?

Unless you train them, they won't do much other than dying

[HansBolter]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

chances are low

They typically also have a much lower rate of fire than a 20mm. At least this is true of the 37mm in the P39.

[Hyacinth]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

That's what bombers are for

and pilot matters more than plane

Ki-45 would work better than any other early fighter (2 250kg bombs + armor) but worst than 2E bombers (Sally). But understand that even with armor, you will see heavy losses if there is AA in place.

Another question is: are you planning to cross train your fighter pilots in Air + Low Nav + Low ground?

Unless you train them, they won't do much other than dying

OK, how does it do in the ASW role?

[Jorge_Stanbury]

I don't think fighter bombers can perform ASW missions, but I am not 100% sure.

Assuming they can, then same answer: It will depend on the pilot's ASW skill.

And a waste in my opinion, you have few Ki-45; you have many level bombers; better to use them

[Alfred]

Sections 7.2.1.2.1 and 7.2.1.3.1 of the manual detail which missions the different types of aircraft can undertake.
 
Alfred

[tigercub]

Ki-45 its a better fighter than the Oscar Ki-43C but its the same as losing 2 fighters when one goes down.

[Lowpe]

ORIGINAL: Hyacinth

OK, how does it do in the ASW role?

About as well as they do in dropping aerial mines.[:D]


Seriously, some people report good results in a stacked CAP with other planes versus Lightning sweeps. In 1942.

Nicks are kind of handy in that you can convert several 1E bombing squadrons to Nicks giving you some fighter depth...especially handy for CAP over bases within Allied bomber range but not escort range. Although, this conversion comes usually at a serious cost in PP.

[Encircled]

Nicks are garbage strafing anything that has some AA guns in my experience.

Anything above an allied tank unit and you will take heavy losses

[Hyacinth]

ORIGINAL: Encircled

Nicks are garbage strafing anything that has some AA guns in my experience.

Anything above an allied tank unit and you will take heavy losses

Shame, it looked good on paper.

[Tokyo Boy]

Thanks mates. One more big mistake avoided

[rustysi]

Nicks are kind of handy in that you can convert several 1E bombing squadrons to Nicks giving you some fighter depth...especially handy for CAP over bases within Allied bomber range but not escort range. Although, this conversion comes usually at a serious cost in PP.

I've noticed this too, but there are two Nate units (42 & 30 A/C) on Honshu that can be converted and bought out much cheaper. I'd do these first and the others later if PP's allowed.

[tigercub]

KI-45 is the best twin eng fighter in the Air when it comes out and can be used as a fighter but after you get the Tojo in production just use it for NAV attacking and cap.

Tiger