MUST HAVE Japanese planes

[PaxMondo]

For this mod, I have no idea what model uses what engine. In stock, you are correct, the Ki94 uses Ha-44 and the Ki83 use Ha43 (same as A7M).

And I agree, not sure of his RnD, but then I do not know the upgrade paths of this mod ...

[Kitakami]

Had not read this thread. Great reading. Thanks to all that have contributed. It will come in handy for my next game of BtS, when the next version comes out.

[Alpha77]

Seems Jean is a must have plane, they are my most hard hitting planes vs. smaller ships it seems

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Alpha77

Seems Jean is a must have plane, they are my most hard hitting planes vs. smaller ships it seems

Try the Susie. I made a few out of curiosity. They have a stunning hit rate.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: ElvisDaKing

ORIGINAL: obvert

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I'm building--for late-war fighters--ALL of the A7 Sam for IJN and working to get to the Frank-r for the army. We're having this conversation in my AAR presently.

On the subject of army bombers I am about to get (March 44) the Peggy with Torp. Cannot wait! My army bombers groups are in good shape so I WANT to have this plane.

Trouble s it takes 4 months to train the pilots! [:D]

..and 1 minute to be killed by enemy CAP.

I don t believe that it worth the investment as training will be too long for almost no success.
I let the anti shipping role to IJN with its own late war torpedo bombers (P1Y2 Frances)

For IJA late war anti shipping bomber, I would invest R&D on the fast Ki-115a Tsurugi and its 800kg bomb instead of Ki-67 T Peggy, which will make also a great kamikaze plane

The navy is however short on pilots and your Army bombers have not much to bomb anyway.
You can also pre-train them from the start of the game if you want. You only need 6-8 weeks to get their torpedo skill to acceptable level when you have the planes available.
They work nicely together with Lilys

[ny59giants]

Shameless bump so I can find it easier.

Was on page 34....

[Anachro]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

I'm building--for late-war fighters--ALL of the A7 Sam for IJN and working to get to the Frank-r for the army. We're having this conversation in my AAR presently.

I assume it will be the Jack instead of the A7 this time? [:D]

[John 3rd]

Actually, I am researching Jack AND George to see which does better. Have also self-imposed a HR that limits that big BEAST (George) to CVs. Have got to put something on the CVLs so there is Jack.

We also looking at MISTER SAM!

[Falken]

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

If you're thinking about a float plane that could double as either a NavSearch platform or a fighter in a pinch, I'd opt for the Rufe early war or the Rex mid-war. The Pete is obsolete on December 7, 1941 and should be replaced with a more capable airframe as soon as practical.

[durnedwolf]

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

I tend to go for the range and replace the Pete with the Jake. Mostly this is for SCTFs. I set the range to 5 which is the max range I can use and still cover 360 degrees. The more times I can bump up the detection level, the better my opportunity to get a successful attack. With multiple FP-equipped ships in a SCTF I'll have FPs flying Naval Search for both the day and night operations.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Actually, I am researching Jack AND George to see which does better. Have also self-imposed a HR that limits that big BEAST (George) to CVs. Have got to put something on the CVLs so there is Jack.

We also looking at MISTER SAM!

I haven't read all of this thread, and I know nothing of a lot of the mods, is there a mod where Georges and Jacks are carrier capable or is this a joke?

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

I'm planning on using Pete's as kamikazes, so I take them off of ships and replace with Jakes. The problem with Jakes is it's really easy if you leave their search range at maximum to run into enemy CAP nests and lose a bunch of them.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

If you're thinking about a float plane that could double as either a NavSearch platform or a fighter in a pinch, I'd opt for the Rufe early war or the Rex mid-war. The Pete is obsolete on December 7, 1941 and should be replaced with a more capable airframe as soon as practical.

Rufes and Rexes can also do some ASW.

[geofflambert]

ORIGINAL: durnedwolf

ORIGINAL: Falken

Hi, not only to give this great thread a bump, but what is the opinion on the IJN Float Plane Pete vs Jake. I see a lot of comments on replacing the Pete with the E13s, but doesn't the Pete have better "gun" values?

I'm at that stage in my PBEM game where I need to decide where to focus, and not sure if I should get rid of the Pete (outside of training groups of course)...

I tend to go for the range and replace the Pete with the Jake. Mostly this is for SCTFs. I set the range to 5 which is the max range I can use and still cover 360 degrees. The more times I can bump up the detection level, the better my opportunity to get a successful attack. With multiple FP-equipped ships in a SCTF I'll have FPs flying Naval Search for both the day and night operations.

This is all true as far as it goes but you can't count on FPs for carrier battles, so how you manage them in that regard is really moot. It might give you a boost, or they might not show up at all.

[GetAssista]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert
I'm planning on using Pete's as kamikazes, so I take them off of ships and replace with Jakes. The problem with Jakes is it's really easy if you leave their search range at maximum to run into enemy CAP nests and lose a bunch of them.

You can always keep them Jakes at short range if you are forgetful about the CAP nests. And they still retain their additional capabilities. So still better than anything else FP

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert

ORIGINAL: John 3rd

Actually, I am researching Jack AND George to see which does better. Have also self-imposed a HR that limits that big BEAST (George) to CVs. Have got to put something on the CVLs so there is Jack.

We also looking at MISTER SAM!

I haven't read all of this thread, and I know nothing of a lot of the mods, is there a mod where Georges and Jacks are carrier capable or is this a joke?

I believe that the George is CV capable (but not CVE/CVL capable) in some of John III's mods.

[geofflambert]

That's John three - DT

[AtParmentier]

ORIGINAL: Lokasenna

I'mma disagree with a lot of people here. Your mainstay planes are underlined below. Planes with *'s make perfectly acceptable kamikazes, too.

IJA
Avoid these:
Oscar - ditch it ASAP. It sucks. Don't be suckered in by the Oscar-IV with its cannons. It still sucks.
Ki-93
Ki-61 all varieties


Tojo - use this to replace the Oscar, until the Ki-100-I is available. Then you can ditch the Tojo, too. Blah blah climb rate, to which I say blah blah do you want machine guns or cannons?

Tony* - get the Ki-100-I and stay there. The -II is more or less the same, but the -I seems more useful.

Frank* - duh.

Ki-45 KAIa Nick - this will be your main anti-4E weapon until you get the Ki-100. It remains useful until at least mid-44.
Ki-45 KAIc Nick - has a nice big gun. It seems OK, but might not really be an upgrade from the Nick-a.
Ki-45 KAId Nick - I think this is your best IJAAF night fighter until the Ki-102c Randy.

Ki-102a Randy - very nice plane, if you can get it.

Ki-83 - don't have mine yet, but seems good.

Ki-94-II - the "Frank II"? Looks very nice, if you can get it.

Ki-201 - seems nice, if you can get it. SR5 though.

Ki-48-IIb and -IIc Lily - get them as early as you can. They turn out to be less useful in 1944 than in 1943.

*For bombers, all Sally and Helen models carry 4x250kg. The first Helen has MAD. The later Helens have better range, but honestly you might be able to stick with the Sally if that works with your engine plans.

The Peggy is fine and all, but only carries 3x250kg if no torpedo. Don't bother with the non-torpedo versions.

For transports, I recommend the Ki-49-II KAI Helen. Highest load of your IJAAF transports. You may also want Thalia (12) for 1 more range for paratroop missions, but for supply or noncombat troop transport the range isn't much greater than the Helen (38 for the Thalia, 34 for the Helen = range 19 and range 17 respectively).


IJN
George-1 is best early, you'll want George-2 later when you aren't sweeping as much. Then George-5 when are you sweeping.
Jack-2 is OK, but Jack-3 is better because of SR2. I think Jack-5 is interchangeable with George-5.

A6M8 is pretty good, but you want the A7M Sam ASAP.

Get to the D4Y4 ASAP.

Replace your Kates with Jills, and then with Graces*. If you have to choose, Jill is more important to accelerate than Grace IMO. Skip the B6N1 as it uses a unique engine and has shoddy range.

Get the G3M3 and keep it. The ability to reach out 23+ hexes if you want to is great.

Replace your Bettys with P1Y1, and then P1Y2* ASAP after that. Speed is very important here. They also make decent kamikazes.

Don't forget your G4M2e Betty or P1Y3 Frances if you want to use your Okha models.

Patrols - get the H8K2 ASAP. Ditch the Mavis when you get the H8K1.

Transports - get the H8K version ASAP. It has enormous load capabilities. Get the L2D2 if you want to save a little on HI as it carries almost as much, but the H8K transport is the best in the game other than the C-54 Skymaster.


Float planes - the E13 Jake is a must. With PDU On, you can put it in everything. If you plan to do this, you should devote at least 60 production per month if not more.

How much has your opinion changed?
Also haven't looked at things but the Ki-49-II KAI Helen doens't add anything as even the increased load doesn't reach any threshhold.