Japanese Aircraft ceasing production

[garywjamison]

Dear fellow gamers:
Since each aircraft engine costs eighteen Heavy Industry (“points”) HI, which Japanese aircraft should have production ceased as of December 8, 1941? Is there a point inn time that IJN Bettys should cease production, either because the “Type One Lighter” is no longer worthy of front-line combat or because discontinuing production of Bettys will make the transition to Peggys smoother and of higher volume?
I seem to remember a forum post from three to five years ago that addressed this issue, but I can’t find it or any relevant current posts on obsolete combat aircraft.
Gary Jamison

[geofflambert]

Stop Claude Nate
Use up Hikari engines making Kate B5N1s
Nell G2M3s will serve you well but you'll be wanting Betty G4M3a because they have radar which means torpedoing ships at night.
Skip Nick KA1b
There's more, just off the top of my head

[geofflambert]

It's going to be a long wait for the Ki-43-IIa, the Ics will have to do til then. Keep it minimal.
Use up the Amakaze on Glen, don't make any more.
That's G4M2a on the Betty w/radar. 3a has radar too.
Save the Kawasaki (early) for later to make Mary's for Kamikaze or something.
Convert the Ha-5 to Ha-34. Use up the Ha-5 on Anns.
Hitachi (early) Nate 79a and Hickory 54b for Kamikaze. Hickory 54c for transport for a while, trainers (general training) later.
I change the HA-31 to something else, then switch something else back later to build Nicks c and d.
don't build many Dinah II, build lots of Dinah III when available.
Build some Tina, stop and build lots of G4M1-L later.

[geofflambert]

Stop the Kotubuki right away. Use them on Daves for trainers.

[geofflambert]

The Peggy is nice, phase out the Helen for them but don't go hog wild until you get the Peggy T then you'll have to use most you build as trainers for a while.

[jdsrae]

There is no one answer, you’ll get many opinions in response to this!
I agree with stop Claude and Nate production, they are already obsolete.
I build Topsy, Glen and Mary to use up obsolete engine pools. Kate 1 is a good idea for that too.
Both Nell and Betty are useful for the early war. You’ll need some of the early war models of everything before the later models arrive, and radar devices aren’t available until late war anyway.

[geofflambert]

Build up your Ha-35 factory capacity for later (switch something so you don't have just one factory) but be careful on the A6M2, it's easy to build more than you'll need.

[geofflambert]

Don't build the Dinah KAI, it's a real woofer. Hide any you get stuck with from the higher ups, you might as well throw frisbees at the enemy bombers.
The accuracy on that 37 is a 2. That means if you aim it at Australia you might hit New Zealand, if you're lucky.

[dr.hal]

ORIGINAL: geofflambert
The accuracy on that 37 is a 2. That means if you aim it at Australia you might hit New Zealand, if you're lucky.

You are so NEGATIVE Geoff, if you're orbiting Saturn then that's one heck of an accurate hit.... think positive!!!!

[Zorch]

ORIGINAL: dr.hal

ORIGINAL: geofflambert
The accuracy on that 37 is a 2. That means if you aim it at Australia you might hit New Zealand, if you're lucky.

You are so NEGATIVE Geoff, if you're orbiting Saturn then that's one heck of an accurate hit.... think positive!!!!

Especially for a Gron...er...Gorn.

[spence]

This is not a problem for the Japanese Player in the game but IIRC the Japanese stopped production of both the D3A1 (Val) and B5N2 (Kate) in early 1942 because each was supposed to be replaced as front line aircraft by the D4Y (Judy) and B6N (Jill). When neither of the follow-on aircraft proved to be ready on time they were forced to restart the D3A production line (D3A2 started production in August 1942) and keep the B5N2 "soldiering" on. Thus their carriers sailed for the "Decisive Battle" (ironically, The Battle of Midway) with reduced rather than augmented air groups.

[dasboot1960]

Thank you all for this. I have just started for the Emperor, and had planned to go with a 'build for later, approach, so it is very timely.

[RangerJoe]

Don't forget to plan if you are going to supersize any groups, especially training groups. The more planes in the group, it seemed to me that the pilots trained faster.

The Kates would be nice ground bombers where there are no enemy fighters. Two 250 kg bombs, fewer supplies needed, less air support needed, and a smaller runway needed. That way they can build up their overall pilot experience. It also would be decent for ASW.

I haven't looked at the game for awhile but I thought that the second Nell had a nice range of 21 and did get radar later. It would make for a nice night naval search plane with torpedo capability.

[rustysi]

Two 250 kg bombs, fewer supplies needed, less air support needed, and a smaller runway needed.

The highlighted comment is incorrect. AS required at a base is on an air-frame to air-frame basis. Single engine A/C only take up one base slot at a base, as opposed to two or more when if comes to multi-engine aircraft. Therefore more single engine A/C may base at an airfield than multi-engine A/C. That is to say more may base there without exceeding the base's capacity.