Greetings all,
A few initial observations (and take them with a grain of salt, please) regarding IJN plane production (sans FPs and FFs):
1. Fighters: 219 on land, 159 on CVs, 72 replacements at start (including A5M4s). 3 CV/CVL-based and 30+ land-based A5M4/A6M2 groups as reinforcements. A6M2 production at 56/mo. This probably needs to be expanded to 150-200 Zeros/mo. Do take into account that there is a 0(24) A6M3 research factory in Nagoya that becomes operational on 6/42, so if production is tight, doubling A6M2 production might be enough if the A6M3 production is also doubled... but if there is one type of plane I'd rather not lack, it's fighters. Experience in small scenarios has taught me how unescorted bombers fare in AE.
2. Dive bombers: 32 on land, 135 on CVs, 24 replacements. D3A1 production at 12/mo. 2 CV-based and 15 land-based D3A1/2 groups as reinforcements. I think a more comfortable level of production would be something like 48/mo. but, again, I do not know if industry will support this.
3. Land bombers: 328 on land, 46 replacements (all G3M2s). G3M2 production at 22/mo, and G4M1 production at 25/mo. 3 G3M2 and 9 G4M1 groups as reinforcements. Maybe G4M1 production could be increased to 50/mo, and leave G3M2 production at its starting level, converting G3M2/3 production to G4M1 production later on?
4. Torpedo bombers: 68 on land, 189 on CVs, 144 replacements (only 32 B5N2 though). Production ZERO. 3 CV/CVL-based and 15 land-based torpedo groups as reinforcements. The 0(0) B5N2 factory in Hiroshima/Kure should be increased to 32 or 64/mo. Which? Again, depends on industry. I am siding on 64 at this point though... thse guys are the IJN air arm's sting...
5. Float planes and float fighters I will not comment on. Those should be far easier than the above to set "almost" right. Besides, taste varies a bit there (F1M2s aboard ships, or only E13A1s, for example).
All the above do NOT take the following into account:
a. Industry output: I have not gotten that far yet. Japanese production is an accountant's dream... or nightmare
b. IJA aircraft production: That is another task to tackle.
c. Engine production: with increased airframe production, engine production has to go up, obviously.
d. Later aircraft model production: I need about 6 months of war before I can begin thinking about what will be needed later.
Well, I hope my musings help us all to understand Japanese production needs a bit. As I wrote above, take it all with a grain of salt, as these are perceived needs... but I am sure if air production is expanded, we will need to stop producing something else... as it should be, I guess
Cheers!
