Ki-27
Nate
Japan
– Unlock XP: 0
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-1 2-3
Performance 5 4
Horsepower 1 1
Bursts 0 0
Special Agile None
Wingman Attack 1 0
Wingman Defense 1 1
Real
World Data
Name Ki27
Nate
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Nakajima
Kikoki
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 710
Weight 3,946
lbs.
Max Speed 292
mph
Number of Guns 2
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1938
Designed and first flown in 1936, the Nate was Japan’s first
monoplane to see front line service. Renowned for its maneuverability,
the plane first saw action against the Chinese in 1938, then against
the Russians in 1939.
In 1941, the planes were sent home to Japan for use in training squadrons due
to the low top speed and lack of heavy armaments. However, the type would see
combat towards the end of the war as kamikazes. Over 3399 models of various
versions were built during the course of the war.
Ki-43I
Oscar
Japan
– Unlock XP: 11
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3
Performance 6 4
Horsepower 2 1
Bursts 0 0
Special Agile None
Wingman Attack 1 1
Wingman Defense 2 1
Real
World Data
Name Ki-43I
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Nakajima
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,150
Weight 6,450
lbs.
Max Speed 329
mph
Number of Guns 2
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1942
Late 1937 found the Japanese designing the replacement for
the Nate. The first three were flight tested in January 1939, and met
with failure. After a re-design of the combat flaps, the design was
approved and the Oscar was born.
5919 of these maneuverable fighters were built during the course of the war,
and they saw service throughout the war, with the last squadrons set to defend
Tokyo in kamikaze units.
Ki-61I
Tony
Japan
– Unlock XP: 42
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3-5
Performance 6 4
Horsepower 2 1
Bursts 1 1
Special None None
Wingman Attack 2 1
Wingman Defense 2 2
Real
World Data
Name Ki61I
Tony
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Kawasaki
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,175
Weight 7,165
lbs.
Max Speed 368
mph
Number of Guns 4
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1943
Designed around a license built Japanese version of the Daimler-Benz
DB601A engine, the KI-60 prototype was disappointing. An alternative
design was sought out, and the inline engine Tony was created. Erroneously
described as a copy of the Bf-109, the Tony began its operational life
in New Guinea during April 1943.
Over 2,666 were built before production ended in January of 1945 when the engine
factory was destroyed by bomber raids. This Army airplane held up well against
the Allied planes, and saw various models including versions with 20mm and
30mm cannons.
A6M2
Zero
Japan
– Unlock XP: 62
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3
Performance 6 4
Horsepower 2 1
Bursts 1 1
Special Agile None
Wingman Attack 2 1
Wingman Defense 2 2
Real
World Data
Name A6M2
Reisen
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Jukogyo
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 950
Weight 6,164
lbs.
Max Speed 332
mph
Number of Guns 4
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1940
The combat in China showed that the Nate and Oscar were being
out performed by the Russian aircraft in both level speed and speed
in diving. A call went out to replace these models with a plane that
could fly at 500 km/hr, climb to 3000 meters in 3.5 minutes, and have
a fully loaded endurance of 2 hours. Several prototypes were made,
but the Mitsubishi prototype outclassed the other models. On September
14, 1939, the Japanese Navy accepted the aircraft as the A6M1 Type
0 carrier fighter.
After further testing the Mitsubishi Zuisei engine was replaced by
the Nakajima Sakae engine and re-designated the A6M2. On July 31, 1940,
the A6M2, named "Reisen",
entered into production as the Navy Type 0 carrier fighter, Model 11.
The first combat of the Zero was in China on Sept 13, 1940, when 13 Zeros show
down 27 Chinese I-15s and I-16s with no losses. The Zero would surprise the
Allied forces, being more heavily armed and much more maneuverable then any
allied plane. The Zero would rule the sky until the Battle of Midway, after
which the type was sent back to Japan to be used for training and in Kamikaze
Squadrons. Over 1,540 planes of this model were built.
A6M5
Zero
Japan
– Unlock XP: 182
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3
Performance 8 6
Horsepower 2 1
Bursts 1 1
Special Agile None
Wingman Attack 3 2
Wingman Defense 2 2
Real
World Data
Name A6M5
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Jukogyo
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,130
Weight 6,025
lbs.
Max Speed 346
mph
Number of Guns 4
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1943
The A6M5 Zero came about as the Allies built heavier armed
fighters that were knocking the Zero out of the sky during 1943. The
Nakajima NK1F Sakae 21 engine gave the plane slightly better performance,
and the armament was changed to 2 20mm and 2 13.2mm guns.
These changes did not make up for the lack of armor, or the lack of self-sealing
fuel tanks. However, despite these shortcomings, over 10,450 were built, being
used during the entire war due to the fact that other models of aircraft were
having teething problems.
J2M3
Raiden
Japan
– Unlock XP: 226
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-3 4-6
Performance 6 4
Horsepower 3 2
Bursts 2 2
Special None None
Wingman Attack 3 2
Wingman Defense 3 2
Real
World Data
Name J2M3
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Jukogyo
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,800
Weight 8,120
lbs.
Max Speed 363
mph
Number of Guns 4
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1943
An Imperial Japanese Navy requirement for a single-seat interceptor
went out in 1938, and Mitsubishi came out with the J2M1 in March of
1942. However, engine availability restricted the choice, and the engine
selected proved not to meet the requirements.
A version was built using the MK4R-A Kasei 23a engine and was designated the
J2M2. Ordered into production in October 1942, teething problems with the new
engine delayed the plane until December 1943, at which time armament was changed
and the plane was introduced as the J2M3.
The plane did not come into its own until used in defense of the home islands,
where its quick speed and high climb rate helped it to defend against B-29
raids. Due to the engine problems, only 476 were built of all versions, including
the prototypes.
A6M8
Zero
Japan
– Unlock XP: 315
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3-5
Performance 8 6
Horsepower 3 2
Bursts 1 1
Special Agile None
Wingman Attack 3 2
Wingman Defense 3 2
Real
World Data
Name A6M8
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Jukogyo
Type Fighter
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,156
Weight 6,945
lbs.
Max Speed 356
mph
Number of Guns 4
Crew 1
Year Introduced 1945
The A6M8 model of the Zero never saw service during the war,
only 2 prototypes were completed by that time. It featured a Mitsubishi
MK8P Kinsei 62 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radial, rated at 1,560
hp for take-off, 1,340 hp at 2,100 m and 1,180 hp at 5,800 m, driving
a three-blade metal propeller, armor, and self-sealing fuel tanks.
The first A6M8 was completed in April of 1945. Flight tests turned up a number
of faults in the fuel and oil systems, plus a tendency to overheat, and the
machine had to be returned to the factory for these to be corrected. By enlarging
the oil tank, revising the pipelines, and by fitting engine cooling baffles,
these snags were eliminated. At high altitudes, the tendency for the fuel pressure
to drop was overcome by altering the fuel regulating valve.
It was a last ditch effort to get the most out of an old airframe, combined
with a new engine. 6500 were ordered, but none were ever built, since engine
problems had to be first fixed, and confusion at the end of the war prevented
any from being deployed.
B5N2
Kate
Japan
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-2 3-5
Turret
Defense 1 1
Turret Support 2 0
Real
World Data
Name B5N2
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Nakajima
Type Light
Bomber
Number of Engines 1
Horsepower 1,000
Weight 9,039
lbs.
Max Speed 235
mph
Number of Guns 1
Crew 3
Year Introduced 1940
At the start of hostilities, the Nakajima B5N2 ‘Kate’ was the best carrier torpedo bomber in service. First flying in 1937 and used heavily throughout the war, it was Japan’s most successful bomber despite having a low production run of less than 1200 aircraft. Mainly operating from aircraft carriers, Kates did fly from dry land.
In December 1941, one hundred and forty-four Kates participated in the Pearl Harbor attack as torpedo and level bombers. They decimated the US Pacific Fleet’s battleship force. By the end of the war, the US carriers Yorktown, Lexington, Wasp and Hornet were all laid low by Japanese Naval Aviation spearheaded by carrier-based Kates. As the war drew to a close, many surviving Kates were assigned to Kamikaze missions.
Though mounting a 7.7mm machinegun to the rear, the B5N2’s main strength was its torpedo. Weighing in at nearly 2000lbs, it was more versatile than American torpedoes. It could be dropped from a greater altitude and ran farther and faster. This meant much less time available for its target to evade.
G4M1
Betty
G4M1
Betty
Japan
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-3 4-7
Turret
Defense 2 2
Turret Support 3 0
Real
World Data
Name G4M1
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Mitsubishi
Type Medium
Bomber
Number of Engines 2
Horsepower 1,530
Weight 20,944
lbs.
Max Speed 266
mph
Number of Guns 5
Crew 7
Year Introduced 1941
The G4M ‘Betty’ prototype flew for the first time in
October 1939. The G4M Navy Type 1 Attack Bomber was the most famous
Japanese bomber. And, with a production run of approximately 2400,
it was the most produced Japanese bomber as well. It saw action in
all fronts of the Pacific Theatre and participated in the sinking
of the British battleships HMS "Prince of Wales" and HMS "Repulse".
The aircraft had a staggering range of more than 2,000 miles but was very vulnerable to machine gun and cannon fire due largely to the fuel tanks in the wings that were not resistant to explosion when hit by enemy fire. The ‘Betty’ was so susceptible to fire that Allied pilots nicknamed it the 'Flying Lighter.' This was particularly ironic since the Japanese referred to it unofficially as the 'Hamaki,' Japanese for cigar, thanks to the airplane's cigar-shaped fuselage. It was armed with 7.7mm machineguns in the nose, on top of the fuselage behind the cockpit, and on both sides of the fuselage as well as a tail mounted 20mm cannon.
Its most famous incident was the air combat involving Admiral Isoroku
Yamamoto ‘Betty’. The mastermind of the the Pearl Harbor attack, died in
April 1943 along with his entire staff when a flight of U.S. Army Air Corps
P-38 Lightnings intercepted and destroyed the two G4Ms carrying them.
G8N
Rita
Japan
Stat OK Damaged
Airframe 0-8 9-12
Turret
Defense 3 3
Turret Support 3 0
Real
World Data
Name G8N
Nation Japan
Manufacturer Nakajima
Type Heavy
Bomber
Number of Engines 4
Horsepower 2,000
Weight 70,697
lbs.
Max Speed 368
mph
Number of Guns 10
Crew 10
Year Introduced 1945
An experimental bomber, the
Renzan codename "Rita", was an extremely
advanced four engine long range bomber. Four 2,000-hp Radials that gave
it a maximum speed of 368 MPH at 26,245 feet powered the Rita. The maximum
range was 4,639 miles. Its Armament consisted of six 20-mm Cannons in twin,
power-operated dorsal, ventral, and tail turrets. Two .51 caliber MGs were
in a power nose turret. And two MGs of similar caliber were in the port
and starboard fuselage positions (one each.) Four Prototypes were built
in June of '45, but Allied bombing runs interrupted production, and it
was abandoned when the IJN became more defensive then offensive.