I've recently come to like operating the Ki-67 Hiryu (Flying Dragon) in AHII.
It doesn't have the load to take on multiple FHs or BHs, but half a fight's load can do in a VH very well if need be. A better use is denying enemy the use of ORD, TROOPS, and even limit their Fuel options from one or more airfields, depending on the size of the fields. This can effectively limit or even halt enemy offensive operations in an area.
The reason I look to the Ki-67 for these missions instead of heavier buffs, or JABO missions is simple. The Ki-67 is fast (and I'm no where near as good a jabo pilot as I am a buff pilot
) --- I can take off much closer to the front lines, climb to 13-14K very quickly, run the Ki-67 up to full speed in a little over 1 sector on the way to the target. This puts me at around 310 mph over the target. The Hiryu maintains its set altitude very well at full speed, making for an accurate calibration on the run. I *might* see a gain in altitude of a foot or two on my runs in.
The load is fine if your targets are ordanance, barracks, and fuel depots. If I'm hitting a small field, I'll drop a spread on the VH first, before switching to single salvos on ord and troops. I've even sunk an untouched CV by dropping the whole load from a 3-plane flight.....while crossing the T instead of following the deck. Lucky shot, as the CV was manuvering, but it is possible, and a coordinated three Ki-67 flight attack should easily take down any CV, be able to conduct the attack more quickly than heavier buffs could get over the target, and fly fast enough to cause the CV's CAP and ack gunners intercept problems.
A formation of Ki-67's could take VH and BH, but that is better suited for larger bomber formations or jabo flights. The Ki-67's excell at getting over a target faster than the other bombers can with enough ord to deal with VH, troops, ord, and of course towns. Several buff pilots using Ki-67's aggressively can shut down an enemy offensive by denying them ord, troops, and even fuel, although VHs should also be taken out to deny field supplies if possible to lengthen effect, which argues the point for coordinated attacks with JABOS, or assigning half a flight's load to the VH.
Course, a Ki-67 does not have the defensive guns larger bombers do. And no belly turrent leaves for a turrent blind spot for buff pilots operating alone. "Speed is armor".... going fast limits attackers options on their approach. The dorsal 20mm can be used to snipe at high approaching enemy fighters to good effect as well, but speed will always be your best friend flying these birds.
You also have to be lined up on your target well in advance to let the speed settle down to allow for accurate calibration for bombing. I try to be set while still 15 to 20 miles out, and if making more than one run, you have to do your turn around fairly far out in order to line up again and let your alt and speed settle again to recalibrate propoerly for follow up runs. The price paid for getting to the target much faster to begin with.
It's a nitch plane, with weaknesses and shortcomings, but can be very effective in some cases. For buff pilots looking for a shorter flight for a mission, or a small group of people looking to shut down a large enemy offensive or CV operations in short order, the Ki-67 is a nice tool.
