Float planes to protect ports

[Saxman]

I'm pretty sure they had a float version of the NiK1 or NiK2. Weight between landing gear and floats was negligible, so performance mostly the same, greater drag for speed with floats.

Would make for taking a port more difficult.

+1

You got it backwards, the N1K1-J and N1K2-J were versions of the N1K WITHOUT floats. The N1K1 (no -J) float fighter came first (the N1K1-J appears to have been the most-produced type, though).

[waystin2]

+1 whether they are tied to ports or not.  Would be some interesting adds...

[Karnak]

You got it backwards, the N1K1-J and N1K2-J were versions of the N1K WITHOUT floats. The N1K1 (no -J) float fighter came first (the N1K1-J appears to have been the most-produced type, though).

In the IJN naming scheme an "N" as the first character of an aircraft's designation means it is a float plane fighter.

A = carrier fighter (A5M, A6M)
B = carrier bomber (B5N, B6N, B7A)
D = carrier dive bomber (D3A, D4Y)
G = land based bomber (G3M, G4M, G8N)
H = flying boat (H6K, H8K)
J = land based fighter (J1N,
N = float plane fighter (N1K)

A dash and a letter means that whatever its first letter indicates it was it has been modified to the new role, A6M2-N as a carrier fighter modified to be a float plane fighter and N1K1-J/N1K2-J as a float plane fighter modified to be a land based fighter.

[Saxman]

In the IJN naming scheme an "N" as the first character of an aircraft's designation means it is a float plane fighter.

A = carrier fighter (A5M, A6M)
B = carrier bomber (B5N, B6N, B7A)
D = carrier dive bomber (D3A, D4Y)
G = land based bomber (G3M, G4M, G8N)
H = flying boat (H6K, H8K)
J = land based fighter (J1N,
N = float plane fighter (N1K)

A dash and a letter means that whatever its first letter indicates it was it has been modified to the new role, A6M2-N as a carrier fighter modified to be a float plane fighter and N1K1-J/N1K2-J as a float plane fighter modified to be a land based fighter.

Yes, I know this. My point was that the N1K1-J and N1K2-J were the variants and that the float fighter was the original version.

[mthrockmor]

Interesting that the Nik1 was float first, had no idea.

In any case, some ports will find the nearest fighter cover a sector plus away, certainly if the CV has either been sunk or driven across the map. Having a float plane fighter cover option makes for a better fight. I've always like the idea of adding merchant ships to attack and sink.

[Aspen]

I think they would be a fun addition.  Not sure how the landing v ditch would be handled but I end most sorties missing a wing and on fire so it really doesn't matter.

[Sabre]

If you're in a fight for your life and you don't have a gun, but there's a knife at hand, will you aschew the knife?  I have often taken up a Dauntless as a last-ditch defense of an airfield, if the FH is down.  Indeed, the reason there were float-plane fighters produced in number during WWII was an acknowledgement that any fighter is better than none, particularly in the Pacific theater, where land bases were scarce and incredibly difficult to build/maintain. For those who express dissdain for this addition to AH, let me ask this simple question: Would you up one at a port if it was the only viable weapon at hand to stop a base capture?  As for an enemy dropping the FFH (float-plane fighter hanger) as the first step, how is that any different from the current method, i.e. to drop the VH first?  And the fact that it, like the VH, would only be down for 15-minutes, it actually makes taking a port marginally harder.  On the other hand, if you don't fear the float plane because it is not a match for late-war uber rides, why would you bother? 

+1 from me

[Saxman]

If we get float planes, I want one of these:

[Volron]

 

[Bastid]

Trottel.

We've had threads on this before? Can you explain the purpose of adding them? I just wanna hear you say why.