Gentlemen, I have long been baffled by some of the references made to the models (or types) of aircraft and guns especially that of the Japanese. I feel that mostly it has to do with the translations which causes much of the confusion, compounded with the very hierarchical organizational structure which the Japanese tends to feel comfortable with. (Or maybe itfs the other way aroundc the organizational structure that messes the translation) For example, in the documentation for N1K2-J in Air Warrior, the cannons used were listed as the Ho-5 before. I guess that from the fact that the Ki-84, which was probably more famous, used the Ho-5s for its 20mm cannons, it was easy to assume (especially for the person doing the documentation) to draw the conclusion that ghey, they both Japanese, both from the late war, 20mms are 20mmsc same gunh. But, noc it was not that simplec the N1K2-J being an naval aircraft would not carry the army Ho-5 guns. The IJN and IJA did not blend together very wellc The N1K2-J carried the Type 99 Model 2 Mark 4 guns.
At this point I would ask myself, gType? Model? Mark? Whatfs the diff??h I even came across two books, one which translates the naval 20mm as the Type 99 Model 2 Mark 4 and the other Type 99 Mark 2 Model 4 when they refer to the same gun! This becomes confusing when we talk about the Type 99 Model 1 Mark 2 or Type 99 Mark 1 Model 2. I am likechhuh? Isnft there a more simple way to distinguish all these types or models or marks, whatever we call eem?h
I think this is what I am seeing with this problem with the Ki-61-I-KAIc. Was there such a thing? Therefore, I want to open this round of discussion on this designation issue for the purposes of our community especially for those interested and knowledgeable on the Japanese aircraft.
Ok firstly, I would like to start with these gif files I got off
Asahi Journal when it did an article on the Ki-61 Hien.
Nice, eh?
Anyway, as Mitsu pointed out on the thread over at the Gameplay feedback/issues (
Gun Synchronization), I too think the best designation is as follows:
Ko as a, Ostu as b, Hei as c, and Tei as d
Each representing a subtype with modifications made.
KAI is a term used when there is a modification made as well. Literally it means gimprovedh or gmodifiedh. In the official designations (as seem in the GIF files posted), KAI appears only for the Ki-61-II Kai, and not for any of the Ki-61-I.
Right now, I am thinking the Ki-61-I-KAIc is actually a modification of the Ki-61-I-Hei (or the c-subtype) which would make it a Ki-61-I-Tei (or the d-subtype).
welp, that is all that I have for the moment.... more to follow...
