Ki.46 "Dinah", B-29

[oboe]

I don't see this aircraft mentioned often when people put up lists of the Japanese aircraft they want, probably because it is more noted as a reconnaissance plane than an interceptor.   But the Ki.46-III-Kai version carried 2 nose-mounted 20mm Ho-5 and a single, upward firing 37mm cannon.   This speedy twin-engine aircraft exceeded 390 mph (nearly as fast as the Ki-84) and appeared in combat during late 1944.    Over 600 III models were completed - not a ton, but significant by Japanese production standards.

I wonder how well the upward firing cannon would work in AH?  Would the gunnery solution be too difficult to get, or would the required position underneath the target a/c leave your plane too vulnerable to defensive fire?   Plenty of Axis twin-engined interceptors used this design, and I've always been curious how it would work in a sim.

One thing about the B-29:   I think it would be a great addition to AH, because the alot of the community here wants the biggest and the best at everything.   But is it too big to spawn from the current bomber hangar?   How much clearance does the B-17 have when rolling out of the hangar?  The B-29 might not fit...

[rshubert]

I would also like to see the Dinah, but have to disagree about the Superfort.  We don't have the distances to exploit the capabilities of the two heavy bombers we have now, and another heavy would be redundant.  

I would also note that we see very few mass bomber strikes in the MA.  The fighters kick the butts of any small formations that do show up, even against the incredible defensive firepower of the B-17 multi-guns.  Most participants in the MA don't have the tactical savvy to get the bombers up to an altitude at which they can survive, and very few of us know how to run a decent bomber escort.  

Heck, we can't (or won't) even protect a single C47!  It never ceases to amaze me how many times my goon escort has given me a "check six" 2 seconds before I hear the pings...where were they when the enemy aircraft was stalking me?

That being said, the B-29 is a beautiful plane with awesome protection.

[davidpt40]

You bring up an interesting point about goons rshubert.  When someone gives you a check 6 and you are in a C47, what do you do?  Correct answer: Locate bandit, and turn towards him as hard as you can.  I've seen way too many retarded goon pilots get shot down because they dont know what to do.

[ra]

Originally posted by rshubert
Heck, we can't (or won't) even protect a single C47!  It never ceases to amaze me how many times my goon escort has given me a "check six" 2 seconds before I hear the pings...where were they when the enemy aircraft was stalking me?

It is nearly impossible to protect a c47.  The best way is to clear the air around the target field entirely.  If one enemy fighter can get within shooting range of the goon, it's over.  As far as 6 calls go, you can use f3 to check your own 6, for all the good it will do you.

ra

[Kweassa]

ra is correct.

 No amount of would-be 'escorts' will stop a goon-hunter, once the goon is discovered. A discovered goon is a dead goon. Close-support type of escorts are totally ineffective.

 The best 'escort' possible, is tight CAP over target airfield + CAP screen against adjacent enemy fields.

[brady]

I thought about it, it is certainly an awsome plane realy cool looking to, but If I were to ask for a Japanese Twin, it would be one that could bring more to the table for them, the Other's like the Ki-102 and the Ki 45 pack more forward firing pnch and cary a uasable bombload, and are realy viable ground suport planes as a result.

  Aside from that they are Great planes.

                While I would like to see a B29 I dont think that devoting the tremendious amout of time to creating it would be good for the underprivilaged countries like the Italians and Russinas and Japanese who would have to wait for even longer to get more planes if resorces were devoted to it at present.

[rshubert]

Yes, I do know to turn into the threat.  Then I get one or two turns with him before getting shot down.  My life expectancy is increased by 30 seconds or so, since nobody can get over to me in time to get the attacking fighter off me.  the attacking fighter piilot smells meat, and keeps coming until he sees blood.  My blood.

The C47 has a really tight turn radius, and will turn quickly, but that "no guns" thing makes tangling with anything that has a gun a death ride.

[rshubert]

And, oh by the way...

I disagree with those that say a goon can't be protected.  We just don't typically put up enough escorts to get the job done.  I will allow that the situation is made more difficult by the kamikaze factor, though...a fighter jock that is mission-oriented may be able to position himself to get the goon before he is thumped by the escort.  

Does anybody have any reference sources that describe escort tactics?  Somebody had to write a technical paper on that at some point during WWII.

[brady]

Real world escort tactics dont work to well in AH, and imo unless the guy who see's the goon makes a mistake their is prety much no way to stop them from killing it.

[Kevin14]

I really don't think that they escorted C-47s IRL, but I could be wrong.

[rshubert]

the goons were heavily escorted during the cross-rhine operation.

BTW, I got 4 passes against a Niki last night in a goon, but, of course, got shot down again.  That's a record for me.  That guy should be ashamed of himself.

[Pooh21]

If he had any shame he wouldnt be flying a niki now would he?

[froehlich]

I think the ki 46 and the Me 410 would be a good addtion to fly aces high.

[Lusche]

[Ghosth]

Ty Lusche