japanese aircraft numbers

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> japanese aircraft numbers

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japanese aircraft numbers - 11/26/2005 5:13:59 AM

aletoledo

Posts: 827
Joined: 2/4/2005
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I'm looking for some new art as my opening load screen and I wonder if anyone can clear something up for me.

did japanese aircraft have western characters on their tails and if so why?

I've seen a lot of drawings with western numerals on the tails of the planes. I suppose this could be true considering the international nature of aviation following english, but still it seems odd to me for a military aircraft.

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RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/26/2005 5:37:36 AM

barnacle bob

Posts: 125
Joined: 10/24/2003
From: Southaven, Ms
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The Japanese did use Arabic numbers. I think they found them easier to use. The one I do not understand is their use of the English alphabet for naval aircraft. Maybe some one can shed some light on this.

(in reply to aletoledo)

Post #: 2

RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/26/2005 5:55:10 PM

aletoledo

Posts: 827
Joined: 2/4/2005
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wow really. thats kinda wierd to think that it wasn't just as easy for them to use their own numbering characters!

the alphabet is a good question, but that means they did indeed use western/arabic characters?

(in reply to barnacle bob)

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RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/26/2005 8:41:30 PM

ChezDaJez

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Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
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Yes, they often used western characters and numerics. They also often mixed kanji and western on aircraft markings. Strange but true.

Chez

_____________________________

Ret Navy AWCS (1972-1998)
VP-5, Jacksonville, Fl 1973-78
ASW Ops Center, Rota, Spain 1978-81
VP-40, Mt View, Ca 1981-87
Patrol Wing 10, Mt View, CA 1987-90
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(in reply to aletoledo)

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RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/26/2005 11:00:37 PM

spence

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From: Vancouver, Washington
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In the form: BII-303 the plane code would indicate 2nd carrier division (B), carrier #2 (II-note this is a roman numeral

), plane type 3 (B5N), plane #03 i.e. Type 97 carrier attack bomber #3 on board the Hiryu in Carrier Division 2.

For plane types codes #1=A6M, #2=D3A, #3=B5N

Ships:

AI = Akagi
AII = Kaga
BI = Soryu
BII = Hiryu

Apparently Soryu was previous CarDiv2 flagship and only Navy Ministry could change these codes.

(in reply to ChezDaJez)

Post #: 5

RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/27/2005 12:38:22 AM

aletoledo

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Joined: 2/4/2005
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great info guys. I never realized that the markings were so specific to which carriers. I wonder if they were ever able to identify enemy carriers solely by the markings on the CAPs tails!

(in reply to spence)

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RE: japanese aircraft numbers - 11/27/2005 12:59:09 AM

ChezDaJez

Posts: 3436
Joined: 11/12/2004
From: Chehalis, WA
Status: offline

Yes, the color of the stripes on the tail indicated what carrier division they were attached to while the number of stripes on the fuselage indicated individual carriers IIRC.

Chez

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(in reply to aletoledo)

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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> japanese aircraft numbers

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