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Flying fortress -> (6/12/2003 12:00:20 PM)
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""The Shiden was used by the IJN (land based) for taking on Corsairs and Hellcats, which it did very well by accounts. In Mogami's test however, the bombers are only at 9000 feet.""
The late war fighters could definitely hold it's own and even take airsuperiority from the allies if employed properly, even at high altitudes-Obviously the early war fighters would not be able to do anything at higher altitudes.
On the other hand N1K-1 Shidens and N1K-2 Shiden-kais did veeeeeerrry well against every allied fighter thrown against them in the last days of the war. They combined the sterling handling qualities, manouverability, range, and several key additions learned from the lessons of war: improved armament (4 20mms or 2 12.7mm + 2 20mms), armor plating (Yes the japanese did armor plate their planes later in the war, but not llike us or the russians did), improved diving capabilities, being able to keep up with the satch weave tactics, etc.
N1k2 Shiden-kais were used by the famed 343rd led by the famous Genda, who "stole" veteran pilots such as the youngster Shoichi sugita, who joined up when he was 15 in 1940, Muto, called the Miyamoto Musashi of the air because of his unbelievable skills in the air- in february of 1945 he singlehandedly engaged 12 F6fs and downed 4 of them-, from other squadrons to form a super squad designed to win airsuperiority over Japan. They gained their fame after the battle on March 19, 1945 over Matsuyama. Out numbered completely by US carrier planes, the 54 shiden-kais and 7 shidens shot down 52 of the attacking US planes, which consisted mainly of F6fs, F4Us, and divebombers.
The Japanese had two types of all purpose fighters that could engage any allied fighter and could come out on top even in 45 and had several IMPRESSIVE DESIGNS on the boards: The N1K2 shidenkai and the ki84 Hayates. Even though they used low grade fuel which significantly degraded their performance (up to 60-70%), and were piloted by rookie pilots, they left a very very good combat record against the allies. Of course, after the war the Us tested these planes, and found that while the shidenkais had more powerful armament, the ki 84s had better overall performance and could easily best the latest us planes such as the F8f, P51H, etc when given the same kind of fuel used by us planes.
Which is why it is important to have a hand in production. With good fuel supply, numbers, and good pilots, these planes can defenitely make a difference in a battle, or even the war.
As far as the level bomber intercept issues, for example, the J2M3 was a VERY good bomber intercept with 4 20mms and some having 6 20mms, N1Ks and ki84s were good bomber intercepts as well, KI44s were one of the best bomber interceptors in the Japanese arsenal feared by B-29 crews because of their ability to shoot down B-29s with ease when piloted by a good pilot using good tactics, and an ability to shoot down B-29s even when piloted by rookie pilots. (only worked against unescorted B-29s)
But for other Japanese fighters, I think they are modeled quite accurately: They could down almost any allied fighter, but could not simply down any level bombers. But it is obvious that the other planes such as N1ks Ki84s, Ki44s, and definitely J7Ws would have better results against Us bombers in real life, especially if they were unescorted. And even if they were, n1ks and ki84s could hold its own against any escorts, allowing the bomber destroyers to do their job unmolested.
As for the light japanese fighters, they are depicted very well. Early war fighters don't stand a chance to down allied 2~4 engined bombers (historically they had trouble downing all us fighters and bombers because of their poor armament and the good Us armor protection)
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