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Aircraft Details* (page 5) | Premiums (in game) / Alternates | Foreign / Captured | Production locations / Quantities | Allied codenames | |
Designers / Designs | Airfoils / Engines / Climb Rates | Armament / Torpedoes | Operational locations / Timelines | Addendum | Torpedo Bombers |
*Note: some of the tiers arranged here do not correspond exactly to those in game. Rather than move lots of aircraft data around and risk losing it, I am just going to leave it as is (for now!)
Accountability (tiers approx):
Tier |
Fighters Mitsubishi / Kawanishi / Kyushu |
Fighters Nakajima / Mansyu |
Fighters Kawasaki / Tachikawa |
"Heavy Fighters" Army Co-Op / Patrol Night Fighters / Adaptations |
Dive Bombers Aichi / Kusho / Kugisho |
Captured/Tested* Allies / Axis |
I |
Nakajima A2N (1932) Mitsubishi 1MF10 (~03/1933) |
Nakajima NK1F (1932) |
Kawasaki Type 88 (06/1929) Kawasaki KDA-6 (10/1931) Nakajima NAF-1 (1932) Nakajima NAF-2 (03/1934) |
Nakajima Kushu (1932) Nakajima 7-Shi (1933) Kusho D2Y1 (1934) Nakajima D2N1 (03/1934) |
Boeing 69B (1928) Boeing 100 (~1928) Bristol Bulldog (1929) Nakajima Bulldog Mk.II (06/1930) |
|
II |
Kawasaki Type 92 (07/1930) Kawasaki Ki-5 (~02/1934) |
Kawasaki Ki-3 (04/1933) Nakajima Ki-4 (~03/1934) Nakajima Ki-8 (03/1934) Kyushu Q1W (08/1943+) |
Aichi D1A1 (1934) Aichi D1A2
|
|||
III |
Mitsubishi Ki-18 (~08/1935) Mitsubishi Ki-33 (~08/1936) Mitsubishi A5M3a (1936) |
Nakajima Ki-12 (~10/1936) |
Kawasaki Ki-28 |
Mitsubishi Ki-30 (02/1937) Kawasaki Ki-32 (03/1937) Tachikawa Ki-36 (04/1938) Kawasaki Ki-38 (10/1937) |
Aichi D3A1 (01/1938) Nakajima D3N1 (03/1937+) |
AXV1 (Vought V-141) (1937) A8V-1 (Seversky A8V) (~1938) |
IV |
Mitsubishi Ki-51 (06/1939+)
|
Aichi D3A2 Yokosuka D4Y1 (12/1940+) |
AxHei (Heinkel He-100) (1940) |
|||
V |
Nakajima A6M2-N (~12/1941) Kawanishi N1K1 (05/1942+) |
Nakajima Ki-62/63 (~1942) Nakajima Ki-43-III (05/1944) |
Kawasaki Ki-60 | Nakajima J1N1 (05/1941+) |
Yokosuka D4Y2 Aichi E16A (05/1942) Aichi M6A (11/1943) |
Bf109E (1941) Hawker Hurricane II (1942) Curtiss P-40 (1943) |
VI |
Mitsubishi J2M variants (05/1942+) |
Nakajima Ki-43-III (05/1944) |
Kawasaki Ki-88 (1942+)
|
Kawasaki Ki-64 Kawasaki Ki-66 (~10/1942) Kawasaki Ki-96 (09/1943) Mitsubishi Ki-46-III/IV (10/1944+) |
Aichi B7A (1942-1944) Yokosuka D4Y3/4 |
P-51C (1945) |
VII |
Mitsubishi J4M (1943) Kawanishi J3K/J6K (1942-10/1944) |
Nakajima Ki-84 variants (~1945) Mansyu Ki-116 (1945) |
Kawasaki Ki-100 (1945) Kawasaki Ki-119 (~09/1945) |
Nakajima J5N1 (07/1944) Kawasaki Ki-108 (08/1944+) Mitsubishi Ki-109 (08/1944) 75mm Mitsubishi Ki-46-III/IV (10/1944+) Kawasaki Ki-102c (07/1945) Yokosuka P1Y (~08/1943) Mitsubishi Ki-83 |
Aichi B8A (1945+)
|
DB-7B |
VIII |
Mitsubishi A7M3-J (1945) Mitsubishi A8M Rifuku (1945) Mitsubishi J8M (07/1945) |
Kayaba Katsuodori (~1943+) Mansyu Ki-98 (1945) |
Tachikawa Ki-94-I (1943) Tachikawa Ki-94-II (08/1945) |
Yokosuka P1Y (~08/1943) Tachikawa Ki-104 (1943+) Mansyu Ki-98 (1945) |
Fw Ta152 (1945) | |
IX |
|
|
Kawasaki/Lockheed F-94C | Yokosuka Tenga (1945+) | ||
X |
Mitsubishi JTM-1 (1953+) Shin Meiwa KJT-01 (1953+) Mitsubishi F-86F (~1955)
|
Fuji FJT-51 (1953+) Fuji T1F1 (1953+) Fuji T1F2 (1953+) |
Used as premiums French engines Floatplanes *Smith claims that [at least] 30 foreign aircraft were tested by the Japanese (Peter C. Smith, 21)
For a look at how captured Japanese aircraft might fit into the Chinese tech tree see here.
Omitted (tiers approx):
Tier | Floatplanes | Flying boats |
Light Bombers Torpedo Bombers (single engine) |
Twin-engine Bombers
|
Four-engine Bombers (and six-engine) |
Trainers/Transport/ Reconnaissance/ Communications/ Patrol/suicide/other |
I |
Nakajima E2N1/2 (1927-1930) Aichi E3A1 (1929) Nakajima E4N1 (12/1930) Aichi E8A1 Nakajima E8N (03/1934) Watanabe E9W (1935) |
|
Nakajima B3N1 (1933) Yokosuka B3Y1 (1933) Yokosuka B4Y (1935) |
Mitsubishi Ki-2 (05/1933) Nakajima LB-2 (1934) |
Nakajima C2N (1933-1934) Nakajima Ki-36 (09/1936) Kokusai Ki-59 (06/1938) Kokusai Ta-Go (1945) |
|
II |
Kawanishi E7K1 (02/1933) Mitsubishi F1M (04/1936) Aichi E11A(04/1938) Aichi E12A1 Nakajima E12N1 (1938) Yokosuka E14Y (1939) |
Yokosuka H5Y (1936) Kawanishi H6K (07/1936) |
Mitsubishi B4M1 (08/1934) Nakajima B4N1 (1936) Nakajima B5N (01/1937) Mitsubishi B5M1 (~1937) |
Hiro G2H (1933) Nakajima Ki-19 (~1936) Mitsubishi Ki-20 (1931-1935) Mitsubishi Ki-21 (12/1936+) |
|
Nakajima C3N1 (1936) Kokusai Ki-76 (05/1941-1944) Mitsubishi Ki-15/C5M (05/1936+) Tachikawa Ki-54 (1940) |
III |
Kawanishi E7K2 (02/1933) Aichi E12A (~1938) Aichi E13A (1938+) |
Kawanishi H8K (12/1940) Aichi H9A (09/1940) |
Mitsubishi G3M (04/1934+) |
Nakajima G5N (12/1939) |
Mitsubishi Ki-57 (08/1940+) |
|
IV |
Kawanishi E15K (12/1941) |
Nakajima B6N (1941+) |
Kawasaki Ki-48 (1939-1944) |
|
Kawasaki Ki-56 (1940-1943) Tachikawa Ki-77 (~1942) Nakajima Ki-115 (03/1945+) |
|
V |
|
Kawanishi H11K (1945+) |
Nakajima Ki-49 (08/1939-1944) Mitsubishi G4M (10/1939) Mitsubishi G7M (1943) Kawanishi K-100 (1943) |
Kawasaki Ki-91 (~05/1943) |
Kawasaki Ki-78 (12/1942) Nakajima C6N (05/1943+) |
|
VI |
|
Mitsubishi Ki-67 (12/1942) |
||||
VII |
|
|
Nakajima G8N (10/1944) |
Mitsubishi Q2M1 (~1944) Tachikawa Ki-74 (03/1944) |
||
VIII |
Kawanishi K-200 (1945+) |
|
|
Nakajima G10N (1945+) Nakajima Fugaku (D) |
Kugisho R2Y1 (1943-04/1945) Kokusai Ki-105 (04/1945) Kawanishi Baika (1945+) |
|
IX | ||||||
X |
|
|
|
* highlight colors indicate identified developmental relationships. Wikipedia links are provided above for quick information only; it is not a reliable source for making decisions.
Other omissions:
Kayaba Ka-1 autogyro
Kayaba Ka-2 autogyro
Tachikawa Ki-9 trainer
Tachikawa Ki-17 trainer
Tachikawa Ki-55 trainer
Kyushu K11W crew trainer
Mitsubishi K3M trainer
Mitsubishi A6M2-K trainer
Mitsubishi A6M5-K trainer
Yokosuka K2Y trainer
Yokosuka K4Y trainer
Yokosuka K5Y trainer
Yokosuka D3Y trainer/suicide attacker
Kugisho MXY6 glider
Kugisho MXY8 glider
Kugisho MXY9 glider
Maeda Ku-6 glider
Kokusai Ku-7 glider
Kokusai Ku-8 glider
Mansyu Ki-79 trainer
Tokyo Koku Ki-107 trainer
Mitsubishi-Payen Pa.400
Mizuno Shinryu II
other foreign aircraft (Francillon, 496-509)
other unusual aircraft (Dyer, 123-131)
German influence (Dyer, 142-149)
more early aircraft (Mikesh)
Very little information:
Nakajima Ki-13 -- Army Experimental Co-operation Plane -- project only
Mitsubishi Ki-14 -- Army Experimental Co-operation Plane -- project only
Tachikawa Ki-29 -- Army Experimental Light Bomber -- project only
Nakajima Ki-31 -- Army Experimental Light Bomber -- project only
Mitsubishi Ki-35 -- Army Experimental Direct Co-Operation Plane -- project only
Nakajima Ki-37 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined Fighter (1937+)
Kawasaki Ki-38 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined Fighter (1937+)
Mitsubishi Ki-39 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined Fighter (1937+)
Mitsubishi Ki-40 -- Army Experimental Command Reconnaissance Plane -- from Ki-39
Mitsubishi Ki-42 -- Army Experimental Bomber -- project only
Mitsubishi Ki-47 -- Army Experimental Light Bomber -- project only
Nakajima Ki-52 -- Army Experimental Dive Bomber -- project only
Nakajima Ki-53 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined Fighter -- proposed 1939 (Docavia #7) -- project only
Nakajima Ki-58 -- Army Experimental Escort Fighter
Nakajima Ki-62 -- Army Experimental Fighter
Nakajima Ki-63 -- Army Experimental Fighter -- project only
Mansyu Ki-65 -- Army Experimental Fighter -- several projected versions, none built
Mitsubishi Ki-69 -- Army Experimental Escort Fighter
Tachikawa Ki-72 -- Army Experimental Direct Co-operation Plane
Mitsubishi Ki-73 -- Army Experimental Fighter -- "Steve" -- designed by Tomio Kubo, designer of Ki-46 and Ki-83
Nakajima Ki-75 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined High-altitude Night Fighter -- project only
Nakajima Ki-80 -- Army Experimental Multi-seat Fighter
Kawasaki Ki-81 -- Army Experimental Multi-seat Fighter
Nakajima Ki-82 -- Army Experimental Bomber
Kawasaki Ki-85 -- Army Experimental Long-range Bomber
Mitsubishi Ki-99 -- Army Experimental Short-range Fighter
Nakajima Ki-101 -- Army Experimental Twin-engined Night Fighter -- project only
Mitsubishi Ki-103 -- Army Experimental Fighter
Tachikawa Ki-104 -- Army Experimental Fighter -- projected medium-altitude fighter developed from Ki-94
Mitsubishi Ki-112 -- Army Experimental Multi-seat Fighter
Nakajima Ki-113 -- Army Experimental Fighter
Mansyu Ki-116 -- Army Experimental Fighter
Nakajima Ki-117 -- Army Experimental Fighter
Mitsubishi Ki-118 -- Army Experimental Fighter -- project only
Kawasaki Ki-119 -- Army Experimental Light Bomber
"Tachikawa Ki-162" -- He-162 analogue (Dyer, 59-60)
Mitsubishi D3M -- competitor to Aichi D3A
Aichi B8A Mokusei
Kugisho Tenga
other projects
work in progress
Sources:
Overview:
Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, by Rene Francillon (1970/1987 Putnam) -- extremely comprehensive, this is an excellent starting point.
Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941, by Robert Mikesh and Shorzoe Abe (1990) -- this covers the very early aircraft (Tiers I, II, III) and is also helpful to understand designer lineage
Japanese Secret Projects: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945, by Edwin Dyer (2009 Midland) -- fills in small gaps left by Francillon for prototypes/projects; mainly late aircraft (Tiers VII, VIII, IX, X)
Japanese Secret Projects: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN 1939-1945, Book 2 by Edwin Dyer (2015 Crecy) -- work in progress
Japanese Aircraft, by John Stroud (Harborough Publishing) -- a concise volume with useful translations
Les Chasseurs Japonais de la Deuxieme Guerre Mondiale (Docavia #7), by Bernard Millot -- composed in French, some details not seen anywhere else; great 3-views
The Complete Book of Fighters, by William Green and Gordon Swanborough (2001)
The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft, by Robert Jackson (2002) -- very broad overview of 650 aircraft from various countries, very thin on details
The Encyclopaedia of World Aircraft in Color: Bombers 1939-1945, by Kenneth Munson (1969 Blandford)
Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft 1900-1945 Vol. 1-7 (in Japanese), by various authors (Shuppan-Kyodo Publishers, Tokyo, Japan) -- excellent 3-views and accountability
Communist Chinese Air Power, by Richard M. Bueschel (1968) -- helpful for understanding Japanese aircraft captured by China
War Prizes, by Phil Butler (1994 Midland) -- overview of aircraft captured/surrendered aircraft
World Encyclopedia of Aero Engines: From the Pioneers to the Present Day, by Bill Gunston (2007 Sutton)
Turbojet History and Development 1930-1960, Volume 2, by Antony L. Kay (2007 Crowood Press) -- 13 pages devoted to Japan; good detail
The Cambridge Aerospace Dictionary 2nd Edition, by Bill Gunston (2009 Cambridge)
The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia, by Kent Budge -- leads only
German technical aid to Japan (1945 Military Intelligence survey) -- leads only
Wikipedia -- to identify primary sources only, not reliable for detailed specifications or historical narrative
Secret Projects Forum -- leads for rare/obscure prototypes/projects (Navy specifications, Foreign aircraft evaluated)
Japanese Tech Tree (Wargaming) -- imagery for implemented aircraft
Maps showing the locations of Japanese aircraft industries
Fighter Aircraft Combat Debuts 1915-1945: Innovation in Air Warfare Before the Jet Age, by Jon Guttman (2014 Westholme)
International Warbirds: An IIllustrated Guide to World Military Aircraft, 1914-2000, by John C. Fredriksen (2001 ABC-CLIO)
Secrets of the Dead: Dogfight Over Guadalcanal (PBS documentary 2006)
Japanese Aero-Engines, by Mike Goodwin & Peter Starkings (2017 Stratus)
Mitsubishi:
Eagles of Mitsubishi: The Story of the Zero Fighter, by Jiro Horikoshi (1981 University of Washington Press)
Mitsubishi A5M Claude, by Tadeusz Januszewski (2003 Stratus)
Mitsubishi A6M1/2/-2N Zero-Sen in Imperial Japanese Naval Air Service (Aircam Aviation Series No. 16), by Richard M. Bueschel, (1970 Osprey)
The Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero-Sen ("Hamp") (Profile Publications No. 190), by Rene J. Francillon
Mitsubishi A6M5 to A6M8 'Zero-Sen' ('Zeke 52') (Profile 236), by M.C. Richards and Donald S. Smith (1972 Profile Publications)
Mitsubishi J2M Raiden Jack, by Robert Peczkowski (2004 Stratus)
J2M Raiden and N1K1/2 Shiden/Shiden-Kai Aces (Aircraft of the Aces) Kindle Edition, by Yasuho Izawa, Tony Holmes, Jim Laurier (2016 Osprey)
Mitsubishi Ki-46 (Profile 82), by Rene J. Francillon Ph.D. (Profile Publications)
Kawanishi
Kawanishi N1K Kyofu/'Rex' & Shiden/'George' (Profile 213), by Rene J. Francillon, Ph.D. (Profile Publications)
Genda's Blade: Japan's Squadron of Aces, by Henry Sakaida and Koji Takaki (2003) -- N1K1-J and N1K2-J operations
Aichi:
Aichi D3A1/2 Val, by Peter C. Smith (1999 Crowood Press) -- extremely comprehensive; 192 pages devoted to D3A development and operational history
Aichi D3A ('Val') & Yokosuka D4Y ('Judy') Carrier Bombers of the IJNAF (Aircraft Profile 241), by M.C. Richards and Donald S. Smith
Aichi M6A Seiran (Monogram Close-Up 13), by Robert C. Mikesh (1975 Monogram Aviation) -- Daimler-Benz engine details useful for Ki-60, Ki-61, Aichi M6A, Yokosuka D4Y
Japanese Submarine Aircraft, by Tadeusz Januszewski (2002 Stratus) -- Aichi M6A details
I-400 Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine: Objective Panama Canal, by Henry Sakaida, Gary Nila, and Koji Takaki (2006 Hikoki Publications Ltd) -- Aichi M6A details
Kawasaki:
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Profile Publications No.118), by Rene J. Francillon
Kawasaki Ki-61/Ki-100 Hien in Japanese Army Air Force Service, (Aircam Aviation Series No.21), by Richard M. Bueschel (1971 Osprey) -- narrative, specs
P-38 Lightning vs. Ki-61 Tony: New Guinea 1943-1944, by Donald Nijboer (2010 Osprey) -- some Ki-60 details not accounted for elsewhere
The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu (Profile Publications No.105), by Rene J. Francillon
Kawasaki Ki-48-I/II Sokei in Japanese Army Air Force-CNAF & IPSF Service, by Richard M. Bueschel (Aircam Aviation Series No.32)
Nakajima:
Nakajima Ki-27A-B (Aircam Aviation Series No.18), by Richard M. Bueschel (Osprey)
Nakajima Ki-27 Nate (Monograph 11), by Leszek A. Wieliczko and Zygmunt Szeremeta (2004 Kagero)
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Profile No.46), by Martin C. Windrow and R. F. Francillon (Profile Publications)
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa I-III in Japanese Army Air Force RTAF-CAF-IPSF Service (Aircam No.13, by Richard Bueschel (1970 Osprey)
Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa: in Japanese Army Air Force RTAF-CAF-IPSF Service, by Richard Bueschel (1995 Schiffer)
Fire in the Sky, by Eric M. Bergerud -- notes on Ki-43's maneuverability from the perspective of American P-40 and P-38 pilots.
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki 'Tojo' (Profile 255), by John F. Brindley (1973)
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki in Japanese Army Air Force Service (Aircam No.25), by Richard Bueschel (Berkshire Printing)
Ki-44 'Tojo' Aces of World War 2, by Nicholas Millman (2011) -- very good Ki-44 color skin references
Nakajima Ki-84, by the Aeronautical Staff of Aero Publishers, Inc (1965) -- close-up Ki-84 restoration photos
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate, by Leszek A. Wieliczko (Lublin 2005)
Nakajima Ki-84a|b Hayate in Japanese Army Air Force Service (Aircam Aviation Series No.29), by Richard M. Bueschel (1971 Osprey Publishing Limited)
Nakajima Ki-84 (Profile 70), by Rene J. Francillon (Profile Publications)
Nakajima Ki-84 "Frank" Hayate (Aero Detail 24), by Shigeru Nohara (1999 Dai Nippon Kaiga)
The Nakajima B5N "Kate" (Profile No.141), by Dr. M.F. Hawkins (Profile Publications)
Nakajima B6N "Tenzan", by Leszek A. Wieliczko (Kagero 2003)
Kikka (Monogram Close-Up 19), by Robert C. Mikesh (1979 Monogram Aviation) -- Kikka and Ki-201 details
Jet Bombers: From the Messerchmitt Me262 to the Stealth B-2, by Bill Gunston with Peter Gilchrist (1993) -- details on Nakajima Kitsuka ("Kikka") not accounted for by Francillon or Dyer
Moonlight Interceptor: Japan's 'Irving' Night Fighter, by Robert Mikesh (1985) -- written by the NASM curator for the restoration of the last J1N1 in existence
From Aircraft to Automobiles and Automotive Electronics: Remembrances of an Internal Combusion Engineer, by Ryoichi Nakagawa (SAE 1990) -- designer of Nakajima Homare engine
Air Pictorial - Journal of the Air League, Vol 20, No.4, April 1958 -- Fuji T1F2 minor details
helpful sites:
lesser sources and their approximate value to this project:
Fair:
Aces High, by Bill Yenne -- several accounts of combat against the Ki-43 told from the American perspective
Bombers Over Japan, by Keith Wheeler -- fair map showing B-29 bombing ranges
Flying Colors, by William Green and Gordon Swanborough (1997) -- helpful for some historical skins -- A5M, A6M, Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-61, Ki-84
Aircraft of the Aces, by Tony Holmes and Iain Wyllie (2000) -- Hiroyoshi Nishizawa and the A6M2/3, Yohei Hinoki and the Ki-43-Ic and Ki-100-Ib
Aces of the Rising Sun 1937-1945, by Henry Sakaida (2002)
Samurai!, by Saburo Sakai, with Martin Caiden (2001)
Not very helpful:
Aviation Century: World War II, by Ron [edited], Dan Patterson
Duel for the Sky, by Christopher Shores
War Eagles in Original Color, by Jeffrey L. Ethell and Warren M. Bodie
Not at all helpful:
Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway, by Jonathan Parshall and Anthony Tully -- surprisingly thin on detail for Japanese aircraft
War in the Air 1914-1945, by Williamson Murray
Wings of Gold: The U.S. Naval Air Campaign in World War II, by Gerald Astor
Acknowledgements:
Thank you to Wargaming for making such a fun and addictive game; my local and state library system for making historical research possible; and thank you to the experts in this thread that provided the kind of targeted advice and enthusiasm that kept me going in the right direction.
Older versions:
Version 6.01 -- IJA heavy fighters officially released; implications
Version 5.50 -- IJA aircraft officially released; implications
Version 5.10 -- IJA aircraft information leaked
Version 5.00p -- production values added in yellow/orange
Version 5.00 -- re-organized to show Navy/Army anti-shipping collaboration (P1Y / Ki-67) and analogous developments (Ohka / I-Go); added bomber, reconnaissance, and other minor contributions to development (LIGHT GRAY); added Mitsubishi Ki-30, Mitsubishi Ki-51, Mansyu Ki-98 from 'Alternates.'
Version 4.90 -- cleaned up "dive bomber" and "torpedo bomber" lines; Kawasaki Type 92 to Tier II based on BMW VI engine in-game for Arado 65, Arado 68, Heinkel He 51; Ki-60 to Tier V to be consistent with D4Y, and to premium because Ki-61 favored for production at same tier.
Version 4.87 -- Aichi M6A removed due to chronological issue. Added clarification of P1Y origin, Kikka origin, Ki-30 and K-51 placement.
Version 4.86 -- Kikka context established by detailed examination of historical narrative, designer lineage, designs, engine development, manufacturing locations.
Version 4.81 -- relationship and module accountability; Katsuodori, Ki-200, Ki-202 implicated via J8M removal; Fuji T1F2 continuation of native jet engine development; R2Y3 and Ki-201-II (fictional Ne-440's).
Version 4.71 -- relationship accountability, module accountability, stretch of high production models; J8M removed from progression.
Version 4.60 -- relationships accounted for in detail; heavy fighters expounded (2-seat and single-seat).
Version 4.53 -- Kayaba Katsuodori point interceptor precursor to Mitsubishi J8M.
Version 4.52 -- resolved Mitsubishi J2M; affirmed Ki-44; Tachikawa Ki-94-II continuity from Kawasaki via laminar flow wings.
Version 4.51 -- multirole fighters and heavy fighters by single-seat and two-seat; fictional progression; prototype saturation ~50% (proof of concept only).
Version 4.48 -- multirole fighters and heavy fighters, simplified.
Version 4.43 -- "multirole fighter" implications of Update 1.6; rigid layout according to class and theme (rough).
Version 4.41 -- floatplane influence on fighter and dive bomber development (rough).
Version 4.40-- interim
Version 4.33 -- detailed examination of dive bombers (carrier-borne attack aircraft) and related progression.
Version 4.31 -- resolved Nakajima performance at altitude; reduced complexity.
Version 4.30 -- detailed examination of performance at altitude following the announcement of J4M as premium, and Japanese rockets coming soon; back to the essentials; designers.
Version 4.10 -- refinement of the heavy fighter speed vs. armament idea --> dead end
Version 4.00 -- the first break from Francillon's Army/Navy paradigm; an attempt to resolve "heavy fighters" into those that favor speed, vs. those that favor armament
Version 3.85 -- Army/Navy by production values, refined --> dead end
Version 3.82 -- Army/Navy by production values, saturated with dive bombers, and float planes leading to N1K1-J --> dead end
Version 3.60 -- Army/Navy by production values, designer involvement; Allied code names
Version 3.20 -- Army/Navy by role, dive bombers omitted due to low fixed forward armament
Version 1.01 -- Army/Navy by role, sorted by speeds regardless of altitude, engine, chronology --> dead end
Further refinement:
in progress
-- bomber progression, and what that reveals
-- one-off adaptations of bombers or reconnaissance aircraft (P1Y, Ki-46-III KAI, etc.)
---- missing connections via unfulfilled projects, one-off adaptations, etc.
-- armament development in detail
-- propeller development in detail
major
-- all aircraft known to have used radar (or planned), and what that reveals
-- flying boat progression, and what that reveals
-- transport progression, and what that reveals
-- technology garnered from tested aircraft (He 118 V4, He 119, others); "30 foreign aircraft tested" (Peter C. Smith, 21)
-- technology garnered from captured aircraft
-- the prospect of autogyro/seaplane reconnaissance bots (low altitude), vs. high altitude
medium
-- details for Mitsubishi/Kyushu aircraft already included in the tree; implications
-- all propellers, and what that reveals.
minor
-- D4Y forward armament upgrades if any
-- M6A's 17mm forward armament mystery
-- Ki-98 development mystery -- Manchuria 1938-1945 -- Discarded J4M design handed off to Mansyu engineers? Radicalization of Ki-71?
sideways/trivial
-- Army vs. Navy armament (Ex: Type 89 vs. Type 97); rate of fire, velocity, etc.
-- Army vs. Navy analogues: A5M vs. Ki-27, A6M vs. Ki-43, J2M vs. Ki-44, N1K1-J vs. Ki-84, P1Y3 vs. Ki-102
-- other matchups: Ki-83 vs. Hornet, J8M1 vs. Me 163, Ki-201 vs. Me 262
Edited by J311yfish, 10 November 2018 - 08:10 PM.