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- #81
Japanese Aircrew
- Thread starter Micdrow
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- Thread starter
- #82
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
I like naval stuff. So read about the IJN heavy cruiser Tone.
The Japanese carrier fleet had a weird quirk in that recon was carried out by the aircraft of cruisers and not by the carrier itself. Which makes no to little sense.
So this dropped the ball at Midway because of comms issues the report of USN carrier sightings didn't get to the IJN carriers quick enough.
Anyhoo Tone was involved in the execution of prisoners which ruined any goodwill I had towards the IJN other than historical import.
The more I read the less love I give.
The Japanese carrier fleet had a weird quirk in that recon was carried out by the aircraft of cruisers and not by the carrier itself. Which makes no to little sense.
So this dropped the ball at Midway because of comms issues the report of USN carrier sightings didn't get to the IJN carriers quick enough.
Anyhoo Tone was involved in the execution of prisoners which ruined any goodwill I had towards the IJN other than historical import.
The more I read the less love I give.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The Tone and Chikuma both was designed to provide scouting support for the fleet and as such, carried six scoutplanes each.
In essence, they were supposed to be the "eyes" of the fleet.
In essence, they were supposed to be the "eyes" of the fleet.
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
This works in theory but not practice.
Oddly the carriers didn't use scouts themselves except on an ad hoc basis.
This creates a middleman in which comms issues or misunderstanding creates trouble.
Also they used float planes not more conventional aircraft. Far easier to launch aircraft from a carrier and recovery than having to use cranes and only launch in good weather like a float plane.
Oddly the carriers didn't use scouts themselves except on an ad hoc basis.
This creates a middleman in which comms issues or misunderstanding creates trouble.
Also they used float planes not more conventional aircraft. Far easier to launch aircraft from a carrier and recovery than having to use cranes and only launch in good weather like a float plane.
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
Tone used Aichi E13A float planes which had a light strike capability and weren't that awful in performance and could even be used as fighters against other patrol aircraft like the Catalina.
So they were designed as aircraft carriers! Why!! Doesn't make much sense as they couldn't operate as cruisers on independent missions. And they would be slaved to the carrier task force and carried about 5 float planes without a hanger.
Oddly this concept was not copied!
So they were designed as aircraft carriers! Why!! Doesn't make much sense as they couldn't operate as cruisers on independent missions. And they would be slaved to the carrier task force and carried about 5 float planes without a hanger.
Oddly this concept was not copied!
Don't know what point you're trying to get across about the Japanese cruisers and floatplanes.
The USN Baltimore class cruisers had two catapults, and hangers that could hold up to 4 floatplanes.
So some Japanese cruisers had a few more, so what ?
If you need aircraft for operating, you better have more than one available.
The USN Baltimore class cruisers had two catapults, and hangers that could hold up to 4 floatplanes.
So some Japanese cruisers had a few more, so what ?
If you need aircraft for operating, you better have more than one available.
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
The point is that the Bismarck carried 4 float planes.
But only for its own use. Same with the German auxiliary cruisers.
Some Japanese subs carried float planes!
The Tone class was deliberately designed as recon cruisers for the carriers. Shows very clearly in its rear decks. That was the whole raison d'être. So this wasn't a conversion but a doctrine.
No other country had this doctrine. It makes sense from a carrier view as then you only have attack aircraft onboard.
But it flops if you don't have the Tone or Chikuma with your carriers and when the carriers were sunk, Tone became a cruiser but flawed in comparison to a normal cruiser.
As said before.... Having to use the Tone for recon created middleman flaws which typically in military terms went wrong because it always does. You need effective comms between the Tone, its float plane and the carriers. If the radio on the float plane fails then it has to get back to Tone and report and then Tone has to report to the fleet.
And radios were not that reliable in 1940s to trust.
If the pilot lands on a carrier then he can speak personally to the air commander.
This happened at Midway where recon reports were not given quick enough to Nagumo with disastrous consequences
But only for its own use. Same with the German auxiliary cruisers.
Some Japanese subs carried float planes!
The Tone class was deliberately designed as recon cruisers for the carriers. Shows very clearly in its rear decks. That was the whole raison d'être. So this wasn't a conversion but a doctrine.
No other country had this doctrine. It makes sense from a carrier view as then you only have attack aircraft onboard.
But it flops if you don't have the Tone or Chikuma with your carriers and when the carriers were sunk, Tone became a cruiser but flawed in comparison to a normal cruiser.
As said before.... Having to use the Tone for recon created middleman flaws which typically in military terms went wrong because it always does. You need effective comms between the Tone, its float plane and the carriers. If the radio on the float plane fails then it has to get back to Tone and report and then Tone has to report to the fleet.
And radios were not that reliable in 1940s to trust.
If the pilot lands on a carrier then he can speak personally to the air commander.
This happened at Midway where recon reports were not given quick enough to Nagumo with disastrous consequences
