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It is odd that the IJAF and land-based IJNAS units kept getting new single-engine fighters:
Nakajima Ki-43 - introduced 1941
Nakajima Ki-44 - intro 1942
Mitsubishi J2M - intro 1942
Kawasaki Ki-61 - intro 1942
Kawanishi N1K - intro 1943
Nakajima Ki-84 - intro 1944
Kawasaki Ki-100 - intro 1945
But for some reason the premier aviation service of Japan, its coveted Kidō Butai had to make due with the same fighter it first flew in April 1939 and introduced in July 1940. Why wasn't the IJN seen as deserving of some of resources that went to the six successors of the Ki-43? Imagine Britain's FAA fielding the Fairey Fulmar or the USN the Wildcat, with updates as their sole fleet fighter until war's end.
IMO, the Ki-44 should have been a dual type for both air arms, like the McDonald Douglas Phantom II. In fairness, the Ki-44 wasn't much better than the A6M or the Ki-43, but it would bring efficiencies and force the two bickering air arms to cooperate.
To be succeeded is the very definition of successor.All of the he [sic] lower 6 types were not succesors of the Ki-43. The Ki-43 was suceeded by Ki-44 and Ki-61,.
To be succeeded is the very definition of successor.
Okay, so we need atomic bombs earlier.A big what'if for Japan would be finding a face-saving means to withdraw to the pre-1937 borders with China. That would end the US sanctions and give Japan time to breath. In that time Japan can either build up its military, industrial capacity and oil stocks in preparation for attacking DEI, FIC, Malaya and perhaps Pearl Harbour in 1941. Or, Japan can wait to see how the ETO war is going, which by summer 1942 will appear to be going badly for the Germans, and hold off going to war at all....
Or join your traditional British allies! The Kidō Butai arrives in Britain end 1942.
You mean an Anglo-Japanese invasion of China to rid it of the KMT.A big what'if for Japan would be finding a face-saving means to withdraw to the pre-1937 borders with China. That would end the US sanctions and give Japan time to breath. In that time Japan can either build up its military, industrial capacity and oil stocks in preparation for attacking DEI, FIC, Malaya and perhaps Pearl Harbour in 1941. Or, Japan can wait to see how the ETO war is going, which by summer 1942 will appear to be going badly for the Germans, and hold off going to war at all....
Or join your traditional British allies! The Kidō Butai arrives in Britain end 1942.
Or join your traditional British allies! The Kidō Butai arrives in Britain end 1942.
As long as they're paying for the oil, Britain, with Middle Eastern supplies more secure will be glad to sell it.to do what? suck up British oil fuel?
How do you invade Italy without US involvement? IDK.Without the Japanese distracting the British for all of 1942 North Africa wouldn't have lasted as long as it did. Italy might already be invaded.
The Germans will have to begin sinking US escorted convoys once the Lend Lease starts up to Russia. So, Germany declares war on USA by winter 42/43 with Stalingrad going poorly, if not before.US involvement is problematical. US was doing a lot in 1940-41 like escorting british convoys almost 1/2 way across the Atlantic in 1941. Would the US have stayed out of the war all through 1942?
I sort of agree. Buying the licence twice, not learning how to make the fuel injector and not getting an agreement to be informed about new developments was certainly very foolish. There is an article, Mercedes-Benz DB-601A aircraft engine (design features and performance characteristics) by Raymond W. Young MERCEDES-BENZ DB-601A AIRCRAFT ENGINE (Design Features and Performance Characteristics) on JSTOR, which describes the sort of tear down that the Japanese should have made to ensure that they had the metallurgy to build a copy. Apparently the crankshaft pin of the Ha-40 was not properly hardened.The whole V12 excursion by Kawasaki and Aichi was probably not worth it, ....snip ....