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USSR
LaGG-3, introduced 1941, 366 mph top speed, power/mass 0.21 hp/lb, 1xmg, 1x20mm cannon
MiG-3, intro 1941, 400 mph, 0.18 hp/lb, 3xmg
Yak-1, intro 1940, 368 mph, 0.19 hp/lb, 1xmg, 1x20mm cannon
Yak-7, intro spring 1942, 355 mph, 0.16hp/lb, 2mg, 1x20mm cannon
IJAF
Ki-43, intro 1941, 330 mph, 0.20 hp/lb, 2xmg
Ki-44, intro spring 1942, 376 mph, 0.23 hp/lb, 4xmg
IMO, until the later La-5 and Yak-3 enter service it appears Japan is quite competitive, though in the era of eight gun Spitfires and Hurricanes, both the Soviet and Japanese fighters seem under armed with their 1-2 mg and single cannon (1). The lightly-built Japanese have the advantage of high power to mass. What made the Russian fighters so heavy? (2 )Did they provide armour and self sealing fuel tanks? (3) Both the Yak-7 and Ki-44 enter service at almost the same time, meaning pilots may be complaining about their performance vs. the enemy will have an upgrade at hand. (4)
I agree, definitely a good match.A Ki-43 vs Yak-1 fight would be interesting, with both pilots knowledgeable of their opponents capabilities. Has the makings of a "knife fight in a phone booth" sort of scenario
it's a good point. I don't think the IJAF has anything that can tackle Russian bombers at this time.1 - Majority of Soviet fighter was cannnon-armed, so IMO here the Soviets have the nod. Especially since job of a fighter is to kill bombers, too. The Ki-43 cannot reliably take-over the Pe-2, nor it can dish out enough of firepower to kill Il-2.
it's a good point. I don't think the IJAF has anything that can tackle Russian bombers at this time.
hen I saw the Ki-43 Oscar at the Boeing Air Museum in Seattle last summer I was struck by how small it was compared to the Spitfire and Bf 109 nearby.
Ki43's shot down every type of US fighter and bomber they encountered.it's a good point. I don't think the IJAF has anything that can tackle Russian bombers at this time.
Ki43's shot down every type of US fighter and bomber they encountered.
Yep, covered that in post 1.Japan got soundly trounced in a war with the USSR at Khalkhyn Gol in 1939.
Wikipedia has the Ki-43 shooting down....Ki43's shot down every type of US fighter and bomber they encountered.
The 3rd book in Bloody Shambles described a photo recon P38 and photo recon Mosquito being intercepted and shot down by a Ki43. I was shocked. The Ki43 was below the Mosquito, seemed like the Mosquito was at 27-29,000 feet, dived to pick up speed, zoomed back up and shot down the Mosquito. Looking at specs on paper it's hard to imagine how that happened.Wikipedia has the Ki-43 shooting down....
"From October to December 1944, 17 Ki-43s were shot down in air combat; their pilots claimed seven C-47s, five B-24 Liberators, two Spitfires, two Beaufighters, two Mosquitoes, two F4U Corsairs, two B-29 Superfortresses, one F6F Hellcat, one P-38, and one B-25."
When would the Ki-43 encounter two Mosquitos? And two B-29s? How do you shoot down a 350 mph B-29s with a 330 mph Ki-43 armed with 2x 12.7 mm machine guns?
Wasn't the most numerous fighters the Polikarpov types? I wouldn't be too concerned if my enemy flew those types.
Were those still in service in Spring 1942? Poor devils.One wonders, giving the emphasis on turning combat by Japanese fighter pilots, whether they would fight to the I-153's strengths. This may not be a winning tactic.
The Japanese actually preferred boom and zoom early in the war until the P38 Hellcat and Corsair finally arrived. The Zero and Ki43 could outturn anything at low speed, the Ki43 maintained its maneuverability to much higher speeds, but the Japanese made firing passes and broke off when fighting at Guadalcanal. The Wildcat pilots were confused as to why they didn't simply get on their tail and stay thereOne wonders, giving the emphasis on turning combat by Japanese fighter pilots, whether they would fight to the I-153's strengths. This may not be a winning tactic.