Hello,
Sorry but I do not know where to bring it up, so I thought I try here since this thread is about Japan.
The game is still in development and I was watching this video today, at minute 48:09:
and noticed in the Aviation Research Tree about plane types, that after the famous B5N, the "A6M-2N" was listed as naval bomber. The A6M2-N was actually a Zero with floats, a fighter, capable to land on water and do reco missions + act as fighter. Afterwards the B7N was listed. Between the B5N and the B7N, the B6N was produced, a very capable carrier plane which should replace the A6M2-N Fighter.
The picture they choose seems to be correct for the B6N, so it's just a spelling error.
It's also kinda sad for me to see that the Imperial Army and Navy are mixed like that. They hated each other so much that they didn't even share ressources.
Also the Army planes were not capable to land on carriers, and all army planes started with "Ki", short for Kitai = plane.
For example the Ki-27 and A5M were very similar, but the A5M was capable of landing on carriers. However, the Ki-27 was slightly superior.
Following these two aircraft, the Ki-43-I Hayabusa and A6M2 Zero replacedthe Ki-27 and A5M. While you stated that the Navy planes are generally worse than their Army counterparts, this is not true in many cases as Naval planes had to fullfill much more duties and endure more damage (including enviromental one, the pacific and jungles are harsh). Excluded are specialised land planes, eg short ranged Interceptors or very high altitude air superiority planes (Bf 109 / Ta-152 for example).
After the Ki-43-I, the Ki-44 interceptor was born. It was not liked for it's unmaneuverability but it could do it's duty. Nevertheless, I don't see a reason for it to be ingame.
The Ki-61-I (Ko to Tei) came in next, the only Army plane with inline engine, DB 601 to be precise, the same engine that powered the Bf 109 E and F. It came too late (1943) but was not outdated in aircombat above China, however, found unsuited for the Burma campaign in 1944 (filters could not handle the harsh conditions, so Ki-43-II & III were used).
Following the Ki-61, the Ki-84 Hayate entered service in 1944. It currently has the status of Japan's finest aircraft, but pilots prefered the more reliable and just as capable Ki-100 which was a radial engined Ki-61-II. So for the sake of simplicity (though I wish to see more complexity in Hearts of Iron) the Ki-84 and Ki-100 can be thrown into one template.
The Navy had more troubles with it's fighter(s). The A6M2 was upgraded to the A6M3 and this one should have been replaced with the A7M, but numerous delays and Navy interventions forced Mitsubishi to introduce and upgrade the A6M5 (up to A6M7). In 1944, the A7M1 was introduced and failed horribly, so the A7M2 was born, 2 made it out of the factory just to get bombed by B-29s before the war ended.
Tactics and skilled pilots however kept the A6M5 an worthy opponent to the F6F and F4U.
But let us not forget the N1K1, a land based Imperial Navy Fighter. Pilots hated it for it's bad reliability, but the N1K2 successor was capable enough to deal with the F6F-5 Hellcat and F4U Corsair.
Japan's Navy also had an real interceptor, the J2M series. It was landbased but in the same class like the F6F (it actually outperformed it in all regards but range and high altitude combat).
Heavy Fighters / Attack Aircraft seem to be quite fine in HoI, I just hope that the Ki-102 gets its high durability, as it was armoured against M2 Brownings.
For Bombers, it's also complicated but I try to keep it short
Navy:
- Dive Bomber, carrier stationed: D1A, D3A, D4Y, B7A
- Torpedo Bomber, carrier stationed: B4N, B5N, D4Y, B6N, B7A
- Tactical, land based (note, they could carry torpedos): G3M, G4M, P1Y
- Stratetic, land based: G4M, P1Y, G8N (prototype but it's ingame)
Army:
- Close Air Support, land based: Ki-32, Ki-48, Ki-51, Ki-66 (failed prototype, ingame however)
- Tactical, land based: Ki-21, Ki-48, Ki-49
- Strategic, land based: Ki-21, Ki-49, Ki-67 (one of the finest)
Japan's bombers fullfilled multiple roles, unlike of other Nations, like the USA for example.
I could do the same for tanks, but I think it's not worth the time at the moment, as the ones represented ingame are, well, sufficient. Maybe in the future I will make a more detailed post on them.
I just hope that the Developers consider to replicate the complicated, highly unusual and interesting relationship between the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy, since HoI is supposed to be the best WW2 simulator.
Sincerely,
a fan who can't wait to get his hands on this game.
Edit:
@podcat