Late war japanese DBs. Choices and evaluation

[GreyJoy]

Hi all,

i'm approaching that time in game where important choices must be made concerning the configuration of my LBA and CVequipped DBs and TBs.

What to do with the DBs? What to place on your surviving CVs and what to leave on land?
The choice is between the Grace and the 4th version of the Judy.

The Grace, despite being a DB, carries a Torp on normal range and 2x250kg bombs on extended.
The D4Y4 carries a deadly 800kg bomb on normal range (6) and a 500kg bomb on extended (8).

At first the Grace seems superior, but 2x250 Kg bombs is really a poor paylod late in the war, while the japanese CVs have so few torps to spare that the Jills aboard are usually more than enough to empty the magazines in a single shot.
The 800kg bomb is much more effective than an aerial torp and, on extended range, the 500kg bomb remains a very good weapon that can easily wreck an american flattop.

My choice is to use the Judy on CVs and leave the grace (with its great range and speed) for LBA units.

What do the others think?

[Chickenboy]

Doesn't the Grace, when set to DB profiles at normal range, carry an 800kg bomb? My understanding is that it is the more flexible of the two airframes-it can be used for torpedo or bomb attack at normal ranges, depending on its settings.

I'd have to look at the database to confirm this, however.

ETA: Isn't the D4Y3 the better Judy choice, with a SR=1? (At work now, just going from memory)

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Doesn't the Grace, when set to DB profiles at normal range, carry an 800kg bomb? My understanding is that it is the more flexible of the two airframes-it can be used for torpedo or bomb attack at normal ranges, depending on its settings.

I'd have to look at the database to confirm this, however.

ETA: Isn't the D4Y3 the better Judy choice, with a SR=1? (At work now, just going from memory)

Tracker says otherwise...and the in-game database confirms it. But i would be happy to be mistaken[:D]

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Doesn't the Grace, when set to DB profiles at normal range, carry an 800kg bomb? My understanding is that it is the more flexible of the two airframes-it can be used for torpedo or bomb attack at normal ranges, depending on its settings.

I'd have to look at the database to confirm this, however.

ETA: Isn't the D4Y3 the better Judy choice, with a SR=1? (At work now, just going from memory)

The D4Y4 has a SR=1 too! So it's truly the best of the series. It has no defensive guns...but who really cares? Those unarmoured DBs are dead meat anyway when the escort fails to defend them

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Doesn't the Grace, when set to DB profiles at normal range, carry an 800kg bomb? My understanding is that it is the more flexible of the two airframes-it can be used for torpedo or bomb attack at normal ranges, depending on its settings.

I'd have to look at the database to confirm this, however.

ETA: Isn't the D4Y3 the better Judy choice, with a SR=1? (At work now, just going from memory)

Tracker says otherwise...and the in-game database confirms it. But i would be happy to be mistaken[:D]

Uhhh...which of the two questions were you referring to, GreyJoy?

[GreyJoy]

About the bombload. The Grace carries either a torp or 2x250kg bombs unfortunately
 
 

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Chickenboy

Doesn't the Grace, when set to DB profiles at normal range, carry an 800kg bomb? My understanding is that it is the more flexible of the two airframes-it can be used for torpedo or bomb attack at normal ranges, depending on its settings.

I'd have to look at the database to confirm this, however.

ETA: Isn't the D4Y3 the better Judy choice, with a SR=1? (At work now, just going from memory)

The D4Y4 has a SR=1 too! So it's truly the best of the series. It has no defensive guns...but who really cares? Those unarmoured DBs are dead meat anyway when the escort fails to defend them

Without looking at relative speeds or ranges, the D4Y4 has my vote. It has an essentially equivalent payload when using bombs and, as you say, it doesn't eat up the already-low quantity of torps on board your CVs.

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Another point: D4Y4 is in an upgrade path; you have factories already producing the previous versions. Therefore, the supply cost is going to be less than the going through the "unique" Grace path

[SqzMyLemon]

ORIGINAL: Jorge_Stanbury

Therefore, the supply cost is going to be less than the going through the "unique" Grace path

Unless you researched the Grace from day one with some smaller R&D factories and lovingly expanded them over 1942, which would work out about the same in supply expenditure compared with the Judy over the long term.

I don't think the Judy factories are that large at game start, if I recall. Then again, you're duplicating efforts which is what you were meaning I guess. You could just choose based on how the names strike you as well. Which of Grace or Judy comes across as the sexier aircraft?

That's how I tend to make those really tough production decisions. Time will tell how I make out. [:D]

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Correct, but Judy D4Y1 comes a lot sooner than Grace (4/43 vs 12/44 in scen1). Not accelerating Judys means keeping the old, slow, 250kg-bomb Val for much longer than I would like to

true D4Y1 is SR3, but I like the 500KG bomb and much higher speed

[akdreemer]

In reality the D4Y4 was strictly land based. It did not have a tail hook and was created solely for Kamikaze missions. The 800kg 'bomb' was not detachable. This aircraft should not be part of any carrier plane upgrade path.

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: AlaskanWarrior

In reality the D4Y4 was strictly land based. It did not have a tail hook and was created solely for Kamikaze missions. The 800kg 'bomb' was not detachable. This aircraft should not be part of any carrier plane upgrade path.

Well....if it was designed for kamikazes, it wouldn't need a tail hook would it? [;)]

[Cribtop]

Is there any advantage to going Grace, dismounting the former DB squadron and expanding the former TB squadron to full size? This would get you several extra land based air groups. I can see a disadvantage in that your CV bomber group can only pick bombs or torpedoes, limiting flexibility. However, you could always configure half the CV groups to carry bombs. This would both create mixed strike packages and ration torpedo use. The next day you switch loads so that the torpedo drained CV groups become the bomb carrying groups.

[crsutton]

Whatever get you the 800 kg bomb faster. I have been on the receiving end of these things and they are not fun. Plus is the Judy faster than the Grace? That sometimes helps.

[PaxMondo]

Grace is VERY fast and very manouverable. Specs on it say think Zero with a torp. So it should be 350 with 30 man in the game, however in Scen 1 it is in as 352 kts and 18 MAN.

It is unfortunate that in stock it can only carry 250kg bomb. They could carry anything up to the 800kg bomb, assuming these were available which is also debatable. Whether they did is a matter of debate as they were only deployed to 2? units in the HI and all the sources I read are somewhat contradictory. Truth is that I haven't actually read that they took a torp into action. The few accounts I have read are only bomb runs and the load outs are not clearly stated. [:(] Given the state of late war Japan, I would bet they were loaded with what was on hand, whatever that was. It is well documented that by late war IJ munitions quality was dropping rapidly as was quantity. So who knows what they actually flew with. Those pilots and mechanics who did know are sadly long gone ....

[GreyJoy]

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Is there any advantage to going Grace, dismounting the former DB squadron and expanding the former TB squadron to full size? This would get you several extra land based air groups. I can see a disadvantage in that your CV bomber group can only pick bombs or torpedoes, limiting flexibility. However, you could always configure half the CV groups to carry bombs. This would both create mixed strike packages and ration torpedo use. The next day you switch loads so that the torpedo drained CV groups become the bomb carrying groups.

AFAIK a TB group cannot be upgraded to the Grace cause the latter is considered a DB so it is in another upgrade path.
That's why i think the D4Y4 + the Jill remains a better choice for your CVs.
The 2x250kg bombs carried by the Jills aren't really usefull...so i don't see a viable strategy to waste your TBs pilot on a second day strike using when the torps are finished. Better to expand your DB groups, imho, and keep your TB groups in order to expend 2/3 of the torps on the first strike, so to let the surviving pilots use the remaining 1/3 torps on the second day, while your BIG DB groups will be able to use the 800kg bombs without any limitation

[PaxMondo]

ORIGINAL: GreyJoy

ORIGINAL: Cribtop

Is there any advantage to going Grace, dismounting the former DB squadron and expanding the former TB squadron to full size? This would get you several extra land based air groups. I can see a disadvantage in that your CV bomber group can only pick bombs or torpedoes, limiting flexibility. However, you could always configure half the CV groups to carry bombs. This would both create mixed strike packages and ration torpedo use. The next day you switch loads so that the torpedo drained CV groups become the bomb carrying groups.

AFAIK a TB group cannot be upgraded to the Grace cause the latter is considered a DB so it is in another upgrade path.
That's why i think the D4Y4 + the Jill remains a better choice for your CVs.
The 2x250kg bombs carried by the Jills aren't really usefull...so i don't see a viable strategy to waste your TBs pilot on a second day strike using when the torps are finished. Better to expand your DB groups, imho, and keep your TB groups in order to expend 2/3 of the torps on the first strike, so to let the surviving pilots use the remaining 1/3 torps on the second day, while your BIG DB groups will be able to use the 800kg bombs without any limitation

All original CV TB bomber groups have Grace in their upgrade path. With PDU ON, Grace will show as an option for all of the DB groups.

[PaxMondo]

Grace+Judy is a strong combination. Both are fast (350kts), faster than their allied counterparts. Biggest drawback is neither are armored. So they tend to get in with their attacks, but get caught on the exit. Like all IJN engagements, bomber pilot and a/c losses will be high.

[koniu]

Personally i see B7A2 Grace working together with P1Y2 Frances as LBA.
Grace can reach 13 hex distance with 2x250kg bomb load and dive toward enemy while simultaneously Frances can start torpedo attack at that distance.
Both planes are fast, both have SR2, Frances have armor. And we all know that simultaneous dive and torpedo attack mix is giving best chances of success.

[crsutton]

Now the obvious question. Does anyone know if a Judy could get off a flight deck with a 800 kg bomb? I doubt it.