Japanese fighter tactics report

[Erkki]

March 11, 1943:

http://www.lonesentry.com/articles/ttt0 ... ctics.html

...they just turned and burned in their nimble but vulnerable machines. [;)]

[Erkki]

No replies? [&:]

On Japanese fighters attacking bombers:

Currently, Japanese pilots are attacking both heavy and medium bombers from all directions, but the frontal attack is most frequently employed against our Fortresses in order to avoid the heavy fire of their rear guns. Tail attacks, sometimes made simultaneously with bow attacks, continue to be reported, as well as beam attacks and attacks from directly underneath.

During the Battle of Midway, two enemy fighters attempted interception of two three-plane elements of Fortresses, firing first at the wing ships, rolling and taking a shot at the lead ship, falling off, and then pulling back to make successive attacks. Subsequently, one Japanese aircraft flew in the path of the bombers, but far ahead, and after about 30 minutes made a right chandelle and attacked from the frontal quarter.

An instance of rear attack was recently reported from Guadalcanal. Two floatplane fighters, probable Rufes, approached a B-17E at 10,000 feet, one breaking away at 500 yards and concentrating on the bomber's underside. A third enemy fighter did not take part in the action, but remained about 3 miles away at the same altitude as the bomber. A second attack, also from below, followed quickly: One of the fighters went into a slow roll at 7,500 feet, pulled up into a steep climb, and aimed at the belly of the bomber. During the engagement, both fighters jockeyed back and forth, avoiding a straight approach.

A recent report indicates that Japanese fighters now attack medium bombers from a position parallel to the bombers' line of flight but at a lower altitude. The fighters chandelle up into the bomber formation, rolling out and diving down to the opposite side, from which a new attack is begun. This maneuver, which is similar to a lazy eight, is repeated again and again. Frequently employed tactics against the B-26 involve a two-element attack, one aircraft on the right and two on the left, just out of range of the bomber. The single plane turns into the bomber to block out its turret and nose-gun fire, and then passes under the B-26 to take the left flank, while the other two planes change over to the right.

According to that report, it doesnt seem like many Japanese pilots just preferred the turning and slow speed dogfighting their planes were good at. They knew very well the concepts of energy fighting, formation tactics, bait and what were the most vulnerable bombers, where to shoot them and where they had the least defensive guns.

[Nikademus]

ORIGINAL: Erkki

No replies? [&:]

Old news to moi.

[Erkki]

ORIGINAL: Nikademus

ORIGINAL: Erkki

No replies? [&:]

Old news to moi.

Should be to some people participating in the other thread... [;)]

[Nikademus]

you'd be suprised. [:)]