Battlestations: Pacific/Japanese Aircraft

For Battlestations: Pacific, a whole host of new IJN aircraft are available for use, and in general agility and manoeuverability of most planes has been downgraded to improve realism.

Ki-43 Oscar
The Oscar has lost some manoeuvrability since the last game, however it still remains one of the most agile aircraft featured, just losing out to the Zero in turning capacity. Capable of 198 mph normally, 280 mph with boost engaged and even more in steep dives, the Oscar is also a fast aircraft, making it a formidable opponent for any US aircraft. Although it is somewhat slow in climbs and turns, an Oscar pilot can confuse his opponents by taking advantage of its superior ability to roll. Rolling allows an Oscar pilot to remain unpredictable when defencive, and allows his or her wingman to destroy the enemy.

Offensively the Oscar is inferior to the Zero, as it does not have the same number of guns or the same amount of power. The Zero is generally the preferred fighter overall.

Official Description: ''Where the 'Zero' serves the Japanese Navy in the fighter role, the Japanese Army has the 'Oscar'. Known as 'Hayabusa', or 'Peregrine Falcon', to its pilots, it is a modern fighter aircraft which only entered production in 1941. Although slightly slower than the 'Zero', it has longer range, faster cruising speed and a higher ceiling, making it better suited to land-based operation. Its only shortcoming is its offensive armament; consisting of just two machine guns, it is considerably under-gunned when compared to other fighters.''

A6M Zero
The Zero differs from the Oscar in a number of ways, most notably in its armament. Featuring two 7.7mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons, the Zero is more capable of quickly destroying targets in front of it. Although it cannot roll as well as the Oscar, it can climb easier and turn at about the same pace. The Zero is the most balanced fighter in the Japanese arsenal.

As with the Oscar, the Zero is capable of 198 mph in normal flight, and this rises to roughly 280 mph when boost is engaged. This high speed allows it to reach areas of concern across the map much quicker than many other aircraft, and the Zero, like the Oscar, can be equipped with two 100kg bombs. The Zero is also available in kamikaze form. In this form it cannot be equipped with bombs, however it retains its dual machine guns and cannons.

Official Description: ''Known to the Imperial Japanese Navy as the T'ype 0 Carrier Fighter', this is one of the finest planes currently serving in any air force. Capable of higher speeds than any comparable American plane, and more manoeuvrable to boot, it also boasts a hugely powerful armament of two 7.7 mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons which fire explosives shells, giving it the power to shred any enemy in seconds. It has been in service since early 1940, and is known to the codename 'Zeke'.''

J1N Gekko
The Gekko is a twin-engined fighter, much like the Lightning. Compared to other Japanese aircraft, the Gekko is able to climb well and sports a lot of power from its engines. On the other hand, however, it isn't the greatest in a turning battle, and can keep pace with Corsairs only if they're loaded down with rockets. The Gekko handles smoother than the Zero and can outperform it in most cases, but the plane is very much under-armed, and has a slow refire rate on its cannons. The plane is also very large, making it an easy target. The Gekko is therefore best as a ground attack aircraft, capable of climbing quickly to begin another strafing run on enemy defences.

Official Description: ''Originally designed to escort bombers as a long-range fighter capable of engaging single-engine fighters, the Gekko turned out to be too heavy for such a role, and was used as a reconnaissance plane first, and later converted to a night fighter. This twin-engine plane is a quick and agile fighter, best used to engage in head-to-head attacks, capable of quickly destroying unarmored planes, thanks to the powerful, nose-mounted 20mm cannons.''

J2M Raiden
The Raiden was a land based fighter aircraft, and so does not feature as much during the game as the Zero, however it still makes a formidable opponent. A dedicated interceptor, the Raiden's strengths are in speed and attacking power - allowing it to down heavily armoured opponents like B-17s with ease. The Raiden is also no slouch in turning battles, constant management of its airspeed is a must. True to its Japanese name of "Thunderbolt", the Raiden can be described as "heavy" - if you put a Raiden in a dive, the plane easily gains airspeed. Offensively, the Raiden sports four cannons, allowing it to shred American heavy bombers with ease. As with the Gekko, however, there's very little Raidens can do defensively aside from boost and dive to outrun an opponent. Unlike the Gekko, however, the Raiden's profile is much smaller, making the Raiden superior in many ways to the Gekko. Only the experienced should use the Raiden as a ground attack plane - it is very easy to misjudge your airspeed and be unable to pull out of a dive in time.

Official Description: ''The Raiden, or "Thunderbolt", was a single engine, land-based interceptor of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Designed to counter allied bombing raids, the Raiden is equipped with four heavy 20mm cannons, which are excellent against all kinds of enemy planes. As an interceptor the Raiden relies on speed, performance and climb rate to get in and out of air combat, but its manoeuvrability was not as good as contemporary Japanese fighters.''

J7W Shinden
The J7W Shinden is one of the finest Japanese fighters of World War II. The Shinden is incredibly quick, capable of 213 mph in normal flight and, with boost engaged, 301 mph.

The J7W Shinden handles extremely well, capable of rolling, diving, and climbing very easily. Essentially a Raiden with the manoeuvrability of an improved Zero, the Shinden is an excellent fighter. Although its payloads generally aren't favourable (the rockets barely cause any damage and the bomb just weighs it down) the Shinden's cannons let it shoot down enemy aircraft quickly. The only thing that lessens the Shinden's dogfighting potential is its slow rate of fire.

Complete Mission 5 - Invasion of Port Moresby with a silver medal to unlock this deadly fighter.

Official Description: ''The futuristic-looking Shinden was an experimental aircraft developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy as a highly maneuverable interceptor. The main wing was mounted at the rear of the fuselage and a smaller wing was on the front, acting as an elevator. The engine and the propeller were also installed on the back in a pusher configuration. The prototype had only flown once before the end of the war, and the Shinden never entered production. Armed with 30mm cannons, the Shinden has the strongest offensive armament ever mounted on a plane in the Pacific.''

J9Y Kikka
The J9Y Kikka is shown here in its fighter/bomber configuration, and as such is not as strong in the air as a dedicated dogfighter. Essentially a jet-powered dive bomber, Eidos has said that "The best use this plane is to bomb unprotected ships or command bases quickly. Although bad in [a] dogfight, the nose mounted cannons have a serious punch, a head-on attack against Kikkas is not advisable".

The J9Y Kikka, along with the American P-80 Shooting Star, is an unlockable unit. Unlike all other unlockables, however, the J9Y can be unlocked only by reaching the rank of Fleet Admiral on Xbox Live or Games for Windows. It is impossible to unlock this aircraft in the single player campaign.

Official Description: ''One of the finest results of the cooperation between Japan and the European Axis powers was the Nakajima J9Y Kikka, Japan's first operational jet plane. Based on the designs of the German Messerschmitt Me-262 fighter, Japan decided to build its own version, which was in many ways inferior to the original German design. The Kikka was smaller, had folding wings so it could be stored in underground tunnels but its armament was less effective. Despite these flaws, the plane can easily outrun all Allied fighters, and the 30mm cannons in the nose can almost instantly destroy any enemy aircraft, including heavy bombers. A very potent aircraft in the hands of a skilled pilot. ''

D3A Val
As the main Japanese dive bomber, the Val is a highly proficient aircraft, capable of carrying one 500kg bomb but with enough agility to serve as a primitive dogfighter. It carries two 7.7mm guns and one 7.7 rear gun, meaning it can shrug off light air attacks and strafe weaker ships if necessary, and its 500kg bomb is good for anything up to a destroyer, or, when deployed en masse, a light cruiser. Whilst its armour is again incredibly thin, the Val is also fairly quick, capable of 165 mph and when using boost, 236 mph.

Due to its weak armour, it is best employed in large numbers, allowing more to breach the AA cover and score hits on targets. The Val is also unusual in that it is one of the only monoplanes of World War II to feature static landing gear, no doubt to keep the aircraft light and to save costs. All in all, whilst the Val is by no means the best dive bomber, it is a valuable unit and strong against any light ship.

Official Description: ''This carrier-based dive bomber is known by the codename 'Val' to the Allies, while the Japanese Navy terms it the 'Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber Model 11'. In service since 1939, it is easily recognisable through its fixed landing gear. It is a highly maneuverable and stable airplane; indeed, it is so agile that it can serve as a dogfighter if needs be. It is very popular with the pilots of the Kido Butai, and in training they have achieved dive-bombing accuracy statistics exceeding 80%.''

D4Y Judy
The Judy first appeared in 1942 as the replacement for the aging Val, and as such it features more heavily later in the game. It features a number of notable improvements, including the ability to carry a larger bomb load, an internal weapons bay, retracting landing gear and the ability to carry depth charges. These differences combine to make a far superior aircraft which remains incredibly agile, making it much preferable if available. The massive 800kg bomb is useful against most ships, and, when deployed in large numbers, has the ability to take on larger ships (however, be advised torpedo bombers are more suited to this task).

As with almost all Japanese aircraft (with the exception of level bombers), it comes with a kamikaze variant which makes a fair dogfighter, but purpose built aircraft are much better if available. Due to its depth charge capability, it is useful in the anti submarine role, however recon planes, which carry on-board sonar, are much better at this. It is capable of 174 mph normally, or, with boost engaged, 243 mph, making it fairly fast in comparison with American dive bombers, and its armour, whilst still woefully thin, is better than that of the Val.

Official Description: ''This carrier-borne dive bomber would be introduced in 1942, to replace the 'Val' on IJN carriers. Prototyped in 1938, the 'Suisei', or 'Comet', as it is known to the Japanese, is a very advanced design indeed. Its speed is comparable to the 'Zero' fighter, while its internal bomb-bay and retractable landing gear both make for excellent aerodynamics. Normal armament is a single 500kg bomb, though depth charges can also be carried for anti-submarine work.''

B5N Kate
The B5N was a very old aircraft by mid World War II, and it shows in the game. Counter to your expectations of Japanese aircraft up to this point, the Kate is plagued by agility issues and remains deathly slow despite an engine upgrade to compete with faster aircraft, being capable of 168 mph normally in level flight and 238 mph with boost engaged. Due to these two factors combined, it often falls prey to AA fire well before you can get close enough to fire off your ordnance accurately. Still, you will find yourself often relying on the aircraft and despite these shortcomings it is still a competent torpedo bomber, with two 7.7mm machine guns mounted on the nose, and a 7.7 rear mounted gun for the rear gunner.

Unlike its replacement, the Kate again lacks any form of decent armour, meaning fighter aircraft will find it easy to intercept and destroy, so ensure you have adequate AA protection, be it in the form of a fighter escort or a ship with good AA guns, when the Kates are en route to the target.

Official Description: ''Known to the Japanese as the 'Type 97 Carrier Attack Bomber', this plane has been in service with the IJN as a torpedo bomber since 1939. Like the British Swordfish and the American Devastator, it is now considered obsolete, and is due to be replaced by the B6N. It has seen combat in the Sino-Japanese War, where it was found to be slow and poorly protected, and has received an engine modification as a result. It is primarily used as a torpedo bomber, but can also be equipped with a bomb load as well.''

B6N Jill
The B6N Jill is billed as a replacement for the Kate, bringing a number of improvements to the table. Whilst its speeds and guns remain the same as with the Kate, the Jill is able to carry a 500kg bomb, giving it dive bomber potential and vastly improving its versatility, however note that dive bombing is better suited to purpose built aircraft like the Val or Judy. Interestingly, the Jill also has an internal armament bay.

Its 7.7mm guns are fairly weak on their own, so you will be relying on your tail gunner for the majority of your air kills. The Jill is just as agile as the Kate, but also features more armour. Whilst its armour overall is still severely lacking, even this slight improvement means it is a much more effective torpedo bomber.

Official Description: ''The B6N Jill is the standard carrier-borne torpedo bomber for the Imperial Japanese Navy, replacing the old B5N Kate torpedo bombers. These planes are an upgrade over the Kates, with a larger, more powerful engine and longer range while still being capable of carrying the same torpedo or bomb load. Armor is only marginally upgraded, so the Jill is still vulnerable to AA fire and enemy fighters. Counterpart to the TBF Avenger of the US Navy, this plane has a slight edge over the Avenger in terms of top speed and maneuverability.''

G3M Nell
Now obsolete, the G3M Nell is severely outclassed by pretty much every other level bomber on the game, but nevertheless it can be vital on missions where the Betty is unavailable. Equipped with just three AA guns, the Nell can be easily destroyed by AA fire or fighter units, so be aware of this when launching it. In addition, its small load bay is capable of carrying just twelve 250kg bombs. Although it can also function as a torpedo bomber, it is slow, not manoeuvrable, and has poor armour.

As is the case with pretty much every Japanese aircraft, the Nell suffers from poor armour, meaning just a few good hits is enough to finish one off. Because of this, the aircraft is most effective when employed in numbers, and should avoid enemy AA ships en route. In addition, a fighter escort is advised to intercept any opposition. In terms of handling, it is even less agile than the Betty, being incredibly slow and sluggish, capable of just 148 mph.

Official Description: ''The first prototype for this twin-engined bomber flew in 1935, and it entered full production in 1936. Despite its age in comparison to other modern bombers it is considered an excellent aircraft, and is particularly notable for its long range. It was the first plane to conduct a transoceanic attack when it was used to bomb mainland China during the Sino-Japanese War. However, it carries very little defensive armament, and is vulnerable to attack by fighter aircraft.''

G4M Betty
The Betty is the replacement for the Nell, and is a major improvement all round. Featuring three 7.7mm machine guns and two 20mm guns, the Betty has much improved AA defences meaning you do not need as large an escort, however it is still advised to have at least one squadron for fighter escort duties. Furthermore, the Betty also has much better armour than the Nell, allowing you to take out more heavily defended targets without suffering critical losses.

In terms of payload, the Betty has a slight improvement, able to carry sixteen 250kg bombs rather than the twelve of the Nell. However, neither can match the American B-17, which is capable of carrying larger 500 lb bombs instead. Capable of 151 mph, the Betty is just as slow as the Nell, but the upgraded AA guns and armour means this is less of an issue. Although it is far more agile than the Nell, a Betty's primary defence against fighters are its tail guns.

When equipped with a torpedo, the Betty can perform precision strikes against targets it otherwise might miss with bombs. Although it is a large and slow target, the extra armour and guns it carries can let it land several hits on targets. Although the Kate and the Jill are more popular torpedo bombers, do not discount the Betty as one either. A variant of the Betty - identified as the Ohka Carrier - shuttles the deadly Ohka to its target. While the Ohka Carrier cannot load bombs or torpedoes, the Ohka Carrier is otherwise completely identical to the Betty. For details on unlocking the Ohka Carrier and the Ohka itself, see the section on the MXY-7 Ohka.

Official Description: ''Known to the Allies by the call-sign 'Betty', Japanese servicemen nicknamed it the 'Hamaki', or 'Cigar', thanks to its cylindrical shape. It was commissioned in 1937, following the successful deployment of its predecessor, the 'Nell', in China. Very high specifications were set for the 'Betty' in terms of top speed, altitude and range, and the result was an aircraft with very good performance. However, to achieve these specifications, it was necessary to make the plane very lightly armored, making it vulnerable to enemy fire.''

G5N Liz
This unit was unveiled on July 2, 2009 as one of the first downloadable units in the game. The G5N Liz is the Japanese answer to the American strategic bombers. It is, by far, the best strategic bomber the Japanese have. It outclasses the B-17 but is inferior to the B-29 in comparison, and retains the same speed as the other Japanese bombers.

The Liz is also very heavily armoured, on par with the American heavy bombers. As with all bombers, however, it has a tendency to miss with most of its bombs, thus preventing the bomber from causing large amounts of damage from high altitude.

Official Description: ''The Nakajima G5N Shinzan was a long-range heavy bomber roughly based on the US-built Douglas DC-4E airliner. Japanese engineers made numerous changes to the airframe and the new, four-engined bomber made its maiden flight on 10 April 1941. Historically, they never saw real combat as they were used as long-range transports and only a few of them were built. Allied forces called the Shinzan "Liz". They are big, heavily armoured with decent self-defence weaponry, however only their payload matches that of similar American bombers such as the B-29.''

H6K Mavis
As a unit, the Mavis is the basic Japanese flying boat, and whilst not being the most accomplished of its type, it does possess a major advantage over the American PBY Catalina – payload. Whereas the Catalina can carry two torpedoes, the Mavis can carry double this, meaning a single strike has the potential to devastate even a battleship. Whilst the armour of the Mavis is very weak, its good AA complement of six 7.7mm machine guns can fend off weak air attacks with a good chance of success. However its slow, lumbering pace means it is heavily advised that you provide some kind of fighter escort, or at least draw enemy aircraft away from the Mavis as it is still vulnerable.

Whilst the H8K Emily is undeniably a much more accomplished craft, the Mavis is still an incredibly useful tool. In addition, its versatility also allows it to become a highly effective anti submarine unit when equipped with depth charges – it carries four, more than most other aircraft, allowing you to totally destroy a submarine in just two well-aimed strikes. Whilst the four 250kg bombs are a novel idea, the Mavis makes a poor level bomber, so either rely on dive bombers or purpose built level bombers for this duty. Overall, the Mavis is a good aircraft if you can get it within range, but the H8K Emily is a much better bet, with superior armour and a smaller profile allowing it to penetrate enemy AA much more easily.

Official Description: ''This huge flying boat, with a wingspan 50% larger than the B-17 bomber, is considered an excellent transport and reconnaissance plane. Known to the Japanese as the 'Type 97 Flying Boat', it can carry a payload of torpedoes, a 2205 lb bomb load or 16 passengers.''

H8K Emily
As the upgrade for the Mavis, the Emily features several notable improvements, the most obvious being speed. Unlike the Mavis, which struggles to reach 160 mph, the Emily is capable of 175 mph and has a generally smaller profile, making it a much harder target for AA fire. It is also slightly more manoeverable in some situations, with a similar AA complement as the Mavis. Although the Emily can be equipped with nothing but its guns, you will never find a use for this option so make sure you always have some form of payload.

The best feature of the Emily is how inexpensive it is compared to the Mavis. While both have the same cost, Emilies come in squads of three. Since each Emily comes armed with four torpedoes, each squadron can put a respectable 12 torpedoes in the water at once. This makes the Emily ideal for hitting lone battleships. Unlike other torpedo specialists like the Shimakaze or the Kuma Torpedo variant, the Emily is far more mobile.

Against submarines, three Emilies are often overkill. It is generally best to save Emilies for hitting ships. The Emily's bombs are nowhere near as effective as their torpedoes, so try to use dedicated bombers to hit the enemy headquarters in island captures.

Official Description: ''This new flying boat design has only recently entered service, as a replacement for the H6K5 'Mavis'. Designed to be faster, longer-ranged and better-defended than its predecessor, the 'Emily' is reckoned to be the finest flying boat in service with any country. It is useful in a variety of roles, and can be armed with torpedoes to attack shipping or with depth charges in an anti-sumarine role.''

E13A Jake
As far as reconnaissance aircraft go, the Jake is one of the most useful in the game. Highly adept at smaller strike missions, the Jake can be equipped with two 250kg bombs or four depth charges, making it a formidable opponent for any submarine or light ship. Its main weakness is its sluggish turn rate and lack of firepower, meaning it is especially vulnerable to patrolling fighter aircraft. Due to this, it is best employed as a form of early warning aircraft, sent to isolated regions on the map to check for any reinforcements or enemy units which might try and flank you, and, depending on their size, strike if necessary.

In terms of guns, it carries a single, nose-mounted 7.7mm gun and a Type 92 7.7mm rear gun. The rear gun is fairly useful against enemy aircraft, but the nose-mounted 7.7mm is pretty much useless, lacking the firepower to take out even the most lightly armoured targets quickly. In fact, the Jake is more reminiscent of a dive bomber, and can be launched from a wide variety of Japanese airbases, shipyards and sea units, including the Tone class cruiser and Type B submarine. However, it is limited in its usefulness by its slow speed (roughly 180 mph unassisted and 252 mph with boost engaged) and lack of armament.

Official Description: ''This three-seater floatplane came into service and made its combat debut over China in the autumn of 1941. They are usually carried aboard cruisers or seaplane tenders, from which they are launched by a steam catapult. They are primarily used for reconnaissance, though they can play an antishipping role when armed with a 250kg bomb, which is effective against any small warship. They are easy meat for fighter planes, however, thanks to their slow speed, poor manoeuvrability, and very light defensive armament.''

F1M Pete
As the basic recon plane of the Japanese navy, the Pete, although reasonably manoeuvrable, is not suitable for dogfighting, due to its light armament and armour. Its primary strengths are its large detection range and sonar capability that let it spot submarines. Petes, like Jakes, are often best sent off on their own to spot enemies from afar and to watch for sneak attacks.

As far as armament goes, the F1M Pete only has two 7.7mm machine guns, one in the front and one on the back. The Pete is commonly loaded with two depth charges, although it can be loaded with two 100kg (200lb) bombs. When unloaded the plane is reasonably manoeuvrable and can reasonably fight other seaplanes or depth charge-laden dive bombers.

Official Description: ''Although designed in 1935, this two-seater biplane didn't enter service until 1941, making it one of few biplanes in active service with any country. Nevertheless, it is a remarkably able aircraft, with a fine turn of speed for a biplane and exceptional manoeuvrability. Designed to be launched from a ship for a short-ranged observational role, it has also shown itself to be an adept dive bomber, and has even served in a fighter capacity.''

M6A Seiran
The M6A Seiran is a fast, agile, reconnaissance aircraft. The Seiran is more like a dive bomber than a recon plane, as it can only be loaded with a single 500kg (1,000lb) bomb. As with the other two seaplanes, the Seiran is best used to cover flanks and watch for surprise attacks.

As the M6A is launched exclusively from the I-400, however, it can prove to be effective at intercepting other seaplanes and depth charge-laden dive bombers. This gives a submarine commander something with which to fight back enemy bombers that would otherwise sink his or her submarine.

Official Description: ''The M6A Seiran was exclusively designed for submarine use, and to be carried by and launched from the I-400 class submarines. The I-400 had three of these aircraft stored in her large hangar. The Seiran can carry a single torpedo or bombs weighing up to 800kg. The Seirans are fast and agile, but they lack offensive armament, carrying only 13mm machine guns. The Japanese Navy had plans to bomb the Panama Canal with submarine-based Seirans, but the end of the war and the Japanese surrender prevented this attack.''

L2D Tabby
The L2D Tabby is a licensed version of the C-47, and as such all characteristics about them are identical. The L2D deploys paratroopers to capture islands quickly and is ideally deployed to remote island bases that would take ships too long to reach. L2Ds, unlike ships, are very vulnerable to machine gun fire, and therefore should constantly be escorted by fighters.

Official Description: ''Known as 'The Plane with a Thousand Names', this transport plane has been in service with civil airlines since 1936, and is given credit for the 600% increase in airline passenger traffic since that time. Seeing its potential as a military transport, the Japanese Navy commissioned a military version designated the L2D.''

MXY-7 Ohka
The Ohka is a deadly personnel-guided missile. Once deployed from its carrier, very little can stop the tiny aircraft from striking its target, as its single boost propels it up to 1000 kilometres per hour. This boost recharges extremely slowly, essentially to the point of single-use, but it is theoretically possible for an Ohka to strike from across the map. Ohkas, however, are extremely slow without their boost, making them easy targets for fighters. Although sustained anti-aircraft fire, particularly from Atlanta-class cruisers, can quickly bring down the missile, the best counter to the Ohka is to intercept its carriers and destroy it before it is released.

A Japanese version of the TBM Avenger's Tiny Tim rocket, the Ohka has a few advantages. Firstly, it is capable of switching targets mid-flight, allowing an Ohka Carrier squadron to either focus its firepower on a single target, or strike three smaller targets with a single Ohka each. In the event it misses its target, it can also loop around and reacquire its target (or select another one). Ohka Carriers are also more heavily armoured and sport player-controllable machine guns, making them tougher targets. Ohka Carriers and TBMs are well balanced when compared to each other, despite several players' repeated cries to make them less powerful.

To unlock this unit, complete the final Japanese campaign mission: Mission 14 - Invasion of Hawaii with a gold medal.

Official Description: ''The MXY-7 Ohka was a rocket powered kamikaze aircraft, basically a manned flying bomb, launched from G4M Betty bombers who carried the Ohka within the range of enemy ships. Equipped with a 2500lb (1200kg) warhead, the Ohka packs a serious punch, able to sink smaller ships and destroyers with a single hit. The suicide pilot is locked within the small plane from the outside, and upon release, he has to glide and direct his plane towards enemy targets and start the rocket engine. Interception is almost impossible if the rocket engine is working, which accelerates the tiny plane to more than 650 mph (1000km/h). The best tactic to avoid kamikaze strikes is to counter the Betties carrying the Ohkas.''