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 manoeuverability since the last game, however it still remains one of the most agile aicraft 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. However, its agility sacrifices durability, and its thin armour means a few good hits and you're going down. Thanks to this, the Oscar works best in large packs, and can easily target enemy aircraft aswell as small, lightly armoured ships such as PT and Higgins boats.

Unlike the Zero, the Oscar features no cannon, instead relying on two machine guns, although these are larger and more powerful than those fitted to the Zero. However, in a dogfight the lack of any heavier weaponry means planes cannot be downed at as quick a rate as with the Zero. The Oscar can also be fitted with two 100kg bombs. These are not practical against anything more heavily armoured than a destroyer, but are often preferable to purpose built dive bombers as the Oscar is equipped with much more potent guns, and is much more agile. The kamikaze Oscar loses the bomb option, but keeps the two 12.7mm machine guns.

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 2 20mm cannons, the Zero is a much more potent dogfighter, able to take out heavier targets much more quickly. In addition, the Zero is also slightly more agile, vital in a dogfight situation. The Zero also follows suit with most Japanese aircraft in that it sacrifices armour for agility and speed, and this can be capitalised upon by the enemy.

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 manoeuverable 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
Unlike many other Japanese fighter aircraft, the Gekko is actually fairly durable, managing to deal with much more opposition than a Zero or Oscar, without bursting into flames. Armed with two nose-mounted 20mm cannons, the Gekko is a strong aircraft, capable of high speeds (198 mph normal flight, 281 mph with boost engaged) and able to take out a wide range of aircraft quite quickly. However, the Gekko has also lost significant levels of manouverability from the last game, bringing it more in line with a Zero, rather than being vastly superior as was previously the case.

Unlike the single engined fighters, the Gekko can easily carry two 250kg bombs, giving it extra firepower to take on heavier ships such as light cruisers, albeit with a limited capacity. The Gekko excels in intercepting bomber aircraft, its durability meaning it can withstand a beating from rear gunners, and its two cannon can easily deal with even the most heavily armoured of aircraft.

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. Whilst in terms of agility it is more comparable with the Ki-43 Oscar, it is still a very manoueverable plane, however once again its light armour means AA fire is its biggest enemy. Unlike the Zero, the J2M is specifically designed to destroy heavy bombers, and this is reflected in its armament. Its complement of four 20mm cannons and 8 multirole rockets makes it one of the most powerful dogfighting aircraft on the game, allowing you to tear apart enemy planes in seconds, and is especially useful for intercepting B-17s and B-29s.

In terms of speed the Raiden is faster than both the Zero and Oscar, capable of 212 mph in normal level flight, and, with the boost engaged, 300 mph. Note that in steep dives, much higher speeds are achievable, often in excess of 400 mph. This speed allows it to quickly get in the air and intercept air threats from a much further distance than other fighters would be capable of. Furthermore, its 8 rockets, if equipped, provide excellent firepower in air attacks, however note that its rockets are not effective against ships or ground targets. The plane's machine guns are useful for taking out fortified AA positions on islands, making the Raiden a perfect all round fighter.

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 maneuverability was not as good as contemporary Japanese fighters.''

J7W Shinden
The J7W Shinden is one of the finest Japanese fighters of World War II, let down only by its thin armour. Complimented by four 30mm cannon, the Shinden easily has the most firepower under its belt of any plane in the game, and it's a shame it didn't sacrifice some maneuverability to compensate for the lack of decent armour. The placement of these cannon – on the nose – makes them best for attacking from behind or in front – adopting aggressive tactics is best here. A good idea to keep your squadron in one piece is to approach enemy fighters from behind or below, firing your cannon well before the enemy can turn and shoot back.

In terms of maneuverability the Shinden excels, with possibly the best handling of any of the Japanese aircraft making it more than a match to anything the opposing team possesses, and it can also be equipped with eight air-to-air rockets. These rockets, unfortunately, cause miniscule damage. Although the 250kg bomb can sometimes come in handy, the Shinden can only carry one, meaning its offensive possibilities are limited – bombing is better left to the dive bombers. However, the Shinden is also incredibly quick, capable of 213 mph in normal flight and, with boost engaged, 301 mph.

Complete 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 Lieutenant on Xbox Live or Games for Windows. It is impossible to unlock this aircraft in the single player campaign.

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, capable of carrying just twelve 250kg bombs, not only hampers its effectiveness against heavier units, but also means it is denied the ability of carrying any heavier bombs. It can also be equipped with a torpedo, but be advised this should only be used in emergencies, as the Nell is slow and unmaneuverable.

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. Thanks to this, the aircraft is most effective when employed in numbers, and should always avoid flying over ships with good AA capabilites whilst 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 500kg bombs instead. Due to this, the Betty's effectiveness is somewhat limited, however if level bombing duties are required then this is much preferable to the Nell. 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. It is also slightly more agile than the Nell, but you will rarely find agility necessary with these bombers – your best bet for combatting enemy aircraft is to switch to AA mode and shoot until they burn.

Unusually, the Betty is also available in an Ohka kamikaze plane carrier variant, however it lacks bomb or torpedo capabilities due to the fact the Ohka is stored in the bomb bay. These aircraft are vulnerable and Ohkas should be released outside of AA range from the target. For details on unlocking this aircraft, 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.''

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 hull of the Mavis is very weak, its good AA complement of five 7.7mm machine guns and a single 20mm cannon 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 if an airfield isn't available (it is launched from a shipyard). 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 better 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.''