IJN_A6M2_21

IJN_A6M2_21 2024-11-09

No permission to download
Overview History Discussion
The problem is that the A638NOT operate effectively without modern communications.
There are cases of allied pilots observing Japanese pilots break off combat to fly aerobatics at a distance.
It seemed silly but what they didn't know was that the pilots had no other means of communicating with each other besides aerobatics.
The loss of the carriers at Midway can also be attributed to a lack of communications. When the TBD torpedo planes attacked, the entire CAP came down to kill them. Properly done, they would have left a couple elements at altitude AND in radio communications. Problem was that the planes didn't usually have working radios.....
Thus, the SBDs which followed the torpedo planes came in entirely unopposed. Just hate it whennat happens!
My understanding was that this was usually a case of poor ignition shielding causing interference.

The report attached above is interesting in that it clearly shows that the US test personnel had no real idea what the limitations were on A6M2. At one point, they believed that Koga's aircraft had particularly coarse propeller pitch for increased range. This is entirely illogical considering that Koga flew off a rather small carrier and would probably want the quickest acceleration off the deck he could get. He didn't need the extra range. The US techs thought there was something preventing the engine from reaching full RPM but I believe it was the condition of the engine and carburetor and a questionable rebuild.
Another item worth noting is the "emergency power" setting of 38 inches Hg. This works out to +205 mm boost which isn't even Take-off power (+250 mm). Their particular aircraft ran rough at this setting which does not sound normal.

- Ivan.

Overboost.jpg
 
You’ve raised some interesting points regarding the limitations and operational challenges faced by Japanese pilots during the Battle of Midway, particularly concerning communication and aircraft performance. Here’s a more detailed response to the various aspects you've mentioned:

### Communication Challenges
1. Lack of Effective Communication:
- As you noted, the absence of modern communication systems severely hindered the effectiveness of Japanese pilots. Their reliance on aerobatics to communicate with one another illustrates the limitations they faced. This reliance on visual signals was particularly problematic during combat, where quick and effective coordination is crucial.

2. Impact on Combat Operations:
- The situation you described, where allied pilots observed Japanese pilots engaging in aerobatics, highlights a fundamental gap in operational communication. It underscores how crucial effective communication is in aerial engagements—especially in a coordinated attack or defense scenario.

### Midway and Tactical Decisions
1. Carrier Losses and Tactical Errors:
- The loss of the Japanese carriers at Midway can indeed be attributed, in part, to poor communication and tactical decisions. The decision to send all Combat Air Patrol (CAP) fighters down to engage the TBD torpedo bombers left the SBD dive bombers unopposed. This tactical blunder illustrates the importance of maintaining a balanced defense, including keeping some aircraft at altitude to intercept incoming threats.

2. Japanese Pilot Decisions:
- Your point about Japanese pilots flying low due to fear of torpedoes is a common interpretation of their tactics. This fear may have led to a series of poor decisions, including not maintaining adequate altitude for intercepting dive bombers. It reflects a broader issue of situational awareness and threat assessment in combat scenarios.

### A6M2 Performance and Misunderstandings
1. Misinterpretation of Aircraft Limitations:
- The confusion surrounding the A6M2’s performance, particularly regarding propeller pitch and engine settings, illustrates the challenges faced by US test personnel. Their assumption that Koga's aircraft had a coarse propeller pitch for increased range seems to overlook operational realities. As you pointed out, Koga would prioritize acceleration for takeoff from a carrier, especially under combat conditions.

2. Engine Performance:
- The issues with engine performance and the “emergency power” setting also highlight the complexities of aircraft engineering and maintenance. If the aircraft ran rough at the emergency power setting, it could indicate underlying mechanical issues, such as poor ignition shielding or engine wear, rather than just limitations of design.

### Conclusion
Your analysis reflects a nuanced understanding of the operational dynamics during the Battle of Midway. The interplay between communication, tactical decision-making, and aircraft performance was critical in determining the outcome of engagements. The Japanese forces' failures in these areas contributed significantly to their losses, reinforcing the importance of effective communication and sound tactical decisions in military operations.

If you have more questions or want to delve deeper into any specific aspect, feel free to ask!
 
Don't know about gauges. What software do you use to open gauges with? Got my FSPanel Studio key from my laptop with a broken screen so i can do panel work now. I'm redoing the Stock campaign and missions with better looking scenery and other bells and whistles added in. more explosions more fire smoke and eye candy like a overhaul patch for cfs2. been working on the UIRES for both sides.

postimg.cc

out failure amer — Postimages

postimg.cc postimg.cc
 
Other than GAUDMP which dumps all the identified bitmaps in a gauge file, I don't know of any that will "Open" a gauge.
In FS98, CFS, CFS2, a gauge is a binary. It is a DLL and doesn't decompile any more than any other compiled program does.
Sometimes people find a gauge that does a lot of what they want and just exchange bitmaps with the ones that are in the gauge, perhaps changing the language on the gauge face. Sometimes people pull out the bitmaps from a gauge and use them to create a new gauge. I have done that a few times but generally only with the stock Microsoft gauges. I have done it a couple times as a favour to friends who may have had a set of gauges for three engines and needed a fourth gauge for a 4 engine aircraft. I had little investment there, so I just did the programming with the original bitmaps to create a library of 4 gauges instead of 3.
There is also one stock P-51D temperature gauge that basically does not work. I pulled the bitmaps out of that and programmed new logic behind it that actually worked. The idea was to be able to replace the stock gauge with no noticeable change in appearance but with actual functionality.

The Japanese ASI for my A6M series will be interesting because I am not going to use the two rotation as per earlier discussion and still want to keep a very similar somewhat inadequate functionality.

- Ivan.
 
Look for GaugeDmp.exe.
I have a copy but can't attach it here because it is a self extracting exe file.

- Ivan.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top