H8K2

H8K2

G4M1

Ki-49-I

H8K2

G4M1

Ki-49-I

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.3	3.7	3.7

Class:

Bomber

Hydroplane

Long Range bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

This page is about the aircraft H8K2. For the premium H8K plane, see H8K3.

Description

The H8K2 is a Rank II Japanese flying boat/heavy bomber with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB) and 3.7 (RB/SB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.57 "Battle March".

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
454	445	9500	33.9	34.8	3.5	3.5	750
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
500	476	9500	32.1	33.0	10.5	6.4	750

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	450	???	~6.2	~2.8

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< ???	< ???	< ???	> ???

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
?,??? m	??? hp	?,??? hp

Survivability and armour

• 20mm steel plates protecting rear gunner
• 5mm steel behind pilots
• 5mm steel protecting dorsal gunner
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (6 in the mid-fuselage, 1 in each wingroot, 3 in each wing)

Armaments

Suspended armament

• 2 x Type 91 Mod.2 torpedoes
• 16 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs
• 8 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bombs
• 2 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bombs
• 2 x 800 kg Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bombs

Defensive armament

• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, tail turret (270 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, nose turret (270 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, 2 x beam turrets (270 rpg)
• 2 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, cockpit turrets (582 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, dorsal turret (582 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm	12 in (mod30)
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 20 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons (turret)	14 in (mod35)

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent speed for the rank
• Good armament spread and damage (when they hit), including limited coverage under the plane
• Favourable matchmaking; always on Axis team
• Incredible climb rate
• (RB) Long Range Bomber spawn, putting it at usually around 4,500m on spawn
• Well armoured even for a non-Japanese bomber, with armoured pilot, gunners and self-sealing tanks
• Excellent RP and SL mods for rank 1, especially as bombs are incredibly cheap

Cons:

• Awful bomb load; 780kg TNT equivalent with largest load, with both wing bombs dropping together
• Guns are unreliable; cannons are the weak 20 mm Type 99 mod.1's, machine guns are single 7.7 mms, long reload on the cannons
• Landing is risky due to lack of land-suitable gear; the H8K must land on its hull
• High research cost of 40,000RP (more than the B7A and Ki-49 at Rank 3!)
• Huge target

History

Widely recognized as the best maritime combat aircraft of WWII, the H8K2 was the main production model of the H8K series of bombers, making up 112 of the 167 total H8Ks of all variants. In 1938, just as its predecessor, the H6K, was entering service, the Imperial Navy ordered the development of a larger aircraft with longer range suited for solo bombing and patrol missions. The resulting H8K flying boats, entering service in February 1942, performed well until the end of the war, and were respected by allied pilots for their fearsome defensive armament. After the war, an H8K2 (one of only four which survived the war) was captured by American forces, and was eventually returned to Japan in 1979, where it remains on display to this day.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.

Kawanishi Aircraft Company (川西航空機)
Fighters	J6K1
N1K	N1K1-Ja · N1K2-J · N1K2-Ja
Bombers	H6K4 · H8K2 · H8K3
Hydroplane	N1K1 · E7K2

Japan bombers
Navy
Carrier-based attack bomber
B5N	B5N2
B6N	B6N1 · B6N2 · B6N2a
B7A	B7A2 · B7A2 (Homare 23)
Carrier-based dive bomber
D3A	D3A1
D4Y	D4Y1 · D4Y2 · D4Y3 Ko
Shipboard Observation seaplane
F1M	F1M2
Land-based Attack bomber
G4M	G4M1
G5N	G5N1
G8N	G8N1
Flying boat
H6K	H6K4
H8K	H8K2 · H8K3
Land-based Bomber
P1Y	P1Y1
Army
Light	Ki-32
	Ki-48-II otsu
Heavy	Ki-21-Ia · Ki-21-I hei
	Ki-49-I · Ki-49-IIa · Ki-49-IIb · Ki-49-IIb/L
	Ki-67-I Ko · Ki-67-I otsu
Other countries	▅B-17E