Difference between revisions of "H8K2"

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(Flight performance: Fixed formatting)
(Usage in battles)
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* 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, tail turret (270 rpg)
 
* 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, tail turret (270 rpg)
 +
* 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, dorsal 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, nose turret (270 rpg)
 
* 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 navy cannon, 2 x beam turrets (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, 2 x cockpit turrets (582 rpg)
* 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, dorsal turret (582 rpg)
+
* 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, 2 x wing root turrets (582 rpg)
 +
* 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, ventral turret (582 rpg)
  
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== 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).''
+
<!-- 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). -->
 +
The H8K2 can be thought of as a Japanese version of the German [[BV 238]], and plays similarly. However, there are some key differences between the two aircraft. The H8K2 can be used in both Naval battles, and Air battles, though there are some key limitations. The aircraft has a strong defensive armament suite of ten guns (five 20mm cannons and five 7.7mm machine guns), and can also carry a pair of torpedoes. However, it is a very large aircraft, and is easily shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. In general, the aircraft should avoid close-in, frontline combat, and instead be used as a heavy bomber / support aircraft.
 +
 
 +
The first playstyle for this aircraft would be a heavy bomber in RB. The aircraft benefits from airspawn, meaning that it is much less vulnerable from interception. However, there is one key limitation to this role - the H8K2's tiny payload. The aircraft can only carry a maximum of 1600 kilograms of bombs, in two 800 kg bombs. This effectively limits the aircraft to destroying a single base, which doesn't yield great bonuses. The 800 kg bombs are also inneffective against ground targets, as they drop together. This means that the only viable option against ground targets are the 60 kg bombs. However, these are also rather inneffective due to their tiny size and low explosive mass.
 +
 
 +
The second, and more interesting playstyle would be in Naval RB. The aircraft is a floatplane, meaning that it can be used to cap bases. As well, the aircraft can carry two torpedoes, which are very effective against larger vessels. Thus, the aircraft could be used as a torpedo-bomber, staying low and attacking enemies with torpedoes from a distance. However, do not approach to close to enemy naval vessels, as the H8K is massive and an easy target for enemy AAA.
 +
 
 +
When being attacked, one excellent option is the H8K's defensive armament. The 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons are essentially upgraded MG FF cannons, and can do extensive damage to attacking fighters. However, take note that the aircraft has very limited protection from the underside, similar to other flying boats. Try to bait attacking fighters to your six (and slightly to the right or left), so that you can engage them with the tail, dorsal ''and'' beam turrets.
  
 
===Manual Engine Control===
 
===Manual Engine Control===
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* 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
 
* 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
 
* 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
 
* Huge target
  

Revision as of 19:05, 11 December 2020

Rank VII | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
h8k2.png
H8K2
Research:9 200 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:16 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game
This page is about the aircraft H8K2. For the premium H8K plane, see H8K3.

Description

GarageImage H8K2.jpg


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 Max Speed
(km/h at 6,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 454 445 9500 33.9 34.8 3.5 3.5 750
Upgraded 500 476 32.1 33.0 10.5 6.5

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

Main article: Type 91 Mod.2
  • 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, dorsal 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)
  • 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, 2 x cockpit turrets (582 rpg)
  • 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, 2 x wing root turrets (582 rpg)
  • 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 navy machine gun, ventral turret (582 rpg)

Usage in battles

The H8K2 can be thought of as a Japanese version of the German BV 238, and plays similarly. However, there are some key differences between the two aircraft. The H8K2 can be used in both Naval battles, and Air battles, though there are some key limitations. The aircraft has a strong defensive armament suite of ten guns (five 20mm cannons and five 7.7mm machine guns), and can also carry a pair of torpedoes. However, it is a very large aircraft, and is easily shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire. In general, the aircraft should avoid close-in, frontline combat, and instead be used as a heavy bomber / support aircraft.

The first playstyle for this aircraft would be a heavy bomber in RB. The aircraft benefits from airspawn, meaning that it is much less vulnerable from interception. However, there is one key limitation to this role - the H8K2's tiny payload. The aircraft can only carry a maximum of 1600 kilograms of bombs, in two 800 kg bombs. This effectively limits the aircraft to destroying a single base, which doesn't yield great bonuses. The 800 kg bombs are also inneffective against ground targets, as they drop together. This means that the only viable option against ground targets are the 60 kg bombs. However, these are also rather inneffective due to their tiny size and low explosive mass.

The second, and more interesting playstyle would be in Naval RB. The aircraft is a floatplane, meaning that it can be used to cap bases. As well, the aircraft can carry two torpedoes, which are very effective against larger vessels. Thus, the aircraft could be used as a torpedo-bomber, staying low and attacking enemies with torpedoes from a distance. However, do not approach to close to enemy naval vessels, as the H8K is massive and an easy target for enemy AAA.

When being attacked, one excellent option is the H8K's defensive armament. The 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannons are essentially upgraded MG FF cannons, and can do extensive damage to attacking fighters. However, take note that the aircraft has very limited protection from the underside, similar to other flying boats. Try to bait attacking fighters to your six (and slightly to the right or left), so that you can engage them with the tail, dorsal and beam turrets.

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
  • 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