H8K3

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

H8K3

H8K3

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	4.0	4.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Bomber

Hydroplane

Long Range bomber

Torpedo bomber

Purchase:2 300

Show in game

Description

The H8K3 was a prototype variant of the H8K family of flying bombers, being the successor to the H8K2. The aircraft had retractable floats which greatly reduced drag and thus improved top speed, range, and fuel efficiency, a retractable dorsal turret, Fowler flaps, and sliding hatches replacing the blisters housing the side guns. Only two were made.

Introduced in Update 1.57 "Battle March", the H8K3 is and should be used as a heavy bomber, but is decently fast for its size and features a good climb rate. This combined with its decent defensive armament makes it a hard bomber to engage by fighters and even some interceptors. Still, the H8K3 is quite large and can be easily engaged from long distances or hit by AA. This is especially problematic in naval battles because enemy ships' AA is more effective. To deal with this, either engage from a really high altitude and drop bombs or engage at low altitude with torpedoes which is more accurate but carries more risk. By using the floats, the H8K3 can also capture naval points by landing on them, but this is especially dangerous.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m541 km/h

Turn time33 s

Max altitude9 500 m

Engine4 х Mitsubishi Kasei 22

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight33 t

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	514	503	9500	33.9	34.7	4.2	4.2	750
Upgraded	570	541		32.1	33.0	11.4	7.3

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
560	450	402	379	260	~4	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 360	< 360	< 360	> 341

Survivability and armour

Crew9 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear450 km/h

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

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB608

RB4 364

SB2 157

Crew training6 900

Experts46 000

Aces320

Research Aces500 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 60 / 200 / 220 %

2 × 130 / 130 / 130 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe Cover	type92_turret_belt_pack 12 in (mod30) type92_turret_new_gun type99_turret_belt_pack type99_turret_new_gun 14 in (mod35)

Armaments

Suspended armament

List of setups (5)

Setup 12 x Type 91 Model 2 torpedo (835 kg)

Setup 216 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 ground bomb

Setup 38 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bomb

Setup 42 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bomb

Setup 52 x 800 kg Number 80 Mod. 1 bomb

The H8K3 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 2 x 835 kg Type 91 Model 2 torpedoes
• 16 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (960 kg total)
• 8 x 250 kg Navy Type 98 Number 25 bombs (2,000 kg total)
• 2 x 800 kg Navy Type 99 Number 80 AP bombs (1,600 kg total)
• 2 x 800 kg Number 80 Mod. 1 bombs (1,600 kg total)

Defensive armament

3 х Turret20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon

Ammunition270 rounds

Fire rate517 shots/min

Turret20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon

Ammunition450 rounds

Fire rate517 shots/min

Turret20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon

Ammunition540 rounds

Fire rate517 shots/min

5 х Turret7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun

Ammunition582 rounds

Fire rate600 shots/min

The H8K3 is defended by:

• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, nose turret (270 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, dorsal turret (450 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, 2 x beam turrets (270 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon, tail turret (540 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, 2 x cockpit turrets (582 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, 2 x underwing turrets (582 rpg)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun, ventral turret (582 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft 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
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• H8K for Flying boat:
  • Bomber spawn
  • Landing floats
    • Can capture points in Naval
  • Excellent combined defensive armament
  • 2 x Type 91 Aerial Torpedo
    • Torpedo has the highest drop speed in the game at 580 km/h and is one of the most feared torpedoes in Naval Battles
  • 16 x Type 97 No.6 Land Bomb (60 kg)
    • Gets 2 x bomb racks of 8 x 60 kg bombs which can be used to hit multiple targets
  • 2 No.80 Land Bomb (800 kg)
    • Heaviest bomb Japanese Navy can offer
• H8K specific:
  • Decent defensive armament for its rank: 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 Cannon
  • Quite fast for its size and rank
  • Incredible climb rate
  • Decently survivable with armour and self-sealing tanks
• H8K3
  • Improved aerodynamics due retractable landing gear
    • Faster
    • Better climb rate

Cons:

• H8K for Flying boat:
  • Huge target
  • Lack of land-suitable gear
    • Very unreliable to land on regular run-ways
  • Bombs drop in series
• Common Navy plane construction:
  • Poor defensive armament: 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 Cannon
    • Very low muzzle velocity
  • Poor defensive armament: 7.7 mm Type 92 MG

History

The H8K3 was a prototype variant of the H8K2. It was modified to allow the dorsal turret and the landing floats to retract, as well as to include fowler flaps, and the blisters which housed the side guns were replaced with sliding hatches. All such changes were made in order to reduce drag and thereby increase speed (Note: None of the turret modifications are currently modeled in game). A total of only 2 were built.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the H8K3 from live.warthunder.com.

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

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

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