H8K2
| This page is about the Japanese bomber H8K2. For the premium H8K plane, see H8K3. |
Contents
Description
The H8K2 is a rank II Japanese bomber with a battle rating of 3.3 (AB) and 3.7 (RB/SB). It 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 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 | + | - | ||
| 0 | 450 | 420 | 420 | 260 | ~4 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 360 | < 360 | < 360 | > 341 |
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)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Suspended armament
The H8K2 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 Navy Type Number 80 Model 1 bombs (1,600 kg total)
Defensive armament
The H8K2 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 (270 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 (270 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 wing root turrets (582 rpg)
- 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 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 20 mm cannons and five 7.7 mm 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 1,600 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 ineffective 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 ineffective 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 | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
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 |
