Re: Luftwaffe copies of Japanese planes
- From: "Tero P. Mustalahti" <termusta@xxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:56:14 -0500
YMC wrote:
Apparently the Luftwaffe were interested in Japan's Mitsubishi Ki-46-II Type 100 "Dinah" recce plane. Did they express serious interest in other aircraft? Especially, in light of the successes at Pearl Harbor and Kuantan (sinking of Prince of Wales and Repluse).
The Ki-46 was an exceptional recce plane, but I can not think of any other Japanese aircraft, which would have been similarly superior to German developed ones. Th A6M did have an impressive range, but it was not at all suited to German fighter tactics. The Germans also did not lack enemies with very nimble fighters. Practically all Soviet fighters were considerably more maneuverable in the vertical plane than German fighters, so it was definitely best for the Germans to stick to their energy conserving tactics.
As for bombers, the Japanese medium bombers were even more vulnerable to interception than the standard German medium bombers. Their additional range might have been handy in the Eastern Front and perhaps in the Med, but without long range escorts their usefulness would have been rather limited. So in order for it to make sense the Germans would have to copy both a medium bomber (probably the G4M) and the Zero, which surely would have been a non-trivial task, especially considering the differences between Japanese and German engines. It's probably safe to estimate that it would have taken at least a year to put them in full production in Germany and by then both designs would have already be nearing obsolescence.
Tero P. Mustalahti
.
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