Reduce Ki-61-II Kai to Battle Rating III

[Sombralix]

Ki-61-II – Currently at Battle Rating IV
Loaded Weight: 3825kg
Engine: Ha-140 (1500HP)
Wing Area: 20.00m2
Max Speed:
525kph at SL (100%) , 544kph (WEP)
598kph at 5000m (100%) , 625-632kph (WEP)
Time to 5000m: 6:30 (100%) [12.82m/s]
Turn Time: 19 sec (WEP, sustained)
Bombload: 2x 100kg (2x 220lb)

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P-51D – Which is a US Battle Rating III Fighter
Loaded Weight: 4643kg
Engine: Packard V-1650-7 (1630HP)
Max Speed:
579kph at SL (100%) , 596kph (WEP)
???kph at 7450m , 707kph (WEP)
Time to 6000m: 7:16 (100%) [13.76m/s]
Turn Time: 22 sec (WEP)
Bombload: 2x 227kg bombs (2x 500lb)

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Conclusion…
P-51D has both climb rate advantage (by 7.3%) and speed advantage (by 52kph at low alts)
It also carries much more powerful payload for CAS role. The only distinct advantage Ki-61-II Kai is the turn time. However this doesnt explain why P-51D is BR III and Ki-61-II is BR IV (which is basically BR V with current Japan matchmaker)

:::

Proposal for new Battle Rating IV Fighter

Ki-100-I
Loaded Weight: 3495kg
Engine: Ha-112-II (1500HP)
Wing Area: 20.00m2
Max Speed:
485kph at Sea Level (100%) , 514kph (WEP)
580kph at 6000m (100%) , ~602kph (WEP)
Time to 5000m: 6:00 (100%) [13.88m/s]
Turn Time: 17 Sec (WEP)
Bombload: 2x 250kg (2x 550lb)

Ki-100-I is Ki-61-II but with a radial engine which has the same power as the inline one, 1500HP. The switch to the radial engine caused the plane to be 330kg lighter which improves its rate of climb by 8.3% which is more important than 30kph higher top speed (due to radial engine having more drag than the inline engine) because that’s 8.3% more energy instead of bit higher top speed. The reduced weight reduces stall speed giving it better control and improved turn time compared to Ki-61-II making it overall a superior fighter. Now to make it a truly Battle Rating IV fighter, it should get 2x 250kg bomb load. Technically Ki-61-II can also carry 2x 250kg bombs (instead of 2x 100kg) but at Rank III, Ki-61-II can retain the 100kg bombs.

[dextroverse]

The P51 is one of the best US planes, I use it even up at BRV cause it can plug Tiger II (H)'s reliably and shoot down any fighter and entire bomber squadron raids, and still have extra ammo to spare.

Despite being a little OP I think its good for BRIII. The 2x 500lbs bombs can do their job to blow up any tank, but there are only 2 of them so you have to reload after dropping the two which limits the effectiveness, and you can’t really spam with the plane.

Japan planes are sadly absolute crap and the carrier takeoff sucks. Sorry for people who like taking off and crashing half the time for realism purposes, but it sucks in practical gameplay terms.

If the carrier based planes were allowed to spawn in the air in the pacific (as a selectable choice, like spawning an APC squad with the APC or not) then Japan would be much more balanced.

[Sombralix]

Ki-61-II at BR IV (Higher than P-51D) has 2x 227lb bombs, only 2 and a lot weaker

[dextroverse]

Oh yes I forgot to say its completely reasonable to reduce the K-61-II down to BRIII. The game needs to be more fair to Japanese air in general cause its very one sided when facing the USA which has some of the best air support overall. I just usually play at BRV for Japan so I never touch the lower BR Japanese planes.