I've decided to write up a brief thread on strengths and weaknesses of the zero fighter (A6M). It is commonly stated, without evidence, that the A6M was a wonder machine, but was uniquely compromised. This is not apparent in the fighter's characteristics or combat performance. It's a myth.
December 28, 2024 at 1:40 PM
I went from knowing very little about IJAAS bombing specifics to quite possibly knowing more than I do about the IJNAS with two books.
July 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I went from knowing very little about IJAAS bombing specifics to quite possibly knowing more than I do about the IJNAS with two books.
Clearly 2025 will see me again and interest in IJAAS and IJNAS aviation care of Bluesky and Mr. Tamiya...
27th Dec 1942. First flight of the Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning). Given the Allied codename ‘George’, the type - and the improved N1K2-Ja Shiden-Kai - were dangerous opponents. Fast, manoeuvrable, heavily armed and long ranged, they were among the best Japanese fighters of the war.
🧵1/5
🧵1/5
December 27, 2024 at 11:28 AM
Clearly 2025 will see me again and interest in IJAAS and IJNAS aviation care of Bluesky and Mr. Tamiya...
The aircraft that attacked HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse were Mitsubishi G3M and G4M bombers of the #IJNAS #大日本帝國海軍航空隊 operating out of Malaya. They were armed with bombs and torpedoes. The ships never stood a chance. #IJN #ImperialJapaneseNavyAirService #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory
Sinking of the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse propaganda postcard, 1941. The ‘Battle Off the Malay Coast’ was more important than the attack on Pearl Harbor. It extinguished British sea power in the Far East; the precise moment in the history of warfare where air power overtook the battleship.
Sinking the HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse propaganda postcard, 1941. | Old Tokyo
"The dispatch of British capital ships to Singapore had been part of the Admiralty's strategic planning since the naval base had been expanded and fortified beginning in the early 1920s. The scale of ...
www.oldtokyo.com
December 21, 2024 at 4:20 AM
The aircraft that attacked HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse were Mitsubishi G3M and G4M bombers of the #IJNAS #大日本帝國海軍航空隊 operating out of Malaya. They were armed with bombs and torpedoes. The ships never stood a chance. #IJN #ImperialJapaneseNavyAirService #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory
Recommend ‘Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki’ for further reading on this. #IJN #IJNAS #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory #WW2 #SWW
archive.org/details/fadi...
archive.org/details/fadi...
December 4, 2024 at 9:58 AM
Recommend ‘Fading Victory: The Diary of Admiral Matome Ugaki’ for further reading on this. #IJN #IJNAS #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory #WW2 #SWW
archive.org/details/fadi...
archive.org/details/fadi...
The bad:
Building off the last disadvantage, the A6M2 was poor in dives. It wasn't hopeless and IJNAS fighter pilots made extensive use of vertical maneuvers and hit-and-run tactics, but much effort was put into later variants to improve high speed roll and dive performance.
Building off the last disadvantage, the A6M2 was poor in dives. It wasn't hopeless and IJNAS fighter pilots made extensive use of vertical maneuvers and hit-and-run tactics, but much effort was put into later variants to improve high speed roll and dive performance.
December 27, 2024 at 9:24 PM
The bad:
Building off the last disadvantage, the A6M2 was poor in dives. It wasn't hopeless and IJNAS fighter pilots made extensive use of vertical maneuvers and hit-and-run tactics, but much effort was put into later variants to improve high speed roll and dive performance.
Building off the last disadvantage, the A6M2 was poor in dives. It wasn't hopeless and IJNAS fighter pilots made extensive use of vertical maneuvers and hit-and-run tactics, but much effort was put into later variants to improve high speed roll and dive performance.
#OTD January 19 1944, the third and #Unryu-class aircraft carrier, Katsuragi #葛城 was launched at #Kure Naval Arsenal. Although she was completed in October of 1944 she never embarked an #IJNAS air group or left Japanese waters. She was lightly damaged in the #TF38 raids on Kure in 1945. 1/2
January 19, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Spring and summer 1944 saw Nagara refit at #Maizuru and #Yokosuka, increasing the number of anti-air guns and torpedo tubes. In July she delivered elements of the 2nd #IJNAS and 40 tons of cargo in #Okinawa. She then departed for Sasebo via #Kagoshima on 7 August. 4/5
April 22, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Spring and summer 1944 saw Nagara refit at #Maizuru and #Yokosuka, increasing the number of anti-air guns and torpedo tubes. In July she delivered elements of the 2nd #IJNAS and 40 tons of cargo in #Okinawa. She then departed for Sasebo via #Kagoshima on 7 August. 4/5
Yup. I'd also argue that the "super planes + super pilots" motif is born out of a knowledge gap of the IJNAS and IJAAS as orgs. There is so much excellent English work on the RAF, USAAF, etc. avail that digs into them holistically. There's none on the IJNAS post 1941 and none on the IJAAS, period.
November 8, 2024 at 6:39 PM
Yup. I'd also argue that the "super planes + super pilots" motif is born out of a knowledge gap of the IJNAS and IJAAS as orgs. There is so much excellent English work on the RAF, USAAF, etc. avail that digs into them holistically. There's none on the IJNAS post 1941 and none on the IJAAS, period.
Wakamiya was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1920; #IJNAS pilots used her for training as the first purpose-built carrier, #IJN #Hōshō, was being built. Wakamiya was decommissioned in 1931 and broken up in 1932. Photo credit: NavGeneralboard. #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory 6/6
December 22, 2024 at 5:53 AM
Wakamiya was converted to an aircraft carrier in 1920; #IJNAS pilots used her for training as the first purpose-built carrier, #IJN #Hōshō, was being built. Wakamiya was decommissioned in 1931 and broken up in 1932. Photo credit: NavGeneralboard. #NavalHistory #MaritimeHistory 6/6
@hush-ndb.bsky.social isn’t Naha near the site of Oroku 小禄 air field used by the IJNAS?
January 8, 2025 at 10:41 AM
@hush-ndb.bsky.social isn’t Naha near the site of Oroku 小禄 air field used by the IJNAS?
Five I-boats carrying midget subs had departed #Kure a day earlier. The fleet steamed south as submarines scanned for any indication of American knowledge of the plan. Approval for the attack was granted on 1 Dec. by the Emperor. Six days later #IJNAS aircraft were over #Hawaii. #NavalHistory 2/2
November 27, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Five I-boats carrying midget subs had departed #Kure a day earlier. The fleet steamed south as submarines scanned for any indication of American knowledge of the plan. Approval for the attack was granted on 1 Dec. by the Emperor. Six days later #IJNAS aircraft were over #Hawaii. #NavalHistory 2/2
USS Utah was a training ship at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. She was mistakenly sunk; there were better targets in the area for the #IJNAS. Some pilots mistook the boxes on her main deck for gun turrets and put two torpedoes into her; in fact the boxes just were covers for empty holes. 1/2
#RIP Pearl Harbor survivor Warren "Red" Upton who passed away on Christmas Day at the age of 105. Upton was a radioman aboard USS Utah when the battleship was hit by two torpedoes on 7 Dec 1941. As the Utah began to roll over, he abandoned ship and swam to shore, towing a shipmate who couldn’t swim.
December 27, 2024 at 8:54 AM
USS Utah was a training ship at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. She was mistakenly sunk; there were better targets in the area for the #IJNAS. Some pilots mistook the boxes on her main deck for gun turrets and put two torpedoes into her; in fact the boxes just were covers for empty holes. 1/2
And they're pretty middling carriers but probably in the end more useful than as battlecruisers because they force the IJNAS to expand earlier
February 12, 2025 at 6:48 AM
And they're pretty middling carriers but probably in the end more useful than as battlecruisers because they force the IJNAS to expand earlier
That's a pretty big statement! Do Arawasi cover any IJNAS aircraft? Either way, thanks for sharing and bumping to the #histbookchat feed 😊
July 30, 2025 at 2:30 AM
That's a pretty big statement! Do Arawasi cover any IJNAS aircraft? Either way, thanks for sharing and bumping to the #histbookchat feed 😊
Tsukuba was destroyed exactly 12 years after being laid down. The wreck was raised and used as target practice for the #IJNAS until being broken up in 1918.
4/4 #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
Here’s a link to a NY Times article on the explosion:
timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine...
4/4 #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
Here’s a link to a NY Times article on the explosion:
timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine...
timesmachine.nytimes.com
January 14, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Tsukuba was destroyed exactly 12 years after being laid down. The wreck was raised and used as target practice for the #IJNAS until being broken up in 1918.
4/4 #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
Here’s a link to a NY Times article on the explosion:
timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine...
4/4 #NavalHistory #ImperialJapaneseNavy
Here’s a link to a NY Times article on the explosion:
timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine...
Oh man, there are so many. His assertion Japanese pilots all acted individually with no teamwork or use of formations is up there. It's the exact opposite. IJNAS fighter pilots did all combat training as formations. And even a cursory reading of English-language material reveals this.
February 8, 2024 at 2:38 AM
Oh man, there are so many. His assertion Japanese pilots all acted individually with no teamwork or use of formations is up there. It's the exact opposite. IJNAS fighter pilots did all combat training as formations. And even a cursory reading of English-language material reveals this.
The main factor behind pilot attrition in the decisive part of the air war was the context. The IJNAS was fighting offensively, far from friendly bases, for much of 1942-43. Even if pilots survived, if they dropped into the jungle 100s of km from friendly forces, odds were low they'd fight again.
January 7, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The main factor behind pilot attrition in the decisive part of the air war was the context. The IJNAS was fighting offensively, far from friendly bases, for much of 1942-43. Even if pilots survived, if they dropped into the jungle 100s of km from friendly forces, odds were low they'd fight again.
Interesting model (and write-up) of TL here:
imodeler.com/2022/11/tami...
imodeler.com/2022/11/tami...
Tamiya N1K1 Kyofu / 'Rex', 'Japan's Purpose-Built Floatplane Fighter' - 1/48 IJN IJNAS - iModeler
By Harvey R. - I've built a lot of clean models this year, and what better excuse to make a beaten up bird than a Japanese subject? I ordered this while waiting for some supplies for other projects to...
imodeler.com
March 29, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Interesting model (and write-up) of TL here:
imodeler.com/2022/11/tami...
imodeler.com/2022/11/tami...
The IJA would quickly launch patrols to search for downed IJNAS pilots on PNG for example. Flying boats on patrol and IJN warships had standing orders to rescue downed airmen. There were motor launches at some bases that were used in recovery efforts as well.
January 7, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The IJA would quickly launch patrols to search for downed IJNAS pilots on PNG for example. Flying boats on patrol and IJN warships had standing orders to rescue downed airmen. There were motor launches at some bases that were used in recovery efforts as well.
Harvey argues the A6M2 and Ki-43 "diverted attention" from the rest of Japanese aviation, which "with one exception were quite mediocre." This is laughably ignorant. There were mediocre types, but c'mon. I don't have the character/photo limit to list the types that blow up Harvey's claim.
July 11, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Harvey argues the A6M2 and Ki-43 "diverted attention" from the rest of Japanese aviation, which "with one exception were quite mediocre." This is laughably ignorant. There were mediocre types, but c'mon. I don't have the character/photo limit to list the types that blow up Harvey's claim.
@puffyapple.bsky.social
Elizabeth Blue is actually named after an inanimate object, but a fitting one for her role as an Air Force officer.
Elizabeth Blue is actually named after an inanimate object, but a fitting one for her role as an Air Force officer.
![The Mitsubishi G4M is a twin-engine, land-based medium bomber formerly manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and operated by the Air Service (IJNAS) of the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945. Its official designation is Mitsubishi Navy Type 1 attack bomber (一式陸上攻撃機, 一式陸攻, Ichishiki rikujō kōgeki ki, Isshikirikukō) and was commonly referred to by Japanese Navy pilots as Hamaki (葉巻, "cigar", lit. "leaf roll") due to the cylindrical shape of its fuselage and its tendency to ignite after a hit. The Allied reporting name was "Betty".[2]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:flg64eze4ob3qwkupfxfbwcj/bafkreibnnm7wunrgu7d3u7npiej75eefn4cku3tcsoezzu6pv3h6wg37vq)
June 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
@puffyapple.bsky.social
Elizabeth Blue is actually named after an inanimate object, but a fitting one for her role as an Air Force officer.
Elizabeth Blue is actually named after an inanimate object, but a fitting one for her role as an Air Force officer.
Both aircraft were powered by the same family of engines with only minor differences. Again, I'm being picky with what technical details I'm including. You can seek out reference works for more robust details. Good luck, given the number of contradictory sources or gaps in data. 🙃
June 21, 2024 at 2:46 AM
Both aircraft were powered by the same family of engines with only minor differences. Again, I'm being picky with what technical details I'm including. You can seek out reference works for more robust details. Good luck, given the number of contradictory sources or gaps in data. 🙃
It's my desktop background at work! Such a striking image. Here's a high res one. You can almost make out the 4 Ku tail codes. Torpedo bombing in general is not for the faint of heart, but it hits different with large aircraft. Here's comparatively tame training footage. youtu.be/JWQJLiUaGws?...
January 1, 2025 at 2:34 PM
It's my desktop background at work! Such a striking image. Here's a high res one. You can almost make out the 4 Ku tail codes. Torpedo bombing in general is not for the faint of heart, but it hits different with large aircraft. Here's comparatively tame training footage. youtu.be/JWQJLiUaGws?...
There's also the question of parachutes for IJNAS rikko units and some fighter units. That's not so clear cut either as there are lots of open questions regarding if aircrew bailing out would have survived and gotten back to friendly forces, parachute or no.
January 7, 2025 at 3:22 PM
There's also the question of parachutes for IJNAS rikko units and some fighter units. That's not so clear cut either as there are lots of open questions regarding if aircrew bailing out would have survived and gotten back to friendly forces, parachute or no.