H8K3

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

Details

Survivability and armour

• 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

Armaments

Suspended armament

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

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

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