American Fighter Tactics Japanese Fighter Tactics
CAA-NRC Committee on Selection and Training of Aircraft Pilots, 1942
Know your airplane
Every aircraft has strengths and weaknesses. Make sure you know yours and those of the enemy aircraft you're most likely to encounter. Knowing you can out-climb, out-accelerate, out-turn, or out-gun your foe changes the way you fly. So does knowing your own plane's vulnerabilities. For plane specs, go to the aircraft specification page of the official Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator 2 site.

 

Keep your head on a swivel
Visualizing the positions and movements of fast-moving objects in a three-dimensional space is difficult. But it's what separates fighter pilots from fighter aces. Being a good shot is a useless skill if you can't keep track of the enemy. [In Combat Flight Simulator, you can use joystick and keyboard commands to scan the sky rapidly.]

 

Use the element of surprise
When you come in from behind or below the enemy he can't see you. But dropping in from above gives you the potential for greater speed. While you're closing in, use the enemy's blind spots to your advantage. Come out of the sun or the clouds with your guns blazing so you can shoot him down before he even knows you're there.

 

Stay one move ahead of the enemy
A good fighter pilot's actions in the present are dictated by his prediction of the future. If you merely react to your opponent's actions you will be shot down. If you anticipate his actions and respond intuitively without hesitation, you will emerge the victor.

 

Trade altitude and airspeed
Are you flying too fast? Pull back on the stick and you'll slow down as you climb. Be careful though: pulling up to shake the enemy off your tail is a dangerous move! Your airspeed will drop quickly, and a slow ship under fire is a sitting duck.

 

Are you flying too slowly? Nose your ship over into a dive to gain some airspeed. Trading altitude and airspeed is an essential part of all aerial combat maneuvers.

 

Fly slower to turn faster
When you ride a bicycle around a corner quickly you want to go fast, but not too fast, and it's the same with your aircraft. At fast speeds, centrifugal force causes the plane's turn radius to increase and its turn rate to decrease. Every ship has a speed at which maximum-performance turns are possible. In general, though, a slower-flying aircraft will out-turn a faster flying one.

 

Turn into your opponent
Turning into the enemy's direction of movement increases the angle between your movement and his guns, making you harder to hit. Turning away decreases the angle, making you an easier target-and making it much easier for him to get on your tail. So, if the enemy is coming in behind you and to your right, bank right to get out of his gun sights.

 

Use "deflection shooting"
Attacking an enemy aircraft from in front or behind is easy. Just aim and shoot when you're close enough to hit the target. Attacking from other angles is more complicated. You must coordinate your shooting with your speed, and fire ahead of the target so that he runs into your bullets. This difficult skill is called "deflection shooting," and it is the mark of a good combat pilot. Learning it is essential to your success.

 

Don't shoot until he fills your windscreen
Wait until you're so close that you're sure you'll hit him, this tactic will save ammunition. This strategy takes less concentration than deflection shooting, but it isn't always practical -- especially if you're meeting the enemy head on!

 

Never stop an attack once you've initiated it
If you run away when you're within range of the enemy, it's easier for him to get a shot at you. Courage is not the absence of fear; it's action in the face of fear. If you've decided to attack, be courageous and follow through. Cowardice at close range will get you killed.

 

 

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force
Navy Combined Air Training Command (Dec. 1943, captured by U.S. forces on Saipan)

 

U.S. Military editor's note:
This document is one section from a [Japanese] basic training manual dealing principally with single-plane fighter tactics. It stresses the necessity for gaining the dominant position above and behind the enemy through surprise or by the use of tight turns. The document also contains a few suggestions for formation fighting involving the old three-plane tactical unit in which each man fought almost exclusively for himself. There is no indication of the organization of tactical units to permit workable fighter teams of two mutually supporting planes.

 

The Five Stages of Aerial Combat:
  1. Detecting - Find the enemy before he finds you, so that you have the advantage of surprise. Most pilots who are shot down never see their attackers.
  2. Closing - Once you've detected the enemy, move into a position close enough to shoot him down-without being discovered.
  3. Attacking - When you're close enough to shoot the enemy, commence the attack. If you fire too soon you'll waste ammunition, and he might see you coming. Remember: your weapons don't move. To aim, you must move your entire plane and use a deflection angle. If you fail to defeat your enemy, you'll need to maneuver.
  4. Maneuvering - Dogfighting is a test of skill in which each opponent tries to get into a position to fire. Maneuvering means dogfighting. Many novice combat pilots think that dogfighting is the way all aerial combat occurs, but combat veterans will tell you that dogfighting should be avoided if possible. If you're successful at detecting, closing in on, and attacking your enemy, you won't need to dogfight with him. You should maneuver when any of the following occurs after the attack:
    • Neither side has gained an advantage during detection.
    • The enemy sees and successfully evades during your closing.
    • Your attack fails to down the enemy aircraft.
  5. Disengaging - Disengaging means putting space between you and the enemy so you're out of the fight. You can disengage on purpose or by accident. Be careful though: just because you want to leave doesn't mean the fight will end.
Air combat in general.
  1. Generally it is best in the first pass to make an overhead attack from behind. In a situation where you can make an overhead attack from behind, but carry out an overhead attack from the front for which there is no justification, maneuvering for the second pass will be comparatively difficult and you may end up in a disadvantageous position. Furthermore, in the head-on approach, if your altitude is insufficient, no matter with what power you climb, after attacking from under the nose while looking out for the enemy's line of fire, it is best to pursue from the lower rear.
  2. In close combat achieve mastery of those tactics which are your own strong points. After gradually reaching proficiency, you will discover your own characteristics in battle. When you fight with your favorite tactics, victory will be easy. When you become aware of these tactics, study and master them at once. When in battle, it is important to entice the enemy into your favorite battle tactics.
  3. Head-on Attack: When you are suddenly head-on with the enemy, resolutely plan a head-on attack; you should expect a collision and attack. Never abandon the line of fire too soon in order to start maneuvering for the second pass. (In the training period, for safety' s sake do not execute a head-on attack.)
  4. During air combat it is essential to maintain altitude. However, do not needlessly maintain only the altitude, thereby making essential maneuvers impossible because you have lowered the speed. It is particularly important to pay attention to selecting the opportune time to make changes of altitude and speed while approaching the enemy.
  5. Battle against an enemy who is fighting and losing altitude is generally easy. The enemy who fights while maintaining his altitude by skill in maneuvering at lower speed is formidable. (In a rough and tumble fight it is essential to maintain all your speed.) When you advance on a second enemy or when you go to the aid of an ally, keep in mind the fact that altitude is better than a stout heart.
Counter-attack
When you have been attacked by the enemy plane first, unless the performance of the enemy plane is inferior or the pilot's ability very poor, it is difficult to regain your position in one counter-attack. However, always try to regain your position while continuing your counter-attacks. For example, against the enemy's overhead attack from behind, avoid the first pass by turns or abrupt maneuvers. Pass underneath the enemy, attempt to recover the altitude difference, and maneuver into pursuit if there is an opportunity.
  1. Counter-attack against the overhead attack from behind. When the enemy tries to make a run at you, gun your engine, avoid the line of fire by turns or abrupt maneuvers, just before the approaching enemy reaches effective distance, and strive to regain gradually the advantage.
  2. Counter-attack against the belly attack from behind. Though you can counter-attack by means of a slanting loop (shachugaeri), since you are often a good firing target for a long period when in a climbing position, twist away as soon as possible.
  3. Counter-attack against overhead attack from the front. Depress the firing line of the enemy as much as you can by diving. After avoiding the first pass, maneuver so that you will be under the enemy. As soon as the enemy plane starts his run, start a steep dive immediately and cause the enemy's firing angle to be depressed. The enemy will break off the attack because his speed is excessive and firing is difficult; as soon as you see him pulling out, turn the tail toward him, and after making a chandelle, maneuver so that you are in pursuit.
  4. Counter-attack against belly attack from the front. By utilizing your utmost climbing power, seize the dominant position above the enemy and counter-attack with an overhead attack from behind.
When you have received an attack from the enemy, and although you have tried to counter-attack you have been unsuccessful because of the enemy's maneuvering skill, or when as in training, ideal counter-attacks cannot be made because of their danger, it is important that you hang on, and strive with your utmost to regain the advantage while keeping the enemy from attacking and then make a sound counter-attack.

 

Tactics of coming in under the enemy
When there is a large altitude difference, make attack impossible by climbing; take a position beneath the enemy (almost directly below), and combine your flight pattern with the enemy's flight. By following the enemy's maneuvers you can ordinarily make it impossible for the enemy to half-roll and attack, and recover the altitude difference gradually. When the enemy turns, maneuver by flying somewhat to his outside so that he cannot see you. You can also recover the altitude difference by heading the same way.

 

  • Recovery tactics by means of counter-attack when in inferior position. Turn toward the enemy while heeding the enemy's line of fire. For a period of time try gradually to put the situation on an equal footing, discern his turning directions, strive to keep him under your thumb, and slowly recover altitude. At this time be careful not to incur the enemy's counter-fire.
Measures to take when you are being closely (kanzen) pursued.
  1. First, always have as your principal object the avoidance of the line of fire, and by the manifestation of your total capacities and abilities strive as much as possible to extend the interval between the planes gradually. At these times straight line maneuvers should be absolutely avoided.
  2. Ordinary acrobatics will have little effect. By making particularly good use of the rudder, maneuver exaggeratedly and confuse the enemy.
  3. Even if you gradually extend the interval, consider the turning radius and do not plan to pursue until the situation is such that an even battle can be expected from the start.
  4. Level dogfighting (suihei hasen)
    • In this type of battle particularly, incompleteness of turning maneuvers has a fatal consequence. The plane, which is perfectly controlled while it turns continuously a countless number of times, will step by step close in on the enemy and finally be able to seize the dominant position.
    • Abrupt changes of turning direction to break out of a situation are most dangerous. Keep in mind that although you have been pounced upon from somewhere to the rear, you will never be fired upon when the sights and eyes of the enemy are not aligned.
    • When you are about to shift to vertical dogfighting from level dogfighting, lower the plane's nose slowly, accelerate, and maintain your turn. When the enemy plane follows and starts to dive, still maintain your turn, climb steeply and make a slanting loop. In case the turns become very sharp when you are wide open, there are many situations where you must pull back on the control column with both hands and increase the turning speed. At these times measures which change the angle of inclination of the tail elevator (trim tabs), that is, putting them at "down" position, generally make piloting easier.
    • During turns, continuation of aiming and firing is usually difficult, but when you get an opportunity, shift to aiming and shoot immediately. When it is difficult to fire, shift your attention to turning maneuvers without letting the enemy plane escape.
  5. Vertical dogfighting
    • Your fighting ability will be shown for what it is in this type of combat. The so-called "ace" is often manifested in this type of warfare. It is easy to get into a disadvantageous position and lose altitude because you maneuvered clumsily and were fooled by the deceptive maneuvers of the enemy.
    • When you try to shoot down the enemy plane with one pass, do not be anxious to pursue the track of the enemy plane too strictly. Keep in mind that the quickest method of shooting down the enemy is to wait for a firing opportunity by maneuvering little by little into a superior position.
    • Although it is difficult to size up a situation instantly, do not yield a foot when coming face to face with the enemy.
    • Getting out of a bad situation by means of a true loop is generally difficult. You should use the slanting loop. A skillful "twist" in the middle of a slanting loop is extremely effective. It is important that you understand it through practice and experimentation.
    • The key to vertical dogfighting lies in closing in on the enemy's rear by degrees while deceiving the enemy with changes of the plane's fore and aft line, and banking.