Originally Posted by Crosseye76

With the possible execption of some of the Flying boats, the Japanese aircraft were easier to shoot down that their allied counterparts. With no Self-sealing fuel tanks, no pilot armor, and no protection for the engines, and crude (if any) fire suppression systems, they could dish out a lot of punishment, but were not really the beat at taking it. An example, The G4M1 "Betty" bomber had no protection for it's fuel tanks until mid 1943, then 30 mm rubber ply sheet was applied externally to the underside of the wings, the tops still not having that thin comfort. In addition 2 x 5mm (Yup, that's right 5mm) armor plates were added behind the tail cannon, to protect the ammo supply. The G4M3 added fuel tanks with internal protection, but they only entered service in October 1944, with sometihing like 90 built.


And that transitions to the next concern. The IJN lost the war. From the beginning the aircraft was never the Nemesis of the Fleet sub. They had to husband their air assets, because they never had enough to go around. A lot of the air attacks were made, but they were generally by Aircraft providing escort for convoys or important ships, patrolling choke points, or standing patrols around ports and harbours. The IJN never had enough long range maritime patrol aircraft to mount Hunter killer ops. Also, with nothing at all like Leigh lights, Millimeter radar, or "Fido" homing torps, they were mostly daylight hunters.