>>63655395
Similar explanation from the First Team appendix

>The key difference between the Japanese shōtai and the three-plane Vees (or “Vics” as the RAF called them) was that the Zeros assumed loose formations before entering combat. That gave the Japanese room to react and follow their leader’s movements. This was a far cry from the constricted RAF Vics, used until after the Battle of Britain.

>Shōtai deployment for attack naturally depended on the tactical circumstances, but the Zeros liked to use firing passes in succession from above-rear or high-side, depending on the opposition. The shōtai formed into line-astern, well spaced out with intervals of 500 meters or more. Charging in one at a time, each Zero would roar within range, fire, then pull out underneath and ahead of the target in order to climb away out of reach. As one completed its run, another would be coming in, keeping the target under constant attack. Experienced Japanese pilots seldom sat on the tail of an enemy fighter for an extended shot, unless the attacker was very sure another enemy fighter would not jump him. Sometimes the shōtai leader brought his two wingmen up abreast of him and deployed well apart to bracket a single target and box it in. Zeros then either alternated in making passes from the side, or if the leader did stay on the target’s tail, his two wingmen took great pains to watch his tail. At other times, a leader placed one wingman above the fight as top cover, while he and the other wingman dived in.

>>63654649
>there is a lack of easily accessible documentation on the actualy nitty-gritty of how japanese V-formations actually fought A2A
Translation issues or just not much interest?

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What is the third plane even supposed to do in a Vic formation? Brits and Japs kept using 3-plane flights for awhile.>having two planes…

What is the third plane even supposed to do in a Vic formation? Brits and Japs kept using 3-plane flights for awhile.
>having two planes…