Request: Any thoughts of adding a PBY

[Rockport]

Has any thought been given to adding a PBY Catalina to the game?


It seems to me that this plane had a pretty distinguished roll in WWII and especially in the Pacific Theatre where it was used for many types of missions from:

Recon, Troop Transport, Cargo Drops, Torpedo & Bomb Duty....

I would love to have access to a PBY for moving troops, imagine having the ability to fly long range in a PBY with troops and landing off shore and waiting for your mates to soften a target for you to deliver the troops...

Don't get me wrong I love the goon, but with a plane like a PBY you have a plane which really was able to perform a variety of missions which could make it a popular plane in AHII

[Sikboy]

This comes up pretty often, and there are some good threads on the subject. The most recent thread (aside from this one) being:
http://www.hitechcreations.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118388

I think the PBY could have a place in AHII, especially in the eventual (someday... in the far far away future lol) "Tour of Duty" arena, and in Events. I don't know how much utility it would have in the MA.

-Sik

[Grits]

I dont think it would be particularly useful outside of a ToD. I dont see that as a reason not to add it, however,  since 80% of the planes we have now aren't used in the MA. The CT and SEA would use it regularly of course.

The most likely use in the MA would be as a troop/cargo plane that could be available at a port. Since the C47 is not available from ports, that could be a significant addition to troop and cargo capability.

One thing is, even though its slower than a C47, it does at least have some defensive guns, so that probably would even it all out.

[Stratocaster]

the pby was slower than the c-47 and capable to land on water so It would be a fair match as both would be used and a nice addition

[Rockport]

I know its performance sucks speed & armor wise, but I think it could open up some new strategy in the game when it comes to delivering troops and supplies...

As I said parking a PBY offshore just outside radar range while your squad takes down a town... There has been talk of an enhanced radar aircraft in other threads which would still have radar abilities even when a teams radar was down. The PBY would work well for that, radar goes down put up a few PBY's to keep track of inbound BOG's

I realize 90% of the people who play fly maybe 5% of the planes if they are lucky, I just think the PBY is a distinct enough plane to be included in the game.

[simshell]

could you use it from CV?


im sure its a good plane but i would rather want other aircraft to be made before that thing

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by simshell
could you use it from CV?


im sure its a good plane but i would rather want other aircraft to be made before that thing

Maybe it could have a water spawn, like a PT boat, but I don't believe they ever operated from a carrier deck (and if they did it was an abnormal case, like the B-25s of the Dolittle raid).

-Sik

[Nefarious]

PBY would be cool, but I feel we need a bigger Sea element for it to be effective. Like Submarines and Destroyers

[Squirrel]

I always thought it would be cool to have search and rescue available for scenarios so pilots who were shot down could be plucked from the sea by a dumbo and delivered back to base for points or possible re-up.

Sqrl

[Rockport]

Well the US did have ships called SeaPlane tenders which roamed around and re-fueled and armed the PBY's and other flying boats used by the Allies.... So that could be a sea based spawn for the PBY's....  

The other aspect  of PBY's was mine laying... They laid thousands of mines in order to sink enemy ships.....

Originally posted by Sikboy
Maybe it could have a water spawn, like a PT boat, but I don't believe they ever operated from a carrier deck (and if they did it was an abnormal case, like the B-25s of the Dolittle raid).

-Sik