add "Plane Packs" by theater/period

[Treize69]

Once the CT is out of the way and resources can again be committed to adding new aircraft instead of updating and improving the old ones (not that they aren't doing a great job), I think maybe it might be an interesting idea to work on releasing 2 or 3 planes at a time, each set linked by a common theater of use and period in the war. All things being ideal, have like to have at least 1 fighter and bomber for each the Axis and Allied sides by year and part of the world, for example (and just working from the top of my head here...)

1939-40
ETO
Allied- D.520, MS.460 and Hawk 75 for the French and PZL P.11 or P.24 for the Polish fighters; the Vickers Wellington and one or two of the Bloch or Potez bombers and the PZL attackers.
Axis- Bf109D, Fiat C.R.42 and Fiat G.50 for fighters, He111 and SM.79 for bombers

Pacific/Asia
Allied- Kind of hard since the war with the major allied powers didn't really start until the end of 1941 (aside from the Chinese) but maybe the Buffalo and the Blenheim to fill it out a bit?
Axis- A5M2 Claude fighter and G3M Nell bomber


1941
ETO
Allied- This could be the big one, as you have the Russian aircraft from Barbarossa- I-16, Yak-1, LaGG-3, and MiG-3 for fighters, plus the Beaufighter; Pe-2 and Il-4 (plus an earlier version of the Il-2 maybe), plus the Beaufort
Axis- IAR-81a and Re.2001 for fighters, Do17 and SM.84 for bombers

Pacific/Asia
Allied- P-39 for fighter, TBD Devastator for bomber
Axis- Ki-43 Oscar fighter and G4M Betty bomber


1942
ETO
Allied- Fighters are pretty well fleshed out for the allies, but they could have the Martin Baltimore and B-25C, B-24D for bombers. Would work for ETO and Pacific. [EDIT] I forgot, maybe the La5 and La5F to go with our 1943 La5FN?
Axis- again not much room for fighters, but could add the Piaggoi P.108 and He177 for heavy bombers, Hs. 129 for an attacker

Pacific/Asia
Allied- see above
Axis- Ki45 Nick

1943
ETO
Allied- fighters are pretty full here too (unless you consider the P-63 for the Russians), but the B-17F could be added
Axis- Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55 fighters, IAR 81c

Pacific/Asia
Allied- SB2C Helldiver and B-25G (version w/ 75mm cannon and 4x MGs in the nose)
Axis- J2M and Ki-44 fighters, B6N2 and D4Y2 bombers


1944
ETO
Allied- dont think theres really anything to be added here
Axis- ditto

Pacific/Asia
Allied- if you say "B-29", I will kill you, but maybe the B-25H (with 8 nose mounted MGs plus the cheeck packs) and the B-25J for level bombing
Axis- maybe another armament version of the Ki-84, or add the Ohka bomb as a perked Me163 type ride


1945
Nothing to really add here for anyone unless you want to get into adding things like the Do.335 or Kyushu J7W1 as perk rides.

Although some sets might need to be broken up (early war) and some are pretty well set as is (late war), it might be easier for HTC to do it in matched sets like that than to just randomly pick and choose from the vast library of WWII aircraft. Most of these were common enough to be considered but also unique enough not to be redundant (noticed I skipped over the multitude of Italian 3 engined medium bombers and settled on one or two), and all would add something to the current setup, even if it is just to balance out a specific period or theaters planeset so we dont have to keep using subs in scenarios and AvA matchups.

[Sakai]

That's a great idea.

I think I'd put the Ki-21 into the Japanese plane mix released first.  If bthe Baltimor is modeled, should put the Maryland out earlier (which the French Ordered) then a few changes make the Baltimore a year or so later.  

I don't think the He177 was operational in 1942.  

I think the SM.84 was earlier as well-like used in invasion of Greece 1940?

A fantastic early war Itai plane would be the SM.81 pipistrello which could bomb, drop paratroops, carry supplies, and I think had decent payload.

Too slow for later going but great 1937-39 aircraft.

Good idea.

Sakai

[TexMurphy]

Only thing I do have against that is that it creates the situation where finished planes are unreleased....

Tex

[Saxman]

A true F4U-1A for late '43 and 1944.

[Treize69]

He177 was first rushed into service at Stalingrad.

Was a total disaster, but it was there

According to my book (which may be incorrect), the SM.84 first became operational in February 1941.

I selected the SM.79 over the SM.81 because the 79 can be used as  a torpedo bomber and was also used by more countries besides Italy than the 81 was. Its also a bit faster.

[indy007]

Don't know if the Ohka could ever make it into the game. iirc, we don't have kamikaze squadron skins either.

I'm not particular even about the new toy we get, as long as it's fun to fight in

[Treize69]

Originally posted by TexMurphy
Only thing I do have against that is that it creates the situation where finished planes are unreleased....

Tex

Not saying do only 1939-40, then move on to 1941 and do the ETO, then the Pacific...

Just saying that if forexample they were to make the Buffalo, add the Claude. Or if they do the I-16, do the IAR-80 too.

[Sakai]

Originally posted by Treize69
He177 was first rushed into service at Stalingrad.

Was a total disaster, but it was there

According to my book (which may be incorrect), the SM.84 first became operational in February 1941.

I selected the SM.79 over the SM.81 because the 79 can be used as  a torpedo bomber and was also used by more countries besides Italy than the 81 was. Its also a bit faster.

Right, but the 81 was earlier than the 79 or 84 both.  The 81 sees action in earliest Desert/Spanish war.  

The definitive Grief was the A5 released in 1943, the earlier ones should only be modeled if they burn on the runways about 50% of the time.  Thus, no Grief until later, if at all.

Frankly, if you got the Sm.81, 79 and the Cantz1007 you'd never get another Italian bomber until 2012 when HiTech and Company had finally caught up with everything else.

[RAIDER14]

B-29 should be added it is the plane that ended the war in the pacific after all

[sharp8th]

[Kev367th]

Fairly good list I would amend 42.43 tho -

1942
ETO
Allied- Fighters are pretty well fleshed out for the allies, but they could have the Martin Baltimore and B-25C, B-24D for bombers. Would work for ETO and Pacific. [EDIT] I forgot, maybe the La5 and La5F to go with our 1943 La5FN? Old Spit Vc, major Spit vairiant until mid-43
Axis- again not much room for fighters, but could add the Piaggoi P.108 and He177 for heavy bombers, Hs. 129 for an attacker

Pacific/Asia
Allied- see above
Axis- Ki45 Nick

1943
ETO
Allied- fighters are pretty full here too (unless you consider the P-63 for the Russians), but the B-17F could be added
Axis- Reggiane Re.2005 and Fiat G.55 fighters, IAR 81c

Pacific/Asia
Allied- SB2C Helldiver and B-25G (version w/ 75mm cannon and 4x MGs in the nose). Seafire LIII, contribution of RN/FAA to Pacific War is way underestimated/not recognised.
Axis- J2M and Ki-44 fighters, B6N2 and D4Y2 bombers


You could even add one and it will stand in for the other.
Seafire L III was basically a Vc with folding wings and hook, same motor Merlin 55M.

[OOZ662]

Originally posted by Treize69
TBD Devastator for bomber

Am I mistaken, or wasn't the TBM a TBD made by GM and with some tiny insignificant difference?

[Treize69]

Originally posted by OOZ662
Am I mistaken, or wasn't the TBM a TBD made by GM and with some tiny insignificant difference?

Yes, you are mistaken. TBD is a completely different plane built by Douglas in the late 30s. TB= Torpedo Bomber. D= Douglas, F= Grumman, M= General Motors, Y= Consolidated, J= North American, etc.

[OOZ662]

Oooh, I think it was the TBF I was thinking of...now I'm all confused...

[Treize69]

I think thats why they just went to designations like "F-14" and "A-4". Too darn confusing when the only thing distinguishing one aircraft from another inth nomenclature is one letter.