Originally posted by Col. Flashman
Stearman 75
PT-19
AT-6 Texan
Curtiss AT-9
L-3 Grasshopper
Beech 17 & 18
Cessna T-50
A-36 Apachee
P-26 Peashooter
P-35 Seversky
P-36 Hawk & Hawk 75 Export version
P-39 Airacobra
P-400
P-40 (2 30's/2 50's, no armour & no self sealing fuel tanks)
P-40B (not the C that's already available disguised as a B)
P-40C (already disguised as the B model)
P-40-D (4 wing mounted 50's)
P-43 Lancer
A-28/A-29 Hudson
B-10/B-12
B-18
B-17D
B-25 Mitchell
B-26 Marauder
F2A Buffalo
SBC Helldiver
TBD Devastator
SB2U Vindicator
B-34 PV Ventura/Harpoon
JF Duck
G-21A Goose
C-29 Dolphin
OS2U-3 Kingfisher
PBY
A few thoughts on this list...
I can see little need for trainer types or utility type aircraft. They have no purpose in the game. Perhap in the Training Arena, a basic trainer would be a useful aircraft for the few players are willing to take their time in learning, but I'm sure most would not bother with it as instant gratification is now part of the culture.
Many of the aircraft on the list saw little or no combat. HTC models aircraft generally based up them having some impact on the war. P-26s saw limited combat with the Philippine air force and were quickly knocked out of action. Ditto for the P-35, which was available only in small numbers and most were destroyed on the ground. One did manage to kill a Zero.
In US service, the P-36 saw very little combat, with their most significant contribution being at Pearl Harbor. The export model (Hawk 75) did see greater service, mostly with the French and later Vichy forces, but its impact on the war was barely noticable.
The original P-40s (no letter designation) were limited to training commands due to their lack of self-sealing tanks. Most had the two .30 caliber Brownings removed.
While the P-40D did see service in North Africa with the RAF/Commonwealth forces as the Kittyhawk Mk. I, it was rapidly replaced by newer fighters. Basically, if HTC gives us a proper P-40E (no WEP rating), adding a four gun option would create the P-40D. I'd rather see the P-40N-15-CU.
Rename the current P-40B as the P-40C and add a drop tank option. Using the same basic graphics, create a proper P-40B. Less weight and drag, it should manage 352 mph at best altitude.
We certainly could use the P-39, in the guise of the P-39D and P-39N. Add the 20mm option (replacing the 37mm cannon) to the P-39D to make it the P-400.
About 60 P-43s saw combat service in WWII, all with the Nationalist Chinese. AVG pilots ferried many of the P-43s into China. They liked its good high-altitude performance and ask Chennault to retain some for their own use. Chennault declined, citing problems with self sealing fuel tanks that leaked badly, creating a severe fire hazard. The Chinese were not very successful with the P-43, but they were not successful in general.
As to the bombers listed, we already have the B-26. Inasmuch as the the B-18 was obsolete at the war's start, they were used only to train bomber crews headed to more modern aircraft. There's little need for the early B-17C and D models, except for early-war scenerios. We could use the B-17F as it was the primary version in service when the 8th AF began its operations out of Britain (some E models were in service then as well) and was still the primary model up through most of 1943.
Hudsons, Venturas and B-10s were too unimportant or rare to be considered, and they have very limited capability within the scheme of the game.
There has been a long standing desire to get the Buffalo into the game in at least two versions. Likewise for the B-25. Most would welcome the SB2C Helldiver. Except for scenarios, the TBD would be a hanger queen, as would the Vought Vindicator (often called the Wind Indicator). Vindicators saw little combat and were clearly inferior to the SBD.
A big amphibian like the Catalina offers nothing that cannot be done by a land-based aircraft based upon the current map size.
My list would include planes such as the Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-45, J2M3, B6N2, A6M3, G4M, Ki-21-IIa, P-39D, P-39N, P-61A, P-63A, Yak-1, Yak-3, Pe-2, P-51A, F2A-1/239, P-40N-15, B-25D, B-25J (solid nose), A-26, B-17F, B-24D, F6F-3, SB2C, Seafire Mk.III, Spitfire Mk.XII, Fw 190A-3, He 177, S.M.79, P-38H, P-47D-23, Ju 87G, late-war Mosquito, Ju 88G, Beaufighter, Wellington Mk.III, Me 410 and others needed to fill gaps.
My regards,
Widewing
