Originally posted by hubsonfire
Historical roles the aircraft filled? I wonder why the B5N and D3A can be attackers, but the B-26, with its fixed belly guns can only fly in bomber mode.
Bomber vs attacker seems to me to be along the lines of whether the aircraft was ever used in direct support of ground forces ("attack" mode) vs. used for deep penetration raids only ("bomber" mode). The JU-88, for example, was occasionally used as a tactical dive bomber near the front. The B-26 (being a "B" version instead of the "A" version) was not really used in that manner afaik.
Even in operation Cobra, where one could argue heavy's were used in direct support of a ground offensive, they carpet-bombed an entire area as opposed to pinpointing specific targets.
For fighters, again I think it is their historic use. I always thought all Spitfires could carry ord historically -- I don't know why they do not have the option in AH. Planes like the Ta-152, Me-163 and Me-262 were basically interceptors only (despite the attempts to make 262s attack bombers early in their development). I am not sure about the Italian planes.
Not to say there are not inconsistencies, because I am sure there are if you dig deep enough -- but for the most part the designations always made sense to me.
