New Naval Aircraft

[C(Sea)Bass]

I agree with what was said earlier, get the helldiver. It was better in every way than the SBD and more were produced than the SBD.

[Saxman]

F8F never saw combat with American forces. By Korea she had already been replaced by the first generation of naval jet fighters. She DID get into combat with the French, however.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by C(Sea)Bass
not sure on this source but it says the langley was scuttled in 1942, so im not sure how a squadron could be stationed on it in

1945.http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-l/cv1.htm

"While carrying Army fighters to the Netherlands East Indies on 27 February 1942, Langley was attacked by Japanese aircraft. Hit by several bombs and disabled, she was scuttled by her escorting destroyers."

Also I am positive the bearcat never saw service. I've read probably more than 200 books on the war in the pacific and it was never mentioned. It may have served in korea though.Heres a random google found source to collaborate this.

 

The first Langley (CV-1) was the first aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, converted from the collier Jupiter in 1922, and scuttled in February 1942 after being disabled by the Japanese.

The second Langley (CVL-27) was a light aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943, active in World War II, and transferred to France in 1951.

Now you can see how a squadron could be attached to it.  Yes, the Bearcat did see service at the very end of World War II, it just never saw combat during their service in the PTO.


ack-ack

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by Karnak
Japanese aircraft that were used off of CV's that we lack:

A6M3
B6N2
D3Y1

That is all.

Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy", Mid-War bird.   "The D4Y was operated from the following Japanese aircraft carriers: Chitose, Chiyoda, Hiyō, Junyō, Shinyo, Shōkaku, Sōryū, Taihō, Unryū, Unyo and Zuikaku." by one source.
Good Judy write up HERE.
First saw combat at Midway, the Soryu had two early versions reconfigured to the reconnaissance role.

And probably the best blue water plane we could get added to the game to help Japanese plane set for MW and LW SEA events, as well as provide a good, fast, dive bomber to carriers in MW and LW arena maps.

[Shifty]

Originally posted by tedrbr
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei "Judy"
First saw combat at Midway, the Soryu had two early versions reconfigured to the reconnaissance role.

 

This may explain a question I've had for years. On his way back to the CV after his bombing attack on the Japanese fleet, Wade Mclusky repoted his SBD was attacked by a BF-109. I wonder if seeing the inline engine of a D4Y pointed at him, he mistook this for a 109?

I've read this account in Gordon Prange's Miracle at Midway and at least one other book covering the battle. I believe the early model D4Ys were all in-line engines, plus I didn't know any participated in the Battle of Midway.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Shifty
This may explain a question I've had for years. On his way back to the CV after his bombing attack on the Japanese fleet, Wade Mclusky repoted his SBD was attacked by a BF-109. I wonder if seeing the inline engine of a D4Y pointed at him, he mistook this for a 109?

I've read this account in Gordon Prange's Miracle at Midway and at least one other book covering the battle. I believe the early model D4Ys were all in-line engines, plus I didn't know any participated in the Battle of Midway.

A lot of US pilots mistook the Ki-61 for the Bf 109E and some also reported it as a C.202.  Maybe Wade Mclusky made the same ID error.

ack-ack

[Shifty]

The Ki-61 was a Japanese Army Bird, none ever operated off CVs. Midway was all CV based aircraft for the Japanese.
 Actually that was one of my first thoughts. I wondered if the IJN maybe had a KI-61 variant they were testing.

[humble]

Originally posted by Hornet33
F7F never saw combat in WWII either.

The F7F is the one true anomaly we have. Development of the F7F actually started in 1938 with the F5F. The design was revised and updated in early 1941 (so way before pearl harbor). The production contract was actually signed in June 1941 (same day as the F6F)....so the F7F is a prewar contract. The plane 1st flew in 12/43 and was approved for fleet deployment in early 1944. The 1st F7F's were delivered to the fleet for active duty in April, 1944.

The F7F was operationally deployed well over a year before the end of the war. This is not a plane that "didnt make it" before the end of the war. It is a plane that simply was not deployed. While use of the plane in any scenario or other historical context would be inappropriate it's use in the general late war arena shouldnt be totally excluded.

[Shifty]

I'm not trying to pee in the holy grail here, but Main Arena Combat is hardly historical. I've often wondered what the big deal is about the aircraft actually having to been operational. Seriously how many time did 262s fight each other, or Spit16s have it out with LA-7s, or P-40s, fighting F4Fs?

The whole concept of main arena play is fictional, so why not add some of the late war planes that didn't get to the front in time? Okay I'm outta here before the thunderbolt hits me.

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by Shifty
This may explain a question I've had for years. On his way back to the CV after his bombing attack on the Japanese fleet, Wade Mclusky repoted his SBD was attacked by a BF-109. I wonder if seeing the inline engine of a D4Y pointed at him, he mistook this for a 109?

I've read this account in Gordon Prange's Miracle at Midway and at least one other book covering the battle. I believe the early model D4Ys were all in-line engines, plus I didn't know any participated in the Battle of Midway.

Early D4Y's were inline and water cooled.  They had a lot of problems, so later ones, at least those that went to the Navy for shipboard operations, were radial engine (which caused visibility problems in dive bombing role).  

A number of Suisei were specifically outfitted for reconnaissance roles, and late in the war were pressed into service as bomber interceptors.  Both of those D4Y's at Midway were lost with the Sōryū.

[Shifty]

Thanks for the info Tedrbr.

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by Shifty
The Ki-61 was a Japanese Army Bird, none ever operated off CVs. Midway was all CV based aircraft for the Japanese.
 Actually that was one of my first thoughts. I wondered if the IJN maybe had a KI-61 variant they were testing.

Oops, sorry missed the Miday location.  Yeah, so since it was a naval aircraft it obviously couldn't be a Ki-61.



From that angle, D4Y2 has a marked resemblence to the Ju87.  


ack-ack

[Meatwad]

Beaufighter


Nuff said

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by tedrbr
Early D4Y's were inline and water cooled.  They had a lot of problems, so later ones, at least those that went to the Navy for shipboard operations, were radial engine (which caused visibility problems in dive bombing role).  

A number of Suisei were specifically outfitted for reconnaissance roles, and late in the war were pressed into service as bomber interceptors.  Both of those D4Y's at Midway were lost with the Sōryū.

The D4Y1s used a license-built German DB 600 in-line engine and the major problems with the engine was maintenance and slow production of the engine and parts.  There was nothing wrong with the engine itself.  But the major problem with the early D4Ys were the wings.  They would flutter in dives and could cause the wingspars to break.

Supposedly, the design of the D4Y was greatly influenced by the He118.


ack-ack

[Ace8765]

Originally posted by ScorpCH
WHAT!!!?!?!?! so you're saying we cant have the f7f or the f8f? but the brits have the SPIT16!:mad:  and the germans have the 109k4 and 262! ITS NOT FAIR !  we need an uber sexy american plane (other then the P-38 )

I agree the USA CV forces are underpowered compared to the rest of the factions now cmon the Bearcat would help even it up!!!