Originally posted by Guppy35
Just out of curiosity and to play devils advocate.
What LW fighters would you add for example?
They had two main fighters the 109 and 190 of which there are numerous variants in AH......Part of the problem is that there were that many more main Allied rides.
Another part of the problem was that the quality of Allied rides were generally better than Axis ones, and by LW Axis were totally on the defensive. This does pose limitations in possible additions. Allies built better and many more examples of each plane they did build. Best option Axis has are some of the lower (but not extremely limited nor experimental) production numbered niche planes. German's probably have the best already, but suffer in heavy bombers. The Japanese and Italians both have thin planesets that can be helped.
Which LW Axis fighters to consider adding?
- Fiat G.55 - considered better than their German counterparts and very well armed. Best of the Italian rides.
- J2M3 Raiden "Jack" MW/LW Quick climbing (19,685 feet in just over 6 minutes) bomber interceptor (364mph at 17,388 for J2M3) , but short legs (1,025 naut miles for J2M3). Two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon and two wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon (J2M3) OR Four wing-mounted 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannon (J2M3a)
- Nakajima Ki-44 IIc (or later version) Shōki "Tojo" Japanese B&Z Interceptor. Later version with heavy gun package of Ho-3's or Ho-5's.
- Ki-84-Ib 4X20mm version.
Those are the best ones I can think of at this time. Most of their LW fighters were cannon heavy to deal with American bombers. The production numbers of those suggestions are mostly all down around those of the N1K2-J we already have in the game.
The 262 and 163 I discount. 163 anchored close to HQ, and 262 is marginal in LW. Neither see much in the SEA. They are candy, but not real contenders except when flown by a few sticks. They are not real equalizers in the plane set.
The best bomber they had is in the game with the 88. I suppose you could argue for some of the later solid nose night fighter versions.
Two heavy bomber options exist: The
He-177 (sans early development problems) and the
Do 217M that PanzerIV mentions. Neither would get the specially guided munitions (Fritz-X for example) in the game I'm sure. They would give Axis a second heavy bomber.
No real help out there for the Japanese in heavy bombers, they already have their best in the Ki-67, but the
D4Y2 Judy is the best help their CV forces could get (anything beyond EW puts the PTO in SEA decidedly in the Allies favor).... and help the Blue Water Navy plane set in general for MW/LW.
Consider that you didn't want the 25 because it would be a 'hanger queen' and useless for the MA.
I want to stay away from that issue in this thread.
What other rides are gonna work that are LW for example?
On the Allied side, I'd like to see the
Pe-2 complimenting the IL-2 and
P-39 from Lend Lease in the Russian plane set for more Eastern Front SEA applications as well as MW and LW use. Which in turn would argue for the addition of the
Me 410 Hornisse in response as well as adding the
JU-87G with two 37 mm AT guns version for that front.
Limited additions over time won't see a lot on the ground side. BUT if SEA will continue to be mainly Germany on the defensive, as well as adding something for LW (and MW, and EW), I'd give the GVr's the
German 88mm FlaK36 for artillery, long range direct fire, and manned puffy ack to 30+K feet altitude.
Planes I don't consider include the Ki-102 = too close to the existing Ki-61 in performance numbers. The Oscar is a lighter, less rugged, even more lightly armed version of the Zeke... I don't see the benefit in it's addition.
Night fighters, seaplanes, float planes, maritime patrol craft, and unarmed recon planes have very little use in the War Arenas or SEA events. Twin engined Axis fighters, especially those from Japan, were under performers, so no "Nick" or "Dinah", please.
The rest we usually see asked for are experimental or whose production numbers are in the
ten's or even less, not the several hundreds or thousands.
