Beaufighter MkXXI vs. Mosquito FB.MkVI

[Karnak]

What is the attraction of the Beaufighter?  It'd be dead meat in the MA, even a Mosquito FB.VI would have a very rough time of it.

Beaufighter Mk.21

Engines:  2 1,735 hp Hercules XVIII
Top Speed at Best Altitude:  330 mph
Top Speed at Sea Level:  About 280-300 mph
Climb Rate:  1,850 ft
Fuel Range:  1,540 miles
Armament:  4 20mm Hispano MkII cannon, 4 .50 cal machine guns fixed in wings, 1 .303 machine gun aimed by the observer. Unknown amount of ammunition
Ordinance:  1 1,650 lb torpedo or 2,127 lb torpedo on the centerline or 8 60 lb rockets and  2 250 lb bombs under the wings


Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2

Engines:  2 1,635 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 25
Top Speed at Best Altitude:  376 mph
Top Speed at Sea Level:  About 345 mph
Climb Rate:  2,850 ft
Fuel Range:  1,860 miles
Armament:  4 20mm Hispano MkII cannon and 4 .303 machine guns.  Ammunition load is one of the following: 1,200 rounds of 20mm and 8,000 rounds of .303, 1,000 rounds of 20mm and 4,000 rounds of .303, 600 rounds of 20mm and 3,000 rounds of .303 or 600 rounds of 20mm and 2,000 rounds of .303.  These are the various amounts of ammo I have seen listed and have not been able to confirm any one of them
Ordinance:  2 500 lb bombs internally and 2 500 lb bombs or 8 60 lb rockets or 2 mines or 2 depth charges or 2 50 gal droptanks or 2 100 gal droptanks or (1945) 2 50 gal drop tanks and 8 60 lb rockets or (1945) 2 100 gal drop tanks and 8 60 lb rockets


The Beaufighter has a maximum speed of 330 mph.  It could outrun a B-26B, but everything else would easily out pace it, even the Tu-2, P1Y1 and Ki67 should they ever be added.  More significantly, what is its top speed at sea level?  The Mosquito FB.VI would have a top speed at sea level of about 345 mph, against its top speed at best altitude of 376 mph.  With a max of 330 mph at beast altitude I am guessing that the Beaufighter would have a max sea level speed of about 280-300 mph.

I am curious why you guys want the British to get an absolutely helpless punching bag of an aircraft?  Doesn't it make more sense to give the mid-late war aircraft now and then add the early war stuff when other countries are getting early war stuff?

The Mosquito FB.VI Series 2 would be a good mid-war aircraft that would be versatile and challenging to fly, yet have a fighting chance for survival.  The Beaufighter would be a versatile early war aircraft that would be butchered in the MA.

I vote for the Mosquito.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2 to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

[This message has been edited by Karnak (edited 05-20-2001).]

[Replicant]

Beaufighter Mk.21 has 4 x .50 cals, not the 6 x .303s.  It was the Australian version of the TF.X.

I love both planes dearly, but the Mosquito is a far superior plane so I'd obviously go for that!  One thing I have noticed in AH is that you need as much speed as possible!  BUT, if the Mossie was a no no, then bring on the Beaufighter!  

Regards

Nexx

 

[Dowding]

I guess I'm torn between the Beaufighter and Mosquito - both are outstandingly beautiful planes in their own particular ways.

I just go for looks really.  

I'd be happy with either, no matter what version or role.

[juzz]

Not everyone wants to fly the best possible plane...

PS: It's Beaufighter Mk.21, Australia didn't use Roman numerals.

[This message has been edited by juzz (edited 05-20-2001).]

[-tronski-]

Why can't we have both?

I personally vote for Mk21 Beau

Because of its superior antishipping role, and survivability compared to the Mosquito, and the current standard: the TBM. And in this niche it surpasses, IMO any other types.

The fact it would be 'butchered' in the current MA is more toward the inadequacies of the current planeset to deal with the introductions of Mid war a/c.
 
I personally believe the mossie will suffer such a fate as would the beaufighter, especially the unarmed Bomber ver.
But then, as always, you'll just have to learn to fly the damn things better.

Vote 1 for a Aussie Mk21 Beaufighter
Vote 2 for a Mosquito MkVI marked 2nd TAF: 487 RNZAF Sqn,464 RAAF Sqn

 Tronsky


[This message has been edited by -tronski- (edited 05-20-2001).]

[Karnak]

Juzz,

I'd hardly consider the Mosquito to be the best, just "slightly survivable" as opposed to "not survivable".

The Beaufighter isn't going to out run anything in AH that isn't a bomber.  The Mosquito FB.VI will out run the following AH fighters at sea level:

Seafire MkII
Spitfire MkVb
Spitfire F.MkIX
A6M5b
N1K2-J
P-38L
C.202
C.205
Bf109F-4
Bf109G-6
Yak-9T

And will pace these AH fighters:

P-47D-11 (I'm guessing that it has nearly the same performance as the other two P-47s)
P-47D-25
P-47D-30
Bf109G-2
Fw190A-5

Other fighters, such as the Fw190D-9, P-51 and La-7, will easily run it down and kill it.

As far as toughness goes, I have also read that the Mosquito had a reputation for being a durable aircraft able to sustain major damage and continue flying.

I agree that some version of the Beaufighter should be added, but as HTC seems to be doing the mid-late war first, I'd like to see the Mosquito before the Beaufighter (at the same time would be fine with me).  I have to admit thet this is somewhat selfish on my part as well as I have no interest in the Beaufighter and really want the Mosquito FB.VI.

What I want to know is "Why do you prefer the Beaufighter over the Mosquito?"

BTW, I don't think the B.IV should be put into AH, the BXVI would be much better, being both faster and carrying more.

------------------
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother

Bring the Mosquito FB.MkVI Series 2 to Aces High!!!

Sisu
-Karnak

[juzz]

Beaufighter is mean and tough, not some nancy-boy wooden wonder that gets all the glory and movie roles...  

Like the Hurricane, the Beaufighter did alot to save Britains arse early in the war.

It was quirky: firing the cannon gave a big nose-down pitch, and totally porked the magnetic compass. It had a savage swing on takeoff, and even just getting into the pilots seat was an adventure of its own...

And it got a cool nickname in the PTO: Whispering Death

[Dowding]

It also was very difficult to fly on one engine - I wonder how AH would model that?



------------------
MA Handle: Koba
Acting CO
No. 272 Squadron "Whispering Death"

[Angus]

Hello there.
The Beaufighter was not that bad, and in the role where it is best used, it would make an interesting addition to the planeset of AH.
Firstly, it has an interesting combination of armament. Cannons, rockets, bombs and torpedoes. It would be the third torpedoe plane of AH, and the only cannon and rocket armed plane to carry a bombsight.(I think) I'd grab a Beau for anti-shipping rather than a Ju88.
Furthermore, the Beau was a rugged plane.
The Mossie would be a delightful addition as well, but to present its full versatility, some 3 variants would be needed.
Firstly the unarmed mossie with the bombsight for speed, - If I remember right it will carry more than the Arado.
Secondly, the heavy mossie, with 4x303 + 4x20mm plus a nice bombload, a true killer...
Thirdly, the anti shipping version, called the tse-tse. One 57mm nose cannon, 4x303, and bombs or rockets. Yet, we have nothing to match that.
Although, some 50% of the AH planeset will catch the mossie in a straight run, the R/L facts were those that the mossie would outrun almost anything in a shallow dive, and carrying its payload at high altitude in full cruise it will be a nightmare to intercept. It was not without reason that the 109 pilots HATED the mossie....
Finally, there is the idea of incorporating the radar for night flying, now there is a possiblity for a good life in mossies and Beaus in the future AH versions...maybe....

[-tronski-]

   

Originally posted by Karnak:


What I want to know is "Why do you prefer the Beaufighter over the Mosquito?"

As I posted, Superior Anti-shipping.

I think the realities of the MA suit the beau in the anti-shipping role. And with the development of the amphibous forces, will make the Beau the superior a/c to deal with the ability to combat the CV Fleets.
The 'teste' Mossie would not be as versatile as the Rock/Torp version of the Beau.

Australian Beaufighters were still operation up to Aug '45 in their attack roles.

And as Juzz posted, not everyone wants the hotrods of the skies. I like the idea of implementing them because of their sheer character!

 Tronsky

 



[This message has been edited by -tronski- (edited 05-22-2001).]