Clarifications about the Spitfire Mk IX and XVI

[Debrody]

The Bf109 was a great fighter.  The Bf109K-4 is one of the best prop fighters in the game.  The Bf109G-14 is very good as well.  The Bf109F-4 is, against its contemporaries, clearly the best fighter of 1941 as modeled in AH.  I would love to see the Bf109G-6/AS added.  The Bf109G-10 can be added or not, it is irrelevant to the game in my opinion.

This. Chill, Schlowy, please.
The K4 is the fastest prop driven aircraft in AH, between 8 and 27k. Faster than the heavily perked Tempest, 4-hog, Spit14, really everything. Also its the best climbing aircraft in the game. The gun is - well - a giant shotgun, an unique weapon. The flaps are great, just as the low speed handling, even though the raw turning performance is only medicore - yet it can still compete with a Spit14. Its an awesome aircraft, what ever anyone says.
I would say, the G-2 is also pretty good for being a 1942 fighter. WHile its turn rate isnt too good compared to the Spit9, the speed and the climb rate is still better. Pretty much the same story with the 109F and the Spit5.

The only thing i cant get, the Spit9 came out a couple months after the G-2, yet its enabled in the EW while the G-2 isnt. Imo, none of them are EW planes.

[Karnak]

the IX we have in game is the HFe (high altitude E wing) with the same merlin 26 engine

The HF.Mk IX had a Merlin 70, and often had extended wing tips.  The Spitfire Mk IX in AH is a Spitfire F.Mk IX (mid altitude, not high altitude) with a Merlin 61.  It also does not have the "e" wing, which would be two 20mm cannons and two .50s as on the Mk XIV and XVI, but rather the older "universal" wing, hence being armed with two 20mm cannons and four .303s.

[B3YT]

In many of the books I've read it states that the MkIX used the "universal wing"  wing which was then renamed the E wing used in most other variations and renamed the  as it could be fitted with other armaments such as the setup on the XVI we have and the XIV . I stand corrected on the MkIX HFe sorry I ment the standard Mk IX  but you get the idea i was trying to make.   

[Karnak]

In many of the books I've read it states that the MkIX used the "universal wing"  wing which was then renamed the E wing used in most other variations and renamed the  as it could be fitted with other armaments such as the setup on the XVI we have and the XIV . I stand corrected on the MkIX HFe sorry I ment the standard Mk IX  but you get the idea i was trying to make.   

That is not a correct description on the universal wing.  The universal wing was introduced on the Spitfire Mk Vc and allowed the guns to be changed between eight .303s, two 20mm and four .303s and four 20mm.  In practice only the two 20mm and four .303s option was used with rare exceptions for four 20mm in the ground attack role and two 20mm by themselves on Malta.  The ability to change wing tip types might also have been introduced with the universal wing, I am not sure.

The 'e' wing was introduced on later Mk IXs and used on the majority of Mk XIVs and all Mk XVIs.  It had two 20mm and two .50s without the option to change gun types. It also had more hard points.

[B3YT]

didn't the MKVIII also have the "universal wing"? A few squadrons in the far east would swap from the standard 2 X 20mm 4X.303 to 4 X 20mm for attack missions and bomber intercepts .

[Karnak]

didn't the MKVIII also have the "universal wing"? A few squadrons in the far east would swap from the standard 2 X 20mm 4X.303 to 4 X 20mm for attack missions and bomber intercepts .

Yes.  Mk VII, Mk XII and some MK XIV as well.

[B3YT]

The MKVIII could switch it armament just like the universal wing . 

[Karnak]

The MKVIII could switch it armament just like the universal wing .  

Not just like as it had a universal wing, as I said above.

[Guppy35]

The MKVIII could switch it armament just like the universal wing . 

Could but didn't.

[Guppy35]

didn't the MKVIII also have the "universal wing"? A few squadrons in the far east would swap from the standard 2 X 20mm 4X.303 to 4 X 20mm for attack missions and bomber intercepts .

Not an accurate statement about squadrons swapping out.  There was one Spit VIII given extended wing tips and 4 20mm and was set up that way in hopes of catching hi alt Dinah recce birds.

We have this discussion every year going back to the start of AH.  The AH XVI is a very representative Spit for the last part of the war covering a similar time frame as the 190D9.  Due to the lack of air to air, the LFIX and XVI flew predominantly ground attack so AH did a great job giving us that bird.  In a perfect world we also get an LF IX with Universal wing.  As is we have the VIII it does give us similar performance. And covers 43-45.  And the IX we have covers 42-mid 43 well.

We don't need a 4 cannon Spit as they just weren't used outside of some tropicalized ground attack Vc and the one documented VIII we've found.

[morfiend]

 Dan,

  Do you have any information on the "basta" a special IX that ran on 150 fuel?

    IIRC they had a very short engine overhaul time but I don't recall more than that.




   

[Karnak]

Dan,

  Do you have any information on the "basta" a special IX that ran on 150 fuel?

    IIRC they had a very short engine overhaul time but I don't recall more than that.




   

Many, perhaps most, LF.IX, XIV and XVI squadrons converted to 150 octane in 1944.  I believe all P-47Ms were converted to 150 octane.  Many Tempest Vs, P-51Ds and some Mosquito Mk VIs were converted to 150 octane in 1944.

In all cases, save perhaps the Mossie, the resulting performance would make them a perk plane in AH.  The Mossie only did about 375mph on the deck.

[Oldman731]

Due to the lack of air to air, the LFIX and XVI flew predominantly ground attack

Too bad they didn't have drop tanks.

- oldman

[Karnak]

Too bad they didn't have drop tanks.

- oldman

By late 44 they were mostly flying from bases on the continent.  Not much need for more bomber escorts by that time though.

[Guppy35]

Too bad they didn't have drop tanks.

- oldman