My Top Five Aircraft

[shotgunneeley]

This is purely a Christmas list for new toys; for I am a greedy, spoiled child! My focus is primarily on a diverse plane set for scenario match ups - not necessarily the biggest, baddest or strongest.

All specs taken from "Aircraft of World War II: 300 of the World's Greatest Aircraft, 1939-1945" by Chris Chant (2015 edition).

1) Junkers Ju-52/3m
Country of Origin: Germany
# Built: 4,850
Type: Transport
Powerplant: three 730hp BMW 132T-2 nine-cylinder radial engines
Max Speed: 178pmh
Initial Climb Rate: 9,845 feet in 17 minutes 30 seconds
Service Ceiling: 19,360ft
Range: 811 miles
Empty Weight: 14,328lbs
Max Take-Off Weight: 24,317lbs
Span: 95ft 10in
Length: 62ft
Height:14ft 10in
Primary Armament:one 13mm or 7.92mm dorsal gun
Secondary Armament: two 7.92mm beam guns
Ordinance: troops/cargo

Reasoning: Iconic transport plane to be used for base capture and supply in game, represents Germany and perhaps other Axis powers. Although the C-47 generally out performs it, players may want to fly it in the MA out of sentimentality as well as it does provide some measure of defense. Scenario bird specialty.

2) Boeing B-17F
Country of Origin: USA
# Built: 3,405 (B-17F variant)
Type: Medium Bomber
Powerplant: four 1200hp Wright R-1820-97 nine-cylinder single-row radial engines
Max Speed:325mph
Initial Climb Rate:20,000ft in 25 minutes 42 seconds
Service Ceiling: 37,400ft
Range: 4,420 miles
Empty Weight:35,728lbs
Max Take-Off Weight:72,000lbs
Span: 103ft 9.38in
Length: 74ft 9in
Height:19ft 2.5in
Primary Armament: two 30-cal cheek guns, two 50-cal top turret guns, one 50-cal dorsal radio gun, two 50-cal ball turret guns, two 50-cal waist guns, two 50-cal "Conventional" tail guns
Secondary Armament: N/A
Ordinance: 10,496lbs of bombs

Reasoning: Better flight performance than the later G model, although less heavily armed and armored. Much needed mid-war B-17 variant for scenario play. Good in the MA to get height and speed quickly. Radio gun position not needed, just sync it with the top turret similarly to how the cheek guns in the G-model are slaved to the chin turret. From what I have read, the "conventional" tail turret features an iron gun sight and has a more confined field of view than the G-model "Cheyenne" tail. I'd say make the two cheek 30-cals to be separate independent gun positions, like the left-waist/right-waist positions. (Note: as I'm accustomed to the 6,000lbs bomb load of the G-model in game, the above ordinance load pulled from my source strikes me as questionable; additionally, the B-17G ordinance load in the source was listed as 17,600lbs of bombs).


3) Bristol Beaufighter TF.MK X
Country of Origin: UK
# Built: 2,205 (TF.MK X Variant)
Type: Fighter/Attack
Powerplant: two 1770hp Bristol Hercules XVII 14-cylinder two-row radial engines                                 
Max Speed: 318 mph
Initial Climb Rate: 5,000ft in 3 minutes 30 seconds   
Service Ceiling: 15,000ft
Range: 1,810 miles
Empty Weight: 15,600lbs
Max Take-Off Weight: 25,200lbs
Span: 57ft 10in
Length: 41ft 8in
Height: 15ft 10in
Primary Armament:four 20mm cannons center/nose
Secondary Armament:one .303in dorsal fun
Ordinance: 2,450lbs of rockets, torpedo or bombs

Reasoning: Great low-level ship attacker. Scenario plane set filler.

4) Petlyakov PE-2
Country of Origin: USSR
# Built: 11,427 (all variants)
Type: Light Bomber/Attack
Powerplant: two 1100hp Klimov VK-105RA 12-cylinder Vee engines
Max Speed: 335mph
Initial Climb Rate: 16,405ft in 7 minutes
Service Ceiling: 28,870ft
Range: 932 miles
Empty Weight:12,943lbs
Max Take-Off Weight: 18,728lbs
Span: 56ft 3.7in
Length: 41ft 6.5in
Height: 13ft 1.5in
Primary Armament: two 7.62mm nose guns
Secondary Armament: one 7.62mm dorsal gun, one 7.62mm ventral gun
Ordinance: 3,527lbs of bombs

Reasoning: Outstanding tactical light bomber/ground attack plane. Very prominent and respected, large numbers. Scenario specialty in the eastern European theater.

5) Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-3
Country of Origin: USSR
# Built: 3,322 delivered up until Spring 1942
Type: Fighter/Attack
Powerplant: one 1350hp Mikulin AM-35A 12-cylinder Vee engine
Max Speed: 398mph
Initial Climb Rate:16,405ft in 5 minutes 42 seconds
Service Ceiling: 39,370ft
Range:742 miles
Empty Weight: 5,721lbs
Max Take-Off Weight: 7,385lbs
Span: 33ft 5.5in
Length: 27ft 0.8in
Height: 8ft 8.33in
Primary Armament: one 12.7mm center gun
Secondary Armament: two 7.62mm cowling guns
Ordinance: 441lbs of bombs/rockets

Reasoning: No particular reason other than I want to be able to say "Scratch one Mig!". Does add a new USSR fighter for variety of design.

Honorable Mention: Brewster F2A-3, Fairey Swordfish MkII, Polikarpov PO-2   

[Ack-Ack]

The F2A-3 would most definitely be a hanger queen after most realize that it doesn't fly as well as the B-239 Brewster we have.  The F2A-3 was the Brewster that the Marines got thumped in by the Japanese during Midway.  The F2A-3 was truly a POS and it was near criminal making the Marines fight in them at Midway.

[Randall172]

The F2A-3 would most definitely be a hanger queen after most realize that it doesn't fly as well as the B-239 Brewster we have.  The F2A-3 was the Brewster that the Marines got thumped in by the Japanese during Midway.  The F2A-3 was truly a POS and it was near criminal making the Marines fight in them at Midway.

I'm pretty sure the F2A-3 was the better plane by all objective measurements, but the opponent much much better.

[shotgunneeley]

The F2A-3 would most definitely be a hanger queen after most realize that it doesn't fly as well as the B-239 Brewster we have.  The F2A-3 was the Brewster that the Marines got thumped in by the Japanese during Midway.  The F2A-3 was truly a POS and it was near criminal making the Marines fight in them at Midway.

Oh sure, as far as the MA is concerned. I only mention it because we do have the Brewster B-239 foreign export model. I had always heard from here that our current B-239 operates way better passing as a US Marine Corps F2A-3 in the Battle of Midway setup than the actual F2A-3s would have. Midway was about the only American engagement I'm familiar with that any F2A flew in (perhaps the Philippines, Wake Island, or Pearl Harbor?).

That is way down the list and only warranted a passing mention from me. Like I said, I'm more scenario focused than MA driven.

[LCADolby]

I like the choices in the OP,  though I would add the Wellington, Blenheim, Fw200, Do17, SM 79, Ki45 and Il4

[Vraciu]

SB2C.

SB2C.

SB2C.

[Vraciu]

The F2A-3 would most definitely be a hanger queen after most realize that it doesn't fly as well as the B-239 Brewster we have.  The F2A-3 was the Brewster that the Marines got thumped in by the Japanese during Midway.  The F2A-3 was truly a POS and it was near criminal making the Marines fight in them at Midway.

This.

[save]

Junkers 52 can also be used as a bomber (with 1500kg bombload)

I also miss the Wellington and the SM 79, the LA5 (not the FN),  the Fw190a9, Bf109g6AS/14AS from OP post.
Please separate the LA7 into the 2-cannon and 3 cannon versions, the latter as a perked bird.

[Ack-Ack]

I'm pretty sure the F2A-3 was the better plane by all objective measurements, but the opponent much much better.

The F2A-3 better plane against the Zeke?   

[KiLrGrampa]

I support adding the Junkers Ju-52/3m and the Beaufighter.

[ONTOS]

Don't forget the Fiat G55. I also like the B 17F.




     

Sharps, the rifle that made the West safe for Winchester

[Ack-Ack]

Oh sure, as far as the MA is concerned. I only mention it because we do have the Brewster B-239 foreign export model. I had always heard from here that our current B-239 operates way better passing as a US Marine Corps F2A-3 in the Battle of Midway setup than the actual F2A-3s would have. Midway was about the only American engagement I'm familiar with that any F2A flew in (perhaps the Philippines, Wake Island, or Pearl Harbor?).

That is way down the list and only warranted a passing mention from me. Like I said, I'm more scenario focused than MA driven.

Of course the B-239 (export version of the F2A-1) would perform better in a Midway scenario than the F2A-3.  The B-239 was a scrappy little dogfighter that could turn a circle in phone booth compared to the over weight and under powered F2A-3 that flew in Midway.

I believe Midway was the only time the Buffalo was flown in combat by the US.  The Dutch and British/Commonwealth forces flew the B-339E (UK/Commonwealth) B-339 (Dutch), and the B-339C/D (Dutch).  The B-339 (all versions) was the export model of the F2A-2.

For scenario purposes, I think the B-339 (all versions) should be added as there were significant difference between each models.  For example, the Dutch version of the Buffalo was far lighter and more maneuverable than the UK verison (B-339E) and the F2A-2, which is why the Dutch had a little better success in the Buffalo during the early fighting in the East Indies than the UK and Commonwealth forces.

[Randall172]

The F2A-3 better plane against the Zeke?   

No i meant vs the finnish brewster

[Ack-Ack]

No i meant vs the finnish brewster

It wasn't. 

[Zimme83]

Brewster was considered a good plane and pilots liked it, but The F2A-3 was way too heavy compare to the original one. Dutch B-339D could fight the Zekes and oscars but later u.snavy variants could not.

Boyington is alleged to have opined "...the early models, before they weighed it all down with armor plate, radios, and other [equipment], they were pretty sweet little ships. Not real fast, but the little [aircraft] could turn and roll in a phone booth."

A6M2 and Ki-43 is also the two biggest nemesis of the Brewster in AH. Against a Ki-43 the brewster have very few tools to use.