Do217 useless? Don't make me laugh! :-)
Some data:
Ju88A4: served Sept 1939-1945, 14,980 of all types, including over 7,000 Ju88A's. Max bomb load 2,000kg both internally and externally. (the A5 could carry more, but how much more I am unsure). Max speed 292mph. Ceiling 8.2km
He111: served 1939-1945, over 7300 of all types produced, including about 6200 He111H's. Maximum bomb load 3,250kg (includes external bombs). Max speed (He111H) 250mph Ceiling 6.7km
Do217: served late 1940-1945, 1730 of all types, of which 1366 were bombers. Maximum bombload 4,000kgs Some types carried 2 FX1400 of Hs293 guided bombs externally instead. maximum speeds 320-340mph Ceiling about 7.5km for bomber variants
Ju188: served 1943-1945, 1100 of all types. Max bombload 3,000kg, max speed 325mph Ceiling 9.3km
He177: served March 1942-1945, 908 built (8 prototypes, 35 He177A0, 130 He177A1, 170 He177A3, 565 He177A5). Between February and December 1943 Heinkel and Arado delivered 261 He177A-5's. Performance was improved, with ceiling raised from 7km to 8km. Max. offensive load was 6,000kgs, including externally carried Hs293 or 294 guided bombs or two FX1400 bombs. I am not sure, but I think the internal bomb bay could carry just 2,000kgs of bombs, and was often blanked off, with ordnance being carried externally only. Max speed (A5 version)303mph
On 13 February 1944 Goering was at Rheine to watch planes of KG100 set off to attack England. 14 taxied out, 13 took off, 8 returned soon with overheated or burning engines, four reached London, but only three came back.
OK: lets suppose that the He177 is modelled. It then has just a 2,000kg bomb load unless or until radio-guided bombs are introduced into AH, and I can't see THAT happening any time soon. That makes the He177 a poor choice for a heavier bomber, and the Do217 the best candidate so far as sheer weight of bombs delivered goes.
If radio-controlled bombs ARE modelled, the Do217 still has the edge, because more of them were produced, and in a wider range of variants, making the Do217 a more useful addition to the game.
If engine overheating etc is ever introduced, the He177 probably will be treated like a leper in the MA. It'd probably ONLY get used in scenario games, then!
With regard to defensive firepower, yes, the He177 is on a par with a B17... which means it cant make unescorted daylight raids and hope to survive very long very often. Same as any other bomber.
For speed the Do217 wins, for ceiling the Ju188 wins, and I suspect the Ju188 was the more agile. In terms of quantity built, the He111 wins.
Note the Ju88A4 bombload, btw; note that at the moment AH allows combinations of loadout that in real life would seldom, if ever, have been used (planes were sometimes flown in overload condition, but not as a common thing) (AH isnt alone in this).
So... what are our criteria for wanting to include a plane in Aces High? What are Hitechs? A good representational cross-section of planes that were used in WW2? Planes that will aid gameplay or balance? Planes that will add variety and colour? Planes that will be as useful as possible to all sections of the community? Dream planes that someone thought up 3 days before VEday and drew on the back of a beermat?
If the latter, then it's not a WW2 combat flight sim you're interested in. (Which is OK, but its good to know what it is different folk want when they ask for planes) If you're not after representational types, then you're not interested in a good simulation of WW2 aerial combat (I'll leave weather and nightfighting out of the argument this time! :-}) Fighting with WW2 planes you may well like, but it ain't WW2 combat as we know it Jim!
With an eye to the all-round usefulness of the planes AND the current limitations of the game, then, it seems to me that any of He111H, Ju188 or Do217 would be a better choice than the He177 for the next LW bomber to be introduced. I'm not saying I wouldn't like to see the He177 in AH at all, mind - I'd love to take my chances on those midnight raids over london in one, if my engines held up long enough! - just not NEXT. And before ANY LW bombers, what about an Italian one (SM79?) followed by a Russian one (Pe2!). Those two planes would both add far more to the game than the He177. IMO, of course... :-}
Esme
