The aircraft, and tanks, I would choose for 1.11

[Karnak]

Here is the list of aircraft I would pick for 1.11.  This is not a list of my "most wanted" aircraft, but the list that I think would be best for AH.

Ki-84-Ia Hayate "Frank"
H8K2 "Emily"
P-39Q Airacobra
Ju87B-1
Ju87G-1
T-34/85
Panther V G

This would be an abitious group of units for one version due to the inclusion of the mostrously large H8K2.

Here's why I think these would be best:

The Ki-84-Ia would bring the best Japanese fighter into the game, and a surprisingly common late war aircraft.  More than 3,500 Ki-84s were built, of which more than 3,000 were Ki-84-Ias.  The Ki-84 is certainly the single most competitive fighter, that was significant, for the MA environment that has not yet been added.  In the context of the MT, CT and scenarios the Ki-84 would greatly enhance the playability of the Japanese forces by significantly reducing the Allied speed advantage.

The H8K2 "Emily" would bring several things to the table.  It would be the first flying boat to be added and would be capable of doing the air-sea rescue people have been asking for.  More signifcantly though, the H8K2 would be usable in the MA as well as CT, MT and scenarios.  The H8K2's bombload of up to 6,600lbs would give the Japanese planeset an aircraft that carries a threatening payload and its five 20mm cannon would give it a shot at defending itself.  It could also carry two 800kg torpedoes, and who wouldn't want to try to use a big four engined aircraft as a torpedo bomber?

The P-39Q was used extensively in both the Eastern Front and Pacific theatre.  It would be markedly different in performance from other aircraft due to its engine's location behind the pilot.  It wouldn't matter if it were added in Russian or American colors.  The P-39 would be an all round good general purpose addition.

The Ju87B-1 would finally bring the infamous Stuka to the game.  While it would not see much use in the MA, it is an icon of WWII and one of the aircraft most needed for scenarios and historical environments.  Siren modeling would be an absolute requirement.

The Ju87G-1 would be relatively easy to add with the Ju87B-1 polygon already in and would bring a big gun tank buster to the German planeset.  This is a much requested aircraft.

The T-34/85 would add the most important of all Allied tanks and a tank with some speed.  The T-34/85 would be well armored with a servicable gun, but completely lacking in AA defense.

The Panther V G was probably the best overall German tank.  I think that the Panther V G sould be the first perk tank to be added.  The reason I think it would be much better than the Tiger II is simply speed.  The Panther V G could actually hope to get to the fight before the fight was over.  Due to the fact that bombs are so leathal to tanks I don't think that a perk tank should be very expensive, say 10 to 20 points.


Here are some units, in order, that almost made the it to my suggested list.  The single biggest reason they didn't was due to the workload involved.  I had to stop somewhere.

Tu-2S.  The Russians need a bomber, but I feel their planeset is more competitve than the Japanese planeset.  The size of the aircraft would also have added a lot of work.

Me410B-2.  This would be very nice, but with the Bf110G-2 in AH the level of need for a good German strike aircraft has been filled.  That reduced the necessity of this aircraft. The fact that it is a twin engined aircraft with two positions meant the workload would be high on it.  Those reason removed it from my list.

M4A3 Sherman.  This was the other possibility to the T-34/85.  Speed was the reason it lost to the T-34.

Comments?

What do you think would be best (try to think in terms of "best for AH", not "what I personally want most") for 1.11?

[oboe]

I like all the a/c on this list, but no comment on the GVs.   I rarely use them.

I'd add the P-39D and an early P-38 like the F, G, or H, to add fighter options for the US in early/mid war PTO settings.
I'd also be sure the B5N got in to complete the early war CV set (assuming the TDB Devastator will likely never be added to AH).

[brady]

I certanialy feal that the US cup runith over and generaly I tend not to suport plane/gv adations that would add to the spillage, howeaver thinking in terms of what woulld be good for the Game I would half to say the the adation of an early P38 would be nice and easy to do, I also feal that although The T 34 is a clearly better tank than the Sherman, the T 34's compleat lack of an AA weapon would make it easy meat for Jabo's who would pounce it mearsely. Their for I feal the Sherman would be a better choice for a tank, the sherman is also a very close match to the Panzer IV we curently have in almost all catagories( eveuntaliy a Firefly could be added and perhaps perked cheaply). Inso much as the Panther is concerned, This is as Karnak has said ( I feal the same way) A much better tank than either of the Tigers imo, certainly a better tank than the Tiger I and despite the Tiger II heaver armor and better gun, the Panther is a better overal design, and could easly best any western Tank of the time. I am not shure about adding it though, I have spent some time pondering what perk vehical to add and am frankely stimied.

 I feal a perk Vehical should be compleatly domanting in some catorgery, and has been mentioned the ease with which GV's are killed by aircraft makes perking them problemmatic. I would sugest somting wildely distructive like a Strumtiger, or an ISU 152, or better yet a perk Submarine, A Japanese midget sub could spawn off ports or airfields near the water and torpedo CV's. Perhaps a German golith could be modeled compleat with it's delever vehical.

 Now as far as the P 39 is concerend I would rather see somthing Non US added in the new fighter catagory The US has a ton of early war planes curently( and mid war) the countries who do not include Russia, Italy, and Japan. I say model somthing for them instead of yet another US plane.

 I think the Stuka is just to popular not to do and could be a great adation to early war CT sets as well as Special events.

 I love the Idea of the Emily( the US Coranado is a better plane howeaver) I realy would love to see this added the Japanese could clearly benifit form it.


 The Frank is a must.

 I would like to see the TU-2 as well.

    Karnak your list was ver well though out and well presented.

[Kweassa]

They are all excellent choices, your logic seems to be in filling out large gaps in the plane set, particularly lack of the most prominent JP fighter Ki-84 Hayate and early war VVS planes. So, in that spirit of things, I think the H8K2 and Ju87s can wait. As much as I would love to see the Stuka , I think adding some more fighter planes in place of those will help finish off the VVS set in as short time as possible.. So, my suggestion goes like this..

* Ki-84-Ia Hayate "Frank"
* Yak-7B
* LaGG-3
* Yak-1B
* P-39Q-5
* P-38H

 To give Ki-84-Ia for JP plane fans, so they'd get out of that N1K2-Js , woppin' total of four planes dedicate totally to the VVS which would complete the VVS set - two early-war and two mid-war. And.. the P-38H for the P-38 whiners who's been upset for such a long time(I think we should upset them for one~two more versions still ).

 6 planes + 1 new gv whatever the choice.

[senna]

You know the Ki-61 is a dam fine plane. Dangerous very dangerous. It amazes me that more people dont fly it. I see so many dorky La-7s around that it makes me wanna hurl my chunks. Here I am trying to B&Z a spit and I see an La-7 down below a bit. In my mind I already know that LA-7 will be at my alt in no time with killing me in mind. A good plan hes got there. In my opinion, always got to be an La-7 around to ruin the ACM. Dont look now but here comes Luke Skywalker...

[Raubvogel]

I like your list Karnak, but I would subtract the Ju87G and add the Me410. I'd also throw in an Italian bomber, or the Re2005 as a decent Italian jabo.

[Pongo]

I like your list karnak.
I think we should think how much more resistant to bomb damage some of the heavy tanks were. Certainly the Panther and especially the Tiger 1 are more resistant to all forms of air attack to the panzer iv. Both the Sherman and the T34 to a lesser extent likely are as well. I think the Sherman m4A3(75) and the T-34/85 should be co introduced and then the perk panther...but that is splitting hairs.

For planes..
most planes introduced from this point on will see little use in the game or be perked. Unless they are bombers. The good fighters are there except the P39 and a real Spit IX and the Ki84.
I would still like to see a late war spit IXHF myself, hopefully with a bubble canopy.

[cajun]

As most of you know, I'd love to see biplanes (Gloster Gladiator-England,Cr.42-Italy & the I-153 for Russia)
But I also think these would make good additions, in addition to the biplanes I listed:

Italian bomber of some sort, preffibly early-mid war for some good scenarios,
Ju87Stuka,
Hs123(for got to add that one ),
B-25,
I-16,
Early P-38,
A french plane of some sort,
& Ki-84, doesnt really appeal to me, but it seems lot of others would like to see one

Thats the most rounded off planeset I can think of, Early to Late war.  I know HTC can't add them all at once, but they would be nice over the next couple of patchs.  I find most of the people I meet in the CT prefer early war aircraft (like biplanes that I think would make a great addition for scenarios as well as MA), where people in MA mostly want more late-war planes, tried to include something for both sides .

[DJ111]

P-39 Airacobra
      B-25 Mitchel
      B-29 Superfortress
 
   Maybe a Helldiver (SB2C-1C)?    Maybe? Plz?

[AdmRose]

I disagree with the T-34 addition...I feel that a perked tank would require thick armor and a big gun...enter the IS-2 Iosef Stalin....

IS-2 (Iosef Stalin)
Weight : 46.0 ton
Dimensions:9.9 x 3.09 x 2.73 mt
Armor (max) : 160 mm
Range : 240 km
Speed (max - route) : 37 km/hr
Main gun : 122 mm
Crew : 4

[Karnak]

AdmRose,

I wasn't suggesting the T-34/85 as a perk tank.  I was suggesting it as another free tank.

[AdmRose]

Oh, sorry didn't notice that. The T-34 would make a good free addition, but the IS-2 would make a good perked addition. Don't you agree?

[Karnak]

IS-2 would have the same probelm as the Tiger II, they're too slow.  It would be a perk tank, but not the best one.

I think the Panther V G is the best perk tank.

[brady]

Pongo raises and interesting point, Just how reselent would a King Tiger be to bomb damage?

 Just how reselent should a PzKfW hull be to bomb damage....

  The other knight I took out an osty's engine with my 7.9mm hull MG by shoting him in the rear from about 100 yards.

 How well are these things modeled?

 The big issue with any perk vehical will always be the air component of the game, in our Ah universe of NO cover for GV's, a world whear GV's rarely live long enough to fight one another before they are killed by a plane I wounder how happy we will be when We hop in our PANTHER (we just paid to ride) and a P 38 drop's 2 k on our head, ya shure we fired our MG 34 at him, but it is only realy effective aganst Panzer IV's......

[brady]

Ok A Panther( my personal favorate tank of the war:) ), their is a bit of a problem with the Panther. The best thing about the panther would of course be it's use aganst other tanks, great armor Great Gun, and other than problems listed above, piss pore HE value.

 A big problem we have in AH is how HE equivelency is figured, you know it takes as many osty rounds to kill a hanger as it does MK 108 rounds( or so I have been told). The 75mm HE round on the Panther granted is a heaver round than the 7.5cm Kwk l48 on the PzKfW IV but would the model allow for that?

 The point being maybe we would be better servied by a Real Big Round something widely distructive, somthing so devastating to everything we would not feal to bad dying in( when we get bombed by a plane we cant hurt).

 A prime example of this would be a Strumtiger, or an ISU 152( prety shure both had AA guns). somthing that would toast a hanger in a couple shots( or one shot), somthing with a huge HE equivelency, some daunting, sack tighting, monster that would cause everyone in the area to wet themself's.