AH Aircraft Service Dates, First used in Combat:

[eskimo2]

For planning and making set-up suggestions, here is a list of AH planes and their first combat service dates:

Note:  The following was stolen from Funkedup's thread "Service Introduction Dates for AH Planes" in the Aircraft and Vehicles forum.

Karnak was the last person to edit the thread, and all of the following are his words:

_____________________________ __________________

U.S.Army:
A-20G ... 5-42
B-17G ... 6-43*
B-26B ... 5-42
C-47A ... 12-41
P-38L ... 7-44
P-40B ... 1-41
P-40E ... 8-41
P-47D-11 ... 1-44?*
P-47D-25 ... 4-44
P-47D-30 ... 10-44
P-51B ... 12-43
P51D ... 5-44?*

U.S.Navy:
F4F-4 ... 41?
FM-2 ... 9-43
F4U-1 ... 10-42
F4U-1D ... 4-44
F4U-1C ... 4-45
F4U-4 ... 4-45
F6F-5 ... 7-44
SBD-5 ... 5-43?*
TBM-3 ... 1-42

British:
Boston MK III ... 5-41
Hurricane Mk I ... 12-37
Hurricane IIC ... 4-41
Hurricane IID ... 6-42
Lancaster III ... 3-42*
Mosquito Mk VI ... 7-43
Seafire IIC ... 10-42
Spitfire Mk IA ... 6-38
Spitfire V ... 4-41
Spitfire Mk IX ... 7-42
Spitfire Mk XIV ... 1-44!*
Tempest V ... 5-44
Typhoon ... 6-42*

Russian:
Il-2 Type 3 ... 10-42
La-5FN ... 3-43
La-7 ... 6-44
Yak-9T ... 1-43
Yak-9U ... 3-44

Italian:
C.202 ... 11-41
C.205 ... 1-43

Japanese:
A6M2 ... 7-40
A6M5b ... 3-44!*
D3A-1 ... ?-37!
Ki-61-I-KAIc ... 1-44!
Ki-67 ... 4-44!*
N1K2-J ... 11-44?*

German:
Ar 234B ... 12-44
Bf 109E-4 ... 5-40
Bf 109F-4 ... 6-41
Bf 109G-2 ... 5-42
Bf 109G-6 ... 10-42
Bf 109G-10 ... 3-44
Bf 110C-4b ... 7-40
Bf 110G-2 ... 5-42
Fw 190A-5 ... 3-43
Fw 190A-8 ... 2-44
Fw 190D-9 ... 9-44
Fw 190F-8 ... 3-44?
Ju 88A-4 ... 12-40
Me 262 ... 7-44
Ta 152H ... 2-45


Notes:

*B-17G ... 6-43; The B-17G did enter service in 1943, however the B-17G in AH has the stepped waist guns and improved tail turret of a 1944 B-17G. This shouldn't have too much impact on gameplay though, being mainly limited to the greater range of movement in the tail turret.

*P-47D-11 ... 1-44?; This is based on my recollections of statements made by others in the "Give the P-47D-11 a paddle bladed prop" threads. However, given that the AH P-47D-11 lacks the paddle bladded prop it is a decent approximation of a P-47D-5, which entered service in 3-43.

*P51D ... 5-44?; The P-51D entered production in 2-44, so it clearly did not enter service in 1-44. I have looked and looked for a service entry date or a theatre arrival date for the P-51D, but have not (shockingly so given the aircraft's fame), been able to find even a hind. I am guestimating a 3 month lag between entering production and entering service.

*SBD-5 ... 5-43?; The SBD-5 entered production in 2-43, so like the P-51D I am guestimating a 3 month lag from production to service. I only found this information tonight (of course, I only looked for it tonight ) and have to admit to being somewhat disappointed in HTC about it. The SBD-5 introduced the 1,200hp R-1820-60, which brought with it a noticable performance jump. The SBD-2 and SBD-3 that fought the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway were powered by a 1,000hp engine and the SBD-2 lacked the dual rear gun. At the same time as we have a late SBD, we have an early D3A. The D3A1 is the aircraft that the Japanese used at Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea and Midway, but like the US with the SBD a better version was to be produced in greater quantity. The D3A2 entered production in 8-42 and boosted the top speed of the D3A by 39mph. As it is in AH, the US gets a over boosted aircraft and is in an artificial position of technical superiority, or greater superiority, than they should be.

*Lancaster III ... 3-42; The .50 calibre guns in the AH Lanc's tail mark it as a late war Lancaster, probably 1944. However, that change, particularly in light of its paltry ammunition supply (I'd probably prefer four .303s with 4,000 rounds), shouldn't have too much of an impact on the game. Limiting early access to the Lanc based on the tail turret might be justified.

*Spitfire Mk XIV ... 1-44!; The Spitfire entered service with 610 Squadron on January 3rd, 1944. 3-44 is the date of the first kill (a Ju88), but it was operational and on patrols prior to that.

*Typhoon ... 6-42; The only significant change, in the context of AH, that I am aware of is the change to a bubble canopy in late 1943. The performance of the Typhoon Mk Ib, so far as I can tell, remained relatively unchanged. The major difference between a 1942 Typhoon and a 1944 Typhoon was in it's reliability, which is a non-issue in AH.

*A6M5b ... 3-44!; The only difference between an A6M5a, which entered service in 1-44, and an A6M5b is the switching of one of the 7.7mm machine guns in the cowling for a 12.7mm machine gun. Substituting the A6M5b for A6M5b is reasonable. The A6M5 entered service in 8-43, but was significantly less pretected than the A6M5b. Nonetheless, this switch is probably still reasonable.

*Ki-67 ... 4-44!; The Ki-67 entered service with the IJA in 4-44. The first IJN usage as a torpedo bomber is in 10-44. Most Ki-67s were built in 1945.

*N1K2-J ... 11-44?; Production began in of the N1K2-J began in 6-44 and I have seen data that claiming that 60 were delivered in 1944. My best source for N1K2 combat entry is 150 miles away from me right now.


__________________

[eskimo2]

bump

[brady]

We have a coppy (amended to corect some minour erors) in the CT Staff forum.

[Odee]

Originally posted by brady
We have a coppy (amended to corect some minour erors) in the CT Staff forum.

Yeah, but how many CM's are using it properly?

[brady]

I have nothing to do with "those" people:)

[eskimo2]

Brady,
Can you post your version so that we are all on the same page... timeline wise?
Then when players make reccomendations for set-ups or modifications to other set-ups we all have the same reference.

eskimo

[brady]

It is prety close to the same now that I look a litle closer to it, certainly not enough diferance to bother over.

 One thing to bear in mind howeaver, Just because two planese were introduced at the same time does not nescessarly mean it will be a good or balanced set up. The above list is a good starting point to be shure but by no means should it be followed to the letter.

  Take the Libbya plane set I used a while ago, the same plane set I used in Greace:

 P40E
 Huricane MK I
 Boston III

 Me 110C-4
 Bf 109E-4
 C 202

 Another Factor not on that list is when and Whear for most planes, when doing a PTO set up for example the Huricans most common in theater for a Long time were Not the Cannon armed IIC's but the IIA's and B, or the Spits in N Africa, their are a ton of variables efecting aircraft availabality in different theatiours.

 Take that entry date for the 205 up their it is some what misleading, while the first units to be issued the 205's started to receave them at this time very few were actualy deleavered, non saw service in Africa, non in fact saw service with RA anywhear but over Sicialy and Italy, no units had them in any real signistudmuffinant strength until the Spring and realy not untill the Summer. So while it says they were available in January it does not tell the whole story, sombody trying to add them to a NA set up based on what the List says were aviailable in January would be way off the mark.

  Knowing When planes were in service is a small part in creating a good plane match up, Look at sabre's last plane set for the Tunisia map, he left out several planes that were available at the time his set up was to take place to help creat a better plane set, sometimes less is better than more.

 

[CurtissP-6EHawk]

Just because they saw service at a given date does not mean they were available in a given area, etc. If the CT setups are going to continue for only a week at a time, I would like to see more special event type maps. I would rather fly special events but never seem to be able to. When I do, they dont last long enough :-(

The Combat Theater needs more squads to make the CT what it should be...yes, what it SHOULD BE!

And MY GOD, do away with the scoring in the CT. I wish my name could be removed from the scoring pages and info tabs. I am getting a little sick of seeing "Score potato" every time I turn around.

[brady]

We use lots of the same maps that the special event use now Hawk.

 The apeal of the CT has certainly grown over the last year, but It does not apeal to the mases hawk.

 I am sory you dont care for the rank thing Hawk, if someone calls you a score potato blow them off, sticks and stones.

 Somepeople actualy enjouy playing for rank Hawk, as they say it's their 15 bucks.

[eskimo2]

Good points Brady!

Ideally, I would like to see this list have all kinds of side notes for each aircraft, such as:

Plane X2 ... 6-43 *ETO only, PTO.   * Plane X2 could be used as a fair substitute for Plane X1, very little difference in performance or loadout.  Plane X1 first saw service in 1-43.

or

Plane Y... 3-44   *only in very small numbers untill 6-44

Notes like this would make this list ideal for the CT.

eskimo

[brady]

Yes would defntaly help.

     
 Somthing else I faield to menton. The dates Listed above may still be off in that They generaly List the entry date for the First of that Type, but the model we have In AH may In fact be later. To continue with the Above C 205 Example. The First C 205's had 4 12.7mm guns, The Later ones Had the Two 20mm Guns and Two 12.7mm guns. The plot thickens the More you look at it.