Bigger Transport

[Bullethead]

This is an idea I've had for a while and I'd like some feedback on it.....

GENERAL IDEA
I think it would be cool in the MA to have a larger transport plane, able to carry 2-3 times what a C47 can.  It would thus be able to carry 2-3 loads of troops or supplies, or some combination of both.  This would give you some insurance troops for contested capture attempts, allow you to both capture and repair a field in the same hop, or repair fields and strat facilities much faster.  

PLANE SUGGESTION
I'm thinking Curtis C46.  It has the capacity to fit the job description above.  Of course, it would be a perked "buff".  It would have to be perked because the whole strat and capture system is based on C47/M3 loads, and this plane would upset that balance.  But we need something to spend buff perks on anyway .

Comments?

[qts]

Gigant!

[2Hawks]

I think what should happen instead is up the C47's capacity to 15  like it was designed and rated for instead of the 10 we have here.

Added gameplay bonus would be forcing the nme to shoot down more than 1 troop and feel safe.

Dare I suggest towed Gliders perhaps? Maybe even make the glider have to be piloted by a player?

2Hawks.

[Jester]

Focke Wulf FW-200

They were actually used to transport troops during the invasion of Norway.

You could build a bomber version and a transport version so the airframe could do double duty.

[Bullethead]

The specific plane ain't the point.  What I'm really interested in is whether having a bigger, more capable transport would be a good idea.

[davidpt40]

I've called for the C54, a 4 engine U.S. transport.  It was better and faster than anything else, and served through most of the war.  But it couldn't carry tanks.

To meet the military’s more stringent needs, the DC-4 was given a cargo door, stronger floor, cargo boom hoist and larger wing tanks. First flight of the military C-54 occurred on 26 March 1942. During the war years, 1242 C-54s were delivered with a wide variety of modifications. A few of the major ones were the C-54A, the original, fully militarized model capable of lifting 50 soldiers or 32,500 pounds of cargo; the

Specifications:
        Engines: Four 1,450-hp Pratt & Whitney R-2000-2SD-13G Twin Wasp radial piston engines.
        Weight: Empty 43,300 lbs., Max Takeoff 73,000 lbs.
        Wing Span: 117ft. 6in.
        Length: 93ft. 10in.
        Height: 27ft. 6in.
        Performance:
            Maximum Speed: 280 mph at 14,000 ft.
            Ceiling: 22,300 ft.
            Range: 2,500 miles
        Armament: None

http://www.warbirdalley.com/c54.htm

[2Hawks]

Having a transport with a greater capacity would be utterly fantastic.

When ever I see a goon dropping troops I simply think and say, "Just kill one troop and we will be ok". Normally a building will pop up or something and it won't be a big deal.

but if you drop 15 (Normal rated Capacity for the Wartime Version of the C47) I would be a bit more anxious to shoot enough troops, I would have to take the time to count how many troops made it in and all that, plus not get shot down. I would think that With a bigger drop comes a more frantic game pace at that moment.

From a Gooney pilots point of view, I would feel a little more optimistic that maybe one panzer isn't going to rail all the troops he needs to with the pintle gun.

overall I see more ppl flying transports with a cap larger than 10 to affect a capture.

As another option, rather than giving us bigger transports, give us smaller faster ones. Like Jeeps that can carry 3 troops and move @ 75 mph or something. You would have to have 4 players driving jeeps to affect a capture and would still give you 12 troops at drop time. Straffing a jeep in motion could wound or kill a driver or kill a troop,  Etc. Etc. Etc.

Now that I think, would be a blast.

2Hawks.

[Replicant]

The C47 could carry around 25 troops anyway, it's just set at 10 troops as a gameplay consession.  

I would like to see larger transport planes that can carry more base supplies or vehicles etc., or even spare parts for a damaged aircraft!

[Bullethead]

davidpt40 said:

I've called for the C54, a 4 engine U.S. transport.  It was better and faster than anything else, and served through most of the war.  But it couldn't carry tanks.

It could carry a tank (if the M22 qualifies for that name), but only with the body underneath and the turret inside .  

But it wasn't used much, if at all, for air-dropping stuff IIRC, but just landed on runways and unloaded.  And as you point out, it was faster, which isn't IMHO a good thing.  I think having a perked ubertransport that's got essentially the same performance as the C47 is the way to go.

That's why I was thinking C46.  It could carry about 2x the C47's load, it had fairly similar performance, and it was used for airdropping.

But in general, I take it the idea of a perked transport with bigger capacity doesn't make you all scream ANATHEMA! ?

[oboe]

I think the Gigant would be nice, esp. if it could carry manned tanks or halftracks.

It'd add an interesting dynamic in MA gameplay, and also suitable for a North Africa scenario or two.

[brady]

I am not aposed to the idea, I think it might be prety cool, but I would sugest the Transport be Axis( be better for event's), this would fit with the original premis which I think is viable ( and as a posable way to spend some buff perks a good one). The Giant Idea is good, it might open up some other load out options, like GV's for instance. Another Plane type might be the Emily, but I dont think either of these planes actualy Droped troop's, and unloading a seaplane might prove problimatic. A simpler solution might just be to do some of the license built vershions of the DC-3 for Japan (Tabby, faster armed and common), same goes for the Russian Vershion. Another Posable Germa Transport would be the GO-244, about the same spead as the JU-52 but it could cary 21 fully equiped troop's, and it did drop troops and cary light vehicals/guns, and up to 4 MG 15's.

[brady]

Ya Know the Halifax might just be the best bet. In adation to being a Dam fine Bomber (particulary the Later Herculies engined models), It was used as a Transport for the Airborn Forces, capable of droping 30 Paratroppers, Or transporting Jeep's and or 75mm Guns slung under the plane on airdropable platforms(trialled),and it was used as a glider tug for the Hamilcar, it also Airdroped suples. If we had to go allied this might be the best bet since it could be used in a number of different way's, Halifax's were also Elint and Jaming platforms, this could be a cool "perk" load out (if ever we get such a thing), a jaming package to foil the enemy dar, a Window bombload to ack as false target's...We are limited only by our imagination:)

[Pongo]

Junkers JU290a5 with huge troop capacity and 6 151/20 cannons
two on top, one on each waist one in tail, one in nose. and 2 13mm mg131

or
Ardo 232
1 mg151/20 3 mg131

[Furball]

Halifax!



Type: Heavy bomber and radio countermeasures aircraft.
Power Plant: Four 1,675hp Bristol Hercules XVI engines.
Performance
Max. speed: 290mph @ 9,000ft.

Cruising speed: 230mph @ 20,000ft

Service ceiling: 22,000ft

Range: 1,260 miles
Armament:Eight .303in Browning machine guns and a Vickers K gun in the nose.

Bomb Load: 12,000lb.
Weights:

Empty: 38,300lb

Loaded: 65,000lb
Dimensions:

Span:104ft 2in

Length: 71ft 7in

Height: 20ft 9in

[brady]

Some had, 50's in the tail, and some also had a ventrail turet with two 50's. I just finished the Osprey Book on the Halifax, about 30min ago in fact:)

 Cool thing about the Halifax over most of the formentioned German planes is that it did Drop troops operationaly. Realy it would be most multie role plane in AH ( or capable of being so at any rate).

 Back to I gota be objective and think of the CT mode I still would rather have an Axis plane.

 But man The Halifax looks good.