Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: Vermillion on April 15, 2000, 04:46:00 PM
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As we have all seen lately there has been a hue and cry for more Russian and Japanese fighters (except for luftwabbles who won't be happy until we have 37 Fw190 variants, and 42 Bf109 variants (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/tongue.gif) ).
Its obvious that the La7 should be the next Russian plane since it is the easiest to produce as a variant of the La5fn.
Now reportedly, Pyro and several players were discussing the other day the number of possible and useful variants of the Yak-9. This based on the fact that Pyro has said that planes with large numbers of variants are higher on the priority list since it allows rapid expansion of the planeset.
This is from the excellent book "Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War", by Gordon and Khazanov.
The Yak-9 was the most commonly used fighter of the Soviet Air Force. By the summer of 1944 the total number of Yak-9's and variants in service was greater than the sum total of all other fighers in the Air Force inventory... <snip> The Yak-9 underwent 22 basic modifications, and 15 of these went into series production. It could be equipped with five new powerplants, six number and volume of fuel tanks, seven armament variations, and two of special equipment. During six years of production from October 1942 to December 1948, 16,769 series produced Yak-9 fighters were delivered, 14,579 before the end of the war.:
Obviously we don't need 22 variants of the Yak-9, but it is also obvious that it was a very significant fighter. Here is the list of useful different variants that I can find in my research. They are in reverse Chronological order since this is the way they would fit best into our late war arena.
[list=1]
- Yak-9U "Improved" variant(plus -UT with armament option). This is the late war '44 &'45 version comparable to the P-51D & 109G10. Over 4,000 -U & -UT's were built
- Yak-9D "Long Range" variant. The most common Yak-9 variant deployed in '42-'44, and effectively fill the role of the basic -9 as well.
- Yak-9K (also fills -9T, -9TK role)"Heavily Armed" variant with 23mm, 37mm, and 45mm cannon options. Optimum for bombers and ground attack.
- Yak-7B (cut down canopy). Predecessor to the Yak-9, but is virtually identical externally. Fills the early-midwar niche for the Yakolev inline engine Fighter line.
- Yak-1B (cut down canopy) This is the predecessor to the Yak-7, and again is externally almost identical the Yak-9. It fills the early war niche.
[/list=a]
So basically with a single 3D model, and a single Flight Model, it would be very simple to produce a total of 5 aircraft variants very quickly, similar to what was done with the Bf109 in Aces High.
With the aforementioned La5fn & La7, once the Yak-9's are added, Aces High would effectively have a fairly complete Soviet Planeset covering the length of the war. The only major type that would be lacking would be the Yak-3, or the very early Lagg, Migg, and Polikarpov types.
In short the Graphic says it all.
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
(http://web.mountain.net/~arringto/ah/yak-3.jpg)
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
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I am with you on this one Verm, a YaK would be nice.
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"Downtown" Lincoln Brown.
lkbrown1@tir.com
http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1 (http://www.tir.com/~lkbrown1)
Wrecking Crews "Drag and Die Guy"
Hals und beinbruch!
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Only me and Downtown, want Yak's??
Give me a Yak-9UT and I won't fly another fighter in the arena.
420mph at 16,000 ft, climb there in 5.2 minutes, and armed with a NS-23 23mm Cannon (or 37mm NS-37), plus x2 20mm cannons, all nose mounted.
Ah well. <shamless punt>
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
[This message has been edited by Vermillion (edited 04-16-2000).]
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I mentioned a Yak 9U as a competitor to the mustang back when the "uber-stang" was the most hated plane in the arena. I'd still like to get a chance to fly it. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
bloom25
THUNDERBIRDS
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Oh man, my support is ALWAYS in for this one! (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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I am a luftwooble..but I will vote for ya ahead of the d9..cause it will disapoint me anyway. I want to get my hands on some of those heavy russian cannons. The la7 better be coming too.
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Pongo
The Wrecking Crew
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Another vote for the Yak-9, Verm. Although, I'd prefer to see the IL-2 first.
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banana
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF
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I'd prefer the Il-2 as well, but the Yak gives us more short-term mileage.
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Doug "Pyro" Balmos
HiTech Creations
Perfect plans, aren't.
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I am definately in for a Yak-9!
-Westy
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The Russians are coming!!! The Russians are coming!!!
(http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA (http://www.adamfive.com/guerrero)
"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."
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How about a compromise, Pyro? Add them both in at the same time! (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/smile.gif)
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banana
308 (Polish) Squadron "City of Cracow" RAF
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Yeppers, That Yak-3 would bring a new definition to stall fighting...Chomping at the bit..... (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
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Why is the Yak-3 so overrated by reputation?
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juzz,
Overrated? How so? Here's a little excerpt from Soviet Combat Aircraft from the Second World War:
The new warplanes began to reach fighter aviation regiments during the summer of 1944, when the Soviet Command was preparing to launch large scale offensives. Yak-3 service tests were conducted by the 91st Fighter Regiment of the 2nd Air Army, commanded by Lt Colonel Kovalev, in June-July 1944. The regiment was tasked with gaining air supremacy in the sky. In the course of the L'vov operation almost half of its pilots flew their first combat mission, and all of the regiment's pilots had begun a higher standard of training. During the service tests 431 missions were flown, including interception, on-call missions, missions for building up forces, and freelance operations. Twenty Luftwaffe fighters and three Junkers Ju87 bombers were shot down in air combat, while Soviet losses numbered two Yak-3s shot down, plus three that were damaged by German anit-aircraft defences but managed to reach Soviet-held territory.
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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA (http://www.adamfive.com/guerrero)
"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."
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I mean, every time someone mentions the Yak-3 someone else comes along shortly to drool over its dogfighting ability, like it could outturn an Oscar and outroll a Fw 190 while climbing like a Me 163 and having the top speed of a Tempest, or something to that effect. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/biggrin.gif)
Yes it was absolutely a formidable fighter, but it wasn't as good as some people would like to think. (Like the Bearcat.)
And that quote is kinda biased. I'm sure someone could produce similar numbers for FAF units equipped with Buffaloes. (http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/Smileys/default/wink.gif)
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probably not juzz, the key here is:
In the course of the L'vov operation almost half of its pilots flew their first combat mission,
The difference being that unlike the finnish flying buffaloes, these pilots were not greatly experienced and excellent shooters finally matched to an acceptable plane, rather an above average plane matched to a total newcomer.
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Well, juzz, I guess you'll just have to wait until it arrives here. When Pyro brought the Yak-3 to WB there was an historical scenario, in which the Bf109G-6 and Fw190A-4/8 were pitted against the Yak-3. It was basically a VVS romp.
A Yak-3 is kind of like a C.205 on steroids.
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leonid, Komandir
5 GIAP VVS RKKA (http://www.adamfive.com/guerrero)
"Our cause is just. The enemy will be crushed. Victory will be ours."
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I LOVED the Yak-3 in WB's, my favorite ride!
The only real disadvantage was its relatively weak guns and small ammo load, plus it had no air to ground capability.
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
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I read this on one of WW2 Books that i found at local library forget what the book was called but anyhow the Germans were told to avoid yak3 at all cost below 5k.
Bash