I declare this to be a Ju 88 appreciation year!

[Jochen]

For few days I have been flying Ju 88, first time I have ever tried bombers.

Like many others I thought Ju 88A-4 to be a worthless curiosity but in fact it is quite handy bomber being fast and having great bomb load in its class. You would not notice it unless you compare it to other similar planes that flew at the same period.

Number of engines are in parentheses. Stats are not 100% correct but close enough.

Ju 88A-4 (2)

Bombload: 6000 lbs
Top speed: 300 mph (Ju 88S-1 373 mph!)
Ceiling: 27 kft
Range: 1100 miles

Blenheim (2)

Bombload: 1000 lbs
Top speed: 266 mph
Ceiling: 22 kft
Range: 1460 miles

Wellington (2)

Bombload: 4500 lbs
Top speed: 235 mph
Ceiling: 20 kft
Range: 1200 miles

Hampden (2)

Bombload: 4000 lbs
Top speed: 254 mph
Ceiling: 19 kft
Range: 1200 miles

Mosquito (2)

Bombload: 2000 lbs
Top speed: 370 mph (Merlin 23 engined)
Ceiling: 36 kft
Range: 1600 miles

Lancaster (4)

Bombload: 14000 lbs
Top speed: 270 mph
Ceiling: 22 kft
Range: 1000 miles

Halifax (4)

Bombload: 7000 lbs
Top speed: 280 mph
Ceiling: 20 kft
Range: 1900 miles

Stirling (4)

Bombload: 3500 lbs
Top speed: 270 mph
Ceiling: 17 kft
Range: 2100 miles

B-25 (2)

Bombload: 5000 lbs
Top speed: 275 mph
Ceiling: 25 kft
Range: 1200 miles

B-17 (4)

Bombload: 6000 lbs
Top speed: 300 mph
Ceiling: 35 kft
Range: 1850 miles

So... After all Ju 88A-4 fares quite well! If you compare it to four engined Stirling it looks very good indeed. It beats most RAF bombers in two or more categories. Of course Mosquito is faster and Lancaster carries more ordnance but they are specialized on one thing. Ju 88 has pretty light defensive armament but it is in par with early/mid war RAF bombers.

Ju 88's bomb load is also very effective, very suitable for field bombing. 20 X 50 kg bombs will kill ack nicely and 4 X 500 kg boms will level hangar of your choice.

What makes Ju 88 look bit bad is the fact that AH does not yet have too many bombers, only some very succesful designs and no bad at all. If we ever see early war arena I think it will shine.

So, next time you choose bomber for sortie, consider Ju 88! Remember also the perk point aspect, do more with less and get rewarded  

Ps. How about adding two (2) torpedoes to Ju 88A-4 loadout options? Maybe even to next patch? It would make Ju 88 more popular.

Ps 2. Since we already have Ju 88A-4, maybe we could see faster Ju 188 (over 1100 made) or even Ju 88G night fighter.

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jochen Gefectsverband Kuhlmey I/SG 5

Sieg oder bolsevismus!

[LJK Raubvogel]

I love the JU-88. If I'm going to fly a medium-alt buff mission, I take it 90% of the time. Just hope that no enemy fighters see you  

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LJK_Raubvogel
LuftJägerKorps

 

[This message has been edited by LJK Raubvogel (edited 01-03-2001).]

[brady]

  I love the JU 88 myself,I consider it a better choice for a anti flak mission than the other planes available currently especially since it can carny 4 "BIG ONES" at the same time as the 20 50kg bombs.
  It handles way better than the B26 and certainly better than the Lanc. or the B17.
 The Dive brakes are also cool, it's fun to speed your way home and slam on the brakes at the last minute while on approach for landing.
 As far as being caught by a fighter, well if u get caught in any bomber by a pilot determined to get u, u will go in no matter what.later models carried a better defensive package that would be nice to have   I have also got quiet a few kills with my defensive guns, especially the lower MG 81Z.
  Heck in Africa I had 2 kills with my front gun on spits!
  It would be nice to see the torpedo option made available the type carried would be much more powerful than the current torpedo available in AH and having a bit longer range.
  One of the cannon armed variants would be cool to.
  As far as a JU 188 goes all i can say is pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eeeaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssse eeeeeeeeeee.

   

   


brady

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[This message has been edited by brady (edited 01-03-2001).]

[Tac]

Aye, I would LOVE to see the cannon fighter version of the JU88.

Its a really handy bomber!

Plus the cockpit makes me glance over my shoulder and expect to see a howling wookie! WHOOHHOOO!!!