(Solomons 3-7-03)
Overall A6M2 k/d = 0.99
A6M2 vs. F4F-4 > 1235/1303 = 0.95
A6M2 vs. TBM > 240/74 = 3.24
A6M2 vs. Boston > 233/35 = 6.66
A6M2 vs. P-40 > 197/240 = 0.82
A6M2 vs. SBD > 62/27 = 2.3
A6M2 vs. F4U > 8/41 = 0.2
Overall F4F-4 k/d = 1.04
F4F-4 vs. A6M2 > 1303/1235 = 1.06
F4F-4 vs. KI-67 > 131/70 = 1.87
F4F-4 vs. D3A > 85/27 = 3.15
F4F-4 vs. B5N > 56/3 = 18.7
F4F-4 vs. JU-88 > 25/12 = 2.08
For the first time in a long time, the CT Axis actually put forth some good numbers, and even significantly outnumbered the Allies a few times. Because of this, I found myself flying Allied for about 1/3 of my online time this past week. The Zero vs. the Wildcat made for a classic and enjoyable match up.
While the zero was clearly the better plane flight wise, the speed, dive-ability, durability, and gun package of the Wildcat more than made up for its (comparatively) lack of knife fighting ability. If flown smartly, the Wildcat always had a way out. The range, rate of fire, and ammo count of its 6 x .50s were truly the feature that gave it the edge over the zero. 500 - yard spray and pray snap shots often paid off. Zeros fell apart and caught fire much like I’ve read about as long as I’ve studied WWII aviation.
In the Zero, get above a single Wildcat under 2,500’ and 250 MPH, and he’s as good as dead. The key is waiting until you are well within 200 yards before you even think about using a few precious cannon rounds. Lack of range, rate of fire, and ammo count are what made the A6M-2 tricky to get kills in. Its lack of speed, poor high speed handling, and E retention, made it easy to get anchored in. Too often I found myself low and outnumbered. When that happens, the only real question is whether or not you can take a blue plane down with you, before his buddies turn you to confetti. I think that my greatest foe while flying the Zero, was my own overconfidence in the aircraft’s (and my own) abilities.
In the Wildcat, I played it much safer, because I knew that giving the advantage to the Zero meant certain death. I often told myself, “If I were in that Zero, I would be able to kill me very soon. I’d better egress.”
eskimo