obvert
Posts: 14050
Joined: 1/17/2011
From: PDX (and now) London, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: bomccarthy
I think most of your VF squadrons should be able to upgrade to Hellcats; it’s the VC(F) squadrons that will likely have upgrade paths limited to Wildcats. I perused some of the Location weekly reports at intervals from 6/44 to 3/45 and found that the Sangamons seemed to always have VF squadrons assigned, while the Bogue and Casablanca CVEs were assigned VC(F) squadrons.
The important point, though, is that squadrons were rotated – Suwanee operated VF-60 with F6F-3s during the Summer/Fall ‘44 period, then went to the West Coast for repairs (refit?) and came out in Spring ‘45 with VF-40 and its F6F-5s onboard. In other words, you should feel free to swap your carrier-based and land-based VF squadrons on the Sangamons and Commencement Bays as needed – the USN did this IRL.
I seem to recall that the VRF squadrons in the game were created as a bandaid – there were no VRF squadrons IRL; replacement aircraft were simply loaded on the CVEs assigned to the Carrier Transport Squadron (there were 27 CVEs so assigned in March ’45, including 6 RN CVEs operating from Pearl Harbor and the West Coast).
Also, the carrier-trained Marine VMF squadrons (which upgrade to F4Us) were not carrier-based until early ’45 because of bureaucratic lethargy, lack of exposure to CINCPAC, and maybe some political infighting. They were trained for carrier ops and ready to fight by the Fall of ‘44 – as Barrett Tillman states in Corsair “they were all dressed up with nowhere to go.” In a game where you are CINCPAC, you should feel free to use them on carriers, complete with their F4Us.
Sorry for the long post, but I get the feeling that several Allied players feel obliged to hobble their air assets out of a sense of historical fairness that is based on some myths that have arisen over the years. And yet in 1943 you are already facing one aircraft that never made it into production (A6M8) and will soon have to deal with two such others (Ki-43-IV and A7M), while fighting a fourth that never made it to prototype testing (Ki-84r).
Yes. Based on the info here and my own feelings about historical accuracy (basically that if the game allows a plane on a CV then it's acceptable, of rme and my opponent) I'll be fine with using what Hellcat groups I can. I was just worried there might not be so many but this is starting to look like a good contingent.
As for the advanced Japanese planes, yes, I will be facing a lot of tough fighters soon and some of the best strike planes in the game. This highlights that the Japanese could design aircraft at the highest level, but their downfall was getting them into production with high quality results in numbers and then into the field with good support.
Based on the arrival of the A5M8 a bit sooner than I'd even expected (although I did look on the info screens two months ago to see where these were in RnD), I've been having another look.
Here's what I've found:
Frank
Ki-84a - 8/43 - At 403mph this is not going to be fun to face. Sweeping P-40N (which dips back to 350mph, slower than the K) and other mid-level Allied fighters will be cake. I'll have to be very careful come about July when I'll start seeing these appear. With the bump in speed even Corsairs and P-38s will struggle.
Ki-84b - 3/45 - This hasn't yet moved up and probably didn't get much if any RnD as he would focus n the easier path to from the 84a to the 84r.
Ki-84r - 7/45 - Next in line and the best of the Franks. Faster than stock at 411mph, and at 19/13 for the top two maneuver bands, equal to the best Allied planes. Service 3 is the only handicap. He should get this by mid-44 I'd guess.
Tony
Ki-61b - 2/43 - I've only seen this a few times, and it didn't fare too well. 367mph.
Ki-61c - 6/43 - Not a bad plane, but the service 3 makes it another tough plane to use daily on the front lines. 367mph. Centerline 12.7mm and two wing mounted cannons though.
Ki-61d - 2/44 - This version is only service 2, so slightly more useful, and at 360mph is slower but still decent speed, but nothing like the next versions in line. A good bomber killer for lower level CAP, the first with CL 20mm cannons.
Ki-61 KAI - 8/44 - In spite of the debilitating service 4 rating, this can be a really tough plane. At 397mph it's even tougher in this mod.
Ki-100 - 3/45 - This plane gets a really big bump in speed to 386mph. At service 1 it will be great if available in enough groups for Japan. CL 20mm and decent maneuver to 31k.
George
N1K1-J - 3/43 - Only one group seems to be able to use these now, so I doubt his RnD program is he to get the next model moved up. 390mph.
N1K2-J - 10/44 - Still a good way off, which is positive. The service 2 version. 397mph!
N1K5-J - 10/45 - Awesome at 401mph, still with good maneuver ratings 0f 18/13 up high, but service 3.
Oscar
Ki-43 IIIa - 12/42 - This is obviously really far forward. A pretty good plane, but better as a defensive fighter or escort, not so much in a sweeping role. No enough guns or durability. It's 358mph in this mod.
Ki-43 IV - 3/44 - This one has the CL 20mm, but still low durability. I found them useful for Oscars, but still Oscars. 364mph.
Sam
A7M2 - 6/45 - This one is of course tough. Get to 392mph here, and hopefully won't be moving forward too much. Looks lie he put a lot into the A5M
A7M3 - 1/46 - Hopefully this is too far in the future to meet.
Monsters
Ki-94 - 2/46 - I hope I never have to face this plane.
Ki-83 - 10/45 - Nice to see this hasn't moved at all yet. One of the planes I fear most late. 438mph. 13/16 range.
< Message edited by obvert -- 1/27/2015 11:56:35 AM >
_____________________________
"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
|
Printable Version
RE: ::Felix, Ferdinand and FRUPAC:: obvert (A) v Greyjo... - 
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread