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All Forums >> [Current Games From Matrix.] >> [World War II] >> War In The Pacific - Struggle Against Japan 1941 - 1945 >> Most useless plane

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Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 4:53:20 PM

Fornadan

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Somewhat inspired by the Wirraway thread...

what do you consider to the game's most useless plane?

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 5:00:51 PM

Yamato hugger

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That Jap transport with the 3 hex range

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 5:04:52 PM

Sharkosaurus rex

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I don't think any Jap players will use the A7 M2 Reppu- so that must make it pretty useless.

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 5:11:06 PM

pauk

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1. Hickory
2. Ida
3. Pete

or...

1. Pete
2. Hickory
3. Ida

ranking doesn't matter..

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Post #: 4

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 5:45:14 PM

Ian R

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My first thought is the Dutch observation biplane with a range of 2, but on reflection they upgrade to F5A if you save them so they are useful eventually.

I'd have to go with the Lysander, which like the Wirraway was never meant to be a Fighter Bomber.

The Wirraway was produced as an armed trainer by some far sighted industrialists in 1938 or so in order to develop the facilities and acquire the machine tools and skilled workers necessary to actually be able to produce better planes later (and they started an engine plant as well). Step 1 as it were was to have production of a modern monoplane aircraft with retractable undercarriage underway. Something better than a Hawker Fury or simlar vintage biplane fighter.

The Boomerang was started in 1942 as a matter of emergency engineering at a time when foreign supplies were scarce, and the RAAF was grabbing whatever it could get - including the export P40s (Kittyhawks) which were pulled off a ship and uncrated in Sydney and then flown to Port Moresby before they were missed. By the time the Boomerang (which used parts of the Wirraway, a better motor, and some new parts) was available there was enough LL stuff to go around, but like the P39 politics meant it had to be used. Also by that time the allied RAAF pilot spent much of their flight time supporting the ground troops or intercepting unescorted Japanese non fighter aircraft so it didn't much matter on those jobs if they were in a Spitfire or a Corsair or a Boomerang.

By the end of the war the Australian aircraft manufacturing industry was producing P51s & Mosquitos and was tooling up to produce Lancasters. (Note - all powered by license built Packard Merlins). One of the reasons for building Lancasters was to develop facilities for post war production of multi-engine civil aircraft, not that that happened.

< Message edited by Ian R -- 6/24/2005 5:47:49 PM >

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 5:59:03 PM

RUPD3658

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Allied:

1. Hurricane: Range 2 and low payload
2. Buffalo: Simply a manned target drone

Japanese:

1. Any transport plane: Change the factories over to something useful as soon as possible
2. Nate: Get it near an aggresive trpical bird and it is going down
3. Ann dive bomber: short range and land based. At least it gives the Nates something to escort.

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Post #: 6

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:11:14 PM

pauk

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nah, as Japan you can produce Tabby. It is not crappy plane.

Nate is good for LR CAP (no unescorted bomber missions on TF's). Otherwise, yes, it is a match for - Buffalo

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Post #: 7

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:29:13 PM

Tom Hunter

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There is no useless plane

Some are much more limited than others, but I have found ways to get good use out of the FK.51 and all the peice of junk planes the allies start the war with.

Another way of phrasing this question is what do you upgrade out of completly when you get the chance. I upgrade out of Devastators completely as soon as I can, so I guess that is the plane I consider the worst.

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:47:42 PM

Chris21wen

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quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

Allied:

1. Hurricane: Range 2 and low payload

It was designed for air defense ie CAP, its ground roll was only secondary. Its very good at CAP and can handle the Japanese fighters easily.

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Post #: 9

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:50:23 PM

RUPD3658

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Every time I tried using Hurricane against Zeros in Burma the results were every one sided in favor of Japan.

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Post #: 10

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:51:33 PM

Speedysteve

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I agree. Hurri's are ok early war against anything but a Zero. Bit short range tho as you say

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Post #: 11

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:57:32 PM

RUPD3658

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The Brits did make the best Allied recon plane in the form of the Mosquito however. Range of around 20 and high ceiling makes it better than even the F-5.

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Post #: 12

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 6:58:50 PM

Speedysteve

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Mossies were lovely planes in all their forms.

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 7:21:21 PM

bradfordkay

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The Hurri sqadrons that I have rotated in and out of Akyab have now claimed over 900 kills among them (Sept '42). Nothing useless about these guys...

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Post #: 14

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 9:01:33 PM

Mr.Frag

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The only useless plane is the one without a Pilot

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Post #: 15

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 9:09:19 PM

rroberson

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quote:

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

The Hurri sqadrons that I have rotated in and out of Akyab have now claimed over 900 kills among them (Sept '42). Nothing useless about these guys...

I want these pilots in my games....my canes get eaten alive anytime they fight.

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Post #: 16

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 9:53:17 PM

usersatch

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Mine too! I hate the 'Cane. I dont think I have a single A6M kill from one yet. Heck, even my Wirraways have a few A6M kills.

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Post #: 17

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 9:59:56 PM

Feinder

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Hurries aren't bad. yes, they're not good for much other than point defense, but they can hold thier own vs. Zeros (which to me is a 3 - 2 loss ratio).

And you can't beat the range on a Buffalo/339. Trying to tangle with Zeros will get you killed yes. But again, altitude is your friend, and otherwise find something else for your Buffalo/339 squadrons to fight.

Throwaways... We'll yes, they are utter crap. I keep 'em on garrison duty out of Zero range, but over a base that's still in Betty/Nell range. The presense of the Throwaways will deter the launch of the Betty/Nells, since they have no escorts. If the bombers -do- launch, you can get all giddy if you actually shoot a bomber down (still hard to shoot down even an unescorted bomber w/ a Throwaway), but they usually disrupt the attack well enough to minimize damage.

And to flog the dead horse, altitude is your friend. It -does- make a difference.

-F-

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Post #: 18

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 10:18:15 PM

Bobthehatchit

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quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

Allied:

1. Hurricane: Range 2 and low payload

Tell that to the Luftwaffe.

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Just my 2 pence worth.
I might not be right.
Hell I am probaby wrong.
But thats my opinion for what its worth!

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Post #: 19

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 10:28:44 PM

Freddy Fudpucker

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The Kitties of the Aussie 77th and NZ 16th squadrons. Why?; because every time I turn my back on them they keep buggering off to Thursday Island no matter where I try to station them!

Bah!!!

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Post #: 20

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 10:30:13 PM

Bobthehatchit

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Freddy Fudpucker

The Kitties of the Aussie 77th and NZ 16th squadrons. Why?; because every time I turn my back on them they keep buggering off to Thursday Island no matter where I try to station them!

Bah!!!

Load them on to an Ak and ship them to Japan!

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Just my 2 pence worth.
I might not be right.
Hell I am probaby wrong.
But thats my opinion for what its worth!

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Post #: 21

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 10:43:19 PM

RUPD3658

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Bobthehatchit

quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

Allied:

1. Hurricane: Range 2 and low payload

Tell that to the Luftwaffe.

They kicked ass in the Battle of Britain but not in this game.

Also, BoB was a defensive battle fought over home turf vs an opponant whose fighters were at their max range. If the Luftwaffe had something akin to the A6M (FW190 is the closest) even the bravest of the RAF would have had a very hard time.

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Post #: 22

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 10:47:53 PM

Bobthehatchit

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quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bobthehatchit

quote:

ORIGINAL: RUPD3658

Allied:

1. Hurricane: Range 2 and low payload

Tell that to the Luftwaffe.

They kicked ass in the Battle of Britain but not in this game.

Also, BoB was a defensive battle fought over home turf vs an opponant whose fighters were at their max range. If the Luftwaffe had something akin to the A6M (FW190 is the closest) even the bravest of the RAF would have had a very hard time.

True enough

Hurries do ok in game as long as u rotate them against 80+exp zero's they do take losses but then again they do get kills as well. The usally moral/fatigue/malaria/AF size do have there effects.

I there are more suck worthy aircraft in the game than the Hurries.

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"Look at yours before laughing at mine". Garfield 1984.

Wanted: ISDII Low millage in Imperial gray.

Just my 2 pence worth.
I might not be right.
Hell I am probaby wrong.
But thats my opinion for what its worth!

(in reply to RUPD3658)

Post #: 23

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:00:18 PM

RUPD3658

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To me a sucky aircraft is either:

1. One that can't succesfully perform it's designated mission most of the time (Hurricane/Buffalo/P-400/Wiraway vs Zero or Nate vs anything with wings)

or

2. One that I can't find any use for and end up standing down in some rear area so as not to lose points due to ops losses. (Dutch recon planes awaiting upgrades, range 2-3 land based Jap bombers, or any Jap transport

Some of the best aircraft are obsolete ones that still did a great job at their designated mission. I include the Vildebeast, Swordfish, and Claude in this group.

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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits"- Darwin Awards 2003

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:17:11 PM

Nikademus

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The worst aircraft, hands down, is the ME-109

(when i'm in it.)

Fortunately, the Luftwaffe had 34,999 other 109's available.

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:21:08 PM

RUPD3658

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The BF-110 is no winner either.

Give me an FW 190 anyday. I feared these in Talonsoft's Battle of Britain and Bombing the Reich.

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"No plan survives contact with the enemy." - Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke

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Post #: 26

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:23:18 PM

Nikademus

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hey at least i can fly a 110 without Lawn Darting.

with a Gustav.....all i have to do is sneaze while holding the flight stick and i spin uncontrollably into the ground.

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Post #: 27

RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:49:10 PM

Terminus

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Well, the Oscar isn't very good...

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RE: Most useless plane - 6/24/2005 11:57:08 PM

EUBanana

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The Hurricane is fine, the problem is that it gets used in the early war, in Burma, when the Zero bonus is most telling. Later on it can at least hold its own.

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Post #: 29

RE: Most useless plane - 6/25/2005 12:00:25 AM

Alikchi2

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The aircraft I have the most trouble finding use for is the FK.51.

I'd love to put these planes on ASW patrol near bases, but they're unarmed. So I just put them on Naval Search and try to vector in ASW ships when a sub is spotted.

I suppose you could recon ground units with them, but when they get close enough to recon the Japanese have already destroyed your airfield! It has a short range, crap armament, and it's flight characteristics are blah. It's not that I cannot find a use for it, it's just not very well suited for anything.

Re: The Hurricane - Against Zeroes, you're probably in trouble, although occasionally you can do well. Against IJAAF aircraft, you'll have a field day.

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Post #: 30