Aircraft

[Hard Sarge]

Give me some more info on this

for Aug 8th I have only the If flying,
by Jan 41, I have 219, 23, 15, 29 flying the If
by June, I only have 68 with a mix of Bl and BFs, and FIU (mixed Bl, BF and Havoc)
by July, I got no Bl in use (FIU is into BF and Havocs)

[Hard Sarge]

for what it is worth, I find the IVf to be worse off then the If ?

I see statements of 60 or 120 converted to If standard, 2 Squadrons used during BoB timeline

also see statements of it uses for CC

to the good, I improved the If some, top speed and cruise seem slower then the stats I been finding for it

(which stats for the IV look worse then the I ?)

if you got better info, let me know

[Dixie]

I believe that most Blenheim MkIVFs were assigned to Coastal Command or to Mid East Command as long range fighters rather than Night Fighters with Fighter Command.

[otisabuser2]

[font="Arial"] Yes the Blenheim IVF was used mainly by the Coastal Command.

HS, as you rightly suspected, I was indeed angling for a slight increase in the game speed of the Blenheim. Didn't seem right that these fighters were unable to catch the LW bombers. After all there were many claims from pilots that did.

As you say, the published stats show the IV being a little slower. However, there seems to be a huge variance with these figures, which incidently, often quote the bomber not the fighter version.

The IV bomber also often includes the extra lower rear-firing turret ( which we can ignore on the fighter versions ) and also the extra fuel. The longer range was why the CC units used it.

Finally the IV also had the twin gun upper turret. Fighter Command began removing these turrets later in the battle.

regards Otis[/font]

[Raverdave]

Ahhhhh !!!!!!!!   What about the Westland Whirlwind?  First deployed operationaly in July '40 to No 263 or was it 236 Squadron?

[Hard Sarge]

263, 236 was a CC outfit

[Hard Sarge]

got me on that one

I had added it in for BoB41, (along with 137) but I see it was around, but with 13 Group (really, wasn't ready for action yet)

and it had trouble with normal RAF Grass fields

but, 263 now has Whirlwinds, I am not going to let this one be producable in 1940 (it is in 41) I am going to give the RAF a month and a half of production for it, so there will be some replacement aircraft around, with out being able to rearm half of the RAF with it

Maint has been doubled for this plane, to reflect all the trouble they had with the engines and other teething trouble

one hassle is going to be, I am not setting a upgrade for this aircraft, the unit should stick with the wind, but if the AI gets hammered and hammered bad, it won't know what to do (unless you get lucky) the player will be able to change or leave alone as they see fit

[Raverdave]

IIRC 263 swapped their Whirlwinds for Hurricanes sometime in late '41 early '42?

[von Shagmeister]

263 Sqn operated the Whirlwind from Jul40 toDec43, they then operated the Typhoon Ib (Dec43-Aug45)
 
137 Sqn operated the Whirlwind from Feb41-Jun43, then the Hurricane IV (Jun43-Jan44), then the Typhoon Ib (Jan44-Aug45)
 
These two units were the only Sqns operational on the Whirlwind.

[Hard Sarge]

I show 137 not being formed until Sept 41 ?


and I show 263 with the Wind until it got the Tiffy

[von Shagmeister]

Seems to be some confusion over the date 137 Sqn was reformed either 20Feb41 or 20Sep41, depending on which source is used. RAF's own site says Sep41 but latest published source says Feb41.
 
First op by 137 Sqn was 24Oct41 and during Oct many pilots transferred from 263 Sqn to 137 Sqn so 20Sep41 seems more likely to be the correct date.