Allied aircraft issues at 1943 start

[decourcy2]

This is the data i have for the F-IX.

[Denniss]

MS Supercharger gear = lower stage of the two avaliable, in higher FS gear Spit IX BF274 (Merlin 61) reached ~405mph at ~27500

[decourcy2]

See, that will get you every time. I knew that, I should really check my numbers before posting. The IX's built from V airframes never reached 400 but those airframes were gone by this point.
Thanks for pointing out my mistake there.
According to Jefferey Quill the IX's from V airframes reached 399 without armament.

Actually checked my sources that time. Doh.

[Denniss]

Don't worry, Spitfire variants are about as confusing as Bf 109 or Fw 190 variants - a myriad of subversions you can't model in a game. I'd need at least eight more aircraft to model the Mk V and IX LF/HF variants so we actually stick to the F variants for them.
Have already added the VIII - 1600 produced + the additional range are worth to be integrated. Will probably upgrade to Mk.XIVE with production in or near Southampton.

[Denniss]

Still working on Spits but already wanna share some information. Don't expect to see it soon as it will require about one week of work on my side and a lot of work to integrate this in the scenarios + you would have to start a new game to see effect anyway.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxx NEW AIRCRAFT xxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
0531 - Spitfire II - Mk.I with new engine, build limit 18 (one factory at Castle Bromwich near Birmingham)
0532 - Spitfire VIII - modified Mk.V with more range and engines similar to Mk IX, upgrades to Spitfire Mk.XIVE
0533 - Spitfire LF.IX - from mid 43 the vast majority of Spit IXs were LFs
0534 - Spitfire PR.XIX - unarmed photo-recon version based on improved Mk.XIV

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Spitfire FR.XIV separated from PR Spitfires and delayed to late 44
Spitfire VB/VC side-by-side production with original Mk.IX
Spitfire II -> VB -> VC -> LF.IX -> LF.IXE
Spitfire IX -> LF.IX -> LF.IXE
Spitfire PR.IV -> PR.XI -> PR.XIX
Spitfire VIII -> XIVE
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I still have to check the VIII - many of them may have been LFs too.
I may introduce a low-production HF.IX, either separate or as predecessor of the XIV.

I'm still looking for verifyable information on converted recon Spits. Please share if you have some good links.

[xwraith]

What are you looking for in terms of recon conversions? I have a book reference that may be of some help.

[KWG]

"I'm still looking for verifyable information on converted recon Spits. Please share if you have some good links"

this might help.
http://www.airrecce.co.uk/WW2/recce_ac/RAFAR.html


"bomb damage assessment installation".


The PR Mk ID (PR Mk IV) was produced as a super long range version, both wing leading edges were fitted with 66 gallon fuel tanks and the total fuel load including the 30 gallons behind the pilot was 218 gallons. Nicknamed 'The Bowser', it had a range of 1,750 miles.
This version could be fitted with a range of cameras and each setup was coded:
Code W: A fan of two F.8 20" cameras set at inclined of 10 deg. to the vertical and 20 deg. to each other.
Code X: A fan of two vertical F.24 14" cameras, each set at 8t 8� deg. to the vertical. Also fitted was one F.24 14" or 8" oblique camera.
Code Y: One F.52 36" vertical camera.
The "W" & "X" setups were alternative installations for the same aircraft. The "Y" installation was only fitted to a limited numbers of PR.IDs and was known as the "bomb damage assessment installation".

[Denniss]

Conversion of Mk. V and IX into PR or, most likely, FR recon types. Numbers, timeframe and usage. The FR.XIV was a late 44 direct-production variant it seems.
I assume numbers are too low to be worth including so I may just adjust production of standard PR types.

[xwraith]

I'm digging into it; the scary thing is at certain points during the war, I don't think that the RAF could tell you either!

[Denniss]

It's not getting better on the other side. Hardly possible to get exact numbers of Bf 109s/Fw 190s rebuilt as Recons. Just the factory-built recons are known.

[warshipbuilder]

Conversion of Mk. V and IX into PR or, most likely, FR recon types. Numbers, timeframe and usage. The FR.XIV was a late 44 direct-production variant it seems.
I assume numbers are too low to be worth including so I may just adjust production of standard PR types.

28 Spitfire XIV's were field converted to FR XIV, they all ended up with 430 Sqn. RCAF. Oddly enough, 430 FRXIV's were purpose built.

[HMSWarspite]

ORIGINAL: Denniss

0532 - Spitfire VIII - modified Mk.V with more range and engines similar to Mk IX, upgrades to Spitfire Mk.XIVE

Er... not really. The VIII was meant to be the next definitive Mk to the V, with 2 stage blower, pressurized cockpit and numerous other enhancements. Unfortunately the FW190 started eating Vs in sweeps over France, and the VIII was lagging. The IX was cobbled together by putting a 2 stage blower Merlin in a modified V airframe (hence the first few being actually made by modifying Vs on the line. I thought the vast majority of VIII when to the Far East, with only a few to the Med?

Having said which, none of this effects the stats.

When are you going to unscramble the P47C etc?

[Denniss]

The VIII comment was from my initial notes and never corrected. AFAIR the VI was to be pressurized, the VIII not. Although that might have changed during their long dev cycle.
At least the VIII offered a lot more range than the V and IX due to more fuel and better streamlined fuselage (434 vs ~660 miles at most economical).
ETO use of VIII will be something in the 30-40% range.

P-47?

[HMSWarspite]

My comment at the beginning of the thread, about US being too far along the P47 line, and should be still in P47C at game start, and well in to the second half 43...

[HMSWarspite]

ORIGINAL: Denniss

The VIII comment was from my initial notes and never corrected. AFAIR the VI was to be pressurized, the VIII not. Although that might have changed during their long dev cycle.
At least the VIII offered a lot more range than the V and IX due to more fuel and better streamlined fuselage (434 vs ~660 miles at most economical).
ETO use of VIII will be something in the 30-40% range.

P-47?

Sorry, you are right about pressurisation (I got mixed up wth the VII). This site seems pretty good http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/we ... kVIII.html

[xwraith]

Oddly enough, 430 FRXIV's were purpose built.

From digging through my source (Spitfire: The History by Shacklady & Morgan) its not so much that they were purpose built, as they are FXIV and FXIVE that had cameras installed, and then experienced modifications over time. From the specification:

"FR Mk XIV -- As for F Mk XIV except for -- cameras"
"FR Mk XIVE -- As for FR Mk XIV except for -- .5" machine guns"

From what I can see since these were all intended for low level work, hence why they retained their armament, and they were not fitted with the camera heating systems which would involve a more extensive conversion. Changes were added to the base type over time in stages: adding a bubble canopy, and then an extra 31 gallon fuel tank in the rear, clipped wings, and oblique cameras.

[warshipbuilder]

AFAIR the VI was to be pressurized, the VIII not.

Correct, the VI was the first pressurized version of the spit, and the VII the second and the VIII was the un-pressurized version of the VII. Some VI's were sent to the Med had their guns removed, an F8 camera installed and were used as recon aircraft over Crete and Greece. They were withdrawn from service in August 1943.

[JeffroK]

Why are there so many Hurricane IIC available in game ??? Out of service in Europe it seems to be the preferred mount for most RAF FB Sqns????