Spitfire, why so late?

[andrewmv]

Just as a matter of interest, why has the Spitfire been pushed back to turn 96? The first Spitfires operational in the Pacific were those with #54 Sqd at Darwin in early Feb 1943 (turn 61). I've assumed that this is #1 Wing RAAF which becomes available on turn 58 (about right).

[Major Tom]

Historically #1 Wing was equipped with the Spitfire V, and was sent to Darwin from Europe by the RAF as a token force to say to Australia that the British didn't forget about them. This was the only Spitfire group in the Pacific until the Spitfire VIII's were sent.

Spitfire VIII's, the staple Spitfire version in South East Asia, didn't arrive until almost a year later. Hurricane IIB's and IIC's made up the fighting force of the RAF in the Far East until mid 1944! The original OBC's were just off by around a year on the arrival of Spitfires. It wouldn't be fair to give the RAF Spitfires early just because the Australians get one group early! #1 Wing has around 32 planes in it already, so, it isn't quite useless.

Jeremy

[andrewmv]

>>#1 Wing has around 32 planes in it already, so, it isn't quite useless.<<

It has 16 planes in it, so if it represents the four Spitfire V sqds that served in the far east it should probably have its starting strength upped a bit

[andrewmv]

>>Historically #1 Wing was equipped with the Spitfire V, and was sent to Darwin from Europe by the RAF<<

Actually a better idea might be to change #1 Wing to Seafires (Seafire III is basically a navalised Spitfire V) which do come on stream at the right time (turn 60). That way #1 Wing will build up rather than just sit there with 16 aircraft for a year.

[Blackjack]

It never gets past 16 planes.