AC Performance Comparisons

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Germans did infact devekop low altitude versions of the Fw 190 (D-13) and the Ta-152 © although only few, if and modles, saw production due to engine shortages (the D-13 was operatuonal and assigned to a frontline unit though.

 

The reason why Lufwaffe fighters were developed into high up fast, heavily armed interceptors is due to the never ending bomber raids on the german industry.

 

Furthermore the jet development has drawn many ressources from pistoned engine fighter developments. There were some ambitious projects that could have helped to balance the odds in the pistoned engine fighter region if they were not cancled early on by thw RLM.

[II./JG77_Manu*]

 This leaves some fairly minor FM questions and seems to be historically reflected in game thus far.

Only that at this stage of the war (BoM/BoS) the German still had highly superior aircraft.

I watched a few Russian (subtitled) documenteries lately, 3 in total, and every single one mentioned the La5 to be the aircraft, to slowly close the gap to the Germans (not the F, and not the FN, they were mentioned later). No one was ever talking about Yak1. In my German book it says as well...the Russians had a bunch of aircraft, way better then their "first generation", but still clearly inferior, namely Lagg 3, Yak 1 and Mig 3. Then the La5 came..etc pp. Everything i have ever read about aircraft went into that direction. Heck, even Metal Gear Solid (the video game) has mentioned the La 5 as "greatest Russian technical achievement in WW2"

Wondering how this is represented in game..

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

The LaGG-3 is the ugly duckling of the war. Everyone made fun of it, called it heavy, slow, underpowered... Fast-forward to 1945 and it has turned into the La-7, which doesn't need much introduction.

 

Highly superior, particularly in late 42/early 43, is quite a loud claim. The Yak-1 was lightened and reengined, the LaGG-3 suffered the same treatment, the La-5 was coming in too and the Soviets were starting to field the P-39 in big numbers. I think few people realize just how closely matched these aircraft were overall. The differences in performance we talk about here can be considered marginal within operational parameters, the 109 and 190 could not achieve air superiority through power the same way Soviet fighters couldn't do it through maneuverability. This setup is comparable to Spitfires vs 109s in 1940, yet people seem to expect Fw-190 vs Gloster Gladiator results.

[JtD]

I agree that some peoples perception and expectations are a bit off, but that's not all there is to it. For instance, at 6km the Fw190 should be about 85km/h faster than the Yak-1. In game, it's about 25km/h. It's not surprising that this raises a couple of eyebrows, and leaves some folks with an impression of 'parity' that in historically wasn't achieved until after the BoS was over.

[7.GShAP/Silas]

I agree that some peoples perception and expectations are a bit off, but that's not all there is to it. For instance, at 6km the Fw190 should be about 85km/h faster than the Yak-1. In game, it's about 25km/h. It's not surprising that this raises a couple of eyebrows, and leaves some folks with an impression of 'parity' that in historically wasn't achieved until after the BoS was over.

 

 

I can appreciate the eyebrows, but practically speaking this must be assuaged at least somewhat by the fact that Sovjet players will be(at least should be) encountered at 6km about as often as their real world counterparts were(as far as I've ever been told, anyway) .  There's simply no reason to go there.

Edited December 22, 2015 by Silas

[JtD]

Forfeiting high altitude fights is forfeiting initiative in battle, and neither air force did that. The Soviets used layered cover for their ground pounders, going all the way up with each flight protecting the one below. Medium bombers did operate at medium altitudes up to 6km provided the target allowed for it.

 

Having no B-17's coming in at 8km doesn't mean every fight took place at tree top level.

[BraveSirRobin]

I can appreciate the eyebrows, but practically speaking this must be assuaged at least somewhat by the fact that Sovjet players will be(at least should be) encountered at 6km about as often as their real world counterparts were(as far as I've ever been told, anyway) .  There's simply no reason to go there.

 

I believe that someone has already illustrated this point quite nicely.

 

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Way off topic gentlemen. There are plenty of threads to discuss FM's and gameplay elsewhere. Please don't hijack an historical performance discussion.

Edited December 22, 2015 by [LBS]HerrMurf

[GP*]

The La-5 series is easily my favorite piston-driven Soviet fighter. I don't fly it often in BoS simply because it's a bit of a pig (and maybe rightly so -- I don't know enough about Soviet fighters to say), so I'm hoping the 5F and 5FN will be introduced at some point in the future.