What a/c are available?

[Pharoah]

Hi guys

 

I've been away for a while from BOS. What new a/c for BOK have been released so far? I know the Spitfire just came which is awesome, however I'm really keen on the A20B (I love flying ME a/c) - any ETA on that?

 

Thanks

[ShamrockOneFive]

I wrote a guide based on the initial schedule that Jason provided to us in December.

 

https://stormbirds.wordpress.com/2016/12/07/battle-of-kuban-what-content-is-coming-and-when/

 

We currently have the Bf109G-4, FW190A-5, Bf110G-2, He111H-16, IL-2 Model 1943 and the Spitfire Vb was just released. We're still waiting on the Yak-7B (estimated release in October), Hs129B-2 (November), A-20B (November) and P-39L-1 (also November).

[Pharoah]

Excellent, thank you - exactly what i'm after!!  

[Dutchvdm]

The schedule has been quiet spot until now. We don't know how it will progress any further but some planes like the A5 and the A3 revision have been released early, where as the spitfire was one week later. The next big thing will be the Kuban map. If you are into the A-20, there are several Developer Dairy's about it, showing progress and explaining some main features.

 

1: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/168-developer-diary/page-4?do=findComment&comment=443482

 

2: https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/168-developer-diary/page-4?do=findComment&comment=473236

 

Somehow i still hope they will release some of the planes like the Henschel earlier. A lot of work has already been done, and i have a difficult time waiting until November  .

 

Grt M

Edited July 7, 2017 by I./ZG1_Martijnvdm

[Thad]

Hey, Devs.... my birthday is in November.

 

I fully expect some nice new plane(s) to take the packaging off of.

[Pharoah]

Thanks for that. Those pics of the A20 look good. Shame it wasn't the later version with multiple .50 cals in the nose (airfield strafing anyone???). 

[ShamrockOneFive]

Thanks for that. Those pics of the A20 look good. Shame it wasn't the later version with multiple .50 cals in the nose (airfield strafing anyone???). 

 

First deliveries for the A-20G were to US units starting delivery in February of 1943. I'm not exactly sure when the Soviet units received their first G model A-20s but it was likely somewhat later. I know they received large numbers later on.

 

The A-20B model is actually not a bad choice. The Russians were historically the biggest users of this type and the forward firepower is not too bad with twin Browning M2 .50cal machine guns fixed in the nose. Better than the C model with the four Browning .30 cal IMHO.

[Pharoah]

yeah fair enough. I'm just not sure how much damage 2 x .50 cals would do. Any idea what sort of ammo load they carried for the 0.50 cals?

 

But yes, am really eager for the A20....finally a western bomber. 

[ShamrockOneFive]

Don't get me wrong... the A-20G is my favourite version of the A-20 and the A-20 has become one of my favourite aircraft of all time.

 

The devs are very good at picking aircraft appropriate for the time period and the B version makes the most sense. It's going to be great. Lots of flexibility in what it can attack and using a variety of bombloads carried both internally and externally. It's fast, its reasonable well armed and defended, pilot accounts are that it handled well too.

 

I'm not exactly sure how powerful the twin .50cals are going to be but I think probably sufficient. In the lightweight setup, the P-40E-1's four .50cals melt light vehicles in a quick burst from the trigger. Even if its a half second on target with just two .50cals... that'll do! Also depending on how the turrets and AI work... they will be brilliant for low level attacks on ships for use in suppressing the gunners while on the attack run.

[Pharoah]

yeah agreed. I was just reading the wiki on this and apparently the thought was it was overpowered and could do 65 deg turns!! Lol. nice. almost like a heavy fighter. Good speeds give it more versatility. Can't wait for the Kuban map as well...I'm liking anti shipping strikes!!

[Gambit21]

Before getting the G, didn't the Russians modify some of the B's with more firepower in the nose?

[Pharoah]

From the wiki: 

Through Lend-Lease, Soviet forces received more than two-thirds of version A-20B planes manufactured and a significant portion of versions G and H. The A-20 was the most numerous foreign aircraft in the Soviet bomber inventory. The Soviet Air Force had more A-20s than the USAAF.^[12]

They were delivered via the ALSIB (Alaska-Siberia) air ferry route. The aircraft had its baptism of fire at the end of June 1942. The Soviets were dissatisfied with the four .30-calibre Browning machine guns — themselves only capable of firing at a top rate of 600 rounds per gun per minute — and replaced them with the faster-firing, 7.62mm calibre ShKAS, capable of up to 1800 rounds per gun per minute. During the summer of 1942, the Bostons flew ultra-low-level raids against German convoys heavily protected by flak. Attacks were made from altitudes as low as 33 ft (10 metres) and the air regiments suffered heavy losses.