I.A.R. 20mm Cannons Locked

[KodiakJac]

Why can some of my wingmen have 20mm cannons on the B model and I can't (they are locked).

 

Why can some of my wingmen have 20mm cannons on the A model with the "M" mod and I can't (they are locked).

 

No matter how I switch the planes around, I can't get an A or B model with the 20mm cannon option, but some of my wingmen can.  And I outrank all of my wingmen (I am the squadron leader). 

 

Do I have to pay more money to get the 20mm cannons? 😄

 

Edited May 22, 2024 by KodiakJac

[Sandmarken]

If you play on the Kuban map, all IAR-80s with the 3rd Group should have the IAR-80 with a 12mm gun, and the 4th Group should have the IAR-80C, which is the long airframe with 20mm guns. From what I've seen, I think during the summer, the 4th Group also started to receive older airframes retrofitted with cannons, which is the IAR-80M. I'm not sure if this is how it's done in the career mode. I've just tried a couple of missions.

[AEthelraedUnraed]

I'm not completely sure, but I think 20mm cannon armed IARs only became available in December 1942 - early 1943. If whatever campaign you are flying takes place before that, then that would explain why you can't choose the cannon armament. As Sandmarken says, it also depends on which squadron you fly in.

EDIT: this is what Wikipedia has to say about the IAR-80M: "an upgrade program was started in mid-1944". Given this date, the M version should be locked in all current careers.

 

It does not explain why the AI is able to use the cannons though, while you aren't. Based on what you've told, it sounds like a bug to me. When reporting career issues like this, it's always advisable to give as much information as possible - which squadron, which date - as well as upload a mission file showing the issue.

Edited May 22, 2024 by AEthelraedUnraed

[LukeFF]

I need to know the date and mission type where you are seeing this. As @Sandmarken has said, the 3rd FG was equipped with older IAR 80s and hence had no planes equipped with cannons, while the 4th FG was equipped with those armed with 20 mm MG-FF cannons. 

 

Beyond that, there should be no IAR 80s in career mode with MG 151/20s - those were all back in Romania during the Kuban campaign. 

[Sandmarken]

4 hours ago, LukeFF said:

Beyond that, there should be no IAR 80s in career mode with MG 151/20s - those were all back in Romania during the Kuban campaign. 

I think I saw a picture of an IAR 80 with what looked like the long MG 151/20, said to be from Crimea and probably the 4th Group. I will send it if I can find it in the chaos of sources I have, mostly in Romanian, which I do not speak. Could be a false memory as well.😅

 

Edit: I think I messed up what I was thinking of is this source 

 

https://www.ipmsstockholm.se/home/modellers-guide-to-iar-8081-variants-2/

 

It says that series 251 to 290 used the MG 151. In-game, the modification says that 251 to 290 used the old MG FF, I think. There might also be something wrong with the source ofc! 

Edited May 22, 2024 by Sandmarken

[KodiakJac]

Thanks guys! 👍

 

I posted the issue here (including the mission files)...

 

https://forum.il2sturmovik.com/topic/88451-iar-80-variable-availability-of-cannons-for-each-wingman-and-the-player/