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Microsoft® Combat Flight Simulator 3.0
MACHINES OF WAR
handbook
1
Subject: CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Aircraft
U.S. aircraft .................. 3
British aircraft .............. 14
German aircraft ............... 23
Vehicles and Weapons
Vehicles ...................... 35
Weapons ....................... 43
Ships ......................... 45
Aircraft Armaments
Rifle-caliber machine guns ..... 48
Heavy machine guns ............ 49
Automatic cannon .............. 50
Heavy cannon .................. 52
Torpedoes ..................... 53
Rockets ....................... 54
ft of CFS3
The Aircra
Authorized licensees of this game may print
(or have printed at their expense) a single
copy of this manual for their personal home
use in conjunction with the play and use of
the game on this CD.
- 2 -
2
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Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
Curtiss P-55 Ascender
P-55
This futuristic bird’s swept wing, canard elevators, rear engine, and pusher propeller gave it a
look like no other fighter. However, the experimental
24-cylinder liquid-cooled flat-H engine originally
intended for the Ascender never reached production.
Its 2,200 horsepower might have provided a top speed
over 500 mph. The Allison V-12 that replaced the
proposed Pratt & Whitney engine reduced the plane’s
performance from stellar to average. Low-speed
handling problems, including a vicious stall with
little or no warning, were partially addressed by
modifications to the prototype’s wings and vertical
surfaces, but with jet aircraft already under development, the Ascender project was abandoned after
the third prototype. For a fascinating “what-if”
scenario and a unique piloting experience, try the
Ascender as it might have been, with 75 percent more
power and improved handling.
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3
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
P-55 SPECIFICATIONS
XP-55 SPECIFICATIONS
(the aircraft in CFS3, as originally designed)
(the prototype aircraft actually built in 1943-1944)
WEIGHT: 6,354/7,929 lb. (2,888/3,604 kg)
SPAN: 41' 0.5" (12.5 m) LENGTH: 29' 7" (9 m)
ENGINE: One Pratt & Whitney H-2600 24-cyl. liquidcooled flat-H with 2,200 hp
ARMAMENT: Two 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with
200 r.p.g. on nose, plus two 20-mm Hispano M2 cannon
with 150 r.p.g. in nose
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 507 mph (815 km/h) @ 20,000 ft
(6,096 m)
CEILING: 36,000 ft (10,973 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,500 ft/min (1,066 m/min)
RANGE: 1,000 mi (1,610 km)
WEIGHT: 6,354/7,929 lb. (2,888/3,604 kg)
SPAN: 41' 0.5" (12.5 m) LENGTH: 29' 7" (9 m)
ENGINE: One Allison V-1710-95 liquid-cooled V-12
with 1,275 hp
ARMAMENT: Four 0.5-in. Browning machine guns in nose
with 200 r.p.g.
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 390 mph (628 km/h) @ 19,300 ft
(5,882 m)
CEILING: 34,600 ft (10,546 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,800 ft/min (853 m/min)
RANGE: “Normal” 635 mi (1,021 km); “maximum” 1,440
mi (2,316 km)
* * *
* * *
STRENGTHS
- With proposed Pratt & Whitney engine, excellent
speed.
- Excellent forward visibility.
- Two .50s and two 20-mm cannon in nose concentrate
heavy firepower.
- Improved control surfaces make for nimble
handling.
- Tricycle landing gear enhances forward visibility,
makes landings less risky.
STRENGTHS (PROTOTYPE AS BUILT)
- Good level and climbing flight characteristics.
- Excellent forward visibility.
- Four .50s in nose concentrate firepower.
- Tricycle landing gear enhances forward visibility,
makes landings less risky.
WEAKNESSES
- Unique profile makes it easy for enemies to identify.
- Poor rearward visibility.
WEAKNESSES (PROTOTYPE AS BUILT)
- Unique profile makes it easy for enemies to identify.
- Poor rearward visibility.
- Minimal stall warning.
- Some lateral instability, common in tailless
aircraft.
- With Allison engine, mediocre speed.
- Lack of elevator “feel” can lead to pilot overcontrol on landing.
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4
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
Lockheed P-38J & P-38L Lightning
P-38
When the P-38 Lightning first flew in 1939,
its striking appearance and high performance made
a powerful first impression, but it took several
design changes to realize the potential of this
radical brainchild of design genius Kelly Johnson.
Its twin-engine reliability and long range were
significant assets, its counter-rotating propellers neutralized torque effects and made the P-38
a smooth aircraft to fly, and its heavy firepower and
modern tricycle landing gear made it popular with
pilots. While the big, fast, and heavy Lightning was
slower-turning and less maneuverable than singleengine fighters, it could outdive any fighter except
the P-47 Thunderbolt. Late-model P-38s, particularly the almost identical J and L models, came into
their own in Europe serving the Ninth Air Force in
the ground-attack role. The electric dive flaps and
power-boosted ailerons of the late production P-38Js
and all P-38Ls increased stability and tamed the
compressibility problems in steep dives that had
dogged early Lightnings. The L model of this big,
fast, heavily armed fighter featured more powerful
engines for superior acceleration and added bombs
and rockets to its cannon and guns to devastate
enemy targets.
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5
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
P-38J SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 12,780/21,600 lb. (5,806/9,798 kg)
SPAN: 52' (15.85 m) LENGTH: 37' 10" (11.52 m)
ENGINE: Two Allison V-1710-89/91 liquid-cooled V-12s
with 1,425 hp each
ARMAMENT: One 20-mm Hispano M2 cannon with 150
rounds, plus four 0.5-in. machine guns with 500
r.p.g., plus up to 3,200 lb. of bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 414 mph (666 km/h) @ 25,000 ft
(7,620 m)
CEILING: 44,000 ft (13,410 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,850 ft/min (870 m/min)
RANGE: 450 mi (724 km)
* * *
P-38L SPECIFICATIONS
STRENGTHS (ALL P-38 VARIANTS)
- Fast, good climb rate, and, except for the P-47,
unbeatable in a dive.
- Supplements heavy armament with bombs and rockets.
- Counter-rotating props eliminate torque effects.
- Twin-engine reliability.
- Nose-mounted guns concentrate firepower and
decrease convergence errors.
- Excellent forward visibility.
WEAKNESSES (ALL P-38 VARIANTS)
- Not as maneuverable as smaller, lighter singleengine fighters.
- Unique profile makes it easy for enemies to identify.
- Liquid cooling increases engine vulnerability to
damage from flak and small arms fire.
WEIGHT: 12,800/21,600 lb. (5,806/9,798 kg)
SPAN: 52' (15.85 m) LENGTH: 37' 10" (11.52 m)
ENGINE: Two Allison V-1710-111/ 113 liquid-cooled
V-12s with 1,475 hp each (1,600 hp each at war emergency power)
ARMAMENT: One 20-mm Hispano M2 cannon with 150
rounds, plus four 0.5-in. machine guns with 500
r.p.g., plus either two 4,000-lb. bombs or ten 5-in.
rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 414 mph (666 km/h) @ 25,000 ft
(7,620 m)
CEILING: 44,000 ft (13,410 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,850 ft/min (870 m/min)
RANGE: 450 mi (724 km)
* * *
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6
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star
P-80A
P-80A SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 7,920/14,000 lb. (3,600/6,364 kg)
SPAN: 38' 10.5" (11.84 m) LENGTH: 34' 6" (10.5 m)
ENGINE: One General Electric J-33-GE-9 turbojet with
3,850-lb. thrust
ARMAMENT: Six 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with
300 r.p.g., plus two 500-lb. or 1,000-lb. bombs or
(on F-80C) ten 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 558 mph (898 km/h) @ sea
level; 533 mph (858 km/h) @ 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
CEILING: 45,000 ft (13,716 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 4,166 ft/min (1,270 m/min)
RANGE: 780 mi (1,255 km); 1,100 mi (1,770 km) with
two 165-gal. drop tanks
First flown as a prototype in January 1944,
the P-80 became the first jet aircraft adopted for
service by the USAAF, but production models became
available just weeks too late to serve in WWII. The
Shooting Star was another brainchild of the Lockheed
design team headed by Clarence “Kelly” Johnson,
whose work also included the exotic P-38 Lightning
and the SR-71 “Blackbird.” Its clean design, relatively powerful turbojet engine, and thin unswept
laminar-flow wing made the P-80 an excellent
performer for the time. Its speed, maneuverability,
and armament qualified it as both an excellent
fighter and fighter-bomber. The Shooting Star development project took an unexpected toll on August
6, 1945--the day the atom bomb was dropped on
Hiroshima. Richard Bong, America’s top-scoring WWII
ace, died on a test flight in California when his
P-80 flamed out and stalled on takeoff.
* * *
STRENGTHS
- High speed.
- Excellent climb and maneuverability.
- Well-armed gunfighter can also deliver ordnance.
- Nose-mounted guns concentrate firepower and
decrease convergence errors.
WEAKNESSES
- Slow engine spool-up and acceleration.
- Poor engine reliability.
* * *
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7
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
Martin B-26C & B-26G Marauder
B-26
The Marauder’s greatest success as a workhorse
of the U.S. Ninth Air Force came in the tactical air
support role before, during, and after the Allied
invasion of Europe in 1944. Heavy armament and a big
bomb load made the B-26 devastatingly effective in
this role. Its highly loaded wing made the Marauder
a “hot” plane with a high landing speed, a characteristic that cost some early crews their lives.
Wing and fin modifications, and an aggressive training
program, decreased operational accidents and helped
get the best out of this capable aircraft. The C
model increased the wing’s span by six feet; the
later F and G models increased the wing’s angle of
incidence by 3.5 degrees to shorten takeoff distance
and decrease landing speed. By the end of the war,
the B-26 had the lowest loss rate of all of the
American bombers in the European Theater.
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8
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
B-26C SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 23,800/38,200 lb. (10,818/17,363 kg)
SPAN: 71' (21.6 m) LENGTH: 56' 1" (17 m)
ENGINE: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 18-cyl. aircooled radials with 2,000 hp each
ARMAMENT: Twelve 0.5-in. Browning machine guns-one flexible and one fixed gun in the nose (fixed gun
later omitted), four fixed-package guns on the sides,
two in the top turret, two in the lower waist, and
two in the tail--plus 3,000 lb. of bombs. Optional:
Fourteen 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 283 mph (455 km/h) @ 5,000 ft
(1,524 m)
CEILING: 19,800 ft (6,035 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1000 ft/min (305 m/min)
RANGE: 1,150 mi (1,850 km)
STRENGTHS (ALL B-26 VARIANTS)
- High-speed cruise.
- Heavy armament and bomb load.
WEAKNESSES (ALL B-26 VARIANTS)
- High landing speed dangerous for unwary pilots.
- Vulnerable to fighters, requires escort.
* * *
B-26G SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 23,800/38,200 lb. (10,818/17,363 kg)
SPAN: 71' (21.6 m) LENGTH: 56' 1" (17 m)
ENGINE: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 18-cyl.
air-cooled radials with 2,000 hp each
ARMAMENT: Twelve 0.5-in. Browning machine guns (as
above, but without fixed nose gun), plus 4,000-lb. of
bombs Optional: Fourteen 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 283 mph (455 km/h) @ 5,000 ft
(1,524 m)
CEILING: 19,800 ft (6,035 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1000 ft/min (305 m/min)
RANGE: 1,150 mi (1,850 km)
* * *
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9
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
North American P-51B and P-51D Mustang
P-51B
Once the Mustang got Rolls-Royce Merlin power
in the P-51B, it excelled in every role, including
tactical fighter-bomber. The bubble canopy of the D
model added superior visibility. Fast and agile as
an interceptor, the P-51 gave Allied forces excellent tactical support in the ground attack role.
Its heavy gun armament, combined with bombs and
rockets, helped the Ninth Air Force suppress enemy
ground forces and transport, speeding the advance of
Patton’s Third Army across France and into Germany.
The Mustang’s only flaw as a fighter-bomber was its
liquid-cooled engine, a liability it shared with
other front-line aircraft, including the Spitfire,
Typhoon, Tempest, and Bf 109. A piece of flak or a
small-arms round in the coolant system could turn
this otherwise potent attack aircraft into a very
short-range glider.
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10
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
P-51D SPECIFICATIONS
P-51D
WEIGHT: 7,125/11,600 lb. (3,230/5,206 kg)
SPAN: 37' 0.25" (11.29 m) LENGTH: 32' 2.5" (9.81 m)
ENGINE: One Rolls-Royce/ Packard V-1650-7 liquidcooled V-12 with 1,490 hp
ARMAMENT: Six 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with
270 r.p.g. (outboard & center pairs) & 400 r.p.g.
(inboard pair), plus two 500-lb. or 1000-lb. bombs
or six 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 437 mph (703 km/h) @ 25,000 ft
(9,144 m)
CEILING: 41,900 ft (12,780 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,125 ft/min (952 m/min)
RANGE: 1,300 mi (2,092 km); 2,080 mi (3,347 km) with
drop tanks
* * *
P-51B SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 7,125/11,600 lb. (3,230/5,206 kg)
SPAN: 37' 0.25" (11.29 m) LENGTH: 32' 2.5" (9.81 m)
ENGINE: One Rolls-Royce/Packard V-1650-3 liquidcooled V-12 with 1,380 hp
ARMAMENT: Four 0.5-in. Browning machine guns with
400 r.p.g., plus two 500-lb. or 1000-lb. bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 440 mph (708 km/h) @ 30,000 ft
(7,620 m)
CEILING: 41,800 ft (12,740 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,780 ft/min (847 m/min)
RANGE: 1,300 mi (2,092 km); 2,080 mi (3,347 km) with
drop tanks
STRENGTHS (ALL P-51 VARIANTS)
- Excellent acceleration, speed, handling, and
maneuverability.
- Enormous range.
- Heavy firepower from six .50-inch guns.
- Excellent pilot visibility.
WEAKNESSES (ALL P-51 VARIANTS)
- Very sensitive to sudden throttle application,
which can cause severe swing or rollover and crash
on takeoff.
- Treacherous handling with aft fuselage tank full.
- Liquid cooling increases engine vulnerability to
damage from flak and small arms fire.
* * *
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11
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
Republic P-47D (early models) & P-47D-25 Thunderbolt
P-47D
The biggest, heaviest fighter of the war, the
Thunderbolt was also the most successful American
fighter-bomber of WWII. Nicknamed the “Jug” either
because it resembled a squat milk jug or as an
abbreviation of “Juggernaut,” it was ruggedly built
and powered by a massive and durable air-cooled
radial engine. The Thunderbolt could absorb damage
that would knock other fighters down and still keep
flying. It was also easy to fly with light stick
forces, and very forgiving. Commencing with the P47D-25 production block, the ungainly “Jug” became
more sleek and provided better visibility with its
bubble canopy and slimmed-down aft fuselage. U.S.
Ninth Air Force Thunderbolts joined British Typhoons
and Tempests as a devastating tactical air support
weapon. It combined high performance with heavy firepower and a big ordnance load to become the American
aircraft of choice in the ground attack role.
- 12 -
12
Subject: U.S. AIRCRAFT
P-47D-25 SPECIFICATIONS
P-47D-25
WEIGHT: 10,300/19,400 lb. (4,545/8.818 kg)
SPAN: 40' 9.25" (12.4 m) LENGTH: 36' 1.25" (11.03 m)
ENGINE: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp
18-cyl. air-cooled radial with 2,000 hp (2,300 hp
with water injection for war emergency power)
ARMAMENT: Eight 0.5-in. Browning machine guns
with 267 or 425 r.p.g., plus two 1000-lb. or three
500-lb. bombs or ten 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 30,000 ft
(9,150 m)
CEILING: 42,000 ft (12,810 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,120 ft/min (950 m/min)
RANGE: 1,000 mi (1,610 km); 1,900 mi (3,057 km) with
drop tanks
* * *
P-47D SPECIFICATIONS
(Early models)
WEIGHT: 9,900/14,925 lb. (4,500/6,784 kg)
SPAN: 40' 9.25" (12.4 m) LENGTH: 36' 1.25" (11.03 m)
ENGINE: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21 Double Wasp
18-cyl. air-cooled radial with 2,000 hp
ARMAMENT: Eight 0.5-in. Browning machine guns
with 267 or 425 r.p.g., plus two 1000-lb. or three
500-lb. bombs or ten 5-in. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 30,000 ft
(9,150 m)
CEILING: 42,000 ft (12,810 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,120 ft/min (950 m/min)
RANGE: 1,000 mi (1,610 km); 1,900 mi (3,057 km) with
drop tanks
* * *
STRENGTHS (ALL P-47 VARIANTS)
- Fast, stable, easy to fly, forgiving; a confidencebuilder for novice pilots.
- Impressive roll rate.
- Nothing outdives a Jug.
- Extremely rugged construction.
- Massive firepower from eight 0.5-in. guns.
- Heavy ordnance load.
- Bubble canopy provides excellent visibility.
- Air-cooled radial engine shields pilot and can
sustain major damage yet keep running.
WEAKNESSES (ALL P-47 VARIANTS)
- Tends to “mush” in a dive, losing altitude
rapidly; pull out in time or dig a big hole.
- Not as maneuverable as smaller, lighter fighters.
- Mediocre turn radius and rate.
- Poor zoom climb; loses energy rapidly.
- 13 -
13
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
de Havilland Mosquito B. IV, F.B. VI, and F.B. XVIII
Mosquito
Affectionately known as the “Wooden Wonder”
or the “Mossie,” the fast and versatile Mosquito
served first as a light, unarmed bomber, and then
as Britain’s most successful night fighter. In mid1943 its most numerous variant, the F.B. VI fighterbomber, appeared. Designed from the start to use
nonstrategic materials, its molded plywood construction made the Mosquito light and strong. Its twin
Merlin V-12s gave it sufficient speed to outrun
most fighters at low to medium altitudes, and its
heavy armament and bomb load made it a formidable
fighter-bomber. The F.B. XVIII, a variant of the
F.B. VI, was armed with a 57-mm antitank cannon.
Its bigger bite earned it the nickname “Tse Tse.”
The RAF’s Second Tactical Air Force demonstrated
the Mosquito’s effectiveness against ground targets,
while Coastal Command showed what its guns and
rocket salvos could do against enemy shipping.
- 14 -
14
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
MOSQUITO B. IV SPECIFICATIONS
MOSQUITO F.B. XVIII SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 14,100/22,500 lb. (6,409/10,227 kg)
SPAN: 54' 2" (16.5 m) LENGTH: 40' 9" (12.4 m)
ENGINE: Two Rolls-Royce Merlin 21 liquid-cooled
V-12s with 1,230 hp each
ARMAMENT: No defensive armament; 2,000-lb. of bombs
(four 500-lb. bombs in internal bomb bay)
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 380 mph (611 km/h) @ 17,000 ft
(5,182 m)
CEILING: 28,800 ft (8,778 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,700 ft/min (518 m/min)
RANGE: 1,860 mi (2,992 km) with maximum bomb load
WEIGHT: 14,100/22,500 lb. (6,409/10,227 kg)
SPAN: 54' 2" (16.5 m) LENGTH: 40' 6" (12.3 m)
ENGINE: Two Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 liquid-cooled
V-12s with 1,635 hp each
ARMAMENT: Four .303-in. Browning machine guns on
nose with 500 r.p.g., plus one 57-mm Molins cannon
with 25 rounds, plus 1,000 lb. of bombs and eight
60-lb. rocket projectiles
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 380 mph (611 km/h) @ 13,000 ft
(3,962 m)
CEILING: 36,000 ft (10,973 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,870 ft/min (570 m/min)
RANGE: 1,205 mi (1,938 km) with internal fuel;
1,705 mi (2,743 km) with full load and auxiliary
tanks
* * *
MOSQUITO F.B. VI SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 14,100/22,500 lb. (6,409/10,227 kg)
SPAN: 54' 2" (16.5 m) LENGTH: 40' 6" (12.3 m)
ENGINE: Two Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 liquid-cooled
V-12s with 1,635 hp each
ARMAMENT: Four 20-mm Hispano cannon in belly under
nose with 150 r.p.g., plus four 0.303-in. Browning
machine guns on nose with 500 r.p.g., plus 2,000 lb.
of bombs (in fuselage & under wings) or 1,000 lb. of
bombs and eight 60-lb. rocket projectiles
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 380 mph (611 km/h) @ 13,000 ft
(3,962 m)
CEILING: 36,000 ft (10,973 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,870 ft/min (570 m/min)
RANGE: 1,205 mi (1,938 km) with internal fuel; 1,705
mi (2,743 km) with full load and auxiliary tanks
* * *
STRENGTHS (ALL VARIANTS)
- High speed, especially at lower altititudes.
- Heavy armament.
WEAKNESSES (ALL VARIANTS)
- Not as rugged as stressed aluminum aircraft.
- Easy for enemy pilots to identify.
* * *
- 15 -
15
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
de Havilland Vampire F.1
The Vampire (Britain’s second jet fighter after
the Gloster Meteor) was just months too late for
service in WWII; the first production aircraft took
to the air in April 1945. Its single-engine, twinboom design made it the first Allied jet to match
the performance of the German Messerschmitt 262.
The Vampire served first as a high-speed interceptor,
and later (under the designation F.B. 5) as a close
support fighter-bomber carrying 2,000 pounds of bombs
or rockets. It is tantalizing to imagine how encounters between the Vampire and the German jet fighters
might have gone. Do well enough in conventional
aircraft, and you may earn the opportunity to find
out firsthand.
Vampire
* * *
VAMPIRE F.1 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 6,372/10,480 lb. (2,896/4,764 kg)
SPAN: 40' (12.2 m) LENGTH: 30' 9" (9.4 m)
ENGINE: One de Havilland Goblin II turbojet with
3,100-lb. thrust
ARMAMENT: Four 20-mm Hispano cannon with 150 r.p.g.
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 540 mph (869 km/h) @ 20,000 ft
(6,096 m)
CEILING: 42,800 ft (13,045 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 4,200 ft/min (1,280 m/min)
RANGE: 730 mi (1,175 km)
STRENGTHS
- Fast and maneuverable.
- Four 20-mm cannon deliver a massive punch.
WEAKNESSES
- Leisurely acceleration.
- Short engine life.
* * *
- 16 -
16
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
Hawker Typhoon IB
Typhoon
TYPHOON IB SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 8,800/11,400 lb. (4,000/5,182 kg)
SPAN: 41' 7" (12.7 m) LENGTH: 31' 10" (9.7 m)
ENGINE: One Napier Sabre IIA 24-cyl. liquid-cooled
flat-H with 2,180 hp
ARMAMENT: Four 20-mm Hispano cannon with 140 r.p.g.,
plus two 1,000-lb. bombs or eight 60-lb. rocket projectiles
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 405 mph (652 km/h) @ 18,000 ft
(5,486 m)
CEILING: 34,000 ft (10,363 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,540 ft/min (774 m/min)
RANGE: 510 mi (820 km) with bombs; 980 mi (1,577 km)
without bombs and with drop tanks
The Typhoon was Hawker’s successor to the aging
Hurricane. Its big, ambitious design was based on
the massive 36-liter Napier Sabre flat-H engine.
While the complex and maintenance-intensive Sabre
never provided outstanding reliability, it did
provide well over 2,000 horsepower, which gave the
Typhoon far greater performance than anything imagined when the Hurricane was new. The Typhoon was
rushed into service late in 1941, but some serious
shortcomings prevented it from fulfilling its
intended role of interceptor. Its thick wing made
for instability at high altitudes, and its poorly
designed aft fuselage caused the tail to break away
during fast, steep dives. By late 1942 its structural problems were worked out, and the Typhoon came
into its own as a powerful and heavily armed lowlevel fighter-bomber. After the Normandy invasion,
Typhoons of the Second Tactical Air Force destroyed
concentrations of German armor and made the roads of
France and Belgium unsafe for enemy troops or transport.
* * *
STRENGTHS
- High speed.
- Heavy armament and ordnance load.
WEAKNESSES
- Poor handling and performance above 20,000 feet.
- For its power, a relatively leisurely rate of
climb.
- Poor engine reliability.
* * *
- 17 -
17
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
Hawker Tempest V
Tempest V
TEMPEST V SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 9,000/13,500 lb. (4,205/6,364 kg)
SPAN: 41' (12.5 m) LENGTH: 33' 8" (10.26 m)
ENGINE: Napier Sabre IIB 24-cyl. liquid-cooled flat-H,
2,400 hp.
ARMAMENT: Four 20-mm Hispano cannon with 150 r.p.g.,
plus two 1,000-lb. bombs or eight 60-lb. rocket projectiles
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 435 mph (700 km/h) @ 17,000 ft
(5,185 m)
CEILING: 36,000 ft (10,980 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,000 ft/min (914 m/min)
RANGE: 820 mi (1,320 km)
The Hawker Tempest V, successor to the Typhoon
fighter-bomber, was the biggest, most potent pistonpowered fighter flown by the RAF in World War II.
The Tempest’s massive 24-cylinder flat-H engine gave
it more than 2,000 horsepower and a sound like no
other fighter, its thin laminar flow wing gave it high
speed without the handling problems that dogged the
thick-winged Typhoon, and its four 20-mm cannon and
ability to carry rockets or a ton of bombs made it a
formidable fighter-bomber. The Tempest became operational in April 1944, just in time to take on the
growing threat from the V1 buzz bombs raining down
on London. Between June and September, RAF Tempest
pilots shot down 638 V1s. During the last months of
the war in Europe, the Tempest served with distinction in the RAF’s Second Tactical Air Force. While
much of this service was in the ground attack role,
Tempest pilots also destroyed 20 Me 262 jet fighters
in air combat. There are very few situations or
adversaries you can’t handle in this versatile
fighter.
* * *
STRENGTHS
- High speed.
- Heavy armament and ordnance load.
- Excellent performance at high and low altitudes.
WEAKNESSES
- Less than stellar reliability from complex Napier
Sabre engine.
* * *
- 18 -
18
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
North American B-25C (Mitchell II), B-25H, & B-25J (Mitchell III)
The B-25, a strong and versatile aircraft, may
have been the best medium bomber of World War II.
During the war the British received some 800
Mitchell medium bombers from the U.S. The H model
added the formidable firepower of a nose-mounted
75-mm cannon. With the J model, the glazed two-gun
nose could be replaced with a solid “strafer” nose
carrying eight Browning .50s to devastate surface
targets. The British put their Mitchells to excellent use in both the close-support role before the
Normandy invasion and in attacks against German
flying-bomb sites and other key targets afterward.
The Mitchell was also a formidable weapon against
surface targets, particularly in the up-gunned H and
J models. In whatever role it was used, the Mitchell
was reliable, stable, maneuverable, and easy to fly.
B-25C
* * *
B-25C SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 20,300/34,000 lb. (9,227/15,455 kg)
SPAN: 67' 7" (20.6 m) LENGTH: 52' 11" (16.13 m)
ENGINE: Two Wright R-2600-13 14-cyl. air-cooled
radials with 1,700 hp each
ARMAMENT: Five 0.5-in. machine guns (one in nose,
two each in dorsal and ventral turrets), plus
3,000 lb. of bombs Optional: solid nose with eight
.50s.
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 284 mph (457 km/h) @ 15,000 ft
(4,572 m)
CEILING: 21,200 ft (6,462 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,880 ft/min (573 m/min)
RANGE: 1,500 mi (2,413 km)
STRENGTHS (ALL B-25 VARIANTS)
- Good speed and maneuverability.
- Stable, easy to fly.
- Can deliver a significant payload on target.
- Can mount additional gunpacks to increase firepower.
WEAKNESSES (ALL B-25 VARIANTS)
- Slower and less maneuverable than fighters, and
therefore requires escort.
* * *
- 19 -
19
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
B-25J
B-25H
B-25H SPECIFICATIONS
B-25J SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 20,300/34,000 lb. (9,227/15,455 kg)
SPAN: 67' 7" (20.6 m) LENGTH: 52' 11" (16.13 m)
ENGINE: Two Wright R-2600-13 14-cyl. air-cooled
radials with 1,700 hp each
ARMAMENT: Fourteen 0.5-in. machine guns (four in
solid nose, four in packs on sides of fuselage, two
each in dorsal turret and tail, and one in each beam
position), plus one 75-mm T13E1 cannon in nose below
guns
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 272 mph (438 km/h) @ 13,000 ft
(3,962 m)
CEILING: 24,200 ft (7,376 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,100 ft/min (338 m/min)
RANGE: 1,350 mi (2,172 km)
WEIGHT: 19,480/35,000 lb. (8,855/15,909 kg)
SPAN: 67' 7" (20.6 m) LENGTH: 52' 11" (16.13 m)
ENGINE: Two Wright R-2600-92 14-cyl. air-cooled
radials with 1,700 hp each
ARMAMENT: Twelve 0.50-in. machine guns (two in nose,
four in packs on sides of fuselage, two each in
dorsal turret, tail, and beam positions), plus 3,000
lb. of bombs and eight 5-in. rockets Optional: solid
nose with eight .50s for a total of eighteen .50s.
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 272 mph (438 km/h) @ 13,000 ft
(3,962 m)
CEILING: 24,200 ft (7,376 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,100 ft/min (338 m/min)/min
RANGE: 1,350 mi (2,172 km)
* * *
* * *
- 20 -
20
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
Supermarine Spitfire Mk L.F. IXc and L.F. IXe
L.F. IXC
Many pilots believed the Mk IX was the ultimate
Spitfire. Originally conceived in 1942 as a stopgap
model to meet the threat of the German Focke-Wulf
Fw 190 fighter, the Mk IX combined a Mk V fuselage with more powerful versions of the Rolls-Royce
Merlin V-12. Eventually produced in low-, medium-,
and high-altitude fighter versions (called, respectively, L.F., F., and H.F.), a total of 5,665 planes
were built, mostly the low-altitude version. By
1944, RAF had assigned the interceptor role to latermodel Griffon-engined Spitfires, and the IX was modified to specialize in the ground-attack role. Fitted
with the new “E” wing, which carried upgraded armament consisting of two outboard 20-mm cannon and an
inboard pair of 0.50-inch machine guns, the new L.F.
IXe fighter-bomber also had its wingspan shortened
by about four feet by squaring its elliptical wingtips. The result was an excellent tactical weapon to
support the Allied advance across Europe.
- 21 -
21
Subject: BRITISH AIRCRAFT
L.F. IXE SPECIFICATIONS
L.F. IXE
WEIGHT: 5,800/7,500 lb. (2,636/3,409 kg)
SPAN: 32' 7" (9.9 m) LENGTH: 31' 4" (9.5 m)
ENGINE: One Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 liquid-cooled V-12
with 1,720 hp
ARMAMENT: Two 20-mm Hispano cannon with 120 r.p.g.,
plus two 0.50-in. Browning machine guns with 250
r.p.g., plus one 500-lb. and two 250-lb. bombs or
eight 60-lb. rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 404 mph (650 km/h) @ 21,000 ft
(6,400 m)
CEILING: 42,500 ft (12,954 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,125 ft/min (952 m/min)
RANGE: 434 mi (698 km); 980 mi (1,576 km) with drop
tanks
* * *
L.F. IXC SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 5,610/7,500 lb. (2,545/3,409 kg)
SPAN: 36' 10" (11.2 m) LENGTH: 29' 11" (9.1 m)
ENGINE: One Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 liquid-cooled V-12
with 1,720 hp
ARMAMENT: Two 20-mm Hispano cannon with 120 r.p.g.,
plus four 0.303-in. Browning machine guns, plus one
500-lb. bomb and two 250-lb. bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 404 mph (650 km/h) @ 21,000 ft
(6,400 m)
CEILING: 42,500 ft (12,954 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,125 ft/min (952 m/min)
RANGE: 434 mi (698 km); 980 mi (1,576 km) with drop
tanks
STRENGTHS (ALL VARIANTS)
- Excellent low-altitude performance.
- Mixed .50s and 20-mm guns give heavy punch.
- Can deliver a devastating mix of bombs and
rockets.
WEAKNESSES (ALL VARIANTS)
- Inferior handling at high altitudes, especially
for clipped-wing IXe.
- Liquid cooling increases engine vulnerability to
damage from flak and small arms fire.
* * *
- 22 -
22
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Dornier Do 335A-1 & B-2 Pfeil (“Arrow”)
Do 335A-1
This big and radical fighter-bomber was powered
by a pair of Daimler-Benz V-12s--one in the nose
driving a conventional propeller, and one mounted
inside the aft fuselage driving a pusher propeller
on the tail. With power to spare, the 335 could fly,
or even take off, on just one engine without the
instability associated with losing an engine on a
conventional twin-engine aircraft. With both engines
it provided excellent performance, but the aft
engine provided some special difficulties for bailing
out. The pilot first had to fire explosive bolts to
jettison the rear propeller and upper tail fin. By
the end of the war, 37 “A” model fighter-bombers had
rolled off the assembly line, but apparently none
saw action before VE-Day. Two B-2 high-altitude
“destroyer” prototypes carrying two additional 30mm wing-mounted cannon had also been completed. Like
so many late-war German exotics, the radical design
of this big Dornier suggests some tantalizing “whatif” scenarios. Here’s your chance to find out how the
“Arrow” performs in combat.
- 23 -
23
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
DO 335B-2 SPECIFICATIONS
Do 335B-2
WEIGHT: 16,314/25,800 lb. (7,400/11,727 kg)
SPAN: 45' 3.33" (13.8 m) LENGTH: 45' 5.25" (13.8 m)
ENGINE: Two Daimler-Benz DB 603E liquid-cooled V-12s
with 1,800 hp each
ARMAMENT: Three 30-mm Mk 103 cannon (one firing
through prop spinner and one in each wing), plus two
20-mm MG 151 cannon on nose
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 475 mph (764 km/h) @ 21,000 ft
(6,400 m); max cruise 425 mph (685 km/h)
CEILING: 37,400 ft (11,400 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,523 ft/min (769 m/min)
RANGE: 1280 mi (2,050 km); 2,330 mi (3,750 km) with
external tank
* * *
DO 335A-1 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 16,314/25,800 lb. (7,400/11,727 kg)
SPAN: 45' 3.33" (13.8 m) LENGTH: 45' 5.25" (13.8 m)
ENGINE: Two Daimler-Benz DB 603A-2 liquid-cooled
V-12s with 1,750 hp each
ARMAMENT: One 30-mm Mk 103 cannon with 70 rounds
firing through prop spinner, plus two 15-mm MG 151
cannon with 200 r.p.g. on the nose, plus 1,100 lb.
of bombs in internal bomb bay
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 475 mph (764 km/h) @ 21,000 ft
(6,400 m); max cruise 425 mph (685 km/h)
CEILING: 37,400 ft (11,400 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,523 ft/min (769 m/min)
RANGE: 1,280 mi (2,050 km); 2,330 mi (3,750 km) with
external tank
STRENGTHS (ALL 335 VARIANTS)
- Good speed.
- Twin-engine safety.
- Wide, tricycle landing gear designed for operation
from unimproved airstrips or grass fields.
WEAKNESSES (ALL 335 VARIANTS)
- Some handling difficulties at high speed, including
“porpoising” and “snaking.”
- Big, heavy fighter can’t turn with lighter, nimbler
adversaries.
- Liquid cooling increases engines’ vulnerability to
damage from flak and small arms fire.
- Cruciform tail and detachable propeller make
bailing out problematic.
- Poor rearward visibility.
* * *
- 24 -
24
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Focke-Wulf Fw 190A Würger (“Shrike”) models A-5 and A-8
Fw 190
When the Fw 190 entered service in 1941, it
quickly proved to be an outstanding fighter: small
and fast, tough and responsive, highly maneuverable and well armed, it helped many a novice fighter
pilot become an ace. One proof of the 190’s superior design was its ability to carry numerous equipment and armament combinations while continuing
to provide excellent performance. The 190 did have
its drawbacks: its less-than-stellar rate of climb,
vicious stall behavior, and reduced performance
above 20,000 feet were the price one paid for its
otherwise potent performance. The A-5 model, which
entered combat early in 1943, moved the engine
forward 5.9 inches to improve cooling and restore
the center of gravity with increased armament;
numerous variants were equipped with mission-specific
accessory kits. At the end of 1943 the A-8 entered
service, again in numerous mission-specific variants. The 190 proved so versatile and effective as
a fighter-bomber that this thoroughbred was chosen
to replace the plow horse of the Luftwaffe, the
lumbering and highly vulnerable Stuka dive-bomber.
- 25 -
25
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
FW 190A-5 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 7,055/10,800 lb. (3,207/4,910 kg)
SPAN: 34' 5.25" (10.49 m) LENGTH: 29’ 6" (9 m)
ENGINE: One BMW 801D-2 14-cyl. air-cooled radial
with 1,700 hp
ARMAMENT: Two 7.9-mm MG 17 machine guns on nose, two
20-mm MG 151 cannon in wing roots, two MG FF cannon
outboard on wings, and centerline rack for one
1100-lb. or two 550-lb. or four 110-lb. bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 394 mph (634 km/h) @ 18,000 ft
(5,484 m)
CEILING: 37,400 ft (11,395 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,350 ft/min (716 m/min)
RANGE: 500 mi (805 km); 700 mi (1,125 km) with two
79.25-gallon (300-liter) drop tanks
* * *
STRENGTHS (ALL 190A VARIANTS)
- Excellent performance without full fuel and armament load.
- Can be upgraded with various armament kits and
still maintain good performance.
- Stable gun platform.
- Fast and easy to fly with excellent, responsive
high-speed handling and phenomenal roll rate.
- Strongly built; can sustain damage & keep fighting.
- Air-cooled radial engine can take a lot of damage.
- Strong, wide landing gear makes landing easy.
- Excellent all-around visibility through canopy.
WEAKNESSES (ALL 190A VARIANTS)
- Degraded performance when fully laden.
- Unexceptional turning radius and rate of climb.
- Sudden and vicious stall characteristics.
- Poor zoom climb; loses energy rapidly.
FW 190A-8 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 7,055/10,800 lb. (3,207/4,910 kg)
SPAN: 34' 5.25" (10.49 m) LENGTH: 29' 6" (9 m)
ENGINE: BMW 801D-2 14-cyl. air-cooled radial with
1,700 hp (2,100 hp with MW 50 water/methanol injection system activated)
ARMAMENT: Two 13-mm MG 131 machine guns on nose, two
20-mm MG 151 cannon in wing roots, two MG 151s outboard on wings, and centerline rack for one 1,100lb. or two 550-lb. or four 110-lb. bombs, or for
twenty-four R4M rockets or fourteen antitank rocket
bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 408 mph (656 km/h) @ 20,600 ft
(6,279 m)
CEILING: 37,400 ft (11,395 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 2,350 ft/min (716 m/min)
RANGE: 500 mi (805 km); 700 mi (1,125 km) with two
79.25-gallon (300-liter) drop tanks
* * *
- 26 -
26
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Gotha Go 229A-0
When soldiers of the U.S. Third Army arrived at
the Gothaer Waggonfabrik factory at Friedrichsrode
in April 1945, they found five of these futuristic
jet-propelled flying wing fighters under construction. The prototype had flown two months earlier, and
although it was destroyed and its pilot killed on
its third flight when an engine failed, the project
pressed ahead. Based on the ninth tailless aircraft
design of Reimar and Walter Horten and assigned to
Gotha for production, this twinjet fighter-bomber
would have given Allied pilots a nasty shock. Its
ultramodern appearance, very heavy armament, and
extraordinary speed make it the subject of some
of the most exciting “what-if” scenarios of WWII
aviation. Now you can climb into this Buck Rogers
machine and discover for yourself how it performs in
combat.
229A-0
* * *
GO 229A-0 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 11,170/19,840 lbs (5,077/9,018 kg)
SPAN: 55' 0.625" (16.78 m) LENGTH: 24' 60.125"
(7.47 m)
ENGINE: Two Junkers 109-004B turbojets with 1,984 lb.
(900 kg) thrust each
ARMAMENT: Four 30-mm MK 103 cannon with 120 r.p.g.
Optional: two 2,205-lb. (1,000-kg) bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 607 mph (977 km/h) @ 39,370 ft
(12,000 m)
CEILING: 52,500 ft (16,000 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 4,330 ft/min (1,320 m/min)
RANGE: 1,180 mi (1,900 km)
STRENGTHS
- Extremely high speed.
- Very heavy armament and big bomb load.
WEAKNESSES
- Some lateral instability due to tailless design.
- Jumo turbojets are very fragile, provide short
operational life (25 hours or less), and can’t
withstand even minor combat damage.
- Engines require cautious throttle control.
- Big, heavy aircraft can’t maneuver with more
nimble fighters.
* * *
- 27 -
27
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Junkers Ju 88A-4, C-6, and P-4
Ju 88
The best of the German medium bombers, the
Ju 88, was modified throughout the war into some
60 versions to fill many roles, including heavy
day fighter, low-level intruder, heavily armed
ground attacker, and night fighter. The A model,
with its distinctive angular “beetle eye” glazed
nose, was the most numerous bomber version. The C
model, a heavy fighter-bomber version, had a solid
nose, increased nose armament, and various options
including a jettisonable twin-cannon belly pack
and wing racks that increased its total bomb load
to 3,300 pounds. Crews sometimes painted the solid
nose of the C model to simulate the appearance of
the more vulnerable A model. Another ground attack
version, the P model, carried a forward-firing 50-mm
cannon in a belly-mounted gondola. In its various
forms, the Ju 88 became an aircraft that could
deliver a lot of devastation against ground targets
and shipping--and some unpleasant surprises for
enemy aircraft.
- 28 -
28
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
JU 88A-4 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 21,737/30,865 lb. (9,860/14,000 kg)
SPAN: 65' 7.5" (20 m) LENGTH: 47' 2.75" (14.4 m)
ENGINE: Two Junkers Jumo 211J-1 liquid-cooled V-12s
with 1,350 hp each
ARMAMENT: One 7.92-mm MG 81 and one 13-mm MG 131 (or
two MG 81s) in nose, two aft-firing MG 81s, plus one
aft-firing MG 131 in ventral gondola
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 292 mph (470 km/h) @ 15,000 ft
(4,572 m)
CEILING: 26,900 ft (8,200 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,770 ft/min (539 m/min)
RANGE: 1,112 mi (1,790 km); 1,696 mi (2,730 km) with
drop tanks
STRENGTHS (ALL VARIANTS)
- Very heavy armament and ordnance load.
- Relatively fast for a medium bomber.
WEAKNESSES (ALL VARIANTS)
- Big and slow compared to enemy fighters; requires
fighter protection, especially on low-level
missions.
- Unimpressive defensive armament.
* * *
JU 88C-6 & P-4 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 21,737/30,865 lb. (9,860/14,000 kg)
SPAN: 65' 7.5" (20 m) LENGTH: 47' 2.75" (14.4 m)
ENGINE: Two Junkers Jumo 211J liquid-cooled V-12s
with 1,410 hp each
ARMAMENT: (C-6) Three 20-mm MG FF cannon and three
7.9-mm MG 17 machine guns in nose, one rear-firing
13-mm MG 131 machine gun, plus 3,300 lb. of bombs
(2,000 lb. internal and 1,300 lb. on wing racks)
Optional: belly gun pack with two 20-mm MG FF cannon
ARMAMENT: (P-4) Same as for C-6 except the optional
gunpack is replaced with a 50-mm BK 5 cannon
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 292 mph (470 km/h) @ 15,000 ft
(4,572 m)
CEILING: 26,900 ft (8,200 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 1,770 ft/min (539 m/min)
RANGE: 1,112 mi (1,790 km); 1,696 mi (2,730 km) with
drop tanks
* * *
- 29 -
29
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 & G-10
BF 109G-6
Like its British Spitfire counterpart, the
Bf 109 evolved to meet new challenges and served
throughout the war. The 109G, or Gustav, introduced
early in 1943 was not the best 109 (that may have
been the aerodynamically cleaner F model), but it
was the most numerous. It was also constantly modified: armament changes produced so many bulges and
blisters over gun breeches and under wings that
some pilots called the 109G die Beule--the bump, or
boil. The G-10 model, which appeared in 1944, was
the fastest of all the 109s, with speed to match
most Allied fighters. Despite handling problems from
all these aerodynamic compromises, as well as narrow
landing gear that contributed to terrifying takeoff
and landing characteristics, enemy pilots could
never safely discount or dismiss the Bf 109, which
remained the preferred fighter of many Luftwaffe aces
until the end of the war.
- 30 -
30
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
BF 109G-6 SPECIFICATIONS
BF 109G-10
WEIGHT: 5,880/7,496 lb. (2,667/3,400 kg)
SPAN: 32' 6.5" (9.92 m) LENGTH: 29' 8" (9.04 m)
ENGINE: One Daimler-Benz DB605A liquid-cooled V-12
with 1,475 hp
ARMAMENT: One 30-mm Mk 108 or one 20-mm MG 151 cannon
firing through prop hub, plus two 13-mm MG 131 machine
guns with 300 r.p.g. mounted above engine Optional:
two 20-mm MG 151 cannon with 150 r.p.g. (The G-6/R2
can mount racks for four 110-lb. bombs or one 550-lb.
bomb, plus two WGr 21 rocket tubes)
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 387 mph (623 km/h) @ 22,970 ft
(7,000 m)
CEILING: 38,500 ft (11,750 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,300 ft/min (1,005 m/min)
RANGE: 450 mi (725 km); maximum range 615 mi (990 km)
with belly tank (Bf 109G can carry one 300-liter tank
under fuselage or one on each wing)
BF 109G-10 SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 5,880/7,496 lb. (2,667/3,400 kg)
SPAN: 32' 6.5" (9.92 m) LENGTH: 29' 8" (9.04 m)
ENGINE: One Daimler-Benz DB605D liquid-cooled V-12
with MW-50 water-methanol injection and 1,550 hp
(1,850 hp for takeoff)
ARMAMENT: One 30-mm Mk 108 cannon firing through prop
hub, plus two 13-mm MG 131 machine guns with 300
r.p.g. mounted above engine
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 428 mph (689 km/h) @ 24,250 ft
(7,391 m)
CEILING: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 4,820 ft/min (1,469 m/min)
RANGE: 355 mi (571 km)
* * *
* * *
STRENGTHS (ALL VARIANTS)
- Highly responsive (perhaps too much so).
- Excellent acceleration, climb, and maneuverability.
- Heavy and versatile armament.
WEAKNESSES (ALL VARIANTS)
- Narrow, weak landing gear makes takeoff and landing
tricky; plane swings hard to left on takeoff.
- Twitchy handling, heavy controls at high speeds.
Uneven slat deployment can make aiming difficult.
- Adding extra wing armament degrades speed, maneuverability, and handling.
- Thin wing and light construction make it more
fragile than some other fighters.
- Relatively poor visibility from cramped cockpit.
- 31 -
31
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Schwalbe (“Swallow”)
and Me 262A-2a Sturmvogel (“Stormbird”)
Me 262A
The Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a Schwalbe was the
first jet fighter to fly in combat; the Me 262A-2a
Sturmvogel was the fighter-bomber version of this
famous Messerschmitt jet. It took a long time to
get the initial design into production and service.
Some blame Hitler’s preference of the schnellbomber
version for delays in the jet’s deployment, but the
real problem was getting acceptable engine performance and reliability. This delay kept the Me 262
fighter from entering combat until September 1944.
Even then, its Junkers Jumo turbine engines provided
poor acceleration, lasted on average less than 25
hours, and stalled or exploded when the throttle was
suddenly increased or decreased, leaving it vulnerable to enemy fighters. Despite these problems,
the Schwalbe’s quadruple cannon armament and the
Sturmvogel’s twin 30-mm cannon and heavy bomb load
could do massive damage to enemy troops, transport,
and other targets. The Me 262A-1a/U4 variant, called
the Pulkzerstörer (bomber formation destroyer),
carried a long-barreled 50-mm cannon. This big gun
protruded seven feet ahead of the nose and slowed
the aircraft by 15 mph, but provided sufficient punch
to destroy any vehicle it could hit. Overall the Me
262 provided an impressive glimpse of the future,
and more than 1,400 were completed before war’s end.
- 32 -
32
Subject: GERMAN AIRCRAFT
ME 262A-1A SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 8,514/15,620 lb. (3,870/7,100 kg)
SPAN: 41' 0.125" (12.5 m) LENGTH: 34' 9.5" (10.61 m)
ENGINE: Two Junkers Jumo 109-004B turbojets with
1,980-lb. thrust each
ARMAMENT (A-1A): Four 30-mm Mk 108 cannon in nose
(upper two with 100 r.p.g. and lower two with 80
r.p.g.) Optional: 24 R4M rockets
ARMAMENT (A-1A/U4): One 50-mm BK 5 or Mk 214A cannon
Optional: 24 R4M rockets
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE:
(A-1a) 540 mph (869 km/h) @ 36,090 ft (11,000 m)
(A-1a/U4) 525 mph (869 km/h) @ 36,090 ft (11,000 m)
CEILING: 36,090 ft (11,000 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,937 ft/min (1,200 m/min)
RANGE: 525 mi (845 km)
STRENGTHS (ALL VARIANTS)
- High speed; even with full bomb load, 262 is
faster than propeller-driven fighters.
- Heavy armament and bomb load.
WEAKNESSES (ALL VARIANTS)
- Jumo turbojets are very fragile and provide short
operational life (25 hours or less); cannot withstand even minor combat damage.
- Throttle changes require a delicate touch; engines
prone to stall or explode under sudden throttle
changes.
- Bomb load decreases speed, the 262’s best asset.
- Fighter-bomber role exposes Sturmvogel to covering
fighters.
- Me 262A-1a/U4’s cannon produces a blinding muzzle
flash.
* * *
ME 262A-2A SPECIFICATIONS
WEIGHT: 8,514/15,620 lb. (3,870/7,100 kg)
SPAN: 41' 0.125" (12.5 m) LENGTH: 34' 9.5" (10.61 m)
ENGINE: Two Junkers Jumo 109-004B turbojets with
1,980-lb. thrust each
ARMAMENT: Two 30-mm Mk 108 cannon in nose with 100
r.p.g., plus racks for one 2,205-lb. bomb or two
1,100-lb. bombs or two 550-lb. bombs
MAX SPEED @ ALTITUDE: 540 mph (869 km/h) @ 36,090 ft
(11,000 m)
CEILING: 36,090 ft (11,000 m)
INITIAL CLIMB RATE: 3,937 ft/min (1,200 m/min)
RANGE: 525 mi (845 km)
* * *
- 33 -
33
Subject: VEHICLES AND WEAPONS
NS
AND WEAPO
VEHICLES
pilot’s
tactical
oying
One of a
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argets lo
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!
GIVE ’EM HELL
- 34 -
34
Subject: VEHICLES
MERCEDES SIX-WHEEL OPEN STAFF CAR
This fancy vehicle may contain a
high-ranking German officer.
Avg/Max speed: 40/80 mph.
* * *
WILLYS MB “JEEP”
This small, nimble vehicle may
carry a 0.50-in. Browning machine
gun, which gives the humble Jeep a
long reach and a powerful punch.
Avg/Max speed: 30/65 mph.
* * *
KÜBELWAGEN
This little VW makes a small
target. If it is carrying an MG 42
machine gun, it can spray out 1,200
rifle-caliber rounds per minute, so
exercise caution.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
HUMBER HEAVY UTILITY CAR
This unarmed staff car is vulnerable to air attack--strafe on sight.
Avg/Max speed: 25/45 mph.
AMBULANCE
Not very sporting to strafe emergency vehicles!
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
* * *
* * *
* * *
- 35 -
35
Subject: VEHICLES
M8 ARMORED CAR
If you hit this car with .50 API or
something bigger, its fuel and ammo
may blow up.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
* * *
FIRE TRUCK
Not very sporting to strafe emergency vehicles!
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
GAS TRUCK
Strafing this truck may result in a
gratifying explosion.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
* * *
* * *
- 36 -
HUMBER MK I ARMORED CAR
Helpless against air attack; strafing it may ignite its fuel and
ammo.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
* * *
36
Subject: VEHICLES
SD KFZ 234 ARMORED CAR
Helpless against air attack; strafing it may ignite its fuel and
ammo.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
BEDFORD MWD LIGHT TRUCK
Seen everywhere on the front, this
vehicle may be carrying troops or
ammunition.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
GMC 6X6 “DEUCE-AND-A-HALF” TRUCK
This truck could be carrying anything from troops to ammo to fuel,
so it may make quite a big bang.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
* * *
* * *
* * *
BREN CARRIER UTILITY VEHICLE
Small, relatively slow, and vulnerable to air attack, this utility
vehicle is a common sight in every
campaign. Attack at will.
Avg/Max speed: 15/30 mph.
OPEL BLITZ 3-TON TRUCK
This vehicle, seen everywhere on
the front, may be carrying anything
from troops to ammunition.
Avg/Max speed: 25/50 mph.
M3 HALFTRACK
A small, usually vulnerable target,
the halftrack can make an attack
from the air a dangerous proposition when it’s specially equipped
with multiple .50s or even 20-mm or
40-mm AA guns.
Avg/Max speed: 20/45 mph.
* * *
* * *
* * *
- 37 -
37
Subject: VEHICLES
M16 HALFTRACK WITH
FOUR 0.50-IN. AA GUNS
Its four 0.50-in. guns make this
halftrack dangerous to approach.
Strafe it before it rakes your aircraft.
Avg/Max speed: 20/45 mph.
* * *
M3A1 HALFTRACK
The halftrack is a small target,
usually limited to a single machine
gun. But some special versions
carry multiple .50s or even 20mm or 40-mm AA guns, making an air
attack a dangerous proposition.
Avg/Max speed: 20/45 mph.
* * *
SD KFZ 251 HALFTRACK
Good strafing target for Allied
fighter-bombers. Helpless against
air attack; strafing it may ignite
its fuel and ammo.
Avg/Max speed: 20/45 mph.
* * *
STUG V SELF-PROPELLED ASSAULT GUN
This self-propelled assault gun is
a challenge to enemy tanks on the
ground, but an easy target from
the air. Hitting it hard enough may
yield a big bang.
Avg/Max speed: 12/23 mph.
* * *
M7 PRIEST SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER
This howitzer is dangerous to
ground troops, but its only weapon
against aircraft is a rifle-caliber
machine gun. Strafe it on sight;
fully loaded with ammo, it may
make a big bang if you hit it hard
enough.
Avg/Max speed: 12/25 mph.
WESPE SELF-PROPELLED HOWITZER
This roving artillery makes a more
vulnerable target than more heavily armored tanks. Its howitzer is
dangerous to ground troops, but its
only weapon against aircraft is a
rifle-caliber machine gun. Strafe it
on sight.
Avg/Max speed: 12/25 mph.
* * *
* * *
- 38 -
38
Subject: VEHICLES
SD KFZ 10/4 OR 6/2 SELFPROPELLED FLAK GUN
This halftrack, mounting a 20-mm or
37-mm flak gun, can make things hot
for unwary pilots.
Avg/Max speed: 25/40 mph.
* * *
WIRBELWIND SELF-PROPELLED
20-MM FLAKVIERLING
This dark lump on the landscape is
well armed: its quadruple 20-mm
cannon can be lethal to aircraft
within a mile, but if you can hit
it without taking a hit yourself,
it’ll make one big explosion.
Avg/Max speed: 12/25 mph.
JAGDPANZER TANK DESTROYER
This low-slung tank destroyer is
a major threat to enemy armor, but
its pair of rifle-caliber machine
guns does little to discourage air
attack.
Avg/Max speed: 10/22 mph.
* * *
* * *
OSTWIND SELF-PROPELLED
37-MM FLAK GUN
This tank chassis carries a 37-mm
flak gun that gives it a long reach,
but if you hit it before it hits
you, it may produce a very big
bang.
Avg/Max speed: 12/25 mph.
* * *
HETZER TANK DESTROYER
This light tank destroyer mounts
only a single 7.92-mm machine gun
to stave off air attacks. Strafe it
on sight--and watch out for flying
debris.
Avg/Max speed: 12/24 mph.
* * *
- 39 -
M10 TANK DESTROYER
This Sherman-based tank destroyer
carries a 0.50-in. machine gun that
can ruin an unwary pilot’s day, but
a well-placed rocket or bomb in its
open turret will keep it from killing Axis tanks.
Avg/Max speed: 12/29 mph.
* * *
39
Subject: VEHICLES
ELEFANT TANK DESTROYER
This ponderous tank destroyer is
extremely dangerous to enemy armor,
but its slow speed and high profile
make it a juicy--and highly explosive--target.
Avg/Max speed: 6/12.5 mph.
PANZER IV MEDIUM TANK
This tank appears in large numbers across the theater. Its
7.92-mm machine guns aren’t much
of a threat, but it is a relatively
small and well-armored target.
Avg/Max speed: 10/24 mph.
M26 PERSHING TANK
This heavy tank’s 90-mm gun can
kill any German tank, and its 0.50in. machine gun can bite unwary
aircraft. Only your heaviest ordnance will stop it.
Avg/Max speed: 12/24 mph.
* * *
* * *
* * *
M4A3 SHERMAN TANK
With a lot of luck, this tank’s
single turret-mounted 0.50-in.
machine gun could damage or destroy
low-flying aircraft. If hit with
bombs or rockets, its ammo may
ignite, causing quite a fireworks
show.
Avg/Max speed: 12/28 mph.
PANZER V (PANTHER) MEDIUM TANK
This tank is tough and requires
the roughest treatment you can provide, preferably bombs and rockets;
you'll be lucky to do significant
damage with 0.50-in. ammo.
Avg/Max speed: 12/28 mph.
PANZER VI (TIGER I) HEAVY TANK
This low-moving tank is tough to
crack. Rockets and bombs are your
best bet, but you may be able to
fire API rounds from behind and
bounce some up into a vulnerable
spot beneath the engine.
Avg/Max speed: 10/23 mph.
* * *
* * *
- 40 -
* * *
40
Subject: VEHICLES
TIGER II (KING TIGER) HEAVY TANK
This 75-ton monster packs a massive 88-mm punch, but its 7.92-mm
machine guns provide negligible defense against air attack. To
destroy it you’ll have to hit it
with everything you’ve got.
Avg/Max speed: 10/23 mph.
* * *
MK VII CHURCHILL TANK
This big, slow-moving tank can do
a lot of damage against enemy tanks
and personnel, but it is vulnerable
to fighter-bomber attack.
Avg/Max speed: 8/12 mph.
* * *
MK I CENTURION TANK
This heavy tank’s 105-mm gun can
kill any German tank, and its 0.30in. and 0.50-in. machine guns can
bite unwary aircraft. Only your
heaviest ordnance can stop it.
Avg/Max speed: 15/34 mph.
* * *
* * *
JAGDPANTHER HEAVY TANK DESTROYER
This heavy tank destroyer is a
major threat to Allied armor,
but it can do little against air
attack. Hit it at will, but you’ll
have to hit it hard.
Avg/Max speed: 14/34 mph.
* * *
- 41 -
JAGDTIGER HEAVY TANK DESTROYER
This super-heavyweight tank
destroyer carries a big 128-mm main
gun and two rifle-caliber MG42s for
air defense. You’ll have to hit it
with everything you’ve got to keep
it from killing Allied tanks.
Avg/Max speed: 10/23 mph.
ACHILLES IIC TANK DESTROYER
This Sherman-based tank destroyer
carries a 0.50-in. machine gun that
can ruin an unwary pilot’s day, but
a well-placed rocket or bomb in its
open turret will keep it from killing Axis tanks.
Avg/Max speed: 12/29 mph.
* * *
41
Subject: VEHICLES
LOCOMOTIVE
When pulling flak cars, locomotives become dangerous targets.
Successful strafing may produce huge
jets of steam or boiler explosions
that can propel large pieces of
jagged metal into your flight path.
Avg/Max speed: 25/60 mph.
* * *
BOXCAR
Boxcars can be unresponsive targets, but if the cargo is explosives, you may not have enough
altitude to evade explosions propelling large pieces of debris.
Boxcars can also contain AA guns:
if the sides open and muzzle flashes
appear, get more distance ASAP.
FLAK CAR
Flat cars may carry 20-mm
Flakvierling four-barreled AA guns,
especially in front of or behind
the locomotive or at the end of the
train. If you see multiple muzzle
flashes from a flat car, get more
distance and altitude ASAP.
* * *
* * *
TANK CAR
In wartime these probably aren’t
carrying molasses, but something
volatile that could cause a large
explosion.
* * *
* * *
- 42 -
SCHWERER BRUNO 28-CM (11-IN.)
RAILWAY GUN
This 100-ton monster can drop
550-lb. projectiles on targets
30 miles away. Strafing with guns
and rockets, along with a couple
of your own 500-pound bombs, can
silence this gun and save Allied
lives.
42
E,
OPEN FIR
U
O
Y
E
R
EFO
NG
PILOTS: B
LES BELO
IC
H
E
V
E
R
MAKE SU
NEMY!
TO THE E
Subject: WEAPONS
TOWED 40-MM AA GUN
A small target on the ground, you
may only notice it when its rounds
curve in toward you like burning
tennis balls. Approach with caution.
* * *
TOWED 90-MM AA GUN
This weapon is dangerous to enemy
aircraft flying up to 30,000 feet,
but a tempting target when under
tow.
* * *
0.50-IN. AA MACHINE GUN
A few lucky rounds from this hardhitting gun can put a fighter-bomber
on the ground, but strafing can
scatter or kill its crew.
* * *
TOWED QUAD 0.50-IN. AA GUNS
This small target can throw half a
Thunderbolt’s firepower, making it
a deadly threat to low-flying aircraft, but under tow it makes a
vulnerable target.
* * *
- 43 -
43
105-MM HOWITZER
A howitzer and its crew can inflict
major damage to enemy troops.
Strafe or bomb on sight.
* * *
105-MM HOWITZER
This antipersonnel weapon and its
crew can do major damage to enemy
troops. Strafe or bomb on sight.
* * *
Subject: WEAPONS
150-MM HOWITZER
This antipersonnel weapon and its
crew can do major damage to enemy
troops. Strafe or bomb on sight.
* * *
40-MM AA GUN WITH CREW
A small target on the ground, you
may only notice it when its rounds
curve in toward you like burning
tennis balls. Approach with caution.
FLAK TOWER
This structure contains antiaircraft firepower to threaten attackers from all directions.
* * *
* * *
88-MM DUAL-PURPOSE GUN
This small target is a major threat
to aircraft and tanks alike. Strafe
it on sight.
AIRFIELD AA GUN EMPLACEMENT
These deadly emplacements make airfield attacks dangerous, especially
if you don’t stay low.
* * *
* * *
AIRFIELD AND SHIP DEFENSE
BARRAGE BALLOON
Shooting these gasbags from above
can make good target practice;
flying beneath them can be fatal if
you get tangled in the steel cables
that hang beneath them.
* * *
- 44 -
44
Subject: SHIPS
ONE-MAN RAFT (WITH PILOT)
A small, helpless, and inappropriate target!
Avg speed: 2 mph.
RIVER BARGE (TOWED BY A TUG
SINGLY OR IN A LINE)
Strafing strings of river barges can
provide some explosive surprises,
depending on what’s aboard; be
ready to dodge fireballs and flying
debris.
Avg/Max speed: 6/12 mph.
* * *
* * *
DUKW AMPHIBIAN
The “Duck” amphib is another small,
slow-moving, and nearly defenseless
target on sea or on land. It may
mount a .50-in. machine gun; with
luck it can hit low-flying aircraft.
Avg/Max speeds: 3/8 mph in water,
20/40 mph on land.
TUGBOAT
Not much of a challenge to strafe
a tug, but it does interfere with
the shipping the tugboat is there
to assist.
Avg/Max speed: 7/15 mph.
* * *
* * *
- 45 -
45
TYPE VII U-BOAT
This sub makes an interesting
strafing target and a hard one to
bomb.
Avg/Max speed: 8/15 mph.
* * *
Subject: SHIPS
E-BOAT
The E-boat carries light flak armament; its torpedoes make it a
potentially explosive strafing
target.
Avg/Max speed: 12/35 mph.
LCT (LANDING CRAFT, TANK)
The LCT is big and slow moving;
with tanks and ammo aboard, it
makes a juicy target.
Avg/Max speed: 6/12 mph.
* * *
* * *
LCI (LANDING CRAFT, INFANTRY)
The LCI is a small, slow-moving,
unarmed target, protected by AA
guns on nearby vessels.
Avg/Max speed: 8/16 mph.
* * *
MERCHANTMAN/CONVOY SHIP
Merchantmen are slow-moving, easy
targets. Their cargo may make for a
very large explosion.
Avg/Max speed: 6/12 mph.
* * *
- 46 -
LST (LANDING SHIP, TANK)
This is a big, slow-moving target,
but its eight 40-mm and twelve
20-mm antiaircraft guns can be
pretty discouraging.
Avg/Max speed: 6/12 mph.
* * *
46
Subject: SHIPS
MTB 5002 GUNBOAT
This small, agile vessel makes a
difficult target. Its torpedoes,
fuel, and ammo make it potentially
a highly explosive one.
Avg/Max speed: 12/35 mph.
* * *
TRIBAL CLASS DESTROYER
This heavily armed ship must be
approached with caution, as it can
throw up a lot of light but deadly
flak. Strafing may not produce dramatic results, but if a bomb finds
the ship's magazine, it might make
a major-league explosion.
Avg/Max speed: 12/40 mph.
* * *
TYPE 36A DESTROYER
The type 36A destroyer is fast and
heavily armed, carrying light and
heavy antiaircraft armament that
makes it a dangerous target for
aircraft.
Avg/Max speed: 12/40 mph.
* * *
BALTIMORE CLASS CRUISER
Its 74 light and heavy antiaircraft
guns plus 5-in. and 8-in. artillery make this big ship a more than
terrifying target for attacking
pilots. Approach with caution, and
don’t stick around.
Avg/Max speed: 12/28 mph.
* * *
FLETCHER CLASS DESTROYER
The Fletcher-class is one of the
largest and most heavily armed
American destroyers, carrying serious light and heavy antiaircraft
armament. Attacking one from the
air can be very dangerous.
Avg/Max speed: 12/40 mph.
HIPPER CLASS HEAVY CRUISER
The Hipper-class is one of the
largest and most heavily armed and
armored German cruisers, carrying an eight-gun main battery and
nearly 50 light and heavy antiaircraft guns. Attack with caution.
Avg/Max speed: 12/40 mph.
* * *
* * *
- 47 -
47
Subject: RIFLE-CALIBER MACHINE GUNS
Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 81
7.92 mm
MG 17 7.92 mm
Browning MK 2 .303-Cal
(Fw 190A-5)
(Mosquito F.B. VI/XVIII)
(Ju 88A-4/C6)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 0.35 oz. (10 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,600 ft/sec
(790 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 1,100 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing, incendiary, and tracer
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: >30 hits
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 0.395 oz.
(11.3 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,740 ft/sec
(835 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 1,200 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing, incendiary, and tracer
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: >30 hits
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 0.35 oz. (10 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,400 ft/sec
(730 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 1,500 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing, incendiary, and tracer
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: >30 hits
STRENGTHS
- High rate of fire.
- Numerous hits can do major
damage.
WEAKNESSES
- Rifle-caliber round lacks range
and hitting power of larger guns
and cannon.
- If none of your hits strike
a vital spot, a well-armored
adversary can still get home.
STRENGTHS
- High rate of fire.
- Numerous hits can do major
damage.
WEAKNESSES
- Rifle-caliber round lacks range
and hitting power of larger guns
and cannon.
- If none of your hits strike
a vital spot, a well-armored
adversary can still get home.
* * *
STRENGTHS
- High rate of fire.
- Numerous hits can do major
damage.
WEAKNESSES
- Rifle-caliber round lacks range
and hitting power of larger guns
and cannon.
- If none of your hits strike
a vital spot, a well-armored
adversary can still get home.
* * *
* * *
- 48 -
48
Subject: HEAVY MACHINE GUNS
Browning M2 .50-Cal
(P-38, P-47, P-51, P-55, P-80,
Spitfire IXe, B-25, B-26)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 1.7 oz.
(48.5 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,850 ft/sec
(870 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 750 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing, incendiary, tracer, and API (armorpiercing incendiary)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 15–20
hits
STRENGTHS
- Flat trajectory, long reach, and
good hitting power.
- Short, well-aimed burst can tear
a lightweight fighter apart or
cause it to explode.
- API round pierces aircraft skin,
and then explodes inside structure for maximum damage.
- Can destroy surface targets such
as tanks or small ships.
WEAKNESSES
- Lacks destructive power of
larger cannon.
Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131
13 mm
Mauser MG151/15 15 mm
(Bf 109G-6/-10, Fw 190A-8, Ju 88A-4)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 2 oz. (57 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 3,150 ft/sec
(960 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 700 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: >15 hits
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 1.2 oz.
(34.6 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,400 ft/sec
(730 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 900 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 15–20
hits
STRENGTHS
- Flat trajectory, long reach, and
good hitting power.
- Short, well-aimed burst can tear
a lightweight fighter apart or
cause it to explode.
- Can destroy surface targets such
as tanks or small ships.
WEAKNESSES
- Lacks destructive power of
larger cannon.
STRENGTHS
- Flat trajectory, long reach, and
excellent hitting power.
- Short, well-aimed burst can tear
a fighter apart.
- Can destroy surface targets such
as tanks or small ships.
WEAKNESSES
- Lacks destructive power of
larger cannon.
* * *
* * *
* * *
- 49 -
(Do 335)
49
Subject: AUTOMATIC CANNON
Oerlikon MG FF 20 mm
Hispano M2 20 mm
Mauser MG 151/20 20 mm
(Ju 88C-6)
(P-38, P-55, Mosquito F.B. VI,
Typhoon, Tempest, Spitfire IXc/IXe)
(Bf 109G-6, Fw 190A-5/A-8,
Do 335B-2)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 4 oz. (115 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 1,970 ft/sec
(600 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 520 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 10–20
hits
STRENGTHS
- Heavy projectile means highly
destructive power.
- Numerous hits can do major
damage.
WEAKNESSES
- Slow rate of fire.
- Low velocity.
- Projectile can explode on impact
instead of penetrating aircraft
structure, delivering less than
a knockout blow.
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 4.5 oz. (130 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,750 ft/sec
(840 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 600 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 10–20
hits
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 4 oz. (115 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,330 ft/sec
(710 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 740 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 10–20
hits
STRENGTHS
- Fires a heavy quarter-pound
projectile; can inflict major
damage.
- High velocity adds to destructive power.
STRENGTHS
- High rate of fire.
- A few hits can do major damage.
WEAKNESSES
- Bulky ammo limits ammo loadout.
* * *
* * *
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50
* * *
Subject: AUTOMATIC CANNON
Rheinmetall-Borsig Mk 103
30 mm
Rheinmetall-Borsig Mk 108
30 mm
(Do 335, Go 229)
(Bf 109G-6/-10, Me 262A-1a/A-2a)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 11.6 oz.
(330 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,800 ft/sec
(860 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 420 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit on
fighter, 5 hits on medium bomber
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 11 oz. (312 g)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 1,650 ft/sec
(505 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 600 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit on
fighter, 5 hits on medium bomber
STRENGTHS
- With heavy projectile and high
velocity, requires very few hits
to do the job.
WEAKNESSES
- Relatively low rate of fire.
- Drooping trajectory makes this
a close-in weapon, which risks
exposure to defensive fire.
STRENGTHS
- Requires very few hits to do the
job.
WEAKNESSES
- Low velocity and drooping
trajectory--a drop of almost
100 feet in 1,000 yards--make
this a close-in weapon, which
risks exposure to defensive fire.
* * *
* * *
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51
Subject: HEAVY CANNON
BK 5 50 mm
Molins “6-pounder” 57 mm
T13E1 75 mm
(Ju 88P-4, Me 262A-1a/U4)
(Mosquito F.B. XVIII)
(B-25H)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 3.4 lb.
(1.54 kg)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 3,000 ft/sec
(920 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 50 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Incendiary and highexplosive
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
STRENGTHS
- Massive round delivered at high
velocity yields great destructive power.
WEAKNESSES
- Salvo fire almost impossible
because of blinding muzzle flash.
* * *
GUN WEIGHT: 1,397 lb. (635 kg)
with autoloader and 21 rounds
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 6.98 lb.
(3.17 kg)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,920 ft/sec
(890 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 55 rpm
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
GUN WEIGHT: 1,500 lb. (682
kg)PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 14.5 lb.
(6.60 kg)
MUZZLE VELOCITY: 2,360 ft/sec
(720 m/sec)
RATE OF FIRE: 10 rpm (manually
loaded)
AMMO TYPES: Armor-piercing
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
STRENGTHS
- Good rate of fire for heavy gun
- Good accuracy
- Heavy AP round provides excellent penetration and destructive
power
STRENGTHS
- Heavy projectile makes hits
devastating
WEAKNESSES
- Weight of gun reduces aircraft
performance
- Limited ammo supply
* * *
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52
WEAKNESSES
- Manual loading makes for low
rate of fire; few rounds can be
fired per attack
- Poor accuracy
* * *
Subject: TORPEDOES
Mark 13 Torpedo
Mk XV Torpedo
LT F5b Aircraft Torpedo
(U.S.)
(British)
(German)
WEIGHT: 2,216 lb. (1,005 kg)
OVERALL LENGTH: 13' 5" (4.089 m)
DIAMETER: 22.4 in. (56.9 cm)
EXPLOSIVE CHARGE: 600 lb. (262 kg)
Torpex
RANGE/SPEED: 6,300 yd.
(5,760 m)/33.5 knots
WEIGHT: 1,801 lb. (817 kg)
OVERALL LENGTH: 17' 2.75"
(5.251 m)
DIAMETER: 17.7 in. (45 cm)
EXPLOSIVE CHARGE: 545 lb. (247 kg)
Torpex
RANGE/SPEED: 2,500 yd.
(2,290 m)/40 knots
(Specifications vary depending on
warhead; these are average values)
* * *
* * *
WEIGHT: 1,685 lb. (765 kg)
OVERALL LENGTH: 15' 9" (4.8 m)
DIAMETER: 17.7 in. (45 cm)
EXPLOSIVE CHARGE: 475 lb. (215 kg)
Hexanite
RANGE/SPEED: 2,200 yd.
(2,012 m)/40 knots
* * *
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53
Subject: ROCKETS
R4M 55-mm (2.26-inch)
air-to-air rocket
(German)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 8.8 lb. (4 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 820 ft/sec
(250 m/sec)
RANGE: 1,640 yd. (1,500 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit for
fighters, 5 hits for medium bombers
STRENGTHS
- Small rocket provides destructive power equivalent to 30-mm
cannon against aircraft.
WEAKNESSES
- Poor accuracy necessitates salvo
fire.
* * *
Panzerblitz II 55-mm
air-to-ground rocket
(2.16-inch shaped-charge
version of R4M)
“60-pounder” RP (rocket
projectile with 3-in. body
and 5-in. warhead)
(German)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 60 lb. (27 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 1,575 ft/sec
(480m/sec)
RANGE: 875 yd. (800 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 8.8 lb. (4 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 820 ft/sec
(250 m/sec)
RANGE: 1,640 yd. (1,500 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit for
soft-skinned vehicles, >2 hits for
tanks
STRENGTHS
- Small rocket provides destructive power equivalent to 30-mm
cannon against armored vehicles.
WEAKNESSES
- Poor accuracy necessitates salvo
fire.
* * *
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54
(British)
STRENGTHS
- Heavy, fast-moving projectile
and large explosive charge makes
for heavy destructive power.
WEAKNESSES
- Bulky launch rails degrade
aircraft performance.
* * *
Subject: ROCKETS
Panzerschreck 3.46-in.
(88-mm) antitank rocket
with launch tube
M8 4.5-in. (11.4 cm)
antitank rocket with M10
triple-tube launcher
5-in. (12.7-cm) HighVelocity Aircraft Rocket
(HVAR)
(German)
(U.S.)
(U.S.)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 7 lb. (3.2 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 345 ft/sec
(105 m/s)
RANGE: 130 yd. (120 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
STRENGTHS
- Can penetrate heavy armor.
WEAKNESSES
- Low velocity, limited range.
- Unguided rockets lack accuracy.
- Bulky rockets and launch
tubes degrade fighter speed and
stability.
* * *
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 6.26 lb.
(2.8 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 880 ft/sec
(268 m/sec)
RANGE: 1,200 yd. (1,100 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES: 1 hit
STRENGTHS
- Can penetrate heavy armor.
WEAKNESSES
- Low velocity, limited range.
- Unguided rockets lack accuracy.
- Bulky rockets and launch
tubes degrade fighter speed and
stability.
* * *
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: ≈ 50 lb.
(22.7 kg)
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 1,050 ft/sec
(320 m/sec)
RANGE: 1,200 yd. (1,100 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES:
Detonation within 15 yd. for aircraft, 1 direct hit for tanks
STRENGTHS
- Effective against ground
targets; can destroy trucks,
tanks, small vessels, and structures.
WEAKNESSES
- Drooping trajectory makes
this an ineffective air-to-air
weapon.
* * *
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55
Subject: ROCKETS
WGr 21 8-in. (21-cm)
air-to-air rocket
(German)
PROJECTILE WEIGHT: 90 lb. (41 kg)
warhead
MAXIMUM VELOCITY: 1,200 ft/sec
(365 m/sec)
RANGE: 1,310 yd. (1,200 m)
HIGH LETHALITY REQUIRES:
Detonation within 30 yd. for aircraft, 1 direct hit for tanks
STRENGTHS
- 90-lb. warhead has devastating
explosive power.
- Can stop a heavy tank.
WEAKNESSES
- Bulky rockets and launch
tubes degrade fighter speed and
stability.
- Unguided rockets lack accuracy.
* * *
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56