Best ww2 naval plane? (1 Viewer)

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delcyros

Tech Sergeant
2,068
83
Mar 2, 2005
Berlin (Kreuzberg)
Now I found something we haven´t covered yet!
Ok- imagine you had to choose a plane for a DD, CL, CA, BB or BC (NO PLANES OF AIRCRAFT CARRIERS; NO ESCORT CARRIERS OR FLUGDECKKREUZER; PLEASE). The plane has to be reliable and must have a decent endurance (both most important),
next would be a excellent visibility, good radio equipment and range (important).
A possibility to defend either by armour, maneuverability, speed or rear guns would be nice, too but is of mediocre importance.
Last but not least if it can attack ships by means of bombs than it gets a small bonus, if it may attack planes - ok (not intended to do so but ok).
It will get a malus if it needs a concrete runway to land instead of getting picked up by the ship.

By the way have a great Eastern everybody!
 
Arado 196. Well armed with a decent range and it served well for the entire war. Was even tried as a nightfighter although that must have been a last gasp but was used to attack Whitleys and similar early bombers.
 
The Curtiss SOC prooved itself valiently through out wwii with duty on cruisers and a few battleships. The VCS/VO pilots liked it better than the
OS2U, SO3C or the Grumman J2F-5/6. The Grumman only saw shipboard duty on a few Coast Guard Cutters. The Curtiss SO3C was removed from fleet duty because of inadequate performance. The OS2U was grossly underpowerd and saw observation duty mostly from Battleships and light cruisers. The older SOC saw duty the entire war and I believe it was the only front line USN biplane that saw duty the entire war.
 
If I'm understanding of the class of plane here then I'd go with the Aichi E16A1 Zui-un (Paul) with twin 2-spep floats. It could make 273 MPH and had a range of 810 miles. Forward armament was a pair of 20 mms and a 12.7 mm MG defended the rear. a 550-lb or two 132-lb bombs could be toted aloft.
e16a.gif
 
Twitch said:
If I'm understanding of the class of plane here then I'd go with the Aichi E16A1 Zui-un (Paul) with twin 2-spep floats. It could make 273 MPH and had a range of 810 miles. Forward armament was a pair of 20 mms and a 12.7 mm MG defended the rear. a 550-lb or two 132-lb bombs could be toted aloft.
e16a.gif
yup i agree thats good
 
What is the endurance of the planes suggested here? I know about range figures but the endurance plays an even more important role for spotting tracking.
I recognize the Aichi as the favourite of the moment.
 
The A6M2-N Rufe was a single float design with speed performance equal to the Paul but longer range at 1,100 miles. It could only carry 2 132-lb bombs though and no rear guns. The Rufe was not found on board ships though. That was a requisite of the original pick.

If it is simply floatplanes for the sake of it not attached to vessels than the Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu Rex is potent as is the Spitfire Mk IX with floats.
 
I noticed that for tracking purposes a good low speed figure is preferable and the size shouldn´t be too great (hangar dimensions for ships are a limiting factor). I also would prefer at least a two seater (one pilot, one observer, makes sea search much easier) or sea search radar sets. Any ideas?
 
You're right, this is a much neglected category. Can't say I've ever heard of a "Wildcatfish." I do know that the floats absolutely ruin the Spitfire's looks and must kill it's already short range.
 

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