1937.....Air Force!

[Lucky13]

Let's say that it's 1937, the war clouds are gathering over Europe and you're your country's Air Force Chief Of Staff, a country which is neutral. You've sent a request to your government to buy new aircraft. Unfortunately, you didn't get approval to buy the number of aircraft that you'd hope for, but you were asked to consider different manufacturers, having to look to upgrade your Air Force with 450 new fighters, bombers, reconnaissance etc., with possibilty to build on licence. Who would you look at and which would you build on licence?

[Colin1]

Presumably
these aircraft are on the drawing board, about to enter service or already in service considering, say, a two-year lead from the drawing board to prototype and the war starting in 1939?

[GrauGeist]

wow...that's a good one, Lucky!

So we can only aquire a grand total of 450 aircraft?

And are these to be existing production aircraft?

[Amsel]

That would be my question also. Prototypes as well?

[Lucky13]

Yeah, prototypes as well, as long as they flew in '37 or were operational in that year.

[mkloby]

This would clearly depend on what the nation's overall national military strategy was... but aircraft that I would be very interested in procuring would be:

Bf 109B
XF4F-2

Ju 87B

Ju 88V1

YB-17

DC-3

[Waynos]

If we are a country who is looking to license build that suggests we are relatively 2nd tier at best, for that reason I would select the Hurricane, modern fighter built by traditional methods that own industry is familiar with.

For a Bomber I wouldn't build, but buy in something capable that is easily available, in 1937 that would be American and probably the Martin Maryland as the USAAC/F didn't want it, so Martin will build as many as I can afford.

For recce I would be limited to unarmed versions of both these types I suppose and, if I am in Europe, I would be negotiating like mad with Britain and France

[davebender]

didn't get approval to buy the number of aircraft that you'd hope for

If funding is tight then the Me-109 is your best choice for a single seat fighter. You can purchase two Me-109s for the price of most other fighter aircraft.

Purchase the Me-110 for CAS and for recon. Just don't let some idiot convince you it can tangle with single seat fighter aircraft.

When 1939 arrives I would purchase the A-20 bomber from the USA if possible.

[imalko]

Interesting topic. The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was in similar position before the out brake of the war and their solution was purchase and licence production of aircrafts of German, Italian and British origin. I would have to double check for the exact numbers but the types were:

- Bf 109E (73 examples purchased I believe), for fighter role
- Hurricane Mk I (produced by licence), for fighter role
- Dornier Do 17K (produced by licence), for reccon and light bomber roles
- Blenheim (purschased and produced), for light bomber role
- SM.79 (Purchased), for medium bomber role

There were also two types of fighters of Yugoslav design - IK-2 and IK-3 - but these were produced in very small numbers. Hawker Fury was also used.

The result of so large number of different types was a logistical nightmare,though.

[Arsenal VG-33]

Hasn't this already been done before...for a 1935 or '36 scenario?

[davebender]

[Amsel]

Bf 109's

Ju-87's

Do-17's

P-36's

Ju-52's

[fly boy]

did the b-17 come out in 37?

[Lucky13]

The first B-17 flew in '35 FB....

[fly boy]

ok good