The Best Biplane Fighter of WW2

[Nonskimmer]

[Bushranger]

I'm going for the Russian Po-2/U-2VS. That or the Stringbag. Po-2 was the most manufactered plane ever I think, with about 40,000 made.

I still go for the Cr 42 for fighter

[cheddar cheese]

Random Hs-123 stats.

Type: Single-seat dive bomber and close-support
Origin: Henschel Flugzeugwerke AG
Models: A-1
First Flight: Spring 1935
Service Delivery: December 1936
Final Delivery: October 1938

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Engine:
Model: BMW 132 Dc
Type: Nine-cylinder radial
Number: One Horsepower: 880 hp

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Dimensions:
Wing span: 10.5m (34 ft. 5½ in.)
Length: 8.3m (27 ft. 4 in.)
Height: 3.2m (10 ft. 6½ in.)
Wheel Track: N/A
Landing Gear Type: Fixed
Wing Surface Area: N/A

Weights:
Empty: 1,504kg (3,316 lbs.)
Maximum: 2,217kg (4,888 lbs.)
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 345km/h (214 mph)
Initial climb: 2,950 ft. (900m)/minute
Range: 530 miles (850 km)
Service Ceiling: 29,530 ft. (9000m)

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Armament:
2 MG 17 7.92mm machine guns in fuselage
2 MG FF 20mm cannons in place of bombs

Bomb Load:
Four 50 kg. (110 lb.) bombs

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/hs123.html
Damn fine plane.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

it's stats really are nothing specail, especailly when compared to those of the stringbag..........

[cheddar cheese]

It BLITZES the Swordfish in all but payload

[FLYBOYJ]

Yea, but looks what the Stingbag pulled off for being SBD! Oh wait, that's another plane

[the lancaster kicks ass]

It BLITZES the Swordfish in all but payload

but isn't payload kinda important for a bomber?? sorry- "non-fighter"??

[FLYBOYJ]

It BLITZES the Swordfish in all but payload

but isn't payload kinda important for a bomber?? sorry- "non-fighter"??

Especially if its a TORPEDO

[mosquitoman]

Don't forget depth-charges, AP rockets, Leigh Lights etc... The Stringbags that operated off escort carriers did minor miracles closing the Mid-Atlantic Gap

[the lancaster kicks ass]

they carried RADARs as well...........

stringbag's got the -123 well beaten on range too, equally important for a "non-fighter"

[cheddar cheese]

Its a Close Support aircraft, as was the Fw-189. They both did fine at it so range isnt necessary.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

ah, now you've started using catagories, we're simply classing all non-fighters as "non- fighters", so range should be quite important, and what you just said is like saying "the defiant was a turret fighter and so it's perfectly acceptable that it had no forward facing armourment and so was decimated in front on attacks..........

[cheddar cheese]

Meh. Im not classing it as a "non-fighter", that was a joke.

[trackend]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating and the Stringbag proved it was the best biplane of WW2 by a mile U-boat sinkings 14. ASW assisted sinkings 15 . 830 Squadron from Hal Far May-Nov 1940 110,000 tons sunk 130,000 tons damaged and in combined ops with other squadrons by 1942 a further 400,000 tons sunk. Bomba 22-23 Aug 1 Destroyer,2 Italian subs and 1 depot ship sunk by three Eagle based Swordfish (only time three torpedoes sank 4 ships in the Med) + Taranto + Bismark + Artic convoy ASW + Escort carrier service, ect,ect
They also where one of the few carrier based planes to be able to take off unassisted while the carrier was moored although very hairy it was later made a requirement to have at least 8 knots over the deck.
Even many of the more modern mono planes that flew in WW2 never obtained a record close to that of the Stringbag.
Im still trying to get exact (as near a possible) Figures on total number of kills but the FAA museum archives have a 1 year waiting list. but I shall get there in the end.

[Glider]

The only possible contender to the Swordfish dare I say it, would be the Walrus.
It did a valuable non glamorous job well, from the start to practically the end of the war. I guarantee for sure, that any pilot from any nation picked up by one, would vote for it.