Library Additions

[billmv44]

The aircraft are a welcome addition to the library. I've noticed on the clickable image it says "... interior scheme (click to enlarge)". The images are the exterior view not an interior view. Probably was just copied over from the text on the tanks which are interior views. Also for the P-38, the aircraft name is misspelled on the click to enlarge (Lighting instead of Lightning).

[Rudankort]

The aircraft are a welcome addition to the library. I've noticed on the clickable image it says "... interior scheme (click to enlarge)". The images are the exterior view not an interior view. Probably was just copied over from the text on the tanks which are interior views.

Good point. What would be the best alternative text? "Profile view of ..."?

Also for the P-38, the aircraft name is misspelled on the click to enlarge (Lighting instead of Lightning).

Fixed.

[billmv44]

Profile view... seems fine to me.

[Kamerer]

Here are some other library comments. I put the fighter section ones in another thread, I'll repeat it below.


Library Bomber text notes:

1. Ju-87: Fine. Nice notes.
2. Ju-88: Fine.
3. Blenheim: two notes:

• a. armour or armor? “Armor” used here. “Armour” used elsewhere (see “Pzkw II” entry, for example). I’d be consistent.
  b. Need article before “Blenheim IV” in last line.

4. Mosquito: Fine, except numbers not consistently written (see General note below and in fighter comments).
5. Typhoone: Fine.
6. B-17: Fine.
7. B-29: Fine.
8. B-25: “carried A 75 mm cannon…”
9. IL-2: Fine.

General:

- Interesting, thoughtful notes.
- “Interior scheme” label on large graphic needs to be fixed in this section, too.
- As mentioned in fighter comments, standard is usually to write out numbers one to nine (when not part of a formal name) and numerals for 10 and higher. Thus “ it carried underwing two Mk.5 cannons or 12 Hellfire Rockets…” The entries are inconsistent
- General proofreading for additional commas and occasional articles would be good.

Fighter comments repeated so all in one place:

Fighter section Library notes:


1. FW-190: states radial engines unusual in fighter aircraft at the time. Should say “European” fighter aircraft. US designers and military were very fond of them at the time.
2. Hurricane: several typos/article errors in text; needs to be proofread.
3. Tempest has tempest in large profile image, but the smaller image looks quite different. Is it correct?.
4. Meteor: “safety record (insert comma), …”
5. Lightning: states it killed more Japanese than any other US fighter. I do not believe this is true. It should say “non-naval fighter.” The lightning did not come close to the kill totals of the Hellcat in the Pacific War.
6. P-47 – “fully loaded it weighed over…”
7. P-51 – “Its superior range…” and “models of the Spitfire…”

Some general proofreading of all entries in this section would be good. Also, in US we spell out numbers one to nine, use roman numerals for 10 and higher. Don’t know UK standard for written English but I think it is the same. There are inconsistencies in this in the entries.

In general the entries read well, with interesting and varied commentary. Good stuff.

[lordzimoa]

Thanks for the excellent feedback applied most of your suggestions.

- Two remarks the difference in spelling between the tank articles and the plane articles like armor or armour is because the tanks were corrected by an American proofreader at the time of the original PzC, the planes in AK by a British.
-

Also, in US we spell out numbers one to nine, use roman numerals for 10 and higher. Don’t know UK standard for written English but I think it is the same. There are inconsistencies in this in the entries.

I did not touch these, as for making localization as easy as possible we prefer to use numbers.

[Kamerer]

I don't think many will catch armor vs. armour; I'm just weird about such things.

Re: numbers, I would at least make it consistent within a section. For example, I recall distinctly in the "mosquito" blurb it switched between conventions within the same paragraph. That looks odd.

[TooManyClowns]

In the library, under Hawker Hurricane is a sentence with a typo..

"The ground-attack versions of theof Hurricane....."

The 'of' attached to 'the' needs removed...

[ThvN]

Finally, my chance to out-OCD a whole forum. Please prove me wrong, my psychiatrist said I had made improvements… Oh well, my humble essay:

First off, the library main (opening) screen could be updated.
‘The library is divided into two main sections.’ No it isn’t anymore in AK.

Under the header ‘The Equipment section’?? I see nothing with that name, in the main game there is a section called ‘Equipment’, but here there are only names of vehicle classes. So there are no two main sections.

The description of the ‘Equipment class’ continues as:
‘provides historical background about the prominent tanks…‘ There’s more in there than just tanks these days, like fighters. Perhaps replace ‘tanks’ with ‘vehicles’ for now, or ‘machinery’ which also covers artillery etc.

Because there are no interior schemes of the planes, the next sentence about those, mentioning only tanks, is correct.

Under ‘unit classes’, under the header ‘air transport ‘, no mention is made about the different capabilities of gliders.

Under ‘tanks’:
PZKW in the listing name should be PzKpfw (PanzerKampfWagen), it is correct in the main text, but the article title and under the images it is incorrectly spelled Pzkw.

PZKW II: last sentence: ‘SPA’ would be better as ‘self-propelled artillery’, or ‘mechanised artillery’.

PZKW III: text switches from ‘PzKpfw’ to ‘Panzer’. The Panther article has a nice ‘The PzKpfw V or Panther explanation’, use something like that. ‘Stug III’ should be ‘StuG III’.

PZKW IV: text switches from ‘PzKpfw’ to ‘Panzer’ 2nd sentence: The short cannon of the early ones is not a ‘howitzer’. It’s a ‘low-velocity gun’.

Panther: 3rd sentence, ‘MBT’, just use 'main battle tank'. Next sentence: ‘It saw action first at Kursk’=’It first saw action’ sounds better, but I’m not a native English speaker. ‘superior to the 88mm mounted on Tiger I.’= ‘mounted on the Tiger I.’ full potential of Panther was never fullfilled’ =’potential of the Panther’.

Tiger I: It has a funny dot behind its name in the article title. Do not use this, period. (yes, lame pun, I know, my apologies ).

Tiger II: the article is trying to use the official name in the title, getting it both wrong and incomplete. Just stick to Tiger II, to avoid the tongue-breaking German designations. And Konigstiger could use an umlaut =‘Königstiger’, I will not mention the alternate ‘Germanized’ spelling for fear of incurring the wrath of chris10 . ‘had sloped armour that at front was’; Doesn’t ring right to my ears.

Right, I’m gonna take a break now, if you want me to look at the rest, let me know, I’ll try.

[ThvN]

Hi, I cannot attach .doc files, so I'll just hope I don't spam the thread up to much, but I tried to correct the fighter section, and just ended up editing and sometimes slightly rewriting all entries. Listing all the small changes is rather bothersome, so I just give you the edited texts, might save you some time if you want to use my corrections. Mostly I looked at keeping the entries textually consistent with each other, but i made some factual corrections as well. If you want the .doc file I made, let me know where I can send it to. Again, my apologies for the wall of words which is about to follow.

I would like to give credit to billmv44, Kamerer and TooManyClowns for their suggestions, they helped alot. I hope to add bombers later.

Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt 109 was Germany’s most numerous fighter during WW2 and is credited with destroying more aircraft than any other, regardless of nationality. It made its public debut at the 1936 Olympics and thanks to an adaptable, forward-looking design that simplified modifications it remained competitive until the very end of the war. There were many variations in armament as the 109 evolved but the “E” or “Emil” version, in use at the time of the Battle of Britain, carried two 7.92mm machine guns and two wing-mounted 20mm cannon. The 109’s engine was continuously developed and the "G" or “Gustav” model, which appeared at the end of 1942, was capable of 400 mph. The 109’s principal weaknesses were a cramped cockpit and narrow, long-legged landing gear that were the bane of novice pilots and resulted in many accidents. The 109 could deliver 250 kg of bombs but no dedicated ground-attack variants were produced.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 first became operational in the summer of 1941 and gave Germany superiority over the then-dominant Spitfire Mark V. It was an unusual design for its time in that it featured a radial engine, which many in Europe thought obsolete for fighter aircraft. Exceptional engineering reduced drag associated with the radial engine and the Fw 190 proved to be a very high-performance aircraft. It was superior to the Bf 109 in firepower, and many pilots thought it was more manoeuvrable at lower altitudes. It was not deployed to the Eastern Front until late 1942. Ground-attack variants were produced very early in the 190’s development. These proved effective, especially on the Eastern front, where they gradually supplanted the older and vulnerable Ju 87 and became a mainstay of Germany’s overstretched defenses. A major change came with the “D” series, which switched to an in-line engine to enhance the 190’s performance above 20,000 feet. The aircraft’s profile changed significantly with a longer nose and tail section. Armament varied widely across models but two 13mm machine guns and two 20mm cannon were standard. An Fw 190 A-8 could manage speeds in excess of 400 mph.

Messerschmitt Me 163
The Me 163 “Komet” was unique: the world’s first and only rocket interceptor. Its performance was spectacular. It could cruise at 550 mph, far faster than any other aircraft of its day, and climb to 40,000 feet in under 3 minutes in nearly vertical flight. The Komet became operational in 1944. It set a speed record of 702 mph that went unchallenged until Yeager broke the sound barrier in 1947. For all its power the Komet had severe limitations. Its tiny size and the voracity of its rocket engine ment it had fuel for only 6 or 7 minutes of powered flight. Its speed could actually be a handicap, as it was easy to overshoot a slow target like a B-17. It was well-armed with two 30mm cannon but its combat record was unimpressive, with fewer than 20 confirmed kills. Its fuel was toxic, requiring pilots to wear protective gear, and it was unpressurized, a serious factor given that pressure suits were not available. Late in the war the Komet was phased out in favour of the more effective Me 262.

Messerschmitt Me 262
The Me 262 is justly famous as the world’s first operational jet fighter. In its brief career it is credited with more than 500 kills. It became available in late summer 1944 but it was not until March 1945, very near the war’s end, that it operated in significant numbers. With a maximum speed of 550 mph, it was far faster than the best piston-driven competitor, and its standard armament of four 30mm cannon was crushing. As with the Komet, the 262’s great speed made accuracy problematic, and even the best tactics limited the firing pass on a lumbering B-17 to about two seconds. Engine life was very brief due to inferior metallurgy, and shortage of fuel by 1945 crippled operations. The Allies were very alarmed by the 262 and the only really effective counter-tactic was to ambush it on take-off and landing. Despite its successes the 262 could do nothing to alter the course of the war. About 1500 were built.

Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane was Great Britain’s workhorse fighter in the early years of the war. Overshadowed by the more modern and capable Spitfire, it nonetheless was responsible for most of the kills inflicted on the Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain. It did not have an all-metal fuselage, being mostly composed of the older fabric-over-stringer design, and was much simpler to repair and maintain than more modern fighters. It was slower than the Bf 109, with the Mark II version topping at about 320 mph, and was not generally used in an air-superiority role. It was typically armed with eight .303 inch machine guns, but later variants had as many as twelve. Although the rifle-caliber .303 was generally not capable of doing the structural damage needed to bring down a large opponent, use of improved incendiary ammunition helped a great deal. The ground-attack versions of the Hurricane carried multiple 20mm cannon or two 40mm anti-tank weapons in pods under the wing and proved to be very effective in North Africa. The Hurricane remained in broad service until 1943.

Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the iconic aircraft of WW2 and is usually associated with the Battle of Britain. In fact the Spitfire served Britain and the Allies in many roles through the entire course of WW2 and was produced in more variants than any other British aircraft. Its development was ceaseless and after overcoming the challenge posed by the Fw 190 it remained in the highest rank of fighter aircraft until the very end of the war. Its trademark thin elliptical wing gave it excellent performance at higher altitude and versions using the Griffon engine from 1943 on were capable of 440 mph. Armament was always substantial, with a mix of machine guns and two 20mm cannon being the most common package. As the war progressed those versions equipped with the older Merlin engines were assigned to ground-attack. It was a strafing Spitfire that wounded Rommel in Normandy and removed him from command. A great liability of the Spitfire was its lack of range, a deficit overcome only in the specially designed photo-recon versions.

Hawker Tempest
The Hawker Tempest fighter entered service in mid-1944 and was flown almost exclusively by British squadrons. Based on the Typhoon but intended for an air superiority role, it was similar in appearance but featured a larger tailfin for stability at high speed and a redesigned elliptical wing for enhanced maneuverability. The wing was notable for its thinness; new cannon and new, thinner tires had to be developed to fit into the narrower spaces. It was very fast and stoutly armed with four 20mm cannon, and was arguably the most potent conventional aircraft operating in the waning months of the war. A particular virtue was its high speed at mid to low altitudes. This made it ideal for chasing V1s and Tempests accounted for a great share of all V1s downed by aircraft. Only about 800 of the main combat variant, the Mark V, were built.

Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was Great Britain’s first jet fighter and the only Allied jet to see action in WW2. An ungainly aircraft, it went into service in small numbers in July 1944 and its initial duty was to pursue V1s. The first operational variant could not come close to matching the speed of the Me 262 but the redesigned and much improved Meteor F3 soon became available. Nevertheless the Meteor never encountered the Me 262, or any Luftwaffe aircraft, in air-to-air combat. Those few Meteors that were deployed to Continental Europe served chiefly in a ground attack role. The Meteor was well-armed with four 20mm cannon mounted in the nose and was capable of carrying two 1,000 lb. bombs. Despite an appalling safety record the Meteor had a long career post-war.

Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 fighter was known as the Warhawk to Americans and as Tomahawk or Kittyhawk by Commonwealth pilots. It has been a much-maligned aircraft. Despite mediocre speed and critical limitations on ceiling imposed by the failure to supercharge its engine, the P-40 was in fact a capable dogfighter at lower altitudes and doubled brilliantly as a ground-attack aircraft. It excelled in the “boom and zoom” tactics that made best use of its superb diving characteristics, and in the horizontal plane skilled pilots found that its weakness in a turning fight was greatly exaggerated. It was rugged, easy to maintain in hostile climates like the Pacific or desert, and heavily armed; the P-40E, the standard model, had six .50 caliber machine guns, three in each wing, and was capable of carrying 1,000 lbs of bombs. Despite its limitations the P-40 was a worthy player in the USAAF until the coming of second-generation fighters like the P-47 and P-51. Production ceased in 1944.

Lockheed P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a twin-engine, double-boomed fighter, was one of the most easily identifiable aircraft of the war. It looked like nothing else and was one of Kelly Johnson’s great innovations. Its speed (400+ mph) and exceptional climb rate compensated for its poor turning ability in a dogfight. Though it is reported that the Germans termed it the “fork-tailed devil”, in truth the Germans feared it little, and the Lightning was markedly less successful in Europe than in the Pacific, where it destroyed more Japanese aircraft than any other USAAF fighter. By 1944 most Lightnings had been withdrawn from the ETO. It had very long legs, important in the Pacific, and its nose-mounted armament, consisting of four . 50 caliber machine guns and one 20mm cannon, was famously lethal in air-to-air battles and made it a formidable strafer. Its size and twin engines allowed a heavy assortment of ordnance to be delivered in the ground-attack role. The Lightning is perhaps best remembered as the aircraft that shot down Admiral Yamamoto in a surprise, long-range interception.

Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, aptly known as the “Jug”, was the largest and heaviest of conventional WW2 fighters. Fully loaded, it weighed over seven tons. It flew its first combat mission in early 1943 and was active on all fronts by 1944. Although the weight of the Jug was almost twice that of the sleeker Mustang, its enormous radial engine gave it speeds well beyond 400 mph, with the “M” version, built to pursue the V1 flying bomb, capable of 470 mph. It fought very well at higher altitude and was the first American fighter to provide a measure of long-range protection to the B-17. Eight .50 caliber machine guns were standard. Though a very capable dogfighter it truly excelled as a ground-attack aircraft, delivering payloads of 2500 lbs of bombs or ten 5-inch “Holy Moses” rockets. It was famously tough to bring down. After the P-51 Mustang took over the role of long-range escort, the P-47 concentrated on its ground-attack role and secured its reputation as the US’s best fighter-bomber in the ETO.

North American P-51 Mustang
The P-51 Mustang is the most celebrated American fighter of the war and is often credited for turning the air war in Europe around. It superior range finally gave the bombers of the 8th Air Force the protection they needed to bomb Germany with a tolerable level of security. As a fighter it was excellent, but not markedly superior to current models of the Spitfire or the leading German aircraft. Its great military virtue was range. It flew its first escort mission in the ETO in December 1943 and eventually all but one of the 8th Air Force’s fighter groups re-equipped with the Mustang. The standard “D” model Mustang was bubble-topped and equipped with six .50 caliber machine guns. Speed was excellent, far past the critical 400 mph benchmark. It was configurable as a fighter-bomber but its in-line engine was vulnerable to ground fire and the far tougher P-47 was more common in that role. In the ETO the Mustang may have destroyed more enemy aircraft in air-to-air combat than any other Allied fighter.

Polikarpov I-16
The I-16 made its first appearance in the Red Square flyover on May Day 1934. Known as the "Rata" or, by its Russian pilots, as “Ishak” or “Mule”, the I-16 had its baptism of fire in the Spanish Civil War and was a principal opponent of the Luftwaffe in the early stages of Barbarossa. About 1700 were in service on 22 June 1941. It compared poorly in all categories to the German Bf 109 but could hold its own in a turning fight. Many variants were produced and though the aircraft remained in service until 1943 its design potential had been exhausted well before the war with Germany began. The aircraft was hard to fly; stability problems and rear-weight bias required constant pilot input and made the aircraft difficult to fight with. Armament typically consisted of two machine guns mounted in the cowling and another two in the wings. Some variants had the wing-mounted machineguns replaced by 20mm cannon. The top speed of the most common version was below 300 mph.

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3
The MiG-3 was designed as a high-altitude interceptor. It was first delivered to Soviet air forces in the months just prior to the German invasion. Though nominally faster than the Bf 109, the aircraft never fulfilled expectations and its combat results were poor. Unqualified pilots and poor quality control during production were the main issues, but the very nature of the air war on the East Front, where most combats were fought below 5,000 feet, put the MiG-3's high-altitude design at a basic disadvantage. Even in optimal conditions the aircraft was considered difficult to handle, but Soviet pilot mentality seemed simply unable to adapt to the aircraft. Those few pilots who did adapt, such as the ace Pokryshkin, loved the plane. As with all Soviet fighters early in the war, it suffered particularly from the lack of a modern reflector gunsight. Typical armament consisted of one 12.7mm machine gun and two cowling-mounted 7.62mm machine guns. Maximum speed at best altitude was about 400 mph. Production was terminated early in the war in favor of increased production of the Il-2.

Yakovlev Yak-9
The Yak-9 was the most widely produced Soviet fighter aircraft of the war and the most successful. It debuted over Stalingrad in late 1942. The chief version was the Yak-9U – “U” standing for “improved” in Russian. This major redesign entered service in December 1943 and became the Soviet Union's definitive fighter-interceptor. With excellent all-around performance it was fully the equal of the Bf 109 and at least the early versions of the Fw 190 and finally put the Soviet air force on a technological par with the Germans. Being small, it was hard to target in air-to-air battles, and it had no obvious points of weakness. Many variants were developed, with at least 15 of them being mass-produced. Armament typically consisted of two 12.7mm machine guns and one nose-mounted 20mm cannon but some versions were equipped with 37mm and even 45mm cannon for ground-attack and anti-shipping roles. Top speed for most types was around 400-425 mph at best altitude.

Lavochkin La-5
The Lavochkin La-5 appeared in the summer of 1942 and was the first real answer put forward by Soviet designers to the Luftwaffe dominance that had been in place since the catastrophe of 1941. Nimble and well-armed, it was an excellent dogfighter at low altitudes where most of the battles in the Eastern Front airspace were fought, and the Germans regarded it as a serious opponent. It fared less well in the vertical plane: early models had a poor climb rate and performance generally degraded at higher elevations. Armament typically consisted of two 20mm cannon mounted in its distinctive oversized cowling, though some models had three cannon. The aircraft was troubled by cumbersome engine controls and a poorly engineered exhaust system that often vented directly into the cockpit. The great Soviet ace Kozhedub flew his entire career in Lavochkins. Top speed was around 400 mph. About ten thousand were built.

Dewoitine D.520
The sleek, long-nosed Dewoitine D.520 was France's best fighter when the Battle of France began in May 1940 but its numbers were few: due to persistent production problems only 36 had been delivered by 10 May. Though slower than its main German rival, the Bf 109 E, the D.520 was highly manoeuvrable and well-armed, and its combat record, though brief, proved it to be the virtual equal of the 109. Its armament consisted of a hub-mounted 20 mm cannon (which did not eject the empty brass) and four wing-mounted 7.5 mm machine guns. Top speed was about 350 mph. A notable liability of the aircraft was a tendency to abruptly stall the left wing in turning fights leading to loss of control. After the Armistice the D.520 was used extensively by Vichy forces and saw combat against the Allies in Syria.

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
The Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 was France's most numerous fighter in the Battle of France. It was not competitive against the Bf 109 E and fared poorly. Though maneuverable, it was at least 50 mph slower than the 109, and was at a major disadvantage at altitude, which often caused its weapons to freeze. Armament consisted of a hub-mounted 20mm and two wing-mounted 7.5mm machine guns. The latter were of low effectiveness and lacked both range and adequate ammunition supply. In all key respects this aircraft was outclassed and outfought, and it made no impression on aviation history.

Fiat G.55 Centauro
The Fiat G.55, known as the "Centauro", was the best Italian fighter of the war. It did not enter full production until 1943 and very few had been delivered prior to the Armistice of 8 September. Most served with the air force of the Italian Socialist Republic, the fascist rump state created in northern Italy after the collapse of Mussolini's regime. It gave a very good account of itself against the best Allied fighters and its armament, consisting typically of three 20mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns, was able to take down heavy Allied bombers. Its speed was comparable to other top-line fighters of its day. Due to Italian political instability and inefficient production arrangements only about 300 were built. The great German aircraft designer Kurt Tank, creator of the Fw 190, praised the Centauro.

Macchi C.202 Folgore
The Macchi C.202 "Folgore" ("Thunderbolt") fighter was a mainstay of the Italian Regia Aeronautica. It was introduced in the spring of 1941 and operated successfully on all fronts, from North Africa to Russia, until the collapse of the Italian military. It was an excellent aircraft and a respected dogfighter, somewhat underpowered but faulted chiefly by its lack of heavier armament. Over a thousand were built and the design evolved relatively little over the course of its career. The early series of the Folgore had only two 12.7mm machine guns in the cowling but later versions added two 7.7mm machine guns in wing mounts. Top speed was just below 400 mph but the Folgore was a prodigious diver. Hardpoints under the wing gave it a limited capacity for ground attack.

[ThvN]

Wall of words alert - bombers this time.

Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
The Ju 87 Stuka was the most famous and effective dive-bomber of WW2. Instantly identifiable by its trademark gull wings, heavy fixed undercarriage, and siren howl, it served first in the Spanish Civil War and gained fame in the early blitzkriegs of 1939-41. Unique among dive-bombers, the Stuka was engineered to withstand a full 90-degree dive; others, such as the American SBD Dauntless or Japanese Aichi “Val”, could dive only at much shallower angles. Diving fully vertical turned the entire aircraft into an aiming device and made very precise delivery of ordnance possible. Most versions carried between 400-700 kg of bombs but loadouts were quite variable. The Stuka was slow and very vulnerable when air superiority had not been achieved. It gave great service on the Eastern Front as a tank destroyer; some variants abandoned bombs in favor of tank-killing 37mm cannon slung under the wings. The famous Hans-Ulrich Rudel destroyed over 500 Russian tanks flying Stukas. Although the Stuka remained in service until the end of the war, it became progressively more vulnerable, and its mission was gradually assumed by ground attack versions of the Fw 190.

Junkers Ju 88
The Ju 88 was a twin-engined, four-man multipurpose bomber that served Germany very effectively on every front throughout the war. Designed as a “Schnellbomber”, or high-speed bomber, it first flew in 1936 but did not fully come into its own until the latter stage of the Battle of Britain. It was very fast for its type - the A-4 version could exceed 300 mph - and could carry a bomb-load of 2,000 to 3,000 lbs. More was possible with rocket-assisted take-off. The design was so adaptable that the Ju 88 served successfully in virtually every role imaginable, from torpedo bomber to night-fighter to dive bomber. Some ground-attack variants were equipped with the 75mm PaK 40 anti-tank gun, others with 37mm cannon. Early versions had poor defensive armament and lacked adequate armour and these limitations were never entirely resolved, leaving the Ju 88 increasingly vulnerable as the war went on. Toward the end of the war a number of Ju 88 were converted into “Mistral” flying bombs. About 14,000 of all types were built.

Bristol Blenheim
The Bristol Blenheim was a light, twin-engined bomber of 1930s design that served widely in the early days of the war. It was first received into Bomber Command in 1937 and by the outbreak of the war it was effectively obsolete. Poorly armoured, slow, and lightly armed, it suffered great losses in the Battle of France and elsewhere. Its design was too limited to allow for needed improvements, and it was withdrawn from Bomber Command in the summer of 1942. It had a second life in Fighter Command as an improvised night-fighter and ground-attack aircraft but it was withdrawn from these roles when the much superior Bristol Beaufighter came on line. Its bomb capacity was about 1000 lbs. Early versions had only two .303 inch machine guns but the Blenheim Mark IV added two more in a turret and another two in a rear-firing remote-controlled mount.

De Havilland Mosquito
The De Havilland Mosquito was a two-man twin-engined multipurpose bomber of unmatched versatility. Intended originally as a virtually unarmed light bomber whose survivability depended on brute speed, it proved faster than the early Spitfire, and most versions were capable of 360-380 mph. It excelled as a fighter-bomber and could deploy two 500 lb bombs, rockets, and a nose-mounted battery consisting of four 20mm cannon and four .303 inch machine guns. Even when configured as a fighter-bomber it could hold its own in a dogfight thanks to its speed, light handling and fearsome armament. The Mosquito also served as a night-fighter, pathfinder, and anti-submarine platform. Built largely of wood, the Mosquito offered little profile to enemy radar and was well-suited to a special-operations intruder role. This aircraft tormented Reichsmarschall Göring, who lamented that it made him "green and yellow with envy". Over 7,000 were built, with the Mark VI fighter-bomber variant being the most common.

Hawker Typhoon
The Typhoon was originally conceived as a pure fighter to replace the Hawker Hurricane. Its development was troubled and it was not until it was re-conceived in 1943 as a ground-attack aircraft that it began to come into its own. Its large airframe and tremendous power made it able to carry a heavy amount of ordnance. In addition to packing four 20mm cannon, the Typhoon could deliver 8 or 16 air-to-ground rockets or 2000 lbs of bombs. The explosive power of these loadouts was likened to a destroyer's broadside. The Typhoon played a devastating role in the battles in France in the summer of 1944, especially in choking the German attempt to escape the Falaise Pocket. The Typhoon could manage 400 mph even when carrying a full package.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was the mainstay of America’s strategic bombing offensive against Germany. It was heavily armed and justly famous for its ability to withstand massive battle damage. The B-17 bristled with .50 caliber machine guns – thirteen in the standard “G” model - but neither firepower nor improved formation tactics were able to prevent severe losses from German air defenses. By late 1943 losses were such as to call into question the viability of the strategic air offensive, and it was not until long-range fighter escorts became available in 1944 that the B-17 became fully up to the task. The B-17 was not generally used in a tactical role but an important exception was its support of breakout operations in Normandy. Typical loadout for a deep penetration raid into Germany was 4500 lbs of bombs. The B-17 had a crew of ten. Cruising speed was below 190 mph. It was not widely used in the Pacific and most were withdrawn from that theater by mid-1943.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was a four-engined heavy bomber best known for delivering nuclear weapons to Japan. It did not serve in the European theater. It was a huge and sophisticated aircraft that featured a fully pressurized cabin and remote control firing systems. It was capable of flying at 40,000 feet, which put it safely out of range of Japanese interception and most AAA. (Operational altitudes were considerably lower under the bombing doctrine adopted by General LeMay.) Maximum speed was 350 mph. Teething problems were many but when the aircraft was finally deployed to the Pacific in suitable numbers it proved unstoppable and began the incineration of the Japanese mainland. Bomb load was a staggering 20,000 lbs (compare to the B-17’s standard long-range loadout of 4500 lbs.) Its defensive armament was substantial, with ten .50 caliber machine guns and in some cases a 20mm cannon in the tail. The B-29 was carbon-copied by the Russians in the form of the Tupolev Tu-4. So exact was the duplication that the word “Boeing” was even included on the rudder pedals.

North American B-25 Mitchell
The B-25 Mitchell was a twin-engined medium bomber that served very widely in US and Commonwealth forces. It acquired lasting fame in the Doolittle Raid of April 1942, America’s first bombing of the Japanese mainland. Most served in the Pacific where it was adapted to innovative tactics such as skip-bombing, para-fragging, and strafing. For its size it carried an impressive bomb load, normally 3000 lbs, and could also be armed with rockets and torpedoes. Perhaps the most impressive of all the Mitchells were the “H” through “J” series strafers. The solid-nose “J”, for example, carried a total of eighteen .50 caliber machine guns, with eight in the nose and more in forward-facing pods, making it the most heavily armed American aircraft of the war and a superb ground-attack platform. Other variants carried a 75mm cannon in the nose. The B-25 was considered easy to fly apart from the extreme noise produced by its poorly muffled engines. Top speed was under 300 mph, and it normally carried a crew of six.

Ilyushin Il-2
The Il-2 “Sturmovik” is the iconic Soviet aircraft of WW2 and the most widely produced plane in military history. It was a dedicated ground-attack aircraft famed for its "iron bathtub" design that enabled it to absorb tremendous punishment. Fewer than 300 were in service at the outbreak of the war but production skyrocketed to a total of at least 40,000. Early, single-seat variants proved vulnerable to German fighters and later Sturmoviks added a rear seat and gunner. The aircraft was equipped with 23mm cannon and carried a wide variety of ordnance, including rockets of several varieties, small bombs, and the famous PTAB, an anti-tank cluster bomb. Despite its ruggedness the Sturmovik suffered huge combat losses, with over 7,000 destroyed by German action in 1943 alone. The effectiveness of the Sturmovik is often exaggerated. While of undoubted value to the Soviet war effort, the Sturmovik was not able to deliver more ordnance than the British Typhoon or the American P-47, and it was limited by poor doctrine and a low standard of pilot training. Top speed of 250 mph was good considering the weight of armour and loadout.

[ThvN]

Wall of words, final part: Tanks. Well, that should cover all vehicle library entries. I just read that the library may already be locked for the final release, but I'm not sure so I'll just post it, you can always use it for a later update. Good luck!

PzKpfw II
The PzKpfw II, commonly known as Panzer II, was a light tank that was forced to fill a large role in the early war until German production could bring adequate numbers of heavier PzKpfw III and IV into service. It was the most numerous German tank in the invasion of Poland in 1939 and it remained in prominent use until the reorganization of the Panzertruppen that began in late 1940 was completed. It had little armour and its main weapon was a long-barrelled 20mm gun. The weapon had poor anti-tank capability against even early war tanks but had an exceptionally high rate of fire. Only limited experiments were made in up-gunning or developing the Panzer II, as the tank as a whole was clearly inadequate, but a flame throwing version was deployed briefly to Russia. By mid-1942 the Panzer II was generally withdrawn from primary combat roles and relegated to reconnaissance and rear-area duties, at which it did exceptionally well. The final variant of Panzer II, the “Luchs”, remained in service until very late in the war. The Panzer II's chassis was extensively used in German self-propelled artillery, notably in the “Marder” and “Wespe”.

PzKpfw III
The PzKpfw III, or more popularly called Panzer III, was originally intended to serve in a companion role with the PzKpfw IV (Panzer IV), it dealing with enemy armour while the Panzer IV served as an infantry support tank. Wartime experience totally inverted this scheme. The Panzer III was the most numerous German tank in the early months of the Russian campaign and its inadequacies quickly became apparent. Upgrading its armament to the long-barreled 50mm L/60 gun in early 1942 gave it some usefulness against the T-34 at close ranges but the Panzer IV, which was bigger and had a larger turret ring, proved more adaptable to upgrading and better fitted to take over the role of Germany's main battle tank. The final version of Panzer III had a low-velocity 75mm gun and was intended to serve the infantry support role that had originally been cast for the Panzer IV. Production of all types ended in 1943 but its chassis was the basis for the StuG III assault gun, one of the most successful of all German designs and the most numerous. The Panzer III marked several key innovations. It was the first German design to use a three-man turret, a critical improvement eventually copied by all combatants, and the first to use an intercom.

PzKpfw IV
The PzKpfw IV, commonly known as Panzer IV, was Germany's mainstay medium tank throughout the war. Originally designed as an infantry support tank equipped with a short-barrelled low-velocity 75mm gun, it was forced by the inadequacies of the Panzer III to take the lead in engaging enemy armour. It was the only German tank to remain in production throughout the entire war. Production was initially slow and fewer than 300 were deployed in the invasion of France. The low-velocity 75mm proved inadequate even then to cope with Allied tanks such as the British Matilda and the French S35, and the shock of encountering the T-34 and the super heavy KV-series of Soviet tanks the following year pushed the Panzer IV into rapid and continuous evolution. When equipped with the long 75mm gun and up-armoured, the “F2” model was the only German tank in the summer of 1942 able to counter the Soviet heavies at typical ranges. The Panzer IV saw service on all fronts and though it reached the limits of its design potential by late 1942 it remained the core of Germany's armoured strength through 1944. Its chassis was the basis of several famous variants, notably the JagdPanzer IV and “Nashorn” tank destroyers, and the “Flakpanzer” self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.

Panther
The PzKpfw V or Panther, is one of the best-known designs of the war. It represented a nearly optimal synthesis of firepower, mobility, and protection. The Panther was a direct result of the encounter with the T-34 in the summer of 1941 and was intended to replace the Panzer IV as Germany's principal battlefield tank. Its first action was at Kursk in 1943, where it fared poorly due to developmental problems that had not been adequately addressed, and it was not until March of 1944 that Guderian felt the tank was fully operational. Its excellent 75mm gun gave it high lethality at long range and had penetration superior to the 88mm mounted on Tiger I. Though the Panther's armour was always vulnerable on its sides its frontal glacis was very formidable, being virtually impervious to the M4 Sherman's standard 75mm and even the Soviet 85mm. The Panther's principal defects were relatively thin side armour, transmission problems that were never entirely corrected, and a slow turret traverse. Germany's declining strategic situation from 1943 on meant that the full potential of Panther was never fulfilled. Its principal variant was the Jagdpanther, a turretless tank destroyer that was arguably the greatest of its kind.

Tiger I
The Tiger is probably the most famous German tank of the war. Though of an unbalanced design that sought to maximize firepower and armour at all costs, it was engineered at such a high level that it achieved success and led Hitler to declare a battalion of Tigers to be the equal of an entire Panzer division. It was the first German tank to carry the lethal 88mm and it used a very wide track like the T-34 to support its great weight. It was capable of fair speed but the complex road wheel arrangement of early models was very prone to cause breakdown in difficult conditions. It saw its first action in September 1942. The Tiger I was intended as an offensive weapon but often served best in a less mobile, defensive role where it had smaller risk of breakdown and the extreme accuracy of its 88mm gun could be better exploited. The 88mm gun was capable of penetrating a Sherman's front armour at 2000m and Tiger aces like Michael Wittman consistently scored hits at even greater ranges. The Tiger I's notable weaknesses were mechanical unreliability and un-sloped armour. Production ended in August 1944 when remaining resources were devoted to the Tiger II.

Tiger II
Tiger II, better known as "Königstiger" or "King Tiger", was the acme of panzer development and arguably the most powerful tank of the war. It was some 12 tons heavier than the Tiger I, had sloped armour that was, in theory, all but impregnable in the front, and an improved 88mm main armament that when combined with superb German optics could kill consistently at ranges no Allied armour could match. Despite the legend it was for its size reasonably agile and mobile, but it was not reliable mechanically, with an overburdened drive train being a particular weakness. Its fuel consumption was exorbitant. Constant maintenance was required but often impossible in late-war conditions, leading to abandonment of many units and destruction by their crews. Sources vary on when the Tiger II first saw action but it was probably in Normandy in July 1944. Developed late, its numbers were few, and production was much hampered by Allied bombing. Like the Tiger I, the King Tiger served in independent heavy tank battalions. The Tiger II gave rise to the "Jagdtiger" ("Hunting Tiger") tank destroyer variant but few of these were built.

Matilda
The Matilda I and Matilda II were classed by the British as "infantry tanks" and though of dissimilar design and armament both were stoutly armoured. They saw their first action in the Battle of France in 1940. The Matilda I, which carried only a single machine gun, did not long remain in service and the name Matilda generally refers to the second variant, which also earned the title of "Queen of the Desert" for its service in North Africa. The armour of both tanks was able to resist readily the standard anti-tank weapons of the day and the Matilda II's 2-pounder gun was, if unimpressive, at least on par with other tanks of the era. The Matilda II's principal defects were low speed (best speed off-road was only 9 mph), poor steering, and the lack of an high-explosive round for its gun. Both versions played a notable role in the counterattack at Arras in late May of 1940, even overrunning parts of SS Totenkopf, which had no antitank weapons capable of resisting them. The main guns of the Panzer IIs and Panzer IIIs were likewise outclassed by the Matilda's front armour, which in the case of the Matilda II was 78mm thick. Faced with the Matilda, Rommel in desperation was required to put the soon-to-be-famous 88mm AA gun into an anti-tank role for the first time.

Churchill
The Churchill was another "infantry tank" design and was thrown hastily into production after the debacle in France. It saw its first action at Dieppe in August 1942. Despite numerous initial design deficiencies, notably a small turret, un-sloped armour, and inadequate power, it remained in service throughout the war. Initially equipped with a 2-pounder weapon for dealing with enemy tanks and a 3 inch hull-mounted gun to fulfil its infantry-support role, the Churchill was up-gunned in later variants to carry a 6-pounder (57mm) gun and finally a 75mm. The hull-mounted infantry gun was discontinued with the Mark III version. It was one of the heaviest tanks of the war, and some versions had armour thicker than Tiger I's. The tank had an excellent suspension and track design that allowed it to negotiate difficult terrain very well, notably in Normandy. The Churchill was versatile and had many famous variants, including the Crocodile, the flame throwing tank, and the AVRE, used by the Royal Engineers and equipped with a 290mm Petard mortar for dealing with heavy fortifications.

Cromwell
The Cromwell was probably the fastest and most agile of the British medium tanks and in that respect was an admirable fulfilment of the "cruiser tank" doctrine that had shaped the development of British armoured forces from the pre-war era. It was roughly of the same dimensions as the US Sherman and could manage a top speed of 40 mph. It saw its first action in Normandy in 1944, by which time its original armament, a 6-pounder (57mm), had been replaced by a 75mm gun. As with the Sherman's, this weapon had only limited success against German armour. The armour was of similar thickness to the Sherman but was not sloped and on most versions was not welded but bolted on, the bosses giving the turret its distinctive "knobby" appearance. It had an excellent Meteor engine that proved somewhat difficult to maintain in the field. Crew sentiments were mixed; many of those who had previously been in Sherman’s preferred the American tank. The Cromwell was the most numerous British tank in the late war and was also issued to the Polish First Armoured Division.

M4 Sherman
The M4 Sherman was the most widely-produced tank among the Western allies and only the Russian T-34 surpassed it in sheer numbers. It is the iconic American tank and was the mainstay of US armoured forces but it was the British who christened it the Sherman. It saw its first action with the British 8th Army at the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942. Well-armoured, reasonably fast, reliable, and initially armed with a 75mm general purpose gun, it performed acceptably until it came into contact with large numbers of newer German tanks such as the Panther. Its deficiencies in these encounters were severe and though US doctrine had never envisioned the M4 to operate primarily against enemy tanks US command and production authorities were remarkably slow to grasp the tank's limitations. Improved armour-piercing ammunition and up-gunned variants of the M4 with a new 76mm gun improved the odds only slightly and in the late-war battlefields of Western Europe the Sherman's principal advantage was its sheer numbers. Important US variants were the assault-gun version armed with a 105mm howitzer, and the M4A3E2 “Jumbo”, which had greatly thickened frontal armour and a redesigned turret. Late in the war a new suspension system was introduced, nicknamed “Easy Eight” after the prototype’s “E8” designation, which greatly improved mobility and crew comfort.

Sherman Firefly
The Firefly was a British variant of the US M4 Sherman and was uniquely successful in coping with heavier German armour thanks to its use of the excellent 17-pounder main armament. Fitting the long-recoiling 17-pounder into the Sherman turret was a major design challenge that was solved by redesigning the gun rather than the turret (though the Sherman's hatch was repositioned). The effectiveness of the 17-pounder was on par with the Panther's 75mm and some versions of the 88mm. The first Fireflies were delivered to British forces just prior to D-Day. Probably alone among Sherman variants, the Firefly appears to have been genuinely respected by German tankers. The Firefly typically was distributed among existing units rather than brigaded separately. British efforts to interest the Americans in this armament were unsuccessful, the Americans instead placing their confidence in the 90mm that was to be mounted on the M36 tank destroyer. The Firefly's chief handicap was a lack of an adequate high-explosive round for coping with soft targets. This deficiency made the Firefly less useful in the waning period of the war, when heavy German armour became progressively scarcer.

M3 Stuart
The Stuart, also known to the British as the Honey, was a light tank of 1930s design and comprised a great portion of US armour in early operations in North Africa and beyond. As with the Sherman, it was christened by the British after a general of the US Civil War. Equipped with a 37mm main gun, the Stuart had two main variants, the M3 and M5, distinguished mainly by their engines. The Stuart was never competitive against any but the lightest German armour and fared poorly in its desert debut, where the short range of its gun was a particular liability. My mid-1942 the British, who received many via Lend Lease, had ceased to use the Stuart in a combat role and the Americans likewise soon relegated it to reconnaissance and subsidiary duties. Its virtues were speed - the M3 carried an aircraft radial engine - and high reliability. Production of all types ceased in 1944 but the Stuart remained in service in Europe until the end of the war, a fact testifying more to the huge numbers produced than to its usefulness in combat. It was replaced by the far superior M24 Chaffee.

M26 Pershing
The M26 Pershing was the only true heavy tank produced by the US during WW2 but it entered service too late to see significant action. It did not acquire the M26 designation until March 1945. Its development had been delayed for years due to the persistence of the "tank destroyer doctrine" in the US army and the interference of key personalities who believed that a heavy tank was simply not necessary. Extreme losses of US armour during the Battle of the Bulge finally ended all doubt that the Sherman was no longer up to the job, and the first Pershings were rushed to Europe while the battle still raged. About 300 were sent, but only the first few to enter the ETO actually saw action, with four taking part in the capture of the Remagen Bridge. The Pershing was arguably underpowered but had a 90mm main gun, a great improvement over the Sherman's 75mm, and in other respects represented a fertile departure in US design. The Pershing properly belongs the the post-WW2 era and founded a lineage of armour development that led to the Patton series of tanks and culminated in the M60 MBT.

M18 Hellcat
The M18 Hellcat was a US tank destroyer armed with a 76mm gun and was notable for its great speed. It was the fastest armoured vehicle of the war, capable of 60mph. Unlike its bigger and more heavily armed tank-destroyer cousin, the M10, which used the Sherman chassis, the Hellcat was purpose-built from the ground up and featured several innovations intended to simplify maintenance in the field, such as an engine and transmission that could be easily removed. It was only lightly armoured (25mm max) and, like the M10, had an open top, a design feature that exposed the crew to close assault and the elements. Its 76mm gun was identical to the 76mm used in some Sherman variants and when pitted against advanced German armour had the same limitations, which were only partially offset by improvements in armour-piercing ammunition. The Hellcat saw limited action in Italy and was deployed in large numbers in north-western Europe. Speed was its virtue in battle and the key to survival; often it could flank a German tank faster than the German turret could traverse. As the war waned and German armour diminished in quantity both the M18 and M10 were used increasingly as mobile artillery.

KV-1
The KV-1 heavy tank took its name from Kliment Voroshilov, Soviet defence commissar and arch-crony of Stalin. At 45 tons it was enormously heavy for its day, being twice the weight of the biggest German tank then in use. It was first tested in the Winter War and full production began in early 1940. At least several hundred were in service when Barbarossa began and its armour was impervious to all conventional AT weapons of the time. It was armed with a 76.2mm gun, the same weapon used in the T-34, and not up-gunned until the short-lived KV-85 variant appeared with the 85mm in late 1943. Though fearsome to encounter in 1941, the tank was not of good design and fared poorly in combat. It was clumsy, needlessly heavy, and limited by an obsolete transmission. Battle experience established that the tank offered no advantages over the lighter and identically armed T-34, which was also much easier and cheaper to produce. Nevertheless the tank remained in production until mid-war. Its most notable variant was the KV-2, an assault gun armed with a 152mm howitzer housed in a massive turret which was 1.45m tall. The chassis of the KV tanks would become the basis for the Stalin series of heavy tanks.

T-34
The T-34 medium tank was an enormously successful and influential design and the most widely-produced tank of the war. It quickly became the backbone of Soviet armoured forces. First appearing in 1940, it had no equal in the initial phase of the Russian campaign and posed a severe challenge to the Germans. Unlike contemporaneous German tanks it made very effective use of sloped armour, giving it more protection without loss of mobility. Its wide tracks provided an important advantage in snow and mud and its 76.2mm gun overpowered all German armour of the early war. The greatest praise for the T-34 came from the Germans themselves, who were quick to learn its lessons. Mechanical problems with early models were serious - perhaps half of those lost in 1941 fell to breakdown rather than enemy action. The T-34's more persistent design limitations were lack of a radio and a cramped two-man turret. Both were finally remedied with the introduction of its chief variant, the T-34/85, in 1944. This variant also included the 85mm gun to cope with improved German designs. The T-34 chassis was also used in several of the SU series of assault guns.

IS-2
The Iosef Stalin series of tanks went into production in 1943 after the battle of Kursk established the need for still-heavier guns and armour. The initial model, the IS-1, was based on the KV series of tanks and featured a 85mm gun. This stopgap model proved inadequate and was quickly bypassed in favour of the newly-designed and substantially up-gunned IS-2, which carried a 122mm gun. This heavy calibre required the use of two-stage ammunition, greatly limiting its rate of fire and ammo storage but promising ready penetration of the Panther's frontal armour. Despite the large armament and heavy frontal armour the IS-2 was smaller than the King Tiger, lighter than some of its KV progenitors, and was of generally good design. The armour had a max thickness of 160mm (compare to Tiger I's 120mm). It saw first action in early 1944. Quality problems with Soviet armour-piercing ammunition were persistent and the 122mm often failed to meet performance specifications; however, the sheer ballistic power of such a large weapon gave it a crushing sledgehammer effect that often compensated for the lack of penetration. An improved version of IS-2 featuring changes in the armour envelope and a faster-loading 122mm gun went into service late in 1944.

[lordzimoa]

Thanks guys,

We keep this for a patch though, the texts are locked if we want to release the 6th. I already made some of the most important improvements and taken out the most crucial errors... we keep this safe for now.