US Navy Fighters

[SouthernCross]

Since F-8 and A-7 are coming to DCS, only 3 navy aircraft left on my list.

 

F9F Panther, good old 1st gen fighter which took part in Korea war

 

A-1 Skyraider, a great attacker that have fought both Korea and Vietnam war.

 

F-4J, I really think ED should do both E and J variant.

[Devil 505]

Absolutely!!!!!! All 3 rockstars and need to be in DCS. I think it is safe to say the F-4 will make her arrival. Not a matter of if, just when?

 

as far as the Sandy goes, such a great plane!!!! It would work for Korea and Vietnam eras. We have a solid line up if any three of the above make it to DCS.

[Baco]

Since F-8 and A-7 are coming to DCS, only 3 navy aircraft left on my list.

 

F9F Panther, good old 1st gen fighter which took part in Korea war

 

A-1 Skyraider, a great attacker that have fought both Korea and Vietnam war.

 

F-4J, I really think ED should do both E and J variant.

 

100% agree...

 

Although I would not mind a Cougar or Fury.... ;)

[KittyVCAW-1]

With the Marianas map coming out someday and all the WWII stuff a F4U would be really cool. I love those gull wings.

[Andrew8604]

F-4 Phantom II is long overdue. And it NEEDS multiple versions, I think. The same developer should develop these versions: US Navy: F-4B/N (what are the differences of B vs N? I think mainly threat detection and maybe countermeasures?) Probably the same with F-4J/S (although, did the S have slats?). Royal Navy: F-4K (FG.1). I suspect much like the J but with RR engines and a few other changes. And with this needs to go the Audacious-class carriers HMS Eagle and HMS Ark Royal...and then Buccaneers! Also, for RN: Sea Harrier FRS.1. But back to the Phantom II...for the US Air Force: F-4C and F-4D, besides the F-4E.

[Andrew8604]

But I think the Navy aircraft should be grouped with a map. Falklands map coming up (I don't know when?). So: Harrier FRS.1 and GR.3. And A-4Q (the community A-4E-C with EFM should do well enough). Need the Super Etendard and S-2E Trackers maybe as AI to start with). It's RAZBAM's map and RAZBAM's Harrier...so they should be making a Sea Harrier FRS.1...but I have heard nothing to indicate that they are. Because the AV-8B N/A just won't do. But if we stretch history a bit, for interest, add the Audacious-class HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle from the 60's, and you can add the Phantom FG.1 (F-4K), Buccaneer S2, Gannet AEW and Wessex and Sea King helo's. That should make it a lot more fun. Give the Argentinean Navy an Essex-class carrier, or two, from the Vietnam era, with the applicable aircraft (F-8J, A-7E?, A-4E-C, Super Etendard), plus some capable ASW escort ships and you'd have quite a match, wouldn't you?

 

For a Vietnam map...which should be the number one next map (other than Marianna's and Falklands)...F-4B/J Phantom II, full-fledged A-4E, A-7E is on its way, F-8J is on its way, A-6E alleged to be started?, A-1J (AD-7) Skyraider would be nice. EKA-3B Skywarrior as an AI aircraft to serve as a tanker and stand-off jammer. RA-5C Vigilante would be cool, but far down the list of priorities, I think. The RF-8G took over the job of the RA-5C, I believe. So, wouldn't it be easier to modify the F-8J to be an RF-8G, rather than develop an entirely different RA-5C? And for helo's: SH-3 Sea King and SH-2 Seasprite. I think the Forrestal-class carrier is basically done? Need a USS Coral Sea and Midway with 3 catapults and two variations of the SCB-27C version of Essex-class carriers with angled deck and 2 steam catapults...mainly, the Intrepid, Ticonderoga and Hancock have the starboard elevator quite a bit farther aft than the other 4. Plus some of the escort ships of the time...including the Albany-class guided missile cruisers, with the 100nm range Talos missiles.

 

For a Korean map...which should be the number two next map (in my little opinion): F9F-2 and -5 Panther. F2H Banshee. AD-4 Skyraider. HO3S-1 helicopter. F4U-4B Corsair. We're talking "Bridges at Toko-Ri" movie, here!! Need straight-deck Essex-class carriers (Philippine Sea, Princeton, Valley Forge, Boxer) and WWII destroyers and cruisers. The Korea map should be released as a 1952 map, with not a lot of structures and infrastructure. Mostly, just scenic terrain. I suspect a modern Korea map would take a LOT MORE work...don't do it...not at first.

 

For the Marianna's map...it's a naval battle map. Have at it with any of the above, or below.

 

Midway map: There should be one...with a click-box to choose 1942 or 1982 versions of Midway Islands. Release it first without the Hawaiian islands. Add them later, maybe. So this would be a 99.99% water map. It really, really should be faster to release. Maybe an area of 800nm x 400nm. Naval aircraft: F4F-4 Wildcat. SBD Dauntless, TBD Devastator, TBF-1 Avenger. But you need the adversary so: A6M-2 Zero and dive bombers, level bombers and torpedo planes. ...and the ships.

Edited November 26, 2020 by Andrew8604

[Andrew8604]

I could not agree more on the helos! Especially once we get the dynamic campaign. I really hope they implement SAR missions. When a player is shot down, it creates a mission for helo pilots to go recover a downed AI pilot.

 

SAR missions. I created one using the Channel map and F-5E and F-4E's, they attack a "rail yard". I use France as "Vietnam" and set up Third Reich 88mm flak and Allied 4.1" flak guns, plus 40mm and 23mm. Then I set ground troops with AK's that move in toward the "downed pilot" in a clearing in the trees. I have to get in there with a Huey with door gunners with M60's and "pretend" to pick him up, because that part doesn't work. [i'm wrong. That part does work. I just place an infantry soldier as my "downed pilot" and set him to embark on the helo that arrives.] I also have a small convoy of vehicles from several miles out that follow roads. I use P-47D's with rockets and guns to stand in for Skyraiders, and take out the ground forces before they get my "pilot". Sometimes I get lost and can't find the pilot. Which usually means I lose the pilot. It's a grueling mission because the Huey can only do about 105 kts. :) It's a bit crude, but not too bad without scripting...which I don't know how to do. It would be a lot more fun if I had to actually search. But very difficult to spot the pilot on the ground even when I know where he is.

Edited November 28, 2020 by Andrew8604
Soldier embarking on helicopter DOES work!

[Evoman]

But I think the Navy aircraft should be grouped with a map. Falklands map coming up (I don't know when?). So: Harrier FRS.1 and GR.3. And A-4Q (the community A-4E-C with EFM should do well enough). Need the Super Etendard and S-2E Trackers maybe as AI to start with). It's RAZBAM's map and RAZBAM's Harrier...so they should be making a Sea Harrier FRS.1...but I have heard nothing to indicate that they are. Because the AV-8B N/A just won't do. But if we stretch history a bit, for interest, add the Audacious-class HMS Ark Royal and HMS Eagle from the 60's, and you can add the Phantom FG.1 (F-4K), Buccaneer S2, Gannet AEW and Wessex and Sea King helo's. That should make it a lot more fun. Give the Argentinean Navy an Essex-class carrier, or two, from the Vietnam era, with the applicable aircraft (F-8J, A-7E?, A-4E-C, Super Etendard), plus some capable ASW escort ships and you'd have quite a match, wouldn't you?

 

.

 

 

RAZBAM has stated in their Facebook page in comments that the AMX, English Electric Lightning and Sea Harrier can be expected after the F-15E, Mig-23 and Super Tucano.

 

They have the following aircraft in their plans or pipeline to fill out the Falklands.

 

IA-58 Pucara

Mirage III (or) IAI Dagger (either one, not both)

Dassault Super Etendard

Sea Harrier FRS.1

[Devil 505]

I am perfectly fine with Razbams line up. I really enjoy all their modules. What they have in the pipe will bring some variety to the table for multiple conflicts. Looking forward to their future releases.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

If I remember correctly, I heard some reports saying that earlier Navy jets such as the F4D were a proper nightmare to bring back to the boat, due to lack of visibility over the nose. And the landing speed being pretty close to stall speed, along with slow engine response might also have something to do with it. I don't think planes like that would be a huge success...

[Devil 505]

Elysian, that level of fidelity and challenge is what makes the module a success and draws a niche group of guys who want the challenge. If it was that difficult in real life, then the expectation of DCS customers is it must be that difficult in game. Plus, you are not focusing on what would actually make the Corsair a success. It brings a lot to the table many of us have been waiting for, not to mention the history behind the aircraft which some of us on this forum have close ties to. The brits actually devised a unique way of landing the corsair on the deck of a carrier that was eventually adopted by the US Navy. Check it out below. I am looking forward to trying this when she makes it to the hangar in DCS.

 

 

[Baco]

Actually the Corsair was the plane that gave us the overhead brake on the carriers son you land on a turn and always have visual on the deck  And yes it was the Brits who made it work.

[Raven (Elysian Angel)]

On 11/29/2020 at 7:02 PM, robert.clark251 said:

Plus, you are not focusing on what would actually make the Corsair a success.

 

 

I wasn't talking about the Corsair.
I'm very much looking forward to that one, actually: it was a childhood favourite of mine after watching quite a lot of Pacific theatre WW2 movies.

[Dragon1-1]

On 12/2/2020 at 12:23 AM, Baco said:

Actually the Corsair was the plane that gave us the overhead brake on the carriers son you land on a turn and always have visual on the deck  And yes it was the Brits who made it work.

The Corsair was the F4U. F4D was the Skyray, an early delta-winged interceptor. The US had a really weird designation system at the time, it was later renamed F-6A.

[F1GHTS-ON]

On 11/26/2020 at 2:10 AM, Andrew8604 said:

Need a USS Coral Sea and Midway with 3 catapults and two variations of the SCB-27C version of Essex-class carriers with angled deck and 2 steam catapults...mainly, the Intrepid, Ticonderoga and Hancock have the starboard elevator quite a bit farther aft than the other 4. Plus some of the escort ships of the time..

 

agree - without drifting too far from the thread title, but if it is the "challenge" of flying around the boat that is a primary goal, then a re-look at the carriers available would be welcome. There is already an excellent HMS Hermes MOD available (although only in her "Harrier Carrier" modification - or as a Helo variant, i.e. no cats & traps) and her developer has stated an aspiration(?) to try for a '70's HMS Ark Royal. Again, Hermes was a proper cats' & trap CV in the '60's  (there's even a phot of an F-4B cross decking out there somewhere).

 

 My vote? USS Midway - a ship of reasonably large size, certainly operated many of the DCS naval aircraft currently (and coming soon) available. Although not designed for, there is a photo of 2 x F-14s that trapped & launched onboard (weather divert). And whilst I'm sure is no longer a state secret, I did read that in her last configuration (Desert Storm) she had so much top weight that her pitch & roll in any sea state above state 4 made landing a real exercise in sorting out the men from the boys....

 

either way, I should add that the stuff already available is great, ALL the pipe dreams etc in this thread are just pleasant wishes that we are all entitled to have

 

[Andrew8604]

16 hours ago, F1GHTS-ON said:

agree - without drifting too far from the thread title, but if it is the "challenge" of flying around the boat that is a primary goal, then a re-look at the carriers available would be welcome. There is already an excellent HMS Hermes MOD available (although only in her "Harrier Carrier" modification - or as a Helo variant, i.e. no cats & traps) and her developer has stated an aspiration(?) to try for a '70's HMS Ark Royal. Again, Hermes was a proper cats' & trap CV in the '60's  (there's even a phot of an F-4B cross decking out there somewhere).

 

 My vote? USS Midway - a ship of reasonably large size, certainly operated many of the DCS naval aircraft currently (and coming soon) available. Although not designed for, there is a photo of 2 x F-14s that trapped & launched onboard (weather divert). And whilst I'm sure is no longer a state secret, I did read that in her last configuration (Desert Storm) she had so much top weight that her pitch & roll in any sea state above state 4 made landing a real exercise in sorting out the men from the boys....

 

either way, I should add that the stuff already available is great, ALL the pipe dreams etc in this thread are just pleasant wishes that we are all entitled to have

 

Yes, I've read that about Midway, too.  I like Coral Sea.  Not quite so overdone with the flight deck.  Almost forgotten is the 3rd carrier of that class, the Franklin D Roosevelt, CVA-42.  You can't talk about Navy aircraft without talking about the Navy carriers...they sort of go together.   All 3 were modernized to slightly different amounts.  Midway was definitely modified the most.  I think all 3 of these had 3 steam catapults.  Supercarriers, which started with Forrestal had 4 steam catapults, the Midway's had 3 and the seven SCB-27C variants of the Essex's had 2 steam catapults.  Midway is so much like a Forrestal, I'd rather have the Coral Sea and F.D. Roosevelt.  I see a 1969-ish picture of CVA-42 with F-4 Phantoms, F-8 Crusaders, A-7 Corsairs, A-6 Intruders, E-1 Tracers (AEW version of the S-2 Tracker), and a Sea King helo, all on the flight deck together!  That would be an awesome set of aircraft, right there.  The F-8 and A-7 are currently in development, I believe.  But I really like the challenge and limitations of the angled deck, steam catapult equipped Essex class ships...as well as the British Eagle and Ark Royal carriers.  Back in the days before the nuclear behemoths.   I think the Phantom, Buccaneer, Gannet and Wessex and Sea King would be a great set of Royal Navy aircraft.