Aircraft

Air power represents the cornerstone of modern mobile warfare. It combines mobility, flexibility and initiative. Dominance in the skies allows an army to strike their enemy whenever and wherever they choose. There is no way to out run an aircraft, and the devastating firepower aircraft carry can completly paralyse an opponent. Dominating the skies prevents the enemy from doing the same in return and to achive this, the German Luftwaffe operate highly advanced fighters. Once air superiority is achieved they use lethal fighter bombers to stike enemy land targets such as the Ju87 Stuka.

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Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Tech:

Start

Cost:

1400 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1260

Recharge Time:

5 mins 10 secs

Endurance:

4 mins

Health:

270

Firepower:

10 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

280

Maximum Reserve Wings:

2 (4 aircraft)

The Bf-109 is an advanced modern fighter from Messerschmitt. It has already seen action operating with the Condor Legion in the Spanish civil war where it was very successful. The air frame has excellent handling characteristics but the main armament is very surgical. It requires a very skillful pilot to make the most of the limited weaponry. The E varients are essentially frontline prototypes with a constant evaluation process looking at ways to enhance the basic design.

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Messerschmitt Bf 109G

Tech:

Level 2

Cost:

1500 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1350

Recharge Time:

5 mins 10 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 36 secs

Health:

390

Firepower:

15 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

310

Maximum Reserve Wings:

2 (4 aircraft)

The Bf-109G is an improvment over the E varients. It enhances the engine, fusilage and armament. A slight increase in cost belies the quantum leap in performance. With a 50% boost to offensive firepower and a greatly enhanced ability to evade enemy attack, the 109G is a fantastic front line fighter able to take on any enemy aircraft and win.

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Focke-Wulf Fw 190A

Tech:

Air Level 1

Cost:

1360 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1224

Recharge Time:

5 mins 8 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 36 secs

Health:

510

Firepower:

13 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

343

Maximum Reserve Wings:

3 (6 aircraft)

The Fw 190A is a ground breaking fighter design featuring a radial engine. This engine layout allows for a fantastic power to weight ratio creating a very powerful fighter. Its superb handling characteristics make it very agile and able to evade enemy fire very effectivly. Equally, its heavy armament makes it very deadly offensivly too.

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Focke-Wulf Fw 190D

Tech:

Air Level 2

Cost:

1400 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1305

Recharge Time:

5 mins 8 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 42 secs

Health:

550

Firepower:

13 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

343

Maximum Reserve Wings:

1 (2 aircraft)

The Fw 190D is a refinement of the 190A. However with more pilots being syphoned off to join the new experimental jet fighter squadrons, the number of Fw 190s that can be fielded is proportionatly reduced.

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Focke-Wulf Fw 189

Tech:

Air Level 1

Cost:

1000 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1305

Recharge Time:

3 mins 14 secs

Endurance:

50 secs

Health:

300

Inbound Speed:

220

Maximum Reserve Wings:

1

Reconnaissance is essential to get information about the enemy's movements. This knowledge helps to aim artillery and aircraft and in planning where to send tanks to make the biggest impact. The Fw 189 Uhu reconnaissance plane is well suited to this role with a large glass canopy, good loiter time and excellent maneuverability. Crews are taught to fly low so as to avoid enemy radar, and the tight turn radius helps to evade enemy fighter attacks too.

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Messerschmitt Me 262

Tech:

Air Level 2

Cost:

840 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

756

Recharge Time:

5 mins 12 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 30 secs

Health:

500

Firepower:

160 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

435

Maximum Reserve Wings:

1 (2 aircraft)

The Me262 is the first jet fighter in the world to see active service. It has exceptional speed and firepower which makes it exceptionally deadly. The huge firepower is especially deadly to enemy bombers, and so completing the expensive jet research programme is reccomended if the enemy bombers are causing particular problems. The descision to shift pilots from the more conventional planes and into jets is a strategic choice. The use of such a move will depend on the battlefield situation.

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Heinkel He 162

Tech:

Air Level 3

Cost:

500 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

450

Recharge Time:

5 mins 8 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 28 secs

Health:

200

Firepower:

115 (anti-air, rapid fire)

Inbound Speed:

420

Maximum Reserve Wings:

1 (2 aircraft)

The He162 Volksjäger was envisioned as a cheap plane that anyone could fly. Using advanced jet technology and the latest rapid-fire cannons the plane would have a huge edge over enemy fighters. In reality the plane is very difficult to fly well. The cheap construction means it has very fine tolerances and only the state of the art ejector seat system offsets the extreme hazard to inexperienced pilots. However in the hands of a competent pilot the high speed and powerful cannons make the He162 a very powerful aircraft at an absurdly cheap price.

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Arado Ar 234

Tech:

Air Level 3

Cost:

1000

Rebate On Map Exit:

900

Recharge Time:

3 mins 28 secs

Endurance:

4 mins 28 secs

Health:

575

Payload:

1 HE bomb (3900 damage)

Inbound Speed:

450

Maximum Reserve Strikes:

2

The Ar 234 is a twin engine bomber capable of extreme speeds. The high top speed makes it nearly impossible to shoot down, while a sturdy airframe allows it to carry a devastating bomb load. The jet engines allow for the Ar234 to be sent almost anywhere on the battlefield, it will arrive very rapidly, even in the face of enemy FlaK guns. This Ar234 totally replaces the obsolete Ju 87 Stukas. Pilot attrition makes operating such aircraft when the Ar 234 is availible totally pointless.

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Henschel Hs 129

Tech:

Level 2

Cost:

2000

Rebate On Map Exit:

1800

Recharge Time:

4 mins 38 secs

Endurance:

32 secs

Health:

700

Firepower:

310 (light penetration)

Rate of Fire:

0.25 secs

Firepower Upgraded:

330 (heavy penetration)

Rate of Fire Upgraded:

1.5 secs

Inbound Speed:

225

Maximum Reserve Wings:

1 (2 aircraft)

The Hs 129 is a dedicated ground attack aircraft, a somewhat experimental design with heavy armour and cannons designed to attack enemy ground units. The high level of protection allows the plane to shrug off ground fire while the autocannons allow it to shred light armour. Later in the war its autocannons are replaced with a single 75mm gun to keep it up to date with armour developments. This is essentially the same weapon as found on the Panzer IV, but with an autoloader which allows it to fire at a very fast rate.

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Junkers Ju 87 Stuka

Tech:

Start

Cost:

1300

Rebate On Map Exit:

1170

Recharge Time:

3 mins 36 secs

Health:

575

Payload:

1 HE bomb (700 damage)

Payload Upgraded:

1 HE bomb (3200 damage)

Inbound Speed:

150

Maximum Reserve Strikes:

3

The Ju 87 is a Stuka (dive bomber). It is designed to fly in a steep arc towards its target gaining tremendous speed and being almost impossible to shoot down. At the same time the predictable flight path allows for exceptional accuracy. The role of the Stukas is to disrupt enemy organisation, interdicting their logistics and buildup areas, and to provide close air support - flying artillery able to take out heavy enemy targets that are causing a problem for ground forces. Primarily though, the role of the Stukas is to destroy the enemy's morale and resolve to fight. To increase their fearsome presence even further, they are equipped with banshee sirens to strike terror into the hearts of their victims.

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Heinkel He 111

Tech:

Level 1

Cost:

3170 (operate in threes)

Rebate On Map Exit:

2850

Recharge Time:

2 mins 54 secs

Health:

100 (high flying)

Payload:

Strategic (disables target zone)

Inbound Speed:

69

Maximum Reserve Strikes:

1 (3 aircraft)

The He 111 is a medium bomber designed to attack strategic assets. It carpet bombs factory complexes which knocks out their production, undermining the enemy war effort. The enemy air towers make a particularly good target since this prevents them from requesting new wings of aircraft. He 111s fly slowly and so are vulnerable to FlaK cannons and interceptors. It is essential that they have fighter escorts to protect them from these threats.

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Junkers Ju 52

Tech:

Start

Cost:

1950 (operate in pairs)

Rebate On Map Exit:

1750

Recharge Time:

1 mins

Health:

100 (high flying)

Payload:

Strategic (disables target zone)

Inbound Speed:

69

Maximum Reserve Strikes:

2 (4 aircraft)

The Ju 52 is a transport plane able to provide air logistics. Its primary battlefield role is to drop Fallschirmjägers behind enemy lines. These elite paratroopers are able to disrupt enemy positions, take over their towns and generally cause mayhem and disruption. The Ju 52 transports are vulnerable to FlaK cannons and enemy fighters. Their low speed is unhelpful and they must rely on supprise to get to their drop zones unhindered.