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Best fighter of WWII poll 2, 1940

Discussion in 'The Tanks in World War 2 quiz section' started by Varyag, Nov 27, 2006.

?

Best fighter of 1940?

Poll closed Dec 4, 2006.
  1. Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIB

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  2. Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7

    0 vote(s)
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  3. Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat

    0 vote(s)
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  4. Mitsubishi A6M2 Reisen

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  5. Dewoitine D 520

    0 vote(s)
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  6. Polikarpov I-16 Tip 24

    0 vote(s)
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  7. Hawker Hurricane Mk II

    0 vote(s)
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  8. Bloch 152

    0 vote(s)
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  9. Curtiss P-40 (Hawk 81 A)

    0 vote(s)
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  10. Bristol Beaufighter Mk I

    0 vote(s)
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  1. Varyag

    Varyag New Member

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    Still a few hours left to vote for best fighter of 1939, but here is the next poll. Choose the fighter you think was the best in 1940.

    Again, the options are chosen from fighters in service by 1940, not from the year of first flight.
     
  2. Simonr1978

    Simonr1978 New Member

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    Spitfire MkIIB for me of the options.
     
  3. Canadian_Super_Patriot

    Canadian_Super_Patriot recruit

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    yeah , i agree with simon. The spitfire ws the best fighter of 1940
     
  4. Siberian Black

    Siberian Black New Member

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    What about the Hurricaine?
     
  5. Canadian_Super_Patriot

    Canadian_Super_Patriot recruit

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    The hurricane had more superior firepower and possibly a more pwerful engine. The spitfire was faster and more manueverable that the Hurricane.
     
  6. Ricky

    Ricky Well-Known Member

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    Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but they had the same armament and the same engine...


    The Spit's guns were arranged less effectively than the Hurri, so a bonus to the Hurri there.

    The Spit got a higher performance out of its engine, so a bonus to the Spit there.
     
  7. Ossian phpbb3

    Ossian phpbb3 New Member

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    IIRC some marks of Hurricane had up to 12 .303 MGs
    Someone can perhaps pull up a reference?

    Tom
     
  8. Notmi

    Notmi New Member

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    My (un)trustworthy "Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II" says that Hurricane IIb was armed with 12 mg's. But, apparently at the same time, you could get cannon armed Spitfire...
     
  9. Simonr1978

    Simonr1978 New Member

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    The Spitfire version concerned here has 2 (Reliable!) 20mm Hispanos and 4 .303s. The Hurricane MKIIs of this period had not yet recieved the 12 .303 or 4 20mm armament (Both appeared for the first times in 1941 I believe), so in every practical respect except turning circle the Spitfire MkIIB is superior to the Hurricane MkIIA.

    IIRC The differing Spitfire wing armaments throughout the war were:
    "A" - 8 x .303s
    "B" - 2 x 20mm, 4 x .303s
    "E" - 2 x 20mm, 2 x .50
    "C" introduced the universal wing, but gun wise was the same as "B", and there was also the very late war 4 x 20mms, not sure what if anything "D" was.

    And Hurricanes also IIRC were:
    "A" - 8 x .303s
    "B" - 12 x .303s
    "C" - 4 x 20mm
    "D" - 2 x .303s (I think), 2 x 40mm or bombs

    In all fairness the Spitfire MkIA is probably more representative of 1940, since the MkIIs didn't appear until very late in the year, but of the options I believe the MkIIB is the better aircraft.

    Apologees for any errors as this is purely going from memory.
     
  10. Siberian Black

    Siberian Black New Member

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    I think I have that game. Don't remember the hurri even being mentioned but I haven't watched the movies (or even played the game) in a while.
     
  11. Canadian_Super_Patriot

    Canadian_Super_Patriot recruit

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    I was always under the impression that the hurricane had Hispano cannons and had a different engine, which is why they were used more against bombers than spitfires.
     
  12. Simonr1978

    Simonr1978 New Member

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    Nope not initially anyway. Both were powered by Merlins, and during the BoB both largely had the 8 x .303 fit, there were a few Spitfire MkIBs but they were mostly refitted to A standard due to reliability issues, and I think one cannon armed Hurri was trialled.

    The difference in the two "A"s was that the Hurricane's guns were much more closely packed together which led to much more concentrated fire, plus it's lower overall performance meant it was better suited to engaging the slower bombers than the faster and more nimble fighters.
     
  13. Simonr1978

    Simonr1978 New Member

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    It's also a book, which I think is what Notmi was referring to. ;)
     
  14. Notmi

    Notmi New Member

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    Yes, I was referring to a book.
    There is a game too? :eek:
     
  15. Siberian Black

    Siberian Black New Member

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    "Janes WW2 Fighters" Good game but the stats and details are probably a little off.
     
  16. majorwoody10

    majorwoody10 New Member

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    hurri pilots were told if encountering 109s ,dont dive ,dont climb ,dont loop ...turn turn turn its your only hope..
     

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