Albatros J.I

Ghostmaxi · August 25, 2024, 6:04pm

Would you like to see this in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

I would like to suggest this Albatros J.I which is another dedicated ground attack aircraft from WW1.
It would be especialy effective in a possible WW1-inter war mode, as with its side mounted 20mm Becker M.II gun it would easily penetrate most roofs of the early tanks such as the british Mark Tanks, which only had around 5,5 mm.

In general, after in 1916 in verdun for the first time rather successfully planes were used for direct ground support, germany really saw the full importance and potential. As such in 1917 a special programm was started to develop a whole line of different dedicated ground attack aircraft of different designes. Such as the Albatros J.I, which was overall armed with 3x 7,92 mm Mgs (08/15 and a LMG 14 Parabellum) and 1x 20mm Becker M.II.
1x Mg was in a ring mount at the back for defence, 2x were fixed in the bottom to shoot at groundtargets downwards, like Schräge Musik, just the other way around. And the most improtant part, the 20mm Becker was mounted to the left side in a ground attack mount, with some Air defence ability.

Overall this plane was constructed as a wooden biplane, with realtively heavy armor reinforcement to protect from ground fire.

At the time the 20mm Gun could easily penetrate the thinn roofs of the tanks, while the 2x fixed downwars Mgs could effectively shoot at soft targets, while also damage tanks when loaded with the K-Geschoss which could penetrate ~16mm close up.

Later on (partly duo to crews having trouble with the fuzelage) the improved J.II with reduced wingspan and length, but stronger engine was build, however only as a Trail series.

Pictures:(Click to show)

Armarment:
2x 7,92mm Mg 08/15 600 rpm, 900m/s, ~16mm pen with K-Geschoss.(Fixed downwards see drawing)
1x 7,92mm MG 14 Parabellum 700 rpm same ammo and barrle length.(Flexible)
1x 20mm Becker M.II (Flexible)

2 cm Becker M.II

Pictures:(Click to show)

One of the first modern type 20mm Cannon and served as the basis for the later Oerlikon 20mm FF guns. Using the API Blowback action. It was Intended as a AA and AT gun, on ground, vehicles and planes/airships. Later M3 variant was heavyer, reducing the fire rate to 250 rpm but velocity to 700m/s.
It was intended as 20mm, to not be a warcrime to have an explosive filling, overall the ammo layout was also quite modern, with multiple AP rounds, HE rounds as well as incendary rounds.

Caliber: 20mm

Ammo: 20x70mmRB Becker

Fire Rate: 325 rpm

Single Shot, Full auto, 15 rounds Magazin

Muzzle velocity: 490-500m/s

Weight: 30kg

Mounting: Main Tank gun, Fixed and flexible

Ammo Types: Ap-T, I-T, I, HEI, HE

Summary Of ammo Drawings:(Click to show)