Here’s a quick history of the Buccaneers. Originally there were two versions:
Buccaneer S.1: Initial version for Fleet Air Arm
Buccaneer S.2: Version with new engines & weapons, etc. built for the FAA. Used by the RAF for training shortly after they agreed to start using Buccaneer (many years after the FAA did).
The RAF agreed to adopt the Buccaneer around the same time as Martel was being rolled out (1972 IIRC), so as the various standards were about to get complicated the S.2 designation was split into four:
Buccaneer S.2A: A Buccaneer S.2 modified for the RAF (modified undercarriage and ejection seats,
improved nav/attack system, bomb door fuel tank, etc.)
Buccaneer S.2B: A Buccaneer S.2A upgraded to support the Martel missile and ALQ-101 ECM pod
Buccaneer S.2C: A new designation for the Buccaneer S.2 in FAA service to be consistent with the new naming scheme.
Buccaneer S.2D: A Buccaneer S.2C with support for Martel.
So the S.2B and S.2D were very similar to begin with, but as the S.2B was in service much longer than the S.2D it received various upgrades that the S.2D was no longer in service to receive. Stuff like Laser Guided Bombs, fuselage mounted countermeasures, Sea Eagle, etc.
The Dev Steam should mean we can finally end the debate once and for all.
It’ll probably be a GE premium in the one tree without any of the nation’s stuff(that everyone could get). But I really hope the “Place 2” is option C.
Where the Leopard will end up or if Canada will be a Tech Tree?
Because I can tell you very easily that if Canada won’t appear as a Tech Tree with a Leopard as the pre-order. A new nations Tech Tree starts with planes, not tanks