I mean this plane is really made to hunt bombers and such, so why label it as a strike aircraft?
(I know the radar has almost no use outside of Simulator)
1 Like
It was classified as “Destroyer” or Night Fighter/Heavy Fighter or as an Attacker in real life.
If I remember correctly its role was moved around a bit in the Luftwaffe and it ended up as a Night Fighter because it was outclassed by it’s contemporaries at daytime.
So classifying it as an Attacker/Strike Aircraft is the right way, as it gives it an air spawn and allows it to climb to hunt those bombers.
It’s also quite good as a ground unit destroyer :)
G-4 should be a (night)fighter. The other ingame versions should be strike aircraft (as they are).
1 Like
Should get an interceptor spawn. The G4 was purely a night fighter. The type ended its run as a “Jabo” fighter bomber. But mostly a bomber.
1 Like
The classification as strike aircraft fulfills various purposes:
- It nerfs the plane for people who want to use it as bomber interceptor as the forward strike fighter spawn prevents the interception of any bomber that somehow climbs on most maps as the time is not sufficient to climb and compensate the way higher air spawn of a strategic bomber.
- In order to fulfil the anti-bomber role it would need the “air superiority fighter” spawn (which is even higher as the interceptor spawn) like the P-61. This would give the 110 time enough to outclimb / get on co-alt with heavy bombers like B-17s.
- Classification as strike aircraft has usually higher SP requirements in Ground RB.
- The “wrong” spawn allows in Air RB to strap on bombs and to kill 2 bases (with 2 x C 500 Flamm) which supports sales of the Italian premium version and create a lot of rather easy (because low and slow) targets for enemy teams. Have in mind that the number of strike aircraft is not limited by numbers.
- Technically seen there is nothing wrong with using a night fighter as ground attack aircraft as this happend irl mid/late 44 when the German radar stations in France / the Netherlands were overrun rendering them useless. The only difference to irl is that these ground strikes happend at night, and not in bright daylight.
Have a good one!
1 Like
very informative thank you a lot
1 Like
This is somehow correct but it depends on the time you are looking at and which role they had to fulfil at which time.
Air superiority:
-
Up to May 1940 the 110 was able to fight even Spits and Hurricanes if used correctly - above 6 km and BnZ only as the early RR Merlin was trash at high altitude (single stage supercharger) and domestic 87 octane fuel was used by GB. The 110 was faster than most single engine fighters and their pilots learned above Poland that there is no need to turnfight way more nimble opponents.
-
Things changed with the early deliveries of 100 octane fuel by the US which created a power boost up to 30% (depending on alt) for the RR Merlin, that’s why even 109s got surprised as the same planes they clapped rather easily above France gained such a boost out of nowhere.
-
As the rather effective usage of the RAF FC prevented fights with tactical advantages like alt advantage things went downwards rather quickly, the plain stupid decision to fly close escorts for bombers sealed their fate as the escort fighters needed escorts by 109s.
-
So the 110s in the BoB ended like RAF and Commonwealth pilots in various P-40 version flying above North Africa vs way superior 109s - flying defensive circles (Lufbery circles) in order to stay alive.
Air defense roles (day and night):
-
As the air war escalated the necessity to create a specialized night fighter with long endurance, heavy firepower and additional crew was immanent the 110 was the logical choice. The 110 excelled in this role even if most guys assess the Ju 88 G and the He 219 as way superior aircraft.
-
Delivering heavy armament like WfG 21 to break up combat boxes was technically seen the correct approach like proven during the 2 USAAF raids on Schweinfurt in August & October 43 (with the G-2 version), but the planes needed escorts to fulfill these tasks or they were easy easy prey for enemy escorts. That’s why all heavy fighter units (aka ZG) where first withdrawn outside estimated combat ranges of escorts and finally disbanded.
So success depends on the role and like the 109 was the most successful day fighter of all time, the 110 was the most sucessful night fighter of all time - determined by the only number that matters = kills.
1 Like
so it should be reclassified as a interceptor.
1 Like
Why not the “air superiority spawn” like the otherwise useless P-61? The difference to IC spawn is a higher spawn alt and usually closer to center map.
Have in mind that the role certain aircraft fulfill in wt have nothing to do with irl events and are mainly “balancing” decision and air spawns in general are spread out following these balancing thoughts and “reasons”.
That’s why designated interceptors like the XF5F (USN equivalent of XP-50) got his IC spawn denied together with the 109 Z-1 as designated bomber interceptor (whilst not implementing the 5th Mk 108).
On the other hand you see post war long range escorts like the P/F-82 with an air spawn - or certain aircraft without a bomb sight having a medium bomber spawn like the post war Brigand or the Helldiver and being used as interceptors…
1 Like