Heroes of the Pacific
Allied Plane Guide
version 1.0
Copyright (c) 2005 Erik Harris demian23[at]stanfordalumni[dot]org
Please email corrections, suggestions, or errata to the above email address ;)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Fighters
2.1 P-40 Warhawk
2.2 F-4F Wildcat
2.3 F-4U Corsair
2.4 Sea Fire
2.5 Yak 3
2.6 P-47 Thunderbolt
2.7 P-38 Lightning
2.8 Tempest
2.9 P-51 Mustang
2.10 F6F Hellcat
2.11 P-61 Black Widow
2.12 P-80 Shooting Star
2.13 F8F Bearcat
3. Dive Bombers
3.1 SBD Dauntless
4. Torpedo Bombers
4.1 TBD Devastator
4.2 TBF Avenger
5. Heavy Bombers
5.1 PBY Catalina
5.2 B-26 Marauder
5.3 B-25 Mitchell
6. Revision History
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1. Introduction
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This guide gives information on all of the Allied planes flyable in Heroes of
the Pacific. A brief historical perspective on each plane is given, as well
as statistics and a review of each version.
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2. Fighters
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2.1 P-40 Warhawk
-----------------
History: The P-40 Warhawk was actually the third most numerous US fighter plane
during World War II. It was not the most celebrated, however, due its technical
inferiority to planes developed and produced during the war. The P-40 and its
variants were actually based on 1930s technology, and it was the fighter that
the US Military had in service and deployed at its worldwide airbases when the
war started. The most famous P-40s of World War II were the "Flying Tiger"
squadron of American volunteers (most were ex-US military aviators) who flew a
squadron of P-40B Warhawks against the Japanese in Burma. Overall, P-40s were
outclassed by Japanese fighters and were useful primarily in airbase and fleet
defense roles intercepting slower enemy fighter/bombers, dive bombers and
torpedo planes. Despite their technical inferiority, P-40s served very
successfully in the roles in which they were deployed, even against enemy
fighters, a fact attributed to the skill and sound tactics of the pilots who
flew them.
P-40 Warhawk
------------
Upgrade Cost: None
Speed: 0.5
Agility: 2
Armor: 1
Guns: 0.5
Weapons: 2 x .50 cal MG
Grade: F
Review: The stock P-40 is the worst fighter plane in the entire game, bar none.
Luckily, you won't have to suffer through flying one except in three training
missions and the first mission (which should be done on Rookie difficulty while
trapped in this bucket for the first run). The P-40 lacks in every way
imaginable: speed, firepower, toughness, engine and maneuverability. The
worst flaws, in my opinion, are the lack of engine power leading to an
inability to execute basic dogfighting evasion maneuvers, and an underwhelming
lack of firepower. A lonely pair of .50 cal machine guns is all you get, and
these feel like a couple of .22 rifles for all the stopping power they give
you.
P-40C Warhawk
------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P-40 Warhawk
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Armor: 1
Guns: 1
Weapons: 2 x .50 cal MG
4 x .30 cal MG
Grade: D-
Review: The main advantage of the P-40C over the stock P-40 is that it packs
more firepower, having an additional set of .30 cal machine guns. It's
slightly faster, but still too slow overall to be an effective fighter plane
against other fighters. It also lacks any additional ordnance in the form of
rockets or bombs.
P-40N-15 Warhawk
------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P-40C Warhawk
Speed: 1.5
Agility: 2.5
Armor: 2
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Grade: C-
Review: Given that this plane costs a total of 9 points to get, it's hardly
worth it. Unless you play the first missions at Ace difficulty, you'll have
the Corsair before this plane is even an option. Nonetheless, this is the only
P-40 worth flying. It has improved firepower, good agility, and is reasonably
durable. Could be a good sleeper plane in multiplayer, or maybe for historical
buffs wishing to recapture the glory of the Flying Tigers. The lack of rockets
or bombs makes the P-40C almost useless in most Single Player mission.
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2.2 F4F Wildcat
-----------------
History:
The F4 Wildcat was one of the most famous carrier-based planes in the Pacific
Theater with many historic dogfights being fought primarily between carrier
based Zeroes and Wildcats. The Wildcat was a versatile and tough fighter
fielded in large numbers by the Navy in the early part of the war. Though it
was less quick than the opposing Zero, it was more heavily armored, making the
two a relatively even match. Butch O'Hare, a famous American ace, flew, and
was tragically shot down in, a Wildcat.
F4F-3 Wildcat
------------
Upgrade Cost: None
Speed: 0.5
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 2.5
Guns: 1
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
Grade: D
Review: The stock Wildcat is a little tank (with no big gun). It's slow, a
little unwieldy, and has average firepower in the form of 4 machine guns. Its
big advantage is that it can take a beating, so you can fly almost without
regard to hostile enemy fire. An additional advantage is that the Wildcat's
small size makes it a hard target to hit, even if it is slow and not very
maneuverable. Unfortunately, the stock Wildcat lacks rockets or bombs, which
severely limits its utility in most missions. Upgraded, it becomes a much
more attractive choice.
F4F-4 Wildcat
------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and F4F-3 Wildcat
Speed: 1
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 3
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 1 x 500lb. Bomb
Grade: c
Review: The addition of more firepower, even more armor, and slightly more
speed make this Wildcat a very solid fighter. It should serve you well until
the Corsair becomes available. There's also a 500 lb. GP bomb available,
though you won't fly any missions where you'll need it in all likelihood,
unless you want to take on the Destroyers while defending Wake.
F4FM-2 Wildcat
------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and F4F-4 Wildcat
Speed: 1.5
Agility: 2
Armor: 3
Guns: 1
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
- 4 x 5 inch Rockets
Grade: c
Review: More speed, more maneuverability, same armor, fewer guns?? You do get
rockets and an extra bomb. All in all, this is not an improvement worth 6
points when you consider that the upgraded Corsair is all around a better plane
for the same price.
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2.3 F4U Corsair
------------------
History: The Vought F4U Corsair was a beast of a heavy fighter with plenty of
horsepower and firepower. Used primarily by the US Marine Corps for land
operations due to the difficulties it had landing on World War II aircraft
carriers, the Corsair nonetheless saw a fair amount of carrier based action over
the Pacific. Corsairs were best used in support roles as fighter/bombers during
ground operations due to their ability to deliver numerous rockets and bombs
to quickly and decisively neutralize fortified enemy positions. The Corsair saw
several variations on its basic design, but all variants included two common
elements: the distinctive double-jointed wing and an oversized propeller. These
features make the Corsair one of the most recognizable fighter planes of the
war.
F4U-1 Corsair
-------------
Upgrade Cost: None
Speed: 1
Agility: 2
Armor: 3
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Grade: C-
Review: A solid fighter with good armor, adequate maneuverability, and adequate
firepower. The Corsair has all of the advantages of the Wildcat, but turns
sharper and responds quicker. You should upgrade the stock Corsair immediately
to take advantage of the bombs and rockets that make the Corsair a true force
to be reckoned with.
F4U-1D Corsair
-------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points
Speed: 1.5
Agility: 2
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
- 4 x 5 inch Rockets
Grade: C+
Review: The only thing you may want in the F4U-1D is a little more speed, which
you can get for only 6 points more! Overall, this is a very servicable plane
that can easily carry you through the Marshall Island campaigns. The addition
of bombs and rockets will make taking out ground targets much easier.
F4U-4 Corsair
-------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and F4U-1D Corsair
Speed: 2
Agility: 2.5
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
- 1 x 1000lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rockets
Grade: B
Review: With great armor for a fighter, good maneuverability and enough speed
to get into and out of most situations, the F4U-4 is the best fighter you will
likely be able to get in the early stages of the game unless you're flying every
mission on Ace mode. The addition of a whole stockpile of heavy ordnance make
the F4U-4 a must-have and well worth the upgrade points, especially before
tackling missions that have a large number of ground targets like 'Attack on
Taroa.'
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2.4 Sea Fire
------------------
History: The Sea Fire was actually a RAF Supermarine Spitfire that was
converted by the Royal Navy to a carrier based fighter to be used for fleet
defense. It was quite successful in this role, flying in support of British
warships in the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Indian Ocean, and even the
Pacific near the end of the war. Seafire planes were noted for their
exceptional combat performance, but also had a reputation for being fragile and
difficult to land on a carrier. A Seafire pilot had the distinction of
shooting down the last Japanese plane of World War II on August 15th, 1945, the
last day of the war.
Sea Fire Mk. III
-------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Wake Island campaign missions at Ace difficulty
Speed: 2
Agility: 2.5
Armor: 2
Guns: 3.5
Weapons: 4 x .30 cal MG
2 x 20mm Cannon
Optional - 1 x 500lb. Bomb
Grade: B
Review: Tally Ho! The Sea Fire was not ever deployed in the Pacific, but if it
had been, and it had been this effective... The performance of this carrier
based version of the vaunted Supermarine Spitfire might have been slightly
exaggerated for the purposes of dramatic effect in the game, but who cares!
It's a nice carrot for beating the Wake Island campaigns on Ace mode. The stock
version of the Seafire is roughly equivalent to the F4U-4 Corsair, but with more
offense and less defense. The key to the high gun stat is the 2 x 20mm Cannon
which packs a much bigger punch than the standard machine guns on most planes.
Cannons are more damaging, but heat up quickly, meaning they need to be fired in
controlled bursts for maximum effectiveness.
Sea Fire Mk. VII
-------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 3
Armor: 2.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: 4 x .20mm Cannon
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
Grade: B+
Review: Upgraded, the Sea Fire only gets better. The only thing it lacks is
Rockets, which you can get for another six points. Also, this model packs ONLY
Cannons, for more firepower, but you'll have to mind your heat carefully to
avoid the Cannons slowing down just as you draw a bead.
Seafire F.47
-------------
Cost: 6 points and Sea Fire Mk. VII
Speed: 3
Agility: 3
Armor: 2.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: 4 x .20mm Cannon
Optional - 3 x 500lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: A
Review: This fighter really is one of the best in the game. It has great
firepower, 3 bombs, 8 rockets, it's plenty fast and plenty maneuverable. It's
only potential flaw is that it's a little fragile and tends to rack up damage
quickly. Nonetheless, it makes completing many missions easy even on Ace
difficulty. Not surprisingly, this plane was actually used after WW II ended.
Mk. 47s flew combat missions during the Korean conflict.
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2.5 Yak 3
------------------
History: The Yak 3 was a Soviet fighter developed during the later years of
World War II to combat the high-powered Luftwaffe fighter planes over the
battlefields of the Eastern Front. Because the Yak was built to dogfight the
powerful and nimble German fighters, it was fast, agile, and light. It was
universally regarded as the best Soviet aircraft of the war, and many believe
it to be one of the best pure fighter planes of the war. Because they were
flown primarily over the Eastern Front during the later stages of the war, Yak
fighters never made a substantial impact in turning the tide of the war because
the tide was turned by a much more powerful Russian force: the infamous Russian
winter. Interestingly, many Yak fighters were flown by women pilots, as the
Russian airforce allowed women to become fighter and bomber pilots.
Yak 3
------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Coral Sea campaign missions at Ace difficulty
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 3.5
Armor: 1.5
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 2 x .50 cal MG
1 x 20mm Cannon
Grade: c+
Review: The Yak 3 flies almost exactly like the Zero. It's fast and agile, but
vulnerable and doesn't boast a lot of heavy firepower. Still, it's unlike
anything the Allies can field since most of the allied fighters are heavy and
slow planes bristling with weapons. The Yak's biggest drawback is that it can't
carry any rockets or bombs, even in upgraded form. Used strictly as a
dogfighter, the Yak can beat the Japanese fighters at their own game, but as a
general purpose fighter it's second to a number of fighters that include similar
statistics, but also include heavy ordnance: the Seafire, P-38 Lightning, P-47
Thunderbolt, P-51 Mustang, and F8F Bearcat.
Yak 3-D
-------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and Yak 3
Speed: 3
Agility: 3.5
Armor: 2
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 2 x .50 cal MG
1 x 20mm Cannon
Grade: B-
Review: For three points, you get a slight boost in speed and armor. It's still
pretty much the same Yak though. The best reason to upgrade is to get yourself
one step closer to the Yak 3-P.
Yak 3-P
-------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and Yak 3
Speed: 3.5
Agility: 4
Armor: 2
Guns: 3.5
Weapons: 2 x .50 cal MG
1 x 20mm Cannon
Grade: A-
Review: The Yak 3-P is a great pure dogfighting plane on a par with almost
anything else out there. Its biggest weakness is its fragility, which can be
compensated for by its pure offensive power, speed and maneuverability. It also
lacks bombs and rockets, which prevent it from getting an A grade. Use the Yak
3-P in situations where you'll be facing large numbers of enemy aircraft and
won't need to attack naval or heavy ground targets. Unfortunately, the single
player campaign doesn't include many missions that suit the Yak, but in multi-
player games, the Yak is definitely competative.
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2.6 P-47 Thunderbolt
--------------------
History: The P47 Thunderbolt was introduced midway through the war, initially
in the European theater, then later in the Pacific. P47s had a reputation for
being a nearly indestructible behemoth of a fighter bomber that made up for its
weight (between 5 and 8 tons) and lack of maneuverability with sheer firepower
and durability. Thunderbolts were not very effective at low altitudes, being
unable to match lighter fighter planes' agility, but they were unbeatable at
high altitudes where they could take advantage of their superior diving ability.
Especially in the European theater, Thunderbolts were responsible for racking up
thousands of kills against targets ranging from enemy fighter and bombers to
tanks, and even trains.
P-47D Thunderbolt
----------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Midway campaign missions at Ace difficulty
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 8 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 1 x 500 lb. Bomb
Grade: C
Review: This version of the Thunderbolt is essentially the same as a stock
Corsair. It's not really worth flying, especially because it only has a single
small bomb and no rockets. If you earned the plane, you were flying Ace mode,
and if you did that, you have the points to upgrade. Just like in life, the P47
and all of its upgrades should not be used in low altitude dogfighting because
its speed coupled with its lack of maneuverability means you could find yourself
crashing into the ground, ships, or other objects. It's a great high-altitude
fighter though, and can hold its own in dogfights except when badly outnumbered.
You need to be a little patient in the P47, since it turns really slowly.
P-47J Thunderbolt
-----------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P47D Thunderbolt
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 4
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 3 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B-
Review: Better plane, but why stop here? This P47 lacks rockets and has fewer
guns than either the D or the N. Since you have the points, upgrade to the P47J
to have one of the better fighters in the game.
P-47N Thunderbolt
----------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P47J Thunderbolt
Speed: 3
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 8 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 3 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B+
Review: This fighter is definitely a contender. It's reasonably fast, has
decent guns, and more than enough heavy ordnance. It can be a little on the
clumsy side in terms of handling, but it is as heavily armored (or more so)
than most full-fledged bombers. This means that you won't really have to do
much dodging and weaving, and you can more than hold your own with any opponent
when flying head-to-head. Use this plane for any mission where you expect to
have to take a licking while taking out ground targets. Don't use it for the
pure dogfighting missions since its lack of maneuverability and gun firepower
can be frustrating against the more agile Japanese fighters. It's pretty much
the mirror image of the Yak, and the two would complement each other very
nicely if flown cooperatively.
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2.7 P-38 Lightning
------------------
History: The P-38 Lightning was a large fighter-bomber introduced in the
earlier part of the war. Its unique design allowed it to have unsurpassed
versatility, and it was deployed with great success in a number of roles and
operational areas. As a fighter, the P-38 relied on the power supplied by its
twin engines to outclimb single-engine adversaries. As a bomber, it carried a
bomb-load similar to a light bomber like the B-24, or even torpedos (it could
carry two). P-38s were used by American pilots in the Mediterranean, in Alaska,
and of course, in the Pacific. Dick Bong, the top American Ace of WWII with
40 kills, flew a P-38 in the Pacific Theater.
P-38D Lightning
----------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat Mission "Sink the Mikuma"
Speed: 1.5
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 4
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
1 x 37 mm. Cannon
Grade: C
Review: Upgrade this mediocre plane all the way to get a great fighter plane.
Without upgrades, you'll be flying what's equivalent to a Corsair without bombs
or rockets. Since the Lightning isn't the best dogfighter, you really shouldn't
ever be flying the stock version.
P-38F-15 Lightning
----------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P38D Lightning
Speed: 2
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
1 x 20 mm. Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B-
Review: This Lightning is a very solid plane, but there's no reason not to
upgrade to the P38L to get rockets as well.
P-38L Lightning
----------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P38F-15 Lightning
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 2
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
1 x 20 mm. Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 10 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B+
Review: The fully upgraded Lightning is very similar in performance and armament
to the P-47 in that it is a tank of a fighter plane that carries a lot of heavy
ordnance. The Lightning excels in missions where you will be facing a lot of
fire from ground and naval targets. Its a touch on the slow side for a fighter,
and it's a big target, but it carries more rockets and bombs than any other
plane available. The Lightning can also hold its own in dogfights, but should
avoid close range turn fights against smaller, more agile planes. Use the range
of the Cannon to your advantage in hitting enemy fighters from a distance when
possible.
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2.8 Hawker Tempest
-------------------
History: Tempests never saw action in the Pacific Theater, being used primarily
as a late-war heavy fighter/interceptor over the skies of the European theater.
Tempests were known for being dangerous due to their good performance and heavy
firepower. They were used to mop up the remainder of the decimated Luftwaffe in
1944 and 1945, and made a name for themselves by downing 20 Me262 jet fighters.
They were also successful in downing numerous German flying bombs, a rudimentary
cruise missile developed by the Germans at the very end of the war.
Tempest Mk.II
-------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Guadalcanal missions on Ace difficulty
Speed: 1.5
Agility: 1
Armor: 2.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B-
Review: Upgrade. If you flew all of Guadalcanal at Ace difficulty, you have
the points ya cheapskate!
Tempest Mk.V Series II
-----------------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and Tempest Mk.II
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Armor: 3
Guns: 4
Weapons: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B+
Review: See above. Go all the way with upgrading this plane, or you're
cheating yourself.
Tempest Mk.VI
-----------------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and Tempest Mk.V Series II
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 3
Guns: 5
Weapons: 2 x 20mm Cannon
2 x 47mm Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: A
Review: Wow. The fully upgraded Tempest can bring more firepower to bear on a
single target than any other plane in the game, bar none. Not only that, but it
is as tough as a Corsair or a Wildcat! If you manage to unlock this plane,
you'd be foolish to use anything else on almost any mission out there except
for the pure dogfighting missions (where the Yak is arguably superior), or pure
anti-ship missions. It's Achilles heel is the same as that of the Thunderbolt,
i.e. more speed than agility which leads it to be vulnerable to crashing into
the ground or other objects that it is attacking. The best way to fly the
Tempest is with slow deliberate intent, bringing targets into the sights one by
one and dispatching them quickly. Try to keep your distance and avoid getting
into turn fights at close range where agile aircraft like the Zero and Raiden
can get the best of you. The 47mm Cannons are a secondary weapon, and they are
truly awesome to use against aircraft since they're a lot more accurate than
rockets and do about the same amount of damage. The 47mm Cannon, tough armor,
rockets, and great guns make the Tempest the ideal bomber-interceptor.
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2.9 P-51 Mustang
------------------
History: Probably the most famous American fighter of all time, the P-51
Mustang's potence, aesthtetic beauty, and key tactical role in turning the tide
of the war are well documented. P-51 Mustangs were primarily used as escort
fighters to protect the Allied bombing raids over Germany in 1944 and 1945.
Celebrated American pilot Chuck Yeager made ace flying a P-51 Mustang before
going on to break the sound barrier and a number of other aviation records (not
in a P-51, of course). Does the plane live up to the hype of historians and
aviation buffs? Fly it, and find out!
P-51A Mustang
--------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Gilbert Island missions on Ace difficulty
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 2.5
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500 lb. Bomb
Grade: B
Review: This Mustang is merely above average, and very lacking in firepower.
Upgrade all the way to get one of the best fighters in the game.
P-51B Mustang
--------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P-51A Mustang
Speed: 3
Agility: 3
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 2
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B+
The P-51B is a good plane, but not great. It's lacking in firepower, having no
rockets and only 4 machine guns.
P-51D Mustang
--------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P-51B Mustang
Speed: 3.5
Agility: 3
Armor: 4
Guns: 3
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: A
Review: The P-51D is one of the best balanced fighters in the game, and
possibly the best period. If it lacks for anything, it would be a cannon for
better punch at range. Otherwise, it's an effective dogfighter against any
opposition. It has great durability, like most American planes, but unlike
these other planes, it also has great speed and agility. Because of this, it
can effectively engage Japanese fighters like the Raiden, Zero, and Tony at
close range. It can also effectively engage ground and naval targets using its
more than adequate load of heavy ordnance.
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2.10 F6F-3 Hellcat
-------------------
History: Produced and released in 1942 to replace the Wildcat, the Hellcat
would go on to be the backbone of the US Navy carrier air corps for the majority
of the war. Hellcats were the first US fighter to really be able to effectively
engage Japanese planes in aerial combat, outperforming them in many engagements.
Hellcats were so effective that over 300 American pilots made Ace in the
Hellcat! Overall, the impact that this aircraft had on the war in the Pacific
cannot be measured, as it was involved in every key victory, scoring the bulk
of air combat kills.
F6F-3 Hellcat
--------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat Mission: Rescue the Usurper
Speed: 2
Agility: 2
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500 lb. Bomb
Grade: C
Review: Not a bad fighter, but not a great one either. It's only a slightly
better performer than the stock Corsair, being a bit faster. As you'll unlock
it fairly late in the campaign, you'll need to upgrade it if you plan to use it.
Overall, the Hellcat is the best fighter you'll have at this point if you aren't
flying at Ace difficulty. It definitely makes a huge difference in dogfights
since it isn't as limited in its mobility and speed as the Lightning.
F6F-5 Hellcat
--------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and F6F-3 Hellcat
Speed: 2.5
Agility: 2
Armor: 4
Guns: 3
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
2 x 20 mm Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B
Review: This is definitely a solid fighter with good guns, great durability,
but then again, it lacks rockets. As similar as this plane is to the P-38L,
there's no reason to fly this over the P-38L when the P-38L has rockets.
Upgrade to the F6F-N5 if you have the points to get a really good fighter.
F6F-N5 Hellcat
---------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and F6F-5 Hellcat
Speed: 3
Agility: 2.5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 3
Weapons: 4 x .50 cal MG
2 x 20 mm Cannon
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 6 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: A-
Review: The F6F-N5 is a pretty darn good fighter plane. If you haven't
unlocked any of the hidden planes by flying Ace difficulty, it's easily the
best you have yet unlocked. It's slightly weaker than many of the hidden
planes, but not much. Over all, it's well balanced, having cannons and good
gun firepower, a nice mix of heavy ordnance, great armor, good speed, and
average turning ability. It's also a small target, which can be very
advantageous in multi-player or online play. There isn't a mission in the
game you can't fly very effectively in a Hellcat.
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2.11 P-61 Black Widow
----------------------
History: The P-61 Black Widow was a specialized heavy fighter designed
specifically for night combat. It was outfitted with one of the first radar
devices to be installed in a fighter aircraft to assist it with flying these
missions against an enemy who had no such advantage. Because of its specialized
role, the P-61 never saw major combat action, nor did it play any pivotal role
in the war.
P-61A Black Widow
------------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Marianas missions on Ace difficulty
Speed: 1
Agility: .5
Armor: 4
Guns: 4
Weapons: Belly: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Top: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 4 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B-
Review: The P-61 Black Widow is really much more of a light bomber than a
fighter, but it's classified as a fighter nonetheless. It handles like a
bomber, and has a bomber's armor, but it has a little lighter bomb load and a
lot more gun firepower. You can't fly the Black Widow effectively in EVERY
mission, but it does make a very effective bomber-killer, having powerful guns,
the slow speed necessary to fly in sync with an enemy bomber formation, and
the armor necessary to stay alive while doing so. The lack of rockets doesn't
really affect the Black Widow's performance much, because the awesome power of
having 4 cannons that never seem to overheat offets this. Use the Black Widow
anywhere you have to take out a large number of ground targets, as it excels
in this role.
P-61B Black Widow
------------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P-61A Black Widow
Speed: 1.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: Belly: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Top: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 8 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 4 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B+
Review: The upgraded Black Widow is not a substantial improvement. It carries
double the bombload, which can be really nice on missions with a lot of ground
targets, but otherwise, it's really the same as the P-61A.
P-61C Black Widow
------------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P-61B Black Widow
Speed: 2
Agility: .5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: Belly: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Top: 4 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 8 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 4 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B+
Review: All you get for the extra 6 points is a half point of Speed. Not
really worth the 6 points IMHO, since speed was not the Black Widow's biggest
need.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.12 P-80 Shooting Star
------------------------
History: The P-80 Shooting Star was the American answer to the German Me262.
It had the distinction of being the first American jet powered fighter, but it
was deployed and pilots trained too late for it to be used in combat operations
during WWII. The P-80 did see action in the Korean war, but here it was used
as a ground support aircraft, having been supplanted in its fighter role by the
more advanced F-86 Sabre. A P-80 had the infamous distinction of killing top
American Ace Richard Bong during a test and training flight near the end of
WWII, ironically on the day Hiroshima was bombed.
P-80A Shooting Star
--------------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat all Philippines missions on Ace difficulty
Speed: 4.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 1
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Grade: C-
Review: Fast, but totally lacking in all other ways. Speed without agility is
dangerous, and the total lack of firepower is frustrating. Avoid flying the
stock P-80. OVerall, the P-80 aircraft are more of a novelty than a real
utility aircraft that you can use to fly difficult missions.
P-80B Shooting Star
--------------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and P-80 Shooting Star
Speed: 5
Agility: .5
Armor: 1.5
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 10 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: C
Review: Again, it's fast, but what else? The addition of rockets makes the
P-80B better, but it's still not a very capable dogfighter due to its total lack
of maneuverability and firepower. It's only possible utility is as a ground
attack aircraft due to its high capacity for rockets and maxed out speed.
P-80C Shooting Star
-------------------
Upgrade Cost: 6 points and P-80 Shooting Star
Speed: 5
Agility: .5
Armor: 2
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 1,000 lb. Bomb
- 10 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B-
Review: The addition of bombs makes the P-80 better, but it's still nothing
terribly exciting. In its fully upgraded form, it can be fun to fly on ground
attack missions or as an interceptor because its high speed makes it a hard
target to hit. Fully upgraded, the P-80 is still inferior to many other prop
fighters, and remains a novelty to be flown just for the experience.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.13 F8F Bearcat
------------------
History: The F8F Bearcat could have been, would have been, should have been,
but missed its opportunity to see combat action in WWII due to its being
produced and released right before the war was won. It was probably the best
prop-driven fighter plane of its era, packing more speed, agility, and firepower
than its larger, heavier contemporaries, but it never got a chance to be combat
tested to compare with the more famous F6F Hellcat, P-38 Lighting, or
P-51 Mustang. The Bearcat's only real combat action came in the hands of Royal
Thai airforce and French pilots in Southeast Asia during the early 1950s.
F8F Bearcat
------------
Upgrade Cost: Beat mission "The Landing"
Speed: 3.5
Agility: 3.5
Armor: 3
Guns: 1.5
Weapons: 6 x .50 cal MG
Grade: B
Review: The stock F8F is a very nice stock fighter, but why leave it like that
when you could have the awesome power of the F8F-1B for just 3 points?
F8F-1B Bearcat
---------------
Upgrade Cost: 3 points and F8F Bearcat
Speed: 3.5
Agility: 3.5
Armor: 3.5
Guns: 4
Weapons: 4 x 20mm Cannon
Optional - 2 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 6 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: A+
Review: If you liked the Hellcat, you're going to love the Bearcat. It is
the best balanced fighter, having no outstanding weaknesses. Rockets, bombs,
armor, speed, agility, cannons, what more could you ask for? The Bearcat isn't
the best fighter in any one area, but it gets an A+ for being the best
all-around fighter. There's really nothing it can't competently handle. If you
are not finishing the game on Ace difficulty, you can unlock some of the other
hidden planes using the Bearcat on the earlier missions by replaying them on
Ace difficulty.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Dive Bombers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.1 SBD Dauntless
--------------------
History: The Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber could be credited with turning
around U.S. fortunes in the Pacific Theater, particularly at the Battle of
Midway where Dauntless dive bombers were credited with sinking or incapacitating
all four Japanese carriers as well as a heavy cruiser. One could say that the
Dauntless was the most effective anti-ship weapon in the US Navy at the time.
Dauntlesses also inflicted heavy damage on Japanese ships at Guadalcanal, the
Solomons, and later in the Philipines. The Dauntless accomplished all of this
despite the fact that it was considered to be obsolete even prior to the war's
start! Pilots attributed its effectiveness to its good handling in spite of
its slow speed, and its durability under fire. All in all, the Dauntless was
responsible for sinking more ships than any other plane in all of World War II.
SBD-2 Dauntless
---------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Torpedo Training
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Armor: 3
Guns: .5
Weapons: Nose 2 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
Grade: C-
Review: The SBD-2 is a decent dive bomber with pretty good speed and decent
armor. It's definitely not for dogfighting, being hard to maneuver and lacking
firepower. The rear gunner will keep bogies off your tail, but don't try to
tackle any of the faster more maneuverable fighters or you'll be quickly
humiliated. For all its mediocrity against enemy aircraft, the Dauntless is a
potent anti-ship weapon with 2 500lb. bombs that do double damage vs. ships.
You should upgrade your Dauntless because it's cheap to do so, and you want more
bombs, trust me.
SBD-3 Dauntless
---------------
Cost: 2 points and SBD-2 Dauntless
Speed: 2
Agility: 1
Armor: 3
Guns: .5
Weapons: Nose 2 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 2 x 500lb. Bomb
- 1 x 1000lb. Bomb
Grade: C
Review: Identical to the SBD-2 with the addition of the option to carry a
single 1000 lb. bomb. Good, but upgrade to the SBD-4 for four more points to
get two of of them and slightly better agility and armor.
SBD-4 Dauntless
---------------
Cost: 4 points and SBD-3 Dauntless
Speed: 2
Agility: 1.5
Armor: 3.5
Guns: .5
Weapons: Nose 2 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 3 x 500lb. Bomb
- 2 x 1000lb. Bomb
Grade: B
Review: Now here's the Dive Bomber you've been looking for. Great armor to
avoid all that AA fire, slightly better Agility to pull out of dives better,
and two 1,000 lb. bombs. This is a ship's worst nightmare. Fly this Dauntless
when you need a Dive Bomber and you won't be disappointed. Just be careful not
to get surrounded by fighters. It's also not the best dogfighter since it's on
the slow side and can't do much damage with its guns. Even the weakest Zero
will take numerous direct hits to shoot down.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Torpedo Bombers
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 TBD Devastator
---------------------
History: The TBD-1 Devastator was the Navy's only carrier based torpedo plane
for the first part of the Pacific campaign. It was initially fairly successful
when deployed in raiding missions against Japanese shipping, but failed
spectacularly during the Battle of Midway. Out of 41 Devastators flown in the
Battle of Midway, 37 were shot down by enemy fighters or AA fire. The Battle of
Midway decisively showed the Devastator's vulnerability and technological
inferiority. It was replaced by shortly thereafter by the TBF Avenger.
TBD-1 Devastator
----------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Rescue POWs
Speed: .5
Agility: .5
Armor: 1
Guns: .5
Weapons: Nose 1 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 1 x Mk.13 Torpedo
Grade: F
Review: The only thing the TBD-1 is good for is passing the Torpedo Training
mission. It is slow, prone to stalling (even in level flight at the slowest
speed), vulnerable, and has no firepower. Fortunately, you won't have to use
the Devastator except in one mission. Thereafter you'll have the Avenger,
which is a much better Torpedo Bomber.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.2 TBF Avenger
----------------
History: The Avenger was developed and first deployed after the start of the
war and first saw action at the historic Battle of Midway. Avengers were not
terribly successful at Midway, with 5 out of 6 being shot down by enemy
fighters. Thereafter, Avengers saw action in every other major battle of the
war, sinking such famous Japanese ships as the Musashi and the Yamato.
Avengers were also superb submarine hunter-killers, being credited with 30
submarines sunk. President George Bush Sr. flew (and was shot down twice) in
an Avenger during his distinguished career as a Naval aviator.
TBF-1 Avenger
-------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Defend Midway
Speed: 1
Agility: .5
Armor: 2
Guns: .5
Weapons: Nose 1 x .30 cal MG
Rear 1 x .50 cal MG
Ventral 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 1 x Mk.13 Torpedo
Grade: D+
Review: Don't fly the stock Avenger unless you hate yourself and your country.
It lacks in almost every possible way, the most serious being in the area of
firepower. You won't be able to BUY a kill in this bucket.
TBF-1C Avenger
--------------
Cost: 2 points and TBF-1 Avenger
Speed: 1.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 2
Guns: .5
Weapons: Wings 2 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .50 cal MG
Ventral 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 1 x Mk.13 Torpedo
Grade: C-
Review: The TBF-1C isn't a radical improvement on the TBF-1, but it is a
just slightly better in the gun department, having traded the feeble .30 cal.
nose gun for two .50 cal wing guns. It's also slightly faster, meaning it can
run from flak that much better.
TBFM-3 Avenger
--------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Defend Midway
Speed: 1.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 2.5
Guns: .5
Weapons: Wings 2 x .50 cal MG
Rear 1 x .50 cal MG
Ventral 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 1 x Mk.13 Torpedo
- 8 x 5 inch Rockets
Grade: C+
Review: So this is the best torpedo bomber in the game? You could probably
guess that the game isn't heavy on torpedo bombing missions. The best thing
that the top grade Avenger has to offer is rockets, meaning it doesn't need to
rely on guns to shoot down enemy fighters. This doesn't mean you should try
to engage the standard Japanese fighter in an Avenger, but it does allow you
to shoot down the Petes and Rufes that usually lurk around torpedo-run level.
The rockets also allow you to take pot-shots at CAP fighters while they're
sitting on the flight deck, something you couldn't do in any of the lesser
Avengers.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Heavy Bombers
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.1 PBY Catalina
---------------------
History: The PBY Catalina was a utilitarian heavy aircraft used extensively by
the US Navy as well as many other countries during and after World war II. Its
size and the fact that it could take off and land in water made it an ideal
transport and general purpose aircraft in the Pacific where land for airstrips
was at a premium and vast distances of water needed to be covered by air. PBYs
were not ideal fighting aircraft, being slow and vulnerable to enemy fire, but
they served an important role nonetheless as surveillance, search and rescue,
and supply aircraft in and around hot zones. Civilian incarnations of the PBY
survived and were used even as recently as a few years ago as passenger planes
and fire-fighting bombers.
PBY Catalina
----------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Scratch One Flat-Top
Speed: .5
Agility: .5
Armor: 5
Guns: .5
Weapons: 75mm Standoff Cannon
Nose 1 x .30 cal MG
Left 2 x .50 cal MG
Right 2 x .50 cal MG
Ventral 1 x .30 cal MG
Optional - 4 x 1000 lb. Bomb
- 4 x Torpedo
Grade: D
Review: Flying a PBY is a dogfighter's nightmare. It's slow, unwieldy, doesn't
have warspeed, and its stand-off cannon (the only gun you have control over) has
an agonizingly slow reload rate. You get one shot about every five seconds,
making it similar in feel to firing a cannon turret. On the upside, the cannon
can destroy an enemy fighter in a single hit, and it seems very forgiving as to
where you're aiming. That being said, the PBY is definitely not built to engage
enemy fighters (atleast not in numbers), and if you do get stuck in a firefight,
you're better off trusting your gunners and just flying as evasively as possibly
rather than trying to swing around and draw a bead yourself. You'll be forced
to fly the PBY for three missions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.2 B26 Marauder
-----------------
History: B-26 Marauders served reliably and well as medium size, medium range
bombers. For reasons not entirely clear, the plane was nicknamed "The
Widowmaker." In spite of the name, the Marauder boasted the lowest loss rate
of any Allied bomber in the war. During the war, Marauders served as a fast
raiding bomber in anti-ship missions (Marauders were the only bomber to carry
torpedos in addition to bombs), and in support of infantry operations.
Marauders were most successful in the latter role in the European theater,
especially in support of the allied invasions of North Africa, Italy, and in
France.
B26B Marauder
-------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Strike at Guadalcanal
Speed: 1.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 4.5
Guns: 1
Weapons: Nose 4 x .50 cal MG
Front 1 x .50 cal MG
Top 2 x .50 cal MG
Left 1 x .50 cal MG
Right 1 x .50 cal MG
Tail 1 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 8 x 500 lb. Bomb &
2 x Mk. 13 Torpedo
- 4 x 1000 lb. Bomb &
2 x Mk. 13 Torpedo
Grade: C
Review: The B26 will be the second Heavy Bomber you'll be required to complete
a mission with, and it will be a far less painful experience than flying the
PBY. This is not just because the B26 is a better bomber over-all, but also
because the mission you'll fly is geared to the B26's strength, anti-ship
combat. Unlike the PBY, the B26 has warspeed, which allows it to compensate a
little bit for its speed (which still isn't bad for a bomber). It also allows
it to get clear of AA fire, which is the B26's biggest weakness. The guns on
the B26 are all .50 cal machine guns, but they're well distributed around the
plane for pretty close to all-around coverage against enemy fighters. Bombs and
torpedos are the only load the stock B26 can carry.
B26G Marauder
-------------
Cost: 2 Points and B26B Marauder
Speed: 1.5
Agility: .5
Armor: 5
Guns: 1
Weapons: Nose 4 x .50 cal MG
Front 1 x .50 cal MG
Top 2 x .50 cal MG
Left 2 x .50 cal MG
Right 2 x .50 cal MG
Tail 2 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 8 x 500 lb. Bomb &
8 x 5 inch Rocket
- 4 x 1000 lb. Bomb &
8 x 5 inch Rocket
- 2 x Mk. 13 Torpedo &
8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B-
Review: This B26 is worth upgrading to simply because rockets are more useful
than having both bombs and torpedoes (really, how often will you face both ships
and ground targets?). 2 points gets you almost twice as many defense guns,
which means you'll be that much less vulnerable to enemy fighter attack. You
also get maxed out armor, which is never a bad thing.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5.3 B25 Mitchell
-----------------
History: The B-25 was a medium bomber used extensively throughout WWII in many
theaters by many different nations. Major James Doolittle's historic raid on
Tokyo was flown by a flight of 16 modified B-25s that were launched from the
carrier Hornet. The effect of this raid was almost entirely symbolic, but it
was the first launch of such large bombers from a carrier. B-25s were not
typically used from carriers however, as this was simply not practical (they
could take off, just barely, but couldn't land). In the South Pacific, B-25s
were launched from Allied airfields against a variety of Japanese targets,
usually airfields, defensive fortifications, and ships in a practice called
"skip bombing." Many nations continued to use B-25s even after the end of the
war, and one even survives until today in active (private) service as an aerial
camera platform.
B25G Mitchell
-------------
Cost: Beat Mission: Kamikazes Inbound
Speed: 1
Agility: .5
Armor: 5
Guns: 3
Weapons: Nose 8 x .50 cal MG &
1 x 75mm Cannon
Top 2 x .50 cal MG
Left 1 x .50 cal MG
Right 1 x .50 cal MG
Tail 2 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 6 x 500 lb. Bomb
- 3 x 1000 lb. Bomb
Grade: B
Review: The B-25 is the best bomber you'll fly in Heroes of the Pacific, and
sadly, you will only get to use it once to soften up the fortifications of Iwo
Jima. Because of all the guns on every side of the B-25, you won't really have
to worry about being buzzed by the occasional bogie. You can trust your
gunners to do their job while you focus through the special bomb-sight to drop
heavy ordnance in surgical strikes.
B25H Mitchell
-------------
Cost: 2 Points and B25G Mitchell
Speed: 1
Agility: .5
Armor: 5
Guns: 3.5
Weapons: Nose 8 x .50 cal MG &
1 x 75mm Cannon
Top 2 x .50 cal MG
Left 1 x .50 cal MG
Right 1 x .50 cal MG
Tail 2 x .50 cal MG
Optional - 6 x 500 lb. Bomb &
8 x 5 inch Rocket
- 3 x 1000 lb. Bomb &
8 x 5 inch Rocket
Grade: B+
Review: The upgraded B-25 offers the addition of rockets to the arsenal. With
a 75mm cannon at your disposal, you probably won't have much use for them, but
they come in handy occassionally. Unfortunately, you won't get any more bombs.
Overall, it's only a very slight improvement, but it's only 2 points to get it.
If you feel like you want the rockets, or you have the points to spare, go ahead
and upgrade.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. REVISION HISTORY
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12-21-2005 version 1.0 - First draft: sections 1-6
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