This is a much hyped aircraft, in fact I have never written anything 'neutral' about it. It's all 'I wish we had this earlier!' or 'We were lucky the Germans didn't make more' or 'contender for the best fighter of the war'
I know it was designed as a high altitude fighter, but it was never used as such. Also what I have read suggests it was supremely maneuverable.
In game, I find it completely inferior to the Fw-190D, it's not maneuverable, and presents a huge target with those endless wings. In fact, even against a Spitfire IX, it has a tough time. If you let the ai fight among themselves, the Tank rarely wins against it's contemporaries.
So what's the deal? Is this strictly a high altitude plane? Is the performance pessimistically modeled?
(I have searched the forum and have found similar topics, but not much useful feedback)
Think about it this way:
Most (if not all!) pilots that flew the 152 in combat had been flying A-8s or A-9s before and were now upgrading to a much superior aircraft - kindo of like stepping up to the D-9.
The Ta 152 was not exactly as hot as the D-9 down-low, but boy could it turn (comparatively) and boy did it go up-high!
Morale and spiritual strength can never be overestimated!
Imagine the boost to fighting-spirit when you see one of those thing being towed in front of you and being told "there are some more in the pipe!".
I don't fly in any sim since the start of the year, but have to say that I'm shocked with some of the comments here.
I have checked the lastest vanilla planes with the IL2 compare, and the TA 152 H-1 looks a monster against the Allied fighters in medium and specially high altitude to me. Since I'm studying a lot of flight theory to start my private pilot course soon, think I'm with a too much theorist basis, damn!![]()
@Wildnoob The thing it was almost never used as a high altitude fighter, but was praised anyway.
I fly it in game accordingly, at low to mid altitudes.
@Brems, what you are saying makes sense, I hadn't considered that most pilots that flew it had either the Fw-190A or Bf 109G previously.
Jtd, you are right about the D-9(44) being modelled optimistically, there is a mod that gives it almost spot on historical top speed.
So is the consensus that the Ta-152 is only really better than the Fw-190 D at high altitude?
The H, really. It was an interceptor after all. But you need to considerate the C series, with shorter wings and the DB603 engine. This was the 152 intended for more low level work.Originally posted by Metatron_123:
@Wildnoob The thing it was almost never used as a high altitude fighter, but was praised anyway.
As far as I recall, the Ta-152 and FW-190 D-9 had to be used at low altitude to deal with the Russians, who were also generally fighting at lower altitudes. In this situation, I think the advantages of the D-9 disappear as it can't zoom away as easily when in trouble.So is the consensus that the Ta-152 is only really better than the Fw-190 D at high altitude?
In order to find Il-2's in a patrol area with closed pit, flying low is necessary to find the aircraft. At such an altitude, I had a lot of trouble dealing with the Yaks that normally escort the Il-2s. I had little altitude advantage to start, and turn rate is not the strong suit of the D-9. I think the Ta-152 would fare a bit better here. Long story short, my flight got bogged down with the Yaks and were unable to make passes on the Sturmoviks before they made their targets. Even though I made a Yak kill, it was a hollow victory.
Put that long winged baby in shallow dive at 8500m...
Bah, to me it's one of the most potent airplanes in the game. Always was, always probably will be unless they seriously nerf it.
Unless on high speed it is nothing special down low, but medium and high altitudes are where this airplane is at home.
AI or human players?Originally posted by Luno13:
In order to find Il-2's in a patrol area with closed pit, flying low is necessary to find the aircraft. At such an altitude, I had a lot of trouble dealing with the Yaks that normally escort the Il-2s. I had little altitude advantage to start, and turn rate is not the strong suit of the D-9. I think the Ta-152 would fare a bit better here. Long story short, my flight got bogged down with the Yaks and were unable to make passes on the Sturmoviks before they made their targets. Even though I made a Yak kill, it was a hollow victory.
sounds to me as though Luno's talking about the stock single mission for the D-9 that came with Forgotten Battles.
There aren't a lot of pilot reports from either side about the Ta-152; the only one I can recall involved a turning contest at low level with a Tempest, which stalled out and crashed. So the Ta was probably more maneuverable than a Tempest, which was generally considered equal to or better than the Dora at medium alts and below.
Would that make the Ta-152C/H competitive with a Spit Mk XIV or a lightly loaded Mustang in a medium altitude turning contest?
cheers
horseback