It is often assumed that the history of combat helicopters began in the second half of the 20th century. The images that usually come to mind are from Vietnam: formations of transport Hueys coming in to land under enemy fire, or swarms of attack Cobras escorting troops above the jungle canopy. Later, another war came to be symbolized by the Soviet Mi-24: the famous “Crocodile” flying over the mountains of Afghanistan.
Some aircraft are meant to be the best at one specific thing. Others try to do everything. Among German World War 2 aircraft, the Focke-Wulf 190 F-8 is exactly that kind of all-rounder. It also recently showed up in the Hungarian line within the Italian tree — a perfect reason to take the strike Focke for another spin.
Germany had already toyed with the idea of possessing its own aircraft carrier during the First World War; this was to be called Ausonia, but it was never seriously pursued. However, shortly after the termination of the Treaty of Versailles, a new carrier project was initiated, based on the experience of other major powers such as Japan, the USA, and Great Britain, acquired through exchanges or espionage. Ultimately, not a single aircraft carrier was fully commissioned or built. The Graf Zeppelin was largely completed, but its construction was halted, while its sister ship, Aircraft Carrier B, was abandoned during construction. During the design of the accompanying aircraft, some were built specifically for the project, such as the Arado 197. However, this met with little approval from the Luftwaffe, which is why modifications of existing aircraft like the Bf 109 T, the Ju 87 C or T, or the Fi 167 found more favor.
By the mid-1970s, the Israeli Army had built up an impressive fleet of American M109 self-propelled howitzers. By the standards of the time, their range and rate of fire were considered perfectly adequate. But in the context of regular border clashes, IDF command wanted a more modern and more effective system. The task of creating a “howitzer of the future” was assigned to the engineers at Soltam, who by then already had experience in artillery design.
The B-18A Bolo is an American medium bomber designed in the interwar period, developed from the Douglas DC-2 civilian airliner. It is the first medium bomber available in the American aviation tech tree, and despite its somewhat low top speed, weak defensive armament and rather poor manoeuvrability, its bomb capacity is actually pretty adequate for different missions and allows players to obtain satisfying results when using this aircraft.
After WW2, most French vessels were armed with 5” guns, similar to the American 5"/38 Mk.12 cannon, and Bofors 57 mm guns. However, in 1953, a new gun was developed that would replace both of them and deal with anti-air and anti-surface duties. This led to the development of the 100 mm/55, a cannon that would equip all French vessels, from frigates to aircraft carriers, all the way to the modern day. In game, the 100 mm/55 is among the best French naval guns, combining an excellent fire-rate, great damage, and both anti-air and anti-ship capabilities. Found in both the German and French tech trees, it is the ultimate reward for coastal forces and offers great success in your engagements.
Among multirole helicopters, the American UH-60 Black Hawk stands out for its long history and intense military career. Drawing on lessons learned from the Vietnam War, Sikorsky built a tough, reliable, and versatile transport, one of the finest multirole helicopters of the modern era.