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Best that could have been done for our Hurricanes in November 1942 would have been mods as per Sea Hurricane IIc which would have given them another 13 mph and strengthened wing as per Hurricane IV to increase dive speed to 450 mph.So they were used the same way as the P-40 in the CBI which was the top scoring fighter in that theatre. So no problem. Against the Ki-43-I/II the Hurricane IIb Trop had higher level and dive speeds, heavier armament and better armour protection. Against a II-Kai onwards you really need a Spitfire. Monsoon time in India is May to October. Earliest available Vb Trop was Feb 42 in Malta, Summer 42 for Vc. Others all went to North Africa in 1942. Maybe if we hadn't given USSR 200 Vb's early 43 then India could have got them in time for their Monsoon season when little flying took place.
Best that could have been done for our Hurricanes in November 1942 would have been mods as per Sea Hurricane IIc which would have given them another 13 mph and strengthened wing as per Hurricane IV to increase dive speed to 450 mph.
On the Sea Hurricane it was individual exhaust stacks changes to radio mast. Don't know what they did to the IV but it could dive at 450 max.What mods?
So they were used the same way as the P-40 in the CBI which was the top scoring fighter in that theatre. So no problem. Against the Ki-43-I/II the Hurricane IIb Trop had higher level and dive speeds, heavier armament and better armour protection. Against a II-Kai onwards you really need a Spitfire. Monsoon time in India is May to October. Earliest available Vb Trop was Feb 42 in Malta, Summer 42 for Vc. Others all went to North Africa in 1942. Maybe if we hadn't given USSR 200 Vb's early 43 then India could have got them in time for their Monsoon season when little flying took place.
The fact that Hurricane pilots only attacked from a position of advantage and continued diving away after the engagement, and were forbidden to dogfight JAAF aircraft only strengthens the argument as to it's obsolescence.
Possibly, but the whole idea of bringing the Spitfire to the theatre was because we did not want parity, we wanted superiority, and that is what the Spitfire delivered, first in the Med and then in the Far East. As a pilot, would you want to fly the Hurricane or P-40 against the Ki-43 and know you had a 60:40 chance, or a Spitfire VIII and know the enemy has virtually no chance?The RAF could not win with the Hurricane or P40 in 1942 in any theatre, for that you needed Spitfires.
Don't know what they did to the IV but it could dive at 450 max.
I thought it was 370 with fabric covered wings and 410 for metal.So could the earlier marks, I'm not sure what the reasoning was behind the 390 mph limit in the Pilot's Notes. If I had to guess I'd say safety considerations re: elevator stiffness.
But the Hurricane and the P-40 (along with the F4F) were not only holding the Japanese, but pushing back.The RAF could not win with the Hurricane or P40 in 1942 in any theatre, for that you needed Spitfires.
Until the Spitfire VIII arrived in 1944. Then it was game, set and match.But the Hurricane and the P-40 (along with the F4F) were not only holding the Japanese, but pushing back.
When the Spitfire first arrived in the PTO/CBI, it suffered high losses and it's short range put it initially at a disadvantage.
So the Spitfire wasn't a "magic bullet".
But the Hurricane and the P-40 (along with the F4F) were not only holding the Japanese, but pushing back.
When the Spitfire first arrived in the PTO/CBI, it suffered high losses and it's short range put it initially at a disadvantage.
So the Spitfire wasn't a "magic bullet".
True. If only the PTO based squadrons had something to shoot down...Until the Spitfire VIII arrived in 1944. Then it was game, set and match.
Not only that, but it could be argued that they were also facing the cream of he crop in regards to Japanese aviators. P-40's and F4F's whittled away the Tainan Kokutai in 1942 for example.But the Hurricane and the P-40 (along with the F4F) were not only holding the Japanese, but pushing back.
Funny how we all seem to see history's details through the lenses of our own national narrative. Keeps things interesting.
Cheers,
Wes
There seems to be a misconception that the Allied fighters in the CBI were ineffective until the Spitfire arrived in 1943/44 and this is not quite true.
The Allies had (in addition to the Hurricane IIA/C and P-40B/C/E) the P-43A-1and Mohawk (replaced by Spit VIII in Jan 44, by the way) all of which contributed in reducing the numbers of IJA and IJN aircraft and pilots until newer Allied types became available.
The Japanese were feeling the pressure so much by 1943, that the 2nd Hiko Chutai pressed several captured P-40Es into service during the defense of Rangoon. This is a pretty good indicator of how things were going by the time the Spitfires were starting to arrive in theater.
Not my fault that the Spitfire is the high-water mark technical, creative and artistic achievement of human civilization.