Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
I go for the Il-2 myself,that seem more up to the job.
VIII Fliegerkorps, under the command of Wolfram von Richthofen, covered the dash to the channel coast. Heralded as the Ju 87s' (Stuka) "finest hour", these units responded via an extremely efficient communications system to the Panzer Divisions' every request for support, which effectively blasted a path for the Army.[165] The Ju 87s were particularly effective at breaking up attacks along the flanks of the German forces, breaking fortified positions, and disrupting rear-area supply chains.[166][167] The Luftwaffe also benefitted from excellent ground-to-air communications throughout the campaign. Radio-equipped forward liaison officers could call upon the Stukas and direct them to attack enemy positions along the axis of advance. In some cases, the Luftwaffe responded to requests in 10–20 minutes. Oberstleutnant Hans Seidemann (Richthofen's Chief of Staff) said that "never again was such a smoothly functioning system for discussing and planning joint operations achieved".[168] Closer examination reveals the army had to wait 45–75 minutes for Ju 87 units, and just 10 minutes for the Henschel Hs 123 units.[169]
Wouldn't the A-10 be the modern Hs129?
But the Ju87 wasn't initially designed as a designated tank killer as the A-10 and Hs129 were.
By the mid-1930s the German military, as well as its counterparts in other countries, had come to see the main role of ground attack aircraft as the interdiction of logistics and materiel, a task in which targets were often poorly protected and less likely to be protected by strong, well-coordinated defences. For high-value, well-protected tactical targets dive bombers had become the conventional solution. However, the experience of the German Kondor Legion during the Spanish Civil War (1936–39) turned this idea on its head. Even though it was equipped with types unsuited to the role, such as the Henschel Hs 123 and cannon-armed versions of the Heinkel He 112, the Kondor Legion proved that ground attack aircraft were a very effective weapon. This led to support within the Luftwaffe for the creation of an aircraft dedicated to this role, and the Reichsluftministerium (RLM; "Reich Air Ministry") requested tenders for a specialized ground attack aircraft.
It was anticipated that the main source of damage to such an aircraft would be small arms fire from the ground, meaning that the plane had to be well-armored around its cockpit and engines. Similar protection was also needed in the canopy, in the form of 75 mm (2.95 in) thick armored glass. The aircraft was expected to be attacking in low-level, head-on strafing runs, so the cockpit had to be located as close as possible to the nose, in order to maximize the visibility of its targets. Another, non-operational, requirement severely hampered the designs: the RLM insisted that the new design be powered by engines that were not being used in existing aircraft, so that the type would not interfere with production of established types deemed essential to the war effort.
The idea was the the Hs123 was out dated in speed and performance and newer types were being put into service that would perform the Hs123's role better and in greater numbers.I was reading that due to its short range and resulting close basing to the front that during the Battle of France the Hs123 managed to response in 10 minutes to calls for air support, while the Ju87 required 45-55 minutes on average
Given this performance would it have been a good idea, assuming production was restored or never taken out in the first place, to equip each Panzer division with a Gruppe of 30-40 Hs123s? Currently the US military has a helicopter brigade attached to its armored/mechanized division, so it would seem there is a recognized utility for a quick air support option.
The US Army should aquire the A-10 fleet from the USAF.Should the US Army operate AV-8B Harrier II's?
The US Army should aquire the A-10 fleet from the USAF.
The Air Force argues that the Army needs the Air Force to operate the fleet because of it's logistics, etc...but the Army already operates an extensive rotary wing fleet that operates in direct proximity, and in support, of ground forces.
The Hs129 wasn't designed as a tank killer either:
Henschel Hs 129 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It was meant as a ground attack/strafer type. It developed into a tank buster once the need was identified during the 1941 campaign in Russia.
Because nothing says "severe ass kicking" like the A-10 does.Why not bring back the Skyraider? Its cheaper and easier for COIN
Agreed - the Hs129 was first called for in a request from the RLM for a ground attack aircraft, based on a small, armored, twin engined airframe that mounted at least two 20mm cannon (MG FF).I have to disagree with that statement. This is from "Hs 129 Panzerjager!" by Martin Pegg:
Page 27: "....in April [1938], final development began and the P.46 received the official designation "Hs 129". Designed by Henschel's chief designer, Dipl. Ing. Friederich Nicolaus, the Hs 129 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane developed entirely for attacking ground targets including armoured fighting vehicles."
Why not bring back the Skyraider? Its cheaper and easier for COIN