Need help to rate planes speed, strength, damage, and turn ability for game

I am creating a dog fighting ww2 game and would like some help with rating each of these planes. I would like them to be rated in these 4 categories (speed, strength, weapon power, and turn ability) from 1 (worst) to 15 (best). I would greatly appreciate it, thank you.

Japanese zero, P-51, Me Bf 109, F4U, P-47, Fw190, La-7, Yak-3, F6F, Spitfire, Me 262

If yall have any other planes that you think I should added just tell me and added their categories if you could, thanks for your time.

what platform are you going to use? and what theater of operations? i know some sim gamers in both combat and PC.... if i know more of what you are doing i and they may be able to help you out. but you got to know you cant use a blanket flight model...a 109F flew different from a G2 which was different from a G6..etc. there were several 190s...etc. so more explantion is going to be needed.

You'll get a million answers here!


I'm a gamer, have played most every WW2 board and miniatures air game. I sculpt miniatures for a few companies, and I am working on some WW2 air-to air rules. There are a ton of threads on this site discussing the merits of the planes you ask information about. Then each plane has several versions...so you must ask specific questions. Bf109E is a far different plane than a Bf109G14AS as a Spitfire II is not the same as a Spit Mk XIV. (Bobbysocks hit the nail on the head)
Then several threads on effectiveness of such and such a weapons fit.

Probably more important than the planes are the situation, who spots who first, can they move to attack position without getting spotter or evade? Pilot quality and alertness far more important than who turns tighter or climbs better....the majority of the fighter planes shot down were bounced, never saw what hit them.

FWIW, I gave up on a detailed DUEL type game, also the SKIRMISH. Looking at SQUADRON and GROUP level with mission profiles and random events. By necessity this makes the planes fairly even on performance, pilot and position get you in the fight and keep you alive. Firepower/accuracy and aircraft toughness are fairly easy to work out.

I'll add my 2 cents/ opinion, with only enough knowledge to be dangerous compared to the others. But I think pretty darn close for the gamer. Speed.: Me262-15, P-51 - 13, P-47-12, FW190-11, F4U-10, Spitfire -9, La-7 - 8, Me109-6, F6F - 5, Yak-3 - 4, Zero - 3. Strength: P-47 - 15, F6F- 14, F4U- 13, FW190- 12, La-7 - 10, P-51- 9, Spitfire -8, Yak-3 - 6, Me109- 5, Me262 - 4, Zero -2. Weapon power:Me262 - 15, P-47-13, FW190-12, F4U/F6F - 11, Me109 / Spitfire -10, P-51 - 9, Zero -8, La-7/ Yak-3 -6. Turn ability: Zero -15, Yak-3 - 14, Spitfire - 13, La-7 -12, F6F- 11, F4U - 10, P-51 - 9, Me109 - 8, Fw190 - 7, P-47 - 5, Me262 - 3.

Not trying to start any arguments. These are opinions only, not gospel. Yes I have some aircraft tied with each other for various reasons. There are jumps in some of the numbers because I feel the next airplane ahead or behind there is a big enough difference in that category. As in the speed of the Me262 is 15, and the Mustang is 13. Why do I feel I am risking my head giving these opinions?????? lol

I think rate of roll should be a critical element as well. It is the first part of a turn!

MikeGazdik said:

]Weapon power[/B]:Me262 - 15, P-47-13, FW190-12, F4U/F6F - 11, Me109 / Spitfire -10, P-51 - 9, Zero -8, La-7/ Yak-3 -6.

Click to expand...

I'd propose something like

15 - Me-262
12 - FW-190
9 - P-47D/Spitfire
7 - F4U/F6F/P-51
6 - A6M
5 - La-7
4 - Bf-109/Yak-3

However, its very difficult to make a decisive call for the whole war period.

For example the Spitfire's armament changes markedly as the war progressed:

8 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm (with 60 rpg) + 4 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm (with 120 prg) + 4 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm and 2 x .50 --> 4 x 20 mm (with 140/150 rpg)

As did the 109's:

4 x 7.92 mm --> 2 x 20 mm (with 60 rpg) + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 15 mm + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 20 mm + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 20 mm + 2 x 13.2 mm --> 1 x 30 mm + 2 x 13.2 mm. Not to mention the 2 x 20 mm underwing gondolas carried.

Likewise the FW 190, the P-51, the La-7, the Zero all went armament revisions.

Take the Bf-109. If you look at the start of the war, most were armed with only 4 x 7.92 mm guns. If you look at a bomber hunter in late 1944, then it could be armed with 1 x 30 mm, 2 x 20 mm and 2 x 13.3 mm, with about 8 1/2 times the total firepower.

You really need to fix a time period before you can determine all the parameters, whether relative or absolute.

Jabberwocky said:

I'd propose something like

15 - Me-262
12 - FW-190
9 - P-47D/Spitfire
7 - F4U/F6F/P-51
6 - A6M
5 - La-7
4 - Bf-109/Yak-3

However, its very difficult to make a decisive call for the whole war period.

For example the Spitfire's armament changes markedly as the war progressed:

8 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm (with 60 rpg) + 4 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm (with 120 prg) + 4 x .303 --> 2 x 20 mm and 2 x .50 --> 4 x 20 mm (with 140/150 rpg)

As did the 109's:

4 x 7.92 mm --> 2 x 20 mm (with 60 rpg) + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 15 mm + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 20 mm + 2 x 7.92 --> 1 x 20 mm + 2 x 13.2 mm --> 1 x 30 mm + 2 x 13.2 mm. Not to mention the 2 x 20 mm underwing gondolas carried.

Likewise the FW 190, the P-51, the La-7, the Zero all went armament revisions.

Take the Bf-109. If you look at the start of the war, most were armed with only 4 x 7.92 mm guns. If you look at a bomber hunter in late 1944, then it could be armed with 1 x 30 mm, 2 x 20 mm and 2 x 13.3 mm, with about 8 1/2 times the total firepower.

You really need to fix a time period before you can determine all the parameters, whether relative or absolute.

Click to expand...

I agree. Its tough and I don't have any problem with your order. They changed over time. This doesn't even touch the different altitudes that some of these aircraft were good at, or not. I was trying to be "general" over time and all altitudes.