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Point is that there are a lot different combinations of both planes with some rather different capabilities.
I have doubts about that. How many tons of merchant shipping were sunk by Val dive bombers? What warships were sunk primarily by Val dive bombers (i.e. not Kate torpedo bombers)?Val doesn't get much attention, but was the single most successful enemy ship buster of the war
2 x CA
1 x WWI era CV
1 x U.S. aircraft ferry (i.e. USS Langley during 1942)
11 x DD.
1 x Merchant.
Significant accomplishments but not in the same league as Ju-87, Ju-88 and SBD dive bombers.
D3A has three handicaps in this competition.
- Small bomb load. 250 kg is tiny for a dive bomber. Most fighter aircraft can carry at least that much.
- Small production numbers. Only 1,486 built.
- D3A normally had to fight through heavy enemy air defenses (AA plus CAP).
Tonnage sunk isn't the only thing that counts. Fear of German dive bombers (real or imagined) was a constant factor for the RN during 1940 and 1941. It was probably decisive for German victories in Norway and the Balkans. The RN didn't think they could continue logistical support in the face of German air power. Fear of German dive bombers was probably also decisive in the Aegean during 1943.
2 x CA
1 x WWI era CV
1 x U.S. aircraft ferry (i.e. USS Langley during 1942)
11 x DD.
1 x Merchant.
Significant accomplishments but not in the same league as Ju-87, Ju-88 and SBD dive bombers.
The SBD had good enough flight characteristics early in the war to make it dangerous and it did account for quite a few IJN/IJA aircraft.& famed Stuka pilot Rudel made ace too, it doesn't make a dedicated dive-bomber into a fighter though.
The USAAF rightly never attempted to operate the A-24 in the ETO, since it would've been tragic.
Negative, the bulk of Rudel's victories were earned in the Fw190 type.AFAIR, Rudel made ace flying the Stuka,
& his Stuka A2A victories included shooting down an IL-2 with the 37mm A/T cannon.
The Skua should not have been included in this poll as it was withdrawn from operations by the end of 1941.View attachment 210483
The Skua may not have been the "best", but it claimed the first aircraft downed for Britain in the war: a Dornier Do18.Agree the Skua shouldn't be on the list but how about adding...And I'll probably get a "Like" from Wildcat for this one!... the Vultee Vengeance? It arrived on squadrons in October 1942 so it fits the "1942 era" title for the survey.