August 11, 2010

How Wonderduck Discovered He Had No Life

So I'm watching Strike Witches 2 ep06 when this streaks across the screen:

My reaction to seeing it was "Huh.  I didn't expect to see that in an anime."  There just aren't that many people who have ever heard of the Macchi C.202, let alone know what one looks like or know why it was a good choice for the Regia Aeronautica Romagna airforce to be flying against the Neuroi.

My next reacton was akin to this:

...as I realized that there's a reason most people haven't heard of the C.202: most people don't have a fascination for the... shall we say obscure?... planes used in WWII.  Most people wouldn't even care.  Hell, most of the people watching Strike Witches 2 wouldn't care.

SW1 brought us the A5MSW2 the C.202 and an Emily.  I've geeked out with every new piece of military hardware they've brought us.  I have no life.

Posted by: Wonderduck at 10:31 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
Post contains 158 words, total size 2 kb.

1 There's another thing. The two Italian cruisers they described as being part of that attack, Zara and Pola, were real cruisers which were lost in the Battle of Cape Matapan in our history.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at August 12, 2010 10:07 AM (+rSRq)

2 That C.202 is certainly a pretty airplane.  I'm pretty sure I've seen it before, but I can't remember the context, probably one of the old airplane books I used to have ages ago before I wore them all out (sob!).

I find it interesting that some of the prettiest airplanes of WWII were fairly unknown.  The C.202, and the Yak-9 are both good examples.

Now.., why is the C.202 a good choice to use against the Neuroi?

Posted by: David at August 12, 2010 04:33 PM (oyblT)

3 Why, maneuverability of course.  From all reports, the Folgore could dance, though not to the same level of a Zero.  When an alien from outer space is shooting death rays at you, what better defense is there than being able to get out of the way?

The C.202 had its weaknesses, to be sure.  It was underarmed (only two 7.7mm machineguns in the nose), had a weird tendency of extending its landing gear on pull-out of a dive and a flat-out lousy oxygen system. 

But it had the same engine as the Bf-109, outperformed the Spitfires up to the MkV, and was always able to outturn them.  A very good plane.

Posted by: Wonderduck at August 12, 2010 04:59 PM (iJfPN)

4

Synchronized machine guns are a good-news/bad-news situation.

The good news is that they're firing in parallel so they're registered at all ranges. The bad news is that the fire rate suffers and synchronized machine guns aren't as reliable.

I think I'd prefer more guns, of course, but also placed out in the wings the way everyone else did it.

Two 7.7mm guns is preposterously light armament by WWII  standards.

Posted by: Steven Den Beste at August 12, 2010 07:06 PM (+rSRq)

5 What will we see next ? Maybe a Nakajima G8N Renzan.

Posted by: bouff at August 12, 2010 08:26 PM (TsvhJ)

6

Personally, I feel the lack of the P-61 needs to be rectified.  The Folgore is all well and good, but the 61 was maneuverable and packed a decent punch - as well as damn good lookin'.

 

But that's just me...

Posted by: The Old Man at August 13, 2010 09:20 AM (+LRPE)

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