Quote:
Originally Posted by WTE_Galway
Actually I was just trying to stir up the original poster who seemed to be complaining about a lack of American Planes in a Battle of Britain simulation were no such planes took part 
The NG situation was a total farce and the fact that many completed or almost completed US late war aircraft and even some naval ships never made it into the game because of idiotic legal extortion by NG (they basically had no legitimate case but threatened to delay the release of Pacific Fighters with lengthy court action unless they got their way) was quite reprehensible. |
Actually, technically speaking, Martlet MK I's were patrolling the coast of Scotland by August 1940. Granted, they only had the one stage super charger, but if I recall correctly, they were the first American made aircraft to down an Axis aircraft during the war.
In fact, the whole USN/RN dual production thing was why Grumman went to a six gun wing in the first place. The RN wanted an 8-gun wing, the USN wanted 0.50 cal minimum, and the Wildcat just wasn't going to be able to list an 8x0.50 cal armament, so they split the difference, and gave the Brits two guns short, and the USN 14 seconds less fire time. Nobody liked that change.
On the other hand, by the time of the Hellcat, 6x0.50 was quite a decent set of guns, when it had enough ammo for the set.