To: Vision
According the History Channel's
Dogfights the Zero outclassed the Wildcat in every category except "Durability". The Zeke did not have self sealing fuel tanks and could not take much punishment.
Wildcats would try to engage Zeros nose on where their advantage showed. "Don't dogfight a Zero" was the motto.
The Hellcat ("Zero killer") outclassed the Zero in every category except turn radius. The Hellcat had a 19 to 1 kill ratio highest of any aircraft in history. It shot down 12,000 enemy aircraft, the most of any U.S. model.
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
As far as I know, the Hellcat’s only upgrade was the engine.
The Wildcat had better armor than the Zero(who would explode if you shot it’s fuselage), hydraulic controls, self sealing gas tanks, and lots of firepower.
37 posted on
06/09/2007 10:51:59 AM PDT by
Vision
("Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him." Jeremiah 17:7)
To: Lonesome in Massachussets
The P-40 had a 14 to 1 kill ratio against Jap planes in China.
Assymetrical warfare is the way to go. Dogfighting just gets you shot. Slash and go wins.
41 posted on
06/09/2007 11:06:53 AM PDT by
donmeaker
(You may not be interested in War but War is interested in you.)
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