The Wargamer

Early Monoplane fighters were a significant step forward for combat aviation.  Planes manufactured during this period possessed a mixture of new capabilities and improvements such as retractable landing gear and metal construction replacing fabric, while some designs still retained elements of the older biplanes.  Many early monoplanes were transitional and quickly replaced by better designs due to the rapid advancement of aviation technology in the 1930's. 

In Making History II, fighters serve many roles.  Flying from airbases or carriers, they can act as bomber escorts, engage in dogfights with other planes and strafe units on the ground.  They can patrol friendly regions and intercept incoming aircraft, or fly reconnaissance missions.  They are vulnerable to damage from other aircraft, from ground or naval units, and from fixed anti-aircraft emplacements.

 

Brewster Buffalo

 

Specifications

Role: Monoplane Fighter

Manufacturing Nation: Australia (USA export)

Introduced: 1939

Crew: 1

Maximum speed: 301 mph (484 km/h)

Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km)

Armaments: Machine guns and cannon

Originally developed in the USA as a carrier fighter, the new Brewster fighter had a modern look with a stubby fuselage, mid-set monoplane wings and a host of advanced features. It was all-metal, with flush-riveted, stressed aluminum construction, although control surfaces were still fabric-covered. Eventually the US Navy turned to newer planes, and Great Britain purchased approximately 200 of the planes and sent them to Australia just prior to the outbreak of war with Japan. They represented the core of the Australian Air Force and were used by Commonwealth forces throughout the south Pacific, including Burma, Malaya, and Singapore.

Dewoitine D.500

 

Specifications

Role: Monoplane Fighter

Manufacturing Nation: France

Introduced: 1935

Crew: 1

Maximum speed: 402 km/h (250 mph)

Range: 700 km (435 mi)

Armaments: Machine guns or cannon

 

The Dewoitine D.500 was an all-metal, open-cockpit, fixed-undercarriage monoplane. One variation featured a 20 mm cannon in the propeller hub instead of nose mounted machine guns. Like many early monoplane designs, it was soon replaced by a new generation of fighter aircraft with enclosed cockpits and retractable undercarriage. A number of D.500's were exported to Spain, where they saw action with the Republican forces in the civil war. Some were also exported to China and used in the war with Japan.

Fiat G.50

 

Specifications

Role: Monoplane Fighter

Manufacturing Nation: Italy

Introduced: 1936

Crew: 1

Maximum speed: 484 km/h (301 mph)

Range: 670 km (418 miles)

Armaments: Machine guns

The Fiat G.50 Freccia ("Arrow") was the first Italian monoplane fighter with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear to go into production. It was one of the most maneuverable planes in the world when first developed, but given the rapid advancements in fighters, it was soon surpassed by other aircraft. Nevertheless, it saw action in many campaigns, from the Spanish Civil War under the Nationalists, to North Africa and The Greek Campaign, where the Italians dominated in combat against the RAF's Gloster Gladiator. This changed dramatically when the RAF began using the Hurricane, and the G.50 was soon replaced by the Macchi C.200. The G.50 was used most extensively as an export to the Finnish Air Force in Finland's two wars against the Soviet Union.

Fokker D.XXI

 

Specifications

Role: Monoplane Fighter

Manufacturing Nation: Netherlands

Introduced: 1938

Crew: 1

Maximum speed: 460 km/h (285 mph)

Range: 930 km (574 mi)

Armaments: Machine guns and bombs

 

The Fokker D.XXI was a low wing monoplane with a steel tube fuselage covered in large part by fabric, with wooden wings and a fixed spatted undercarriage. Although superior German and British planes were already in use, when it entered service in 1938 the D.XXI was a quantum leap forward for the Dutch Army Aviation Group. Until then its fighter force had consisted of aging biplanes with open cockpits. The new Fokker proved to be an extremely sturdy aircraft capable of attaining a speed of 700 km/h in a dive. During the war against Germany in 1940, they acquitted themselves well against the more advanced German fighters, despite the D.XXI's much slower speed and lighter armament, until they were overwhelmed by sheer numbers. The D.XXI's rugged design also made it quite effective for the Finnish Air Force in their Winter War against the Soviet Union.

 

 

Hawker Hurricane

 

Specifications

Role: Monoplane Fighter

Manufacturing Nation: UK and Canada

Introduced: 1935

Crew: 1

Maximum speed: 340 mph (547 km/h)

Range: 600 mi (965 km)

Armaments: Machine guns or cannons and bombs

 

Together with the Spitfire, this iconic fighter was significant in enabling the Royal Air Force to win the Battle of Britain of 1940, accounting for the majority of the RAF's air victories. Its extraordinary success was in part due to the quality of the pilots, excellent overall performance and its armament: eight wing-mounted machine guns or four 20mm Hispano cannon firing incendiary rounds, and a bomb load of up to 500 lb (230 kg). About 14,000 Hurricanes were built and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War. Already obsolete when first produced (the early models were still fabric-covered) the Hurricane evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft which acted as interceptor-fighters, fighter-bombers, and ground support aircraft. Ease of assembly allowed them to be easily crated, shipped, and assembled. It could withstand significant damage and still survive, and was relatively easy and inexpensive to repair. It could also be carrier-based, with spares stored and assembled as needed. Over 4000 were supplied to allied nations during the war.