                            Concept : Plane Types

NAME
   Plane-types - Description of different kinds of planes

Level: Basic

The general plane types currently available in Empire are:

   fighter  A general offense/defense plane. Historical examples include
            the FE.2B, the Sopwith Snipe & Camel, the Nieuport V-XVII, the
            Spad, and the Fokker planes. From WWII are the Me-109, the
            FW-190, the English Spitfire & Hurricane, the Japanese Zero,
            the American P-39, P-40, P-38, and the Soviet Yak series.
            Later planes include the Me-262, the Gloster Meteor, P-80,
            Mig-15. Korean War vintage planes are the F-87 Sabre, F-100
            SuperSabre, and the Mig-17. Vietnam Era planes are the F-4 &
            Mig-21. Later, NATO & WP models include the F-16 & F-15 and the
            Mig-23, 25, and 29.

            The main points of similarity are: 1 or 2 high performance
            engines, a single pilot, and plenty of guns/missiles. Duties
            include patrol/interception, escort, and light bombing.

   escort   These are planes optimized for escorting, with superior range,
            sometimes at the expense of fighting capacity. Examples are
            the Me-110 & the P-51. Note that this type is relatively rare,
            as long range heavy bombing was rare.

   naval
   fighter  These planes all sacrifice range and/or fighting power in order
            to fit on a carrier and carry the gear necessary to operate
            from one. Examples are the series of Short biplanes built in
            Britain, the Sopwith Baby & Cuckoo, the Gloster Gladiator, the
            American Wildcat & Corsair, versions of the Japanese Zero, the
            F8 Corsair, the F-4, F-14, and F-18. Many of the planes were
            multi-role, due to the relatively small plane capacity of their
            carriers. They were almost always inferior in performance to
            land fighters. Many of them carry dual engines.

   light
   bomber   These planes are tactical bombers, suited for strafing, combat
            support, etc. These range from the first trench bombers, such as
            the Junkers J-I and the Sopwith Snark & Dolphin, the Ju-87
            Stuka, the American P-47, various ground-attack versions of the
            Yaks, the Japanese Val and Kate, the British Typhoon, and many
            others.  Modern versions are the A-3 SkyWarrior, the A-4
            Skyhawk, the A-6 Intruder, the Su-22 Frogfoot, the Su-27, and
            various British models. A modern and most effective example is
            the A-10

            The common factors are maneuverability, the ability to take
            damage and still fly, and the ability to hit targets precisely.
            (Either through low-speed bombing, dive-bombing, or rocket or
            guided bombs/missiles) Their performance against fighters of
            any sort is poor, with few exceptions (notably the P-47, which
            was designed as a fighter, and used as a ground-attack plane
            due to its toughness) Many are naval, or have naval versions,
            since the requirements of a naval plane do not affect them as
            greatly as fighters.

   heavy
   bomber   These planes are build for long range and great load-carrying
            ability, and the ability to defend themselves against fighters.
            (Although that never worked more than middling well) Examples
            are the Handley-Paige bombers of WWI (especially the O/400), the
            German Gothas and Giants, the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24
            Liberator, the B-29 SuperFortress, the Avro Lancaster, the Short
            Sterling, and the Vickers Wellington, as well as the more modern
            B-36, B-47, B-50, B-52, B-1, and the Soviet Ant-4, Tu-20 Bear,
            Tu-2? Backfire, and others.

            The common factors are the extreme range, the ability to carry
            several tons of bombs, the wide range of defensive armament, and
            four engines.

   medium
   bombers  These were basically an intermediate stage between the light &
            heavy bomber, and were used for both purposes. Examples are the
            He-111, the Do-17, the B-25 Mitchell, B-26 Marauder, the A-20
            Havoc, the Avro Manchester, Armstrong Whitworth Whitely, the
            Russian Il-4 & I-15, and the Japanese Betty & Sally.

            These planes were essentially compromises, and were phased out
            as time went on. They could not bomb as precisely as a light
            bomber, nor as heavily as a heavy bomber.

   transports

            Initially, these were basically similar to civilian airliners.
            They could carry supplies or troops. (In Norway, the Germans
            captured airports and flew in troops) Later, they were used for
            paratroop landings. Eventually paratrooping became too dangerous
            for these planes (with the introduction of SAMs) and they were
            replaced by helicopter assault, with the transports going back
            to carrying supplies and equipment.

   transport
   helicopters

            These were made to transport assault troops. They also carry
            supplies & wounded, but their main duty was to deliver troops
            with greater precision, rapidity, safety, and cohesion than was
            possible with paratrooping. (They were also to replace the
            landing craft, as the Marines looked at the odds of an invasion
            fleet standing up to nukes)

   attack
   helicopters

            These supplement the light bombers, and specialize in the very
            precise application of firepower, as well as evading
            interception, by use of terrain.

   recon
   planes &
   satellites

            These provide precise information about enemy troop dispositions
            and movements. The first recon planes had no protection. Then,
            it was attempted to make them un-interceptable. This was done by
            simply being faster than anything the enemy had, such as the
            stripped down British Hurricanes, US P-38's & P-51's, or German
            FW-190's or Blitz-Bombers. Later, emphasis shifter to also being
            able to fly higher, as with the U-2 & SR-71. These planes are
            largely superseded by satellites now (for good or ill).

   ssm's
   & icbm's

            The first ssm's were used as strategic harassing weapons, and
            were almost useless. (German V-1 & V-2) There were also combat
            rockets, such as the Russian Katayusha's and the German
            Nebelwerfers, but these were essentially similar to artillery.
            The first true SSM's were the Russian missiles in the 1950's,
            such as the Frog. They were intended to deliver nuclear or
            chemical warheads at medium ranges, and to be un-interceptable.
            Later missiles increase payload & range.

            However, since we've artificially restricted the blast effects
            of nuclear weapons, I am merging these in with tactical
            missiles. (no need for an icbm unless you've got big nukes)

   marine
   missiles
            These are modern smart-missiles. They are naval weapons, such
            as the Harpoon, Penguin, Exocet. They are accurate missiles which
            may be launched at ships.

   sam's
            The first sams were nuclear-tipped, and intended to break up
            large attacking bomber forces. Later, they were made smaller
            and more accurate, and were intended to hit single targets
            at any speed or altitude.

   abm's    These are to shoot down missiles, and are mostly fantasy.

   asw
   planes   These are either long-range bomber type aircraft, with some
            sort of equipment for locating & killing submarines, or also
            helicopters, able to fly from most naval vessels.

These plane types differ in their fundamental capabilities; some can fly bomb-
ing missions, other carry cargo, others exist  to  shoot  down  other  planes.
Missiles are special; they are planes which fly one-way missions and cannot be
shot down by opposing planes.

The technology level at which the plane was built is very important.  The same
model plane built at a higher tech level will outperform the planes built at a
lower tech level.

The particular planes available and their attributes are  given  by  the  show
command.  The fields given in the output are as follows.  For building:

  lcm  the amount of lcm to build the unit,
  hcm  the amount of hcm to build the unit,
 crew  the number of military this plane has as crew
avail  the amount of avail used to build this plane
 tech  minimum tech level to build this unit,
    $  cost of the unit in dollars,

For the stats report the fields are:

    acc  bomb accuracy, low is best; a 0 accuracy implies no ability.
   load  bomb load/cargo capacity.
    att  air-to-air  combat  attack rating (reduced by low eff, can't go below
         1/2 of base).
    def  air-to-air combat defense rating (reduced by low eff, can't go  below
         1/2 of base).
    ran  base range (in sectors).
   fuel  amount of fuel used each trip.
stealth  the percentage chance this plane has of evading detection

The abilities are given as a set of attributes for each plane.  These include:

    tactical  Pinpoint bombing ability.  Can be put on interdiction  and  sup-
              port  missions.   Tactical  missiles  may be launched at sectors
              unless they have "marine" ability in which case they may only be
              fired at ships.
      bomber  strategic bombing ability
   intercept  Interception  and  escort  ability.  May be put on escort or air
              defense missions.
       cargo  cargo-carrying ability
        VTOL  vertical take-off ability -- no need to use airports
     missile  missile  --  one  shot,  can  be  launched  (see  info  launch).
              "marine"  missiles  may  only be fired at ships, "tactical" mis-
              siles which don't have "marine" capability may only be fired  at
              sectors.
       light  light, can land on carriers or be carried on a submarine
         spy  spy ability, for recon missions (see info recon, info bomb, info
              satellite)
       image  full imaging capability - satellites with this ability show much
              more (see info satellite)
   satellite  a satellite - stays in orbit until shot down
     stealth  a stealth plane - has a chance of not triggering intercepts
         SDI  Intercepts tactical missiles.
half-stealth  a  stealth plane - has a smaller chance of not triggering inter-
              cepts
     x-light  xtra-light, can be carried and used on any  ship  or  land  unit
              with a non-zero xl capacity. (see info Ship-types)
        helo  ship-helicopter, can be carried and used on any ship with a non-
              zero hl capacity. (see info Ship-types)
         ASW  Has ASW (anti-submarine warfare) ability. May use sonar  &  bomb
              subs.
        para  may be used to paratroop
      escort  Escort ability only.  May be put on escort missions.
        mine  Can lay mines (see info mine).
       sweep  Can sweep mines (see info sweep).
      marine  Missiles with this ability may only be launched at ships.

Each  plane  has  a stealth rating. The stealth rating of a group of planes is
that of the plane with the LOWEST rating.

As an example of the output
   [##:##] Command : show plane build

                             lcm hcm crew avail tech  $
   Zeppelin                    6   2   3     6   70 $1000
   f1  fighter 1               8   2   1     7   90 $400
   lb1 lt bomber 1            10   3   1     9  100 $550
   nf1 naval fighter 1         8   2   1     7  100 $500
   hb1 hvy bomber 1           20   6   2    17  110 $1100
   as1 anti-sub plane 1       10   3   2     9  110 $550
   f2  fighter 2               9   3   1     8  150 $600
   es  escort                  9   3   1     8  150 $700

   [##:##] Command : show plane stats

                             acc load att def ran fuel stlth
   Zeppelin                   60    2   0  -3  15    2    0%
   f1  fighter 1              90    1   3   2   7    1    0%
   lb1 lt bomber 1            50    2   1   2   7    1    0%
   nf1 naval fighter 1        80    1   2   2   7    1    0%
   hb1 hvy bomber 1           90    5   1   3  15    2    0%
   as1 anti-sub plane 1       85    2   1   2  15    2    0%
   f2  fighter 2              60    1   6   4   9    1    0%
   es  escort                 60    1   4   5  15    2    0%

   [##:##] Command : show plane cap

                             capabilities
   Zeppelin                  tactical cargo VTOL spy
   f1  fighter 1             tactical intercept VTOL
   lb1 lt bomber 1           bomber tactical VTOL
   nf1 naval fighter 1       tactical intercept light
   hb1 hvy bomber 1          bomber
   as1 anti-sub plane 1      tactical ASW
   f2  fighter 2             tactical intercept
   es  escort                tactical escort

SEE ALSO
   fly, build, show, Planes

