This might seem unnecessary or unreasonable since the potez is already BR1 and BR1 attackers are pretty bad in general, but there can be a way to make it work on BR1 without being OP. So without further ado, why and how the JU 87 B-2 can be moved to BR1.
The B-2 is okay for what it is and can be used very effectively, but underperforms compared to it’s other BR2 variants. This version lacks 20mm cannons or a 500kg bomb, which make the D-5 and R-2 great aircraft, either great cannons good for fighting planes or a huge bomb great for bombing, but this however is stuck with peashooters for MGs and the default bombload for stukas. In addition, this version seems more frail then the other 2, although I don’t know for sure. This leads to it being a bit more obsolete in comparison to these, which is why it is a rare plane to see. due to this, it will likely have very minimal backlash for it’s lowering from people who use it, since they don’t really exist.
While this has absolutely nothing to do with balance, this is the only stuka that has the legendary Jericho’s trumpets installed. due to being overshadowed at BR2 by the other stuka variants, it is very rare to see this aircraft, so this could make the iconic sound a bit more common in game.
While BR1 attackers are not very good, they should at least have more bombing potential than fighters for obvious reasons. The IAR 81C has a payload of two 50kg bombs and a 250kg bomb, too much for a BR1 fighter, but for a bomber at this BR, this payload could work. In comparison to other BR1 german planes, the payload would either be the same as the IAR is, or 150 kgs more then the BF 109 E7/U2, and would actually be 50kg less then the Potez. This setup of two 50kg bombs and a 250kg bomb might work, but if it ends up too strong due due to other BR1 attackers being too bad, it could be reduced to just the 250kg bomb.
for this section, I’m going to compare the Ju 87 B-2 with the proposed new payload to the Potez, since it is the closest comparison to the Ju 87 B-2 in BR1. the stats being used are from the resource sheet, if you want to check it out there.
- forward armament
both planes have rifle caliber MGs, which almost always do nothing to enemy planes when you only have one or two. The potez has 500 rounds for it’s single machine gun, and the stuka has 1000 rounds for it’s two machine guns, but the difference is often not very noticable.
- defensive armament
both planes also have similar defensive guns, the potez armed with a rifle caliber LMG with 1000 rounds and the Ju 87 B-2’s gunner has 900 rounds
- suspended armament
The potez has a suspended armament of two 200kg bombs (400 kgs total), and the proposed updated Ju 87 B-2 armament would be two 50kg bombs and a 250kg bomb (350 kgs total)
- speed and turn time
The potez has a top speed of 450 Kp/h and a turn time of 15.8 seconds (not using combat flaps, which reduces this even further), and the Ju-87 B-2 has a top speed 419 Kp/h and a turn time of 17.18 seconds, and with no combat flaps to help you turn faster.
In summary, the potez is faster, has a slightly larger bomb load than the updated stuka load, turns faster and has combat flaps, but has less ammo for the MGs, seemingly less armor.
I would be interested to see the thoughts of the players on this, if it is something that people would like to see or not, or if anyone on the forum uses it, so please leave your feedback, it would be greatly appreciated.
