DCS: 1942

[PLAAF]

Currently, we have a number of planes from the WW2 era in DCS, which allow us to simulate battles from late 1944 and 1945. But in history, those battles fought between the Allies and the Axis are not that breathtaking. Because at that time, the Axis were basically a bunch of "dead tigers" by that time. That's why I propose a DCS 1942. The battles in 1942 were the most intense and decisive for the entire course of the war. Unlike the battles in 1940 and 1941, the Allies were getting overwhelmed; in early 1942, although the situation was dire for the Allies, they started to stand their ground and started to fight back with properly organised and planned resistance. That's why I believe DCS would gain more popularity with more planes from 1942. So I will mainly focus on the planes and battles from earlier 1942, or as early as possible.

Here are my suggestions. Please see the table below. The planes in Red are for the FF module, while the black ones... if they can be made into FF modules, Bravo! If not, it is still good to have them as a 1942 asset pack.
OK, let's get it started.

MiG-3 ShVAK x2

Firstly, the MiG-3 variant with 2 ShVAK 20mm cannons and leading edge slats.

It is the maiden design of the famous MiG bureau, the fastest high-altitude interceptor of 1941 with a top speed of 640km/h. Although designed as a high-altitude interceptor, its sea-level maneuverability is almost as good as that of a BF-109E. You can also carry rockets and bombs for ground attack missions. The fighter is used by both the Soviet Union and Romania.

 

IL-2-37

I think there is no need for the introduction here. IL-2 is the one plane that was made in the highest number ever. A total of 38163 were made. It has a lot of armour that earns them the name "flying tanks". The IL-2-37 is armed with 2x 37mm cannons used as a can opener for inconvenient cans with no bypass ring attached, like tigers and king tigers. Now, I know that this variant didn't exactly come out in 1942, but in 1943. However, the only difference between a standard IL-2 at the time and the IL-2-37 variant is the cannon, so I don't see why we can't get two variants for the price of one. The plane was used by a large number of nations, including the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia.

 

Pe-2

A well-designed multi-role tactical bomber. For those who liked the Mosquito, they will love this. This plane can be used as a dive bomber, level bomber, attacker, recon plane, heavy fighter, and bomber killer. And you have enough defensive gunners onboard to have some of those old-fashioned bomber fun. It is used by the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia.

 

Seafire

The carrier version of the Spitfire. It participated in a lot of famous battles in North Africa and during the invasion of Italy.

Since we already have the Spitfire, making this plane would be easier since I heard that they basically share the same cockpit.

The users of this plane include the UK, Canada, France and Ireland.

 

Sea Hurricane Mk IIC

The carrier version of the Hurricane Mk IIC with 4 x 20mm cannons for ground attack missions.

Combine this with the Seafire; we can simulate the UK's carrier operations in 1942.

I don't know about this particular variant, but the Hurricane family had many users, including Australia, Belguim, Canada, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, British Raj, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, South Africa, Soviet Union, Turkey, UK, Yugoslavia.

 

F4F Wildcat

The workhorse of the US Navy at the time. It fought in both the Pacific and Atlantic. It defended the US from complete annihilation when the Axis was at its peak. I absolutely loved this plane as its flight felt so smooth like a glider.

Its users include the US, Belgium, France, Greece, Canada and the UK.

 

P-40

One of the most iconic fighters from the US. Virtually every Allied nation used it at some point during the war. Either P-40C or P-40E will be a great addition to DCS. 

 

 

 

 SBD

The iconic carrier dive bomber and attacker. The very same piloted by Richard Halsey Best.

Oh, don't tell me you don't know who Richard was.

SBD's users include the US, the UK, Chile, France, Mexico, Morocco, and New Zealand.

 

TBF

The iconic carrier torpedo bomber of WW2. It can also be used as a bomber and an attacker by equipping it with bombs and rockets.

With F4F, SBD and TBF, we can simulate a full carrier battle experience of the US in WW2. On top of that, it has two gunners, which is double the fun for those who love to play as a gunner.

The users of this plane include the US, the UK, Uruguay, Nicaragua, Cuba, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Japan, France, Canada, and Brazil.

 

 

BF-109F4

I am not going to waste my time writing anything here because I am sure you guys know more about it than I do.

 

Ju-87D Stuka

The infamous dive bomber of the Nazi Germany.  It was used by Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and Bulgaria, as well as the UK.

 

M.C. 202

The best fighter Italy had at the time. Over 1000 of them were made. It was used by both Italy and Germany.

I still remember back in another flight sim, I once tried to shoot down one of those in my La-5. I kept hitting it with my ShVAKs for 5 seconds straight, but somehow it was still flying and maneuvering. Either that flight sim had wrongly portrayed it, or this plane had some serious armour.

 

 

Ki-43

I am suggesting this instead of the A6M because I suspect that ED already has a plan to make a 1944 version of the A6M.

Also, there are significantly more nations that used this plane than the A6M. Furthermore, it is as capable as the A6M variant at the time.

Its users include Japan, China, France, Indonesia, and North Korea.

 

 

Edited May 11 by PLAAF

[upyr1]

I'd like this too. Here is my map list for 1942

Midway/eastern Pacific - ideally ,I would have Midway, Hawaii, and Wake 

Coral Sea/ North West Australia and New Guinea-   

Stalingrad (ideally I'd love to have a caucuses 2.0 with a modern era map and a WWII map)

North Africa (a 1942 Sanai map would be a good starting point )

I'd also add the P-40 

[vgilsoler]

The P-38 was available for that year too.

[Qcumber]

Also Add:

Fairy Swordfish

Bristol Beaufighter

Messerschmitt Bf 110

Hawker Hurricane MkIIC+D (40mm canons). 

 

[PLAAF]

18 hours ago, upyr1 said:

I'd like this too. Here is my map list for 1942

Midway/eastern Pacific - ideally ,I would have Midway, Hawaii, and Wake 

Coral Sea/ North West Australia and New Guinea-   

Stalingrad (ideally I'd love to have a caucuses 2.0 with a modern era map and a WWII map)

North Africa (a 1942 Sanai map would be a good starting point )

I'd also add the P-40 

Aren't you a greedy one? 
I agree with you, North African is a must-have. That's a lot of maps to make, though.
My suggestion would be like this:
1: Retaliation from Moscow in spring 1942.
2: Operation Torch.
3: Pearl Harbour
4: Battle of Midway
5: Papua New Guinea and North Australia.

What do you think?

I do have P-40 on my list. I just forgot to put its picture on there. I have just edited it.
 

[upyr1]

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

Aren't you a greedy one? 

It's the wish list make it big and see what people want

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

I agree with you, North African is a must-have. That's a lot of maps to make, though.
My suggestion would be like this:
1: Retaliation from Moscow in spring 1942.

Moscow would be nice- good one. 

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

2: Operation Torch.

I figure you could get a couple maps out of that operation Tunisia would be awesome

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

3: Pearl Harbour
4: Battle of Midway

 

I think Hawii, Midway, and Wake could be a single map.  You can draw a triangle between the 3. Midway is about 3000 KM Northwest of Hawaii and Wake is about 4000 KM due west most of that is going to be ocean 

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

5: Papua New Guinea and North Australia.

What do you think?

Looks like we have a lot of the same ideas

3 hours ago, PLAAF said:

 

I do have P-40 on my list. I just forgot to put its picture on there. I have just edited it.
 

I see I missed the P-40.

Even though the focus is 1942, I'd make it just an early war request so that we can get BISMARK a what if duel between BISMARK and an Iowa would be awesome 

 

[Qcumber]

51 minutes ago, upyr1 said:

Even though the focus is 1942, I'd make it just an early war request so that we can get BISMARK

That's why we need a Fairy Swordfish. 

[bies]

An early, lightweight, nimble Fw 190 A3 would be awesome over the channel in early 1942!

[PLAAF]

On 5/8/2025 at 4:58 AM, bies said:

An early, lightweight, nimble Fw 190 A3 would be awesome over the channel in early 1942!

The best thing is that we already have the channel map and can have a "Battle for Britain" champion.

[Silver_Dragon]

Remember Nick Grey has talked about make "Battle of Britain" modules after "the pacific".

 

Edited May 11 by Silver_Dragon

[Mr_sukebe]

Agreed on the idea.  We have mainly late war aircraft, so working backwards towards the Battle of France would be a great idea, and the list of aircraft suggested looks reallly good.  

[Gunfreak]

2 hours ago, Mr_sukebe said:

Agreed on the idea.  We have mainly late war aircraft, so working backwards towards the Battle of France would be a great idea, and the list of aircraft suggested looks reallly good.  

Let's actually flesh out what we have, namely 44/45.

At the rate ww2 dcs is worked on. Asking for 3 aircraft is a 8 year development job. 

In an ideal world. DCS would get 1-2 ww2 aircraft a year. Expanded channel map. 5 new AI aircraft. But that's not happening and probably never will happen.

We can all wish and dream, but asking for a totally new ww2 project. Is like asking for 2 random 1942 aircraft made over 4 years and never anything else will happen.

[draconus]

SBD and TBF are planned for WWII Pacific Pack:

[Silver_Dragon]

Let's actually flesh out what we have, namely 44/45.
At the rate ww2 dcs is worked on. Asking for 3 aircraft is a 8 year development job. 
In an ideal world. DCS would get 1-2 ww2 aircraft a year. Expanded channel map. 5 new AI aircraft. But that's not happening and probably never will happen.
We can all wish and dream, but asking for a totally new ww2 project. Is like asking for 2 random 1942 aircraft made over 4 years and never anything else will happen.

Missing ED has working yet on the F6F module, on Marianas WW2 map, the Pacific WW2 assets pack, and show on 2025 and Beyond on some east AI units as a T-34 tank.

Meanwhile the old KS put on the table some new aircrafts, remember Nick Gray has claimed BoB coming to DCS after the "Pacific", and missing the Me262 module to WW2.

Enviado desde mi CPH2197 mediante Tapatalk

[PLAAF]

On 5/12/2025 at 12:03 AM, Gunfreak said:

Let's actually flesh out what we have, namely 44/45.

At the rate ww2 dcs is worked on. Asking for 3 aircraft is a 8 year development job. 

In an ideal world. DCS would get 1-2 ww2 aircraft a year. Expanded channel map. 5 new AI aircraft. But that's not happening and probably never will happen.

We can all wish and dream, but asking for a totally new ww2 project. Is like asking for 2 random 1942 aircraft made over 4 years and never anything else will happen.

null

But if they can make an FF modern jet in a year, it should be easier for WW2 modules, right?

[draconus]

5 hours ago, PLAAF said:

But if they can make an FF modern jet in a year, it should be easier for WW2 modules, right?

Usually yes, it's true, but they're not making that Eagle from scratch - they can reuse a lot of code from current module.

[PLAAF]

10 minutes ago, draconus said:

Usually yes, it's true, but they're not making that Eagle from scratch - they can reuse a lot of code from current module.

That's true. But still, you don't have to make all those electrical systems and avionics when it comes to WW2 planes. It is still pretty good if they can dish out a WW2 plane in less than 2 years per plane.

 

On 5/12/2025 at 5:54 PM, draconus said:

SBD and TBF are planned for WWII Pacific Pack:

23 hours ago, Silver_Dragon said:

Missing ED has working yet on the F6F module, on Marianas WW2 map, the Pacific WW2 assets pack, and show on 2025 and Beyond on some east AI units as a T-34 tank.

Meanwhile the old KS put on the table some new aircrafts, remember Nick Gray has claimed BoB coming to DCS after the "Pacific", and missing the Me262 module to WW2.

Enviado desde mi CPH2197 mediante Tapatalk
 

That's awesome. So part of my wishlist is already in motion. That's great! 

[draconus]

1 hour ago, PLAAF said:

But still, you don't have to make all those electrical systems and avionics when it comes to WW2 planes. It is still pretty good if they can dish out a WW2 plane in less than 2 years per plane.

I think you meant some computerized parts like FCS, HUD, RWR, radar, MFDs, DL because warbirds also have electrical systems, avionics, hydraulics, engine management stuff (air/mixture/oil/water/cooling), gear&suspention, airfoils, canopy animations, FM, DM, cockpit/external model, IR signature, textures/liveries, weapons integration... all this has to be modelled and coded and it doesn't seem that much less than modern jets. Maybe it's possible in 2 years but counting on it does not make sense because we can see how it ends in practice. Anyone seen F4U lately?

Edited May 14 by draconus

[Gunfreak]

8 hours ago, PLAAF said:

null

But if they can make an FF modern jet in a year, it should be easier for WW2 modules, right?

That's the point. They could make 2 ww2 full fidelity modules a year 

 But they choose not to.  Probably because they don't expect it's worth the money.

And that's the problem. DCS WW2 doesn't make them enough money for them to prioritise it. And since they don't prioritise it. WW2 dcs doesn't attract enough players to for them to make enough money on it for then to prioritise it. And on and on this cycle goes.

ED could make the best WW2 sim ever made. But that would require time and money ED isn't willing to use on ww2. So ww2 DCS continues to be the unwanted stepchild.

[draconus]

5 minutes ago, Gunfreak said:

That's the point. They could make 2 ww2 full fidelity modules a year 

 But they choose not to.  Probably because they don't expect it's worth the money.

And that's the problem. DCS WW2 doesn't make them enough money for them to prioritise it. And since they don't prioritise it. WW2 dcs doesn't attract enough players to for them to make enough money on it for then to prioritise it. And on and on this cycle goes.

ED could make the best WW2 sim ever made. But that would require time and money ED isn't willing to use on ww2. So ww2 DCS continues to be the unwanted stepchild.

Yeah, just ignore ED's F6F, Pacific Theatre, WW2 Marianas and other 3rd parties making their warbirds.

Aircraft availability or time it takes to model them is also not a direct "problem" of DCS WW2.

Full fidelity aircraft is a niche, a study sim genre that is not comparable to more causual games out there. The sooner you get it the better.

[Gunfreak]

13 minutes ago, draconus said:

Yeah, just ignore ED's F6F, Pacific Theatre, WW2 Marianas and other 3rd parties making their warbirds.

Aircraft availability or time it takes to model them is also not a direct "problem" of DCS WW2.

Full fidelity aircraft is a niche, a study sim genre that is not comparable to more causual games out there. The sooner you get it the better.

Oh you say the Hellcat is out?

Oh wait it isn't

We aren't just talking full fidelity here, lack of AI aircraft to make proper 1944 missions and environment.

The Mossie didn't sell well enough, so they haven't done anything with it for 3 years except using it as a test bed for some new gear physics(probably because it didn't sell well enough, so if it broke only a few would get effected.) Nothing major has happened for WW2 DCS for 3 years, imagine if nothing had happened to DCS jets for 3 years.

What 3rd parties are you talking about? The Corsair that is at 8 years and counting development time, or the I-16 that doesn't fit into anything we have, or the IL-7 that also won't fit into anything we have?

 Again, it's a lack of interest from ED that is stopping development nothing else. They choose to prioritize their jet stuff, because that's were the money is. But as long as they do that, they'll never make a proper WW2 sim for those that want that. 

We'll see when the PTO comes out, if it will get proper support, or if it will get a few thigs, then nothing for 3+ years.

And the full fidelity isn't an issue, if you ask someone who flies that other WW2 sim, why they don't fly WW2 DCS.

You'll always get the same answers.

1 Too expensive, having to buy an aircraft, a map and a asset pack(ED is again forcing a paid asset pack for PTO) 

2. Not a real WW2 sim, as there is next to no aircraft to fly. Lacking any proper WW2 environment and a mismatch of aircraft and maps. 

Both those answers is something ED could do something about if they wanted to. They simply don't want to, because they don't believe it will make them  enough money. Which is perfectly legit reason for a company that has to make money, but don't make up other reasons for why nothing major is happening with WW2 DCS 

[draconus]

1 hour ago, Gunfreak said:

Nothing major has happened for WW2 DCS for 3 years

I'd say Normandy 2 in 2023 was a major hit.

1 hour ago, Gunfreak said:

What 3rd parties are you talking about?

F4U and La-7 are in the works.

So what? You can't play because there was no warbird released in last 3 years? Or is there some showstopper I don't know of?

Mind that many core improvements come for all DCS, not only jets. Otoh WW2 got high fidelity DM which never got to the jets or helicopters.

I won't go into why DCS WW2 is not so popular discussion. What's stopping you from having fun with it other than usual "always lacking something" rant?

[motoadve]

2 hours ago, Gunfreak said:

2. Not a real WW2 sim, as there is next to no aircraft to fly. Lacking any proper WW2 environment and a mismatch of aircraft and maps. 

I thought the same, but Finnish server is the most unrealistic and at the same time the most popular, many gamers want easy FMs and are intimidated by DCS FM and high fidelity planes, which is what makes DCS warbirds just amazing.

LA7 at least will have planes to fight against, contrary to the IL 16, which does not make sense at all.

DCS WWII needs a Germany map

[Slippa]

My Hurricane has no 110s or 111s to defend against, it’s also quite lacking in the Hurricane dept.

My Mossie should be doing 420mph but it doesn’t.

My Carrier and most of the fleet were built by dedicated Modders (thank you).

My Swordfish doesn’t exist yet, not counting modded AI models.

My Wildcats, Corsairs and Typhoons are figments of my imagination.

My lunch is ready.

I’m still surprised someone finally built a map of Germany and set it in the wrong era. I wonder about almost every choice made when it comes to DCS’ approach to WWII. Still love me props but ugh what a missed opportunity. Make sense of it all, please. 

[Mr_sukebe]

ED have previously stated that they thought that the profit margin was better on the warbirds, as they're a bit simpler to build. 

My guess is that they were hoping for more 3rd party developers to flesh out the warbird scene whilst they concentrated on the F16/F18, helicopters (all of which they're clearly very good at) and also the underlying technology.  If that was the case, then clearly it's not worked out as planned as we've just three in the pipeline (that I can think of), i.e. the LA7, Corsair and Hellcat.  I keep hoping that ED will simply insource all of a certain well established WW2 sim and re-use a lot of their material, with their aircraft using FC3 style approach.  I've no idea how viable that would be, but imagine that number of aircraft with DCS visuals and underpinning tech.

Ref the Germany map, funny you mention that.  I did a couple of bomber intercepts against B17 formations yesterday.  I know that it's not fully realistic as a map, but frankly, I don't care.