With the addition of the Me 262 jet fighter to Blood Red Skies, Tom takes a look at some of the tactics you can use to outfox the Allies!
How Jets Work
Providing no enemy aircraft are within 9″ of a jet, it immediately gains an Advantage level on activation. Combined with a high speed, this gives jet aircraft the kind of tactical flexibility that prop-driven pilots could only dream of.
However, if caught in a dogfight, jet pilots will find themselves unable to gain their free advantage, as having enemy planes within 9″ will stop this ability from activating.
The Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft in the world. Though design work began well before the commencement of World War II, problems with development – from the engines to interference from the highest command levels mean that the aircraft did not reach operational status until mid-1944, too late to make the required impact. The Me 262 was more heavily armed than and outperformed every Allied aircraft in terms of speed. It served in a number of roles such as light-bomber, reconnaissance and experimental night fighter. It earned nicknames dependant on its role, dubbed Schwalbe (German for swallow) in fighter versions, or Sturmvogel (German for storm bird) in fighter-bomber versions.
With the highest speed of any WW2-era aircraft, the Me 262 to can cover a phenomenal amount of ground, particularly when spending Advantage to dive!
With the additional 6″ provided by diving, the Me 262 can move a total of 17″. By contrast, a USAAF P-51D Mustang will only manage 14″ – allowing savvy jet pilots to outstrip their prop-driven opponent.
This outstanding mobility allows jet pilots to keep their distance, using their free advantage to either dive or maneuver. A pair of jets can use a series of long, scissoring passes to disrupt enemy formations and pick off unfortunate aircraft.
One plane can use their pilot action to outmanoeuvre enemy pilots and keep them at a low advantage level – while the jet’s close by, that disadvantaged pilot will be unable to climb, making them incredibly vulnerable to attack.
Dan Hewitson
