Team Yankee - West German Aircraft

[Emir of Askaristan]

Having a bit of an 80's nostalgia kick at the moment and dived into Team Yankee (long story...don't ask!!).

Anyway I decided I wanted a slightly earlier feel than the 1985 setting in the books, with some units having earlier kit, so rather than Tornado I thought Alpha Jets and Starfighters for my West Germans.  Now there isn't huge amounts of difference between planes in TY so I based these on the Skyhawk stats and tweaked slighter for the Starfighters smaller gun.

Cards are done. Just need to get the kits now.

[AdamPHayes]

Two aircraft to put the fear of God into their pilots...

[ErikB]

Two aircraft to put the fear of God into their pilots...

Well said. Didn't the F-104 kill more of it's pilots than enemies?

[DivisMal]

Well said. Didn't the F-104 kill more of it's pilots than enemies?

That seems to have been the case, but to be fair: it was mostly used by America‘s allies and didn’t seeebmuch action in real conflicts.

[Storm Wolf]

That seems to have been the case, but to be fair: it was mostly used by America‘s allies and didn’t seeebmuch action in real conflicts.

Indeed, not one of Kelly Johnstons best aircraft I`m afraid, unlike the SR-71 Blackbird, the Starfighter also served as the basis for the U2 spyplane of Gary Powers fame. Known as the Widowmaker in the west German and US air forces 

[Westfalia Chris]

Indeed, not one of Kelly Johnstons best aircraft I`m afraid, unlike the SR-71 Blackbird, the Starfighter also served as the basis for the U2 spyplane of Gary Powers fame. Known as the Widowmaker in the west German and US air forces 

But trying to use an aircraft designed for a rather specific role (high-altitude air superiority and bomber interception) for a significantly different purpose (nuclear weapons delivery and, later, fighter-bomber ground support) was fraught with problems in the first place. Lockheed's sales policies and German political corruption didn't help, either.

Looking forward to some model pics, too. Always had a soft spot in my heart for the Alpha Jet and wished Revell and/or Heller would re-release their 1/72 kits.

[Jemima Fawr]

The Alpha-Jet is the correct aircraft for West German Close Air Support squadrons anyway, right through the 1980s.  The G-91 'Pigs' were just going out of service in that role and were being replaced by the Alpha-Jet, which only started coming into Luftwaffe service from 1979.  So you could also have G-91s right up to the mid-1980s.
 Tornado was for deep interdiction-strike (and maritime-strike for the Navy); not really a CAS beast at all, so I've no idea why Team Yankee chose it as their 'standard' German CAS aircraft.

[Jemima Fawr]

One interesting role the Germans trialled with Alpha-Jets during the 1980s was to have some as dedicated helicopter-killers, loaded to the eyeballs with Sidewinder.

[DivisMal]

One interesting role the Germans trialled with Alpha-Jets during the 1980s was to have some as dedicated helicopter-killers, loaded to the eyeballs with Sidewinder.

The Alpha Jet is a really interesting beast and great for what if scenarios.

Concerning Team Yankee: I think they chose the Tornado just because it’s the best known and sexiest West German plane from that time. But it’s choice is kinda strange. Maybe they’ll release a Tomcat for the Americans next?

[Storm Wolf]

But trying to use an aircraft designed for a rather specific role (high-altitude air superiority and bomber interception) for a significantly different purpose (nuclear weapons delivery and, later, fighter-bomber ground support) was fraught with problems in the first place. Lockheed's sales policies and German political corruption didn't help, either.

Looking forward to some model pics, too. Always had a soft spot in my heart for the Alpha Jet and wished Revell and/or Heller would re-release their 1/72 kits.

Agreed about the sales and political problems, the Jaguar would have been a far, far better choice, or even the good old Buccaneer, but its all history now  .

[Freddy]

Nice, I am pretty sure that if this version sticks, there will be Team Yankees of other eras too- 1975 or 1965 would feature a lot of different hardware, but easily coverable with the same basic ruleset, and also the 1985 collection would be a good starting point.

[Emir of Askaristan]

If you look through the other supplements then the other, earlier equipment is there. Using bits of info from other vehicles and aircraft is fairly easy. Smaller calibre gun for the Starfighter for example. Centurions and M60's from the Fate of a Nation book too and there are lots of stat cards online if you don't have a copy.

Some of the equipment listed in the current books is a little too new for '85. It was either only just being introduced or in some cases hadn't entered manufacture. Marder 2 being an example,

The card was fun to do...fiddly but now I've got a template.

[bluewillow]

Great stuff, liking those cards

Cheers
Matt

[carlos marighela]

If you don't fancy a kit, there are  1/100 diecast Alpha JetsandF-104s kicking around out there and of course there's the old 1/100 Tamiya Starfighter. Those can usually be picked up fairly cheaply second hand.

[Jemima Fawr]

If you don't fancy a kit, there are  1/100 diecast Alpha JetsandF-104s kicking around out there and of course there's the old 1/100 Tamiya Starfighter. Those can usually be picked up fairly cheaply second hand.

Yes indeed, the range of die-cast models is phenomenal.  I was picking the 1/100th Fabri/Italeri die-cast models for £3-£5 at the shows a few years back and they still appear cheaply on eBay.  I found a load of Italian F-104s and repainted some as German.  Also Belgian and French Alpha-Jets; again, some repainted as German.  I've also got US F-18A repainted as Canadian CF-18, Mirages with remodelled nose-cones turned into Belgian Mirage V, a Sea Harrier, half a dozen Apaches, Italian Mangusta, Mi-24 Hind D & E, German police Bo-105 repainted as military and quite a few other bits and pieces.