Unit Card:
Set - Number
Angels 20 - 10/31
History:
Vergilius
The Italian Macchi C.202 Folgore,built by Macchi Aeronautica, was considered an excellent fighter by wartime Axis pilots. The Folgore expanded upon the design of the earlier Saetta, improving the engine and streamlining the fuselage. Despite its superb qualities as a dogfighter, it had some defects. It was generally under-armed (and thus receives lower dice values in A20); radios often would not work; and the oxygen system was so unreliable that it sometimes resulted in fatal accidents. Nevertheless, the overall performance of the aircraft suggested that Italy had caught up with Germany and the UK in the development of fighter aircraft. The first Folgore fighters hit the air in the middle of 1941 but did not see combat until later that year. On the Libyan front, the Folgore was considered superior to the Hawker Hurricane and P40 Kittyhawks that it faced there, and the equal of the Spitfire V. The Folgore could outturn all three fighters.
Reviews:
Vergilius
The Folgore is a fast maneuverable plane. The base speed of 2-4 with a high speed of 5-6 makes it one of the easier aircraft to maneuver into position for a shot on the opponent. The weak armament is represented by the relatively low gunnery values of 5-3-2. Generally you want to avoid range-2 and range-3 shots if at all possible. Compensating this slightly is the fact that both planes posses the “Press the Advantage” SA which offers an extra die when attacking targets from a tailing position. Combine that with the ability to turn very well (5), and the Folgore becomes an important turning fighter whose main goal is to sneak around behind the opponent where he can fire 6 dice from point blank range. The defensive line of 3-6-3 is as solid as any other plane in the early years of the war, and the vital of 6 is better than some its main historical competitors. The Folgore can turn and roll very well, while diving and climbing at respectable rates. This makes it an all-round acceptable and good fighter. The Folgore Ace packs the Skilled Flier SA. You must win initiative, but you can do two difficult maneuvers. This is not quite as good as the Spitfire or Bf109E’s Expert Flier, but it is still generally useful two or three turns per game. Expert Dogfighter forces all average and poor pilots to take a negative one to attacking dice when firing at the Folgore Ace. Although you cannot be reckless with your Folgore, this ability may allow you to be more daring in your movement and targeting choices than you might otherwise be, so long as your opponent still has poor or average quality pilots remaining in their flight.
Flight Builds and Tactics: The Italians have the benefit of having a number of decent planes at reasonable price points. At 100 points, a Folgore Ace, Folgore and Expeditionary Saetta fit perfectly. At 80 points, the Italians can field their Folgore Ace and Folgore, the same basic combination of Ace and Average that many other nations have at 80 points for a fairly even match-up of two planes versus two planes. At 110 points, you can replace and upgrade the Expeditionary Saetta into a second Folgore. As the point totals increase, adding a second Folgore Ace becomes possible.
You want to make the game a turning contest as quickly as possible. Your Folgore climbs at a respectable four, so if you have nothing better to do on a given turn, climb to avoid giving any of the vertical fighters advantaged against your Folgore. Of course, that general wisdom applies to every plane in the game, but the Folgore’s climbing score equips you with the opportunity to deny the opponent any diving bonuses, allows your Folgore to acquire diving bonuses if the opponent fails to climb or cannot climb well, and positions you well for turning the game into a turning contest. Once the two sides have closed ranks, you’ll often have the opportunity with your Folgore Ace to turn into one of your opponent’s tails. Although the Italians have no initiative boosting special abilities, they do possess the ability to quickly find themselves in the opponent’s tails.
Plastic Figure Notes:
