Sometimes overshadowed by the more glamorous Spitfire, the Hawker Hurricane was actually England's most important and most numerous defender during the Battle of Britain. The Hurricane was sturdy, stable, and easy to fly. It had the same eight-gun armament as the Spitfire but was not as aerodynamically clean, being about forty MPH slower at its best operational height. Lack of speed was its chief disadvantage in combat as the Bf 1O9E, its main opponent, was as fast as a Spitfire and could therefore initiate or break off combat at will, as Hurricane pilots discovered in France. During the Battle of Britain, Fighter Command tried to commit the Hurricanes against German bombers first, while using Spitfires to fend off enemy fighters. This wasn't always possible but even when forced to fight Bf 109s, the Hurricane could defend itself with its excellent turning ability. Against bombers however, it was as deadly as any Spitfire. The Hurricane Mk.II, introduced in late 1940, with the more powerful Merlin XX engine was used to good effect as a fighter-bomber during 1941 and 1942.
TACTICS: Dogfight with tight turns at close range, preferably at medium or low altitude. You have a good supply of ammunition, so use it. Break away from a fight only with care. Though you can out-turn them both, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Bf 110 are faster than you are.
STRENGTHS: Good maneuverability and firepower. A highly capable dogfighter.
WEAKNESSES: Top speed is a good 30 MPH below that of its main opponent, the German Bf 109. Though slightly tougher than a Spitfire, the Hurricane does not withstand heavy damage, especially in early models that lack armor protection. Fuel tank located dangerously below cockpit, tends to burn pilot when hit.
MODELS:
Mk.IAe: The "e" is not an official designation and serves, for game purposes, to indicate those IA models that used the older two-pitch propeller and 87 octane fuel. Served in Battle of France. It lacks armor.
Mk.IA: The IA model with a constant-speed propeller and high-performance 100 octane fuel obtained from the United States. Most Hurricanes were upgraded to this standard by the Battle of Britain. Partial cockpit armor added.
Mk.IIA: Entered service around the tail end of the Battle of Britain. Better engine and more armor added.
Mk.IIB: December 1940 model adds four more machine guns for a whopping total of twelve.
Mk.IIC: October 1941 model armed with the devastating firepower of four 20mm cannon.
