WI Germany prioritizes Air-Ground Support?

All these "best/worst aircraft" threads got me thinking. WI the German high command decides to put a greater priority on ground support aircraft such as the Hs-129 "Panzerknacker"?

OTL the German Hs-129 ground attack aircraft was hampered by a low priority from OKL and RLM (at least according to Wiki) and saddled with inferior engines and only produced in low numbers. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hs-129]

But what if we assume, based perhaps on the early success of the Stuka and perhaps a more realistic assessment of Soviet armor potential, that OKL prioritizes production of the -129 and/or other dedicated well-protected air-ground aircraft? Could the -129 become the "German Sturmovik" in regards to infamy and effectiveness? Would we see production of a "second generation Stuka" in decent numbers?

How much difference, if any, could high numbers of supporting tank-busters make? Obviously not much in the long run (the Reich's still doomed, IMO), but could it delay the inevitable or change the outcome of any specific battles (Moscow-run, Kursk, Bulge, Normandy Breakout, etc.)?
 
All these "best/worst aircraft" threads got me thinking. WI the German high command decides to put a greater priority on ground support aircraft such as the Hs-129 "Panzerknacker"?

The thing is they did put high priority on ground support aircraft.

Things like the fighter-bomber/tank buster versions of the FW190 and the later marks of the Stuka are all basically dedicated ground support aircraft.

The HS-129 was just not a good enough aircraft (without lots of work) to be worth stopping production of the other (workable) AC that fit the need.

Now a POD that makes the HS-129 a better AC out of the gate might get you somewhere. But IMHO it needed better better engines, tougher frame, lower wing loading and better stability - some of which it eventually got but it needed them out of the gate, not after development.

another possible POD is that Germany realizes that the Ju87 is not sufficient earlier and starts on the HS129 or something like it earlier. Then they have time to get past the development hurdles before they need the AC in production.
 
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Well, much of what you're mentioning (-190 F/B, cannon-carrying Stukas) wasn't begun until 1942 once the Wehrmacht got its nasty surprise from the Red Army. More reactionary than proactive. I'm positing that there's more proactive emphasis earlier such that by mid '42 "good" -129s like you describe are entering service in larger numbers and a replacement Stuka may be under development.
 
Well, much of what you're mentioning (-190 F/B, cannon-carrying Stukas) wasn't begun until 1942 once the Wehrmacht got its nasty surprise from the Red Army. More reactionary than proactive. I'm positing that there's more proactive emphasis earlier such that by mid '42 "good" -129s like you describe are entering service in larger numbers and a replacement Stuka may be under development.


Ah okay, well in thaaattt case, it would have some impact.

At very least they would not need to have the reactive retrofitting of AT weapons to fighters, and it might free up some more fighters that they had to use to escort the Ju87s.

If so the Germans have more fighter type platforms available for trying to keep the Russians from taking air superiority over some of the battle fields of '42 and '43.

Which in return would have meant more of the German strike aircraft would get through - which means more experienced pilots for the Germans (and fewer for the Russians).

Butterflies from there - it could be huge or it could be minor.

I don't see it changing the overall out come - it might mean the the western allies get to Berlin first? I don't know if that is possible.
 
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