5 Reasons Why This Was The Worst Plane Of WW2

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The Boulton Paul Defiant had a brief moment of success during its early days, but its inherent design flaws soon made it a liability. Here are five key reasons why the Defiant struggled in combat:

1. A Short Triumph

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Initially, the Luftwaffe mistook the Defiant for the Hawker Hurricane and attacked it from the rear, unaware of its deadly turret. However, they quickly realized its vulnerabilityโ€”approaching from the front rendered the turret useless. This tactic ended the Defiantโ€™s early success.

2. Heavy Turret, Sluggish Speed

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The rear turret added significant weight, making the Defiant 25% heavier and 100 mph slower than Germanyโ€™s Me-109s. This speed disadvantage left it highly vulnerable to enemy fighters.

3. Difficult Exits and โ€œRhino Suitsโ€

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Turret gunners faced major challenges during emergencies. Exiting the aircraft required squeezing through side openings, and space constraints made it impossible to wear standard parachutes. Instead, they used awkward โ€œrhino suits,โ€ further complicating escape.

4. Lufbery Circle Defense

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To mitigate its flaws, Defiant pilots employed the Lufbery Circle, a WWI-era tactic where planes flew in a horizontal circle, covering each otherโ€™s blind spots. While this strategy helped, it wasnโ€™t foolproof.

5. Poor Radio Communication

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The Defiantโ€™s underslung antenna caused unreliable radio reception, leading to poor coordination. In one incident, seven Defiants were shot down in a single day due to miscommunication.

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