We use cookies to help give you the best possible experience on our site. Strictly necessary and functional cookies support login and shopping cart features, they cannot be disabled. Performance cookies support site performance analysis. These are optional and will be disabled if you click on Reject.
By clicking Accept you agree to our use of Performance cookies as detailed in our Privacy Policy.
Welcome back to our new dev diary series! As development of the Campaign progresses, we’re taking a closer look at another aircraft you’ll encounter in v1.0, and exploring what makes it such a formidable opponent.
But before we get into the Heinkel He 111, we have some big news to share:
We're opening sign-ups for a closed beta for Scramble: Battle of Britain, which will include a first look at our long-anticipated Campaign Mode! If you're interested in being a beta tester and helping shape the game, please fill out the application here.
The Origins of the Heinkel He 111
The most recognisable German bomber in World War II was the Heinkel He 111, a medium bomber designed by Siegfried and Walter Gunter at Heinkel Flugzeugwerke in 1934. Due to the restrictions placed on Germany post World War I that prohibited the production of bombers, it was presented to the public as a civilian airliner - but from conception was intended to provide the Luftwaffe with a much needed heavier bomber.
Behind the Gameplay
The He 111 is Scramble’s most imposing bomber in every way; it is our largest plane, it has the largest crew, it carries the most bombs, it will shed the largest debris while soaking up the most bullets, and it has the most defensive turrets covering the broadest area around itself. There is almost no angle relative to the He 111 from which an intercepting fighter is safe from defensive guns. A raiding force of He 111s can darken the sky, but shoot them down and you will spawn a mass of crew parachutes that resemble an invading airborne infantry company. This bomber’s greatest weakness is speed, so if you catch them without escort fighter cover you should find you can pick away at them without risk of their escape.
The He 111 in Action
The He 111 fared well during the beginning of WWII functioning as a strategic bomber, torpedo bomber, medium bomber and eventually as a transport craft across various fronts.
The He 111 was the backbone of the Luftwaffe bombing campaign during the Battle of Britain; He 111s were thrown at every large target available from naval convoys to ports and airfields and eventually cities and manufacturing complexes. If they made it safely to their target, He 111s could cause significant damage. Ultimately the hundreds of He 111s lost during the Battle of Britain drove the Luftwaffe to adjust its tactics to nighttime sorties during the subsequent Blitz bombing campaign.
Soon in Scramble
Players will meet the He 111 in the mid-to-late Scramble campaign missions. As a destructive bomber, you’ll need to keep alert of Luftwaffe tactics for your pilots as they encounter them in the skies. We’ll continue talking more about the Scramble: Battle of Britain campaign in the lead up to release so make sure to wishlist Scramble: Battle of Britain and follow along. And if you want to get a sneak peek at the Campaign and help us shape it going forward, apply to the beta here.
