Hauxul HF-2

The Hauxul HF-2, or HF-2 Army Pattern Fighter, was a Bressian single-seat monoplane fighter and ground attack aircraft, and the primary fighter aircraft of the Bressian Army's aviation force from 522 to 527. It also saw widespread service within the nations of the League of Sovereigns and elsewhere.

While considered a cutting-edge aircraft as of the early 520s, with its all-metal monocoque construction and high-mounted gull wing design, rapid advances in aircraft technology made around that time would relegate it to a secondary role in League service before the end of the decade, generally for training and patrol. Nevertheless, it would remain in frontline service among countries such as Lavinia, Hetland, and Eseravo. While airframes were exported in large quantities in 523 and 524, more would be made available in the late 520s as reserve aircraft were sold off by Bressia.

## Development

The HF-2 was designed by Hauxul Aeronautics in response to a tender by the Bressian Army for an aircraft designed to work closely alongside ground forces. As opposed to needs of the Royal Air Force, which emphasized speed, range, and service ceiling in pursuit of strategic objectives, the Army required a multi-role tactical fighter capable of short takeoffs from austere or improvised airfields, able to protect artillery spotting aircraft against enemy fighters, protect ground forces from enemy bombers, and loiter to conduct air strikes. The multi-role requirement would cause a number of issues with earlier designs of the late 510s, with all proving unsatisfactory in the interceptor, fighter, and ground attack roles they were meant to balance. The HF-2, meanwhile, focused primarily on the anti-fighter role, with anti-bomber and ground-attack relegated to secondary and tertiary roles respectively. This proved to be a fortuitous decision, as an influx of funding prompted the army to shift their focus to dedicated tactical fighter and tactical bomber aircraft. Having been built ahead of schedule and meeting the army's requirements for a fighter, the HF-2 was accepted for service in 522.

## Operational History

### Syrvanian Incursion

The HF-2 first saw service in late 523, as Bressia joined the war in Syrvania, and the first export models arrived in Hetland and entered service with the Home Army. As Bressia was mostly concerned with naval operations, most HF-2s over operated by the Hettic Home Army, albeit often piloted by Bressian volunteers, many of whom remained in-country as instructors after the signing of the Pansk Treaty. A large number of Bressian HF-2s would also be left behind to bolster the imported inventory, with some being taken by the Hettic Royal Flying Service.

### Second Leersog War

While largely overshadowed by the Adler AF-3 interceptors of the Royal Flying Service, Home Army HF-2s were the workhorses of Hetland's military aviation during the Second Leersog War. However, many of these aircraft were veterans of the Syrvanian Incursion, or were operated constantly along Hetland's western border; combined with still-developing maintenance infrastructure in the Home Army, only a handful of reserve aircraft, or those in service with the Royal Flying Service, could be brought to bear before fighting had reached the Zlowiće River.

Large numbers of HF-2s would be captured by rapidly-advancing Syrvanian forces as forward airbases were caught behind the front line. While they could not be consistently maintained by the Syrvanian Army Air Corps, and would thus often be dismantled after relatively short time in service, HF-2s were nevertheless commonly seen flown by Syrvanian pilots, generally in support of occupation forces.