Author Topic: B25H Ground Attack/Medium Bomber (Read 355 times)

Leayme · « **on:** January 02, 2005, 09:18:27 PM »

I know that GAMB (Ground Attack/Medium bomber) type aircraft isn't everyones particular cup of tea, but hey different strokes ...and all that.

This particular model did away with the Co-pilot position and equipment having a jumpseat for the navigator cannoneer.

Crew: 5

Powerplant: 2 Wright R-2600-13 Double Cyclone Fourteen Cylinder air cooled radials, rated at 1700 hp each for takeoff and 1500 hp at 2400 rpm. Equipped with Holley 1685HA carburetors.

Speed: 275 mph at 13,000 feet
Cruise: 230 mph
Max Alt: 23,800 feet 19 minutes to reach 19,000 feet
Range: 1,350 miles with 3000 lb bomb load

Normal fuel load: 974 US gallon Max extra fuel with add on tanks 675 US gallons

Armament: 1 75mm T13E1 cannon in nose/21 rounds boresighted to 1000 yards. some were equipped with the APG-13A radar ranging equipment for use with the 75mm cannon, this enabled precise ranging to target for the entire time of the attack run.
4 .50 cal in nose 400 rpg
2 .50 cal in individual blisters on rh side of fuelselage 400 rpg
2 .50 cal in individual blister on lh side 400 rpg

2 .50 cal in top turret 400 rpg
2 .50 cal in waist position 200 rpg
2 .50 cal in tail turret 600 rpg

Bomb Load: internal load 3200 lbs or a 2000 lb torpedo

I would also like to see parachute bombs allowing low level bombing attack, which would be in keeping with the operational profile of this plane.

Attack profile with cannon was to start firing at 1000 feet and pull out at 500 feet the sighting was done with the N-6A sight and guns were fired by the pilot. In combat the cannon fire was usually opened at 2000 yards with an average of 3 rounds being fired by the time the aircraft reached 1000 yards.

Imagine this baby flying nap of the earth with parachute bombs and straffing the fields or towns.

sullie363 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2005, 09:28:31 AM »

I've suggested numerous times, and so have other people, that we need this plane.

cobia38 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2005, 06:32:12 PM »

i wonder how it turns,with all that firepower it sounds like a great furballer

Leayme · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2005, 06:49:05 PM »

It just occured to me that it could also be a HO Dweeb Supreme edition plane and #1 on the donot HO hit list:D

Air capabilities are on par with the A20 or slightly better, but with more horse power, better weapons layout and bomb load.

Hmmm give me an hour of darkness and some ground fog and all that would be left of the enemy base/town by sunrise is a smoking crater

Karnak · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2005, 07:47:24 PM »

It is a manually loaded 75mm gun. It could not be reloaded when the aircraft was doing any sort of aerobatics. It also had a very low RoF due to being manually loaded.

I would feel much safer HOing a B-25H than I would a P-38 or Bf109 by a long shot.

Ghosth · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2005, 08:25:16 PM »

Yak9T is the king of the HO's, its just most folks havn't figured it out yet.

Leayme · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2005, 11:10:30 PM »

With 8 forward firing 50's plus 2 in the upper turret (assuming a gunner on board) I wouldn't want to go head to head same applies to a P38 and a few other noteworthy planes.

As far as air to air with the cannon, sitting behind a bomber formation at 1000+ yards, there might be a use for it.

My interest is in its GA role, but since you have some piloting the A20 in a air to air role, the increased firepower would need to be taken into account should you encounter the B25H in a head on pass.

This is all speculation mind you, unless the powers that be bring it into the AH2 theater of play.

Karnak · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2005, 03:25:50 AM »

Your mentioning hitting bombers reminds me of another thing. It might not matter due to the poor perfromance of the B-25H though.

Pyro told me that the Mosquito FB.Mk XVIII "Tse Tse" with the automatic 57mm cannon would not be added due to it's potentially very negative effect on bombers. E.g., it could sit behind a bomber formation, way out of range of the tailguns, and lob 57mm rounds at the bombers. The Mosquito FB.Mk XVIII wouldn't have as good of performance as the Mosquito FB.Mk VI, but it would be markedly superior to the B-25H's performance.

Tails · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2005, 06:18:39 PM »

I would think the B-25 with the 'Big Macho Gun' would fall into the same catagory as, oh, the Hurricane IID. Will it reduce aircraft to their component materials in a most violent way? Sure. Will it be a pain in the neck actually HITTING anything with it? More than likely.

Charon · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2005, 07:04:04 PM »

My favorite would be the B-25J that had 14 forward firing .50s.

8 in nose
4 in chin packs
2 in top turret

That would be a buzzsaw

Charon

Leayme · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2005, 07:10:43 PM »

If I recall correctly, the H's that were made into J's also had some planes mounting 8 - 5" HVARS on wing racks in addition to the 50's and the 3000 - 4000 pound bomb load (at maximum overload weight and reduced range) and capability to carry a 2000 pound torpedo.

3 1000 pounders or 2 1600 pound Armour piercing bombs or 6 325 pound depth charges on underwing racks.

Provisions were also made for underwing bomb mounting points

I wouldn't say no to the J type with the 4 additional nose guns and the extra hardpoints.

Also can't forget the parachute bombs:aok