Author Topic: New Axsis bomber (Read 1306 times)

gear · « **on:** March 22, 2006, 03:27:41 PM »

He-177 ‘Greif’

Technical Data

Origin: Ernst Heinkel AG, also built by Arado Flugzeugwerke.
Type: He177, six seat heavy-bomber and missle carrier
Engines: Two 2,950hp Daimler-Benz DB 610A-1/B-1, each comprising two inverted-vee-12 liquid-cooled engines geared to one propellor.
Dimensions: Span 103ft 1 3/4 in (31.44m); length 72ft 2in (22m); height 21ft (6.4m)
Weights: Empty 37,038lb (16,800kg); loaded (A-5) 68,343lb (31,000kg)
Performance: Maximum speed (at 41,000lb) 295mph (472 km/h); initial climb 853ft (260m)/min; service ceiling 26,500ft (7080m); range with FX or Hs293 missles (no bombs) about 3,107 miles (5000km)
Armament: (A-5/R-2) one 7.92mm MG 81J manually aimed in nose, one MG131 in forward dorsal turret, one MG 131 in rear dorsal turret, one MG 151 manually aimed in the tail and two MG 81 or one MG 131 manually aimed at rear of gondola; maximum internal bombload 13,200lb (6000kg), seldom carried. External load: two Hs293 guided missiles, FX 1400 guided bombs, mines or torpedoes (more if internal bay blanked off and racks added below it.)
Users: Germany (Luftwaffe)

frank3 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 22, 2006, 04:44:07 PM »

I always found this one amazing aircraft, though it suffered from engine fires alot.
What's interesting about this bomber is that it actually has 4 engines (in 2 gondolas)

It also had a predecessor of the remotely controlled guns (found in the B-29 aswell)

I think it would be a great counterpart to our Allied heavies

Karnak · « **Reply #2 on:** March 22, 2006, 06:36:39 PM »

Mmmm, Mossie food.

Of course that is true of all German bombers other than the Ar234, so I guess that doesn't distinquish it.

Bombardy · « **Reply #3 on:** March 22, 2006, 07:46:50 PM »

Yes - it did have a reputation of experiancing engine fires in it's early iterations - mostly due to the oil in the gearbox that combined the power of the two engines frothing over at high altitudes and spraying out across the hot engines.

This issue was mostly experianced by the proving and pre-production models and for the most part addressed in production.

The HE177 saw a heck of a lot of service on the Eastern Front, and over 1000 in total were produced.

The best thing about this bomber is that it opens the door to alot of interesting variations.

The Best thing about AH is that there ARE some planes that were not the most common in WWII (c-hog, etc). Having the ability to fly planes that somewhat obscure in the minds of men and in the pages of history make them all that more interesting and mysterious.

there's at least 12-15 luftwabble planes that I can think of that would add some extremely interesting elements to the MA and this is certianly one of them

RAIDER14 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 22, 2006, 07:54:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by frank3
I always found this one amazing aircraft, though it suffered from engine fires alot.
What's interesting about this bomber is that it actually has 4 engines (in 2 gondolas)

It also had a predecessor of the remotely controlled guns (found in the B-29 aswell)

I think it would be a great counterpart to our Allied heavies

COPY CATS

68slayr · « **Reply #5 on:** March 22, 2006, 08:24:41 PM »

I have never seen this plane before but it would be great to have a German heavy bomber.

Krusty · « **Reply #6 on:** March 22, 2006, 08:40:37 PM »

While the heavy payload intrigues me, I think the Ju188 or Ju388 might be a better plane to add.

ChopSaw · « **Reply #7 on:** March 22, 2006, 09:33:13 PM »

Nice idea and an interesting aircraft. I wouldn't mind seeing it added to the game after the B-29.

Glasses · « **Reply #8 on:** March 22, 2006, 10:18:00 PM »

I wouldn't mind seeing a B-29 after we get MiGs or F-86s

ChopSaw · « **Reply #9 on:** March 22, 2006, 10:58:06 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Glasses
I wouldn't mind seeing a B-29 after we get MiGs or F-86s

Except that would put us into the Korean War. Unlike Migs and F86's, the B-29 was in great use during WWII. Thousands were made and used by the end of WWII.

OntosMk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2006, 01:23:51 PM »

Didnt the germans nickname this plane the flying zippo or matchstick?
I've read alot about this plane have bad issues with Engine fires.

ChopSaw · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2006, 02:02:20 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by OntosMk1
Didnt the germans nickname this plane the flying zippo or matchstick?
I've read alot about this plane have bad issues with Engine fires.

I'm sure HTC would be delighted to model that. They love making bombers burn.

HoHun · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2006, 03:01:59 PM »

Hi Ontos,

>Didnt the germans nickname this plane the flying zippo or matchstick?
I've read alot about this plane have bad issues with Engine fires.

The nickname was "Reichsfeuerzeug". The engine issues were bad on the first models but pretty much under control in the later versions. The German test pilot Werner Lerche considered the airframe of the He 177 excellent, but after flying a captured B-24 which he didn't like much, he said that he'd have preferred a He 177 with the reliable, turbo-supercharged B-24 engines :-)

By the way, the B-29 mentioned in this thread had serious engine issues, too. General Le May had the defensive armament removed from the bombers in order to relieve the load on the engines and thus improve their reliability =8-O

Talking about heavy bombers, the Manchester was a pretty bad case, too. Their seems to have been no nickname for the aircraft, but I read that No. 207 squadron was grounded so often that they were given the nickname "207th Foot" (as in "infantry" :-)

Regards,

Henning (HoHun)

Karnak · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2006, 04:47:15 PM »

Unsurprising seeing as the Manchester had the same sort of engine concept as the He177, i.e. two less powerful engines slapped together to make one powerful engine.

It never worked in the Manchester, but when the wing was extended and the engines were replaced with four Merlins they got the Lancaster.

Krusty · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2006, 05:24:07 PM »

"... and dive-bombing was never the same afterwards..."