A-26B with under-wing gun pods

[Widewing]

In the photo below, note that this A-26B is armed with four .50 caliber mgs in the nose, plus two twin-gun pods under each wing. This provides an even dozen forward fire guns... Plus 4,000 lb of bombs internally.

This would be a much welcomed addition for future consideration.



My regards,

Widewing

[detch01]

I'd vote for this, but I'd rather have one that came with landing gear....






asw

[Latrobe]

and fixed props not bent ones

[Krusty]

I think the B25 would be a better gun platform. Look at those gunpods. They're spread out well past the prop arcs on both wings. They're meant to scatter as man 50cal rounds around a large area as is possible. They are ground strafers. In AH that means nothing. In AH that does nothing. AH requires rounds to be all hit the same spot (as you all know) so the B25J with 8-pack guns and 4 cheek guns would be better than the A26. Now for flight performance, I've heard the A26 is better, and it carries more bombs.


But I don't like that gun package, personally.

[Bronk]

Gee to bad we can't set convergence in AH.




Bronk

[Bronk]

Ohh, and I believe the A-26B-15 was 8 in the nose with the same gun pods .
One question.. Was the gun turret able to be locked in the forward position and fired by the pilot?


Bronk

Edit: I might be mistaken .. A-26B-60 had 8 gun nose package.

[Wmaker]

The later versions of A-26Bs replaced those draggy gunpods with 3 guns in each wing...they also had 4 more in the nose...total of 14 point-fifties.

EDIT/Bronk, the top turret could be locked and fired by the pilot according to the manual, so that makes 16 forward firing HMGs. /EDIT

[Grits]

I had no idea the Nomads flew in WWII.

If we do ever get the A-26 it will be our first perk bomber (I dont count the Ar234).

[tedrbr]

This model would be better.  Rather have the wing cannons internal so it can mount the other 2K in external bombs along with the 4K internal. And, yes, it would have to be a perked bomber.

Specifications (A-26B-60-DL Invader)
General characteristics
* Crew: 3
* Length: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
* Wingspan: 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
* Height: 18 ft 3 in (5.64 m)
* Wing area: 540 ft² (50 m²)
* Empty weight: 22,850 lb (10,365 kg)
* Loaded weight: 27,600 lb (12,519 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 35,000 lb (15,900 kg)
* Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 "Double Wasp" radials, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) each

Performance
* Maximum speed: 355 mph (308 knots, 570 km/h)
* Range: 1,400 mi (1,200 nm, 2,300 km)
* Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.4 m/s)
* Wing loading: 51 lb/ft² (250 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.145 hp/lb (108 W/kg)

Armament
* Guns:
o 8 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns in the nose
o 6 × 0.50 in M2 machine guns in the wings
o 2 × 0.50 in M2 machine guns in remote-controlled dorsal turret
o 2 × 0.50 in M2 machine guns in remote-controlled ventral turret
* Bombs: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)-4,000 lb in the bomb bay and 2,000 lb external on the wings

I don't need the dorsal turrent locked to the pilots, leave the two turrents like the normal system AHII has, just give me the 14 forward facing .50's and 6K worth of bombs, and that performance ride.  

Krusty, I'll show you all sorts of reasons to strafe with an Invader.    Heck, I want to see the look on the noobs face     who tries to HO me flying an Invader!     This would be great against GV's and taking down towns.  Like an Uber-Mossie, or better than taking a Boston, A-20, or B-26 on the deck.

It would be a sweet ride and worth spending buff perkies on it.  

The B-25 OTOH, is not as capable, certainly not worth perkies to fly over the B-26 or B24, and HTC won't put it in the game, because too many people would whine that they want to be able to take off from Carriers with it ala Doolittle Raid.  
Similar reason I think we won't see German medium to heavy bombers... the air to ground glide bombs and guided rockets they could carry.  Get one, folks will want the other, so avoid the issue completely......

[Major Biggles]

Originally posted by Wmaker
The later versions of A-26Bs replaced those draggy gunpods with 3 guns in each wing...they also had 4 more in the nose...total of 14 point-fifties.

EDIT/Bronk, the top turret could be locked and fired by the pilot according to the manual, so that makes 16 forward firing HMGs. /EDIT

drool

[hubsonfire]

I've heard something about rockets mounted on this thing. If it's really got rockets, defensive guns, and that many fitties on it, I think we need it.

Imagine the racket this thing would make on a strafing run.