B-25

[mussie]

I knew it...

Its a conspiracey

I cancel my account.... (Lack of time is the only reason) and the next thing i find  they release the B-25 and The Sherman (Ok the B-25 is being made)

So can somone quickly tell me which version is being made....

Will I be able to one day return and design the Doolittle raid snap shot I was dreaming of...

Or will it be my ultimate AH fantasy.... the version with the 14 .50 cals.... Or even better the Beast with the 75mm cannon.... ?

[Krusty]

No official word on what version(s) we'll get. Could be C/D, could be J, could be H.

Oh, and I doubt you'd be able to do a Doolittle scenarion. For 1 you probably wouldn't make it off the deck, for 2 you couldn't simulate the loadout of the Doolittle Raiders, and for 3 it'd be a piss poor scenario with only one side in the air (and without defensive guns) and the other side unaware that they were inbound.

Not to mention it was only a victory for morale. It didn't do any real damage and didn't affect the war -- the most daring PR stunt ever.

[Husky01]

Please! We all know that we are getting the Doolittle model that can take off from CVs and has broom sticks as guns!

I hope we get the kind with that big ares cannon!:t

[VansCrew1]

Originally posted by Husky01
Please! We all know that we are getting the Doolittle model that can take off from CVs and has broom sticks as guns!

I hope we get the kind with that big ares cannon!:t

no its not taking off of CV's

[mussie]

Originally posted by Krusty
No official word on what version(s) we'll get. Could be C/D, could be J, could be H.

Oh, and I doubt you'd be able to do a Doolittle scenarion. For 1 you probably wouldn't make it off the deck, for 2 you couldn't simulate the loadout of the Doolittle Raiders, and for 3 it'd be a piss poor scenario with only one side in the air (and without defensive guns) and the other side unaware that they were inbound.

Not to mention it was only a victory for morale. It didn't do any real damage and didn't affect the war -- the most daring PR stunt ever.

Thanks for the info Krusty

But mate...

I was trying to design a snapshot for AH and did a lot of reaseach... from that  I have a number of folders full of reports including General Doolittles personal after action report and I can tell you....

1- They had some defensive guns
2- The Japenese knew they were inbound (spotted at least twice once by a ship when on the carrier and at least once by Japanese planes)
3- There was combat over Japan
4- We could get the load out close
5- I can get the B-26 off the deck, So the B-25 wont be a problem
6- I think it was one of the most important missions that was ever made, if the people have no Morale you can win...

Personallly I think it was a truly the most decisive  "Dont F&^K with us statment" ever made....

[Krusty]

The Doolittle raiders were overloaded with fuel. More than standard, by far. The early Doolittle raiders had the tail guns removed, no waist guns (too early) and I think no dorsal guns. Thus, they were defensless. Speed and surprise were their only safety. Mostly surprise.

The bombload carried was very small. Mostly incendiary bombs, not big 500lbers or 1000lbers. Probably half the bomb bay was taken up by ferry tanks.

At the time, the USN believed any Japanese fishing trawler was a radio-carrying spy. Chances are most of them were just fishermen. I don't know the specifics, but if by "spotted twice" the raiders spotted fishing boats, that doesn't mean they were "spotted" or reported to Tokyo. You'd have to find reports on the Japanese side to confirm that.

I think if anybody spotted them, at all, they'd have been intercepted and shot down. As it was, the losses were all due to fuel starvation.

EDIT: Sorry for the side track, but it would be like making a scenario from Pearl Harbor: Not much to do, very few to do it. Unless you deviate 100% from history and exaggerate everything so that pilots have something to do -- in which case it's not at all historical IMO.

Edit2: that's why I won't participate in Pearl.

[mussie]

General Doolittles Report

From General Doolittle's Report

James H. Doolittle - Flight/Mission Report
Chunking, China
May 4, 1942.

PERSONAL REPORT
Take off at 8:20 A.M. ship time.
Take-off was easy. Night take-off would have been possible and practicable.

Circled carrier to get exact heading and check compass. Wind was from around 300°.

About a half hour after take-off was joined by AC 40-2292, Lt. Hoover, pilot, the second plane to take off.

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Encountered nine fighters in three flights of three. This was about ten miles north of the outskirts of Tokyo proper.

All this time had been flying as low as the terrain would permit.

Continued low flying due south over the outskirts of and toward the east center of Tokyo.

Pulled up to 1,200 ft., changed course to the southwest and incendiary-bombed highly inflammable section. Dropped first bomb at 1:30 (ship time).

Anti-aircraft very active but only one near hit.

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Airplane No. AC 40-2282 -- Took off at 8:33 a.m. ship time
Pilot Lt. Everett W. Holstrom 0-397395
Co-pilot Lt. Lucian N. Youngblood 0-421153
Navigator-Gunner Lt. Harry C. McCool o-419329
Bombardier Sgt. Robert J. Stephens 6936650
Engineer-Gunner Cpl. Bert M. Jordan 6952993

Proceeded in the direction of Tokyo but encountered severe fighter opposition. Endeavored to get around the fighters and passed beyond Tokyo. They then decided to bomb a secondary target but were again attacked and driven off.. Eventually dropped their bombs in the water and proceeded to a point near and Southeast of Shangjao where all crew members bailed out safely.
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[Larry]

Was watching something on the raiders the other day. One guy that was on the ship that sunk one of the fishing boats said there was a woman and kids on the boat, but they still had to sink it becuase they might of had a radio. He said he'll never forget seeing them running around and hearing them screaming.