PBY Catalina

[SectorNine50]

You know what would be kind of cool, is if the PBY (or any other scout aircraft) acted as a limited aerial radar tower (reduced range).  That way if you lose your radar at a base, you take off w/ one and "scout" for enemy aircraft.

However I could see how some would consider this somewhat gamey.

There would have to be a limit on the radar's effective altitude, ie. 5k above and 5k below only.  That way we wouldn't have PBY's at 30k detecting aircraft down at 5k who are unable to eliminate the PBY.

So there would be 2 gun packages, the scout package which is unarmed, and perhaps the resupply/troop (I could see only 5 troops or so) carrier which has guns.  Would be like a C-47 that could defend it's self.  This of course is based on the assumption that the PBY was actually used for resupply or troop transport, I know they did rescue missions, but I don't know how many the a/c could carry.

[Saxman]

I can see the PBY carrying supplies, but I don't think they could drop troops like that.

[Karnak]

It would fly 200 knots for like 16 hours....neither very useful in here. If ya are leaving from land base, many other buffs ya might want

It couldn't do 200 knots flat out, let alone at cruising speeds.  It has a top speed of 196mph.

[Saxman]

1mph = 1.15kts

So...

196mph = ~225kts

[detch01]

Sax - you got that backwards - 1kt = 1.15mph.

[raiders]

You know what would be kind of cool, is if the PBY (or any other scout aircraft) acted as a limited aerial radar tower (reduced range).  That way if you lose your radar at a base, you take off w/ one and "scout" for enemy aircraft.

However I could see how some would consider this somewhat gamey.

There would have to be a limit on the radar's effective altitude, ie. 5k above and 5k below only.  That way we wouldn't have PBY's at 30k detecting aircraft down at 5k who are unable to eliminate the PBY.

So there would be 2 gun packages, the scout package which is unarmed, and perhaps the resupply/troop (I could see only 5 troops or so) carrier which has guns.  Would be like a C-47 that could defend it's self.  This of course is based on the assumption that the PBY was actually used for resupply or troop transport, I know they did rescue missions, but I don't know how many the a/c could carry.



It dosent carry troops only injerd ones and the PBY only had a sonar detection on it. and they never carred supplys that i dont know.

[Saxman]

The PBY-6A had a radome mounted above the cockpit just forward of the wing mount. Black Cat PBYs were also field-modified with MAD systems (Magnetic Anomaly Detectors) to locate enemy shipping in the darkness, and could also be used to track submarines running shallow.

PBYs WERE used for carrying supplies. The early Black Cats (or at least their forerunners) were extensively pressed into helping resupply Guadalcanal, although their carrying capacity was understandably limited. However they were NOT utilized as troop transports. The closest they came was air-sea rescue operations ("Dumbos") and occasionally as long-range VIP transports.

Sector9,

All PBYs ran armed, including those operating as scouts. Standard armament in the PBY-5A was 1 or 2 .30cal in the nose, a .30cal aft, and a .50cal in each waist blister. Most of the 5As had the twin .30s, so this is the package that should be modeled. The PBY-6A replaced the bow .30s with a pair of .50cal.

A large number of Black Cat PBYs added an additional four fixed .50cal in the bow where the glass panel would normally be, just below the turret and which didn't interfere with its operation. It was technically a field mod, but was standardized enough among the Black Cats to IMO justify its inclusion as a gun package option. The bomb sight was removed in this configuration, so it could be treated like the glass vs. solid-nosed B-25C. Some Black Cats were mounted with a pair of 20mm in this position instead, however this required removal of the guns in the bow turret. I don't have any numbers for aircraft with this armament, so I don't know if it could be justified as a gun package or not.

[Ack-Ack]

Sector9,

All PBYs ran armed, including those operating as scouts. Standard armament in the PBY-5A was 1 or 2 .30cal in the nose, a .30cal aft, and a .50cal in each waist blister. Most of the 5As had the twin .30s, so this is the package that should be modeled. The PBY-6A replaced the bow .30s with a pair of .50cal.

There was also a gun in the keel section but rarely used manned in combat because it was so uncomfortable for the gunner that had to kneel for as long as 12 hours on some missions.

What surprised me is that the Black Cats (and I'm also guessing PBYs in general) didn't have internal bomb racks.  Instead, they stored the bombs internally where they could and the crew would then just drop the bombs out the bay themselves.

Still think beer bottles should be a weapon package selection, though I would imagine it would be perked. 


ack-ack

[bj229r]

It couldn't do 200 knots flat out, let alone at cruising speeds.  It has a top speed of 196mph.

WHATever....     Anyhow, it's major failing in here would be that it hasn't the ability to fly where fighters can't go, thus we would see a goon with a few .30's

[Saxman]

There was also a gun in the keel section but rarely used manned in combat because it was so uncomfortable for the gunner that had to kneel for as long as 12 hours on some missions.

What surprised me is that the Black Cats (and I'm also guessing PBYs in general) didn't have internal bomb racks.  Instead, they stored the bombs internally where they could and the crew would then just drop the bombs out the bay themselves.

Still think beer bottles should be a weapon package selection, though I would imagine it would be perked. 


ack-ack

I thought the bombs were fit to racks on the wings.

[Ack-Ack]

I thought the bombs were fit to racks on the wings.

The smaller anti-personal bombs were stored internally.

Now the Cats took a page from the Japanese handbook of dirty tricks. One night Jim Cobb took off for Guadalcanal where he would spend several hours giving Japanese troops ashore a taste of their own medicine. Wing racks were loaded with heavy ordnance while inside the aircraft smaller anti-personnel bombs were stashed wherever there was an unoccupied niche. All night they flew back and forth across enemy lines, sometimes making a single drop and sometimes letting their weapons go in a stick of three or four. The bombs which were stowed internally were flipped out of the waist hatch by gleeful crewmen on signal from the pilot. After each pass the PBY would depart the area for a time, suggesting to the enemy that all was clear. Then it would return to repeat the performance. These operations came to be called "Louie the Louse" flights.

That particular night, Cobb may have unwittingly coined the name by which PBYs would become known throughout the South Pacific. As he departed Espiritu Santo for the flight north, he sent word ahead to General Geiger on Guadalcanal that they were coming. In an effort to minimize radio transmissions his short cryptic message read simply, "THE BLACK CAT FLIES TONIGHT."

ack-ack

[raiders]

There was also a gun in the keel section but rarely used manned in combat because it was so uncomfortable for the gunner that had to kneel for as long as 12 hours on some missions.

What surprised me is that the Black Cats (and I'm also guessing PBYs in general) didn't have internal bomb racks.  Instead, they stored the bombs internally where they could and the crew would then just drop the bombs out the bay themselves.

Still think beer bottles should be a weapon package selection, though I would imagine it would be perked. 


ack-ack

bombs were carryed externally becuse the PBY had too much stuff internally especially the Black Cats.

[Ack-Ack]

bombs were carryed externally becuse the PBY had too much stuff internally especially the Black Cats.

No, they carried small anti-personal bombs internally which were dropped out of the bay by the crew.  In addition to the small anti-personal bombs, Black Cats frequently dropped grenades, recovered shrapnel from Japanese bombs and beer bottles during their night time harassment raids.


ack-ack

[raiders]

No, they carried small anti-personal bombs internally which were dropped out of the bay by the crew.  In addition to the small anti-personal bombs, Black Cats frequently dropped grenades, recovered shrapnel from Japanese bombs and beer bottles during their night time harassment raids.


ack-ack

ookkk then prove it.

[Sikboy]

I'm pretty sure that a fair few carried a payload of sharks.

With frickin' lasers.

-Sik