SB2C Helldiver

[Nemisis]

Gee, 750 kg of ordinance sure isn't a lot. After all, most did come from a world where they measured weights in kilograms, not pounds. Besides, a Ki-84 loaded with two 500kg bombs definitely doesn't have nearly the same destructive capacity that a P-51 with two 1,000lb bombs. Look at the numbers! 1000 is much bigger than 500!

 

(sighs) by comparison. I mean the Ki67 really isn't a heavy hauler, and the A6M planes could carry like what, a 1000lb bomb? And the the dive bomber doesn't carry an uber devestating bomb load, and neither does the torpedo bomber unless I've COMPLETLY got the conversion thing wrong.

I admit some of their planes could carry a good bombload.

[Saxman]

750kg on the Kate is ~1500lbs. That's roughly equivalent to the Dauntless.

Keep this in mind, Nemisis:

The Japanese carrier-borne bombers (D3A and B5N) are both pre-war designs, which ARE comparable to other carrier aircraft from their era. The A6M2 and F4F each only carry ~200lbs of bombs. However it is COMPLETELY unfair to compare those two birds to later aircraft, especially the F4U-1D/C and 4 and F6F-5 because these aircraft were in large part the result of lessons learned from combat, and a tactical shift in American aircraft development from purpose-built to multi-role aircraft (throughout the war you see  American fighter designs carrying increasingly heavy ordinance loads in a manner that was NOT mimicked by the other belligerents).

[Nemisis]

ooops, meant to say "and neither of the dive bombers..."


True. I was unaware that both were prewar designes. I was under the impression that they were put into service around 1941.


Does anyone know why the other belligerents didn't follow this line of thinking?

[Enker]

ooops, meant to say "and neither of the dive bombers..."


True. I was unaware that both were prewar designes. I was under the impression that they were put into service around 1941.


Does anyone know why the other belligerents didn't follow this line of thinking?

We only have one Japanese dive bomber. Also, the A6M5b carries 700lbs~ of ordinance. A bit more than its contemporaries. Also, the Ki-61 carries 1000lbs~ of ordinance, about the same as what the P-39 and P-40 carry.
The Ki-67, with its approximate bomb load of 1700~ lbs is pretty good for being as fast and well defended as it is.

[Rino]

Nemisis, you have to remember that what the Allies classified as a medium
bomber the Japanese called a heavy.  Other than their large patrol flying
boats, none of their bombers carried comparable loads.  There was a 4 engined
land-based bomber, but I am not sure it saw service.

[Saxman]

We only have one Japanese dive bomber. Also, the A6M5b carries 700lbs~ of ordinance. A bit more than its contemporaries. Also, the Ki-61 carries 1000lbs~ of ordinance, about the same as what the P-39 and P-40 carry.
The Ki-67, with its approximate bomb load of 1700~ lbs is pretty good for being as fast and well defended as it is.

Enkre,

The A6M5 is a contemporary of the F4U-1/1A, both of which carry a 1000lb bomb.

[Nemisis]

We only have one Japanese dive bomber. Also, the A6M5b carries 700lbs~ of ordinance. A bit more than its contemporaries. Also, the Ki-61 carries 1000lbs~ of ordinance, about the same as what the P-39 and P-40 carry.
The Ki-67, with its approximate bomb load of 1700~ lbs is pretty good for being as fast and well defended as it is.

I mean both the american and Japanese dive bomber. Unless I'm wrong, the P-39, and P-40 carry only 500lbs. But my point is you would be better off taking one of the American fighters other than the F4F, or FM-2.

But all valid points. Thank you. And agian, does anyone know why the other allies didn't really shift to multi-role aircraft?

[Karnak]

The Russians built light, short ranged fighters not suitable to heavy multi-role bomb loads.

The British did increase the loads their fighters carried.  The Spit I and Hurri I carried no bombs, the Spit IXe and XVIe carried 1000lbs, the Typhoon carried 2,000lbs or 8-16 rockets, the Tempest carried 2,000lbs, the Mosquito VI carried 2,000lbs or eight rockets and 1,000lbs.

[Nemisis]

Ok, thanks.

[FYB]

Nemisis, you have to remember that what the Allies classified as a medium
bomber the Japanese called a heavy.  Other than their large patrol flying
boats, none of their bombers carried comparable loads.  There was a 4 engined
land-based bomber, but I am not sure it saw service.

(Image removed from quote.)

Agreed. Japanese had no thought of upgrading their bombers sense they were already sweeping through. And with the winnings they were getting over the U.S. gave them no thought of it. Remember, they thought offense made the best defense. So forth they only thought in Offense.

[Saxman]

I mean both the american and Japanese dive bomber. Unless I'm wrong, the P-39, and P-40 carry only 500lbs. But my point is you would be better off taking one of the American fighters other than the F4F, or FM-2.

As I said, it also has to do with the time period. In the early period the SBD, TBM, D3A and B5N ARE the premier attack craft on the CVs because the fighters can't carry an appreciable bomb load. So in the Early War arena the carrier bombers ARE the best choice for strike capability from the CV. By the time you get into the mid and late war period the Americans had found that fighters with heavy ordinance loads were more useful than dedicated single-engine strike craft (even then the TBM did carry a heavier load, at 4x1000lbers, I believe). Accordingly, the later American fighters (particularly the F4Us) are the premier carrier-borne strike craft.

[Nemisis]

"even then the TBM did carry a heavier load, at 4x1000lbers, I believe"

If thats true then can someone tell me why you can only carry 2000lbs in the TBM we have now? And if the reason is "because HTC thought it would unbalance the carrier aspect of the game" then no one can EVER use the bomb**** excuse for the B-29 if we are going around changing bomb loads from their historical capacity.

[Saxman]

Maybe I was wrong. I thought the TBM carried 4x1000lbers... But I've only ever carried torpedoes when I've used her.

[Nemisis]

I've used her as a bomber because I'm not the best dive bomber. I'm practicing but I don't have the technique combat worthy yet. But either way, its sad how it can only carry 2000lbs. Did we still have them inservice when we had planes that could carry 2000lbs and 8 rockets?