If we're going to have a bomber, let's have the best late-war bomber to go with the current late-war fighters. It's going to be very difficult to get to the target with all these super fighters. To do the job, we need something that is fast and very heavily armed.
The A-26B/C Invader is the choice.
Both versions had the following in common:
- Top speed from 355 to 370 mph.
- Power provided by a pair of Pratt & Whitney R2800's with 2350 hp using water injection. At a loaded weight of 26,000 lb, this gives a power loading of 5.53 lb/hp, which is better than some famous fighters I can think of.
- Up to 4,000 lb internal bomb load, plus on the wings either 2,000 lb of bombs, 8 HVAR rockets, or 4 gun pods with 2 x .50 cal guns in each pod.
- Defensive armament was 2 x .50 cal in dorsal turret, 2 x .50 cal in ventral turret.
Solid-nose version (A-26B-50-DL and later) added 8 forward-firing .50 cal in the nose plus 3 forward-firing guns in each wing. This is in addition to the armament described above.
Glass-nose version (A-26C-45-DT and later) added two fixed .50 cal guns in the nose, 3 forward-firing guns in each wing, and a bomb sight for high-level bombing.
Either version is a monster:
8 x 500 lb internal bomb load, between 8 and 14 .50 cal guns for strafing, plus 8 rockets or 4 x 500 lb bombs on the wings. And once you fire all those weapons, the aircraft has very good speed and amazing climb and acceleration for a bomber.
[This message has been edited by funked (edited 11-04-1999).]
