We NEED a new bomber, I was looking through my book and found the Heinkel HE 177A-5 Greif. Not only is it another heavy bombers, its an axis bomber. Off the top of my head we have NO AXIS HEAVY bomber.
The HE 177A-5 Was first used in action in 1942. This plane was the ONLY heavy bomber that the Germans built in large numbers (1,169 to be exact). The plane can carry up to 6000kg (13,228ib) of bombs. This bomber is more protected than the Lancaster.
1 7.92mm machine gun in nose
1 20mm and 2 7.92 machine guns in the ventral gondolas
2 13mm machine gun in remotely controlled dorsal Barbette's
1 20mm cannon in tail.
Now, the guns maybe be difficult to shoot and aim correctly, the He 177 is still more heavily protected than the Lancaster.
The He 177 has 2 3100hp daimler-Benz DB 610A/1/B-1 24- cylinder engines........with a top speed of 303mph and a climb rate of about 623 feet per minute. About the same climb rate as the Lancaster, but is a lot faster. I'm guessing that this plane is a very good CV killer. The Germans used this plane in anti-shipping missions in the Baltic Sea. Just because the Germans used this plane in the Baltic seas doesn't mean we can't use it wherever we want.
The HE 177 was said to have dive bombing capabilities. At least in a shallow dive.
General characteristics:
Wingspan:103ft
Length:72ft
service ceiling:30,000ft
Here's a list of all the bomb possibilities:
48 × 50 kg (110 lb) bombs (2,400 kg/5,291 lb total)
1 × 2,500 kg (5,511 lb) bomb (2,500 kg/5,511 lb total)
12 × 250 kg (551 lb) bombs (3,000 kg/6,613 lb total)
6 × 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs (3,000 kg/6,613 lb total)
2 × 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) bombs (3,600 kg/7,936 lb total)
2 × 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) bombs + 2 × LMA III mines (4,600 kg/10,141 lb total)
10 × 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs (5,000 kg/11,023 lb total)
2 × 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) bombs + 2 × 1,800 kg (3,968 lb) bombs (5,600 kg/12,345 lb total)
6 × 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) bombs (6,000 kg/13,227 lb total)
2 × FX 1400 Fritz X + 1 × FX 1400 Fritz X under the wings and fuselage
2 × Hs 293 or 294 + 1 × Hs 293 or 294 under the wings and fuselage
2 × 500 kg (1,102 lb) bombs internally + 2 × Hs 293 under the wings
2 × LT 50 torpedoes under the wing
- JRjolly <<S>>
