The YB-40

[PaintSniper]

I give you the escort bomber that once was the YB-40.

Complete with 2 top turrets, and each waste gun with 2x .50 cal. MG's. A real problem for enemy interceptors.

The main downside is that this plane replaces the bomb bay with ammunition storage. This means that after all the other planes in the flight have bombed, the YB-40 would be too heavy to keep up with the returning flight of bombers.

Historically, only 25 of these ever saw service, but I think that this plane was never used to it's full potential.

Please comment on this as you wish.

[Saxman]

Well, that's a unique request. The question is: Why? What would be the purpose or value of adding this to Aces High?

[Krusty]

They were so heavily loaded down that once the other bombers dropped their bombs these planes fell behind and were preyed upon.

There's a reason they didn't get past the experimental stage (the "Y" means prototype).

Also, with the way bombers fly in AH, you already have this. Formations have more guns firing more accurately on any given target with much better range of defensive fire than any bomber historically had. They also fly at full speed with 1/4 fuel load, climbing many times better than historically possible, and flying nearly 2x as fast as historic cruising/combat speeds in most AH examples.

You already have AH bombers that fly faster, climb better, float gently at altitudes higher than they could historically reach, fire more defensive guns on attackers, with better defensive gun accuracy, and can drop bombs with laser accuracy from 35k without missing....


And you want more?




[edit: typo fix]

[WWhiskey]

 

[PaintSniper]

I suppose that this may be an issue. I must say that the YB-40 was used to directly influence the design of the B-17G. Also, the YB-40 was compared with the B-17F which was faster than the B-17G model.

[Yeager]

Would rather see the Boeing Superfortress.

[JHerne]

The revisions made to the B-17G were taken directly from the YB-40 as Paintsniper mentioned. Staggered waist gun positions, the "Cheyenne" tail turret, and the chin turret were all YB-40 off-shoots.

They also tested this concept with the B-24, and neither program went very far.

[Jabberwock]

I give you the escort bomber that once was the YB-40.

Complete with 2 top turrets, and each waste gun with 2x .50 cal. MG's. A real problem for enemy interceptors.

The main downside is that this plane replaces the bomb bay with ammunition storage. This means that after all the other planes in the flight have bombed, the YB-40 would be too heavy to keep up with the returning flight of bombers.

Historically, only 25 of these ever saw service, but I think that this plane was never used to it's full potential.

Please comment on this as you wish.

What's a "waste gun"?

I have this image of a flying garbage truck under attack by Fw-190A8 Sturmblocks.

[Blooz]

What's a "waste gun"?

I have this image of a flying garbage truck under attack by Fw-190A8 Sturmblocks.

It was wartime. A "waste" gun was a machine gun made from recycled steel garbage cans.

I could be wrong. It may be because of all the enemy aircraft the gun "wasted" during the war.




(For those of you ready to jump in...we know it's "waist". We're just having some fun)

[PaintSniper]

See if this helps, Jabberwock:
http://swannysmodels.com/images/YB40/boxart.jpg
For reference, this is a diagram of a YB-40. Nothing fancy, just the basics.

[JHerne]

A waste gun used ammo taken from the relief-tube tank... 

[curry1]

Lol I just watched "great planes" earlier today and it said exactly what you posted

I give you the escort bomber that once was the YB-40.

Complete with 2 top turrets, and each waste gun with 2x .50 cal. MG's. A real problem for enemy interceptors.

The main downside is that this plane replaces the bomb bay with ammunition storage. This means that after all the other planes in the flight have bombed, the YB-40 would be too heavy to keep up with the returning flight of bombers.

Historically, only 25 of these ever saw service, but I think that this plane was never used to it's full potential.

Please comment on this as you wish.

[Noah17]

The  model for bombers is way too much in their favor for killing us innocent fighter pilots!!! 

I get pinged from a single B25 from almost 1.0 and my plane evaporates...... Fly against a formation of B17's???? My plane takes on a life of its own begins to cry, fills out its last will and testament.......and dies. Almost before I get to pull the trigger.

It would be more realistic to have them less lethal; not being able to train so many guns from so many angles and less defensive fire accuracy would actually be more accuracy...at least historically!

Less accuracy in bombing would also be much more realistic. Too many times I've seen B-24's come screaming in almost dive bombing the CV and sinking it w/ one pass. I can't ever remember anything remotely close in WWII.


I think that to maintain balance the heavy's should be modeled to be stronger and take more hits then they currently do. If by chance I am able to evade the D'Fire of a B17 a one pass kill is not very likely historically. I think this would be much more realistic.


I hope I'm not hijacking the thread by posting this.

 

[Ghosth]

Learn how to attack them, with formations NEVER be directly behind them from 400 - 600 out. Thats the convergience zone for the drones guns. Make high or low slashing attacks from the side.

Like anything else, killing bombers has its requirements you must follow.
Getting directly behind them in their defensive fire sweet spot is futile.
Thats why its called "dead six"

[Krusty]

The problem with bombers is that they FORCE you into dead 6 positions. They are moving way too fast compared to historical cruise speeds (since they run full throttle and use 25% fuel loads every time), so even in a "faster" fighter with E and position on them, after 1, 2, at the most 3 passes you are now behind them. You cannot make more than one "slashing" attack without spending 5 minutes re-positioning yourself. By then they are in and out of your sector and the damage is done.

This game does so much to coddle bomber pilots, and this is from a guy that began this game as a bomber, and still frequently enjoys it! The end result is just inaccurate in almost every way.