A-26 Invader

[Wmaker]

Speed:
A-20G: 338mph at 12,000ft.
A-26B: 355mph at unknown.

A-26B is 17mph faster

Deck speed:
A-20G: 316mph
A-26B: unknown, but due to lower ceiling I'd guess it has a larger speed advantage here than at best alt.

A-26B is likely to be ~25mph faster



The A-26B is faster and carries more armament, but it is unlikely to be nearly as nice to handle as the A-20G.

According to the numbers I've seen the 355mph is reached at 15k. Based on that, quick 'n dirty calculation gives a rough sea level speed estimate of 304mph, the speed off course could be higher in real life. The glass nosed variant was faster at 373mph at alt. One innovation of the -26 was highly effective slotted flap design which produced 30% higher lift coefficient than the flaps of the A-20.

That said,

Looking at the US, Japanese and Russian planesets and especially the number of US bombers in AH, A-26 is about the last thing that's needed right now.

[Yossarian]

The B.XVI would be nice as a perk bomber and the B.Mk IV would be good for scenarios, but I actually don't know how fun the B Mossies would be in the MA.  Half the fun of taking a bomber out is shooting down the fighters trying to get you.

I think I'd use the B Mossies a bit, but I don't think I'd like them as much as, say, a Ju188A.

Were there any versions of the Mossie similar to the XVI which had nose guns?

It'd be great to have that though, with or without guns.

[Karnak]

Tu-2 would neatly merge the desire for a high performance bomber with a plane for the Russian planeset.

[Karnak]

Were there any versions of the Mossie similar to the XVI which had nose guns?

It'd be great to have that though, with or without guns.

B Mossies were all unarmed.  The closest performance to a Mossie like that with guns would be the NF.Mk 30 which was a nightfighter and did about 320mph on the deck up to a best speed of about 430mph at around 25,000ft.  It was armed with four 20mm cannons and could carry a 500lb bomb under each wing.

[RipChord929]

Hmmm, lets see?  If I can describe an attack profile that would work for me.. Of course I don't have the plane to test it out, (wish I did tho), and make alterations..  So consider the numbers fungeable.. Take off from a relatively high base, but any will do.. Climb to about 12k or so.. Set course for the target area.. When getting ready to cross the dar line, I would take a steep dive to about 8K or so, to build up major speed.. Shallow the dive as I cross the dar line, so I traverse the distance to the target with as much speed as possible, keeping the nose downhill all the way.. Appear over the target at about 5 or 6K, still movin fast.. Line up 2 hangars, scream down with everything the plane has got to give, clobber my targets, and blast out of there 50ft over the water, goin like a bat outta hell... After my ord is gone, plane trimmed up, make pursuing fighters chase me, if they have the gas, and can afford to waste the time, while the town is under threat from an incoming attack by Hvy buffs... Then I'd regain alt, and come blasting back through, looking for targets of opportunity for my 8 nose guns    Everything I did would be downhill, wonder what the speeds would be, In A26, plenty fast for sure...

I think the plane would be the perfect hangar assassin
RC

[Karnak]

Hmmm, lets see?  If I can describe an attack profile that would work for me.. Of course I don't have the plane to test it out, (wish I did tho), and make alterations..  So consider the numbers fungeable.. Take off from a relatively high base, but any will do.. Climb to about 12k or so.. Set course for the target area.. When getting ready to cross the dar line, I would take a steep dive to about 8K or so, to build up major speed.. Shallow the dive as I cross the dar line, so I traverse the distance to the target with as much speed as possible, keeping the nose downhill all the way.. Appear over the target at about 5 or 6K, still movin fast.. Line up 2 hangars, scream down with everything the plane has got to give, clobber my targets, and blast out of there 50ft over the water, goin like a bat outta hell... After my ord is gone, plane trimmed up, make pursuing fighters chase me, if they have the gas, and can afford to waste the time, while the town is under threat from an incoming attack by Hvy buffs... Then I'd regain alt, and come blasting back through, looking for targets of opportunity for my 8 nose guns    Everything I did would be downhill, wonder what the speeds would be, In A26, plenty fast for sure...

I think the plane would be the perfect hangar assassin
RC

You could do all of that with the Tu-2.

[RipChord929]

You could do all of that with the Tu-2.

Well, maybe so!  But when I look at the TU2, all that comes to mind is the smell of gabbage, I hate gabbage..  just jokin!
Seriously tho, since the Rooskies don't have a bomber in game at all, I suppose this would be a good one..
But I wouldn't come back online to try a TU2..  I would to fly the A26 tho!

RC

[5PointOh]

The impression I get from people's posts about the A-26 is that they want it as a fighter, not as an attack plane.

Yes we need a fighter...how about the P-61A/B   

[Karnak]

Yes we need a fighter...how about the P-61A/B  

I was just thinking last night how much better a match to most A-26 advocates the P-61 would be.  It could carry 6,400lbs or ordnance as I recall.

[whipster22]

i want Ki 102 me want

[guncrasher]

P 61 is not an a26:).  we want the a26 not the p61.  Lol

Semp

[Yossarian]

P 61 is not an a26:).  we want the a26 not the p61.  Lol

Semp

Having seen Karnak's post, and done a fair bit of reading, I'm thinking I'd actually rather have a Mossie NF Mk30

[cobia38]

Having seen Karnak's post, and done a fair bit of reading, I'm thinking I'd actually rather have a Mossie NF Mk30

 traitor 

[Yossarian]

traitor 

I'm sorry....but 430 mph at altitude?  With 4 20mm cannons?  That's a pretty good deal, IMO


But really, the main thing the Invader had for me was it's reputation...but seeing the stats of the Mossie NFMk30, I've got to go with that one...

[humble]

You can't really compare the two. The mossie in AH is a completely different animal then the A-20/26. Normally you'll see the mossie at higher alts as a combo buff hunter/E fighter. While you will occasionally see one flying at "attack me" alts its rare. 90% of the time any mossie I engage has alt & E. Contrast this with the A-20 were you rarely encounter them at high alts. More often they present as here I am come down and get me. Functional firepower is pretty similar since little can survive the 6 x .50 cals in the A-20.

Pure speed is of minimum importance once a fight is engaged outside of increased ability to bug out as required. The single biggest benefit the A-26 will have is the ability to better utilize total E state. A "faster" anything is of less practical value in a fight IMO. Once we get it the A-26 will be a huge upgrade since no plane (IMO) suffers more self inflicted break ups even in the hands of experienced pilots....