Categorize B26 As "Attack"

[Babalonian]

To my knowledge it has absolutely no air to air offensive capabilities.  It should be classified as a bomber, however I believe it's technically an 'attack' craft...   

Two words: air burst.  Welcome to the 21st century cupcake.

[FBCrabby]

Two words: air burst.  Welcome to the 21st century cupcake.

 

[wil3ur]

Two words: air burst.  Welcome to the 21st century cupcake.

It's still dropping bombs to hit ground targets...  very loosely, it's a fighter/attack plane.  More properly it's a Bomber with attack capabilities (much like the B26!)   

[FBCrabby]

how often do you see a B26 over 15K anyways? o.o

[Ack-Ack]

B-26 should get under wing .50 cal gun pods.

ack-ack

[Babalonian]

B-26 should get under wing .50 cal gun pods.

ack-ack

That and attack mode, and I'll be flying the pattern at 20k around our friendly strats, drunk for hours.    (not very likely, but it would be cool in combination with the revised GV icon release in the pipes, especialy if a heavy strafer had a good/fun/notable role to play).

[wil3ur]

That and attack mode, and I'll be flying the pattern at 20k around our friendly strats, drunk for hours.    (not very likely, but it would be cool in combination with the revised GV icon release in the pipes, especialy if a heavy strafer had a good/fun/notable role to play).

Isn't this what A-26's are for? 

[Tank-Ace]

How many guns could be fitted, and what was the preformance penalty?

[Ack-Ack]

How many guns could be fitted, and what was the preformance penalty?

The B-26 could carry 2x .50 caliber gun pods under each wing.


ack-ack

[Tank-Ace]

interesting. I'm assuming that this is in addition to the 5 nose mounted guns, and not replacing them, correct?


What an odd number of .50's. 7 fixed, forward firing machine guns.

[Ack-Ack]

interesting. I'm assuming that this is in addition to the 5 nose mounted guns, and not replacing them, correct?


What an odd number of .50's. 7 fixed, forward firing machine guns.

Correct not replacing them.

I'm not sure about the performance hit but I don't think it was a real issue.  I don't know how many instances of some of the B-26s equipped tactical bombing groups (need to remember that the various AF units were divided into strategic, like the 8th AF and tactical like the 9th AF) but when when low level missions were started again in either late '44 or early '45 (usually in support of ground operations or free roaming targets of opportunity) some of the tactical bomber groups would put gun pods on their B-26s, as well on the A-26 and A-20s

If the A-20 can be scored as an attack plane, I think the B-26 should have that option as well.  It was used in the tactical bombing role like the A-20, should have the same consideration.

ack-ack

[Babalonian]

You know, the performace hit is an excellent question I have too and I wonder what the hard data is for it.  As is, the B-26 fits the definition of gun boat about as equally well as an equally armed sand barge, when you take into consideration that a P-47 can be armed with 8 forward firing .50 cals.  However, the B-26 is capable of carrying twice the ordnance and a multitude more of personel, so adding two gun pods to it shouldn't be any worse than if you forgot ot jetison a bomb or two.  I wonder if it would have a signifigant or trivial impact to it if it were included.

[Raptor05121]

You know, the performace hit is an excellent question I have too and I wonder what the hard data is for it.  As is, the B-26 fits the definition of gun boat about as equally well as an equally armed sand barge, when you take into consideration that a P-47 can be armed with 8 forward firing .50 cals.  However, the B-26 is capable of carrying twice the ordnance and a multitude more of personel, so adding two gun pods to it shouldn't be any worse than if you forgot ot jetison a bomb or two.  I wonder if it would have a signifigant or trivial impact to it if it were included.

internal weight has less impact of drag. drag requires 4x the power to overcome, weight just requires the same amount of lift to remain 0 net force.

[FBCrabby]

so HTC - consensus says "Attack"

Can we have it for our xmas/new year package? 

[Guppy35]

so HTC - consensus says "Attack"

Can we have it for our xmas/new year package? 

Crabby we know this is just a sneaky way to get HTC to introduce the A26 Invader to AH.  The B26 Marauder was a bomber not an attack bird!