To make the PBY usefull

[Tom5572]

Since the storch was added with the ability to see GV's at a greater distace, I tbink it would make sense to do something like that for the PBY. My thought is to use it as a recon a/c with the ability to display enemy carrier groups on the map while inside the enemy cv's radar ring. The cv should only be visible to the country the pby belongs to and only for as long as the pby stays inside the dar ring of the cv.

[Tom5572]

Idea already mentioned by saxman please delete. Should have searched first.

[bc21]

+1

[Karnak]

Why?  It would be giving it historical capability that it did not have.

In addition, even with this, you'd be better off using a P-47N, P-51, Ta152 or Mosquito to search for carriers.

[Butcher]

Why?  It would be giving it historical capability that it did not have.

In addition, even with this, you'd be better off using a P-47N, P-51, Ta152 or Mosquito to search for carriers.

yeah, even if you dropped a CV's spotting range from a P-47N you simply wait for puffy ack to hit....

"looking for that CV now at 15k doing 400 boss!..............BOOM! goes a wing. Hey boss I found it!

[EVZ]

from a P-47N you simply wait for puffy ack to hit.... "looking for that CV now at 15k doing 400 boss!..............BOOM! goes a wing. Hey boss I found it!

The Catalina was crewed by 5+ guys, all searching at the same time. They had a nearly perfect view, unobscured by the wings. Long Range Artillary Glasses were used from the mooring hatch / blister in the nose. If they got puffyed, they were drinking on the job. Not only is the P47 inferior to those capabilities, there just isn't any room for an ice machine at the bar ...

I think the idea of Using the CVs Radar Ring as the detection point from a PBY might be a good one ... It would utilize at least SOME aspects of the game that are already programed.

[Ack-Ack]

The Catalina was crewed by 5+ guys, all searching at the same time. They had a nearly perfect view, unobscured by the wings. Long Range Artillary Glasses were used from the mooring hatch / blister in the nose. If they got puffyed, they were drinking on the job. Not only is the P47 inferior to those capabilities, there just isn't any room for an ice machine at the bar ...

I think the idea of Using the CVs Radar Ring as the detection point from a PBY might be a good one ... It would utilize at least SOME aspects of the game that are already programed.

Then you'd have to give bombers like the Betty, B-17, B-24, and B-26 the same ability as they were also used just as much as the PBY in the patrol role.

ack-ack

[olds442]

Then you'd have to give bombers like the Betty, B-17, B-24, and B-26 the same ability as they were also used just as much as the PBY in the patrol roll.

ack-ack

ack ack thats the same as saying we should give the same vis range on GV's as the storch because the storch IRL oculd not see farther than say a IL2.

[Karnak]

ack ack thats the same as saying we should give the same vis range on GV's as the storch because the storch IRL oculd not see farther than say a IL2.

It is not.  It is saying that those aircraft were used in the same role and had the same capabilities, which they did.  The Il-2 has significantly different use and capabilities than does the Fi156.

[EVZ]

Then you'd have to give bombers like the Betty, B-17, B-24, and B-26 the same ability as they were also used just as much as the PBY in the patrol roll. ack-ack

... The Japanese may at times have tasked Bettys as Patrol Bombers (in a pinch) ... The US bombers were NOT used in this role until their production outpaced the demand for them as strategic bombers over Germany (fairly LATE in the war) ... Even then they were used more as ASW convoy escorts than anything else. Standard Issue heavy bombers were NOT equipped as Patrol planes and their crews were not trained for that mission. The CATALINA was the plane that SERVED in the time of need and accomplished great things.

[Karnak]

The B-24 and B-17 were most definitely used as such.  The Brits used B-17s as patrol bombers as early as 1941 and the B-24 was certainly used as a patrol bomber as early as 1942.

[Rino]

     Yeah, they used a few   

[Ack-Ack]

... The Japanese may at times have tasked Bettys as Patrol Bombers (in a pinch) ... The US bombers were NOT used in this role until their production outpaced the demand for them as strategic bombers over Germany (fairly LATE in the war) ... Even then they were used more as ASW convoy escorts than anything else.

You are quite incorrect in both accounts.  B-17s were used since the beginning of the war in the Pacific for anti-maritime/shipping duties since it was the only other plane besides the PBY that had the range to search out for Japanese shipping.  The B-24 was also used in the same role when it was introduced into the Pacific theater with both the USAAF, USN, USMC and the British were using the B-24 as early as 1941 for anti-maritime/shipping patrols in the North Atlantic.

The Japanese used bombers like the Betty for routine anti-maritime patrol duties and not just on the rare occasion.

Awhile back I posted a Japanese patrol pilot's account (he flew the H6K1) of a little known aspect of the air war in the Pacific that involved patrol planes, in which it was bounced by a USAAF B-17 bomber that was flying anti-maritime patrol.

ack-ack

[EVZ]

The B-24 and B-17 were most definitely used as such.  The Brits used B-17s as patrol bombers as early as 1941 and the B-24 was certainly used as a patrol bomber as early as 1942.

The British used anything and everything for ASW patrol ... They wanted Catalinas BAD, but didn't recieve any until the pacific war was stabilized. They may have gotten a FEW early 17-Fs and I think we gave them some early 24s to use as STAFF TRANSPORTS, as a diplomatic "Gesture." Most of the US BOMBERS placed at their disposal were tired and outdated aircraft that had been replaced by newer models. This isn't really a significant factor ... Any more straws you want to grasp at?

[Karnak]

They wanted Catalinas BAD, but didn't recieve any until the pacific war was stabilized.

Funny, given that a British PBY found the Bismark in 1941 after she shook her RN shadowers.

The B-17s I mentioned were Fortress Mk Is, aka B-17Cs or B-17Ds (not sure which) that the British turned over to be used as maritime patrol aircraft after concluding they were not suitable for operations over the continent.