B-25C

[caldera]

They really sent kids out to die in this thing?   Tail gun?  <Andy Reid voice> "We're fine there."

[glzsqd]

From what I understand, it actually had ventral guns to cover its Butt, however they are not modeled for some reason .

  For an Early war Bomber is pretty darn fast and climbs exceptionally well. I love taking B25C's in for solo Strat raids in the MA and if you fly smart its not as suicidal as one would think.

That being said I still wish i was in a B25J whenever I see an enemy icon.

WE NEED THE B25J!!!!!

[lyric1]

They really sent kids out to die in this thing?   Tail gun?  <Andy Reid voice> "We're fine there."

Have to remember early war years some bombers were faster than fighters at that time. Plus there would be an entire squadron flying with you & the gunners were trained to cover neighboring aircraft while in formation.

In AHII though I see your point.

[bozon]

They really sent kids out to die in this thing?   Tail gun?  <Andy Reid voice> "We're fine there."

You shoot the enemy with the fixed forward guns dummy!

[Volron]

Have to remember early war years some bombers were faster than fighters at that time. Plus there would be an entire squadron flying with you & the gunners were trained to cover neighboring aircraft while in formation.

In AHII though I see your point.

Nope.  You can't have an entire squadron flying around together.  People would start to cry "horde".

[glzsqd]

Also remember the B25's niche was low level attack and anti shipping, Its a very versatile aircraft.

[DEECONX]

12 .50 B25J.....mmmmm 

[Saxman]

12 .50 B25J.....mmmmm 

14 if you include locking the turret forward.

[Ack-Ack]

14 if you include locking the turret forward.

Think all the B-25s could lock the top turret forward, I know the B-25H could.

[Saxman]

Think all the B-25s could lock the top turret forward, I know the B-25H could.

Makes me wonder why that's not an option...

[DaveBB]

There is an awesome book on B-25s in action in the Pacific.  Its called "Warpath Across the Pacific".  It is a huge book with a lot of combat photographs, and many first person accounts.  Regardless of the type of B-25, it was dangerous work.  Enemy fighters were only one of the many things to worry about.  Ground fire was probably the biggest threat.  One photo shows a Japanese shell exploding behind a B-25 on a low level mission, and you can see the immense shrapnel pattern from the splashing of the water.

Anyhow, I highly recommend this book, and commend the men brave enough to fly any model B-25 into combat.

[bozon]

Makes me wonder why that's not an option...

I would happily trade a turret for two more forward fixed guns. It would be even funnier to watch fighters accept a HO with a B25 strafer

[Guppy35]

Also remember the B25's niche was low level attack and anti shipping, Its a very versatile aircraft.

Versatile is accurate.  Only low level is not.  The USAAF in the MTO bombed from medium alt as did the RAF 25s in the ETO.

Keep in mind the J model didn't start reaching combat units until mid 44.  Also keep in mind they came off the line with glass noses and no fuselage gun packs to start.

The solid nose gun pack that all the gotta have the B-25J crowd wants basically gives you the same as the B-25H we already have.

To HTC's credit, in my opinion anyway, they gave us a mix of 25s that covers all the historical roles from 42-45

Below is one of the first B-25s over mainland Japan in 1945, the first since the Doolittle Raid B-25Bs in 1942.  And this isn't a J model.

[Saxman]

To HTC's credit, in my opinion anyway, they gave us a mix of 25s that covers all the historical roles from 42-45
[/img]

Except for the late-war level bomber.

[Guppy35]

Except for the late-war level bomber.

So basically we are talking about 1945 in the MTO?

I pulled out my copy of the Air Apaches history some mentioned up thread.  They got thier first J models in mid October 1944 and solid nose strafer B-25Js in January 45.  One of the first things done was removing the side gun packs as they were too difficult to keep working.  They also lost the waist guns as they weren't much useful in strafing attacks. So they weren't shooting 14 50s straight ahead, just 8 in the nose and the top turret if so inclined. 

Understand I'm a big fan of the 25.  In an ideal world they'd have a 25G, and both the glass nosed and solid nose strafer 25J.   

That being said and looking at the bigger picture I'd rather HTC spent the resources on other things.  It's the same as asking for a B-24D so we can run Ploesti or B-17E and F so we can have accurate early war PTO and ETO 17s. 

Would it be nice?  Absolutely.  Does it make sense to make that a priority?  Nope.

Note the B25 in the image I posted is a Hawaian Depot modified B-25G.  The Gs and modified Glass nose D Models were in combat over Japan in the summer of 45.