Staga,
If your deffinition of "heavy" is solely dependant on a bombload of 10,000 lbs + then the He177A-5 is probably the only Axis bomber to qualify. However, if that is your definition, then the Allies only have one heavy, the Lancaster MkIII. The Ju88A-4 carries as much of a bombload as the B-17G.
I believe that a aircraft falls into the "Heavy bomber" category due to multiple things, durability, firepower, size, number of engines and bombload. I do agree that Japanese aircraft have light bombloads. The design requirement to be able to fly over vast tracts of the Pacific ocean dictated this limitation.
Here are my 3 suggestions for Axis heavy bombers:
He177A-5/R2
Powerplant: Daimler-Benz DB 610A-1 (port) and B-1 (starboard) 24-cylinder liquid-cooled engines, each rated at 2200 kW (2,950 hp) for take-off.
Dimensions: wing span 31.44 m (103 ft 1 in); length 22.00 m (72 ft 1 in); height 6.39 m (21 ft); wing area 102 mē (1,098 sq ft)
Weights: empty equipped 16800 kg (37,037 lb); maximum take-off 31000 kg (68,342 lb)
Performance: maximum speed 488 km/h (303 mph) at 6100 m (20,000 ft); maximum range 5500 km (3,417 miles) with two Hs 293A; service ceiling 8000 m (26,246 ft); time to 3050 m (10,000 ft) 10 minutes
Armament: one 7.9mm MG 81J machine gun in glazed nose; one 20mm MG 151/20 in front ventral gondola; two 7.9mm MG 81 machine guns in rear ventral gondola; two 13mm MG 131 in dorsal barbette; one 13mm MG 131 in dorsal turret; one MG 151/20 in tail; internal weapons bay for 16 SC 50 bombs or four SC 250 or two SC 500; external pylons for two LMA III parachute sea mines, LT torpedoes' Henschel Hs 293A or FX 1400 Fritz X missiles
He177 Advantages: Very heavy bombload and high speed
He177 Disadvantages: Twin engine configuration increases vulnerability.
Kawanishi H8K2 "Emily"
Dimensions: Span 38.00 m, Length 28.13 m, Height 9.15 m, Wing area 160.0 m2
Weights: Empty 18,380 kg, Loaded 24,500 kg, Maximum 32,500 kg, Wing loading 153.1 kg/m2, Power loading 3.3 kg/hp
Performance: Maximum speed 252 kt at 5,000 m, Cruising speed 160 kt at 4,000 m, Climb to 5,000 m in 10 min 12 sec, Service ceiling 8,850 m, Maximum range 3,862 naut miles
Armament: 20 mm Type 99 Model 1 cannon in bow, dorsal and tail turrets and two beam hatches, and 7.7 mm Type 92 machine-guns in ventral, port and starboard fuselage sides and cockpit hatches (H8K2, H8K3 and H8K4)
External load: two 800 kg torpedoes, or eight 250 kg bombs, or sixteen 60 kg bombs or depth-charges (H8K1 to H8K4)
Powerplant: Four Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 fourteen-cylinder air-cooled radials, rated at 1,850 hp for take-off, 1,680 hp at 2,100 m and 1,540 hp at 5,500 m, driving four-blade metal propellers (H8K2, H8K2-L and H8K3)
Accommodation: Crew of ten (H8K1 to H8K4). Crew of nine and 29 passengers or 64 troops (H8K2-L)
H8K2 Advantages: Extremely durable and very well armed. Great climb rate.
H8K2 Disadvantages: Light bombload and few produced. Only flyable from water.
Piaggio P.108B / R1 08C
Country: Italy.
Type: P.108B - seven crew heavy bomber. R1 08C - transport.
Powerplants: Four 1500hp (Piaggio RXII RC35 18-cylinder radials; three bladed propellers.)
Dimensions: Wing span 104ft 11žin (32.00m); length 73ft 1―in (22.29m); height 19ft 8žin (6.00m).
Weights: R1 08B - empty 38,1951b (17325kg); max loaded 65,8851b (29885kg).
Armament: R108B - eight 12.7mm machine guns in nose, ventral turrets, waist and outer nacelle positions; max 77161b (3500kg) bomb load or three 18in (45.7cm) torpedos.
Performance: R108B - max speed 267mph (430km/h) at 13,780ft (4200m); cruise speed 199mph (320km/h); time to 16,405ft (5000m) 21.1 min; service ceiling 27,890ft (8500m); range 1550-2187 miles (2495-3520km).
Operators: Germany, Italy.
Production: 1 R1 08,163 P.1 08B, 16 P.1 08C, 1 R1 08M, 1 P.1 08T, total 182.
P.108B Advantages: Good bombload and defensive armament.
P.108B Disadvatages: Slow and few produced.
[ 07-27-2001: Message edited by: Karnak ]
