Beaufighter and Mosquito

[Scherf]

The 4,000-lb load was all in the shape of a single "cookie", apparently also referred to as a "dangerous dustbin".

The "shortened fins" story is true - the Mossie was originally designed for 4x250-lbers, however it was found that if the fins on 500-lbers were shortened, four of them would fit in the bomb bay. Apparently the idea was pooh-poohed by officialdom until it was demonstrated that the ballistics were just as good.

The change was made before the Mossie bomber went into service.

I have to say, I don't know if the change was made to the standard 500-lber or just to those used by Mossies.

[Yarbles]

So would max bomb load be 4x500lb?

[Yarbles]

According to Wikopaedia or whatever its called 6 x 500lb max which could take 2 fighter hangers in AH or 3 vh's. Climb rate around 2800 top speed at altitude 415mph. In my opinion unstoppable in the game.

Bring it on I say:t

[Lusche]

Originally posted by Karnak
Ok.  Some fun Mossie data.

Thank you very much for that info!

[bozon]

Originally posted by Martyn
Lancs managed 3.9 tons/sortie.

Yes, but what matters is how much of that payload hits the target, not how much hits the ground.

From a strategic point of view, at the cost of 1 4 engined bomber you can get 2 mosquitoes. This is just the engines, so add to that the fact that mosquitoes were built by piano and furniture makers, out of cheaper materials. Add to that the lower costs from training fewer crews and loosing fewer crews. And finally, higher survivability also means you can amass more operational squadrons.

I think the real problem was to convince bomber command to change its strategy.

[Yarbles]

Originally posted by bozon
Yes, but what matters is how much of that payload hits the target, not how much hits the ground.

From a strategic point of view, at the cost of 1 4 engined bomber you can get 2 mosquitoes. This is just the engines, so add to that the fact that mosquitoes were built by piano and furniture makers, out of cheaper materials. Add to that the lower costs from training fewer crews and loosing fewer crews. And finally, higher survivability also means you can amass more operational squadrons.

I think the real problem was to convince bomber command to change its strategy.

Which sounds allot like

Also coming back to this point about a war of attrition. if a Mossie could fly around 2 x sortie per night at around 1% loss rate, then assuming Stirlings could be replaced at a higher attrition rate, if a switch to Mossies was made, the overall bomber force would start to increase rather than be replaced. Then it is reasonable to assume the quantity of bombs delivered would increase which was the purpose of the whole thing.

With a few additions of course.

I think it should be brought into the game as above and I think we would see the use of heavy bombers dramatically decline. I think it wont be brought in for this reason because it would change the whole balance in favour of atack and make low level or from ground ready interception unviable. The only defence would be high level Combat air patrols but this would lift the starting point of many furballs. If its introduction did damage the game it could of course be perked like the 234. I also wonder if in the real WW2 vested interests were not at work in the perpetuation of the heavy over this much more surviveable alternative.

[Karnak]

Another note from that book said Mosquitoes were landing 80% of their bombs within 100 yards of the target at night from 25,000+ft.

If you compare that to the RAF or USAAF heavies, even during the day, it is much higher accuracy.


EDIT:

Mosquito B.Mk IV would not be perked.

Mosquito B.Mk XVI probably would be perked.

[Furball]

Mosquito B.35 would most definitely be perked

When considering tonnage/sortie you need to take into account that the Mosquito was not always used as a bomber, such as the lanc, stirling and halifax were.  They were often used as a pathfinder for the main force, dropping target marker flares often from low altitude.

I also seem to recall that they used them circling around the target to direct the attack.

[Yarbles]

Originally posted by Furball
Mosquito B.35 would most definitely be perked

When considering tonnage/sortie you need to take into account that the Mosquito was not always used as a bomber, such as the lanc, stirling and halifax were.  They were often used as a pathfinder for the main force, dropping target marker flares often from low altitude.

I also seem to recall that they used them circling around the target to direct the attack.

Meaning I assume even more risk for less bombs dropped with an unbelievably low attrition rate.

[Martyn]

Don't know about you guys, but I think we do need another perked bomber. The Arado is OK but a Mossie attack would be more appropriate - and something to spend those perks on.

[Ghosth]

I agree, would love to see the dedicated mossie bomber available with formations.

Attrition wise it would have made much more sense to send over mossies than anything else. Even if your not dropping as much total poundage per plane.

Crew on mossie was what, 2? Pilot & navigator/radioman/bombardier?

Crew on a Lancaster is 10? 12? Makes much more sense to drop half the poundage with less than 10% of the loss in men, planes, etc.

Ohhh and yes bring on the Beaufighter!

[Yarbles]

Originally posted by Martyn
Don't know about you guys, but I think we do need another perked bomber. The Arado is OK but a Mossie attack would be more appropriate - and something to spend those perks on.

Absolutely and spot on a perked version is all the game as it is could stand and the 234 is far too niche. The Mossie like the Tiger and 262 would be Uber in most situations. But I think many people will never give up on the B29 as the next perked bomber.

Does HTC actually read any of this?  

[B@tfinkV]

Originally posted by Yarbles


Does HTC actually read any of this?  

imo, yes they do. also in my opinion they have multiple shade accounts posing as noobs and squeakers that are used to discretly garner customer feedback....

trust no one.

[Yarbles]

Originally posted by B@tfinkV
imo, yes they do. also in my opinion they have multiple shade accounts posing as noobs and squeakers that are used to discretly garner customer feedback....

trust no one.

Maybe not just garner but also lead customer opinion eh

"The truth is out there"

Anyway if they dont get a decent perked british twin merlin engined wooden drone equipped  bomber of some sort in AH soon I want to know why:mad:

[bozon]

As much as a bomber mosquito would be welcomed, I'm against having it with formations enabled.

When attacked it would have to maneuver - that's its defense. It means instant loss of the two drones. If it keeps flying level - it is dead. So either you give your attacker easy 2 kills just by going "booo!" near you, or you give him 3 kills if he actually uses his ammo.

Heavy bombers need their formations in order to allow a small number of pilots (1-2) still have a defense of a bomber box. For the mosquito, the formation is a hindrance defensively and will only serve as to allow a single player to deliver a larger payload in a sneak attack. The drones will be expendable in case it is attacked - that is dweeb play.

As a single bomber it has a good chance to out maneuver defenders and get to the bomb run. It would not have the ord to shut down a field, but 3-4k of bombs are enough to take out a designated hard target (a hangar) or multiple soft ones (ammo, fuel, radar). Even when hitting a city, spread out properly, it is a lot of damage. It would reach the target much faster (cutting down the boring climb-out time) and with surprise or some friendly fighter activity, has a good chance to make the drop and come out alive. It would be something between a JABO and a carpet bomber. Even for NOE surprise attack it would be great - more bombs, but without the jabo cannons for vulching after the drop.