B-26's?

[timtom]

Can anyone enlighten me on the deployment of B-26's in the Pacific, in particular with regards to its tactical deployment and whether or whether not it was generally field-modded with a gunpack?

Is the following quote true?

ORIGINAL: Lemurs!

The B26B came in two main versions, with the extra nose guns and without. In the Pacific theater it was decided to use the B26 as a medium altitude level bomber while the B25 was going to handle low level duties.

Thus, the heavy nose gun B26B was only sent to Europe, and also remember that the heavy nose gun version carried 1000lbs less bombload.

Mike

[el cid again]

Once upon a time I reviewed Allied bombers for CHS - under supervision by Joe - and the fruit of this work is now in RHS (with the Ventura added - thanks to Black Mamba). We found that in this case Lemurs is probably right: so you have B-25s with gun packs - both G and H - one with a big gun and one without; but not the B-26. Both B-25s and B-26s (and also Venturas) are more important in RHS because you get few four engines early on (no LB-30s at all as bombers = they essentially were not - and the exceptions appear as B-24s; and few B-17s at all; UNTIL the B-24 comes on stream you are forced to use 2 engine bombers).

Note the threads about "converting 2 E to 4 E are wrong" are essentially all wrong: this is mainly what the USAAF actually did. The exception is the Ventura - which was mostly retained until the end of the war (but upgraded with an even better Ventura we don't have OR to a late B-25 we DO have ).

[JeffroK]

Sid, is your improved PV1 Ventura the PV-2 Harpoon?

The B-26's were heavily used in 1942, their numbers not as large in later years.

Many of the US Medium Sqns/Groups using them were based in Australia, from Townsville(Garbutt) up to Iron Range (Portland Roads) and would transit through Port Moresby in their attacks on Rabaul/Lae etc.

I know they refuelled, am unsured whether they bombed up as well.

[akdreemer]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Once upon a time I reviewed Allied bombers for CHS - under supervision by Joe - and the fruit of this work is now in RHS (with the Ventura added - thanks to Black Mamba). We found that in this case Lemurs is probably right: so you have B-25s with gun packs - both G and H - one with a big gun and one without; but not the B-26. Both B-25s and B-26s (and also Venturas) are more important in RHS because you get few four engines early on (no LB-30s at all as bombers = they essentially were not - and the exceptions appear as B-24s; and few B-17s at all; UNTIL the B-24 comes on stream you are forced to use 2 engine bombers).

Note the threads about "converting 2 E to 4 E are wrong" are essentially all wrong: this is mainly what the USAAF actually did. The exception is the Ventura - which was mostly retained until the end of the war (but upgraded with an even better Ventura we don't have ).

I think also that by the time these were being developed the B-26 was fast disappearing from the Pacific. Although an effective medium bomber, it was too complex for the rigors of the region. Fortunately, the B-25 was also available as was significantly easier to maintain.

[el cid again]

Sid, is your improved PV1 Ventura the PV-2 Harpoon?

The B-26's were heavily used in 1942, their numbers not as large in later years.

No - for historical import reasons we are using the PV-1 Ventura - NOT the late war PV-2 Harpoon. The PV-2 is more or less represented by the B-25J in some cases - other units retain the Ventura itself (especially Commonwealth nations) - because of its ability to patrol with radar. We COULD add the PV-2 - but we have few remaining slots - and there has been no interest expressed in it (and there are many dozens of candidates - I have more than once posted threads asking for what Allied planes to add? and no one ever asked for a PV-2). I prefer putting in early or mid war planes to late war ones too. Not sure the game ever gets (or can get) to late war? And it won't often do so even if it can. But it is an option. [Joe says "we can do anything - but we cannot do everything " - and he is correct].

[Cathartes]

B-26 saw the most action in the Pacific with the 22nd Bomb Group (Red Raiders) from Port Moresby. Some units with the 11th AF in the Aleutians had them as well, but don't know of combat action there. Most B-26s were retired from Pacific by mid-'43 having been replaced by B-25 and B-24.

[Ron Saueracker]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Sid, is your improved PV1 Ventura the PV-2 Harpoon?

The B-26's were heavily used in 1942, their numbers not as large in later years.

No - for historical import reasons we are using the PV-1 Ventura - NOT the late war PV-2 Harpoon. The PV-2 is more or less represented by the B-25J in some cases - other units retain the Ventura itself (especially Commonwealth nations) - because of its ability to patrol with radar. We COULD add the PV-2 - but we have few remaining slots - and there has been no interest expressed in it (and there are many dozens of candidates - I have more than once posted threads asking for what Allied planes to add? and no one ever asked for a PV-2). I prefer putting in early or mid war planes to late war ones too. Not sure the game ever gets (or can get) to late war? And it won't often do so even if it can. But it is an option. [Joe says "we can do anything - but we cannot do everything " - and he is correct].

Cid my good man. Have you added a few more varieties of SBD? Is there enough difference to even bother? I know there are alot of older airframes that could be added.

[akdreemer]

ORIGINAL: el cid again

Once upon a time I reviewed Allied bombers for CHS - under supervision by Joe - and the fruit of this work is now in RHS (with the Ventura added - thanks to Black Mamba). We found that in this case Lemurs is probably right: so you have B-25s with gun packs - both G and H - one with a big gun and one without; but not the B-26. Both B-25s and B-26s (and also Venturas) are more important in RHS because you get few four engines early on (no LB-30s at all as bombers = they essentially were not - and the exceptions appear as B-24s; and few B-17s at all; UNTIL the B-24 comes on stream you are forced to use 2 engine bombers).

Note the threads about "converting 2 E to 4 E are wrong" are essentially all wrong: this is mainly what the USAAF actually did. The exception is the Ventura - which was mostly retained until the end of the war (but upgraded with an even better Ventura we don't have OR to a late B-25 we DO have ).

This is essentially correct. In addition, I have come to realize from reading several accounts of the air war in the South/Southwest Pacific, that 4E bombers did do low level attacks against shipping, even B-24's doing skip bombing of New Guinea. Thus I will no longer support a limit on the level in which 4E bombers can attack from.

[el cid again]

Cid my good man. Have you added a few more varieties of SBD? Is there enough difference to even bother? I know there are alot of older airframes that could be added.

Actually, I DID add a variety of SBD. Mainly because stock and CHS seem to have decided to use the SBD-5 - admittedly its most important variant. But the start of war SBD-3 has a smaller engine, and is a lot less plane, and to let the Allies have the SBD-5 at the beginning is plain wrong IMHO - so I gave them BOTH the 3 and the 5 - and they have to wait to get the 5.