A-20 A Havoc Light or Medium Bomber

[Tullius]

I was searching for information about the use of the A-20A in WW2 (Pacific). I have found some sources (Wikipedia etc.) which labled the ac as "light bomber" or "night fighter". The game databases describes it as "medium bomber". I do not have the knowledge to form my own judgement but it would like to know which missions the A-20A performed in the Pacific.

[Terminus]

Well, the line between "light" and "medium" might differ from source to source. I always thought of the A-20 as a "light" bomber; the B-25 and B-26 as "mediums".

The A-20A did NOT function as a night fighter. That role was performed by the P-70, which was a derivation of the A-20.

[minnowguy]

The A-20 had a "takeoff weight" of just over 20k pounds and a single pilot.

For comparison, the P-38 fighter's tow was 21.6k pounds and the B-25's (canonical medium bomber) was 41.8k pounds.

Sounds like a light bomber to me.

[AW1Steve]

The A-20 was classified either as a light or attack bomber (ground support). Along with it's small size, it only had one pilot.The B-25, and B-26 were classed as medium bombers (although certain gunned B-25's were used in the attack role). The A-26 was considered an attack or light bomber , till Korea, where it was given the B-26 designation (The Martin Maurader long since retired) and was used in a night intruder role (more suited for a medium). In Vietnam it was referred to again as a A-26 (as it was doing ground support again) and specialized COIN (counter insurgency) ground attack.

[JohnDillworth]

Awesome picture of an A-20:

[Tullius]

Thanks for the responses. I have now found an additional source Pacific War Online Encyclopedia

This innovative medium bomber was judged “hot” because it performed like a single-engine light bomber. It was the first military aircraft to use tricycle landing gear, and had the rather odd feature of an emergency control column in the rear gunner’s compartment in case the pilot was killed. When equipped with additional nose machine guns, it became a potent strafing weapon.

The aircraft was originally produced for export and did not enter squadron service with the Air Corps until 1941. A small number were assigned to 58 Light Bomber Squadron at Hickam Field at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack. The Dutch received a small number for the defense of Java, and a few of these were captured intact by the Japanese. The Russians were quite fond of it in the strafing role. The British called this aircraft the Boston.

Though classified as a medium bomber, the crew arrangement more closely resembled that of light bombers such as the Dauntless. The pilot and gunner sat in separate small compartments from which they could not move. The –J and –K variants added a transparent nose with a bombardier’s position.

The A-20’s greatest liability in the Pacific was that it sacrificed range for payload. The legendary "Pappy" Gunn modified the A-20A with an additional four 0.50 machine guns and converted the bomb bay into a huge fuel tank. The aircraft so modified became lethal low-level attack aircraft, capable of shredding enemy aircraft caught on the ground or barges at sea. Racks were installed under the wings for parafrag bombs to sprinkle over airbases or skip bombs for use against merchant ships. Bergerud interviewed an American soldier mistakenly attacked by A-20s who gives us a picture of what it was like to be on the receiving end:

Then the planes arrived late and began attacking our own guys who had advanced. We were scared as hell when we heard an A-20 — you could hear them a mile away they were so loud. When the plane opened up the recoil slowed it down, then would speed up again when it didn't fire, then slow down again. I'd hear those bullets go "bump-bump" against the tree. I made myself very thin.
About 40% of A-20 crews were assigned to the Pacific.

It seems that the A20 is best used against ground units (e.g. landing units) and airfields. Attacking ships does not seem a good idea.

[JeffroK]

How does the AE engine differ between a Light and a Medium??

Might be to get the right effect the devs made it a Medium.

PS What would be the fastest at zero feet, a Beaufighter IC or Boston A20A???

[AW1Steve]

At zero feet it wouldn't matter after they hit the 1st tree.....[:D]

At 200 feet, my moneys on the Beaufighter.

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

How does the AE engine differ between a Light and a Medium??

Might be to get the right effect the devs made it a Medium.

PS What would be the fastest at zero feet, a Beaufighter IC or Boston A20A???

Funny you should ask that....

ORIGINAL: [size=-2]Beaufort, Beaufighter and Mosquito in Australian Service, Stewart Wilson, 1990. p119[/size]

Operations from Goodenough included supporting the successful Australian Army invasion of Lae and involvement in numerous raids on Rabaul before it was finally neutralised.

There were some less serious moments though, including a race between a 30 Squadron Beaufighter and a 22 Squadron Boston. Each unit claimed its own aircraft was faster and on 2 November this was put to the test over a 16 kilometre course starting out at sea. The Beaufighter (suitably lightened and stripped, as was the Boston) was A19-54 flown by the CO, Sqdn Ldr W T M Boulton and it emerged victorious. The Boston's run was not without its troubles -its engines were running much too rich due to the removal of the induction scoops, which caused the loss of ram air effect.

The whole affair was refereed by Wng Cdr W S Arthur of 75 Squadron, who soon found his Kittyhawk couldn't keep up with the more than 300 knots (560km/h) the Beaufighter was recording at low altitude.

BTW, Good call Steve.....

[minnowguy]

"Poor guy.  Tied the world record for low-altitude flight the other day ..."

[JohnDillworth]

Operations from Goodenough included supporting the successful Australian Army invasion of Lae and involvement in numerous raids on Rabaul before it was finally neutralised.

There were some less serious moments though, including a race between a 30 Squadron Beaufighter and a 22 Squadron Boston. Each unit claimed its own aircraft was faster and on 2 November this was put to the test over a 16 kilometre course starting out at sea. The Beaufighter (suitably lightened and stripped, as was the Boston) was A19-54 flown by the CO, Sqdn Ldr W T M Boulton and it emerged victorious. The Boston's run was not without its troubles -its engines were running much too rich due to the removal of the induction scoops, which caused the loss of ram air effect.

The whole affair was refereed by Wng Cdr W S Arthur of 75 Squadron, who soon found his Kittyhawk couldn't keep up with the more than 300 knots (560km/h) the Beaufighter was recording at low altitude.

Good Grief is there nothing this group does not know? [&o]

[Reg]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Good Grief is there nothing this group does not know? [&o]

Even if there was, we wouldn't admit it..... [:D] [:D] [:D]

[Cap Mandrake]

Of course in AE, they are both 2 engines (A-20 and B-26)..better to use the B-26. I suspect the A-20 requires somewhat less maint

[Mistmatz]

ORIGINAL: JeffK

How does the AE engine differ between a Light and a Medium??

...

The IMHO most important gameplay aspect is that a light bomber only requires a Lv2 airfield to operate.

Light bombers come in handy during the defence of the DEI and eventually later in places where the limited range doesn't matter too much (eg Burma, Australia, India). If you use them on night missions, they might even survive for a while.

[Ametysth]

If we start to talk about "medium" light bombers, then first on the list should be Japanese Ki-48 Lily. Take off weight of Ki-48 was full 3 tons lighter than A-20 (less than P-38) and plane itself was designed to replace Ki-32 Mary (a light bomber).

Come to think of it, later models of Ki-48 are marked as "dive bombers" in game. Does this mean these can operate from smaller (AF 2) airfields?

[Terminus]

Look at the plane in the editor. All marks of the Ki-48 have the "medium bomber" box checked, which is how the base requirement is determined.

[stuman]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

Operations from Goodenough included supporting the successful Australian Army invasion of Lae and involvement in numerous raids on Rabaul before it was finally neutralised.

There were some less serious moments though, including a race between a 30 Squadron Beaufighter and a 22 Squadron Boston. Each unit claimed its own aircraft was faster and on 2 November this was put to the test over a 16 kilometre course starting out at sea. The Beaufighter (suitably lightened and stripped, as was the Boston) was A19-54 flown by the CO, Sqdn Ldr W T M Boulton and it emerged victorious. The Boston's run was not without its troubles -its engines were running much too rich due to the removal of the induction scoops, which caused the loss of ram air effect.

The whole affair was refereed by Wng Cdr W S Arthur of 75 Squadron, who soon found his Kittyhawk couldn't keep up with the more than 300 knots (560km/h) the Beaufighter was recording at low altitude.

Good Grief is there nothing this group does not know? [&o]

Yet another example of why I love these forums [:)]