Importance of Aleuts. for Japanese

[spence]

It should not be only a 4E bomber threat from the Aleutians (Attu). The northernmost Kuriles were struck by both USAAF and USN 2E bombers (B-25s, PV-1s and PV-2s). In reality IJ kept significant air and ground forces in the Kuriles because of the perceived threat from the Aleutians. Kind of nice that the IJ only has to worry about 4Es from that quarter.

As to the original post the weather in the Aleutians was and is horrendous. The ground is permanently frozen down to 6+ feet. Relatively warm temps in the summer might thaw the ground to 3 feet or so below ground level but then that thawed part of the ground tends to slide around on top of the permanently frozen ground underneath (the melted ice can't penetrate the permafrost so it just lubricates the dirt). Makes for moveable runways - not particularly favored by most pilots (the sane ones).

[wdolson]

That is an issue I've had with the game engine. The B-25s and PV-1/2s flying from Attu had extra fuel tanks installed and flew with a fairly limited bomb load. By 1945 US aircraft also had 140 octane fuel available and with the engines tuned properly they could get extra performance out of their aircraft using the higher octane fuel. Something the game engine can't support, and I'm sure the JFBs would scream murder if it did.

My father said that between the extra fuel and the extra radio equipment installed the B-25s they flew out of Attu were very heavy compared to B-25s flying in other theaters.

Bill

[Lokasenna]

ORIGINAL: wdolson

That is an issue I've had with the game engine. The B-25s and PV-1/2s flying from Attu had extra fuel tanks installed and flew with a fairly limited bomb load. By 1945 US aircraft also had 140 octane fuel available and with the engines tuned properly they could get extra performance out of their aircraft using the higher octane fuel. Something the game engine can't support, and I'm sure the JFBs would scream murder if it did.

My father said that between the extra fuel and the extra radio equipment installed the B-25s they flew out of Attu were very heavy compared to B-25s flying in other theaters.

Bill

That's probably something that could be addressed with "ghost" upgrades in a mod later in the war, but it gets tricky as planes are actual devices and it would in effect be adding to the absolute total of aircraft that the Allies get already.

[Barb]

Actually B-25s in the Pacific mostly carried a fuel tank in their rear bomb bay cutting bomb capacity by half, but increasing operational radius considerably (A 215-gallon self-sealing fuel tank could be installed in the bomb bay, and provisions for a droppable 335-gallon metal bomb-bay fuel tank were made on every second airplane in addition to internal max.974 US gallons).

In SWPAC the usual bomb load for strafer modifications on ship/barge hunt was just 4x500lbs = 2000lbs - enough to get a solid spread for skip/masthead attack - 2 bombs on smaller and less protected target or 4 bombs on a higher priority or more protected target. The rest of the bomb capacity was taken by bomb bay tank.

I suppose that some later war B-25 strafers and navy versions should have had the drop tank option. Venturas had option for two 155 gallon drop tanks and Harpoons could carry two 165 gallon drop tanks... This would enable them to fly from Aleutians to Kuriles - at increased supply cost and reduced bomb load in game.

[JeffroK]

Can you make a drop tank device with increased effect, only available for use by the relevant aircraft and only available after a date where you decide the changes should take place.

[oaltinyay]

Any creative ideas how to make Aleuts. some sort of "Japanese" Port Royal/Nassau for allied powers in 43. I have several free base units and "some" supply to go around.

[spence]

Official USN Mission Reports for PV-1 bombings of Paramushiro/Shimuzu airfields/installations can be found at:

http://www.vpnavy.org/vp135_1940.html

The link has official reports by the plane commanders for multiple missions.

Of special note is that the payloads carried, altitudes and speeds used, as well as weather along the way are specified.