Are you sure you are thinking of the right plane? The Douglas TBD-1 Devestator, the only NAVY torpedo plane until the Grumman TBF-1 Avenger began arriving in limited numbers in mid 1942. Equipped ALL US Navy Torpedo Squadrons. No Marine unit used the Devestator. Are you thinking of the Vought SB2C-1 Vindicator? That was used heavily by Marines.
my bad. I meant the Vindicator. I always get those mixed up. I think one, but say (write) the other. In fact, I believe this is my second time in this thread alone.
I imagine there were alot of early war torpedo jockies who wish they could have traded the devestator for the avenger in 12/41.
Feinder,
the Bufflos are another good one to get rid of. Sea Gladiator is my first on the list, then Vindicator(got it right that time [;)]), and now Buffalo.
I actually use the Vindicator.... I must be wierd. I use it to equip some VMSBs, to free up SBD-3s for replacements. I usually only upgrade squadrons If they are going to the front (SOPAC or SWPAC in 1942). If you look at my West Coast squadrons, they are a motly collection of P-26s, P-36s, B-18s, and some SB2Cs.
That, and I very rarely change out my Dauntlesses for Helldivers. I just don't like the Helldiver that much.
Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med
Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
I actually use the Vindicator.... I must be wierd.
hmm . . . yeah, that may qualify as weird. Kidding. I do the same thing with the B17s vs Bolo, etc. The only reason the Vindicator would see the chop block is to free up that valuable carrier based slot. I'd actually prefer to have my cake and eat it to. Maybe move the Vindicator to a noncarrier slot?
Speaking of which, I have another idea concerning upgrade mods - have a marine line of fighters. Identical to the Navy's Buffalos, Wildcats, etc, except that these eventually upgrade on down the line to the Corsair. Just reduce the "Navy" replacement rate and start a separate one for the Marines using this amount. It's not like the allies are short of plane slots. Just an idea.
Actually, you don't have to. In the editor, you can tell the squadron to upgrade to the Corsair. So, what you would do is have it start out with the F4F-4 Wildcat, and in the upgrade slot (of the actual VMF) enter the number for the Corsair. So, while USN Wildcats upgrade to Hellcats, USMC Wildcats upgrade to Corsairs.
Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med
Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
several units that should eventually be equipped with corsairs start out with Buffalos & Wildcats. That's the prob I was shooting for. Not that it's that big of a deal.
If they start out with Wildcats, you are fine (just tell the squadron to updrage to Corsairs, it'll override the Wildcat wanting to upgrade to the Hellcat.
If it is a Buffalo.... then you might have a bit of a snafu.
Designer of War Plan Orange
Allied Naval OOBer of Admiral's Edition
Naval Team Lead for War in the Med
Author of Million-Dollar Barrage: American Field Artillery in the Great War coming soon from OU Press.
Thanks! this is neat. I had included the Rita as well, ...
Now if we can only convince one of the artsy guys to quit playing witp long enough to develop plane side and top art for the late war aircraft, for a late war scenario. This has a better chance of happening than trying to get Matrix / 2x3 to add more carrier capable slots to the database - IMO.[:)]
My e-troops don't unload OVER THE BEACH anymore, see:
Amphibious Assault at Kota Bharu
TF 85 troops securing a beachhead at Kota Bharu, 51,75
whew! I still feel better.
uh . . . sadly enough, this is the only one that I've actually tried my hand at drawing. I took the B-24, reversed it, took off the star and added a sun, then trimmed down the rear fuselage to make it look more jap-sleek and less u.s.blocky.
the end result?
it looks like a B24 that switched sides, then went on a diet. Not very pretty, and certainly not very original.
Since nobody put up the B-32 Data, here is some from the USAF Museum:
XB-32
Number Built/Converted 3
The XB-32 was initially known as "Terminator" while the B-32 was the "Dominator"
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 135 ft. 0 in.
Length: 83 ft. 0 in.
Height: 20 ft. 10 in. (32 ft. for 41-18336)
Weight: 101,662 lbs. (gross weight)
Armament: Fourteen .50-cal. machine guns, two 20mm cannon plus 20,000 lbs. of bombs (max.)
Engines: Four Wright R-3350-13 Cyclone radials of 2,200 hp. each (take-off power)
Crew: 12 (max. as designed)
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 376 mph. at 25,000 ft.
Cruising speed: approximately 250 mph.
Range: 4,450 miles w/ 2,000 lbs. bomb load
Service Ceiling: 30,700 ft.
B-32
Number Built/Converted 75
SPECIFICATIONS
Span: 135 ft. 0 in.
Length: 82 ft. 1 in.
Height: 32 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 100,000 lbs. (design gross weight)
Armament: Ten .50-cal. machine guns plus 20,000 lbs. of bombs (max.)
Engines: Four Wright R-3350-23 Cyclone radials of 2,200 hp. each (takeoff power)
Crew: 10
PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 357 mph. at 30,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 290 mph.
Range: 3,000 miles w/ 10,000 lbs. bomb load
Service Ceiling: 30,700 ft.
TB-32
Number Built/Converted 40
SPECIFICATIONS (B-32 data except for armament)
Span: 135 ft. 0 in.
Length: 82 ft. 1 in.
Height: 32 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 100,000 lbs. (design gross weight)
Armament: None
Engines: Four Wright R-3350-23 Cyclone radials of 2,200 hp. each (take-off power)
Crew: 10
PERFORMANCE (B-32 Data)
Maximum speed: 357 mph. at 30,000 ft.
Cruising speed: 290 mph.
Range: 3,000 miles w/ 10,000 lbs. bomb load
Service Ceiling: 30,700 ft.
