1941-1943: the best 2-engined bomber in service

tomo pauk · Mar 23, 2021

Or, more precisely, between June 22th 1941 (Axis attack on Soviet Union) and Sept 3rd 1943 (capitulation of Italy). Only the in-service bombers of the specified era. Looking for the best mix of bomb load and accuracy, range, survivability, handling, engine-out abilities etc. If the bomber can be easily series produced is also a plus. Future capabilities don't factor here, just the current ones within the specified time.

SaparotRob · Mar 23, 2021

What the heck, I'll go with the B-25 again. I just can't think of the Mosquito as a bomber. I know I know.

pbehn · Mar 23, 2021

Ju-88 or Wellington, both were probably the best at their respective jobs at the start of the period, were still in service as bombers at the end of the period and found many other uses throughout the war before, after and during the specified period. Remarkable for two 1930s designs.

special ed · Mar 23, 2021

B-25 for me. 1930s design used by allies and three US services, into the mid 1950s here by USAF.

Vincenzo · Mar 23, 2021

This time i don't list the bomber that where in the timeline, just that were out
they came too late: A-26, PV-2, Ki-67, P1Y
without a check, i think there is no "modern" bomber that was out before of Barbarossa

tomo pauk · Mar 23, 2021

Vincenzo said:
This time i don't list the bomber that where in the timeline, just that were out
they came too late: A-26, PV-2, Ki-67, P1Y
without a check, i think there is no "modern" bomber that was out before of Barbarossa

Do-217 was available in this time frame.

pbehn · Mar 23, 2021

I must say, one of my choices wasn't very good, but in the time frame it was better than most and there in numbers. Perhaps its biggest contribution overall was in training and learning what was needed for what came later.

Thumpalumpacus · Mar 23, 2021

B-26. Difficult to fly in some regimes, I've read, but good payload and speed.

Vincenzo · Mar 23, 2021

tomo pauk said:
Do-217 was available in this time frame.

Sure it's available since April '42

Admiral Beez · Mar 23, 2021

tomo pauk said:
Or, more precisely, between June 22th 1941 (Axis attack on Soviet Union) and Sept 3rd 1943 (capitulation of Italy).

Why these dates? What aircraft are you intending to exclude? Clearly you have something specific In mind?

I like the Beaufighter. By 1942-43 the RAF has heavy four engined bombers, so heavy twin engine bombers are less necessary. But Beaufighter and Mosquito have big opportunities.

Vincenzo · Mar 23, 2021

Admiral Beez also counting all '41 and '43, there is not change of the bombers in the timeline, my data not cover variants but i don't think that tomo has a implicit excluding clause

Admiral Beez · Mar 23, 2021

Italian twins are rare, but I like the Fiat BR.20, one of the few European bombers to serve in the Japanese airforce.

Fiat BR.20 Cicogna - Wikipedia

SaparotRob · Mar 23, 2021

pbehn said:
Ju-88 or Wellington, both were probably the best at their respective jobs at the start of the period, were still in service as bombers at the end of the period and found many other uses throughout the war before, after and during the specified period. Remarkable for two 1930s designs.

Hit reply by accident. Again.

Shortround6 · Mar 23, 2021

Admiral Beez said:
so heavy twin engine bombers are less necessary. But Beaufighter and Mosquito have big opportunities

British were buying (or receiving lend-lease) hundreds if not several thousand medium bombers in 1942-43.
1575 Martin Baltimore's were built, most for the British.
The British did get hundreds of Lockheed Ventura's,
this did take some of the Pressure off the British Industry to make medium bombers.
The Beaufighter was a crappy bomber.

Low drag this was not. Adding a bomb under each wing was possible but then the drag goes up even more.
You also have no bomb aimer.

Admiral Beez · Mar 23, 2021

Shortround6 said:
The Beaufighter was a crappy bomber.

Depends on what ordnance you're carrying. Put a torpedo and maybe eight 3" RPs and you've got one of the best twin engine maritime strike bombers of the war. Or are torpedo bombers, TBs no longer bombers?

Shortround6 · Mar 23, 2021

Time shift. The rocket projectiles don't show up until late.

A lot depends on theater.
For example the US (cursed with the MK 13 torpedo) did rig some A-20s, B-25s and B-26s to carry the torpedo, just in case they got it to work
However they could also use the bombers for air field attack, shipping strikes, and even troop support and/or supply point bombing.
When you are operating planes at the end of a thousands of miles long supply chain versatility is a nice thing to have.
Over specialization is not so good.

The Beaufighter was a good night fighter in the early part of the war, it was a good long range, over water fighter, it was a good torpedo bomber/maritime strike aircraft. It got better in some roles (strike) with the addition of radar which the early strike versions did not have.

Medium bomber it was not.

B-25s and B-26s could carry large numbers of 100-250lb bombs, B-25 could carry six 500lb inside (or three 1000lbs bombs?) B-26 could carry eight 500lb or four 1000lb bombs and both planes could do it with a only a modest reduction in speed because the bombs were inside. The bombers gave more flexibility to suit bomb loads to intended targets. They were also better suited to carrying incendiaries.

muskeg13 · Mar 24, 2021

B-25 and Wellington tie, depending on day or night operation.

Vincenzo · Mar 24, 2021

There was one "modern" bomber that was out before of Barbarossa, the Fokker T.V, they are in just to 13th May '40, the german forces violently put it out of operations

Admiral Beez · Mar 24, 2021

Shortround6 said:
The Beaufighter was a good night fighter in the early part of the war, it was a good long range, over water fighter, it was a good torpedo bomber/maritime strike aircraft. Medium bomber it was not.

You're in the wrong thread. The question isn't which is the best medium bomber, but which is the best twin engined bomber. For example, I wouldn't call the Mosquito a medium bomber at all, but it was a very good strike platform.

Perhaps you're looking for this thread, Best medium bomber of WWII?

Vincenzo · Mar 24, 2021

imho the Beaufighter was not a bomber, so not qualify
the bomber was the Beaufort

1941-1943: the best 2-engined bomber in service

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