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Historical German Government was terribly worried about Anglo-American invasion of Italy. They would be far more worried about a 1943 invasion of France. You can count on Kursk offensive being cancelled. Cream of the Heer and Luftwaffe would be in France instead.
Hmm - Spitfire VIIIs and P-38s to escort the bombers to the Ruhr?
Also: with cream of the LW and Heer rushed West instead of East - who is there to defend against the Red Tide?
And didn't the P-38 get slaughtered as an escort?
Plus wouldn't bombing in Germany be called off to make sure all bombers and fighters are available to support the invasion?
Why wasn't it used as an escort historically then? Also 350 miles is in a straight line without leaving room for combat fuel.Even without Torch, the Germans will suffer a good deal of losses in N.Africa (as will the British, of course), both in ground assets as well as in aircraft. They have the option to send less forces there thsn historically (it makes things worse in Tunisia), or try to send morem as much as their questionable logistics allow, in hope of reversal.
The situation for the 6th Army is set in stone, unless the Soviets don't make some big mistakes in the winter of 1942/43.
The Spitfire VIII have had a radius of 350+ miles; range with 90 gal drop tank was almost 1200 miles, with internal fuel used for warm-up, taxying, tanke off and climb to 20000 ft (distance covered is not in that range 24.5 IMP gals used for that). Eg. 300 miles is from East Anglia to Cologne.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning#European_theater
I don't think the Allies had the numbers for that in mid-1943. Plus historically in 1944 when they had a lot more aircraft in Britain and less opposition in France due to LW losses in the Mediterranean and commitments in Italy plus early 1944 losses they called off major bombing of Germany to focus on the Transport Plan and bombing of the V-1 sites. The Transport Plan included a lot of bombing by heavy strategic bombers of France.No, around the clock bombing keeps LW (both fighters and Flak) being spread thin. Let's recall that Anglo-Americans will be deploying better part of the two air forces, vs. less than half of Luftwaffe, even with changes you suggested. Invasion will be supported by tactical air, indeed switching early to the 'Transport plan' would really harm the Germans most.
Why wasn't it used as an escort historically then? Also 350 miles is in a straight line without leaving room for combat fuel.
Assuming the German don't reinforce in Africa because of the threat of a 1943 invasion and allow that to play out the losses won't really matter, because whatever is there gets hurt and survivors that evacuate don't really have to worry about a British invasion. So the Afrika Korps and whatever Italians get out spend 1943 rebuilding in Sicily, while Luftflotte 2 without the late 1942 reinforcements is hurt, but still a force capable of defense in Sicily.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning#European_theater
It was a decent fighter-bomber, but in fighter combat it didn't seem particularly distinguished compared to the P-47 or -51.
I don't think the Allies had the numbers for that in mid-1943. Plus historically in 1944 when they had a lot more aircraft in Britain and less opposition in France due to LW losses in the Mediterranean and commitments in Italy plus early 1944 losses they called off major bombing of Germany to focus on the Transport Plan and bombing of the V-1 sites. The Transport Plan included a lot of bombing by heavy strategic bombers of France.
The A-36 was a P-51 with an Allison engine. So why would the Spit 8 be used to escort USAAF bombers in this scenario if they weren't historically?See it for your self and draw conclusions: http://www.spitfireperformance.com/spitfirehfviii-ads.jpg.
The Spit VIII was not the USAF aircraft, bar token number, the heavies were to look after them per current doctrine. The USAF even used A-36s to escort the B-25s in the MTO, such was the disparity with what was needed and what was available.
Not sure what you mean. 8th army vs. Italians and Germans in Africa being chased back to Tripoli and whatever is left of the Axis forces is evacuated to Sicily in early 1943. Then because transports are needed for France 8th army occupied Italian Libya and that front shuts down. Not sure what the air units were pre-late 1942 reinforcement by the Torch forces and Luftwaffe reinforcements.Well, unless you toss in some numbers that will compare the 'land' opponents, anything said about this is wide from the mark.
Okay sure, but I'm not sure how well it would do.In the best part of 1943, it is the only long rage fighter available to the USAF, so they will be used for long range work from the day one.
The Transport Plan was a 1944 plan to bomb French RRs:The RAF already outnumbered the LW in 1941, toss in the USAF and RAF assets that don't go into Maghreb and situation is clear to me. Transport Plan was a major bombing of German war effort.
The Transportation Plan was a plan for strategic bombing during World War II against bridges, rail centres, including marshalling yards and repair shops in France with the goal of limiting the German military response to the invasion of France in June 1944.
Perhaps then does the extra airpower and no Mediterranean commitment mean that Stalingrad can be salvaged long enough to pull back 6th army or at least break the encirclement? Perhaps much of the extra German bombers get burned up in the effort against Uranus and Saturn?Historical Germany did seize Stalingrad for all practical purposes. Problem is holding it against Soviet Uranus counter attack.
Historically yes, but without the Tunisian/Sicily/Italy campaign much of that airpower is used in France instead. IIRC something like 900 Luftwaffe fighters were lost just in Tunisia. Some of that of course would be still lost in this scenario fighting alongside the Afrika Korps as it pulls back from Egypt all the way to Tripoli, but the majority of it was AFAIK sent into Tunisia rather than being their pre-Torch.There was only JG2 and JG26 in the West.
If you look at how Germany was being pulled in all directions, you see that the multiple fronts weakened Germany by drawing their resources too thin.Wouldn't it be more efficient for the Western Allies to invade from the East, via land, than mount a seaborne invasion like Overlord?
The A-36 was a P-51 with an Allison engine. So why would the Spit 8 be used to escort USAAF bombers in this scenario if they weren't historically?
Not sure what you mean. 8th army vs. Italians and Germans in Africa being chased back to Tripoli and whatever is left of the Axis forces is evacuated to Sicily in early 1943. Then because transports are needed for France 8th army occupied Italian Libya and that front shuts down. Not sure what the air units were pre-late 1942 reinforcement by the Torch forces and Luftwaffe reinforcements.
The Transport Plan was a 1944 plan to bomb French RRs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_Plan
What were RAF numbers in Britain in 1943? And what was used in Tunisia by the Allies?