kitplane01
Airman 1st Class
- 135
- Apr 23, 2020
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Anti-ship ... If the Ar 234 could lift a Fritz-X, and the single pilot could both fly his own plane and remote control the missile, that would be very potent. Sounds difficult, but you get to pick the very best pilots for this mission.
Low level raiders ... Fly at treetop level, unexpecdidly hit a pinpoint target, and run. Good way to attack an individual ship or factory or port. But is an Ar 234 faster than a Spitfire at treetop level?
Doesn't matter what the Spitfire can do. Jets, especially early jets, had miserable range at low altitude.
For example the US P-80A with 470 gallons (no drop tanks) was good for about 500 miles range at 10,000ft in max range condition/power settings. 625 miles at 20,000ft and 800 miles at 30,000ft. The flight manual doesn't give ranges at lower altitudes.
My attempt at an answer ...
Recon is a very obvious use. The allies have no intercepter that can catch a single bomber. Using a city-full of flak to shoot one bomber is not cost efficient and unlikely to work anyway.
Point bombing ... anyone know how accurate a bomber from 30,000 ft and 500 mph can be. The pilot is also the bombardier. This seems unlikely.
Area bombing ... The Ar 234 has a very small payload so it will take many attacks to have a large effect. If the Allies cannot shoot you down, you can repeat over and over. A few hundred Ar 234s hitting London every night will eventually be noticed.
Annoyance bombing ... Have a few raiders over London every night. Keep the city in the bomb shelters with the light off .. every night. Also Manchester, because I've been to Manchester.
Anti-ship ... If the Ar 234 could lift a Fritz-X, and the single pilot could both fly his own plane and remote control the missile, that would be very potent. Sounds difficult, but you get to pick the very best pilots for this mission.
Low level raiders ... Fly at treetop level, unexpecdidly hit a pinpoint target, and run. Good way to attack an individual ship or factory or port. But is an Ar 234 faster than a Spitfire at treetop level?
There was no difference in airframe, just in equipment needed or not for the mission task.The focus on producing the A2-a meant fewer A1-a Airframes built, regardless of engines on hand.
But Ar 234 should slow down in order to steer the missile and due to the sensitivity of the engines, the deceleration should begin early enough. So in the most important period of the mission, Ar 234 is as vulnerable as piston engine Fritz-X carrier, isn't it.5 The 2 seat versions of the Ar 234 could have carried the Fritz-X, this was planed, I have drawing in a Eddie J Creek book, giving it a deadly accurate weapon in an aircraft almost immune from inteception.
But Ar 234 should slow down in order to steer the missile and due to the sensitivity of the engines, the deceleration should begin early enough. So in the most important period of the mission, Ar 234 is as vulnerable as piston engine Fritz-X carrier, isn't it.
Recon would probably be far more important than the ordnance it could deliver.Just to add to the list of Koopernic.
10. Strategic reconnaissance at the Eastern Front. Subject LW can find a suitable replacement for Theodor Rowehl to manage. Such reconnaissance could assist in planning against Red Army's offenses in 1944.
11. Operation Eisenhammer in 1944. Until July-October, most of the original targets (except Gorky) were in the range of Ar 234 with at least one SC 500. Probably daylight raids would be possible.
Probably.Recon would probably be far more important than the ordnance it could deliver.