I have no time to make a model, nor photoshop skills, but maybe someone will be interested in an idea:
Avro PBA Privateer.
US Navy and US AAF were disappointed with B-17s` counter-ship achivements during Pacific campaigns - the role B-17 was considered as primary! - and, on the other hand, were impressed by the successes of torpedo attacks, especialy on Bismarck as well as the fate of HMSs Prince of Wales and Repulse. What the US forces lacked, was an long-range torpedo(s) equipped patrol aircraft. None of the American bombers was suited for this role, but Americans knew the possibilities of the British Avro Lancaster, that bomb bay could accept two torpedos and the radar could scan the water below. The deal for 60 Lancasters, named in US Navy service PBA Privateer, was done quickly, and the planes were equipped with American radios, .30-06 Brownings etc.
(As it was 1942, the name "Privateer" was not connected with "Liberator"`s variant yet, and was given to "Lancaster")
Baptism of fire was also quick and brutal - Privateers were sent to Nouvelle Caledonie, and harrased the Tokyo Express ships at Solomon Islands. They inflicted heavy losses on Japanese ships, as the long-range torpedo bombers were not expected by the Japanese crews. Some machines were lost, and new order for PBA-2 were put, with some modifications, such as .50 HMGs in turrets, modified radar and radioaltimeter, very useful during low-level attacks.
The last moment of glory for Privateers was na operation against IJN Yamato - along with carrier-borne planes, they sent the battleship as a class into the void.
I hope someone will be inspired and make a model, I will be very happy if You like the story
Was such an idea reckognized by Americans?
(I posted this in wrong place previously, I`m sorry).
Avro PBA Privateer.
US Navy and US AAF were disappointed with B-17s` counter-ship achivements during Pacific campaigns - the role B-17 was considered as primary! - and, on the other hand, were impressed by the successes of torpedo attacks, especialy on Bismarck as well as the fate of HMSs Prince of Wales and Repulse. What the US forces lacked, was an long-range torpedo(s) equipped patrol aircraft. None of the American bombers was suited for this role, but Americans knew the possibilities of the British Avro Lancaster, that bomb bay could accept two torpedos and the radar could scan the water below. The deal for 60 Lancasters, named in US Navy service PBA Privateer, was done quickly, and the planes were equipped with American radios, .30-06 Brownings etc.
(As it was 1942, the name "Privateer" was not connected with "Liberator"`s variant yet, and was given to "Lancaster")
Baptism of fire was also quick and brutal - Privateers were sent to Nouvelle Caledonie, and harrased the Tokyo Express ships at Solomon Islands. They inflicted heavy losses on Japanese ships, as the long-range torpedo bombers were not expected by the Japanese crews. Some machines were lost, and new order for PBA-2 were put, with some modifications, such as .50 HMGs in turrets, modified radar and radioaltimeter, very useful during low-level attacks.
The last moment of glory for Privateers was na operation against IJN Yamato - along with carrier-borne planes, they sent the battleship as a class into the void.
I hope someone will be inspired and make a model, I will be very happy if You like the story
Was such an idea reckognized by Americans?
(I posted this in wrong place previously, I`m sorry).
