B-25 "Turret Tank" Drop Tanks

[MIflyer]

In the book "Savage Skies, Emerald Hell" an interesting mod to the B-25 is described. The pretty much useless belly turrets were removed and replaced with a "cube shaped" fuel tank that was designed to be jettisoned when empty. The tank had no armor or self-sealing features so once it was empty it needed to be disposed of. Also, for some reason the rear upper turret could not be rotated with the lower turret tank in place.

First mass use of the tanks was planned for 17 August 1943, with 5 squadrons B-25's from the 405th Bomb Group and 3rd Bomb Group escorted by P-38's staging a huge raid on the Japanese base at Dagua. Problem was, when it came time to jettison the new tanks, most would not fall out of the airplanes as planned. This was unacceptable and the mission was aborted, except for three B-25's that did successfully jettison the tanks and elected to continue.

The three bombers achieved complete surprise and attacked the Japanese base at low altitude, doing considerable damage and then engaged in a running battle with a dozen Oscar fighters and arrived safely at home base. This was followed in the subsequent months by numerous low altitude attacks by B-25's on Japanese bases.

 

[MiTasol]

Dagua is right on the coast and there are many photos of the B-25's attacking Dagua and the other strips like Wewak that were mere metres from the water.

 

[GrauGeist]

There were several instances were turrets were replaced by fuel tanks. The P-61 was one such instance, though they were not jettisonable.

 

[MIflyer]

There were several instances were turrets were replaced by fuel tanks.

That was first done on the Doolittle Raid, but I had not read that the approach was more widely used on the B-25.

 

[MIflyer]

Dagua is right on the coast and there are many photos of the B-25's attacking Dagua and the other strips like Wewak that were mere metres from the water.

Yes, it would appear that the low altitude attack became the norm for the B-25 in the Pacific.

And oddly enough, while side package guns were added to the later B-26, not the ones used in the Pacific, in Europe they seem to have made almost no use of them. I have only read of two cases where the B-26 package guns were used in the ETO.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Yes, it would appear that the low altitude attack became the norm for the B-25 in the Pacific.

And oddly enough, while side package guns were added to the later B-26, not the ones used in the Pacific, in Europe they seem to have made almost no use of them. I have only read of two cases where the B-26 package guns were used in the ETO.

Most Pacific based B-26 units did not get package guns. The exception was 70th BS, which began installing them in late 1942. They settled on one gun per side as two was too much stress on the airframe.

 

[fannum]

Apparently, the B-25s on the Doolittle Raid had their troublesome lower (belly) turrets removed and replaced with a 60-gallon auxiliary fuel tank to extend their range.
This specific modification, was one of several weight-saving and range-extending measures. In addition to the turret tank, the crews added a 225-gallon tank in the bomb bay and a 160 gallon collapsible tank in the crawlway above, expanding their total fuel capacity from 694 to 1,140 gallons.
In addition, when detected early, they stuffed Jerry cans aboard, filling accessible tanks as they emptied, and throwing them overboard, leaving a trail along the ocean surface.

 

[special ed]

As I remember reading it, the empty cans were carried inside empty so as not to leave a trail to the carrier.

 

[SaparotRob]

I would think that the crews would toss the empties en mass rather than leave a trail. I would also have thought they would have brought them back. If only for the deposit let alone supply issues.

 

[Greg Boeser]

I would think that the crews would toss the empties en mass rather than leave a trail. I would also have thought they would have brought them back. If only for the deposit let alone supply issues.

Probably couldn't be redeemed in China.
The original plan was after bombing Tokio, they were to fly on to join up with Chennault in China.

 

[fannum]

Re-read Ted Lawson's "30 Seconds over Tokyo."
He was a later plane, and referred to following a trail of Jerry cans, whether individually or in clumps.
I sure wouldn't carry explosive cans full of fumes into expected flak and fighters.

 

[GrauGeist]

As an aside, the empty weight of a WWII Era Jerry can was about 10 pounds.

The AN/M2 .50 MG weighed 62 pounds, which was about 6 empty gas cans.

Considering that they removed most of their MGs to save weight, they certainly were going to get rid of the empties as quickly as possible.

 

[MIflyer]

As I remember reading it, the empty cans were carried inside empty so as not to leave a trail to the carrier.

I recall reading that one of the B-25's nearly got hit by a jerry can discarded by one of those in front.

I'd guess they might pee in the empties and then toss them out over Japan.

 

[Micdrow]

Morning,

Check out these pages and threads for more info.

B-25 weapons thread Thread 143
B-25 weapons thread Thread 164

All the best

Paul