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I stand corrected. The important point is to realize is that in reality the P-38 did perform any more roles that a typical fighter such as an FW190, or for that matter, a P-51. Torpedo carrying and glider towing were interesting experiments, but that's all they were. The Drop-snoot was an evolutionary dead end.
I dont believe the P-38 was better suited than a 190 for attack roles. The 190 was just as fast, just as maneuverable, and could take a hell of a lot more beating and was easier to fly than the twin engined P-38. A novice pilot could make more out of the 190 than the average pilot out of a P-38.
I am not saying the P-38 was not a great aircraft. She was marvelous. The 190 however could do everything the P-38 could and was a single engined aircraft vs. twin.
Sure Stangs and 190s could perform attack roles, but the 51 could carry 2000lbs of ordnance and the 190F could only carry 2646lbs. That's a big difference. 190s had short range also. All this means is that the P-38 was better equipped for attack roles than the other mentioned A/C.
Again the ability to carry 2 x 2000 lb bombs was an academic exercise with no real practical value. The AAF felt that the 500lb GP bomb was effective against almost all targets and hence standardized on it. Over 80% of the bombs dropped by fighter bombers in the ETO were 500 lb GP, less than 10% were 1000 lb GP with the rest including fragmentation, rockets and napalm. The puny little P-51 could carry 2 -500 lb bombs farther than the mighty P-38. P-38 - 260 miles combat radius vs P-51 - 325 miles. (from American Fighter Bomber by William Wolf)
Good points, Chris - the 190 just couldn't lug a very heavy payload. She was an excellent ship too. Don't forget though, that 2 engines has some strong advantages over a single engine ship. The onvious one being that you lose one - you're still in business. Although, they were liquid cooled vs the 190s radial. I must admit I don't know a whole lot about attrition rates of 190s vs 38s in the ground attack role...
oh boy, no good can ever come from both of us being online at the same time
I propose that in trying to become a jack of all trades the mossie became a master of more than the P-38, opinions?
Actually the Fw-190G-3 could carry 3968lb of bombs. Thats just about as much as a P-38 could carry.
and you can't compare the payloads of a single engine against a twin engine, the payload of the P-38 is not something to write home about the P-38 was NOT a bomber (don't bother with the droop-snoots what's the point?) whereas the mosquito was a bomber and well proven in the role, bombing's about more than the mass you can carry, the cookie block buster is widely accepted to be one of the most successful bombs of the war which the P-38 couldn't carry let alone carry internally, what kind of bomber has can't take an internal payload? hence just one of the reasons the droop-snoots might as well be ignored, plus of course the useless strategy of everyone dropping the same time as the lead ship, if that's the case what's the point in being accurate?
I was trying to find references of this - it seems as though this was a special modification of certain G models to carry a single 1000kg, 1600kg, and 1800kg bombs. I couldn't find references of numbers of modified 190G's though.
mkloby said:Lanc, all I want is 1 post w/o touting the clear superiority of all things british!
There was only one 1800kg 3968lb bomb in German inventory and that bomb had to have its fins modified to fit under the Fw-190. However the Fw-190 could have up to 4 underwing hard points the 2 inner could carry 1000lb bombs and the two outer could carry 500lb bombs for 3000lb of bombs total.
Either way the Fw-190 could carry almost 4000lb of bombs.
That is impossible for Lanc.
Hey Chris do you have an internet link w/ good information on the 190G's... I can't seem to find any w/ detailed information... or is this coming from the home library?
I'm having a hard time trying to find range w/ particular bombloads for aircraft. Too bad I can't find the charts. I found one that stated 38 bombload of 3200 lbs w/ a range of 450 miles, while the 51 w/ a 2000lb load a range of 950 miles.