Best anti-shipping aircraft?

[Erich]

a question was raised about the Fw 200's service record..... KG 40. any one of our English friends have access to the records at PRO~KEW ? therein may lie some interesting materials. I'll try to hunt down some info from Freiburg soon

 

[Gnomey]

Hangs head in shame and hits himself for being immensely unobservant doh!

 

[trackend]

This is another version of the Swordfish giving it an
even better ability at detecting enemy vessels.

 

[Glider]

Sm79. I think my records are close to your second posting.
The first claimed that he sank two cruisers, the second that two cruisers were damaged which matches. I don't think any cruiser was sunk only by Italian aircraft torpedo attack.
I don't think the RN lost five merchant carriers in the entire war. As for the Orion I don't believe that she was hit by a torpedo. If she had benn she would have had to have been sent to drydock for repairs. That sor tof damage is impossible to hide.
Sorry but we have to agree to disagree on this

 

[syscom3]

One other qualification falling under "anti-shipping" was the performance for hunting and sinking the small luggers and motorized barges that hug the coast.

In the SW pacific, the B25, the P39 and the Beaufighter performed well doing this.

One of the reasons the Japanese collapsed in this area was they simply could not keep their garrisons supplied. Just imagine having a freighter offshore loaded with supplies, and no barges available to take off the cargo.

 

[lesofprimus]

Straight up, the best anti-shipping aircraft were the B 25 and the Beaufighter, with the Mossie and the Fw 200 close seconds....

 

[Erich]

does this still work....Beaus beating up some German late war shipping in the north

 

[Erich]

I do believe I have asked this before, is that a Beu or Mossie in the upper right of the pic ?

 

[lesofprimus]

Beau...

 

[evangilder]

Yep, looks like a Beau to me also. Great pic, BTW!

 

[Nonskimmer]

It is a great pic. Beau for me too.

 

[lesofprimus]

Heres some pics I have... Got some from the Picture Album I think...

 

[Nonskimmer]

Great action shots!

 

[lesofprimus]

Thanks to the brave bastards that took em........

 

[KraziKanuK]

Erich,

it is easy to tell a Beau from a Mossie, as in the pic.

Beau - low wing mounting; Mossie - mid wing
Beau - sqd codes above wing; Mossie - behind wing
Beau - fat fuselage; Mossie - thinner fuselage

 

[Nonskimmer]

Beau - radial Hercules engines
Mossie - inline Merlin engines

 

[KraziKanuK]

Beau - radial Hercules engines
Mossie - inline Merlin engines

Beaufighter Mk IIs and Mk Vs had Merlins.

There is more points for IDing the 2 such as the stab position, engine position on wing (Mossie below) and fin/rudder shape but was giving for Erich's pic.

 

[Nonskimmer]

Yeah, I knew about the Mk.II's and V's, it was more of a joke. I do that from time to time. Annoys the hell outta my wife.

 

[evangilder]

Great shots, Les! That looks like some serious pucker factor action.

 

[lesofprimus]

See how low those Bettys are flying????