Shortround6
Major General
I simply dont get this argument that it was somehow not possible to design a high speed bomber using the technology of the "mid 30s"....I guess it depends on what is the "mid 30s", but if it includes 1938, then history shows that it definately was possible to design a high speed bomber with the technology available at that time. So its not a case of "historically posible", its a case of "historical fact". Both the germans with their Ju88, and the brits (more successfully IMO but a little later in development) with their Mosquito concepts were doing just that very thing....designing and dveloping a fast bomber using the technology developed in the immeditely preceding mid thirties technology.
This is an extract from the ubiquitous wiki that pretty succinctly describes what was happening in the dehavvilland world in the early 30's and onward.........
Part of the problem is the exact timing. Perhaps the British could have developed a high speed medium/heavy bomber counterpart to the Mosquito. However, from Wiki......
"The first operational sortie by a Mosquito was made by a PR Mk I on 17 September 1941 (the Bomber Mk IV entered service in May 1942 with No. 105 Squadron)"
Avro Manchester " Avro however persisted with the Vulture and the Manchester went into production, entering service with No. 207 Squadron of RAF Bomber Command in November 1940, flying its first operational mission on 24–25 February 1941 in a raid on the French port of Brest
The Short Stirling was in production in the summer of 1940 but a German air raid on the factory not only destroyed 6 airframes but set production back months.
The Halifax " The maiden flight of the Halifax took place on 24 September 1939 from RAF Bicester, just 21 days after the UK declared war on Germany."
"The Halifax entered service with No. 35 Squadron RAF at RAF Linton-on-Ouse in November 1940 and its first operational raid was against Le Havre on the night of 11–12 March 1941"
Now it is rather obvious that had the RAF gotten the stick out and tried to get the Mosquito going as a bomber it's first bomber operation could have been a lot closer to Sept of 1941 than May of 1942 but it is still 6 months to a year behind the British heavies. As one example of the "benefit" this gave the Mosquito, the Mosquito prototype flew with Merlin 21 engines instead of the Merlin X engines used in the Halifax. While the two engines have about the same 'nominal' hp for take off the Merlin 21, with it's "Hooker" supercharger had much better performance at altitude. The Mosquito was planed to have a 1000lb bomb load, it's demonstrated performance by the prototype lead to the every quick increase to 2000lbs and beyond.
Going from a 300mph bomber to a 360mph bomber requires about an 88% increase in engine power. Obviously streamlining helps but trying for a 4 engined fast bomber to show up at the same time as the regular British 4 engine planes may be pushing things a bit too far.