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Uh, you do know the history of the 109 don't you ?Drop tanks shouldn't be necessary for anything but extreme long range work, and should not be necessary for short flights from the French coast to Britain and back.
To that point, the Germans are better off designing a single engine, single seat fighter with sufficient internal fuel. The P-51B carried 696 L (184 US Gallons) of internal fuel. The Bf 109E carried only 333 L (88 US Gallons) internally for a paltry cruise range of 700 km (435 miles). Considering the Nazi plan was always to fight across the vast spaces of the Russian steppe why did they make their primary fighter so short legged as to be unable to conduct simple internal flights from, for example the primary Bf 109 factory in Augsburg to Königsberg on the Polish border?
The Bf 109E and P-51B had similar engine power and performance. The Bf 109 should have been made with twice its internal fuel plus provisions for drop tanks, allowing the fighter to escort and fight over Moscow, let along Coventry.
Granted the Bf109's combat radius was short-legged (275-350 miles) but it's ferry range was over 700 miles on internal fuel, about 1,200 miles with a drop-tank.Drop tanks shouldn't be necessary for anything but extreme long range work, and should not be necessary for short flights from the French coast to Britain and back.
To that point, the Germans are better off designing a single engine, single seat fighter with sufficient internal fuel. The P-51B carried 696 L (184 US Gallons) of internal fuel. The Bf 109E carried only 333 L (88 US Gallons) internally for a paltry cruise range of 700 km (435 miles). Considering the Nazi plan was always to fight across the vast spaces of the Russian steppe why did they make their primary fighter so short legged as to be unable to conduct simple internal flights from, for example the primary Bf 109 factory in Augsburg to Königsberg on the Polish border?
The Bf 109E and P-51B had similar engine power and performance. The Bf 109 should have been made with twice its internal fuel plus provisions for drop tanks, allowing the fighter to escort and fight over Moscow, let along Coventry.
Aside from the German Military doctrine that aircraft were to support ground forces from forward airfields, the C-amt, like many other similar organizations around the world, saw single engine fighters filling a defensive role while twin engine fighters were viewed as necessary for offense capabilities. Except for discussing the USSR as a possible future enemy AH kept any personal ideas on an invasion of the USSR, in the short term, under wraps. With the cordial relations that existed between Germany and the USSR during the twenties and continued through the thirties culminating in the Non-Aggression Pact and with the exception of the Bf-110, no thought was given by the C-amt for aircraft designed to cover long distances.Considering the Nazi plan was always to fight across the vast spaces of the Russian steppe why did they make their primary fighter so short legged as to be unable to conduct simple internal flights from, for example the primary Bf 109 factory in Augsburg to Königsberg on the Polish border?
Considering that most Soviet single engined fighters suffered from very short endurance, this is a fair point.Aside from the German Military doctrine that aircraft were to support ground forces from forward airfields, the C-amt, like many other similar organizations around the world, saw single engine fighters filling a defensive role
That racist nonsense was the main attraction of the nazis and comparable movements in many of Germany's allies. The antisemitism, in particular, did not start with the nazis; it started during WW1 by jingoistic elements within the German government. Indeed, that racist nonsense was key to the nazis rise to power. In other words, no racist nonsense, no nazi rise to power, and no WW2.My ideas if I ruled the 3rd R?
Ditch the racist nonsense that deprived Germany of some of its best scientists (& gave them to the allies).
Well yes Swampy, I do know, but then we are in the land of the 'what if...?' are we not? ;¬)That racist nonsense was the main attraction of the nazis and comparable movements in many of Germany's allies. The antisemitism, in particular, did not start with the nazis; it started during WW1 by jingoistic elements within the German government. Indeed, that racist nonsense was key to the nazis rise to power. In other words, no racist nonsense, no nazi rise to power, and no WW2.
(BF) 109 E - BoB - had no provision for drop tanks. The plane was relettered in 1942(?) ish as the Me 109 in keeping the the LW new practice of Identifying planes by the mfg.Drop tanks on the Me109 before BoB
I was thinking we were in the realm of "what-if" with the constraint that the nazis still ruled Germany. Anti-bolshevism and antisemitism were very tightly linked in the German right, as they were (and are) with many current right-wing ideologies[1]; given the antipathy of the German armed forces and police to anything other than extreme right movements, I doubt if any political organization which wasn't far right could not form a viable government (the Weimar Republic lasted for only about a decade and could not rely on its police or security services to deal with right-wing violence).Well yes Swampy, I do know, but then we are in the land of the 'what if...?' are we not? ;¬)
Similar as with other threads - improve the Luftwaffe capabilities and achievements in the specified time period, using technology of the day (no jets, fancy rockets or revolver guns). Thinkering starts in early 1936, 1st results of changes should be seen by 1939 at least, while most of benefits materializing in 1940-41. WW2 campaigns start more or less as historically.
Note that anti-aircraft forces are also mostly under Luftwaffe, especially heavy guns, sound detectors and searchlights.
(BF) 109 E - BoB - had no provision for drop tanks. The plane was relettered in 1942(?) ish as the Me 109 in keeping the the LW new practice of Identifying planes by the mfg.
I was thinking we were in the realm of "what-if"....etc
I understand swampy, I'm just giving my opinion as to what might - might - have led to a possibly 'better' outcome for Germany (& possibly a cold-war with at least some of the territorial gains held), it's just hard to see any of it under the crazy system they had, so, in my mind, that has to go (& ultimately as I said I still think the balance of probabilities is that they end up losing anyway).
But, aside from that, any comments on the alternatives I proposed?
For instance, the swapping the historic Me110 for an early DB601 Pfiel (to later grow into the historic DB603 model) is one I've pondered for a while, I can't see any technical reasons why not (& Dornier were well experience in the pull-push method) & the historic Do335 shows the potential of such an aircraft.
two different aircraft.For instance, the swapping the historic Me110 for an early DB601 Pfiel (to later grow into the historic DB603 model) is one I've pondered for a while, I can't see any technical reasons why not (& Dornier were well experience in the pull-push method) & the historic Do335 shows the potential of such an aircraft.
When I worked at <name redacted>, rumor was that the marketing department was nonplussed when the DoD sent a woman in charge of a purchasing group. The marketeers couldn't figure out a replacement for the women of negotiable virtue that were "accidentally" meeting the government employees....Bribery is totally unacceptable in military procurement.
Never happens. But if I got free hotels and drinks and meals and all expensive paid trips then that's not bribes. Just business.