'Next gen' German bombers with hindsight?

[Macandy]

B-47!

 

[K5083]

Germany was if not destroyed, seriously inconvenienced, by bombers without 2000hp engines. Only B-26 and Manchester had them, IIRC. If Germany wants a new bomber, it could do worse than emulating Lancaster and Mosquito. But the Luftwaffe is a tactical air force and the investment required to go strategic requires the effort of the whole nation. Bomber Command is claimed to have cost one third of the UK's GDP. Can't see Germany managing that without reducing production of tanks and U-boats.

For anyone here who wants coupled engines or fuselage mountings, or both, it's difficult. Put the engines in the wings. Use engines that already work. Use fuselage real estate for bombs and maybe turrets.

But most importantly, what's the mission? Not of the individual bomber but of the bombing force. If you wanna fight a war on three fronts against bigger opponents, there may be no affordable solution.

 

[don4331]

Easier to do than modify the engine for opposite rotation, as was done with the Merlins on the DH Hornet.

Apologies if, I'm just confused by the wording:

But crankshafts in both Merlins in the DH Hornet rotated same direction. One engine has a 2 gear reduction gearbox, the other has a 3 gear, so propellers rotate in opposite directions.

P-38 Allison's crankshafts rotate in opposite directions thanks to some nifty arrangements. That allows both engines to use same 2 gear reduction gear box, sp propellers rotate in opposite directions.

 

[wuzak]

Apologies if, I'm just confused by the wording:

But crankshafts in both Merlins in the DH Hornet rotated same direction. One engine has a 2 gear reduction gearbox, the other has a 3 gear, so propellers rotate in opposite directions.

P-38 Allison's crankshafts rotate in opposite directions thanks to some nifty arrangements. That allows both engines to use same 2 gear reduction gear box, sp propellers rotate in opposite directions.

The V-1710 used an additional gear in the accessory drive train, which also drove the supercharger. Some parts, like the camshafts, IIRC, had to be swapped around.

The Merlin crankcase and reduction gear case had to be different to allow for the extra idler gear in the reduction gearing.

 

[Civettone]

I have to agree with what has been said about the Ju 288 B. I don't think a better bomber could be designed. For obvious reasons - see avatar - I don't think Milch was the culprit in delaying the project but maybe the RLM could have managed the project somewhat better. The design requirements should have been frozen, except for anything which was required to solve the ignition issues, to get the engine in production as soon as possible. 2000 hp is still a great output for 1941/1942.

I would stop the Ju 88 production as soon as possible. IMHO a jack of all trades, a master of none. Especially as a strategic bomber it was simply too light and too vulnerable. As a tactical bomber I would look into the Dornier P.59 push-pull project which would have led to a very fast bomber that could operate without bomber escort.

 

[Acheron]

Earlier more Do-217s?