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'Coupled' engines did prove problematic (think Rolls Royce Vulture, and others) but were tried as a seemingly easy way of getting more power.
The Vulture wasn't a coupled engine.
Not in engineering terms, but it was still essentially two Peregrines bolted together, admittedly driving a common crankshaft. It still represents a version of the same short cut to achieving more power.
Cheers
Steve
Not in engineering terms, but it was still essentially two Peregrines bolted together, admittedly driving a common crankshaft. It still represents a version of the same short cut to achieving more power.
Cheers
Steve
Like adding rows to radials?
True, we will never know. On the subject of the FW190 doing the same job, I doubt if it could have done any better. As it was, the Me262 flew as escort in the Flak suppression role, and did provide a modicum of protection for the Ar234 which had to hold straight and level for a bit to achieve any kind of bombing accuracy. It was in these few minutes it became vulnerable to interception or AA fire. At one point a flight of P38's were used to counter the jets, but failed to achieve anything, even killing their own pilots in a mid air collision. As it was, even the fastest allied fighter would be hard pressed to keep pace with the Ar234 once it had dropped its load and was heading home. Some allied piston driven fighters downed several, but usually by diving from a superior altitude, which was the norm anyway. There is a really good narrative from the American perspective in Smith and Creeks 4 volume series on the Me 262, describing the jet bomber attacks on Remagen if you get a chance to read it. Considering the ammount of AA firepower and over whelming allied air superiority, no conventional Luftwaffe aircraft would have stood a chance. Same old story, too little, too late.......Fw 190s could carry out the same nuisance raids, they might have had a better chance of actually hitting the bridge!
The Ar 234 undoubtedly had potential, but so did a lot of late war RLM projects. I don't think the type is under rated, I just don't think that it is really rateable due to its late arrival and limited use. Less than twenty of the one hundred and forty eight so far delivered were in service (12 as bombers) at the end of 1944. We'll never know how the allies would have reacted to its introduction in numbers.
Cheers
Steve
Where? When?. At one point a flight of P38's were used to counter the jets, but failed to achieve anything, even killing their own pilots in a mid air collision
I'm curious...which missions included Me262s as escorts for the Ar234?True, we will never know. On the subject of the FW190 doing the same job, I doubt if it could have done any better. As it was, the Me262 flew as escort in the Flak suppression role, and did provide a modicum of protection for the Ar234 which had to hold straight and level for a bit to achieve any kind of bombing accuracy. It was in these few minutes it became vulnerable to interception or AA fire. At one point a flight of P38's were used to counter the jets, but failed to achieve anything, even killing their own pilots in a mid air collision. As it was, even the fastest allied fighter would be hard pressed to keep pace with the Ar234 once it had dropped its load and was heading home. Some allied piston driven fighters downed several, but usually by diving from a superior altitude, which was the norm anyway. There is a really good narrative from the American perspective in Smith and Creeks 4 volume series on the Me 262, describing the jet bomber attacks on Remagen if you get a chance to read it. Considering the ammount of AA firepower and over whelming allied air superiority, no conventional Luftwaffe aircraft would have stood a chance. Same old story, too little, too late.......