or accelerate the introduction of the B-36 or B35 (Woo Hoo!!)? Then the USAAF would have the stand off capability to launch attacks from Iceland, Greenland and Alaska where they would be immune from Soviet retaliation.
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or accelerate the introduction of the B-36 or B35 (Woo Hoo!!)? Then the USAAF would have the stand off capability to launch attacks from Iceland, Greenland and Alaska where they would be immune from Soviet retaliation.Don't forget, if this fantasy conflict continued just after V-E day, or maybe later after V-J day, most of our assembly lines would continue producing materials, including the B-32.
I'm not sure about Iran - I think the Soviets would have huge logistical difficulties there with Allied air superiority, but Baku can be bombed from Iraq as well. And even from Egypt, if I'm not mistaken.
French and British were planning to bomb from Damascus and Mosul in 1940Iran is a fine natural ground-defense line for the Soviets. High mountains hem in the Persian-Soviet border for the most part.
Baku is reachable from Teheran for bombers but it is not an ideal basing point for several reasons. Basra or Habbaniya would likely be better for the task, or perhaps even Crete?
Operation PikeFrench and British were planning to bomb from Damascus and Mosul in 1940
B-35 - this was to be produced by Martin. In 1944 there were all sorts of development and production delays. Production contract for first 100 was cancelled in May 1944 after it became clear the first deliveries would be in 1947. Dec 1944, USAAF decided XB-35 & YB-35 should be produced as test airframes only. XB-35 flew in June 1946 & June 1947. Most of the YB-35 were scrapped before flight. 3 converted as various jet powered YB-49 prototypes.or accelerate the introduction of the B-36 or B35 (Woo Hoo!!)? Then the USAAF would have the stand off capability to launch attacks from Iceland, Greenland and Alaska where they would be immune from Soviet retaliation.
I include Iran because it's another potential frontline with strategic targets for adversaries on both sides of the line. USSR would try to seize or destroy the petroleum industry in the south or at least push the Allies as far from the Caspian Sea as possible. Probably, there would be a race for Tehran at the start of hostilities since both armies were located outside of it, the Soviets in the north, the British - in the south and southwest.Iran is a fine natural ground-defense line for the Soviets. High mountains hem in the Persian-Soviet border for the most part.
Baku is reachable from Teheran for bombers but it is not an ideal basing point for several reasons. Basra or Habbaniya would likely be better for the task, or perhaps even Crete?
Like cancellation of the B-32 program and curtailing Consolidated's B-24 production? Consolidated wasn't the only B-24 producer. I'm familiar with the historical development of the B-35 and B-36, but this is a "What If" page. Earlier development and production of either the B-35 or B-36 would be a matter of different priorities. There were no major technical issues that couldn't be overcome preventing earlier development of the B-36. If political and military disagreement between the western allies and the Soviet Union had been much worse before the end of the war, the need for a heavy bomber that could strike deep into Soviet territory from "safe" allied bases may emerge as a top priority. Resources could have been shifted to accelerate the B-36 program to the point it could have been fielded several years earlier than it was.To get either of the aircraft into production much sooner requires some other sacrifice in WW2 as well as speeding up Post war development schedules for airframe, engines and defensive armament.
It might be a "what if" but it shows how far back you need to set the starting point and the extent of the changes you need to make to get your desired B-35 & B-36 in significant numbers in a 1945/46 timescale. Changes not only at Consolidated but at P&W who need to put a lot more effort into the R-4360 instead of the R-2800 for all those P-47, F6F, F4U, B-26 etc etc that fought in the second half of WW2.Like cancellation of the B-32 program and curtailing Consolidated's B-24 production? Consolidated wasn't the only B-24 producer. I'm familiar with the historical development of the B-35 and B-36, but this is a "What If" page. Earlier development and production of either the B-35 or B-36 would be a matter of different priorities. There were no major technical issues that couldn't be overcome preventing earlier development of the B-36. If political and military disagreement between the western allies and the Soviet Union had been much worse before the end of the war, the need for a heavy bomber that could strike deep into Soviet territory from "safe" allied bases may emerge as a top priority. Resources could have been shifted to accelerate the B-36 program to the point it could have been fielded several years earlier than it was.
I include Iran because it's another potential frontline with strategic targets for adversaries on both sides of the line. USSR would try to seize or destroy the petroleum industry in the south or at least push the Allies as far from the Caspian Sea as possible. Probably, there would be a race for Tehran at the start of hostilities since both armies were located outside of it, the Soviets in the north, the British - in the south and southwest.
The WAllies wouldn't have to interdict Lend-Lease convoys. All they would have to do would be to order them to turn around and go home. The escorts were mostly RN and USN so the Soviet Navy wouldn't be able to force them on to Soviet ports. The only interdicting would be against the unarmed Soviet freighters in the North Pacific.The Western Allies would also have to interdict the Lend-Lease convoys.
I think the air war would start with fighter bombers, light bombers ans medium bombers attacking tactical targets in Germany. The B-17, B-24s, Lancasters and Halifax's attacking strategic targets in Eastern Europe by day and night. As B-29s became available, they would do deep penetration raids against political and strategic targets in the European and Asian Soviet Union. Allied fighters would quickly own the airspace over the battlefields eliminating the ability of Soviet tac air to influence thec Soviet offensive into Germany and Western Europe.Answering Questions Directly
Tinian to Tokyo ís 1500 miles. Any distance less than that is workable. Berlin to Moscow is 1000 miles, B-29 bases in Germany would provide a measure of coverage of the USSR, however, as Germany would likely be where the majority of any conflict was, its unlikely to be used for strategic bombing resources. Northern Turkey would be an option as would northern Iran as both are about 1000 miles to Moscow. If we really want to be creative, bases in southern Finland would give the best coverage of the USSR by far.
As far as what bases? I believe the US had shown that it could and would build bases from scratch where they were needed.
Yes, P-47N and P-51D and H would be most likely. P-47N in particular was designed to escort the B-29 during the entire mission.
Probably, the Japanese were able to intercept B-29's at altitude with planes that struggled at altitude.
Western fighters such as the Spitfire, Mustang and P-47 performed quite well at altitude and held a distinct advantage over axis forces. VVS fighters lacked equal performance at altitude and would suffer in conflict.
No. Captured aircraft had a limited lifespan and were not superior to Allied air resources.
Le May took the raids against Japan to low altitude at night because the jet stream made high altitude accurate bombing futile and the Japanese night air defenses were essentially worthless. I doubt the Soviet defenses would be even as "good" as the Japanese ones.LeMay had the B-29s fly lower, at night, so more bombs could be carried. At those lower altitudes, could carry 10,000 pounds, 1840 nautical miles. Targets shorter than that, more bombs could be carried.
Cruising at 20,000 feet before climbing to over 30,000ft like the Atomic missions, had 1600 nautical mile range.
You don't want to drop a 15kt atomic bomb from 20,000 feet, not enough time to clear the target area.
From 34,000 feet Enola Gay had 44 seconds from release to detonation to get as far away as possible. It was bomb release, and then hard turn. IIRC had a nine mile slant range, and the aircraft still experienced severe buffeting
The WAllies wouldn't have to interdict Lend-Lease convoys. All they would have to do would be to order them to turn around and go home. The escorts were mostly RN and USN so the Soviet Navy wouldn't be able to force them on to Soviet ports. The only interdicting would be against the unarmed Soviet freighters in the North Pacific.
Maybe.Psst -- I think Rob was joking.
FWIW the US had 25,000 - 30,000 troops in Iran from late-1943 through early-45. The core of the logistics, engineering, and railroad units, were specialized troops, but the majority of the troops were non-specialized troops drawn from infantry and motor transport units.Probably, there would be a race for Tehran at the start of hostilities since both armies were located outside of it, the Soviets in the north, the British - in the south and southwest.