Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
The Blenheim IV was result of the coastal reconnaissance bomber requirement. The Defiant was required as a night fighter. As for better light bombers, what better than the Mosquito, Maryland, Baltimore, Boston and Vengeance. As for a Spitfire with more fuel inside, first you need the strengthened c wing, the Spitfire Vc doesn't go operational until Spring 1942, and development is one step at a time. In the Summer you get the IXc, in the Autumn the Seafire IIc, in the winter the rear fuselage tank.Do more photo recon/damage assessment earlier to figure out what was working/not working.
Beef up coastal command (even if it is just a few Blenheim squadrons, Germans weren't really operating in the mid Atlantic yet).
Build some Blenheim torpedo bombers ( a few dozen) to help tide over the Beaufort problem. Build more torpedoes.
Build a better Blenheim. Not a lot better, just a bit better.
Stick the bigger bottom tank in the Spitfire MK V, don't wait.
Stop issuing Defiants in the Spring of 1941 to operational squadrons.
With the benefit of hindsight, ship 500 Spitfires, 200 Beauforts and 100 Hampdens to Malaya in summer 1941.
If you say so. But by summer 1941 over 200 Spitfires are produced each month, let's use those for French ops instead of your hodgepodge. We'll still have enough for Malaya.Yep, the "Lean forward into France" campaign would have gone so much better using Buffaloes, Mohawks and well used Hurricanes against Bf 109Fs
First, the Russians don't have the Germans beat during the lean into France ops, only after the ops do the Russians have the Germans stalled. Second, I'm not convinced the Spitfire Vb was completely suitable for overseas service until the Vc arrived in Spring 1942. It was also somewhat lacking in range.If you say so. But by summer 1941 over 200 Spitfires are produced each month, let's use those for French ops instead of your hodgepodge. We'll still have enough for Malaya.
View attachment 568356
Spitfire production charts
But we don't need to lean into France. It's a waste of aircraft, men and attention. The Russians have the Germans beat. Let's go after the Italians and the Japanese.
No, the Americans need to undertake a Gulf of Tonkin type incident to justify invasion of FIC.With the benefit of hindsight, ship 500 Spitfires, 200 Beauforts and 100 Hampdens to Malaya in summer 1941.
EDIT. First, end of BoB, ship 100 Bombay and Harrow transports... for a parachute drop in support of RN ops to take FIC before the Japanese arrive in Sept 1940.
The Spitfire Vb lacks range and structural strength compared with a Hurricane II, so ship them instead, but 6 gun versions with 45 IG drop tanks for extra range.If you say so. But by summer 1941 over 200 Spitfires are produced each month, let's use those for French ops instead of your hodgepodge. We'll still have enough for Malaya.
View attachment 568356
Spitfire production charts
But we don't need to lean into France. It's a waste of aircraft, men and attention. The Russians have the Germans beat. Let's go after the Italians and the Japanese.
The Spitfire Vb lacks range and structural strength compared with a Hurricane II, so ship them instead, but 6 gun versions with 45 IG drop tanks for extra range.
Hurricane with drop tanks has 185 IG for combat, Spitfire Vb only 129 IG.Who proved that Hurricane II had better range than Spitfire Vb?
Hurricane with drop tanks has 185 IG for combat, Spitfire Vb only 129 IG.
On the Spitfire Vb in 1941, the 90 IG tank is a ferry tank. Its only on the Vc / IXc in 1942 with explosive bolts that it becomes a drop tankNot if the Spitfire has a 90 gal tank.
On the Spitfire Vb in 1941, the 90 IG tank is a ferry tank. Its only on the Vc / IXc in 1942 with explosive bolts that it becomes a drop tank