MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
It seems that the rockets launched by tubes were very popular in the CBI, used on P-40, B-25, and A-36A.
They Used Rocket Tubes On the A-36A
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
A-36, note the MGs in the lower cowling.
The P-51A only had MGs in the wings.
The P-51A only had MGs in the wings.
Shortround6
Major General
The 4.5in rockets may not have been popular in areas with strong fighter and AA defenses.
The triple tubes had a fair amount of drag and weight varied, there were plastic tubes, Steel tubes and magnesium tubes. The tubes could be dropped but since even the plastic ones were supposed to used up to 5 times and manual describes cleaning procedures for each type of tube.
Target effect was close to 105 howitzer round or about 1/3 that of the British 3in 60lb warhead rocket so perhaps they didn't thing it as good for the performance penalty?
The triple tubes had a fair amount of drag and weight varied, there were plastic tubes, Steel tubes and magnesium tubes. The tubes could be dropped but since even the plastic ones were supposed to used up to 5 times and manual describes cleaning procedures for each type of tube.
Target effect was close to 105 howitzer round or about 1/3 that of the British 3in 60lb warhead rocket so perhaps they didn't thing it as good for the performance penalty?
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
I beleive they tried those rockets on a B-24, too.
Goofy setup, the tubes were mounted on either side of the fuselage (like gun-packs on a B-25).
Goofy setup, the tubes were mounted on either side of the fuselage (like gun-packs on a B-25).
AFAIK B-25 units did not use the "bazookas" neither in CBI nor in other theaters. There were experiments only:
B-25 and PBJ were armed with underwing (HVAR) rockets.
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Where ever the US went, they put up utility poles in established areas.
Snautzer01
Honourably banned
- 42,932
- Mar 26, 2007
Sure they did.
Rocket launcher on a B-24 Liberator
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ww2aircraft.net
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MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Those were not Bazookas, although the 8th AF did try attaching real Bazookas to the tail of some B-17's. The tube fired aircraft rockets were M-8's. The 5 Inch HVAR was developed for use by the USN and the first USAAF use of it, fired by P-47D's, in support of the Normandy operation, used 5 inch rockets borrowed from the USN. One author concluded that the HVAR must have not been very effective since they only used them for a short time, but that was because they ran out of them.
special ed
2nd Lieutenant
- 5,661
- May 13, 2018
In the 1970s, our senior CAP sq was treated with a B&W movie taken of the AVGs remaining P-40 Tomahawks using the rocket tubes, 3 per wing, strafing practice targets. Our guest was an AVG member and these were his movies. I have always wondered if the movies have survived.
Gosh, I hope so. Those are gold.
Mustangtmg
Airman
- 58
- Mar 8, 2014
Since the RAF in the MTO used six A-36As, and removed the nose guns, had this been one of them in this photo, from the same perspective, two other unique features of the A-36A stand out. Since you cannot see the serial number, nor the dive brakes, the two features particular to the A-36A Mustang were the wide lens in the left wing's landing/taxi lights (2 lights behind that lens) and the spear-like pitot probe protruding from the leading edge of the right wing (all other Mustangs had an"L-shaped" one protruding from the underside of the right wing).
