drgondog
Major
The biggest barrier to my acceptance of the utilization of the Mosquito as a primary replacement to B-17/24 and Lancaster in the prosecution of POINTBLANK and ARGUMENT is conceptualizing the 'how is it a.) a better bombardment vehicle, and b.) How best to capitalize on its presumed better efficiencies'? Recall that the Combined Bomber Offensive called for joint attacks from 8th and 15th and RAF on the same targets. Would the Mosquito force be composed for strategic target attacks by bombing day or night?
Low level surprise tactics deep into Germany during daylight seems to be a non-starter. Given precision navigation as a necessary assumption to find targets, what is the survivability probability of either individual aircraft or a force large enough to deliver crippling blows to such distant plants as Ball Bearing or aircraft engine factories in east Germany or Poland/Czechoslovakia.
What are the logistics and planning considerations to launch such forces? Other than range how would the Mosquito be significantly better than say a P-47 or P-38 carrying 2x1000 pounders? Given that speed was the only major survival attribute if in close presence to Bf 109s and Fw 190s, what tactics should be used to direct and focus enough Mosquitos to destroy a major target?
What about high level daylight strategic attacks to reduce AAA threat but remain exposed to radar intercept and warning? Mosquito bombsights were better than Norden/Sperry sights how? Was a serious study ever performed to assess Bomb CEP based on any bombsight equipped Mosquito for medium to high altitudes? Say in comparison to Lancaster or B-17/24? Or B-26, A-26 or B-25?
What was the target radius as a function of cruise speed, fuel load out, and altitude - with a 2000 pound or 2x1000 pound bombs. How does it compare to B-17 5000 pound or B-24 6000 pound payload strike at Brux or Posnan?
Last but most certainly not least, what was a.) the airframe inventory of mission suitable Mosquitos in July 1943 when the combined Bomber Offensive began, b.) the trained aircrew inventory to execute the selected attack profile, c.) what was the manufacturing capacity to replace losses, and d.) which mission priorities tasked for Mosquitos would suffer as a result of diverting other model production capacity to the 'strategic' Mossie.
Shorter question than above. Was there ever critical mass of the proposed Mosquito type to prosecute a strategic bombing campaign in partnership to USSTAF, assuming that it Was mission capable?
Low level surprise tactics deep into Germany during daylight seems to be a non-starter. Given precision navigation as a necessary assumption to find targets, what is the survivability probability of either individual aircraft or a force large enough to deliver crippling blows to such distant plants as Ball Bearing or aircraft engine factories in east Germany or Poland/Czechoslovakia.
What are the logistics and planning considerations to launch such forces? Other than range how would the Mosquito be significantly better than say a P-47 or P-38 carrying 2x1000 pounders? Given that speed was the only major survival attribute if in close presence to Bf 109s and Fw 190s, what tactics should be used to direct and focus enough Mosquitos to destroy a major target?
What about high level daylight strategic attacks to reduce AAA threat but remain exposed to radar intercept and warning? Mosquito bombsights were better than Norden/Sperry sights how? Was a serious study ever performed to assess Bomb CEP based on any bombsight equipped Mosquito for medium to high altitudes? Say in comparison to Lancaster or B-17/24? Or B-26, A-26 or B-25?
What was the target radius as a function of cruise speed, fuel load out, and altitude - with a 2000 pound or 2x1000 pound bombs. How does it compare to B-17 5000 pound or B-24 6000 pound payload strike at Brux or Posnan?
Last but most certainly not least, what was a.) the airframe inventory of mission suitable Mosquitos in July 1943 when the combined Bomber Offensive began, b.) the trained aircrew inventory to execute the selected attack profile, c.) what was the manufacturing capacity to replace losses, and d.) which mission priorities tasked for Mosquitos would suffer as a result of diverting other model production capacity to the 'strategic' Mossie.
Shorter question than above. Was there ever critical mass of the proposed Mosquito type to prosecute a strategic bombing campaign in partnership to USSTAF, assuming that it Was mission capable?
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