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does this include heavy fighters?1,600 fighters
Yes.does this include heavy fighters?
Neeh just good folks with a bit of knowledge having fun.I seemed to have poked the bear with this one
Most replies to What-If scenarios default to telling us why something would not, could not or should not have been feasible.I seemed to have poked the bear with this one
Most replies to What-If scenarios default to telling us why something would not, could not or should not have been feasible.
Well, you have somewhat provided your answer to the "would not, could not or should not have been feasible.And if the Germans knew where and when the invasion was going to take place, and understand that they signals were being read, the smarter move would be to send every U-boat into the Channel to stop it. But the RN's ASW will be expecting you.
In summer 1944, the Luftwaffe had almost 5,000 serviceable/operational aircraft, this included over 1,600 fighters. Pull every Luftwaffe fighter and bomber squadron out of Russia, eastern Europe, Italy and Germany, put everything in France. If somehow the movement is not discovered, the Luftwaffe can put up a good fight for about a day. After that, it's over.
Northern France Belgium and the Netherlands were the most photographed region on the planet. Almost every German asset that was there at D-Day was left to avoid making it obvious where the landing would be. If Herman did move anything in advance to prevent an invasion he would almost certainly have moved it to oppose a landing in the Pas de Calais, which leaves S/E fighters out of range of the Normandy beaches. It may have taken more than a day, but it would have had little effect on the landings and Herman would have lost all of his air force. At D-Day the beach head was 100 miles from the UK coast, any LW airfield within 100 miles of the beach head was easily within range of thousands of four engine and twin engined bombers as well as s/e fighter bombers. It would have been carnage and would probably shortened the war considerably.In summer 1944, the Luftwaffe had almost 5,000 serviceable/operational aircraft, this included over 1,600 fighters. Pull every Luftwaffe fighter and bomber squadron out of Russia, eastern Europe, Italy and Germany, put everything in France. If somehow the movement is not discovered, the Luftwaffe can put up a good fight for about a day. After that, it's over.
The big question about alternate history like this is how does Germany achieve air superiority on D-Day? Air superiority does not happen on its own. Somebody somewhere made good decisions.How would it affect the outcome? I know there is no way to perfectly gauge the destruction.
What I call "coulda woulda shoulda territory."Most replies to What-If scenarios default to telling us why something would not, could not or should not have been feasible.
You can try to posit more plausible What-If scenarios to encourage more open discussion, but it won't stop our kneejerk contrarians.
From Wiki.Hs293 glider bomb
| Operational range | at 2.2 kilometres (7,200 ft) altitude: 4 kilometres (13,000 ft) at 4 kilometres (13,000 ft) altitude: 5.5 kilometres (18,000 ft) at 5 kilometres (16,000 ft) altitude: 8.5 kilometres (28,000 ft) |
|---|
From Wiki.
Staying out of the range of the proximity fused heavy AA was going to be a problem.
Operational
rangeat 2.2 kilometres (7,200 ft) altitude:
4 kilometres (13,000 ft)
at 4 kilometres (13,000 ft) altitude:
5.5 kilometres (18,000 ft)
at 5 kilometres (16,000 ft) altitude:
8.5 kilometres (28,000 ft)
Especially as the bomber had to pretty much fly over the target while guiding the missile.
They would have sunk/damaged some ships, but not a decisive number.
A problem with most of the early guided weapons was that to guide them the operator (person controlling the weapon) had to have a line of sight from the platform (aircraft that dropped the weapon) to the target and the operator was guiding the weapon to fly along that line of sight. Usually with flares on the weapon so it could be seen at distance. Please note that if the drop aircraft gets out of line, Gets ahead of the weapon, gets behind or too far to the side, control is near useless. The operator does not have the needed perspective to steer the weapon on the correct path.Interesting to compare to current day glide bombs like the American JSOW AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon - Wikipedia
22 km range from a "low altitude" release (whatever that altitude means..), 130 km for a high altitude release.
Of course back then they didn't have the guidance technology to make use of such a long range, but still.
Also I'm sure it also helps to release it from a fast jet rather than a He 111 lumbering along.
While the He111 was used for Hs293 trials, it was the Do217, He177 & Fw200 that were the operational carriers. Mostly The first two.Interesting to compare to current day glide bombs like the American JSOW AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon - Wikipedia
22 km range from a "low altitude" release (whatever that altitude means..), 130 km for a high altitude release.
Of course back then they didn't have the guidance technology to make use of such a long range, but still.
Also I'm sure it also helps to release it from a fast jet rather than a He 111 lumbering along.
Overlord would not be launched, [...]
There were earlier efforts.While the Germans were pioneers there was a long, long way to get to where they (or anybody else) needed to be.