Bombers

Pintu

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5. AEG G IV ( Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: Three
* Length: 9.70 m (31 ft 10 in)
* Wingspan: 18.40 m (60 ft 4.25 in)
* Height: 3.90 m (12 ft 9⅝ in)
* Wing area: 67 m² (675 ft²)
* Empty weight: 2,400 kg (5,280 lb)
* Loaded weight: 3,630 kg (7,986 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 3,628 kg (8,000 lb)
* Powerplant: 2× Mercedes D.IVa 6-cylinder water cooled inline engine, 194 kW (260 hp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 166 km/h (90 kn, 103 mph)
* Range: 750 km (406 nmi, 467 mi)
* Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,760 ft)
* Rate of climb: 3.30 m/s (649 ft/min)
* Wing loading: 54.2 kg/m² (11.8 lb/ft²)
* Power/mass: 98.6 W/kg (0.0601 hp/lb)
* Endurance: 4-5 hr cruise
* Climb to 1000 m (3,280 ft): 5 min

Armament

* 2 × 7.92 mm (.312 in) machine guns
* 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs

(Wikipedia)

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Pintu

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Italy:

Caproni Ca.5 (Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, front gunner, and rear gunner/mechanic)
* Length: 12.60 m (41 ft 4 in)
* Wingspan: 23.40 m (76 ft 9 in)
* Height: ()
* Wing area: 150 m² (1,614 ft²)
* Max takeoff weight: 4,600 kg (10,120 lb)
* Powerplant: 3× Fiat A.12 6 cylinder inline engines, 149 kW (200 hp) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 160 km/h (87 kn, 100 mph)

Armament

* Guns: 2 × 6.5 mm or 7.7 mm FIAT-Revelli machine guns
* Bombs: 533 kg (1,170 lb) of bombs

(Wikipedia)

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Sailor

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Great effort you put into these early bombers Pintu. Very informative. THANKS

One thing I always think about when I look at early aviation was the lack of crew comfort.
I couldn't imagine how cold it must have been flying in open cockpits in the European winters.
By WW2, the US were using electrically heated flying suits that came with a plug into the dash attachment.
 

Su-47

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The caproni crews had the worst deal. They had to fly the bomber over the alps (both in summer and winter) and bomb the Austrian lines. Even in the middle of summer its freezing to fly over the alps. Imagine the torment during winter.

Compared to what the pioneers of flying had to do, the pilots of today are blessed. They don;t have to worry about the cold or falling out of the plane, or indeed, even stabilising the plane (the computer does it). The pilot can focus on the mission.

In a few years, the pilot won;t even have to worry about death, since he'll be controlling the aircraft from some far-off loctaion, thanks to UAV tech.
 

Pintu

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Great effort you put into these early bombers Pintu. Very informative. THANKS

One thing I always think about when I look at early aviation was the lack of crew comfort.
I couldn't imagine how cold it must have been flying in open cockpits in the European winters.
By WW2, the US were using electrically heated flying suits that came with a plug into the dash attachment.

Sailor, Thanks to you friend , you have created interest in me about this awesome version of the Military Aircraft, and I simply following the way you post.

It is fact, and I also keep wondering for the fact that they lack crew comfort totally in the first world war while flying in open cockpits, more over they exposed to bad weather (eg. cloud and rain) and depend upon their own eyesight to find the target, in the European Winter they were vulnerable to freezing while flying in high altitude, truely WWII , the pilots were blessed some how.

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Pintu

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The caproni crews had the worst deal. They had to fly the bomber over the alps (both in summer and winter) and bomb the Austrian lines. Even in the middle of summer its freezing to fly over the alps. Imagine the torment during winter.

Compared to what the pioneers of flying had to do, the pilots of today are blessed. They don;t have to worry about the cold or falling out of the plane, or indeed, even stabilising the plane (the computer does it). The pilot can focus on the mission.

In a few years, the pilot won;t even have to worry about death, since he'll be controlling the aircraft from some far-off loctaion, thanks to UAV tech.
True, Su , I am totally agree with you here. The Italians were worst sufferers , actually they were the pioneer of bombing from air and idea and importance of air raid. They had to fly the Austrian lines and the sufferings made by them in the open cockpit is simply pain stricken. Yes, the pilots of todays are blessed now.

Actually , this happened to the Human history, our ancestors invented the idea and bore the hardship while implementing the idea and we are bearing the fruit by just modifying upon it.

This trend will be continued to the future generation and agree with you totally one day may be UCAV take the full responsibility.

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Su-47

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True, Su , I am totally agree with you here. The Italians were worst sufferers , actually they were the pioneer of bombing from air and idea and importance of air raid. They had to fly the Austrian lines and the sufferings made by them in the open cockpit is simply pain stricken. Yes, the pilots of todays are blessed now.

Actually , this happened to the Human history, our ancestors invented the idea and bore the hardship while implementing the idea and we are bearing the fruit by just modifying upon it.

This trend will be continued to the future generation and agree with you totally one day may be UCAV take the full responsibility.

Regards
A lot of Capronis were flown by American pilots. Many believe the Caproni to be the best bomber of WW1.

In the future, our descendants will believe they are blessed, since they many not even have to fight personally. wars maybe fought by robot armies. Whoever loses all his robots first loses. The human life will be too precious to be risked on the battlefield.

Ace piolts will be 11 year old kids who are exceptional with a PlayStation 323 ( in 500 years i think Sony will release a lot more PlayStations) controller!
 

Sailor

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Well no bomber discussion could ever be complete with out the best all round bomber of World War 2. The Avro Lancaster.
The first RAF squadron to convert to the Lancaster was No. 44 Squadron RAF in early 1942.

Lancasters flew 156,000 sorties and dropped 608,612 tons (552,124 tonnes) of bombs between 1942 and 1945. Just 35 Lancasters completed more than 100 successful operations each, and 3,249 were lost in action. The most successful survivor completed 139 operations, and was scrapped in 1947.










Role Heavy bomber
Manufacturer Avro
Designed by Roy Chadwick
First flight 8 January 1941
Introduced 1942
Retired 1963 (Canada)
 

Pintu

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This is awesome Friend, simply awesome. I always wait for you to come up with such a nice presentation.

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Pintu

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However, one most important development, the evolution to the flying birds , I want to point out Sailor , is following:

Avionics
Drift Sight Mark IA, an early mechanical bombsight
The development of Avionics , and an effort was made which now became the back bone of a Military Aircraft , not only Military but also Civilian Aircraft.

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Pintu

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Continuing the Bomber thread, after some beautiful update by Sailor.........

However , the concept of Bomber speedily changed during the Second World War , the (1919-1939) 20 years saw rapid change in concept of Bomber, the open cockpit bombers became extinct and new breed of Bombers evolved and classified in the three categories including the sub categories, the result of the bombers being classified and tailor made for Particular role lies in different factors, they are a. Limitation in the power of Engines , therefore resulting the bombers with multiple Engines and b. concept were ahead at that time but technology was not.

The Classifications are therefore:

1. Dive Bombers ( Bombing while Diving towards the target for acquiring accuracy and angle for attack )

2. Light Bomber, Medium Bomber, Heavy Bomber ( Bombing from the sky to the Military installations and Strategic Towns and angles were not important ) in another word they may be called as 'Level Bomber'. The Heavy Bombers in this group can be called as "Strategic Bomber".

3. Torpedo Bombers ( To sink the Naval Flotilla and targeted mainly against Aircraft Carriers )

4. Flying Bomb: Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka which was purposefully built for Kamikaze Bombing.

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Pintu

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Now I am going to discuss the further about the classifications:

1. Dive Bomber:

This bomber aircrafts designed keeping in view of bombing important targets which may be too small to avoid bombing by the level bombers. However , diving was done to achieve accuracy and attack of angle and limit the exposure to the Anti - Aircraft Fire. This type of Bombers were extensively used in the Second World War (1939-1945), however immediately declined after few years after the end of the World War - II.

The diving bombers used to dive vertically and some time the same route by which the Bomb falls on the target, it had the both positive and negative side:

Positive Side:

1. Bomb accurately placed on the target.

2. No modification on Target Site needed or No Bombsight needed.

3. High Valued Target can be attacked with smaller planes to inflict major damages.

Negative Side:

Extremely vulnerable to the Anti - Aircraft Fire.

However 'Drag' concept were used for solution to the problem, which allowed to slow the pace of Aircraft when situation needed it.


A picture of a Dive Bomber:




An SBD Dauntless dropping its Bomb (Image : Wikipedia)

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Pintu

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The First Custom built Dive Bomber was the US Navy Curtiss F8C Hell Diver Biplane introduced in 1930s:

The image (Wikipedia)



Specifications:


General characteristics

* Crew: 2 (Pilot, observer/rear gunner)
* Length: 27 ft 2 in (8.28 m)
* Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
* Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.2 m)
* Wing area: 353 ft² (32.8 m²)
* Empty weight: 2,875 lb (1,304 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 4,476 lb (2,030 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Curtiss D-12E (V-1150-5) V-12 liquid cooled engine, 435 hp (324 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 139 mph (223.7 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 110 mph (177 km/h)
* Range: 628 mi (1,010 km)
* Service ceiling: 14,100 ft (4,298 m)
* Rate of climb: 948 ft/min (289 m/min)

Armament

* Guns: 4 × forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns and ×2 flexible 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Lewis machine guns on a Scarff ring.
* Bombs: 200 lb (91 kg) of bombs mounted on lower wing racks.

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Pintu

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Mid 1930's saw the development of the Bomber Aircrafts by the nations that were embroiled into the conflict that brought Crisis to The Civilisation , the second World War ( 1939-1945). I will discuss further the country wise development of the Dive Bombers, here.

The first and foremost was the United States of America.

1. SBD Dauntless (Image: Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: Two
* Length: 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
* Wingspan: 41 ft 6 in (12.65 m)
* Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
* Wing area: 325 ft² (30.19 m²)
* Empty weight: 6,404 lb (2,905 kg)
* Loaded weight: 10,676 lb (4,843 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 10,700 lb (4,853 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-60 radial engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 255 mph (410 km/h)
* Range: 773 mi (1,240 km)
* Service ceiling: 25,530 ft (7,780 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s)
* Wing loading: 32.8 lb/ft² (160.4 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.18 kW/kg)


Armament

* Guns:
o 2 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) forward-firing Browning M2 machine guns in engine cowling
o 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) flexible-mounted Browning machine guns in rear (later versions fitted with 2 × machine guns of the same caliber)
* Bombs: 2,250 lb (1,020 kg) of bombs

Gunner of SBD Dauntless:



Image : Wikipedia, onboard USS Independence, 1943

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Pintu

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SBD Dauntless replaced by Curtiss SB2C Hell diver.

2. Curtiss SB2C Hell diver:



General characteristics

* Crew: Two, pilot and radio operator/gunner
* Length: 36 ft 9 in (11.2 m)
* Wingspan: 49 ft 9 in (15.2 m)
* Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)
* Wing area: 422 ft² (39.2 m²)
* Empty weight: 10,114 lb (4,588 kg)
* Loaded weight: 13,674 lb (6,202 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 16,800 lb (7,600 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Wright R-2600 Cyclone radial engine, 1,900 hp (1,400 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 294 mph (473 km/h)
* Range: 1,200 miles (1,900 km)
* Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,750 ft/min (8.9 m/s)


Armament

* 2 × 20 mm (.79 in) cannon in the wings
* 2 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in the rear cockpit
* Internal bay: 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs or 1 × Mark 13-2 torpedo
* Underwing hardpoints: 500 lb (225 kg) of bombs each



Another image of SBD Dive Bomber :




Image: Wikipedia


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Pintu

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3.SB2A Buccaneer ( Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: 2: pilot and gunner
* Length: 39 ft 2 in (11.94 m)
* Wingspan: 47 ft 0 in (14.33 m)
* Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m)
* Wing area: 379 ft² (35.2 m²)
* Empty weight: 9,924 lb (4,501 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 14,289 lb (6,495 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Wright R-2600-8 radial engine, 1,700 hp (1,268 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 274 mph (238 kn, 441 km/h)
* Range: 1,675 mi (1,455 nmi, 2,696 km)
* Service ceiling: 24,900 ft (7,590 m)

Armament

* Guns:
o 2 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in fuselage
o 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in wings
o 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) flexible rear-mounted .30 machine guns
* Bombs: 1,000 lb (450 kg)


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Pintu

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4. Northrop BT ( Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: two (pilot and gunner)
* Length: 31 ft 3 in (9.5 m)
* Wingspan: 41 ft 6 in (12.7 m)
* Height: 12.5 ft (3.81 m)
* Wing area: 134.5 ft² (29.63 m²)
* Empty weight: 4,464 lb (2,029 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 7,060 lb (3,209 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1535-94 Twin Wasp Jr. double row radial air-cooled engine, 825 hp (615 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 222 mph (357 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 192 mph (309 km/h)
* Range: 1,150 mi (999 nmi, 1,850 km)
* Service ceiling: 25,300 ft (7,710 m)

Armament

* 1 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun
* 1 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
* 1,000 lb (454 kg) of bombs on external wing racks

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Pintu

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5. Northrop A-17 ( Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: two (pilot and gunner)
* Length: 32 ft (9.8 m)
* Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.6 m)
* Height: 11 ft 10½ in (3.61 m)
* Empty weight: 4,874 lb (2,210 kg)
* Loaded weight: 7,447 lb (3,377 Kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 2,420 lb (1,100 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Pratt & Whitney R-1535-13 Twin Wasp Jr double row radial air-cooled engine, 750 hp (560 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 206 mph (332 km/h)
* Cruise speed: 170 mph (274 km/h)
* Range: 700 mi (1,127 km)
* Service ceiling: 19,400 ft (5,900 m)

Armament

* 4 × 0.3 in (7.62 mm) fixed forward M1919 Browning machine guns
* 1 × 0.3 in (7.62 mm) trainable rear machine gun
* Internal bay for bombs
* External wing bomb racks (total bomb load 1,200 lb/544 kg)

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Pintu

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The United Kingdom :

1. Blackburn Skua ( Image : Wikipedia)



General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 35 ft 7 in (10.8 m)
* Wingspan: 46 ft 2 in (14.1 m)
* Height: 14 ft 2 in (4.3 m)
* Wing area: 312 ft² (29.0 m²)
* Empty weight: 5,490 lb (2,490 kg)
* Loaded weight: 8,228 lb (3,730 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Bristol Perseus XII radial engine, 905 hp (675 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 225 mph (195 kn, 360 km/h) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
* Range: 800 mi (700 nmi, 1,300 km)
* Service ceiling: 20,200 ft (6,150 m)
* Wing loading: 26.4 lb/ft² (128 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (180 W/kg)

Armament

* Guns:
o 4 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) forward-firing Browning machine guns
o 1 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis or Vickers K machine gun on flexible mount in rear cockpit
* Bombs: 1 × 500 lb (227 kg) semi-armour piercing bomb or 1 × 250 lb (113 kg) semi-armour piercing/ General Purpose bomb and 4 × 40 lb (18 kg) bombs or 8 × 20 lb (9 kg) bombs

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Pintu

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2. Blackburn Roc (Image : Wikipedia)




General characteristics

* Crew: 2
* Length: 35 ft 7 in (10.85 m)
* Wingspan: 46 ft (14.02 m)
* Height: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m)
* Wing area: 310 ft² (28.8 m²)
* Empty weight: 6,121 lb (2,782 kg)
* Loaded weight: 7,950 lb (3,614 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× Bristol Perseus XII radial engine, 890 hp (664 kW)

Performance

* Maximum speed: 194 kn (223 mph, 359 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
* Range: 704 nmi (810 mi, 1,304 km)
* Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
* Rate of climb: 1,500 ft/min (7.6 m/s)
* Wing loading: 25.6 lb/ft² (125 kg/m²)
* Power/mass: 0.11 hp/lb (0.18 kW/kg)

Armament

* Guns: 4 × 0.303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in power operated dorsal turret
* Bombs: 8 × 30 lb (14 kg) bombs[4]

Regards
 

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