German bombers so much tougher than RAF bombers?

[CaptainDoggles]

Originally Posted by Blackdog_kt

This design mentality continued throughout the war, with the Lancaster having one of the worst ratings for crew survivability in emergencies. The competing Halifax was much safer in the event of a crash landing or in-flight emergency.

Got a source? Lancasters could land on just a single engine, and maintain altitude with just two.

The Mosquito was almost untouchable (unless bounced by single engined fighters that had an altitude advantage) it only carried 2-3 crewmen, was cheaper to built, had a range to reach Berlin, could carry as much as a B-17 and a lot of them had the ability to carry out pin-point strikes against vital targets.

B-17s could carry something like 18000 lbs of bombs. IIRC the Mosquito carried less than a quarter of that.

[Al Schlageter]

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

B-17s could carry something like 18000 lbs of bombs. IIRC the Mosquito carried less than a quarter of that.

For a VERY short distance and using external bomb racks.

For a more realistic view of what the B-17 carried read http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html

The Mosquito could carry one 4000lb Cookie or 6 x 500lb bombs (4 internal + 2 external).

The Avro carrier could take 6 x 500lb bombs internally but afaik was never used.

[CaptainDoggles]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

For a VERY short distance and using external bomb racks.

For a more realistic view of what the B-17 carried read http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html

The Mosquito could carry one 4000lb Cookie or 6 x 500lb bombs (4 internal + 2 external).

The Avro carrier could take 6 x 500lb bombs internally but afaik was never used.

Ah, right on. Thanks for the correction.

[gimpy117]

I would venture a guess it is because Germans are shooting Explosive cannon rounds and Brits just peashooters.

we need a test with german planes on german bombers

[CaptainDoggles]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

I would venture a guess it is because Germans are shooting Explosive cannon rounds and Brits just peashooters.

we need a test with german planes on german bombers

You can de-wing a Blenheim with just the MG 17's in the nose of the 109.

Comes off right at the wing root, and only takes ~200 rounds or so.

[gimpy117]

Originally Posted by CaptainDoggles

You can de-wing a Blenheim with just the MG 17's in the nose of the 109.

Comes off right at the wing root, and only takes ~200 rounds or so.

200 hits or 200 total?

[CaptainDoggles]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

200 hits or 200 total?

I have no way of knowing how many hits I'm getting.

It's been a while since I've tried, but usually it never takes me more than 400 rounds from my guns to down an AI blenheim. Depends how well I'm shooting, and it's usually easier to exploit the awful AI that bails out as soon as you smoke the engine.

Sawing the wing off without cannons requires precise aiming and I'm not a particularly good shot.

What I like to do is kill all the rear gunners and then get to about 50m or so before picking away at the wing root.

Drawback to this is that if the wing comes off it will sometimes hit your machine causing catastrophic damage.

Either way, it's still too easy. Spitfires absorb more punishment.

[Blackdog_kt]

Originally Posted by Al Schlageter

For a VERY short distance and using external bomb racks.

For a more realistic view of what the B-17 carried read http://www.303rdbg.com/missions.html

The Mosquito could carry one 4000lb Cookie or 6 x 500lb bombs (4 internal + 2 external).

The Avro carrier could take 6 x 500lb bombs internally but afaik was never used.

That's an awesome link, tons of mission reports.

It's also very enlightening about how easy it was to be forced to abort a mission. Engine troubles, missing vital equipment, malfunctions of important aircraft systems, crewmen unable to continue because of a simple cold and so on.
And before anyone scoffs at it, a common cold can really mess you up in an unpressurised aircraft that flies at those altitudes, because your ears/nose are blocked and you can't effectively equalize the pressure as the aircraft climbs. Air can be trapped inside, expand as you climb and give you a royal headache or even damage your ear drums.

Also very interesting details on the bomb loads used. Most reports i saw state 5000lbs or so. They also mention incendiaries quite frequently and fire-bombing of civilian areas, which i thought was not systematically practiced in the ETO during daylight bombing raids. Some reports give as low as 3000lb bomb loads if a bomb bay fuel tank had to be carried for extra range.

All in all a great read