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B17 vs sub

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:16 am
by Erik2
This high-altitude bomber barely had a chance of hitting a normal sized ship.
I don't think it should be able to target a surfaced sub, it would hardly be visible.

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 10:15 am
by Brenmusik
Proof that the devs hate subs! :wink:

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 4:24 pm
by adherbal
One could argue a sub hull is more vulnerable to shockwaves from near misses than surface ships though.

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:00 am
by Dragoon.
The B-17 was actually heavily used in ASW, even in the pacific before completely withdrawn from the pacific theater.
But yeah, air doctrine dictated high attitude attack had very little hit chance. However that didn't stop some pilots to perform skip bombing attacks with success regardless.

You can use,
http://www.aircrewremembered.com/USAAFC ... index.html
to find reports for B-17s used in ASW patrols. Go through the months using the terms ASW or submarine to find reports.
FRIDAY, 7 AUGUST 1942

SWPA (5th AF): 13 B-17s of the 19th Bombardment Group (Heavy), led by Lieutenant Colonel Richard H Carmichael hit Vunakanau Airfield, New Britain Island, Bismarck Archipelago, in coordination with US Marine Corps (USMC) landings on Guadalcanal Island. B-26s attack Lae, New Guinea, and a B-17 and a B-25 each attack a submarine in the Gulf of Papua.

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 2:45 am
by Brenmusik
Thank you for the link Dragoon, hours of reading ahead :)

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:25 am
by Erik2
Interesting, I didn't know that.

Re: B17 vs sub

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:54 am
by Dragoon.
Brenmusik wrote:Thank you for the link Dragoon, hours of reading ahead :)
It's a pretty exciting read, especially considering the site claims to have a complete report on every operational movement from December 6 1941 to one month after the Japanese surrender in '45. In that you get a chance for a special view of the the war from the eyes of Headquarters Air Force. Instead like usually books to read on strategic scale what, certain air fleets did, you will read what a certain group of planes or even an individual plane did during the war.

Like on 14th December '41 Philippines, when B-17s bombed the Japanese beachhead on Luzon, and later 1st Lieutenant Hewitt T Wheless crashlanded his bullet-riddled plane on Mindanao awarding him the Distinguished Service Cross.

That site could actually be great source for a OOB: Pacific Grand Campaign. :wink: