RyanCrierie
Posts: 1461
Joined: 10/14/2005 Status: offline
|
Douglas TB2D "Skypirate" Why would this appear in game? Historically, the F8B (and TB2D Skypirate/TB2F) programs were started after the battle of Midway; because the USN realized that whoever launched first and thus attacked first in a carrier battle would have the edge. So they issued orders for a series of very, very long range VF and VT/VB aircraft. By March 1945, the XTB2D had made it's first flight, with the XF8B flying earlier in November 1944. But by this point; the US Navy (and US Army Air Forces) were looking away from piston engined aircraft towards jets -- this is why the USAAF never bought the XP-72; despite it's blistering 490~ MPH speed. So a point of divergence that lets the F8B and TB2D appear is a worse Midway -- the Japanese manage to escape with most of their carriers, while Yorktown is still sunk, and the other US carriers get some damage; so the USN really, really wants long range strike aircraft for their decks so they can ambush the Japanese first. With a first flight date of March 1945, and according to My notes here, a good rule of thumb for lead time from first flight to production was 250 days for US fighters; the TB2D would enter production in November 1945 if they really, really, REALLY wanted it; making a December 1945 IOC reasonable. Statistics: -------------------------- Data taken from XTB2D-1 ACP dated 1 February 1944, which is available at my website HERE - Warning it's a 4 or so~ MB PDF! Overall Length: 46' Wingspan: 70' Wing Area: 605 ft2 Armor: Pilot: 226 lbs of armor plate Turret Gunner: 120 lbs of armor plate Tunnel Gunner: 200 lbs of armor plate Self Sealing Fuel Cells: 963 lbs Empty Weight: 18,405 lbs Maximum Gross Takeoff Weight: 34,760 lbs (4 x Torpedoes!!) Wing Loading: 39.8 lb/ft2 to 57.3 lb/ft2 Guns: 4 x .50 Cal MGs (800 rds) - Wing 2 x .50 Cal MGs (800 rds) - Top Rear Turret 1 x .50 cal MG (400 rds) - Tunnel Gun Wing Capacity: 2 x 4,000 lb bombs 4 x 2,000 lb bombs 4 x 1,000 lb bombs 4 x 500 lb bombs 4 x 650 lb depth bombs 4 x 325 lb depth bombs 4 x Mk 13 Mod 2 Torpedoes 2 x Mk 12-1 Mines 2 x Mk 13 Mines 2 x 300 gallon drop tanks (outboard bomb rack) With Drop Tanks, 4,000 lb bombs cannot be carried. ---- Heavy Torpedo Bomber (4 x Mk13s at 2,200 lbs each!!!) 34,760 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) Vmax 234 MPH at 15,900 ft Vmax 214 MPH at sea level 610 fpm climb rate 19,000 ft service ceiling 1,260 nm at 146 kts maximum range Combat radius of 355 nautical miles Medium Torpedo Bomber (2 x Mk13s at 2,200 lbs each) 28,545 lb GTOW 501 gallons of fuel (internal) Vmax 264 MPH at 16,200 ft (271 MPH at 15,300 at mil pwr) Vmax 237 MPH at sea level (254 MPH at mil pwr) 1,020 fpm climb rate (1,390 fpm at mil pwr) 24,100 ft service ceiling (24,500 ft at mil pwr) 1,085 nm at 141 kts maximum range Combat radius of 215 nautical miles Long Range Medium Torpedo Bomber (2 x Mk13s at 2,200 lbs each and one Drop Tank) 32,450 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) 300 gallons of fuel (one drop tank) Vmax 242 MPH at 16,000 ft Vmax 220 MPH at sea level 750 fpm climb rate 21,000 ft service ceiling 1,960 nm at 139 kts maximum range Combat radius of 650 nautical miles Light Torpedo Bomber (1 x Mk13s at 2,200 lb) 28,060 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) Vmax 274 MPH at 16,400 ft Vmax 245 MPH at sea level 1060 fpm climb rate 24,600 ft service ceiling 1,830 nm at 143 kts maximum range Combat radius of 460 nautical miles Level/Dive Bomber (4 x 1,000 lb bombs) 30,275 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) Vmax 255 MPH at 16,100 ft Vmax 230 MPH at sea level 900 fpm climb rate 22,700 ft service ceiling 1,565 nm at 141 kts maximum range Combat radius of 435 nautical miles Scout 25,830 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) Vmax 287 MPH at 16,600 ft Vmax 254 MPH at sea level 1,250 fpm climb rate 26,300 ft service ceiling 2050 nm at 143 kts maximum range Combat radius of 620 nautical miles Long Range Scout 27,985 lb GTOW 774 gallons of fuel (internal) 300 gallons of fuel (one drop tank) Vmax 267 MPH at 16,300 ft Vmax 238 MPH at sea level 1,060 fpm climb rate 24,600 ft service ceiling 2500 nm at 141 kts maximum range Combat radius of 775 nautical miles --------------------------------------------------------------- Game Statistics Month: 12 Year: 45 Max Speed: 330 Cru Speed: 168 Endurance: Manouver: 13 ---Low (<10K): ---Medium (10-15k): ---M-High (16-20k): ---High (21-30K): ---V-High (31+K): Climb: 900ish Max Alt: 21,000 Durability: ?? Armor: 1 End Month: ?? End Year: ?? Max Load: ?? Build Rate: ? What was Douglas' factory looking like in 1945? Pool: 0 Serv Rating: 10-20 Days? Crew: 1 Flags: Carrier Capable Loadout: Rng Max: 2050 Rng Ext: 870 (combat radius of 435 nm) Rng Normal: 710 (combat radius of 355 nm) Rng Max DT: 2980 Rng Ext DT: 1640 (combat radius of 820 nm) Rng Normal DT: 1420 (combat radius of 710 nm) Weapons 1-10 (Normal Range) Wpn 1: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 04; Facing 00 Wpn 2: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 02; Facing 03 Wpn 3: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 01; Facing 06 Wpn 4: 1861 (AN/APS-4 Radar); Num 01; Facing 00 Wpn 5: 205 (2000 lb GP Bomb); Num 02; Facing 08 Wpn 6: 205 (2000 lb GP Bomb); Num 02; Facing 12 Wpn 9: 1959 (300 gallon. DT); Num 02; Facing 12 Wpn 10: 1852 (Engine); Num 01; Facing 00 (On DT missions; they swap out the two outboard 2000 lb bombs for DTs) Weapons 11-20 (Extended Range) Wpn 11: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 04; Facing 00 Wpn 12: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 02; Facing 03 Wpn 13: 161 (Browning 50 MG); Num 01; Facing 06 Wpn 14: 1861 (AN/APS-4 Radar); Num 01; Facing 00 Wpn 15: 204 (1000 lb GP Bomb); Num 02; Facing 08 Wpn 16: 204 (1000 lb GP Bomb); Num 02; Facing 12 Wpn 19: 1959 (300 gallon. DT); Num 02; Facing 12 (On DT missions; they swap out the two outboard 1000 lb bombs for DTs) Note: Due to engine limitations, I have chosen to emphasize the extreme range of both the F8B and TB2D rather than their load carry capability; and also due to engine limitations regarding automatic hard coded torpedo= 2 x 500 lb bomb swaps; we can't accurately represent the four torpedo spam of TB2D.
< Message edited by RyanCrierie -- 8/10/2010 1:57:08 PM >
_____________________________
|