BBfanboy
Posts: 18046
Joined: 8/4/2010 From: Winnipeg, MB Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: HansBolter Just checked and confirmed that B24Js, which have the same range as PBY5s and PBY5As (16/20), can't hop from Shemya Island to Shanghai. The PBYs with drop tanks get an increase in range to 19/23 and might be able to make that hop. So in general, except for some flying boats and maybe the available in limited numbers LB30, it doesn't look practical. Not to mention the attrition you would suffer for such long range transfers. +1 Attu to Shanghai is 64 hexes. The earlier B-17ds have a transfer range of 63 hexes - not enough to bypass Japan and the Kuriles. Later B-17s give up range for radar, armour and weapons. The LB-30 (bomber version) has a transfer range of 74 and could make it, but only a few Naval Air units use it. The PBY 4 has a range of 64 but this drops to 56 for later models. The Coronado has a longer range but I don't know the transfer range. Basically it is not a feasible plan to go from USA across the north unless an Island like Chi-Chi Jima is Allied. Air units can transfer directly between off-map bases linked by the channel representing shipping lanes. If they are handled like LCUs transferring this way (sans ship), they may take longer to get there than you want. A fast transport ship can beat the automatic transfer time. The Allies get enough big, fast xAPs that they can afford to put a half dozen on the route EC USA to Capetown (or Aden when open in 1943). Who cares if they are hauling aircraft and cargo instead of troops, they are too big for most on-map ports anyway.
< Message edited by BBfanboy -- 6/22/2019 3:44:23 AM >
_____________________________
No matter how bad a situation is, you can always make it worse. - Chris Hadfield : An Astronaut's Guide To Life On Earth
|