Gunships in Eastern Front long nights

[Kurt_Steiner]

I have sometimes wondered, would it had been worthwile.

In eastern front night-fighter opposition was very low, and nights were long during the winters. Germans were many times forced to man the front with outposts in circle defence, as there weren't ever enough men to man an continuous HKL. Reinforcing those outposts was troublesome if they were attacked, because long distances and lack of roads, liming the usefullness of fast motorized troops, even if they were available (and also were vulnerable to attack).

Soviet themselves used effectively the light bombers Po-2 and R-5 to harass Germans, and Germans responded by similar night harassment units.

But would an concept more than harassment been worthwile ??

You know the concept - an AC-47. In eastern front it would had ofcourse been Ju-52 armed maybe with 6-10 7.92mm machineguns. Slow speed is not an concern. Reliabilily, ruggedness, short field perfomance, slow approach speed, payload capacity and endurance is there plenty. Also in outpost defence an Ju-52 could have been used for air-supply of ammunition, medical supplies, etc...

Lack of night vision would had hampered them, but on the other hand, on defence of outpost under attack the enemy could be seen easily, and everywhere in eastern front there was open fires to warm up troops during 7-8 months of year - which would had been very attractive targets for gunship. Also protection of trains and large road convoys in areas of partisan activity comes to my mind.

Ofcourse there would never had been enough of them - but i think a hundred or so in service at given time would had been very usefull.

Thoughts ??

[Tony Williams]

Quite possibly, with one caveat. The first US gunships were armed with 7.62mm MGs and had no night-vision aids; they relied on flares. However, although they were very effective against infantry they suffered casualties once they came up against 23mm Flak. So they would have to choose their targets with some care.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion
forum

[Kurt_Steiner]

I think the concept would work. Combine it with flare-dropping and small incendiary bombs to start fires in the target area, and it should be possible to get results.

Also, tt would have lasted during the time the Russians have needed to develop their own night figthers or purchasing the technology from the Western Allies. However, in the radar/elint/ecm/communications/navigation -equipment the Soviets were hopelessly out of the game. Western allied had it all, but when same time in the middle of bomber campaign over Germany and U-boat war - I think there would had been very little they can do to help the Soviets until 1944/45.