alternatehistory.com

We know it didn't work in OTL. What changes would have been needed to make it work? Different engines? While the .50 was a good gun, it wasn't as powerful as the HS404, which was available, and would have greatly increased the firepower of the aircraft. The trade off however, was increased weight and wind resistance in non-power operated turret's. Armor is another trade off area, more would have been better, particularly vulnerable engines (mostly the top two thirds, which are vulnerable to fighters, because getting hit by flak powerful enough to reach you means the flak will be powerful enough to defeat any armor you install) and possibly crew areas. Again though, more weight will make the aircraft slower without an increase in engine power.
While this doesn't stop the need for long range fighter escort, it does (IF it can be made to work) slow the loss rate of bombers and crew. A lower loss rate earlier in the strategic bombing campaign means greater losses of German economic output, more men and materials lost or shifted to combat the threat, thereby denying them to other parts of the military.
Top