Attack on Taranto used RAF Wellingtons instead of RN Swordfish aircraft?

[Fuzzy Dunlop]

Here's an idea

How about emptying out a torpedo and filling it up with HE to make it a normal dumb bomb (1,650lb) and bombing from a few thousand feet.

Would that work? . . . . would it cause any greater damage to Italian warships?

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

Here's an idea

View attachment 622606

How about emptying out a torpedo and filling it up with HE to make it a normal dumb bomb (1,650lb) and bombing from a few thousand feet.

Would that work? . . . . would it cause any greater damage to Italian warships?

Easier to convert some 16" SAP shells into bombs. It worked a year later for the Japanese.

 

[Fearless Leader]

This is probably not what you're looking for, but a joint attack on Taranto would be much more likely in a world where the RAF never formed. Additional funding could lead to expanded airfields on Malta to house the Wellington-esque bombers which would take part in this raid if the RNAS holds on to strategic bombing responsibilities.

 

[jsb]

and bombing from a few thousand feet.

Would that work?

If you can hit from that high at night, but realistically RAF (or anybody else in pre 45) can't, so they just miss?

How about emptying out a torpedo and filling it up with HE to make it a normal dumb bomb (1,650lb) .. . would it cause any greater damage to Italian warships?

Why not use a real AP bomb or 15"/16" shell as Peg said above?

 

[McPherson]

Here's an idea

View attachment 622606

How about emptying out a torpedo and filling it up with HE to make it a normal dumb bomb (1,650lb) and bombing from a few thousand feet.

Would that work? . . . . would it cause any greater damage to Italian warships?

A torpedo is a thin walled cylinder that has warhead, fuel, guidance, and motor and swims. It is fragile and easily snaps when dropped on its nose and shatters. What one wants in a bomb is a nail that can drive through armor that will explode.

Bombs need to be thick walled and aerodynamic and spinners so they will point.

United States Army Air Corps — A modified B-29 drops a 12 ...

That is a TALLBOY, a Barnes Wallis designed RAF bomb that meets the "nail" criteria.

MK82 - Dumb Bombs
Ed Heinemann designed those. Nails: the fins are canted as is the case with the Tallboy and the nose weighted so that after release the bomb points down nose first and it spins. It will have much less side shove drift and inaccuracy ballistic and aerodynamic than this crap.

Digger driver unearths 1000-lb World War Two bomb in

That (^^^) is not a nail.

 

[Peg Leg Pom]

Japanese Bomb built from a Battleship shell and used at Pearl Harbour. It worked rather well.