Thanks. I was just wondering if the carriers could handle them. Land based aircraft would still be good when around (assuming the idea is they provide an extra defence against kamikazes).
De Havilland Vampire enters service in 1944
- Thread starter Peg Leg Pom
- Start date
The first carrier landing and take off by a jet was from the Colossus class light fleet carrier (14,000 tons) in December 1945. That jet was a Vampire.
The Vampire had a combat radius of something like 400-450 miles. Call it 400 to allow for some combat time.
Would a Vampire be better able to tackle an Okha?
An earlier introduction of the Vampire may also lead to a more thorough evaluation of the usefulness of keeping on the cramped Illustrious class carriers - might this change the planning for the post war carrier fleet - there was a thread awhile back about the impact of a third audacious class carrier - this might provide a spur for the same
An earlier introduction of the Vampire may also lead to a more thorough evaluation of the usefulness of keeping on the cramped Illustrious class carriers - might this change the planning for the post war carrier fleet - there was a thread awhile back about the impact of a third audacious class carrier - this might provide a spur for the same
Never mind them, think of Halsey's reaction if one had to land on his flagship. Think of the signals he'd be sending up the chain of command.
The thing is.. First generation Jets were not the huge improv over the last Generation Props that they are often believed to have been. Yes they would rapidly evolve into a fighter that was significantly better but that is not happening in 45 or 48. And if you advance them enough to do that then the US is going yo get a jet sooner as well.
As for the Vampire.. yes it was a good jet but I think its short comings would have been more detrimental for the end of the Pacific war then benefit.
Japan didn’t have anything that needed a Jet to counter and range and maintain ance for early jets was in general a problem. That probably would offset the speed advantage they had. They were about 50-60 mph faster than aircraft the US could have been using on its flat tops.
So yes they were better but they had trade offs.
So let’s not pretend we are looking at an F-4 Phantom 2 here.
As for the Vampire.. yes it was a good jet but I think its short comings would have been more detrimental for the end of the Pacific war then benefit.
Japan didn’t have anything that needed a Jet to counter and range and maintain ance for early jets was in general a problem. That probably would offset the speed advantage they had. They were about 50-60 mph faster than aircraft the US could have been using on its flat tops.
So yes they were better but they had trade offs.
So let’s not pretend we are looking at an F-4 Phantom 2 here.
It is certainly one of the coolest looking airplanes ever built. I think it would have been put to excellent use by the RAF for V1 interceptions as mentioned. Also anything else high, fast and Germanic like those Luftwaffe high altitude recon planes. Basically anything nearby that one needed to dash after. But range was the great restricter for other work. Maybe after Allied airbases are operational on the Continent the RAF pilots might have a go at the Me 262s. My money's on the Brits.
He's be very surprised given that his flagship from May 1945 was the Missouri
So it overflies his flagship before landing on a nearby US carrier, but the point still stands.
Do we at least get to see a dogfight between a Vamp and an Me-262? The Gods of Cool demand it.
Nene was too big for the Meteor, although one was test flown on a pair. There were proposals for an Avon Meteor but that's much later. Rolls did scale the Nene down, as the Derwent IV, and these were used from the Meteor F3 onwards, with the later long chord cowlings introduced largely with the F4.
IIRC, the Vampire F2 was to have had the Nene but it never went further than prototypes.
IIRC, the Vampire F2 was to have had the Nene but it never went further than prototypes.
I'm surprised that no-one else has thought of another benefit to a Vampire squadron or two joining the BPF. Namely, a quick climb with a few kegs under the wings and, cool beer for Jack Tar. From my experience a cool pint or two goes down a treat in the Tropics.
AIUI the whole point of using the twin boom was to avoid having the losses of thrust from a long or complicated exhaust system. So you could probably build a Vampire without the twin boom, but you would likely have consequences in performance.
They did (sort of) it was a disaster of a death trap
de Havilland DH 108 - Wikipedia
Oh it was , at least that's what I have read, but was wondering whether say bifuricated exhausts as on the Hawker Sea Hawk would be possible with 3,000lb Goblin vs the 5,000lb Nene or whether that kills performance.