Most Effective Target for Atomic Attack on Nazi Germany

Then why did they not use chemical weapons later in the war and not carpet bomb civilians specifically?
The former--even Hitler and Stalin knew better than to use chemical weapons. Also, military experts, including those who had climbed a career ladder as chemical warfare experts, disdained them as militarily less effective and less desirable than explosives.

The latter...this is what we did do in Japan, pretty much. We used incendiaries instead of carpet bombing but the LeMay strategy was to burn up their cities pretty indiscriminately.

The question remains open. Did we have a double standard for the two foes, or was it purely a matter of military convenience based on there being better options for attempting precision in Europe?

Anyway even a strictly counterforce doctrine will in fact inflict a lot of terror in the form of civilian casualties.

When delivered via nuke, there is little practical distinction between counterforce and counterterror.
 

Deleted member 1487

The question remains open. Did we have a double standard for the two foes, or was it purely a matter of military convenience based on there being better options for attempting precision in Europe?
The US did; the RAF did carpet bomb cities with incendiaries, while the USAAF generally avoided 'area targets' and went after specific military ones. Usually.

It's what I would do, not necessarily what the Allies would do

Any nuke that doesn't obliterate a place Hitler loves is a nuke wasted.

Bayreuth would be a good choice, too.
That's a pretty twisted mindset.
 
I assume you want to blow up Nuremberg and Munich for the sake of symbolism, but why Linz?
Linz was a legitimate target of The Oil Campaign OTL. According to the 459th Bomber Group site it was an important transportation hub and was the third most heavily defended city in Austria. The Oil plant at Linz was bombed 16 October 1944.
The only problem with Linz I see is would you launch the Atomic bomb mission from Italy with the 15th Air Force? That would be the most direct route.
 
The US did; the RAF did carpet bomb cities with incendiaries, while the USAAF generally avoided 'area targets' and went after specific military ones. Usually.

What ultimately happened was

The USAAF Area bombed precision targets

The RAF Precision bombed area targets
 

Deleted member 1487

What ultimately happened was

The USAAF Area bombed precision targets

The RAF Precision bombed area targets
The USAAF started poorly and got better over time with accuracy, same with the RAF. The bigger issue for the USAAF was having to bomb from higher altitudes during daylight to avoid FLAK. The RAF didn't have to worry as much especially once they got jamming going which disrupted FLAK radar and because they could fly much looser formations, which made FLAK's job harder. So flying lower really improved accuracy.
 
The constant problem for BC was loss rates. IIRC 4% was sustainable, 6% wasn’t and they were taking 6% or more quite frequently.
 
Using a B-29 in late '44 on Germany?

Tinian to Hiroshima is 2500km.
East Anglia to the Ruhr is 500km.

A heavy fighter escort to within a minute of the target, at the same time that large-scale conventional raids are happening elsewhere to swamp the Luftwaffe fighters - job done.
 
The top target in Germany would be the U-Boat yards
The top target in Europe is in Romania
Polosti , 1/3 of Germany's oil refining industry gone in an instant.
 

kernals12

Banned
Using a B-29 in late '44 on Germany?

Tinian to Hiroshima is 2500km.
East Anglia to the Ruhr is 500km.

A heavy fighter escort to within a minute of the target, at the same time that large-scale conventional raids are happening elsewhere to swamp the Luftwaffe fighters - job done.
The Ruhr is a vast urban area composed of many mid sized cities.
 
Erfurt, Dresden, Chemnitz, and Leipzig are prime targets but already in future Soviet zone of occupation. Heidelberg would make a statement though not necessarily a good one and Munich has a lot of historical value. Mecklenberg might work, Kiel would too
 
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