Nazi Germany was not interested in longrange bombers in the 30ties, there for they canceled the development of the Ju 89 and Do 19. But view points can change, aslo within Nazi Germany. According to Wiki, the He177 was larger and had better performance (speed, range bobload) as the Do19 and Ju89 it was more advanced. The Mig3, again acording to Wiki, was hard to fly and inferiour to the Me 109.
The prototype flew late 1939, give it 2 years to solve it to a real 4 engined plane.
I think, when the He177 enters service late 1941, with a normal 4 engine configuration and atered tail, as He277. And suppose Goering changed his mind and again wanted to play again a more prominent role, which he lost after the Battle of Brittain failure. 1941 ended with the failure of capturing Moscow. Perhaps Goering could came up again with a plan as ''the luftwaffe can fix it''
Suppose;
There were sufficient numbers available to start bombing campains against Sovjet industry mid 1942, then 1942 could have a diffierent end as in OTL, not an end ot the east front or colapse of the Sovjet Union, but better start points for 1943. A Sovjet Union, wich will have difficuties to bring Lendlease equipment to the front and the factories. Factories who struggle more than OTL to aquire raw matrials, due to a constant destruction of railways. Facrories who lose a large part of their production capacity for short or longer period due to bombing. The industrial capacity of the Sovjet Union was massive, but by bombing railway links and factories, even there not acurate production could drop just enough to tip the balance a little bit.
As example the railway links, far behind the front lines, to Stalingrad, denying the Sovjets of just enough, men and equipment on a crucial moment.
The He 177B or He277, even it proved not an exelent bomber, it showed the Nazis the value and effects on the front line of longrange bombing campains on strategic targets.
This opens the way to take projects as the Me264 serouis, even large bombers are complex machines the Nazis lacked the will to prioritize these projects. Now with the He277 there is a sence of value for this type of bombers emerging. Especially when the Blitzkrieg concept in the Sovjet Union failed.
The prototype flew late 1939, give it 2 years to solve it to a real 4 engined plane.
I think, when the He177 enters service late 1941, with a normal 4 engine configuration and atered tail, as He277. And suppose Goering changed his mind and again wanted to play again a more prominent role, which he lost after the Battle of Brittain failure. 1941 ended with the failure of capturing Moscow. Perhaps Goering could came up again with a plan as ''the luftwaffe can fix it''
Suppose;
There were sufficient numbers available to start bombing campains against Sovjet industry mid 1942, then 1942 could have a diffierent end as in OTL, not an end ot the east front or colapse of the Sovjet Union, but better start points for 1943. A Sovjet Union, wich will have difficuties to bring Lendlease equipment to the front and the factories. Factories who struggle more than OTL to aquire raw matrials, due to a constant destruction of railways. Facrories who lose a large part of their production capacity for short or longer period due to bombing. The industrial capacity of the Sovjet Union was massive, but by bombing railway links and factories, even there not acurate production could drop just enough to tip the balance a little bit.
As example the railway links, far behind the front lines, to Stalingrad, denying the Sovjets of just enough, men and equipment on a crucial moment.
The He 177B or He277, even it proved not an exelent bomber, it showed the Nazis the value and effects on the front line of longrange bombing campains on strategic targets.
This opens the way to take projects as the Me264 serouis, even large bombers are complex machines the Nazis lacked the will to prioritize these projects. Now with the He277 there is a sence of value for this type of bombers emerging. Especially when the Blitzkrieg concept in the Sovjet Union failed.
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