Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

First of all, Rabie, the the question was about fighter-bomber not ground attack, ruling out the Il-2

As for my answer on this, it’s a close tie, between the Fw-190D-9 of 1944 (it had the speed the range, the power and the manouverability) or the Yak-9DD which had all of the above plus the armour of the Il-2.

All the rest are very good and I wouldn’t knock back a chance to fly in any of them. I have to make special mention to the CAC Boomerang, though it originally started out as a fighter, it did end up as a fighter bomber, and could carry a good enough load. The only let down for it was the twin wasp radial, now this is a good and reliable engine, but it was down rated when it was used in the Boomerang. Some one seriously screwed up there 🙁

Success comes to those who earn it, revenge to those who take it and death to anyone who tries to cheat the system. Welcome to Therapy!

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

For my best would have to be the P-40 family. Out classed at High altitude, low down more than a handful. Best they had at the time, limited or no protection, did very well agaisnt all types and all enemies

Buz

RE: Best fighter bomber

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 28-12-01 AT 09:30 AM (GMT)]Good one Cool Hand. It’s good to see someone whose prepared to argue a case & do some research. If you want the best Mosquito books let me know, I can tell you the ones to look up. I shall look forward to further discussions, as I’m doing some P-38 reading. However, reading, work & building my number 1 toy takes it’s toll of my time. If you went to the The Mosquito Page you may have seen my No.1 toy, in the model section, although it’s about 12 months out of date, I’m hoping to have it flying in the spring (18 mths late).
Going slightly off- I do have for sale Mosquito by Sharp & Bowyer. This book is the definitive Mosquito book. It’s in mint condition & the reason I’m selling it, is I manage to get hold of a limited, edition, signed copy of this book. Anyone interested let me know.

Happy New Year, to all,

Neilly

RE: Best fighter bomber

Well I did fiind a few books, I think I may be busy for a little while. =O)

http://www.mossie.org/Mosquito_books.htm

RE: Best fighter bomber

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-12-01 AT 10:13 PM (GMT)]Well Cool Hand, I’m not going over old ground, I would just suggest you get some books about the Mosquito out the library, & do some research!!!
If you want a book to start with, go for The Mosquito Log by Alexander McKee. You’ll find it an interesting read, as it looks at the developement of the Mosquito from the people who designed & flew it.
Neilly

RE: Best fighter bomber

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 26-12-01 AT 08:00 PM (GMT)]Oh, come one people think! A Mossie as a fighter?! I’ll put in my vote for the P-38 seeing as how no one has mentioned it yet. Anyone really think the ol’ Mossie could go up against any of the aircraft already mentioned here? Now don’t get me wrong, it was a great aircraft but it was no fighter.

Yeah, yeah… I know we are talkin about single engines here, I’m not the one whom started this “rabbit trail”… I’m just following down the path!

O.k., o.k. for SINGLES I’ll go with the F4U Corsair. Um, gee… did any other type remain in production for as long? The Corsair stayed in till ’53?

Best fighter bomber

FW-190 axis
F4U-1D Corsair allies

RE: DH.110 armament

Sorry to reopen this old ‘un!
I’ve just received the latest DH Newsletter & they’re celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the DH 110. One of the pictures in the article definitly shows 4 gun ports under the fuselage, similar to the Mosquito set up. So it would seem that at least one DH 110 carried 30mm cannons.

Neilly

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

LAST EDITED ON 15-11-01 AT 11:04 AM (GMT)[p]The article was taken from Mosquito Log by Alexander McKee. It was in the section called ‘Arming the Mosquito’, David King (see above post), was describing the fitting of cannons etc. to the Mosquito. I’ve copied the last paragraph below:

Instrumentation tests on the 20mm Hispano gun mountings showed that shock loads on firing were completely absorbed in about 1/3rd the distance on wooden structures, compared with metal, were breakages were common until new buffering methods were devised. De Havilland’s had fortunately found a solution first time. Wooden beams for 20mm guns of later marks were used on all subsequent aircraft- Hornet, Vampire, and the 30mm Aden guns of the DH110, later the Sea Vixen,where it was the only wood on an otherwise metal aircraft.

I would think, if you say the Sea Vixen didn’t have guns, that the prototype maybe did, & knowing the way De Havilland design thinking went, then maybe the provision for guns was perhaps there (but I’m only guessing!) on the Sea Vixen.

Over to you,
Neilly

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

LAST EDITED ON 14-11-01 AT 10:41 AM (GMT)[p]I only put what was in the article, written by a de Havillands engineer. He stated that the Sea Vixen had a 30mm Aden cannon. I’m not very well versed in the Sea Vixen, so if the last statements wrong, don’t shoot me!!!
How can anyone say an aeroplane that has never seen service is the best? You can only judge an aircraft by it’s record, just because it looks good on paper, doesn’t mean it will perform well in action. The other problem in this theoretical arguement is the opposition will have also upgraded, so it’s impossible to say how good bad or indifferent an aeroplane like the M-B 5 would’ve been. However, having said that,it was a very nice looking aeroplane, which probably have done quite well in action.
Neilly

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

Hmm… Why didn’t I pick up on that?? I must have been thinking of the Sea Venom!!!

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

No, it didn’t enter service, but then the question was not that specific. The Boscombe Down flight test reports were extremely enthusiastic about the performance and potential of the aircraft in every respect, from handling to maintainability. It seems it was only the advent of the jet that doomed the MB.5 to remain a “might have been”. I for one can’t wait to see the replica which is nearing completion in the US, giving us the chance to see for ourselves just what an outstanding aircraft it was.

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

so did the MB5 actually see service, I thougt it started and finished life as a prototype.

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

Martin-Baker MB.5

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

Yes, it was the Tsetse. This was the Mosquito XVIII. I think we are all on sticky ground, concerning the F-B Mosquito. I disagree that it didn’t have good load to take on the enemy. Look at the figures, nearly 700 enemy aircraft shot down,over Northern Europe,is not bad, for this sort of aeroplane. I do agree that you wouldn’t want go 1-1 with a fighter such as an FW 190 (or similar), unless the Mosquito had the advantage,or you had no choice. But then again you would be hunting aircraft like the JU 88 or similar, which the Mossie could (& did) deal with because of it’s superior speed & mobility, over these aircraft.
neilly

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

not the same as the tsetse then??? not sure about what mark that one was, if it wasnt the molins’ gun, as for this fighter business, the only time it was ever used in the fighter capacity purposefully was with the night fighter units. We could argue that it was neither a fighter or a bomber, in its FB clothes, and it certainly wasnt that much of a recon aircraft in FB clothes either, negating the GR prefix!! It would probably be best left as an interdictor aircraft, ie. an aircraft equipped such that its main role is ground attack, and which also has the added ability of taking on its own air defense task. As a fully loaded aircraft it wasnt a great aircraft to use to take on the enemy, and crews relied on its speed to evade, without an internal load it did have a credible air to air ability.

coanda:7

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

The actual gun wasn’t, but the automatic ammunition feed load was. The gun was an army anti tank gun, so it carried quite a punch!
Neilly

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

I didn’t know that gun was invented by a cigarette vending machine maker either!!!! Interesting stuff!!!

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

LAST EDITED ON 11-11-01 AT 08:38 PM (GMT)[p]It sank several U Boats, off the top of head, I think it was either 3 or 6, U Boats. One interesting incident: several Mosquitoes were U Boat hunting in the Bay of Biscay & were about to be ‘bounced’ by a larger force of JU 88’s, sent to protect the U Boats. One of the Mosquitoes opened fire (at extreme range)with it’s 57mm cannon, the first (& only) shot completely destroyed one of the JU 88’s (lucky shot?) & broke up the attack! The gun was very accurate, I think it fired 25 rouds, in about a minute. The Banff wing used a mixture of the Mk XVIII’s with rocket firing FB VI’s & also Beaufighters, to attack & sink many German ships around the Norwegian coast. They were very effective.

Regards,

Neilly

ps. You’re right it was called Molin. After the cigarette vending machine maker who invented it.

RE: Best single engined fighter-bomber of WW2?

Wooden cannon mounts on the Sea Vixen… Now that is interesting!! You learn something new everyday!!! I know about the 57mm Molins(?) gun. How effective was this gun in combat?