A-20 Havoc Variant

[SYN_Luftwaffles]

Don't know if it's been asked, but will we see the ground attack modification on the A- 20?

[LukeFF]

There was no ground attack modification. It was an entirely separate series built at the factory.

[216th_Lucas_From_Hell]

Adding to what Luke said, after being received the vast majority of A-20Gs were immediately sent to a workshop to replace the guns in the nose with a bombardier/navigator compartment. The Bostons in Soviet service were used for level bombing and anti-shipping roles, like the DB-3 and B-25. For strafing attacks, Il-2s and fighters were used.

Here are some photos of the modified bombardier position:

 

 

 

 

You can see an 'original' A-20 in the back as well in the last picture, but generally speaking they just weren't used for that.

[SYN_Luftwaffles]

Just seems like a quick-and-dirty addition to current or future expansions. Wouldn't even have to model the interior of the nose : ) 

[ShamrockOneFive]

2 hours ago, SYN_Luftwaffles said:

Just seems like a quick-and-dirty addition to current or future expansions. Wouldn't even have to model the interior of the nose : ) 

 

It's not unfortunately that easy. The dorsal turret on the A-20G is completely different and there are changes in the cockpit area as well. I think the belly gunner station is relatively unchanged so that part is probably good to go.

 

Given that they've done a lot of the work already it would be easier than a remodel but it wouldn't be a modification. It'd be a separate plane for sure.

[Gambit21]

16 hours ago, SYN_Luftwaffles said:

Just seems like a quick-and-dirty addition to current or future expansions. Wouldn't even have to model the interior of the nose : ) 

 

It would be relatively quick - emphasis on the word "relatively"  

We're still talking no small amount of time/money.

 

That said given the fact that we're about to go to Belgium and PTO after...

Edited March 19, 2018 by Gambit21

[US63_SpadLivesMatter]

This thread didn't take long to arrive!

 

You lucky bastards.  I haven't even had time to *try* all the new aircraft yet.

[Royal_Flight]

There is a precedent for this - the Pe-2 mod which turns the s.87 into the s.110 by changing the rear turret, adding a radio direction finder loop and some minor changes to instrument placement in the cockpit. 

 

So although the changes to the Peshka were more minor, it could still be handled as a mod to the same aircraft model.

It would add more options to Bodenplatte and the Pacific. 

It might not be as profitable as selling new versions but it would be a cool step if new releases would come with some mods for existing aircraft that fit the theatres, to update them and bring them in line with the setting. 

 

In the meantime, I'll settle for getting the Commonwealth skins for the A-20B that we were promised. 

[Rjel]

19 hours ago, Gambit21 said:

 

It would be relatively quick - emphasis on the word "relatively"  

We're still talking no small amount of time/money.

 

That said given the fact that we're about to go to Belgium and PTO after...

While the USAAF used twin engine bombers extensively in the PTO for ground attack, I don't remember reading where it was done in Europe. It was deadly enough attacking relatively lightly defended Japanese airfields. I can't imagine taking a B-25 or A-20 across a heavily defended German base. Talk about committing suicide. Now give me a Mosquito and I'll give it a go.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Rjel
spelling and clarity

[MiloMorai]

The USAF increased the bomb release altitude of medium bomber in the ETO due the flak.

[Gambit21]

25 minutes ago, Rjel said:

While the USAAF used twin engine bombers extensively in the PTO for ground attack, I don't remember reading where it was done in Europe. It was deadly enough attacking relatively lightly defended Japanese airfields. I can't imagine taking a B-25 or A-20 across a heavily defended German base. Talk about committing suicide. Now give me a Mosquito and I'll give it a go.

 

A-20's were utilized by the 9th Air Force extensively.

[ShamrockOneFive]

Also the A-26 was used in the 9th too as I learned just recently in another thread. They were fitted with a nose full of machine guns and HVAR rockets in some cases so they were very much flying attack missions.

[MiloMorai]

The 9th AF had 12 squadrons of A-20s and 32 squadrons of B-26s.

 

Sure you are not thinking of the B-25 Shamrock?

[Royal_Flight]

The RAF used them in the ETO as well. 

[BOO]

13 minutes ago, MiloMorai said:

The 9th AF had 12 squadrons of A-20s and 32 squadrons of B-26s.

 

Sure you are not thinking of the B-25 Shamrock?

Many A20 units in the 9th converted to the A26 from late 1944 onwards. The 410th was the last unit to convert from the A20 in April 45. 

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

Without any resources at hand, is the G model (more) appropriate for Bodenplatte than Kuban?

[ShamrockOneFive]

25 minutes ago, MiloMorai said:

The 9th AF had 12 squadrons of A-20s and 32 squadrons of B-26s.

 

Sure you are not thinking of the B-25 Shamrock?

 

Learned that those A-20s were slowly replaced by A-26s though the A-20J with clear glass was last to go sometimes bombing with mixed groups of A-26s with solid noses and A-20s leading the bomb.

 

Quote

Bombardment Group of the Ninth Air Force, which converted from A-20 Havocs to Invaders in November of 1944. A-26s were eventually delivered to the 409th, 386th, and 391st Bombardment Groups of the Ninth Air Force in early 1945. At the time of the end of the war in Europe, the 410th BG was in the process of converting to A-26s. The last combat mission of the war in Europe was flown by 124 A-26s on May 3, 1945. During the war in Europe, A-26s flew a total of 11,567 sorties.

http://www.joebaugher.com/usattack/a26_12.html

 

 

8 minutes ago, BOO said:

Many A20 units in the 9th converted to the A26 from late 1944 onwards. The 410th was the last unit to convert from the A20 in April 45. 

Indeed! That was quite unknown to me until just recently.

[Nightrise]

well probably see it at some point. Probably in the pacific. 

[Y-29.Silky]

Why don't we have the torpedo? And why couldn't the Soviets fit x4 250's in the bomb bay? Why do Soviets like drag so much with wing mounted bombs?

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

3 minutes ago, Y-29.Silky said:

Why don't we have the torpedo? And why couldn't the Soviets fit x4 250's in the bomb bay? Why do Soviets like drag so much with wing mounted bombs?

 

Torpedo tech was mentioned quite some time ago. It was not going to mature in time for Kuban regardless and shifting from the Pacific to Bodenplatte certainly put that endeavour on hold for the moment.

[ShamrockOneFive]

4 minutes ago, Y-29.Silky said:

Why don't we have the torpedo? And why couldn't the Soviets fit x4 250's in the bomb bay? Why do Soviets like drag so much with wing mounted bombs?

 

Torpedoes only mounted on the A-20C. The rest I'm not sure about... I suppose because they wanted to bring along more bombs.

[Royal_Flight]

8 hours ago, II/JG17_HerrMurf said:

 

Torpedo tech was mentioned quite some time ago. It was not going to mature in time for Kuban regardless and shifting from the Pacific to Bodenplatte certainly put that endeavour on hold for the moment.

 

I'm optimistic that a future update might add torpedoes. Part of the rationale for choosing Kuban was to test future tech for the Pacific, and given the naval focus of Kuban anyway there's a chance that we might see more things added to it. 

Torpedoes, depth-charges and ASW, better ship AI, maybe even floatplane tech. 

 

While the focus is on Bodenplatte, the devs still have this huge expanse of water to play with so we might see some of this work its way into Kuban prior to the Pacific, as I doubt the BoBo map will have any water. 

[BMA_Hellbender]

The current top gunner position is woefully inadequate.

 

Is there any chance we might get a turret modification, perhaps the same VUB-1 turret that was installed on the later Pe-2 models (with the bunny ears to help with airflow)?

 

At least some A-20Bs were equipped with the UTK-1 found on late IL-2 models, though some pictures suggest a different type of turret.

 

 

 

Edited March 20, 2018 by Hellbender

[CanadaOne]

On ‎3‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 5:58 PM, SYN_Luftwaffles said:

Don't know if it's been asked, but will we see the ground attack modification on the A- 20?

 

Yep, it would be nice to have an A-20 with a nose full of .50s.