Best Aircraft in Many Different Roles Part II

[the lancaster kicks ass]

he makes a good point about the tiffy and hurricane above 30,000 ft though, that being said the hurricane in particular did prove herself in a huge number of roles............

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Tiffy and the Hurricane should deffinatly be up for consideration, however I think the Fw-190 or the P-47 will probably take it.

Not sure on this but could the P-47 or the Corsair carry Torpedos? If neither one could then I might have actually give my vote to the Fw-190. The Fw-190 could do what they could plus it could carry torpedos.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but could any of them take two 40mm cannon? well yeah proberly but i don't think they did so it's just speculation which is annother feather in the cap of the hurricane, along with her ability to be adapted into a two seat trainer, have over 20 production varients, be launced by catapult from a ship, carry Skis for arctic operations (ok canadian operations) and even be fitted with a second wing!

[lonestarman63]

Yet one must try and think hmm on the field is 109 ,190 ,corsair , Hurricane, tempest p40 warhawk typoon,p 51 and thunderbolt the mission is to fly top cover , then come down and search and destroy
what one bird could do that and have the best chance to make it back and to compltete the job HMMMM

[plan_D]

The Typhoon wasn't capable of multiple roles. It was fighter-bomber, able to carry rockets and bombs. That's it.

[lonestarman63]

Yet other have brought up the tempest and typhoon , so i was asking what bird would they take with the types above .to see what they would take and why is all , thanks for repling

[mosquitoman]

The Typhoon was a bit more than that pD, it's first role was taking down the 190s that were making the hit and run bombing raids at low level over Britain

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ***

but could any of them take two 40mm cannon? well yeah proberly but i don't think they did so it's just speculation which is annother feather in the cap of the hurricane, along with her ability to be adapted into a two seat trainer, have over 20 production varients, be launced by catapult from a ship, carry Skis for arctic operations (ok canadian operations) and even be fitted with a second wing!

While I agree the Hurry deserves to be in the final vote. 20 production varients are not roles, and fitten with a second wing are not roles.

These are roles:

fighter bomber
fighter, etc.

So lets compare:

Fw-190
Fighter
Fighter-Bomber
Dive Bomber
Torpedo Bomber
Anti Shipping
2 Seat Trainer
Carrier launched fighter (there were test versions built and it would have worked)
Photo Recon
Interceptor
Anti Tank/Ground Support

Hurricane
Fighter
Fighter-Bomber
2 Seat Trainer
Carrier launched fighter
Photo Recon
Interceptor
Anti Tank/Ground Support
Anti Shipping

If I forgot any for either one, please add it in your post.

[mosquitoman]

The Hurricane also ran a "postal service" over Normandy for secure orders etc

[Bullockracing]

Don't forget the keg-in-the-bomb-rack beverage delivery and coolant role...

[pbfoot]

Originally Posted by Bullockracing

Don't forget the keg-in-the-bomb-rack beverage delivery and coolant role...

yes we in the north are quite innovative

[plan_D]

"The Typhoon was a bit more than that pD, it's first role was taking down the 190s that were making the hit and run bombing raids at low level over Britain"

Yes, it's still only a fighter-bomber able to carry bombs and rockets. When not carrying that payload it became a fighter. Hardly multirole. It didn't do anything else.
Over Normandy it took part in a lot of fighter sweeps and escort missions. But ... it's just a fighter-bomber.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Bullockracing

Don't forget the keg-in-the-bomb-rack beverage delivery and coolant role...

Id like that role.

[wmaxt]

Adler,

I don't know if the Hurricane ever did carrier work but I do know of a version that was catapulted from ships on fighter cover then ditch missions.

Fighter-bomber should not be listed if you detail the type of bombing used, at least in my opinion, fighter-bomber is a category. In my way of thinking there are

1. Strategic Bombing - Level bombing with over 2,000lbs each from a formation, the only fighter capable of this is the P-38. If you raise the limit to 4,000lbs per aircraft that eliminates many if not most medium bombers (many were rated at 3,000lbs) but still leaves the P-38.
2. Tactical Bombing - Dropping 2.000lbs or less onto a mobile or small fixed target. This includes low level bombing, glide bombing and any other bomb placement techniques that don't fit into the other classes.
3. Skip Bombing - Skipping the bomb off the water into a target.
4. Dive Bombing - Bombing at an angle of more than 45 deg.
5. Torpedo Bombing - The P-38 is the only fighter (or dedicated torpedo plane) capable of dropping two torpedo's.

All other bombing is a function of those categories otherwise a C-54 would be classed as a bomber for dropping candy in the Berlin airlift etc. To my knowledge the only WWII aircraft that is capable of, and has done all 5 is the P-38.

Just my opinion.

wmaxt

[wmaxt]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Id like that role.

Theres a funny story along those lines. I was watching a documentary about the "Bridge Busters" in Burma, a B-25 outfit. They had gotten together and organized a mission to send a bomber to get beer. On approach to their home base they decided to let everyone know they were back with a low pass and a sharp break at the end of the field. They dodn't take into account the jury rigged beer mounts in the bomb bay shackles. At the break all the beer crashed to the bottom of the bomb bay and shattered . I'm sure you can guess how warmly they were recieved!

wmaxt