23.02.2009, 05:33
I just read a book called "Barracuda Pilot". The author who had flown the Barracuda on combat operation states that the Avenger (which he also flew) could do everything better that the Barracuda except one thing... Putting torpedoes into capital ships.
The Avenger torpedo attack came in slow and low over the water making the aircraft vulnerable to AA fire. Judging the distance and speed of the target is difficult as it can be very hard to tell between a cruiser in close or a battleship further away as both occupy the same area of your perspective. Similarly, judging the target angle can be hard in a low side-on attack. Without accurate target distance, speed or angle, hitting the target requires a bit of luck. The other problem for the Avenger was co-coordinating attacks. With the aircraft usually approaching from one side, the second group had to fly a long way around the target if simultaneous attacks from two side were going to be mounted. In most cases, the first group had dropped their torps and gone, long before the second group arrived on the other side of the target.
The Cuda's attacked from 10000ft, flying in groups of eight. As they approached the target, they would split up and a flight of four would fly 1km away down each side of the target. As they went past the target, individual planes would break off and begin their attack. The Barracuda's would come down vertically like a dive bomber before pulling out just above the water to drop their torpedo and escape.
The advantage a Barracuda attack was
- The target was attacked simultaneously from eight directions (four per side) making evasion impossible
- Viewing the target from a known distance (10000ft up) and almost vertically above, the Barracuda crews could accurately judge the targets speed, distance and angle.
- Target Speed, distance and angle were feed into the torpedo sight during the dive which told the pilot where to aim. Barracuda attacks were very accurate.
- Trying to hit one of eight vertically diving targets which are drop 1km away is almost impossible.
It's a pity the Barracuda never got to face any large capital ships at sea (They did dive bomb the Tirpitz at dock but that's different). They would have been devastating....
The Avenger torpedo attack came in slow and low over the water making the aircraft vulnerable to AA fire. Judging the distance and speed of the target is difficult as it can be very hard to tell between a cruiser in close or a battleship further away as both occupy the same area of your perspective. Similarly, judging the target angle can be hard in a low side-on attack. Without accurate target distance, speed or angle, hitting the target requires a bit of luck. The other problem for the Avenger was co-coordinating attacks. With the aircraft usually approaching from one side, the second group had to fly a long way around the target if simultaneous attacks from two side were going to be mounted. In most cases, the first group had dropped their torps and gone, long before the second group arrived on the other side of the target.
The Cuda's attacked from 10000ft, flying in groups of eight. As they approached the target, they would split up and a flight of four would fly 1km away down each side of the target. As they went past the target, individual planes would break off and begin their attack. The Barracuda's would come down vertically like a dive bomber before pulling out just above the water to drop their torpedo and escape.
The advantage a Barracuda attack was
- The target was attacked simultaneously from eight directions (four per side) making evasion impossible
- Viewing the target from a known distance (10000ft up) and almost vertically above, the Barracuda crews could accurately judge the targets speed, distance and angle.
- Target Speed, distance and angle were feed into the torpedo sight during the dive which told the pilot where to aim. Barracuda attacks were very accurate.
- Trying to hit one of eight vertically diving targets which are drop 1km away is almost impossible.
It's a pity the Barracuda never got to face any large capital ships at sea (They did dive bomb the Tirpitz at dock but that's different). They would have been devastating....