Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Tofolo]

All I could get is that the Gammas in Spain, in particular the 5B, was used as a bomber, equiping 5 machineguns, and up to 1.000 kg of bombs or a 800 kg torpedo (although it's not scientifically proven, there are several references that point to the gamma carrying a torpedo along with the Vultees from the 1st Sqn, 72 Group). And rumours point that the chinese armed gamma was bought to the reps...but it's all a bit murky.


In this image looks like there was some kind of turret or observatory post underneath the wings.

Hope it was useful.

[SAS~Poltava]

This is sure one ugly duckling! Wonderful addition to the game! THANKS, again!

[Dreamk]

Yes the observer lower position is represented on this mod - but as an unarmed position - looking backwards - which makes me wonder about its use. the drawing by Craig Johnson are "logical" but unsupported so far by any photographic documentation - The Spanish Photo tends to confirm that this plane was not equipped with a rear mounted weapon of any sort. On the other side, the 4 wing-mounted PV1 were a very consistent armament for such an attack plane.
I am more than suspicious of the 1000kg number for bomb load - the Gamma versions had originally a 1000lbs (not kgs) bomb load, on 5 underbelly "ridges' serving as bomb pylons (for up to 10x45kgs bombs) that was brought on the 2E to 727 Kg (on three underbelly reinforced "ridges" instead of 5) - which is enough BTW for the Spanish made torpedoes or the British 450mm Whitehead Torpedo used by the Republican, weighting 700Kg (not 800kg). The use of a torpedo may have been a problem, as the "ridge pylons" are rather forward under the belly of this plane and there may have been problems at launching - but it is not to be excluded.

[David Prosser]

Thanks Dreamk. The Chinese aparrently had some too. It was used by Peru in the Peru-Ecuador war. I'd like to do a campaign for that, but I'd have to use the Burma map. Looks like I have another two seater missioin to write. It'll be a pleasure.

cheers

David

[max_thehitman]

Thank you very much for another cool classic airplane for my IL-2-1936 Game! 
I will paint some new skins for it,
right after I finish doing the WW1 IL-2-1916 airplane skins.

Aside from Dreamk's many planes, there is a wealth of other planes that would fit nicely into a 1936 or Interbellum pack - P-26, Fokker DXXI, Letov, R-5, I-15, I-16, Ju-52, ju-87, PWS-10, PWS-24, Cant Z501, HS-123, SM-79, G-50, Junkers F13, Do-17, He-111, SB-2M, DB-2M, Lublin R-XIII, Trimotor, Swordfish, Ki-10 and so on ...

Yes, I know. Very cool idea, but I had that thought along time ago too.
I am already preparing my version of the game for a IL-2-1926 and IL-2-1936 with
some skins that are shiny polished-chrome-metal and period colors and markings. 
I will show you some sneak previews one of these days. Did you ever see a He-111 in shiny chrome
metal? 

[agracier]

Did you ever see a He-111 in shiny chrome metal? 

Not really. Most He-111 skins are not that special anyway ... there has been something lacking in skins for this plane ...

So let's see ...

[crazyflak]

ugly

I beg to differ, it has this stylish look I can't describe

. there has been something lacking in skins for this plane ...

Maybe for the schemes you are personally looking for, but it is not true for all. Also, I have to say the 3dmodel is really REALLY showing its age, and would need to be a little more rounded here and there...    not to mention the really stupid decision made with the keel mapping... unforgivable 

[LiddleMaus]

All I could get is that the Gammas in Spain, in particular the 5B, was used as a bomber, equiping 5 machineguns, and up to 1.000 kg of bombs or a 800 kg torpedo (although it's not scientifically proven, there are several references that point to the gamma carrying a torpedo along with the Vultees from the 1st Sqn, 72 Group). And rumours point that the chinese armed gamma was bought to the reps...but it's all a bit murky.

On the Chinese end, there isn't much photographic information for Gamma 2E armament:



In the photos, we see no rear armaments. But for one photo, we see Chinese technicians loading ammo for forward guns, but we can't see how many. Even if Chinese Gamma's made it to Spain, rear armaments are iffy. However, a quote from online yields the following:

"Later in the afternoon, another floatplane from Izumo attacked Northrop 2E bombers from the 2nd Bomb Group. Lt. Chu Hong-Hsin was wounded in the arm while his gunner Lt. Ren Yun-Ge was hit in the chest and killed. The damaged Northrop managed to limp back to Hong-Chiao Airfield for forced landing." -- http://www.warbirdforum.com/cafhist2.htm

Theoretically, rear guns may have been field mod. Or the Gamma 2E may have had the mount originally, but the rear gun wasn't installed unless the a/c was in combat. We will never know unless there's a photo. Gun or no gun, this Gamma is a welcome addition. 

[Birdman]

It might be possible that the gunner opened the rear cockpit and attached the gun only when there was something to shoot at. In other situations (also on ground) the gun might be hidden in the rear part of cockpit and glass hatch closed in flight to reduce drag and keep cockpit closed.

[Flamer50]

Dreamk,
Thanks for another great "early bird"!

found some info at this link:
http://www.skytamer.com/Northrop_1933(Gamma2E).html

According to this, the 2E was armed with three .30-caliber mg's, two
in the wings and one on a movable mount in the rear cockpit.

In any case, Thanks Again!...another China bird

[max_thehitman]

Now that is one shiny chrome-machine.
It will defenitly look great as a skin 

[David Prosser]

Hi, Poltava. How did you get on with landing it? I tried three times on the Bessarabia map, and the u/c collapsed each time. Probably my pathetic landing skills, or a weak u/c. The Delfin, on the other hand has a very robust u/c.

cheers

David