Consolidated B-24L Liberator - Shedding the Pounds

Nostalgistic · October 19, 2025, 3:05am

Would you like to see this in-game?

Yes
No

0 voters

Which model of the B-24L would you like to see implemented? (Multiple Choice; choose up to 5)

Standard B-24L (M-6A tail turret and ring-mounted twin MGs in ventral tunnel)
ETO B-24L (M-6A tail turret and Sperry ball turret)
PTO B-24L (Hand-held twin MGs in open tail and ring-mounted twin MGs in ventral tunnel)
I know I want another one! (please comment)
I want all B-24L models
Don’t care, just gimme any B-24L model
I said “No” in the first poll

0 voters

Consolidated B-24L Liberator

Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Consolidated B-24L Liberator for the US aviation tree in War Thunder. Developed as a lighter version of the B-24J, the B-24L deleted the Sperry ball turret and introduced a lighter tail turret known as the M-6A “Stinger.” These changes, among others, helped shave over 1,000 pounds from the aircraft’s weight, improving handling and restoring some of the performance lost in earlier, heavily armed B-24J. The B-24L was the second-to-last major production model of the Liberator series, entering service in mid-1944.

History

By 1944, combat experience had revealed that the B-24J, while well-armed, had become too heavy. Its increasing equipment load had significantly compromised high-altitude performance and handling characteristics. As a result, field crews in both the European and Pacific theaters began removing the Sperry ball turret, either replacing it with hand-held twin .50 caliber machine guns mounted through the ventral hatch or covering the hatch entirely.

Recognizing these field modifications that involved weight reductions, the US Army Air Forces authorized a new production model, the B-24L, specifically designed to be lighter. It marked the beginning of the downsized Liberator Production Pool, following the withdrawal of Douglas and North American from B-24 manufacturing after completing their B-24J contracts. Only Ford (Willow Run) and Consolidated (San Diego) remained to produce the final variants.

The B-24L retained many of the B-24J’s features but introduced several weight-saving changes, including:

The Sperry ball turret was removed and replaced by a floor ring mount with two manually-operated .50 caliber machine guns.

The tail was fitted with the new M-6 Stinger turret, developed by Consolidated’s Tucson modification center. This turret weighed 200 pounds less than the older A-6B and was also aerodynamically cleaner, offered a wider field of fire, and allowed for faster maintenance and easier part replacement.

Other key features were retained from the B-24J, including the Emerson A-15 nose turret, the Martin A-3D “high hat” top turret, and enclosed, staggered waist gun positions using K-5 mounts. Combined, these changes reduced the aircraft’s weight by over 1,000 pounds, resulting in notable handling improvements, especially during takeoff and in high-altitude formation flying.

The first Consolidated-built B-24L was delivered in July 1944, followed by the first Ford-built B-24L a month later. On July 10, 1944, the USAAF directed that all B-24Ls be delivered without tail armament, allowing theater modification centers to outfit the aircraft with the most appropriate tail defenses based on operational needs. As a result, B-24Ls served with multiple tail configurations, including the M-6A Stinger turret, the older A-6B Consolidated turret, and a hand-held twin .50-caliber machine gun in an open rear position. Which version was installed depended on theater-specific logistics and mission profiles. Some B-24Ls were retrofitted with the ball turret, as seen in the European theater.

In total, 1,667 B-24Ls were built, with 1,250 aircraft of Ford (Willow Run) and 417 aircraft of Consolidated (San Diego). Production of the B-24L concluded as the final model, the B-24M, entered production in greater numbers.

Specifications

Consolidated B-24L Liberator

Total Produced: 1,667 (all blocks)

General Characteristics

Crew: 10

Dimensions:

Length: 67 ft 2 in (20.47 m)

Height: 18 ft (5.49 m)

Wingspan: 110 ft (33.53 m)

Wing Area: 1,048 sq ft (97.36 sq m)

Propeller:

Type: 4 x 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic

Diameter: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)

Powerplant:

Type: 4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-65 Twin Wasp

Configuration: Turbo-supercharged radials

Power Output:

Takeoff/Altitude: 1,200 hp (895 kW) each (4,800 hp / 3,580 kW total)

Fuel/Oil:

Fuel Capacity: 2,364 - 3,164 US gal (self-sealing)

Oil Capacity: 131.6 US gal (498 L)

Weight:

Empty: 35,500 lb (16,102 kg)

Gross: 56,000 lb (25,401 kg)

Max Takeoff: 65,000 lb (29,484 kg)

Max Bomb Load: 12,800 lb (5,806 kg)

Flight Performance

Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.09 hp/lb (0.14 kW/kg)

Max Speed:

Max @ 25,000 ft: 290 mph (467 km/h)

Max @ 30,000 ft: 278 mph (447 km/h)

Wing Loading: 53.4 lb/sq ft (261 kg/sq m)

Time to Altitude: 31 min to 25,000 ft (7,620 m)

Service Ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,144 m)

Armament

Defensive Guns (10 x .50-cal):

Total Ammunition: 5,216 rounds

Nose Turret: 2 x M2 Browning (600 rpg)

Top Turret: 2 x M2 Browning (400 rpg)

Ventral Tunnel: 2 x M2 Browning (508 rpg)

Waist Positions: 1 x per side (500 rds)

Tail Turret: 2 x M2 Browning (600 rpg)

Bombs:

2 x 4,000-lb on wings

2 x 2,000-lb on wings

4 x 2,000-lb

8 x 1,600-lb

12 x 1,000-lb

12 x 500-lb

12 x 300-lb

12 x 250-lb

20 x 100-lb

Related Suggestions

Liberator Family:

Sources

EE-393 Wartime Tactical Planning Characteristics & Performance Charts (1 July 1945)
AN 01-5EE-1 Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for B-24G, H, J, L, and M (30 November 1944)
B-24 Liberator In Action - Aircraft Number 080 (1987)
Warbird Tech Vol. 1 - Consolidated B-24 Liberator (1996)
B-24 Liberator In Detail & Scale Vol. 64 (2000)
Osprey Production Line to Frontline 4 - Consolidated B-24 Liberator (2003)
Crowood Aviation Series - Consolidated B-24 Liberator (2004)
Consolidated B-24 Liberator - Wikipedia
Consolidated/Ford B-24L Liberator

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃

PlayedStatue626-live · October 19, 2025, 9:14am

+1 for all 3