- Yes
- No
Hello! and welcome to my second suggestion for the North American B-25 Mitchell in RAF service, this time I will be focusing on the Mitchell Mk.II, also known as the B-25C/D. I feel this could be a good aircraft to come to the British tree to fill the BR gap between 3.0 and 4.0 in the British bomber line.
Please note that this has already been suggested for the US tree by @slowmo21too so please read their suggestion for more info on the B-25C in US service, I have linked it below.
History
Spoiler
As I mentioned in my last suggestion, the North American B-25 Mitchell was one of the most produced and well known aircraft of the Second world war, being used almost all of the allied air forces to some extent, Especially within the RAF. Initially they received a fairly small number of B-25Bs (dubbed the Mitchell Mk.I) which they used for training and familiarisation, however shortly after they received the first Mitchells they intended to use for combat, the B-25C.
The First Batch of B-25Cs were delivered late in 1941, dubbed the Mitchell Mk.II, and by the end of the year 70 aircraft had been delivered, however most of these aircraft (like the Mk.Is beforehand) were delivered to No.111 OTU in the Bahamas and No.13 OTU in mainland Britain. The Mitchells continued being delivered through 1942 and 1943, with the RAF dubbing the slightly later B-25D the Mk.II as well due to the only difference being the factory they were built at, being built in Kansas City, Kansas rather than the B-25Cs at Inglewood, California. It is worth noting that later B-25Ds were delivered with waist and tail guns at the cost of the Ventral turret, but that brought them to essentially B-25J standard, which I will not be covering in this suggestion.
The Mitchells intended for combat were assigned to the RAFs medium bomber force, No.2 Group, and were assigned to several squadrons including No.98, 180 and 226 Squadrons, It also equipped several foreign RAF squadrons such as No.305 (Polish) Sqn for a short while, before they transitioned to De Havilland Mosquitos at the end of 1942. The First combat operation was from No.98 and 180 Squadron in January 1943, where 6 aircraft launched an attack on oil installations in Ghent, Belgium. During this operation the Mitchells suffered heavy losses, one aircraft was shot down due to heavy flak and 2 more were lost to enemy aircraft, this caused the RAF to reevaluate its tactics and introduce even tighter formations to protect its bombers.
The Mitchells returned to combat in May 1943,The following year all 4 squadrons moved to mainland france following D-Day in order to support allied offensives across the Western front. aside from No.2 Group, Mitchells served in the far east under No.3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit (PRU) in which a mix of Mitchell Mk.II and IIIs performed photographic recon against Japanese forces. Even After the War, many Mitchells were retained and by December 1945, out of 910 aircraft delivered there were still almost 400 Mitchells in Service with the RAF.
Images
Spoiler
A Mitchell Mk.II during a bombing run dropping 4 x M.C 500 lbs bombs
Several Mitchell Mk.IIs operating around D-day
Several Mitchells of No.180 Sqn, taken in April 1943
A side aspect view of one of the second batch Mitchell Mk.IIs
Mitchell Mk.IIs of No.320 (dutch) Sqn being loaded up with Bombs
A Mitchell Mk.II during an operation over france, April 1944
A Mitchell Mk.II During evaluations at Boscombe Down, 1942
A Restored Mitchell Mk.II Preparing for Takeoff
Specs/Armament
Spoiler
General Characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Engines: 2x 14 Cylinder Wright R-2600-13 Double Cyclone (1700hp each)
- Length: 53 ft (16.15 m)
- Wingspan: 67 ft 7 in (20.59 m)
- Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
- Wing Area: 610 sq. ft (56.67 m²)
- Empty weight: 20,300 lb (9,208 kg)
- Max Takeoff Weight: 34,000 lb (15,422 kg)
Performance
- Max Speed: 284 mph (457 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
- Cruising Speed: 233 mph (375 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,572 m)
- Initial climb rate: 1100 feet per minute (5.6 m/s)
- Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,315 m)
- Range: 1500 miles (2414 km) with 3000 lbs of bombs
- Total Fuel capacity: 670 US gal. (2536 L)
Armaments
Guns
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1 x Fixed 12.7mm in the nose
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1 x Flexible 12.7mm in the nose
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2 x 12.7mm in a dorsal turret
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2 x 12.7mm in a ventral turret
Bombs
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Up to 3000 lbs of bombs internally
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Up to 2200 lbs of bombs on external racks (unknown if fitted to RAF Mitchells)
Place in game
Spoiler
I feel this would be a great addition to the tree to bridge the 3.0 to 4.0 gap in the British Bomber line, the Mitchell Mk.II would most likely sit around 3.3/3.7. It would also provide a unique style of play compared to contemporary british bombers, of which normally rely on pure bombload, whilst this would sacrifice the sheer number of bombs for a far greater defensive armament and higher speed, giving a single aircraft a greater chance of reaching a base than other british equivalents.
Sources