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FM/DM threads Everything about FM/DM in CoD |
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Okay, how about some simple calculations?
Now, there is no doubt that 100 Octane fuel was available to Fighter Command before and during the Battle of Britain. How Much? Woods and Dempster say 22,000 tons - which is too low. http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/tec...b-16305-2.html Mike Williams #26 scroll down to Table II Monthly Consumption of fuel & oil: June - Aug 1940 = 10,000 tons consumed Sept - = 14,000 tons consumed Oct = 17,000 tons consumed 1 imperial gallon of 100 Octane = 7.1 pounds ("Oil" by D.J Peyton-Smith the official British war history on the oil and petroleum industry during WW2 page xvii "Note on Weights and Measures"): 1 ton of 100 octane = 2,240 lbs therefore 2,240 divided by 7.1 = 315.5 imp gal Fuel Capacities: Defiant I = 97 imp gal Hurricane I = 90 imp gal Spitfire I & II = 84 imp gal TOTAL = 271 imp gal divide by 3 = average fighter fuel load = 90.3 imp gal (Defiant from memory, so feel free to correct me. Defiant II = 104 imp gal) 1 ton = 315.5 imp gal divided by 90.3 imp gal = 3.5 fuel loads (or sorties) per ton of 100 octane fuel. Assuming all aircraft emptied their tanks for each sortie, and assuming all aircraft shot down = 1 fuel load of 90.3 imp gal NB: Not all aircraft returned with empty tanks and RAF policy was to refill each aircraft as soon as possible after landing, or each evening or early morning, to avoid vapour traps. Blenheims were the only other aircraft known to have used 100 Octane fuel, albeit only in their outer wing fuel tanks, making things complicated for the poor pilots. (Warner, The Bristol Blenheim:A Complete History 2nd ed, page 100.) Merlin III & XIIs could still use 87 octane fuel, hence training flights and other secondary flight duties, such as delivery, ferry flights, etc could use 87 octane fuel instead of 100. June to August: 10,000 tons x 3.5 = 35,000 fuel loads September: 14,000 tons x 3.5 = 49,000 fuel loads October: 17,000 tons x 3.5 = 59,500 fuel loads June to October = 41,000 tons x 3.5 = 143,500 fuel loads in 22 weeks = 6,523 fuel loads = 931.8 fuel loads per day If Woods and Dempster 22,000 tons distributed (not consumed) between July and September = 77,000 fuel loads divided by 13 weeks = 5,923 fuel loads per week = 846 fuel loads daily. The Battle of Britain by T.C.G. James shows 51,364 sorties, day & night from July 10 through Sept 30; some of the most intensive combat took place between these dates. Of course there were quiet periods when far fewer combat sorties were flown by Fighter Command; eg: August 16 & 17, between two days of intensive combat August 15 & 18. 51,364 divided by 13 weeks = 4,280 fuel loads = 611 fuel loads daily average: Hooton’s Eagle in Flames, Table 2, FC flew Sep 23-29: 4,825 defensive sorties Sep 30 – Oct 6: 1,782 defensive sorties, and yet consumption of 100 Octane was still increasing. Been here before, unfortunately http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...a-20108-7.html Last edited by NZtyphoon; 02-23-2012 at 09:15 AM. Reason: tweak |
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