Yak-9T - incredible firepower (or maybe incredible tank's lack of armor?)

[ben_wh]

Here is an article about fighter-bomber contribution and effectiveness in Normandy, specifically focusing on the 83 Group:

http://www.wlu.ca/lcmsds/cmh/back%20...83%20Group.pdf

Interesting data on effectiveness of Typhoon, Spitfire and (RAF) Mustang on air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.

Cheers,

[swiss]

Originally Posted by majorfailure

If we guesstimate that half of the tanks blown up+abandoned by crew were due to lack of fuel, then aircraft were very effective in "destroying" tanks by destroying the supply chain needed for upkeep of tanks.

Which turns B-17 into tank killer N°1.

[bf-110]

But I still believe bombs could do a nasty mess with tanks,even heavy ones.From 100 lbs bombs and above.Right?

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by swiss

Which turns B-17 into tank killer N°1.

Yes. The carpet bombing of trapped German forces by the U.S. 8th and 9th air forces during Operation Goodwood was devastating. Of course, it only worked because it was directed against vehicles in woods and open country, and the bombardment was massive. Bombs against infantry in built up areas resulted in some casualties, but just created rubble that favored the defenders (e.g., Monte Cassino, Stalingrad).

[gaunt1]

Originally Posted by bf-110

But I still believe bombs could do a nasty mess with tanks,even heavy ones.From 100 lbs bombs and above.Right?

As far as I know, bombs up to 250kg also required a direct hit against a medium or heavy tank.

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by gaunt1

As far as I know, bombs up to 250kg also required a direct hit against a medium or heavy tank.

Yes and no. Even a small bomb could potentially be a tank killer if it hit in the right place (e.g., the PTAB bomblets). Large bombs increase the chance of a near miss injuring or killing crew due to overpressure, or damaging the tank or tipping it over.

[RPS69]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Yes and no. Even a small bomb could potentially be a tank killer if it hit in the right place (e.g., the PTAB bomblets). Large bombs increase the chance of a near miss injuring or killing crew due to overpressure, or damaging the tank or tipping it over.

On Otto Karius memories, they narrate a friendly fire situation with 21cm nebelwerfers firing on his position. Those rockets carry a 550 Kg HE warhead.
They can´t do anything but lay down with their hands on their ears during the bombardment. They feel the shock waves from explosions, but no damage was reported.

Air bombs on WWII were saturation weapons. Even rockets were employed that way.

Heavy canons, were an elite crew option. Also pilots disregard it's effects as failures.

Russian Ptab's, were a primitive solution also employed by the germans, but more dangerous to the aircraft than for the intended enemy.

The state of the art were the germans AB bombs. Tested on the field against medium armor with success. Heavys were not that frequent on russian assaults. On Kursk, KV1's were few and kept at the rear.

HE bombs will generate supression when not scoring a direct hit, damage will be achieved as something unusual.

[majorfailure]

Originally Posted by RPS69

Russian Ptab's, were a primitive solution also employed by the germans, but more dangerous to the aircraft than for the intended enemy.

Care to elaborate?

Originally Posted by RPS69

HE bombs will generate supression when not scoring a direct hit, damage will be achieved as something unusual.

With bigger bombs near-misses can be fatal, too - overpressure effect on crew.

[swiss]

Originally Posted by RPS69

On Otto Karius memories, they narrate a friendly fire situation with 21cm nebelwerfers firing on his position. Those rockets carry a 550 Kg HE warhead.

550kg warhead in a 21cm Rocket?
Sure bro.
Maybe more like 40kg?

[gaunt1]

According to wiki, 550kg is the weight of the launcher with rockets. But still, it is a very powerful weapon, it fires 112kg rockets, which are stronger than a FAB-100 or a 250lb bomb.

Concerning PTAB. I highly doubt that it was dangerous to the plane that uses it. In reality, it was useless against tanks. However, against soft vehicles, it was devastating.