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Thread: RNAS 2-seaters - typical mssions

  1. #1

    Default RNAS 2-seaters - typical mssions

    Just finishing up reading "Bomber Pilot" by C.P.O. Bartlett, an account of his actions in 5 RNAS flying 1 1/2 strutters and DH4s from 1916 to 1918. Operations around Dunkirk seemed to have a very repetitive nature with very similar mission profiles. Should give you some fodder for generating scenarios.

    For 1 1/2 Strutters...
    The Strutters used for by 5 RNAS for bombing were single seat versions with the observer's seat closed over and converted into a bomb bay for a dozen 20lb bombs. Missions were mostly night bombing raids ('stunts'), mostly to minimize the chance of encountering enemy aircraft since the bombers had limited defensive armament. Raids were usually 6 to 8 aircraft, with 2 (or so) of those being actual 2-seaters as escort. The number of aircraft over the target was often fewer -- sometimes only 1 or 2 -- due to aircraft turning back with mechanical difficulties, or becoming lost in cloud. Targets were docks, enemy shipping (usually in a harbour), or coastal airfields. The aircraft would take off sometime between 2am and 5am, heading out to sea and following the coast to the target. They would come in at around 9000 feet, cut the engine and glide to the target area in order to avoid early detection (and AA fire), dropping bombs at around 4000 feet. Then they would turn and dive down out to sea to escape the inevitable "heavy and accurate AA" which would follow them out to 5 or 6 miles from the coast! They would then loiter around, often wandering over the front to have a look at what was going on, until it was light enough to land safely.

    For DH4s...
    The sqaudron was re-equipped with DH4s starting in May 1917 (a process that took several months as they were brought over from Blighty). Since the DH4 could carry both observer ('gun layer' in the RNAS) and bombs, they switched to day bombing. Targets were the same as before and, again, usually 6 to 8 aircraft. The time of the stunt could be practically any time of the day. The bombers would head to a rendezvous point and pick up an escort -- almost invariably 5 'biffs' (F2B) -- before heading to the target. Effectiveness of the escorts was highly variable with some flights being too high and too far back, others failing to engage when enemy aircraft attacked the bombers, and others that flew off for no apparent reason -- though some were highly effective in engaging EA. These raids were carried out at altitudes from 12000 to 15000 feet but, rather than running out to sea afterwards the bombers would get back into formation as quickly as possible. Apparently the risk of attack from enemy aircraft was deemed more dangerous than AA fire, and the formation was the best defense against EA. If the formation was engaged they would stay in formation and fly back to friendly lines as best they could. (They were, in fact, under orders to stay in formation.) Often, on the way home, Bartlett would strafe enemy lines putting a few hundred rounds and a few pans from the Lewis guns into the trenches. (I'm a little unclear about the altitude for these stunts, but seemed to be anywhere between 1000 and 8000 feet.)

    [Edit: Typical bomb load for DH4s appears to be 2x 65lb and 12x 16lb bombs.]

    Things changed dramatically once they were transferred down to the Somme area and there was a lot of bombing of bridges and transport in order to try to stop the German break-out... but that will have to wait for another post.





    They would then loiter around, often wandering over the front to strafe trenches, until it was light enough to land safely. (Trench strafing was strictly outside of the mission profile, but was something that Bartlett obviously usly
    Last edited by steel_ratt; 10-28-2014 at 10:58.

  2. #2

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    Nice info Jon, I had the Strutter down with a bomb load at 130lb but that was probably a 2 seater type; should provide a number of scenario ideas.

  3. #3

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    Just found the quote to confirm:
    "Night bombing towards the end of 1916 and early 1917 was carried out mainly with Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutters, in which the rear seat was removed to accommodate a honeycomb bomb rack containing twelve Fench Le Pecq 20lb bombs."

  4. #4

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    I've also been reading an account from a chap who flew as an observer in RE.8s in Russia in 1919. He went up once (once!) with a load of 8x 20lb Coopers bombs (four under each wing) and a 200-pounder on the under-carriage rack*. (Keep in mind that he is an observer and he was in there as well.) Well... they made it aloft, but caught their undercarriage on a stump just beyond the edge of the landing field, doing considerable damage. They dumped the bombs right-quick... except for one under-wing set that wouldn't let go, and then returned to land on one wheel while trying to keep the bombs from contacting the ground. The pilot must have been amazing as he pulled it off, but his nerve was shot after that and he never flew again.

    *360lb of bombs!

    Incidentally, they had Strutters there but couldn't fly them most of the time as they were water-cooled, which simply froze in the winter.

  5. #5

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    Bring on the Ares Strutters say I.
    Room for a bit of modification there, and now thanks to you Jon, a few more meaningful sorties to use them for.
    Rob.
    "Courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death."

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  7. #7

    Thumbs up

    Great info Jon.
    I have just received the RNAS DH-4 from the recent release so looking forward to doing a RNAS scenario with it & some of my Hearts of Oak Camels.



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