Polish Air Force 1939 redux - Baldy & UncleTgt

[baldy]

Hi

I'm currently doing this a/c and I've read that one of these floatplanes attempted a bombing raid on the old German battleship ' Shleswig Holstein ' near the port of Danzig. My problem is that I've been unable to discover any info at all about how bombs were carried or how many or what size - so if anyone can help me out I'd be more than grateful.

pic of landplane wip



thank you in advance

baldy

[No Dice]

Best I can find so far:



Tube rack under cockpit:
http://www.modelwork.pl/viewtopic.ph...=30&view=print

[baldy]

Hi No Dice

Is that a bomb rack - some pics show it central and some off-centre to starbord ( and all are drawings - so how reliable ? )

one article says 'a stick of 55lb bombs' - what does that mean ? information is very sparse - I might have to invent but I'd rather not

baldy

[Rami]

Baldy,

You have done an outstanding job on these, thank you so much!

[No Dice]

oddly enough, facing forward, the rack seems to be off center to the right ????

Yet as best I can tell, that is the rack. Like yourself...I have yet to find a pic with bombs mounted.
from what I can find, seems only the float versions carried the bomb racks ??

[baldy]

I think you're right - the only mention of bombs is with regard to the attack? on the Shleswig Holstein but it seems illogical to have an off-centre bomb rack

if that tube thing was central it could have been a fixing for, say, a couple of twin racks for 20kg bombs but I'm just guessing

so we'll just have to keep looking

thanks for your help No Dice, I've still got plenty of work to do on both the land- and floatplanes

baldy

[Boatz]

I'm pretty sure what your seeing is a cowling that covers the control rods & linkages, I don't think this aircraft had a factory bomb mount and a mount would probably not be that far aft (major COG problem). See attached pics/drawings.

[baldy]

Hi Boatz

I think that clinches it - having found no real evidence of bomb loads I think we must conclude the fitters at the Hel base jury-rigged some kind of bomb release probably on the wings

Much appreciate your contribution to this search and I can make the appropriate change to the model

baldy

[No Dice]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lublin_R-VIII

There could be mounted an additional fuel tank, increasing the range to 1720 km, though this reduced the bomb load.

Bomb load: in bomber variant up to 1000 kg, in seaplane variant - 300 kg.


Still researching...info is vary scarce.

[baldy]

Hi No Dice

I think the R-VIII is a side track - an earlier biplane bomber (similar in appearance to the Potez 25) - there just doesn't seem to be the info around

baldy

[baldy]

She floats and flies



still plenty to do

baldy

[No Dice]

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=...book/id=505364

This is the NLAC Lublin 13, the Plage i Laśkiewicz (Lublin) R-XIII was an army cooperation plane which had a parasol wing and was powered by a Wright Whirlwind J-5, their main duties was observation and recon, but a few were later modified into light bombers. The Lublin 13 began production by New London Aeronautical Company as the NLAC Lublin 13 Mk I (R-XIIIB) in 1932, then in 1933 the most numerous variant was produced, the NLAC Lublin 13 Mk II (R-XIIID), which introduced a Townend ring on a radial engine, and a new engine cowling. The NLAC Lublin 13 Mk III was a modification which had small bomb racks installed under the wings, for a couple of 25 lb bombs under each wing, or a single 100 lb bomb under each wing. The Lublin 13s entered RIWAF service in 1932, and served in the Qaran Rebellion, Third Snow War, as well as the Saqan Mercenary War. By the time of the Third Snow War they were horribly obsolete, they were slow, with a maximum speed of just 116 mph, and the aircraft's rearward-firing 1x (or 2x) 0.303 Lewis (or Vickers K) machine gun(s) were off little defence against the more modern Snowlandian fighters, and even bombers.

Take a look see:

Dave

[baldy]

Nice try No Dice, but not hard intelligence. I think the reference I found of ' a stick of 55lb bombs ' might be nearer the truth of two 25kg bombs under each wing

baldy

[UncleTgt]

These are WIP screenshots only, there have been exchanges about internal colouring & prop textures... currently undergoing flight testing, so not far off now.

[msfossey]

Thank you for your efforts Baldy and UncleTgt. I'm looking forward to this.

msfossey

[baldy]

Just thought I'd add a little teaser - first full dress max bomb run





Rami - you might consider changing title of this thread to Polish Air Force 1939 because there are other a/c coming off the ramp soon

baldy

[baldy]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Other

Description: Pre-war medium bomber of Polish Air Force - the first ten a/c had single fin and was called the 37a - in service at German invasion and the few survivors evacuated to Romania where they were put to use by Romanian Air Force.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit PZL 37a Los.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[baldy]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Other

Description: Main production run of PZL 37 - differed from 37a in having twin fins and formed main body of Polish Air Force bomber arm. Those that survived the German invasion ( many being destroyed in combat, captured by the Germans or destroyed by the Poles to prevent them falling into enemy hands ) flew to Romania. Initially the Romanians used them as trainers but they were used operationally against the Soviet Union when they assisted the Germans in the invasion of Russia.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit PZL 37b Los.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[baldy]

Just like to mention that we have just uploaded both the PZL 37a and B models which will be available shortly



other Polish Air Force machines of the Aug - Sept 1939 period will be uploaded as they are completed

baldy and UncleTgt

[Rami]

Baldy,

I can't thank you enough for these. I will finally be able to give the Polish side of the Fall Weiss / September 1939 campaigns the update they truly deserve.

[Captain Kurt]

Thanks for these guys

[baldy]

Thank you guys - and here's the next one (been waiting for Uncle to return from a well deserved holiday)

The development of the P.7 which eventually led to the P.11c. This earlier a-version mainly differed from the c-version in that it only had two machine guns and was therefore at an extreme disadvantage to virtually any armed enemy a/c. Many were still in front-line service at the invasion and their pilots performed heroically with their limited equipment.



baldy

[baldy]

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Other

Description: Pre-war fighter of Polish Air Force a development of the P.7 but still woefully urder-armed having only two machine guns in fuselage. Although the P.11c with four machine guns was being brought into service at the time of the German invasion, many P.11a's were still in front line service.

This example bears the badge off 111 Eskadra - the proud badge that was to re-appear on Hurricanes and then Spitfires of 303 (Polish) Sqn., RAF - the highest scoring squadron of the Battle of Britain.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit PZL P.11a.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.

[Rami]

Baldy,

Many thanks on this one as well!

[YoYo]

I came here by accident (to CFS topic) but its a VERY nice work! CRG!



Regards.