dalea Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) Have just been comparing the underwing stores on the ancient Airfix Catalina with the modern you-beaut Eduard 672172 (intended for a Liberator). They are noticeably different. Google has not come up with photographs for airborne British Depth Charges of the WW2 era. Basically, are the Airfix ones ok, or should I replace them. or leave them off, and were they carried on the Bismarck sighting sortie anyway? Edited February 10, 2019 by dalea expansion of request Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 From the IWM. Chris 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydhuey Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) Britain went to war with wholly inefficient anti submarine bombs of 100, 250 , 500 and 600 Ib, these were found to be next to useless (as shown by few U-boat kills from 39 thru 41 despite many attacks) and the need for a DC was rushed thru, the Naval Mk VII was used as the basis of the air drop Mk VII which came into service in 1941 (this is the DC fitted to the Airfix Catalina which is wrong as it doesn't match the time frame of PBY-5A's in service with the RAF or RCAF) it was only used for about a year as it had a restricted drop envelope of not above 150' and not above 150 Knts, The 250Ib depth charge was developed in 1941 and in servise in 1942 this became the std DC for the rest of the war , the Mk VIII had a drop limit of 750' and 173 Knts and was soon replaced by the improved Mk XI with drop limits of 1250' and 250 Knts bringing it into the operating realm of modern MR aircraft. The above shots Chris put up show the 250 Ib DC in the first 4 shots of B-24 and B-17 , the Catalina has 450 Ib DC in its latter nose and tail config and the last shot is a 450 Ib DC with the early crude nose and tail fit on a Sunderland you can see the basis of the naval DC in this photo. For some reason Model and Diecast model makers continue to fit the 450 Ib DC's to models when they were only used for about a year (41 into 42) and the 250 Ib DC used thru most of the war. Edited February 10, 2019 by Sydhuey 4 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalea Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) Thanks, dogsbody. There are variations in those photographs, too. They also raise the question about the use of twin .30s v single .5s, too. Sydhuey, your reply came through as I was typing this and clears up most of the original query, thanks. Edited February 10, 2019 by dalea additional reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogsbody Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I'm not sure if the RAF Coastal Command used the .5's. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydhuey Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) RAF Catalinas persisted with twin .303's into 1944 when they got Cats diverted from US Navy orders that came with .50's in the waist position and finally started to fit .50's to other aircraft. The RAF also never fitted the twin gun eyeball turret to their Cats when RCAF, US Navy and RAAF Catalina Sqn's were upgunning as fast as they could. The late delivery Catalina IV flown by John Cruichshank for example had a single .303 nose turret , .50's in the Blisters and new late radar in pod above cockpit and carried 6 x 250 Ib DC's. Edited February 10, 2019 by Sydhuey 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydhuey Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 The loads with 250Ib DC varied from aircraft to aircraft, B-24's usually carried x 8, B-17 could carry x 10 , 6 internally and 4 on under fuselage hard points , when long range tanks were fitted to the bomb bays they were restricted to the 4 x external DC's, Catalina's usually carried x 4 or x6 though could carry 8, Sunderland's carried x 8 and could carry x 8 reloads if the range was shorter , Halifax as they did a mixed role of Anti Sub and Anti Shipping carried a mixed load of 4 x DC's and 2 x 500Ib bombs , Hudson x 4. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Admiral Puff Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Red Roo is your friend: www.redroomodels.com/red-roo-resin-172/red-roo-172-450-lb-depth-charges-british-pattern/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick4350 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 28 minutes ago, Admiral Puff said: Red Roo is your friend: www.redroomodels.com/red-roo-resin-172/red-roo-172-450-lb-depth-charges-british-pattern/ https://www.redroomodels.com/red-roo-resin-172/red-roo-172-450-lb-depth-charges-british-pattern/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Russell Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 The Red Roo ones are the 450lb adapted naval depth charge.. they were made for my Sunderland build...... https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234930547-italeri-sunderland-mk-ii-raaf-10-squadron/ until someone kindly pointed out they were too early for the scheme it was in............ they were right but yeah thanks. If the Bismarck spotter had been sent on that sortie specifically it is unlikely it would have sacrificed range for the off-chance of sighting a submarine. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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