would a 737 be any use in WW2???
Discussion
following on from the really interesting thread about the Nimitz in WW2, what if I popped back in time (nevermind how) with a normal, everyday civilian airliner.
Could it land in the UK anywhere? What about fuel? Could a pilot fly it? Could it be converted to a bomber? Would it be any use?? Could they reverse-engineer the engines? Would they fit under a lancaster wing? (OK the last bit is daft, but the rest??)
Could it land in the UK anywhere? What about fuel? Could a pilot fly it? Could it be converted to a bomber? Would it be any use?? Could they reverse-engineer the engines? Would they fit under a lancaster wing? (OK the last bit is daft, but the rest??)
Payload alone would double or nearly triple in some instances over a Avro Lanc.
But I'm unsure how useful that would be if you're only prepared to fly it above the altitudes of WW2 era fighters. Flying at lower altitude and you're still at risk to fighters despite a significant speed difference.
But I'm unsure how useful that would be if you're only prepared to fly it above the altitudes of WW2 era fighters. Flying at lower altitude and you're still at risk to fighters despite a significant speed difference.
At least two aircraft in the Luftwaffe inventory would be able to catch it - the Me163 and the Me262.
There would have been a small number of runways in the UK and Europe that could accommodate a 737's landing and takeoff runs - especially if fully loaded.
And of course,, the 737 has been around a long time so it would depend on what version of the 737 the OP is suggesting.
There is a world of difference performance wise between an early 737-200 and the modern 800s.
There would have been a small number of runways in the UK and Europe that could accommodate a 737's landing and takeoff runs - especially if fully loaded.
And of course,, the 737 has been around a long time so it would depend on what version of the 737 the OP is suggesting.
There is a world of difference performance wise between an early 737-200 and the modern 800s.
No way to drop bombs from it and not any simple way to fit a photo-recon camera either (the PR Spitfires did a pretty good job anyway).
So really only of use as a transport. Reverse-engineering significantly more advanced technology, despite the Hollywood movies, is not something that would be easy enough for their to be multiple 737s flying around within a few months.
Afraid I don't see it being of much use at all.
So really only of use as a transport. Reverse-engineering significantly more advanced technology, despite the Hollywood movies, is not something that would be easy enough for their to be multiple 737s flying around within a few months.
Afraid I don't see it being of much use at all.
Evanivitch said:
Flooble said:
No way to drop bombs from it and not any simple way to fit a photo-recon camera either (the PR Spitfires did a pretty good job anyway).
In times of war you cut a hole, stick a gasket on it and call it a UOR! Read Axis of Time by John Birmingham about the outcome of WW2 when a 21st century Navy fleet somehow travels back in time.
Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
Flooble said:
Evanivitch said:
Flooble said:
No way to drop bombs from it and not any simple way to fit a photo-recon camera either (the PR Spitfires did a pretty good job anyway).
In times of war you cut a hole, stick a gasket on it and call it a UOR! What I think would have been more useful to the people of the time would be the materials the plane is engineered out of, especially if it was a very early plane and it arrived in 1939.
What made the German jets so powerful was the axial flow engine - we had centrifugal flow engines which were a bit of a design dead end. However, the centrifugal flow engine was much easier to make reliable with the materials of the time, which was why the German planes needed new engines more or less every flight.
If we'd been able to reverse-engineer the materials at that point (and from having a look around the internet, the process technology seems to have been there to do it) there would have been a few benefits - the material would have been useful not just in turbine engines but in turbos, superchargers and other bits of piston engines too, so all of the planes we had would have more power straight away.
I can't see it changing the war directly... But the computers would be extreampy useful for cracking enigma on the fly and intercepting radio comms.
On surviving the war.. we'd probbably have full quantium computing toasters, commoditised fusion generators and full sentient computers by now such is the technological gulf it would bridge
On surviving the war.. we'd probbably have full quantium computing toasters, commoditised fusion generators and full sentient computers by now such is the technological gulf it would bridge
croyde said:
Read Axis of Time by John Birmingham about the outcome of WW2 when a 21st century Navy fleet somehow travels back in time.
Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Countdown_(film)Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
One of my favourite crap films.
Mothersruin said:
croyde said:
Read Axis of Time by John Birmingham about the outcome of WW2 when a 21st century Navy fleet somehow travels back in time.
Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Final_Countdown_(film)Doesn't turn out as expected especially when the axis powers get hold of the tech.
They do manage to equip the allied armies with Ivan Guns aka AK47s. Apparently easy to reverse engineer.
One of my favourite crap films.
Mothersruin said:
Same here but Kirk Douglas bogged off before the big fight. Axis of Time books are what would have happened had he stayed
croyde said:
Mothersruin said:
Same here but Kirk Douglas bogged off before the big fight. Axis of Time books are what would have happened had he stayed
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