Firepower

[hardlec]

The US had two major weapons in Africa and Europe: Artillery and Air Support.

As I understand how things worked: In Western Europe, American Escort fighters would often be "released" when the Bombers where "safe" and they were free to attack ground targets. The German term for them was "Jabos"

What I would like to know and/or be pointed at are stories of what kind of carnage did. I'm quite sure 6 to 8 .50 machine guns would ruin your day, but good.

I doubt fighters carried bombs or rockets or other such ordinance on escort missions. What planes did attack missions and what did they carry?

(I am looking for a picture I saw in a book about D-Day that showed a German Armored Battalion, Tigers and Panthers, that looked like they had been crushed like eggshells. I think there were other pictures of Somua and Char IIs blasted by Stukas. I'd like to know if anyone can point me at these.)

 

[Naddoður]

Long-range fighter planes, which could offer protection to the vulnerable bombers, did not carry bombs, rockets or other such ordinance on escort missions. It was quite normal on their return run home to strafe targets of opportunity. Basically they would attack soft targets like personnel,light vehicles, trains or aircrafts on the ground.

The primary weapon of tactical strikes was the fighter-bomber. The fighter-bomber was a fast, heavily armed and armored plane, sturdy enough to withstand steep dives, rapid maneuvers, and some of the ground fire that its low-level attacks would encounter. Typical armament included bombs, heavy machine guns, automatic cannon, and air-to-ground rockets. Fighter-bombers were used to strike enemy armor and defensive positions, destroy supply and communications centers close to battlefields, and harass enemy troops behind the lines. They were often called upon by ground troops to attack entrenched enemy positions, or to lay down a barrage of fire before an attack.

6 to 8 .50 machine guns would ruin your day, but used against the right target. Attacking a tank or any other armored target is a waste of ammo.