attacker Saab A/B 18B (1949)

[Wiggly_Armed_Man 2,383]

Saab Attack / Bomb 18B (1949)

A group of four B 18Bs, as evident by the racks, apart of the 3rd Sq of the F 14.

 

Classification

Military

Long Model Designation: Attack 18B or Bomb 18B

Short Model Designation: A 18B or B 18B

Plan Designation: P 8 Alt I/II

 

History

Modification & Operation

The B 18B had its next to final and most drastic serial modification in 1949. This coincided from two events: the completion of rocket mounts for the aircraft, and the T 18Bs, and the 13,2 mm being phased out in the favour of the 12,7 mm. In 1949 all of the B 18Bs had their 13,2 mm rechambered to 12,7 mm as Sweden standardized their rounds rather than having a split armament. The addition of the rockets redesignated the aircraft to A 18B, though either designation was used depending on what mission it was suppose to do. Later the same year an ejection seat was added and in 1950 the last modification was done, replacing the reflex sight with a new gyro sight. Nearing 1953 all B 18Bs were then phased out of service with the T 18Bs following in 1958 and finally the S 18As in 1959.

 

General
Place of Origin		Kingdom of Sweden
Designer		SAAB
Builder		SAAB
Type		Bomber (B)
Service Period		1945-1959
Number Built		120
Dimensions
Weight (empty/takeoff)		6,093 kg/8,793 kg
Length		13.23 meters
Width		17.4 meters
Height		4.35 meters
Propulsion
Powerplants		SFA DB 605 B piston engines	2
Output		2,200 kW
Rotor		3-bladed VDM-33	2
Speed (cruise/maximum)		550 km/h / 590 km/h
Endurance		2,600 km
Service Ceiling		9.8 km
Rate of Climb		9 m/s
Protection
Armour		Segmented armour shields, 6x	10 mm
Crew		3
Firepower
Weapons		12,7 mm automatkanon m/39A	2
		Internal Bomb Bay, 1,000 kg capacity	1
		Wing-Mounted Racks, 200 kg capacity	2
		10 cm Rocket Racks	3**
		18 cm Rocket Rack**	1
Ammunition		12,7x99 mm Cartridge m/45	600
		50 kg bombs, eight on wings*	18
		250 kg bombs*	3
		500 kg bombs*	2
		10,3 cm, 14,5 cm, or 15 cm rockets	12**
		18 cm rockets	4

*Aside from the wing-mounted 50 kg, these are exclusive to each other

**Only two 10 cm rocket racks can be carried if a 18 cm rocket rack is, reducing overall 10 cm rocket count to eight

 

Design

The B 18B is identical to the in-game B 18B's airframe but sports a few differences to it and its previous predecessor. The largest change is the previously 13,2 mm calibre guns being rechambered to 12,7 mm to accept the Cartridge m/45 while another change, more towards the previous model than the in-game counterpart, is the inclusion of rocket racks along with the bombs. However, while it seems like it should be able to carry a full load of rockets (twelve) and a full load of bombs (1,400 kg) since none of the racks interfere with each other or the bomb bay, this is not possible in-game on the B 18B.

 

It has numerous bombs available to it with a capacity to carry either ten 50 kg bombs, three 250 kg bombs, or two 500 kg in its internal bay, and an additional eight 50 kg bombs along its wings for a total capacity of 1,400 kg. It also have three mounting points for rocket racks with two along the wings, rated for "light" rockets, and one under the nose, rated for both "light" and "heavy" rockets, and each rack holding four rockets. Below is the ordnance it has available to it:

• 8 kg
  • 8 kg övingsbomb m/40 (exercise)
• 50 kg
  • 50 kg minbomb m/37 (general purpose)
  • 50 kg sprängbomb m/42 (high explosive)
  • 50 kg brandbomb m/42 (incendiary)
  • 50 kg lysbomb m/32 (illumination)
  • 50 kg lysbomb m/43 (illumination)
  • 50 kg bombkapsel m/43 (cluster; 1 x 12 kg sprängbomb m/37 and 2 x 12 kg sprängbomb m/39G or 3 x 6 kg brandbomb m/39)
  • 50 kg övingsbomb m/40 (exercise)
• 250 kg
  • 250 kg minbomb m/37 (general purpose)
  • 250 kg minbomb m/40 (general purpose)
  • 250 kg övingsbomb m/40 (exercise)
• 500 kg
  • 500 kg minbomb m/41 (general purpose)
• "Light" Rockets
  • 10,3 cm övingsraket m/49 (exercise)
  • 14,5 cm pansarsprängraket m/49A (anti-tank)
  • 14,5 cm pansarsprängraket m/49B (anti-tank)
  • 15 cm sprängraket m/41A (high explosive)
• "Heavy" Rockets
  • 18 cm halvpansarraket m/49A (anti-ship)
  • 18 cm halvpansarraket m/49B (anti-ship)

 

Implementation

Due to the radical differences compared to the current B 18B, I think this should be added as a new vehicle. To differentiate the two the current one should receive the name "B 18B (1945)" while this one receives the name "B 18B (1949)". As for its place in the tree, I believe it should be placed alongside the current one, preferably foldered, as a sidegrade rather than an upgrade as the guns would be significantly less powerful in exchange for rocket capability.

 

Sources:

Spoiler

Bomber:

• Saab 18, Swedish Wikipedia
• Saab 18, English Wikipedia
• B 18 - SAAB 18, avrosys.nu
  • Page 2
• Saab 18, Plane Encyclopedia
• Automatkanon - Flygvapenmuseum, DigitalMuseum - 12,7 mm akan m/39A used in a B 18

Weaponry:

• Automatkanon m / 39, Swedish Wikipedia
• Urban's blog: Automatic cannon used by the Swedish air force, Urban's blog

 

Edited November 2, 2020 by Wiggly_Armed_Man

[Princess_Pinch 5,625]

Open for discussion. 

[Sternjaeger84 1,076]

+1

 

@Wiggly_Armed_Man maybe you could also suggest the B 18 'Red Niklaus' as a premium?

[Wiggly_Armed_Man 2,383]

2 hours ago, Synthjaeger said:

+1

 

@Wiggly_Armed_Man maybe you could also suggest the B 18 'Red Niklaus' as a premium?

@Synthjaeger I can't find any information regarding that plane.

[stuka2689 314]

I like B18 series.

+1

[Milocat 4,857]

+1, would be a lovely addition to the B18 line.

[Colerend 225]

+1