Alt-history writing project

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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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What a Maroon.jpg
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...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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Captain Wheelgun
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Snippet deleted. See post for December 20, 2023 for details.
Last edited by Captain Wheelgun on Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:49 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Netpackrat
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Some more context on the actual exchange that took place in our timeline, for anyone who might be curious:

https://www.quora.com/Which-Luftwaffe-o ... 40?share=1

The reason he asked for spitfires, was that the spitfire's maneuverability made it better able to cope with being tied to bombers in defense, not because it was necessarily better than the 109 in a one on one fight. The hurricane wasn't as maneuverable as the spitfire, so it wouldn't have been as good of a choice for close escort. The hurricane had a superior armament compared to the spitfire, which was why the RAF mainly used it to attack bombers, and the faster, more maneuverable spitfires against German fighters. Mostly, anyway.
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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Another reason for bomber support issue that came up, was that the aircraft designed specifically to provide close fighter escort for the bombers (it was officially called a "Destroyer", since it was envisioned to have the same role as the naval ship), the BF-110, turned out to be unable to defend itself against the Spitfires and Hurricanes, let alone the bombers it was escorting.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Once the 8th AF had enough long range fighters, their solution was a hybrid:

Some units were assigned close support of the bombers, with the mission of engaging, and driving off Luftwaffe fighters if not able to actually shoot them down, then rejoin bombers until the next wave of attacks.

Other units conducted offensive fighter sweeps and were given the freedom to pursue and destroy any German aircraft they found without being tethered to the bomber streams. Essentially they used the bombers as bait.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
BDK
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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I kinda wonder, with the advent of the swarm, would we see a return to fortified bombers? Either that, or some of the formation might be set up as a carrier to launch a defensive swarm and a hunter killer swarm.
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Question for the brain trust:

In ‘The Lone Star, the Tricolor, and the Swastika’ I established that the Texas Navy uses a voice communication system based in infrared light (the Photophone). Given that they have that capability, does it seem plausible to morph that into something that can detect or even home in on heat, say the exhaust from ship’s stacks at night?

What about making a crude form of LIDAR? Use the IR searchlights to send out an audio pulse then time how long it takes for the return echo to be detected by the photomultiplier tubes used to pick up the Photophone’s voice signals?

Also, given that TV already exists, could this be turned into an early form of night vision system?

They already have RADAR, of course, but I’m thinking about something that would be less likely to be detected by the bad guys.
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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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I think using IR to home on heat sources would be plausible. Start with something requiring a large weapons body (such as an anti-ship missile/glide bomb), or even a large Surface To Air Missile (ship launched or large ground platform, not MANPAD).

Might be a while to get it down to an air-to-air missile size. IIRC development of the Sidewinder began in the 40s, but did not hit production worthy configurations until the 50s.

From what I know, LIDAR would be more problematic. If I understand, IR wavelengths are too long to get the resolution of a LIDAR system. Same issue with using reflected IR for a Laser Guided Bomb (LGB) analog. IIRC LASERS weren't developed until starting in the 50s, and the first actual LGBs were deployed in the late 60s. I didn't see any discussion of deployable LIDAR systems until the late 80s.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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The Germans deployed TV (technically EO, Electro-Optical) bombs (Anti-ship glide bombs launched from bombers) during WWII, so that's not out of the realm of probability. Not sure how well it would have worked for Night Vision.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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randy
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Re: Alt-history writing project

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Early night vision (50s) used IR scopes with non-visible IR searchlights (see early 60 US and Warsaw Pact Main Battle Tanks). Of course, when you light up the landscape with those, you are making yourself a target to anyone with an IR scope.
...even before I read MHI, my response to seeing a poster for the stars of the latest Twilight movies was "I see 2 targets and a collaborator".
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