http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic. ... &p=1426291
http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?t=68932
http://www.wk2ammo.com/showthread.php?1 ... ermany-WW2
http://histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/air/eu ... /flak.html
Basically I discovered that by late 1944/early 1945 the Germans introduced a new FLAK shell that instead of using standard shrapnel instead dispersed incendiary pellets and apparently increased the effectiveness of box barrages by 300%, as the shrapnel, instead of just making wholes in bombers, would actually light them on fire. Assuming it had been in full service by June 1943, what effect does it have on the Combined Bomber Offensive? Is it enough to force the 8th air force to abandon daylight bombing and move to British style night raids in bombers streams? Would the night bombing be as affected, as the bomber stream has less exposed bombers at any one moment, due to not being in a box filling up more space?The most effective shell developed by theGermans was incendiary shrapnel. This thin-walled shell was packed with containing numerous small pellets. Fortunately for allied air crews, this shell was not introduced until the final months of te war.
If the daylight bombing campaign had to be curtailed and the night bombing campaign was also affected, though not as much, then the remainder of 1943-45 becomes a lot harder for the Allies. The strategic bombing campaign was highly effective and really impacted Germany's ability to supply its forces and resist. IIRC Speer estimated that Allied bombing cost Germany at leat 35% of its production in 1944 due to actual losses due to the bombing, but also through dispersal of factories and having to build underground facilities too. It might well impact the V-weapon suppression campaign and the preparations for D-day too. If it is so effective it might also bring the B-29 to Europe, but even that was within range of the newer generation of 88mm guns and of course the heavier weapons. It was also a larger target and if the Germans ensure that the latest FLAK guidance equipment goes to the best guns for reaching the B-29, then combined with this type of shell, that aircraft may not be the panacea of getting around this more effective FLAK system.
thoughts?