X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

Discussions on alternate history, including events up to 20 years before today. Hosted by Terry Duncan.
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ArmchairSamurai
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X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#1

Post by ArmchairSamurai » 22 May 2019, 08:33

Suppose for whatever reason, atomic bombs do not fall on Japan, maybe the USS Indianapolis is torpedoed while carrying Little Boy's components, maybe Bockscar is shot down carrying Fatman on route to Nagasaki, whatever the case no atomic bombs come in August. Now, let's imagine that in wake of this failure, the US military pushes for an amphibious invasion of the Japanese home islands. Considering Typhoon Connie hits the 3rd Fleet in June 1945 and Typhoon Louise hits Okinawa in October 1945, the invasion is postponed from November 1945 to sometime in 1946. That being said, the build-up for men and materials is great, as *new* weapons, vehicles, and equipment are likely to be introduced and/or issued in greater number, given the continuation of the war, and its temporary ceasefire ala Phoney War style. Below is an almost complete list of what would have possibly seen action in 1946-194X following the commencement of Operation Olympic and its sister operations. (I would like to clarify that some of these may only see minimal use, never see mass production at all, or may be passed over in favor of other developments) If anyone would like to correct me on what I included, feel free to do so. If you would like to suggest anything I may have missed, again, feel free to do so. If anyone would like a photo of any of the following for reference, please feel free to ask. I simply want to share what I have found thus far. :D


Aeronca GB-1 & GT-1
Aerosol Bomb
Allied Aviation XLRA
AN/APS-2
AN/APQ-7
AN/CPS-1
AN/CPS-6B
AN/MPN-1
ASM-N-2 Bat
Barge, Refrigerated, Large
Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly
Boeing XB-44
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Consolidated TBY-2 Sea Wolf
Consolidated XB-24N
Cornelius XFG-1
Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk
DAB-3
Dodge WC-64
Douglas BTD-1
Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster
E8R1 Flame Service
E18 Auxiliary Flame Hose
E19R25 Gas Mask
E21 Tanker Gas Mask
Extint Pod
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Grumman F7F Tigercat
Higgins Beachmaster and Mudhopper
Interstate BQ-5
KAN Little Joe
Laister-Kauffman XCG-10
Little David
LN-8 Vegetable Killer Acid
M2 Carbine
M6 High-Speed Tractor
M12 Vest & T65 Apron
M18 Super Hellcat
M20 recoilless rifle
M37 Priest
M38 Wolfhound
M39 Armored Personnel Carrier
M40 Gun Motor Carriage
M43 Howitzer Motor Carriage
M55 Quadmount
M1945 Pack
Petzelt Mortar
Piasecki HRP-1
Picker Field X-ray Unit (portable)
Republic XF-12 Rainbow
Ryan FR-1 Fireball
SHORAN
Sikorsky R-4. R-5 & R-6A1
Snooperscope & Goggles
SOFAR bomb Mk. 22
SS LORAN
T1 M1C Garand
T1 Stink
T6 Flotation Device
T8E1 Tank Transporter
T12 Cloudmaker
T12 Flotation Device
T16 Armored Personnel Carrier
T20 Shoulder Mortar
T20E2 Garand
T21E2 Aluminum Helmet
T25E3 .50 cal
T26 Tank Transporter
T28 Amazon, T28E1 Amazon II & T28E2 Samson
T28 Super Heavy Tank
T29 Super Heavy Tank
T33 Flame Tank
T34 Cargo Carrier
T39 Cargo Carrier
T42 Tractor
T43E1 Tractor
T44 Tractor
T65E1 SPAA
T66E2 Multiple Rocket Launcher
T76E1 Bulldozer
T84 Howitzer Motor Carriage
T86 Amphibious Hellcat
T87 Amphibious Hellcat (howitzer)
T92 Howitzer Motor Carriage
USS Midway class
VB-3 Razon & VB-6 Felix
Winchester Automatic Rifle
There are three sorts of people; those who are alive, those who are dead, and those who are at sea.

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T. A. Gardner
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#2

Post by T. A. Gardner » 25 May 2019, 06:39

Your list doesn't even come close to what the US / Allied forces could have had with continued full war production by 1946.

Let's start with Project Cadillac and the TBM-3W and PB-1W (B-17) AEW planes. These would make kamikaze tactics even more insanely costly than they were. These are the world's first operational AEW aircraft.

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Then you have the possibility the JB-3 Tiamat and Ryan Firebird AAM's are in limited service.

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Next, the US continues the MX-774 project (Hiroc) and has a vastly improved "V-2" that isn't a V-2 that can carry a nuclear weapon and has a range of about 900 NM and a CEP of a mile or so at that range. This means they can nuke Japan from offshore islands with rockets that are unstoppable and accurate enough to hit the city they're aimed at.

Or, the VB-13 Tarzon Tallboy.

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That will smash any dam, any reinforced bunker, tunnel complex, you-name-it, being a guided 10,000 lbs. Tallboy bomb.

The USN might have the Lark SAM deploying on some ships by then. This is a beam riding SAM that was designed for shipboard use:

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Likely aircraft include the:

FH-1 Phantom
F-86 "Jet Mustang" (the version that became the FJ Fury not the fighter in Korea)
F-84 Thunderjet
B-45 Tornado
B-36 Peacemaker

These would just be coming operational in small numbers.

The B-29D (aka B-50) would also be in service.
These bombers (all three listed) fly high enough that Japanese antiaircraft guns can't even engage them any more.


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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#3

Post by Carl Schwamberger » 26 May 2019, 00:19

Then there is the entire JB series of cruise missiles. http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/jb.html

Scheduled production for 5,000 of the JB-2 Loon was canceled when Japan surrendered. What of the other five still in development would have been produced for 1946 I can't say

PMN1
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#4

Post by PMN1 » 27 May 2019, 18:28

Has anyone seen any designs that might have carried the Lark?

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T. A. Gardner
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#5

Post by T. A. Gardner » 27 May 2019, 19:55

PMN1 wrote:
27 May 2019, 18:28
Has anyone seen any designs that might have carried the Lark?
Lark was an early part of Operation Bumblebee and Project Typhoon. The most probable operational design would have been similar to an early Talos launch system but with a cruder launch platform for the missile.

Image

That's a test rig on the USS Norton Sound in the late 40's firing a Lark. I'd think a 1946 launcher would have looked something like that only capable of being trained / rotated. The loading position would be fixed, and there'd have to be a large magazine to hold the missiles and assemble them (put the wings / fins on) just prior to firing as was done with Talos.

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Helmut0815
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#6

Post by Helmut0815 » 30 Jun 2019, 21:47

On the other hand, which new weapons could Japan develop & deploy until spring 1946? I would think of jet propelled aircraft like the Nakajima Kikka, the Nakajima Ki-201 Karyū or the Mitsubishi J8M Shusui. What about new tanks or subs?

regards



Helmut

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T. A. Gardner
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#7

Post by T. A. Gardner » 01 Jul 2019, 00:56

And, if dropping nukes wasn't enough, the USAAF was experimenting with using B-29 to drop Tallboy and Grand Slam bombs. You think a Lancaster carrying one is something, the USAAF stuck two (2!) 22,000 lbs. Grand Slams on a B-29...

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More usual was carrying just one for range, speed, and altitude considerations.

Image

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T. A. Gardner
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#8

Post by T. A. Gardner » 01 Jul 2019, 01:11

Helmut0815 wrote:
30 Jun 2019, 21:47
On the other hand, which new weapons could Japan develop & deploy until spring 1946? I would think of jet propelled aircraft like the Nakajima Kikka, the Nakajima Ki-201 Karyū or the Mitsubishi J8M Shusui. What about new tanks or subs?

regards
Helmut
Until you realize that the Kikka was really pretty slow. It could barely do 400 mph. That's worse than US piston engine fighters were doing in 1945.

The Ki 201 was an Me 262 clone. There is no guarantee that the Japanese version would perform as well as the German given that the engines potentially would produce less thrust, given their use on the Kikka.

The J8M, like the Me 163 would likely be a failure in service. It'd have to be in exactly the right place at the right time for launch to intercept a raid.

Against these, the US would have:

The P-80. It's the equal or better of any of the above (the J8M is in a seperate category of special uselessness so it doesn't count).

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The USN would have the FH Phantom. It's much better than a Kikka, but not quite up to the Ki 201 / Me 262 except it's much better in maneuverability and roll rate.

Image


The P-83 long range (relatively speaking) escort fighter. It's more than a match for a Kikka, and would probably be able to deal with a Ki 201 as it is relatively more maneuverable and has no vicious tendencies.

Image

Or, the original F-86 / FJ-1 Fury.

Image

And, last but hardly least, the F-84 Thunderjet.

Image

All these would be available by late 1945 in at least limited numbers if the war continued.

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T. A. Gardner
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Re: X-Day: NEW US Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment

#9

Post by T. A. Gardner » 23 Jul 2019, 05:44

Now, on the Japanese side one interesting development would be the deployment of a large number of the Ha 201 and I 201 classes of fast underwater submarines. By the timeframe of this scenario the Japanese might have about a dozen Ha 201's in service and about 6 I 201's. The Ha 201's do about 13 knots submerged and are small and maneuverable. The I 201's do about 19 knots submerged. Both would be relatively capable of working their way into US landing forces and attacking transports or fire support ships like the slow battleships.

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