De Havilland DH98 Mosquito FB Mk XVIII Tse-Tse

From The Air Combat Wiki

Contents 1 Fighter Ace Screenshots 2 Fighter Ace Ratings 3 Fighter Ace Performance 4 Historical Statistics 5 Strengths 6 Weaknesses 7 History 8 Sources 9 See Also

Fighter Ace Screenshots

Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ
Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ	Fighter Ace museum screenshot by Doug@HQ

Fighter Ace Ratings

Durability: 5

Speed: 7

Maneuverability: 5

Firepower: 6

Climb Rate: 3

Ground Attack: 6

Fighter Ace Performance

Top Speeds						Climb Rates
	Sea Level	4921' 1500m	9843' 3000m	19685' 6000m	Best Speed	Best IAS	to 1000m	to 3000m	to 6000m
mph	325	347	356	370	374@ 15092'	183 mph	1:56	5:03	10:45
mph WEP	334	356	364	n/a	377@ 15092'
kph	523	558	572	596	601@ 4600m	295 kph
kph WEP	537	572	586	n/a	607@ 4600m

Historical Statistics

Service Date: June 1943

Primary Guns: 4x Browning 0.303" (7.7mm) machine guns with 500 rpg in nose

Secondary Guns: 1x Molins 57mm cannon with 25 rpg in nose

Ordnance: 2x 250 lb (113 kg) or 2x 535 lb (242 kg) bombs internally and 2x 250 lb (113 kg) or 2x 535 lb (242 kg) bombs or 2x 360 lb (163 kg) drop tanks or 8x 83 lb RP-3 A2G rockets under wings

Engine(s): 2x Rolls-Royce Merlin 25 in-lines rated for 1,635 hp each at sea level (1,735 hp with WEP)

Int Fuel Capacity: 3,578 lbs (1,623 kg)

Ext Fuel Capacity: 720 lbs (326 kg)

Maximum Speeds: 380 mph (612 kph) at 13,000 ft (3,962 m)

Ceiling: 33,000 ft (10,058 m)

Loaded Weight: 19,500 lb (8,845 kg)

Wing Area: 454 sq ft (42.2 sq m)

Wing Loading: 43.0 lbs/sq ft (209.6 kg/sq m)

Strengths

Firepower: The 57mm cannon in the nose is the biggest gun in the game and can take out any tank with just a single hit.

Ground Attack: Combined with the forward guns, the Mossie can carry two 500 lb. bombs and eight 60 lb. rockets.

Agility: The Mosquito handles and performs so well, it is easy to forget you are flying a bomber.

Weaknesses

Defense: Without defensive guns, the Mosquito must rely on its speed to evade enemy planes.

History

In the Battle of the Atlantic, the German U-boats were being equipped with better and more numerous anti-aircraft installations and as a result aircraft losses increased. In an effort to turn the tables the Air Ministry caught the idea of installing a large caliber howitzer in the Mosquito for standoff attacks beyond range of the U-boats' AA defenses.

The engineers at de Havilland did their calculations and figured that the FB Mk VI could be easily modified to carry a standard 6-pounder gun. The new prototype flew as the FB Mk XVIII and firing trials on June 12, 1943 proved that the concept would work.

The production version used either a 57mm Moulins or Vickers "S" quick-firing, anti-shipping gun in place of the four 20mm cannons, with the .303 machine-guns being retained. Additionally, the Mk XVIII could carry the same bomb and rocket load of the Mk VI.

Despite some operational successes, the RAF found that a salvo of rockets was just as effective at sinking U-boats as a hit from the 6-pounder and they were easier to aim and fire, as well. This development, combined with increasing Allied air-superiority, meant that the Mk.XVIII would see only limited service.

Sources

Scutts, Jerry; Mosquito In Action Part 2; Squadron/Signal Publications, Carrollton, TX; 1993.

See Also

Fighter Ace Planes Inventory

The de Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd.

Aircraft Manufacturers During World War II