PLAN ORANGE: alternative US strategies for THE GREAT PACIFIC WAR.

[miletus12]

Jan 21, 2022 23:34:55 GMT simon darkshade said:

By different, I meant that the bombers that could hit Japan from even Okinawa were not there in 1938. Presuming development over the course of a war, they could go for the B-17s or perhaps the Y1B-20, but the logistics of supporting a large bomber force with fuel and ordnance across the Pacific would be enough to give supply officers grey hair.

XB-15 and YB-19 were in development. My opinion is that neither would have worked, but I expect that the war would last long enough so that something could have evolved in the interim of that war.

One example could have been the XB-38, an Allison powered version of the B-17. 
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From Wiki

Specifications (XB-38)

Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913.[2]



General characteristics



Crew: 10

Length: 74 ft 0 in (22.56 m)

Wingspan: 103 ft 11 in (31.67 m)

Height: 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m)

Wing area: 1,420 sq ft (131.9 m2)

Empty weight: 34,750 lb (15,762 kg)

Gross weight: 56,000 lb (25,401 kg)

Max takeoff weight: 64,000 lb (29,030 kg)

Powerplant: 4 × Allison V-1710-97 turbosupercharged liquid-cooled V12 engines, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) each

Performance



Maximum speed: 327 mph (526 km/h, 284 kn) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)

Cruise speed: 226 mph (364 km/h, 197 kn)

Range: 3,300 mi (5,310 km, 2,870 nmi)

Service ceiling: 29,600 ft (9,020 m)

Armament

Guns: 10× .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns

Bombs: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)

Saipan to Tokyo is approximately 1,500 miles. (Google maps.). A B-17 was about 2,000 miles or 700 miles full load combat radius. The XB-38 would have a nominal 1,000 miles combat radius with half load or 1,500 miles with light load.

The Martin Model 179 was a possibility. This had a range of 3,000 miles which meant basing from Okinawa was practical.  The Super Marauder was another option.

In any case, the bombing would have to be conducted from the Ryukyu Islands to meet the 1937-1940 window of a projected Plan Orange type war.