WesWorld

The Royal Hellenic Naval Air Force (RHNAF) issues a Request for Purchase for a replacement for the Curtiss Model 68 Hawk III dive bombers currently in service.

Requirements are as follows:

Maximum size: 47.5ft length x 52ft wingspan x 28ft height (with wings folded) *

Minimum speed: 275mph, 300mph or higher preferred.

Radial engines strongly preferred.

Good rate of climb (OOC: No idea what is 'good')

Minimum range: 800 miles, 900 miles preferred.

Minimum loadout: 1,500lbs, 2,000lbs preferred.

Hydraulic dive brakes required.

Self-sealing fuel tanks required.

Cockpit armoring and "bulletproof" glass required.

Crew size: 2 (pilot, radio/rear gunner)

Armament: 3-5 7.92mm Machine guns. Prefer 2-4 in wing and 1 in rear cockpit.

20mm will be accepted including a through hub mount if inline engine is used.

* Due to elevator and hanger size

What is the desired delivery schedule?

Just out of curiosity.

We would require at least 72 aircraft for service, including spares.

Depending on the number of aircraft offered for consideration, a decision will be made within 6 months of offer with a purchase order to be issued within a month of that.

Preferred date of start of delivery would be within 6 months for aircraft already in mass production and 9 months for those not in mass production.

If a design that is found to be surplus to the requirements of the suppling nation, therefore already in quantity, it would be acceptable to delivery them as they are phased out of use by the delivering nation.

ENAER responds with the following aircraft.

This plane was designed jointly by Atlantis's Accrisius and Chile's ENAER; it has since been licensed for production by Fieseler. If the Greek Navy wishes to order them, production would probably be subcontracted to Fieseler as ENAER lacks the production capacity for fill further external orders at this time.

The Alicanto / Avenger / Hammarhaie is currently used by the naval air arms of Germany, Atlantis, Brazil, and Chile. It is fully-equipped as a dive-bomber or as a torpedo bomber (the internal bay is sufficient to carry a torpedo instead of bombs). MGs can be tailored according to request (the 13mm machine guns can be replaced with .30cals in final proposals).

Quoted

[SIZE=4]TB1E-1 Alicanto / ENAER Alicanto Carrier Bomber[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Accrisius Alicanto[/SIZE]
[SIZE=4]Fieseler Fi-168 Hammerhaie[/SIZE]
[SIZE=3]Specifications[/SIZE]
Wingspan: 14.5m (47.5 feet)
Length: 11.5m (37.7 feet)
Height: 4m (13.1 feet)
Wing Area: 380 ft²
Empty weight: 8,377 lb (3,800 kg)
Loaded weight: 12,345.8 lb (5,600 kg)
Engine: 1 × 1800hp Austral Incitatus (14-cyl radial)
Crew: 2
Armour: 8mm thick armoured bulkhead

[SIZE=3]Performance[/SIZE]
Max speed: 345mph (300 knots)
Range: 2,750 km (1,708 mi)
Service ceiling: 11,000m (36,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 9.4 m/s (31 f/s)

[SIZE=3]Armament[/SIZE]
- 2 × 13 mm MGs in wings
- 2 × 7.62mm MGs in rear cockpit
- 1 × 1800lbs aerial torpedo or bombs

I would like to request that the Hellenic Air Force consider an independent tender, the end result of which could be produced either by domestic factories or with assitence abroad. I may also be able to ask to combine a tender with a nation or nationalized aeronautical firm that has yet submitted any tenders.

Well I think the requirements exactly fit a type currently in use with the Greek Naval Air Force, the Fairey Barracuda.

Fairey is offering new-build TBR.Mk.II aircraft, the next model up from Greece's existing Barracudas. For quickness the FAA is willing to give up a batch of 24 Mk.IIs from the production line due off the line in 3 months time. Also Fairey is prepared to upgrade all of Greece's current Mk Is to Mk II standard with new RR Merlins and radios etc.

Maximum size: The Barracuda is 39.2ft long, 49.2ft span and 12.3ft high, the wings fold horizontal to the fuselage
Minimum speed: The Barracuda TBR.Mk.II on offer can only make 245mph
Engine: The Barracuda TBR.Mk.II has a
1x 1,280hp RR Merlin VI
Good rate of climb: 1,000ft per minute
Range: 1,000 miles
Minimum loadout: 1,500lbs, one 1,000lb AP or three 500lb or six 250lb bombs in an internal bomb bay (the FAA is looking at clearing the Barracuda to carry a 2,000lb AP bomb by 1942) or a torpedo to boost your torpedo-bomber fleet or can do recon work
Hydraulic dive brakes required: Fitted
Self-sealing fuel tanks required: Fitted
Cockpit armoring and "bulletproof" glass required: Fitted
Crew size: 2 (pilot, radio/rear gunner) plus a third can be accomodated
Armament: 4x 7.92mm MG in wings and one in rear cockpit