Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Notable Point · 46:21-50:06

Range, payload, and carrier survivability

The fuel-starved P1Y attackers are compared with heavier bombers, Okinawa's air defences, and more damage-resistant carrier designs.

Armoured Flight DecksBattle Of OkinawaCarrier SurvivabilityDoolittle RaidEssex Class Aircraft CarriersMidway Class Aircraft CarriersNaval AviationUSS Bunker Hill (CV-17)
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Notes

Sending more P1Y aircraft would not fix the fuel problem created by the long approach to Ulithi. A larger bomber with more fuel and explosive capacity might have changed the damage calculation, much as the Doolittle Raid adapted heavier aircraft to an unusual long-range mission. The Okinawa comparison brings in the Big Blue Blanket air-defence system and USS Bunker Hill's damage from multiple kamikaze hits. Essex-class survivability is then set beside the stronger Midway class and British armoured-hangar carriers, tying aircraft range and payload to a carrier's ability to absorb damage.