Hi Mike,
Found this little tidbit describing fuel capacity for the Hs-129: Fuel: Two self-sealing wing tanks each holding 45 Imperial gallons (205 litres) and a single self-sealing fuselage tank of 44 Imperial gallons (200 litres). The Hs 129B-2 was capable of carrying a single droppable auxiliary fuel tank of 33 Imperial gallons (150 litres)
Found some numbers for the
SBD here:
http://www.ww2warbirds.net/ww2htmls/dougsbd.htmlFuel capacity internal - 258.1 Imp gal (310 US gal)
Fuel capacity external - 96.6 Imp gal (116 US gal), equally distributed over 2 underwing drop tanks
Minimum = 258.1 Imp gal
Maximum = 258.1+96.6 = 354.7 Imp gal
Hs-129:Minimum = 90+44 = 134 Imp gal
Maximum = 90+44+33 = 167 Imp gal
Fw-190: http://www.ww2warbirds.net/ww2htmls/fockfw190.html - Very useful site for fuel capacities
Fuel capacity internal - 115.25 Imp gal (138.4 US gal) plus provision for 25.3 Imp gal (30.4 US gal) of auxiliary fuel in a rear-fuselage tank
Fuel capacity external - 66 Imp gal (79.25 US gal) in one centerline drop tank
Minimum = 115.25 Imp gal
Medium = 115.25+25.3 = 140.55 Imp gal
Maximum = 115.25+25.3+66 = 206.55 Imp gal
Seems like gas was the major factor then wouldn't you say? Wonder how much extra the Hs-129 and Fw-190 could carry internally if the engineers got creative?
Some neat things from the above website for the Fw-190:
1: The Fw 190G-2 was a simple development of the Fw 190G-1 based on the airframe of the Fw 190A-5 with its longer nose section for an overall length of 29 ft 4.25 in (8,95 m). It also had Messerschmidt-designed racks for the underwing drop tanks, which provided for a maximum range of 963 miles (1.550 km). One conversion existed.
2: Focke-Wulf Fw 190G-8 Based on the airframe of the Fw 190A-8 with its 25.3 Imp gal (30.4 US gal; 115 liter) auxiliary tank.
Rüstsätze (field conversion sets):
Fw 190G-8/R4 Powered by 1 × BMW 801D-2 engine with the GM 1 nitrous oxide power-boost system.
Fw 190G-8/R5 Powered by 1 × BMW 801TU engine, rated at 2,000 hp (1.491 kW) for take-off and carrying four ETC 50 underwing racks in addition to the ETC 501 under fuselage rack.
3: Fw 190G-3 = Up to 3,968 lb on three hardpoints:
Center fuselage rated at 3,968 lb, carrying 1 × 3,968 lb (SC-1800) bomb or 1 × 1,102 lb (SC-500) bomb
2 underwing units rated at 551 lb, carrying 2 × 551 lb (SC-250) bombs, or 4 × 110 lb (SC-50) bombs
An all Fw-190 air wing is looking better and better gents; thoughts? Maybe augment with a few navalized Hs-129s and/or Me-410s for long range recon/heavy strike?
Me-410: http://www.ww2warbirds.net/ww2htmls/messme410.htmlFuel capacity internal - 1,100 Imp gal (1,321 US gal)
Range - 1,050 miles
Me-410B-5: Experimental Torpedo bomber version
Provision for: 1 × 1,984 lb (900 kg) LT F5b torpedo, or 1 × 1,675 lb (760 kg) LT F5i torpedo, or 1 × 3,968 lb (1.800 kg) SC-1800 bomb, or 2 × 882 lb (400 kg) BT-400 bomb-torpedoes, or 6 × 440 lb (200 kg) BT-200 bomb-torpedoes carried as two under the fuselage and four under the outer wing panels. Extra fuel amounting to an additional 297 Imp gal.
Based on what I've measured so far, the Fw-190, Hs-129, and Me-410 would all fit aboard the flight decks, elevators, and hangar decks of all 3 CVL designs if provided with folding wings. Thoughts gents?