“U.S.A.: Louisiana: The US Navy orders a version of the Consolidated Catalina from the new New Orleans factory. This mark will have two 0.50-in nose guns, search radar in a radome above the cockpit and amphibious undercarriage. They will be designated PBY-6A and 900 are ordered.”
Is this a forerunner of the P-3 Orion for anti-submarine duty, or is it the forerunner of the AWAC for early warning against air attack? I can see valuable use for both; the Catalina had good range and endurance, and with search radar, it can give a very early warning for Japanese aircraft out in the vast expanses of the Pacific.
Here’s the real problem for the Axis, though. The PBY-6A is a technological innovation; put a radar on a flying platform. OK, good idea. Let’s build NINE HUNDRED OF THEM. Why?
Because we can.
To what do you attribute the lack of German progress in the northern line at Kursk?
It is a patrol plane it is both. But mainly the anti submarine one. Also it did search and rescue and much more. reconnaissance was key including spotting enemy fleets. Those 900 will go to good use.
But this is not remotely the first plane to have a radar or the first PBY. It isn’t going to do a NEW role. It is just adding radar to its existing role. Patrol float-planes have been around for decades by now. PBYs have been killing subs for a long time now. A PBY was the first to spot one of the forces approaching Midway. Long range recon was a big part of its mission. So you could call it a precursor to spy satellites too.