Stukas and HMS Illustrious.

[Juha]

Hello Leon
Peter C. Smith in his Junkers Ju 87 Stuka also gave the same B-1/R-1 and B-2/R-2 connection and IIRC that was also mentioned in Oct 84 AI article, but according to Smith already R-1 had two additional 150 litres wing tanks.

And Ju 87 needed less than ½ fuel to return after bombing, no external (draggy) load to carry and being much lighter during the climb back to optimum cruise height than after take off.

On ability to dive bomb, Ju 87 was already released its bomb before pull out ie before max stress to its structure.

Juha