The B18 (also known as the Saab-18) had similar origins to the Saab-17; it was originally designed to fulfil the reconnaissance role, but when realized it could be used as a light bomber, its introduction was delayed to adapt it to the new role. A twin-engine, twin-rudder plane, it very slightly resembled a Ju 88 (p.W:IC87) with the tail of a Do 17 (p.W:TFH51). The initial prototypes did not fly until 1942 and the B18A didn’t enter service until the summer of 1944. However, it was appreciated that it was underpowered even before it entered production. Fortunately, Sweden eventually acquired the license to build the Daimler-Benz DB 605 engine, which drastically improved the performance of the B18B. The B18B first flew in 1944 and became operational in 1945. A total of 242 B18’s were produced.
The B18A was intended for use primarily as a level bomber and carried a third crewman (a bombardier). When the B18B was redesigned as a dive-bomber (considered more accurate), crew was reduced to two.
The B18B has a crew of two. The pilot fires the nose machinegun and drops the bombs. The radio operator operates the radio and fires either of the dorsal and ventral machineguns. The plane uses 99 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.
Subassemblies: Medium-Bomber chassis +4, Medium Fighter-Bomber
Wings +3, 2¥Large Weapon pods +2, three retractable wheels +1.
Powertrain: 2¥1,100-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 2¥1,100-kW
prop [Pods] and 459-gallon self-sealing fuel tanks [Wings and Body].
Occupancy: 2 CS Cargo: 16.9 Body
| Armor | F | R/L | B | T | U |
| Body | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Wings | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 | 2/3 |
| Crew | +0/0 | +0/0 | +0/30 | +0/0 | +0/30 |
Weaponry
2¥Long Aircraft HMGs/13.2mm M/39A [Body:B] (300 rounds each)
Aircraft LMG/7.9mm M/22 [Body:F] (500 rounds)
3¥1,100lb bombs [Body:U]
Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments,
autopilot., bombsight, 2,200-lb bomb bay. Wings: five 110-lb hardpoints
each.
Statistics
| Size: 43'x55'x14' | Payload: 3.48 tons | Lwt: 9.67 tons |
| Volume: 448 | Maint.: 23 hours | Price: $78,200 |
HT: 9.
HPs: 420 Body, 330 each Wing, 40 each Wheel.
| aSpeed: 357 | aAccel: 7 | aDecel: 25 | aMR: 6 | aSR: 2 | Stall: 87 mph |
Design Notes
The historical speed has been used (design speed was 330 mph), as well
as the actual wing area (471 square feet). Body HP, cost and weight were
doubled, to better match historical weight and performance.
The pods were slightly too small for the engines; the extra space has been taken from the free space in the wings.
Some B18B’s deleted the nose LMG (it’s also possible that all three MGs were 13.2mm M/39A’s).
Although both HMGs are listed as facing the rear, one could only fire in an arc behind and up, the other behind and down.
Variants
The B18A (1944) was powered by a 794-kW engine, with an aSpeed for
291 mph. The dorsal and ventral guns were both 7.9mm M/22F’s (Aircraft
LMGs) with 500 rounds each. 60 built.
The S18A (1944) was a reconnaissance version of the B18A, fitted with two cameras. For nighttime work, a third camera and underwing flares were carried.
Although produced after WWII, the TB18B (1947) was originally designed to be used as a torpedo bomber (or, alternatively, to drop naval mines) but was after unsuccessful testing changed to an attack version with a 57mm Bofors M/47 gun (57mm Medium Ground AC, with 40 rounds and RoF 3*) located in the bomb bay, firing through an opening in the nose. There were also two forward firing 20mm M/45 cannons (20mm Long Aircraft AC). With a slightly more streamlined nose, it could reach 375 mph. 62 built.