The B-29 fitted a bevy of 12.7mm Browning M2 heavy machine guns for self-defense. Four were installed in an electrically-operated dorsal turret while a second dorsal turret fitted two more. A pair of 12.7mm machine guns were installed in a chin position with another two-gun system mounted under the rear fuselage. A pair of machine guns were installed in the tail to counter any incoming interceptors. Beyond these guns, the B-29's true value came in her ability to carry up to 20,000 lb of internally-held ordnance.
American authorities limited the B-29s combat action solely to the Pacific Theater during World War 2. Operational B-29s were being delivered to front lines as early as 1943 (these being largely service evaluation aircraft) and were utilized into 1944 as daylight, high-level bombers. Early sorties originated from bases in British India against Japanese targets in Thailand and, later, against targets on the Japanese mainland. Night time, low-level attacks were next on the B-29's agenda and such sorties against Japanese cities and military production facilities proved utterly lethal - a single fire-bomb attack by 279 Superfortresses killed upwards of 80,000 Japanese.
Production of B-29 Superfortress was split between several factories managed under different contractors to keep up with demand. This would ultimately include Boeing, Bell, and Martin - all being military aircraft powerhouses during this period - and production totaled nearly 4,000 examples before the end of the run. An improved B-29 model appeared in the years following the war and this example was designated the "B-50". Outwardly similar to the original B-29, the B-50 was completed with some 75% of the airframe newly designed, hence her all-new designation. The B-50 was differentiated from her predecessor by a revised vertical tail fin as well as more powerful engines. Additionally, the B-50's structure was further strengthened. This variant appeared in 1948 and was produced in about 370 examples up until 1953.
Beyond the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia both utilized the B-29 Superfortress in their respective air service inventories. The Soviet Union, always willing to gain more ground in the technology field against its American adversaries, reverse-engineered B-29s from three captured examples forced to land in Soviet territory after raids over Japan (among these was the "Ramp Tramp"). On Stalin's orders, the Tupolev concern took up the task and worked out the Boeing product right down to the final rivets - resulting in the Tupolev Tu-4 "Bull" which, itself, spawned the Tupolev Tu-70 dedicated transport platform. By all accounts, the Tu-4 was nothing more than an inferior copy of the excellent American product but nonetheless advanced the Soviet bomber program considerably.
The B-29 proved a critical design achievement for the American military, particularly concerning actions in World War 2 and Korea (1950-1953). It undoubtedly lay the ground work for future projects that would ultimately culminate in the world-renowned Boeing B-52 "Stratofortress" of Vietnam War (1955-1975) fame. The B-52 essentially marked the end of the dedicated Boeing "heavy bomber" era as the mantel was eventually taken over by the sleek swing-wing Rockwell B-1 "Lancer" and the technologically-advanced Northrop B-2 "Spirit" stealth bomber and missile-launching warships and submarines. Despite this, the B-52 continues to fly in a frontline role today.
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