Mosquito Mk VI

• Historical information about the Mosquito Mk VI in World War II; and
  
• Information about the Mosquito Mk VI in the massively multi-player online combat simulation Aces High II.

Aces High II aircraft
Mosquito FB Mk VI
Variant of	Mosquito
Nickname	Mossie
Type	Fighter/attacker
Crew	2
Aces High II loadout options
Package 1	4x .303 MG, 500 rounds/gun 4x 20mm cannons, 150 rounds/gun
Package 2	4x .303 MG, 780 rounds/gun 4x 20mm cannons, 175 rounds/gun
Options	2x 500lb bombs
	2x 250lb bombs
	8x rockets
	2x 100 gallon drop tanks
Aces High II Main Arenas
Earliest MA	Mid War
Typical perk cost	0 (Late War)
ENY value	25 (Late War)
Available on carrier	no
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The Mosquito Mk VI in Aces High II

The Mossie, as it is commonly known, is a very strong attack aircraft, though there have been several other aircraft in AH that have challenged this role. Possessing very good speed, massive firepower, and a highly useful bomb load, the Mossie makes for an excellent low level penetration aircraft, able to approach at very low levels and high speeds. There are several other aircraft that can be used in the same role but generally they tend to be more medium bomber in size while the Mossie still has the sleek lines of a fighter. Even though some people may dispute, the FB Mk VI is also a fighter as the FB (fighter bomber) designation suggests. Mosquito raids were often providing their own escorts with Mk VI models. Still, the Mossie is not a first-rate fighter and is at a disadvantage against most late-war planes.

Engine Power

The Mossie is very fast for such a large plane and is best at mid-low altitudes. Sea-level cruise speed is 325mph with a WEP speed of 338mph, making for something that is faster than Spitfire Mk IX at similar altitudes. The Mossie has a nice cruising altitude of 8.5K (365mph) or 15K (375mph) and top speed is at 14.5K (380mph). Altitudes above this result in lower performance. The speed is a very useful asset though and makes difficult interceptions from several fighters. You will still have to worry about the really high speed fighters though but at least your speed will buy you time before they can catch you. Climb rates are basically 2,500ft/min up to 15K, better than a bomber but worse than most fighters. However, consider that this official figure is for a fully loaded Mosquito, including 4 500lbs of bombs. A Mosquito without bombs and a typical fuel-load for the main arenas will easily break the 3000ft/min in a climb, even without WEP. When in fighter configuration, it is in the middle of the pack when climb rates and acceleration are considered. The Mossie isn't a pure fighter though, it's an attacker, so the fact that it can even measure up against some fighters is amazing. WEP time is short, only 5 minutes, and should be saved for the final dash into target or egress after your attack. Fuel range is spectacular and is on a bomber scale - about 70 minutes for 100% fuel load (543 gallons) at full throttle. There is also an option to load a pair of drop tanks with an extra 24 minutes total. Loading drop tanks is a mixed situation as they impair performance during cruise and make you unable to carry full external ordinance. Normally, the internal fuel should be more than enough for a attack and return sortie. The real use of the DT in AH is for Mosquitoes in fighter mode, that wish to reduce the internal fuel load and use the DT to reach the fight.

Aces High II Performance Charts

Firepower

The Mossie mounts four 20mm Hispano cannons in the nose along with four .303s. Probably nothing can match up to that very well and they are effective against both fighters and ground targets. Convergence is not a problem and can be set out to D650 (max) to ensure your maximum long range shooting abilities are best. In close, the firepower is going to be deadly to anything that falls into your gunsight, almost instantaneously. Ammunition loadout has two options, a normal and overload amount sporting 150/500 rounds/gun (Hispano/.303) or 175/780 rounds/gun (Hispano/.303). Most people take the overloaded ammo situation to get the extra Hispano rounds but it does tend to make the Mossie feel a little nose heavy. 500 rounds/gun of .303 is more than enough, 780 is almost silly as it results in more than a minute's worth of continuous firing. The Mossie has external racks for up to 8 rockets and can take two bombs of 500lbs or smaller externally and another pair internally. The drop tanks will make external ordinance unavailable but you can still pack the internal load. External loads do cause significant drag though so not having them can leave you full speed performance. Overall though, 2K of bombs plus all that strafing potential is excellent. The guns really leave you flexible potential to hit targets of opportunity, structures, fighters, vehicles or even bombers (4 Hispanos nose mounted absolutely will chew a bomber to pieces).

Maneuverability

Not a fighter but maybe the next best thing, the Mossie handles quite well and can effectively be used as a BnZ'r. It has sluggish roll rate at low speeds, but that is expected from such a large aircraft. The major issue is not its turning ability though, it's the fact that the elevators seem unresponsive even at low speeds to the point that it is often hard to stall the plane even if the stick is pulled all the way back. As a result, the Mosquito may be a safer plane, but it also looses its ability to effectively dump speed and cut the corners. This happened following a recent fix to the Mosquito's flight model (corrected the center of gravity). Its turning circle is relatively large and sustained turns should be avoided. Energy retention is top notch and speed that is built up in a dive takes very long time to bleed. Due to the high mass and relatively low drag, the mosquito has a very good zoom climb, that can surprise many foes. Caution should be applied when stalling the plane with the nose high over the horizon, as the torque for the two co-rotating props is significant. Diving accelerating is excellent, though the Mossie can't compete in a very high speed dive over 520mph. Part of the problem is that the speedometer only is marked up to 480mph and typically you will hear structural creaking and let up long before you actually are in trouble because of handling.

Fighting in the Mosquito Mk VI

The Mossie, for all its speed, has a tough time of survival in the MA. There are several other attack planes in the same category that suffer a similar problem of being not quite fast enough or maneuverable enough to deal with some of the top speeds of other aircraft. The Mossie tends to make any sort of high speed drag race a long affair though which opens the door to run to help. The best idea is to decide quickly whether you can purely out-run an enemy and do so if it is practical. If not, then you should be very aggressive and press home your firepower at the first opportunity. Remember, your 8 forward firing guns outclass anything else in the game and can turn a routine snapshot into an instant kill. If you have to, Head-Ons are acceptable but you should fire early to ensure you capitalize on the superior ballistics of the Hispanos. You may take some hits in return but a few long range hits are not likely to bring you down. Your twin engines may also help you limp home if you happen to lose one in such an encounter.

Offensively, the Mossie is not a fighter by trade but in a pinch it could be a decent BnZ'r. You have to be careful though as it tends to easily overshoot the target due to the poor elevator authority and inability to slow down fast enough. The Mossie makes a great vulcher though against low aircraft on a runway, against light vehicles, or PT boats. The excellent zoom and decent sustained climb also help in maintaining the energy advantage. Defensively, it is a big target and therefore more likely to sustain hits from difficult shots. One of the tricks to defending against snapshots is to roll the plane in the last moment to present the attacker with the side profile instead of the top.

Many experienced Mossie sticks suggest turning off combat trim especially before dives, as it will make recovery very difficult. In slow speeds it will trim the mosquito nose-high which, in case of a spin, makes recovery difficult. In the current state of the flight-model, due to the ineffectiveness of the elevators, the mosquito can benefit from trimming nose-up before high G turns.

Fighting against the Mosquito Mk VI

Beating a Mosquito should not be a difficult task if you start with a co-energy or advantaged position. You need to be offensive quickly and force the Mossie into a defensive stance, which should quickly lead to a kill. The Mosquito has great troubles dumping energy which makes defensive moves against an attacker difficult. If you can saddle up on a Mosquito it will be very hard for him to shake you off.

When slow, the Mossie is a slightly worse than average turner, or at least sustained it can't hold on for very long, so there is little to fear from it if you can keep it turning for an extended period. Maneuvers in the vertical should be done with care as it has a good zoom and guns that can reach out far. Also, when slow it will have a hard time to move out of the way and is a fairly large target to aim at.

The most dangerous aspect of the plane itself is the firepower and you need to respect that. If it has the E to zoom climb with you and catches you anywhere in its gun sight it is likely to quickly amputate most of the important components of your aircraft (like wings). Don't allow it to Head-On you, there is little chance you will fly out the other side and the Mossie tends to be such a large target that people often collide with them when they try and break off contact. Remember, the Mossie has a huge ammo load, centerline mounted guns, and Hispanos, which puts targets out to a range of even D1.2 in serious danger if they aren't maneuvering. Most Mossie drivers won't be shy in throwing out massive amounts of 20mm and if you are sloppy and catch a few you are likely very dead.

External Links

Soda's Aircraft Evaluations

Categories: Aircraft of WWII | Aircraft of Aces High II