Superfly! The new JU88 a divebomber or levelbomber?

[GrinBird]

Some time ago Superfly showed us a screenshot of the new JU88 here in this forum. I think everybody then thought it would be a medium levelbomber a bit like the B26. I allready knew that the JU88 was used for divebombing. But when I was doing some research for a discussion at the gameplay feedback BBS, I found out that it was originally designed for divebombing, and was used for levelbombing because germany had not got heavy bombers.
Do anyone know if the JU88 at all had an aiming device for levelbombing?
.. And Superfly how will you model the JU88 - as a levelbomber or a divebomber?


[This message has been edited by GrinBird (edited 08-26-2000).]

[funked]

Ju 88A-4 had a primary level bombing role and optical bombsight.  It had dive brakes and was stressed for dive bombing as a secondary role.  There was also a Ju 88A-4/Torp which could carry two torpedoes.

[Fatty]

Hate to quote out of context (cause my memory is nearly as bad as my flying), but I think Pyro said would function in both roles.

[GrinBird]

Thnx Funked and Fatty. Thats what I wanted to hear.

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GrinBird

[LLv34_Snefens]

Nashwan quoted some info at another sim's board about the Ju88's dive bombing ability. great stuff. So I will just re-post it here:

     

Nashwan wrote:

Don't know if this is any use to anyone.
                 
     

Ju88 dive bombing sequence. Before the attack, the bomb release altitude is set on the contact altimeter in the cockpit and the drift angle caused by the wind set on the BZIA sight. As he prepares to dive, the pilot observes the target through a small window in the floor of the cockpit. A series of etched lines on the glass enables him to align the aircraft on the target and to judge distance.
1 At the moment the target passes beyond the last of the lines, the pilot pulls a knob to extend the aircraft's dive brakes, while trim tabs fitted to the elevators automatically bring the Ju88's tail up and the nose down to push the aircraft into a 60 degree dive.
2 Now the target comes into view through the pilot's windscreen just above his reflector sight. The pilot eases up the nose, bringing the target into alignment with the top of the sighting circle.
3 820 ft above the pull-out altitude set on the contact altimeter a pair of electrical contacts close to sound a horn in the cockpit. Easing back the stick, the pilot places the target under the base of the sighting reticule.
4 The horn stops at the bomb-release altitude and the the pilot presses a button on his control column to initiate bomb releases and the automatic pull-out system.
5 Elevator trim tab brings the nose up and the Ju88 begins to pull out of the dive at a pre-determined rate, while the bombs are released at intervals set on the bomb release mechanism. To prevent them wrecking the propeller, they cannot be released until after the pull out has begun.
6 With the aircraft out of the dive, the pilot retracts the dive brakes and accelerates away. A dive through 4000 ft lasted approximately 12 seconds, with the pilot lightly holding the stick and allowing the elegant system to do the rest of the work.

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Ltn. Snefens
RO, Lentolaivue 34

[This message has been edited by LLv34_Snefens (edited 08-28-2000).]

[juzz]

funked is correct - the Ju 88 was NOT initially designed for divebombing, it was designed to meet a 1935 RLM requirement for a Schnellbomber(fast bomber) - able to reach 500km/h(311mph) and carry a 800kg(1765lb) load.

During the war the RLM had a fixation on divebombing though, I think all new level bombers were actually required to also have a 60ŗ divebombing capability. This ridiculous requirement partially caused the disaster that was the He 177.

[This message has been edited by juzz (edited 08-26-2000).]

[GrinBird]

I think we can agree on that the JU88 was made for both.
 Even the early A1 had equipment for divebombing. The point is that when used as a tactical bomber eg. attacking airfields in the early days of BoB, or giving close ground support on the continent it was a divebomber. When doing Strategic bombing as when Luftwaffe bombed London it was used as levelbomber.
The very nice divebombing system as Snef and Nashwan describe could be really nice to see in the AcesHigh Ju88, - maybe later?

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GrinBird

[Superfly]

It will do both level and divebombing.

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John "SUPERFLY" Guytan - Art Director
HiTech Creations
"Touch my tooter, smoocher!" - Ween
-=HELLFIRE=- SQUAD

[RAM]

 

Originally posted by SUPERFLY:
It will do both level and divebombing.

Thats great!!! will the auto mode be available?

[juzz]

Does the Fw 190 have kommandogerat?

[RAM]

 

Originally posted by juzz:
Does the Fw 190 have kommandogerat?

Right now EVERY plane in AH has kommandogėrat. I wish only Fw190A had it.
 
 

[funked]

I prefer the Mk. I Optical Sighting System with TLAR release point calculation.