Gun Loadouts

[XrightyX]

Can anyone tell me taking the smaller gun loadouts in planes like the P47, P38 or Mossie makes a difference in performance?  What's the approximate weight of 200 rounds of ammo?  In a plane like the P47 which weighs 14,000 + lbs, would you ever notice a difference?


Thanks in advance

[Urchin]

Some people swear by loading a P-47 with 6 .50s with the light loadout, and 50 fuel and a DT.  

I think that if you want a plane with 6 .50s, up a P-51 instead, since it is still a better plane than a P-47 with 6.  

I usually go light loadout in the P-47, but that is because I always run out of gas before I run out of ammo, so I figure the light load isn't hurting me any.

[Ghosth]

On some planes, a very definate yes.

Try taking the 4 gun package on the P51D.

Its enough to make a difference that you can feel in a turn fight.

[XrightyX]

Thanks fellas,

You know, I was only considering the ammo load.  Removing a pair of guns would make a bigger difference...especially an outer pairs of guns in the wings.

Problem is w/ 4x 0.50s in P51D, I'm such a bad shot I need all I can get!

[mechanic]

anyone who doesnt use 8X50cals in the jug needs there head looking at

[Halo]

Reduced armament and/or ammo load and/or fuel load makes a big difference in a dogfight.  Can surprise many opponents by taking a fighter that usually is loaded as a heavy long-range jabo and instead fighting it as lightly loaded as possible.

[thrila]

i dump all my .303 ammo in the mossie.  It may just be a placebo but i like to think it helps.

[Hap]

xrityx, try this offline and you'll see, at least in this case how weight might affect things.  Take a jug with 75% fuel and the largest ammo load and auto take off to 10k or so.  Time it.

next, try it with the smallest ammo load and 25% fuel.


next, spend all the ammo out of the six 50's prior to take off.  

the difference is pretty amazing.  since i enjoyed jabo sorties the most, i used the small ammo load out and let the ordinance do most of the work.

 good luck, Hap

[Widewing]

I usually fly the P-38 with the smaller ammo load, 50% fuel and a single drop tank, unless I'm defending, then just 50% is enough. With the lighter ammo load, performance is noticably improved, especially when tangling with fighters like Spitfires, Nikis and the Ki-84.

P-47Ds: 6 guns short clip, 50% and belly tank or, 8 guns same fuel. There's a trade-off here, better performance vs more punch. However, the performance difference isn't huge. Loading 8 guns and full ammo will make a significant difference though.

Rather than take a P-51D with 4 guns, I'll just take a P-51B. It handles better anyway. Yeah, the P-51D is a bit faster on the deck, but between 14k and 20k the P-51B may be the best fighter in the game. You can fly the F4F-4 with 4 guns, but I woundn't bother when the better performing FM-2 already has 4 guns. Likewise, when flying the P-40E I'll load 50% and the belly tank. That will take you about 4 sectors as fuel comsumption is excellent in the P-40. But, due to a small ammo load-out, the P-40 usually runs out of ammo before it runs out of gas.

As a rule, I NEVER take more fuel than I actually need. Simply loading external fuel will get you anywhere you may want to go.

My regards,

Widewing

[Roscoroo]

you guys are giving away  all our  Jug society secrets , and you should be shot ..
Now your gonna let out the fact that it can out turn a pony  

[OLtos]

Widewing is absolutely correct the light ammo loadout in the P-38 is critical.  The difference is almost 450 POUNDS all of it forward of the pilot.   This makes a huge difference in how the p-38 handles in tight turning situations

[Hap]

Originally posted by Roscoroo
you guys are giving away  all our  Jug society secrets , and you should be shot ..
Now your gonna let out the fact that it can out turn a pony  

Roscoroo is right.  Jug can be a turnin' beast.  Not "nimble" mind you, but turn she can esp. if she's weighted correctly.

Hap