Flying light bombers as fighters

[Widewing]

Flying light bombers as fighters
One of my favortite things to do in the MA from time to time is to take up a single-engine dive bomber or light bomber and use specifically as a fighter.

Typically, I include the SBD-5, TBM-3 and IL-2 in this group.

Last evening, I flew an SBD defending a base against a steady stream of incoming enemy fighters and bomber formations. Generally, I'll climb out to about 8,000 feet and await the incoming aircraft.

I managed to kill a Spit16 and a Niki, both being easy kills as they attempted to turn with the SBD. Unless you are flying a Zero or Hurricane, don't do that.... I added an assist on a Tiffie and had killed an Ostwind prior to that.

Later, I went offline and tested the SBD and the TBM for turn radius and turn rate. MOSQ had tested the SBD recently and with full flaps generated a turn radius of 397 feet, at 17.3 degrees/second @ 82 mph.

I believe that MOSQ had allowed his speed to degrade too much. I was able to generate a radius of 387 feet at 19.3 degrees/second @ 89 mph.

With four notches of flaps, I saw 405 feet at 19.9 degrees/sec ond @ 96 mph.

For the TBM with full flaps, I recorded 391 feet at 20.2 degrees/second @ 94 mph. The TBM has over 600 more horsepower than the SBD, and this added thrust shows up as an advantage in turn rate.

Compare those numbers to the Spit16: 450 ft, 19.9 degrees/sec @ 107 mph. The Niki can do at least 414 ft, 22.5 degrees/sec at 111 mph.

Many players see planes like the SBD and TBM and assume they will be easy kills. If they fail to maintain a significant speed advantage, they can find themselves in deep trouble.

My regards,

Widewing

[bkbandit]

i seen wat they can do and dont look at them as a easy meal, if they had the 6 50s(i dont remember if they do) u wouldnt have a prob racking up.

[Stoney74]

Weren't there Navy pilots that got multiple Zero kills in the SBD in the early part of the war--say Coral Sea, etc.?  Made some of 'em Wildcat pilots if I remember correctly...

[Saxman]

I know for a while SBDs were used to intercept Kates and Vals.

[frank3]

My favorite bomber/fighter must be the D3A, it's great fun to see a Hurrican trying to turn with you!
And when they do seem to turn closer, add 1 notch of flaps and KAPOW there you have him again

It does take awhile for those 2x.303's to do some damage though

[Raptor]

A20 is fun as well, but I'm a sucker for twin engines.

[Reynolds]

I wish i had seen this earlier. I have recently felt the wrath of Furball's TBM. Its a biatch if you dont expect it!

[Angus]

SBD eats the TBM Reynolds...

[Meatwad]

I like using the IL-2 for defense on bases that are under CV attack. They are good for killing LVT's

[Reynolds]

Originally posted by Angus
SBD eats the TBM Reynolds...

I was in a 109 G14 vs a TBM. I underestimated it at slow speed... Youve seen the pictures.

[Flayed1]

I sometimes like to use my B-26 as a fighter usually if I have some how managed to lose my drones.  One time I managed to get onto a P51's six when he got low and slow, chased him down and blasted him  On another ocation I had a good 10 minuit fight in my Boston 3 vs a P51 I would have had him if only the Boston had better guns, I raked his belly with a real impressive looking burst of 303 fire but not a ounce of damage on his end Finally after turn after turn of on the deck hand cramping rudder (I wish I had peddles) twisting  fighting he finallly got a good shot on my wing and I went down.

[Angus]

Originally posted by Reynolds
I was in a 109 G14 vs a TBM. I underestimated it at slow speed... Youve seen the pictures.

So, you screwed up

Well, if you had swapped with Furbie, the outcome would have been the same.

[Masherbrum]

Originally posted by Flayed1
I sometimes like to use my B-26 as a fighter usually if I have some how managed to lose my drones.  One time I managed to get onto a P51's six when he got low and slow, chased him down and blasted him  On another ocation I had a good 10 minuit fight in my Boston 3 vs a P51 I would have had him if only the Boston had better guns, I raked his belly with a real impressive looking burst of 303 fire but not a ounce of damage on his end Finally after turn after turn of on the deck hand cramping rudder (I wish I had peddles) twisting  fighting he finallly got a good shot on my wing and I went down.

I do the B-26 thing too Flayed.   It is not that bad for a bomber to use as a fighter.   When I was in Nazgul I shot down two Niki's doing 300mph in a climb, clearing a then squaddie.   I didn't land, La7 blindsided me.   But this thing can get nasty if one chooses to fly it as such.

[Angus]

Hehe, memorable as it is, I once killed Fester's Ta-152 in a B26

That's not the most memorable klill though, hehehe.

[Mustaine]

you know I gotta ask, how do you accurately measure the turn radius? it's not like there are tape measures built into AH.