Author Topic: Flying light bombers as fighters  (Read 1466 times)

Offline Widewing

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Flying light bombers as fighters
« on: August 12, 2006, 01:18:48 AM »
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
« Last Edit: August 12, 2006, 01:38:52 AM by Widewing »
My regards,

Widewing

YGBSM. Retired Member of Aces High Trainer Corps, Past President of the DFC, retired from flying as Tredlite.

Offline bkbandit

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #1 on: August 12, 2006, 01:41:45 AM »
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.

Offline Stoney74

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #2 on: August 12, 2006, 04:43:15 AM »
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...

Offline Saxman

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #3 on: August 12, 2006, 08:46:33 AM »
I know for a while SBDs were used to intercept Kates and Vals.
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Offline frank3

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #4 on: August 12, 2006, 09:14:13 AM »
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 :lol

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

Offline Raptor

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #5 on: August 12, 2006, 01:22:10 PM »
A20 is fun as well, but I'm a sucker for twin engines.

Offline Reynolds

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #6 on: August 13, 2006, 04:00:51 AM »
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!

Offline Angus

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #7 on: August 13, 2006, 07:53:56 AM »
SBD eats the TBM Reynolds...
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Meatwad

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #8 on: August 13, 2006, 01:51:48 PM »
I like using the IL-2 for defense on bases that are under CV attack. They are good for killing LVT's
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Offline Reynolds

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #9 on: August 13, 2006, 07:12:26 PM »
Quote
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.

Offline Flayed1

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #10 on: August 14, 2006, 06:07:38 AM »
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 :D  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.
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Offline Angus

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #11 on: August 14, 2006, 07:30:47 AM »
Quote
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.
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Masherbrum

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2006, 08:56:00 AM »
Quote
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 :D  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.
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Offline Angus

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #13 on: August 14, 2006, 11:17:50 AM »
Hehe, memorable as it is, I once killed Fester's Ta-152 in a B26 :D

That's not the most memorable klill though, hehehe.
It was very interesting to carry out the flight trials at Rechlin with the Spitfire and the Hurricane. Both types are very simple to fly compared to our aircraft, and childishly easy to take-off and land. (Werner Mölders)

Offline Mustaine

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Flying light bombers at fighters
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2006, 01:17:42 PM »
you know I gotta ask, how do you accurately measure the turn radius? it's not like there are tape measures built into AH.
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