Ju-88

[Fulmar]

More often than not I find myself encountering JU88s flying into furballs around 5000 ft near a base.  I mean seriously, with the lack of protection that JU88s have, it amazes me how many fighters respond to knock it out.

[68ROX]

Yes, the 88's are an "unrecognized" bomber.

I have seen my squaddie 68DONKEY drop a vehicle base in no time with a set....ack and hangars MANY TIMES.

68ROX

[Brooke]

We want these Ju 88 pilots in the axis team for Operation Husky!  It is perfect for such action.  Come join us, folks!

http://ahevents.org/pacific-theatre/current-or-next-scenario-2.html

[Virage]

Ju88 is a great bomber.  It really shines without ext ord. using the 50kgrs to take out ord and towns.

The 4x1000kg bombs are only practically useful vs. 2 hngrs.  If you come in low and have an accurate calibration, you can take out 4 if you live long enough.  

As all serious buffers know: with the drop dispersion at alt, you need to use a salvo of 2 in a formation to assure a hngr kill.

The only drawback is the def guns.  They are pretty much worthless.  A big problem is the convergence setting of the formation.  At 400yds the 7.9 mm don't do enough damage.  At the damage range of the guns (<250 yds) the outer 2 plane's guns in formation are shooting behind your target.

Aim for wings instead of center mass.  I also read on these boards somewhere that slowing down helps with the lethality.  The increase in relative bullet velocity makes sense, but I haven't tried it online.  And a fast dive to help is probably a better tactic than a slow trip out of dodge.

[Husky01]

Operation Husky is looking for Boston Pilots There kinda like Ju88s lol not sure how but they are.

[Mak333]

Originally posted by Krusty
P.S. salvo 1 with a 1000lb bomb kills hangars just fine in B17s. If you land them on target.

Interesting.  This may work with a relatively low altitude.  I took B17's up to test this out.  I set salvo to 1, which would let me drop one 1,000lbs bomb from each bomber, making it 3,000lbs total.  The bomb spread was ridiculous.  Not only did I fail to knock down the hanger, but the bombs did not appear to land where they were dropped.  I took a Ju-88 and did the same, knocked down the hanger with THREE 500kg bombs.  This might be because of the the slightly larger weight in the bombs, but it might also have to do with how they fall, or even how close the formation is.  Has anyone ever compared the distance between level bombers in a formation to different level bombers?  Being the B17 is a larger plane, it might have a larger bomb spread because the planes may be further apart when flying in the formation.

[Mak333]

Originally posted by Brooke
Mak333, the upcoming special-event scenario Operation Husky is running in June.  We have spots available for Ju 88 pilots in that one, and I'm expecting it to be a lot of fun.  It's based on the 1943 invasion of Sicily.  If you register for axis and put Ju 88's as your preference to fly, you will get a Ju 88 spot.

Here's info on the scenario with links to registration:

http://ahevents.org/pacific-theatre/current-or-next-scenario-2.html

For more information on scenarios in general, click on the link in my signature line.

Hope to see you in the skies over Sicily.

Brooke, thank you for the information and link.  I will definitely look into this.

[hoovers]

I was surprised the other Night when I sunk a CV with the 20 50kg bombs in formation.  Great bomber.



Hoovers

[Mak333]

Originally posted by hoovers
I was surprised the other Night when I sunk a CV with the 20 50kg bombs in formation.  Great bomber.



Hoovers

Yes, I found out that they were very well against GV's too!

[tedrbr]

Originally posted by Mak333
Interesting.  This may work with a relatively low altitude.  I took B17's up to test this out.  I set salvo to 1, which would let me drop one 1,000lbs bomb from each bomber, making it 3,000lbs total.  The bomb spread was ridiculous.  Not only did I fail to knock down the hanger, but the bombs did not appear to land where they were dropped.....

I've knocked out hangars consistently from 15K with salvo 1.  Running level, 80% power, level and lined up well in advance, minor course corrections with J and L, combat trim used, long calibrations.   With 500's, I can hit a strat from up to 25K to 30K about 9 times out of 10.  

So long as you've got a good technique going for you, you can make very economical use of your bomb load and the hyper accurate bomb sight.

If you are make late final course corrections, your drones drop will be off.  If running flat out at full power, you risk the plane gaining altitude, even in level flight.  

Best to start with salvo 3's with a reasonably close delay (0.07 to 0.10). As you get better, you will be able to use salvo 2's, then finally salvo 1's against targets.

[Ghastly]

The JU-88 was in some respects the "Mossie of the LW" - used in just about every role possible during the war, in real life.  It has always been my favorite of the German bombers.

[Mak333]

Originally posted by tedrbr
I've knocked out hangars consistently from 15K with salvo 1.  Running level, 80% power, level and lined up well in advance, minor course corrections with J and L, combat trim used, long calibrations.   With 500's, I can hit a strat from up to 25K to 30K about 9 times out of 10.  

So long as you've got a good technique going for you, you can make very economical use of your bomb load and the hyper accurate bomb sight.

If you are make late final course corrections, your drones drop will be off.  If running flat out at full power, you risk the plane gaining altitude, even in level flight.  

Best to start with salvo 3's with a reasonably close delay (0.07 to 0.10). As you get better, you will be able to use salvo 2's, then finally salvo 1's against targets.

I can take down a hanger with salvo 1 in a Ju88 every time.  But I'll have to up another B17 with thousand pounders, because something must have been off then.  I am pretty precise when it comes to level bombing.  Thank you for the suggestions.

[airspro]

Are we ever gonna get a night fighter verison . What I mean a cannon version ?

[Nilsen]

Twice this tour ive been owned by ju88s.

It happened like this both times:

1. Chase ju88s...

2. their pigs take out my K4 engine's oil...

3. i turn and head for home...

4. afew mins later the engine dies...

5. I try to find an open space to ditch on...

6. land and almost stop...

7. PING PING PING PING...

8. BOOM..

9. Im in tower after remaining Ju88 has followed me and shot me down, and im like WTF!!!




PWNED!

[tedrbr]

One of my all time favorite fights was me in a flight of Ju88's returning from a strat run coming across a flight of Ki-67's coming back from a run.  

I got out with two shot up planes, he retired with 1 Ki-67 remaining.  I figure flak had shot him up before I got to him, or I should have been dead meat.  

Sure wish I'd have recorded that one.