Author Topic: Dive bombing help (Read 984 times)

Rich46yo · « **on:** February 15, 2008, 04:52:01 PM »

Im still having some trouble hitting my targets in Jabos. With rockets Im not to bad but hitting those little GVs is still kinda tough at steep angles. I do OK dropping on naval ships but still having trouble with Hangars. Most of the time Im right there and literally straddling the hangar with my bombs.

Is there something Im missing here? Would a dive bombing ace be willing to let me tag along in the TA for a few drops?

Thanks.

Major Biggles · « **Reply #1 on:** February 15, 2008, 05:20:06 PM »

practise, practise.

go to the TA, observe where the green training crosshair shows where the bomb will hit. practise several different approaches on this over and over, and soon enough it'll be instinct

Spikes · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2008, 05:29:39 PM »

Yes, use the TA to your advantage. I usually drop very low (2K?) before I pull out. I have seen many people drop at 5K and nail their target, this meaning they had their target sighted and speed/angle all setup.

The Fugitive · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2008, 06:12:42 PM »

Practice is the best way, only tip I can give is try to take the same dive angle every time. If you come in at 45 degrees at just about 3 k the target should just be slipping under your nose.

60 degrees its farther under your nose, at 30 degrees its closer to the center of your target, see what I mean? If you always dive around the same angle....which ever you are comfortable with... you'll be dropping "when" the target is in pretty much the same spot on you site, stick with that angle.

Rich46yo · « **Reply #4 on:** February 15, 2008, 06:40:36 PM »

Thanks for the replys. I had a decent TA session before signing on tonight.

Hap · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:37:47 AM »

Rich, I'll get you hitting close to 100% of your targets in short order. Check the roster, and remind me.

Rich46yo · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2008, 03:59:50 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Hap
Rich, I'll get you hitting close to 100% of your targets in short order. Check the roster, and remind me.

Cool...thanks

LYNX · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2008, 09:15:14 PM »

check this thread out. Scroll to my screen shots.

stroker71 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2008, 11:28:30 AM »

You can take down hangers in one pass easily. If your in a f6f arm your rockets (salvo 6 but you can take it down with 5) fire them arm 1000lbers drop and boom down goes the hanger. I fire my rockets from about 3k...aim alittle high from a 45 degree angle.

As stated above being consistant is the most important thing. Don't hurry up your attack, get into position and do your thing. You might miss a kill on a target from a friendly is the only down side. With 8 bombs on an A20 I can usually kill 7 gv's...as long as it's not a tiger.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2008, 07:12:56 PM »

Rich, it's different for different planes.

With the F6F for instance, at ~ a 45 degree dive angle or greater and speed from a 10K dive you can pretty much put the pipper right on the target. It's part of why I always say the F6F is one of the best dive bombing platforms in the game.

Firing rockets from a 190A-8 from a lower alt with less dive angle, the target needs to actually pass out of sight under your nose to hit.

For every plane and for every circumstance (begining alt, speed, dive angle) it will be different.

As others have said, practice is your best bet.

BTW, you'll know you hit a hanger if you don't see any bomb craters.

Odee · « **Reply #10 on:** February 18, 2008, 07:55:08 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Rich46yo
Thanks for the replys. I had a decent TA session before signing on tonight.

What plane you using most in JABO? I find a glide bomb angle of near 45 degrees and 350 mph IAS is good for release when the target just about reaches the bottom of the HUD glass in most planes.

Of course, in TA you get the funky GREEN + to guide you. Just pay attention to Attitude, Speed and range/timing to target and you'll do great.

Spikes · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2008, 08:30:23 AM »

Also look at this:

http://geocities.com/cofnscrnr/divebombing.html

Rich46yo · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2008, 08:41:33 AM »

Mostly I use P-47Ns and Hellcats for Jabo missions. Im starting to change up a bit cause it seems everytime I dive bomb in the 47N some magic ack bullet finds the gas tank and my engine stops while Im extending either to engage or make another run.

Then theres the issue of lining up the target and rolling. I have no problems flying upside down but it seems you have to time your dive perfectly or your going to come down at a bad angle. Some times I get a little shake in the Jabo that throws aim off a bit. Obviously Im not trimmed correctly but how do you mess with trim while your doing 6 other things?

I do best with the Hellcat. But unless Im coming off a CV I'd prefer other platforms that carry a heavier load, are faster, and have longer range.

Spikes · « **Reply #13 on:** February 18, 2008, 09:04:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Rich46yo
Mostly I use P-47Ns and Hellcats for Jabo missions. Im starting to change up a bit cause it seems everytime I dive bomb in the 47N some magic ack bullet finds the gas tank and my engine stops while Im extending either to engage or make another run.

Then theres the issue of lining up the target and rolling. I have no problems flying upside down but it seems you have to time your dive perfectly or your going to come down at a bad angle. Some times I get a little shake in the Jabo that throws aim off a bit. Obviously Im not trimmed correctly but how do you mess with trim while your doing 6 other things?

I do best with the Hellcat. But unless Im coming off a CV I'd prefer other platforms that carry a heavier load, are faster, and have longer range.

Yes, the 47's gas tank is very vulnerable. I use the D40 for Jabo. When dropping you HAVE to drop the 2x 1K bombs first, What I do is launch 4x rockets at around 4-5K, drop 2x 1K bombs at 2-3K, and laugh 4x rockets at 1-2K. Dropping the 2x 1K bombs on the first pass will greatly help the drag on the climb out from the dive. On the Hellcat I drop 2x 1K bombs and then 6x rockets.

Another good plane to Jabo in is the TYPH. Granted it doesn't have the range and can't dive as well because it automatically pulls out at 450. The cannons make up for that. With 8 rockets or 2x 1K bombs and cannons you can pork a field pretty good, and then fight your way out.

BaldEagl · « **Reply #14 on:** February 18, 2008, 11:57:02 AM »

Are you sure that shake isn't caused by airframe stress/buffeting? If so you can't trim it out. Start your dive from lower or throttle back a notch.

Just use your combat trim for now. The only time you'll have to trim manually is if the nose lifts on it's own, or you start to suffer compression and can't pull out.

BTW, I'm not surprised to hear you ended up in a fully loaded Jug. They are, after all, mini bombers