P-38 damage

[uberslet]

Think all planes seem to suffer from this type of thing -

Mossie / 38s - Pilot wound
Tiffy - Oil
Pony - Rad

Try this -
Grab an F6F and try to de-ack a field with it. Almost always the first ack hit takes out the same gun on the same wing!!!!!

noticed that one the F4U 1D, always same gun, never any of the others.

[clerick]

Simple Actually:  The "Pointie End" (Technical Term) of the aircraft is closest to the end of the barrell on the Flak Gun so it is the first thing that gets hit.
That and unlike the other big single engined fighters there is no engine out in front to stop any incoming rounds. Therefore the pilot stops the incoming round.

If you look at what is actually in the nose of a 38 you'll see that there is a LOT of metal in there.  You have cannon and 50's and their ammo, not to mention the armor plating.  I believe that Murdr once posted a diagram of a 38 cockpit that showed the extensive armoring. While an engine block may provide better protection, i find it unacceptable that the 38 is so susceptible to pilot wounds.

[Murdr]

If you look at what is actually in the nose of a 38 you'll see that there is a LOT of metal in there.  You have cannon and 50's and their ammo, not to mention the armor plating.  I believe that Murdr once posted a diagram of a 38 cockpit that showed the extensive armoring. While an engine block may provide better protection, i find it unacceptable that the 38 is so susceptible to pilot wounds.

[clerick]

And there we go. Thanks Murdr. 

[Yossarian]

I've also noticed that in the B-25H (I don't fly the C very often), pilot wounds seem to occur very frequently.  I'll google its cockpit armour now.

<S>

Yossarian

EDIT:  http://www.zenoswarbirdvideos.com/B-25_Neat_Stuff.html
It's the first one on the list, not sure how much it can show about PWs.

[Motherland]

How thick were the plates? On the 38?

[Murdr]

How thick were the plates? On the 38?

3/8th inch steel.  They were rated to stop rounds of the .30 calibre family.  Actually I have an account of at least 18 said rounds hitting the seat armor in combat without a penetration.  A pristine .50 should easily penetrate the armor, however depending on the trajectory there are plenty of obsticals in the nose that could lessen the percentage of a .50 round making it into the cockpit.  Does the game model that accurately?  No idea, but I always repost the images when the old "you don't have an engine in front" comment comes up.

[Serenity]

That little nub dead center of the nose... what is that? Guncam?

[Captain Virgil Hilts]

Yeah, it was there in the early models, but was moved in later models because the vibrations from the guns made the gun film almost useless.

[Lazerr]

I usually dont bleed, instant explosion sounds better.

[CAP1]

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

how thick is that armor though?>


i thought i had read somewhere that it was 3/8" steel? if so, won't a 50 cal penetrate that thickness a few hunderd yards out?

[Newman5]

how thick is that armor though?>


i thought i had read somewhere that it was 3/8" steel? if so, won't a 50 cal penetrate that thickness a few hunderd yards out?

Correct.  You got that from 4 quotes up!!   

3/8th inch steel.  They were rated to stop rounds of the .30 calibre family.  Actually I have an account of at least 18 said rounds hitting the seat armor in combat without a penetration.  A pristine .50 should easily penetrate the armor, however depending on the trajectory there are plenty of obsticals in the nose that could lessen the percentage of a .50 round making it into the cockpit.  Does the game model that accurately?  No idea, but I always repost the images when the old "you don't have an engine in front" comment comes up.

[CAP1]

Correct.  You got that from 4 quotes up!!   

believe it or not, i didn't read all the way down. i need to start doing that BEFORE i ask questions

[Cajunn]

I RARELY ever get one. I think ive gotten 3-4 in the last 3 months in P-38s.

In fact, I was discussing this with another pilot in the middle of a duel, he was saying how P-38s ALWAYS get pilot wounds... and then he shot me down. Destroyed EVERYTHING, but didn't give me a PW.

I rarely get a pilot wound when going up against another plane, its mostly just when I'm going up against the auto ack.

[Serenity]

I rarely get a pilot wound when going up against another plane, its mostly just when I'm going up against the auto ack.

Same here actually. Pilots don't hit me, ack does.