Using Combat Boxes?

[Kierrin]

Id like to ask the bomber pilots why they dont seem to use combat boxes very often, wether in the main arenas or fso I havent seen them used very much it just seems to be one big bomber stream anytime anyone does a mission. anyways im curios if theres a reason to it or what.

[Motherland]

Most squads don't have the practice or discipline to be able to fly tight formations like that.

[fudgums]

There arnt many bomber streams in the Main Arena most of the time. Even in the MOMs, it wasnt really a combat box.

In FSO, I think due to the T+60 constraint, most streams weren't able to get into a "decent" formation. IMO

[BlauK]

Level of skill, training, customs, discipline?

It takes a lot from the formation leader to keep the formation tight and even then the other pilots have to have some experience of flying in formation. For some it seems easy, for some others almost impossible.

[Crash Orange]

With free planes, unlimited "lives," and crews of one per plane, it's really not worth the time and effort unless you enjoy doing it for its own sake for the historical angle.

[Motherland]

With free planes, unlimited "lives," and crews of one per plane, it's really not worth the time and effort unless you enjoy doing it for its own sake for the historical angle.

It's most certainly worth the time and effort.
A well organized box of bombers is a tough nut to crack. During the last FSO we had a much harder time attacking the bombers of the 334th, who were flying in a close seemingly box like formation (not to familiar with this), than we did with their escorts. They shot down 10 fighters and, if I'm reading the logs correctly, only lost 5 bombers (of 30)- they were attacked by both JG2 and JG11.
By comparison, their escorts scored 4 kills and all of them were shot down.
Whoops, sorry; they had two groups of escorts. One squad had 6 pilots, 4 kills and all 6 losses: the other had 17 pilots, 10 kills, and 11 losses.

[Halo46]

I think another reason for not using them, other than those above, is that we tend to sight in on specific targets with ease. In the war, the lead plane usually sighted and the rest dropped their bombs on his signal bombing the area rather than with the pinpoint accuracy we enjoy. By everyone targeting specific targets, that alters their course so they can not maintain formation integrity until they reform. A tight four or five formation box is deadly in game, even 88s, especially if they have a second gunner. Most will tend to fly full throttle though and/or inadvertently enter rudder inputs when in their fighting positions, this breaks integrity. The Luftwaffe pilots earned points towards Awards for separating a bomber from its formation, so boxes did help.

[fudgums]

I think another reason for not using them, other than those above, is that we tend to sight in on specific targets with ease. In the war, the lead plane usually sighted and the rest dropped their bombs on his signal bombing the area rather than with the pinpoint accuracy we enjoy. By everyone targeting specific targets, that alters their course so they can not maintain formation integrity until they reform. A tight four or five formation box is deadly in game, even 88s, especially if they have a second gunner. Most will tend to fly full throttle though and/or inadvertently enter rudder inputs when in their fighting positions, this breaks integrity. The Luftwaffe pilots earned points towards Awards for separating a bomber from its formation, so boxes did help.

Also doesnt help that the strats are 1 tile big

[Lusche]

Level of skill, training, customs, discipline?

Exactly. Dedicated, good bomber pilots are as rare in this game as are good fighter pilots. Those few do often fly alone.

Bombers are mostly the refuge of very new players, they  usuually don't have the necessary skills or even understanding. Especially they miss the fact that you hardly can get into and maintain the formation by flying full throttle all the time.

But if just three dedicated buffers get together and from a box at 20k, a single (or 2-3) fighter can really have a hard time getting more than 1 kill before saying goodbye to a wing or the engine.

[Anaxogoras]

It's most certainly worth the time and effort.
A well organized box of bombers is a tough nut to crack. During the last FSO we had a much harder time attacking the bombers of the 334th, who were flying in a close seemingly box like formation (not to familiar with this), than we did with their escorts. They shot down 10 fighters and, if I'm reading the logs correctly, only lost 5 bombers (of 30)- they were attacked by both JG2 and JG11.
By comparison, their escorts scored 4 kills and all of them were shot down.
Whoops, sorry; they had two groups of escorts. One squad had 6 pilots, 4 kills and all 6 losses: the other had 17 pilots, 10 kills, and 11 losses.

Thank you.  I'll pass the compliment on to fencer since he's the one who got us flying a good formation, but I assure that we lost a lot more than 5 bombers.  When you count the number of drones we lost our losses were worse than 50%, but that's to be expected when we lose escort.

You guys also did a good job of regrouping after you took away our escort, but you didn't have much chance of setting up more than one good pass before we reached the target.  I was very surprised not to see a bunch of 190s hovering over a42.

[bozon]

There arnt many bomber streams in the Main Arena most of the time. Even in the MOMs, it wasnt really a combat box.

In FSO, I think due to the T+60 constraint, most streams weren't able to get into a "decent" formation. IMO

Usually bomber groups have trouble flying in formation because they try to fly at full throttle. When they do that, once you fall out of formation you will have hard time catching up again.

With external views and very little maneuvering that bombers do, it is extremely easy to fly in formation to the point that you can leave the auto-level on and steer with the rudder trim and very small throttle adjustments - even that only needs to be done every minute or two.

[Shuffler]

Usually bomber groups have trouble flying in formation because they try to fly at full throttle. When they do that, once you fall out of formation you will have hard time catching up again.

With external views and very little maneuvering that bombers do, it is extremely easy to fly in formation to the point that you can leave the auto-level on and steer with the rudder trim and very small throttle adjustments - even that only needs to be done every minute or two.

I always thought it was because the pilots weigh different. The big heavy ones are in the back. 

[thndregg]

Exactly. Dedicated, good bomber pilots are as rare in this game as are good fighter pilots. Those few do often fly alone.

Bombers are mostly the refuge of very new players, they  usuually don't have the necessary skills or even understanding. Especially they miss the fact that you hardly can get into and maintain the formation by flying full throttle all the time.

But if just three dedicated buffers get together and from a box at 20k, a single (or 2-3) fighter can really have a hard time getting more than 1 kill before saying goodbye to a wing or the engine.

Pretty much agree, Lusche. I have to admit, however, I spend a lot of time in bombers, especially B17's and B26's. I've got a thing for them, I guess. Usually log into the game on weekends looking for where I can hinder the bad guys a bit with a flight of buffs. Very few have the patience to do such a thing because of the lengthy flight.

[Shuffler]

Pretty much agree, Lusche. I have to admit, however, I spend a lot of time in bombers, especially B17's and B26's. I've got a thing for them, I guess. Usually log into the game on weekends looking for where I can hinder the bad guys a bit with a flight of buffs. Very few have the patience to do such a thing because of the lengthy flight.

Anodizer was flying buffs on sunday..... so he could fold clothes.

[4deck]

Precision does formations in boxes when we fly buffs. But rare now getting in buffs.