M8 main gun too weak against flakpanzer turrets?

[Boozeman]

So, here is a film of me landing quite a lot of hits with the 37mm main gun (HE rounds) of the M8 on a Wirbelwind turret, and they all ricochet. Now I'm aware that the 37 mm isn't terribly effective against heavy armor, but i think it should be able to disable the flak turret, when the same can be actually done by .50 cal rounds.

I'm not saying that the turrets are indestructable for a HE round, it's possible. But it seems to mee that too often it's not the case. I once had shot a Wirbel turret at point blank 4 times without no effect, just to get whacked by the quad 20mm in return.

I think one 37mm HE round should take out the turret, no matter what. Or am I too far off?

M8_vs_Wirb   

[Strip]

The 50 cals are usually sprayed in the gun turret area and represent killing the crew.

I don't understand why HE rounds would ricochet though, even if they didn't do damage.

Strip

[E25280]

So, here is a film of me landing quite a lot of hits with the 37mm main gun (HE rounds) of the M8 on a Wirbelwind turret, and they all ricochet. Now I'm aware that the 37 mm isn't terribly effective against heavy armor, but i think it should be able to disable the flak turret, when the same can be actually done by .50 cal rounds.

I'm not saying that the turrets are indestructable for a HE round, it's possible. But it seems to mee that too often it's not the case. I once had shot a Wirbel turret at point blank 4 times without no effect, just to get whacked by the quad 20mm in return.

I think one 37mm HE round should take out the turret, no matter what. Or am I too far off?

M8_vs_Wirb   

Why are you using HE instead of AP against an armored target?

Use your AP rounds.  One hit should turret them.

I don't understand why HE rounds would ricochet though, even if they didn't do damage.

Strip

I would suspect that the ricochet is a generic graphic for an ineffective round hitting an armored target.  If instead it exploded in a nice little fireball, there would be no visual cue for the shooter that his rounds are doing no damage.

[BigKev03]

I dont think the 37mm is to weak for wirble turrets.  Use your AP.  I use both AP and HE.  It depend son my range to target and where I aim.  Most times the AP will take it out if you aim center of the turret.  HE you will have to hit it on average 2 times to smoke it unless you get a good first shot.  It is frustrating to hit them then get killed by the 20mm but stay out of their range and you will dominate wirbs.  Trust me I learned the hard way.

BigKev

[Boozeman]

Usually when flying the P-39, the 37 mm HE round of the M4 cannon will take out the turret in one shot. It's no AP round and has only half the power of the M8's 37 mm HE round. The funny thing was, after the ricochet, the rounds did go off once they hit the ground. They should however go off once they hit the turret, not on second impact.   

[Masherbrum]

Usually when flying the P-39, the 37 mm HE round of the M4 cannon will take out the turret in one shot. It's no AP round and has only half the power of the M8's 37 mm HE round. The funny thing was, after the ricochet, the rounds did go off once they hit the ground. They should however go off once they hit the turret, not on second impact.   

An HE round from a P-39 firing into the turret will disable it.   An HE fired on the side of the turret will ricochet.   Use AP rounds when in the M8.

[humble]

A lot of it is do to a combination of quirks in the modeling (IMO) and shot placement. The turret for the wirble is eight sided I think and if you miss the plate facing you or the turret is angled such that you've got a "point" facing you then the round can and will ricochet. I was in an M8 "dueling" a firefly at fairly close range (right on 2.0) and he hit me 3 times and I hit him 7 in a row. M8 is surprisingly tough if you keep hitting it in the wrong place if its nose to you. I put the 1st 2 on the gun mantle and then the next 2 on the sloped body plater before getting range on the turret base/hull top and got his turret on the 3rd hit before someone else popped me in the side.

[E25280]

Usually when flying the P-39, the 37 mm HE round of the M4 cannon will take out the turret in one shot. It's no AP round and has only half the power of the M8's 37 mm HE round. The funny thing was, after the ricochet, the rounds did go off once they hit the ground. They should however go off once they hit the turret, not on second impact.   

Usually when flying the P-39, unless you are suicidal, you are shooting down at the turret and hitting the inside. 

[jolly22]

Simple solution............ BOMBS!!!!!!!

[lyric1]

AP.

[Scotty55OEFVet]

Have put 2 or 3 rounds from an M4 from about 800 into a Wirb before and he still wasn't tracked or turreted.  Guess sometimes ya get lucky, sometimes ya dont, lol.