New Mossi thoughts - the interception problem

[Greebo]

Kind of interesting seeing people in here wrestling with the same problem the Luftwaffe had.

[BoilerDown]

Considering I never fly bombers but occasionally get bomber perks from dropping troops... maybe I'll up an Arado to shoot down your Mossies?

[Karnak]

How is the Mosquito B.Mk XVI in comparison with the Ar234?  They fill a very similar role, so the question becomes, which is better at that role?  I can think of strengths for each of them, but off hand while the Ar234 seems likely to be a bit more survivable, the Mosquito 16 seems to be more useful.

What are their respective effective ranges in AH2?

It is kinda an interesting situation, what is close to the pinnacle performance for piston engined bombers vs. the earliest jet engined bomber. Both of them were designed for survivability by evading enemy fighters rather than by fighting through them with guns and in that they both pointed the way bombers would seek to operate in the future.

[Lusche]

How is the Mosquito B.Mk XVI in comparison with the Ar234?  They fill a very similar role, so the question becomes, which is better at that role?  I can think of strengths for each of them, but off hand while the Ar234 seems likely to be a bit more survivable, the Mosquito 16 seems to be more useful.

I agree: The Arado is more survivable, the Mossie is more "useful", or better: Allows for more flexibilty. The option of carrying 6 bombs instead of 3 (Arado) is often more useful despite being smaller in size (for example when porking).

The Arado is more survivable particularly at low to medium altitudes, and can fly away from any fighter but the 262/163, even when being caught co alt (and has something to shoot back with ). The Mossie has bigger endurance (~83 minutes at 100%, about 116 minutes with DT's), but that being said I never had any range problems in Arados (jet efficiency increases at altitude, you still have more than 30 minutes of endurance left when you reach 20k)

[Lusche]

There is one thing that could get difficult for players that rarely fly buffs: Target spotting, identification, and lining up.
When bombing from optimum altitude at high speed (~360mph) the point of bomb release is way further out than being used to from other bombers. You have to line up long before you have your target in sight. And at that speed turning for another attack takes a lot of time & room

[Karnak]

How are their respective speeds when loaded?  How about loaded, but without the external 500lbers on the Mossie?

[Noir]

Kind of interesting seeing people in here wrestling with the same problem the Luftwaffe had.

I guess the simulation is not so far off then 

[Lusche]

How are their respective speeds when loaded?  How about loaded, but without the external 500lbers on the Mossie?

At 50% fuel, single cookie, no externals the Mossie goes 391mph at 27k. (tested)

Matches the speed chart quite well:

[321BAR]

At 50% fuel, single cookie, no externals the Mossie goes 391mph at 27k. (tested)

Matches the speed chart quite well:

(Image removed from quote.)

with wep the plane's even more insane...

[Karnak]

Last time I tested the Ar234, it only did about 390 with its max bombload due to it all being external, though I have no memory of what altitude I tested it at.

[Jayhawk]

I'll be curious to see what role they play.  I took a formation on a run to strat yesterday, no big reason, it's just something to hit (FIX THE STRATS).  Took them up to 33k and slipped between the radars to drop my cookies.  Headed strait out over a few radars, I'm not sure if anyone tried to come after me, I saw a dar bar or two, but they never would have caught up with me.  It takes a long time for you speed to settle out, similar to the 234, so that has to be planned.  I know when I hit strat I had to turn rather sharply to get my target and the bombsite was wobbling as the plane tried to stabilize.

It doesn't take long to get to a good altitude, especially if you're a bomber pilot used to flying 17s or Lancs.

There is really no advantage to a tight formation like the 91st would normally fly.  With no guns all you are doing is giving any attacker a buffet of kills.

[Wagger]

Hunting the new Mossie can cause some new problems.  But I sometimes like to go buff hunting especially in between radar coverage.  With regular buffs 28-30k is usually more than adequate.  With the new Mossie it probably would help to push it up to about 33-35K.  The Bf109K-4 and the TA-152 both do well at those alts and most mossie pilots are going to be lower anyway.  But if not it will probably give you enough alt to gain enough E for interception.  When I put my theory into practice I will let you know the outcome.  If you see a multitude or plethora of expletives then you know it did not work out.  What I look like as my plane dives in on an mossie.   Buy the way looking though the sight is no piece of cake at shaken not stirred speed.

[StokesAk]

The mossie can carry up to 5k in bombs, the 234 around 3k.

But, 4/5 thousand pounds are in the form of one bomb, Mossie is good for killing CVs and Hq's, 234 is more a hanger banger IMHO.

[Plazus]

A Mossie BXVI can be an effective hanger killer. By setting your salvo to 2, with formations of course, you can drop one hangar per salvo (each drop releases 3k pounds of ord). Three bombers, six eggs on a salvo of 2. With 6 500 pounders per plane, you can drop three hangars, at least in theory. The trick is being dead-on accurate. I can drop hangars with 500 pound bombs on a salvo of 2 in B17s, but that is easier to accomplish because you are much slower.

[Jayhawk]

The mossie can carry up to 5k in bombs, the 234 around 3k.

But, 4/5 thousand pounds are in the form of one bomb, Mossie is good for killing CVs and Hq's, 234 is more a hanger banger IMHO.

I disagree, although it may be used as a suicide CV buster, I don't think it will get any more use than a 234 in that roll.  Not an HQ plane at all!  I see it as viable for 50-100 miles into enemy territory, your biggest advantage is getting to target and be on your way out before anyone tries to come up and get you.  If you go deep into enemy territory, you're giving the enemy plenty of time to up an appropriate plane, meet you, and chase you down for easy kills.  Also, I'm not taking that mossie anywhere near a 163 base!