Attacking Bombers

[Slade]

Guys,

I remember talking to a WWII B-17 vet at an airshow and he mentioned that the Germans figured out how dangerous it was to attack a B-17 from the six so they started attacking them from the front (head on etc.).  The results I get when trying this in AH are very sparse.

1. In AH, which angle of attack do you find most effective in attacking bomber formations AND living using fighter planes?

2. Can you share any other pertinent info on attacking bomber formations (planes, weapons etc.) in AH using planes?


Thanks for sharing,

Slade 

[Ack-Ack]

Guys,

1. In AH, which angle of attack do you find most effective in attacking bomber formations AND living using fighter planes?

Overhead attack.


ack-ack

[Rob52240]

From Above and off to the side.

[RTHolmes]

front quarter, ideally 20-30deg high and off

[Krusty]

In AH you're flying 2x faster than they did in WW2, so it's much harder to make a head-on attack. Otherwise it was infinitely easier to overtake, reposition, and HO a bomber multiple times in 1 engagement in WW2, than it is to do it in AH.

[Karnak]

In AH you're flying 2x faster than they did in WW2, so it's much harder to make a head-on attack. Otherwise it was infinitely easier to overtake, reposition, and HO a bomber multiple times in 1 engagement in WW2, than it is to do it in AH.

Faster yes, but not that much faster.  B-17s cruised at 180-200mph in reality.  In AH they go at full throttle and do about 280-300mph.

[Krusty]

Their cruising speed was often less than that. Especially on longer missions where leaner cruise settings were required. People in this game overestimate how fast bombers in WW2 flew.

I tell you what: Take a B17 up to 25k (higher end of average alt for them) with full fuel and 6k bombs. Reduce to max cruise. See how fast you fly. I don't mean pull the throttle back a few inches to stay in formation with friends. I mean max cruise on the E6B.

[Debrody]

Krusty.......... at 25k, the 180mph TAS is around 120mph IAS...  how they could go any slower withouth falling down??
Maybe its my feeble brain, but i just cant get it.

[Krusty]

They weren't fast. Their stall speed was well below 120. Far from falling out of the sky. Now you know why they often flew around 20k. The highest parts of the bomber stream flew up to 25k and in rarer cases pushed 28k, but often the lowest portions were flying at 16k to 18k.

Try duplicating the max cruise power settings, which were used in actual combat and posted in the pilot handbooks. See how fast that gets you in game. Assuming HTC models the air densities properly, the drag of the airframe, the weight, the angle of attack, etc... Most folks seem to agree they do. Try replicating a bit of history, and see how fast you get to the target.

[Bino]

Guys,

I remember talking to a WWII B-17 vet at an airshow and he mentioned that the Germans figured out how dangerous it was to attack a B-17 from the six so they started attacking them from the front (head on etc.).  The results I get when trying this in AH are very sparse.

1. In AH, which angle of attack do you find most effective in attacking bomber formations AND living using fighter planes?

2. Can you share any other pertinent info on attacking bomber formations (planes, weapons etc.) in AH using planes?

Thanks for sharing,

Slade 

One of my favorite attacks is from about 10-20 degrees off to either side of the bomber's nose, and also about 10-20 degrees above his nose.  I can often rake him with fire from stem to stern.

Every once in a while I manage to get lined up perfectly on his nose, and then I let fly right at the cockpit, which can yield a PK on the bomber.

If the bomber is empty and racing home, sometimes all I can manage to do is fly lazy eights across his course and make passes on him from alternating sides on his high ten o'clock and high two o'clock.  That normally takes from two to four passes to shoot him down.

YMMV

[Karnak]

I tell you what: Take a B17 up to 25k (higher end of average alt for them) with full fuel and 6k bombs. Reduce to max cruise. See how fast you fly. I don't mean pull the throttle back a few inches to stay in formation with friends. I mean max cruise on the E6B.

At 25,000ft with full fuel and a 4,000lb bomb load (load carried to Berlin as I recall) the B-17G in AH is unable to maintain level flight with the E6B's Max Cruise settings of 2100rpm and 31" boost.  I abandoned that test when I had 175mph on the dial, a 400fpm decent rate and my stall buffet audio file playing.  At the E6B's Normal Power settinsg of 2300rpm and 38" boost I was able to sustain level flight at 209mph.  E6B showed a weight of 62840lbs and a range of about 1400 miles.

[Tank-Ace]

Fly a 1-2K over the bomber, and slightly infront. Roll inverted, dive down.

Head-on passes at a slight angle tend to be highly effective as well, if you can get the aiming down. It seems the deflection and high closure rate rattles many gunners.


For guns, I like the 30mm's best. 1-2 well-placed rounds, and you've got a kill. However, .50's will work fine if you've got more than just 4. 4 will do in a pinch, but you'll have to hold down the trigger noticably longer.

20mm's are also great. Still have to concentrate fire on a point, or a specific part at least, but still very easy to use.


Personally, I don't find that the 37mm's offer a big enough increase to justify the reduced ammunition load vs the 30mm's. That and anything mounting 37mm's has inferior preformance compared to a fighter with 30mm's.

[ScottyK]

 While attacking Lancasters, attack from below since they do not have a ball turret and aim for the engines.

[Lusche]

While attacking Lancasters, attack from below since they do not have a ball turret and aim for the engines.

Just be aware that due to the nature of lag, the Tail gunners downward arc of fire can seem be to be much greater than in "real life". You can happen to be be under the Lancaster, yet still being shot by the tail gunner.

[Karnak]

Just be aware that due to the nature of lag, the Tail gunners downward arc of fire can seem be to be much greater than in "real life". You can happen to be be under the Lancaster, yet still being shot by the tail gunner.

Above and beyond that, the Lancaster's tail gun also has an unusually good down arc.