PB1 Rockets

[colmbo]

From what I can gather they have been in AH since '08 or before so I have to assume that folks use them to kill the occasional GV.  Is it uncommon to get a GV kill using the PB1s?

The reason I ask is because I killed a guy today in an Osti by firing a salvo of PB1s from the 190F8.  He PM'd "nice hack cheater".  HUH??

He claims that in 12 years he's never been killed by a rocket "unless the file was hacked".  Is he a recluse or is it rare to get GV kills with the PB1s.

In his defense I think he thought I was firing the anti-bomber rockets at him.

Everything I've read about the PB1 says it was designed as an aircraft fired anti-vehicle weapon so killing GVs seems to be the thing to do with it.

[Lusche]

From what I can gather they have been in AH since '08 or before so I have to assume that folks use them to kill the occasional GV.  Is it uncommon to get a GV kill using the PB1s?

Yes it is uncommon. But just because they are comparatively rarely used in AH and because getting hits with them is not that easy. But if a hit is scored, about any GV in AH will be history.

That guy... well, typical ignorant MA kneejerk reaction, nothing more needs to be said

[MrKrabs]

He's obviously not seen some of the rocket videos out there... Rockets are under-utilized in killing gv's... Heck a 190F-8 can get 4 tank kills within reason with its 12 nibblers of doom...  Granted it's not as consistent against some of the bigger perk ta nks, but hurts them none-the-less sometimes enough to award you the kill.


Oh and if you happened to use the puffy rockets instead, they ARE effective against wirbles and ossys simply for their HE splash value.

[Butcher]

I remember killing LT with a 100lb bomb when he was camping out some spawn as usual, it might of been an FM2 or such, but it was pretty hilarious to see the whines over it considering it was "hacking".
/i tried like hell to hit quite a few tanks with 100lbers, unless you hit the tank exactly square its not going to do anything, I did make a bet with someone and get 10 kills in an IL-2 once with the majority being bombs, probably being in the slower IL-2 with a stationary target made it a hell of a lot easier then a moving tank.
//that being said, just use 500lbers

[Scca]

I practiced one killing GV's with PB1's but decided that 500lb's were far easier. Nice wk

[Sg11]

I set salvo 3 while using rockets on tanks. They use to blow up pretty good

[dirtdart]

Columbo for a while the few had a sight, I think they got from Bustr IIRC and went on a rocket killing spree. The tears that flew when pervert would fly through TT killing GV after GV on a single run. The sight has two dots on the bottom which give the points of impact at 400?? You just had to know which rail the first rocket was coming off to maximize your hits. The other challenge was to be really accurate you had to be close and because of that you were subject to spall damage from the exploding rocket.

Fun flying with you yesterday <S>

[LCADolby]

PB1s are good little tank killer
Fire 2 at a time and get hits = panzer ist kaput.

[save]

Those rockets are effectively a panzerfaust rocket with HEAT afaik.

Very effective killing panzers, as sg11 wrote you normally need more than one rocket to incinerate them guys in the tanks, just the same as with most HEAT shells.

[SmokinLoon]

Congrats on the rocket kill.     There is a certain amount of satisfaction gained when using rockets to kill a gv far above and away from using a typical 500 lb or 1000 lb bomb.   

When using rockets I highly suggest LEARNING the platform in which you're using them from.  That is just as important as actually hitting the target.  In most cases the rockets alternate firing order from wing to wing with each rocket, meaning 1 left 1 right 1 left 1 right and so on.  In the case of the 190F-8 and the Pb1 rockets, they fire TWO left TWO right and so on.  Also, keep in mind that the rockets fire straight off the wing, there is no convergence.  So with that in mind forget aiming at the dead center of that tank as you're only hurting your chances from the beginning,  you need to aim to the side.  If you're firing the rockets from the left wing you need to aim at the right side of the tank.  For me I have found it simple to come in from the side of the tank and put the center of my pip on the top edge of the front or rear end of the tank and fire no further away then 400 yards.  I only fire the two rockets from that wing anything more is a waste of ammo.  If you want to see the size comparison between the 190F-8 and a tank, I suggest rolling a 190F-8 right up next to a tank in offline mode and while in F3 mode take note of where the rockets line up when the center of your prop is aligned with the front of the tank.   

About the only aircraft I can aim dead on with is the P38G because the rocket tubes are very near the center of the aircraft.  I've used the P38G against soft armored gv's with very good success.  I shoot once and game over for them usually.

[GhostCDB]

I have killed tanks with the bomb the LA7 holds, but that was a LONG time ago. 

[Lusche]

I have killed tanks with the bomb the LA7 holds, but that was a LONG time ago.  

In the current year the La-7 has been credited with more tank kills than the dedicated 190 F. I think that says a lot about how uncommon the use of the PB-1 really is (especially if you take into account that many of that tank kills by the 190F are made with bombs):



As you can see, only about 0.9% of all tanks killed by planes have been a victim of the 190F and only a part of them had been hit with the PB1. In all of my 8 years of AH, I have been hit by them not more like perhaps 3 or 4 times. (EDIT: Actually I have exactly 2 deaths in tanks to the 190F)
The difficulties of using it compared to tank busting guns or bombs makes it a potent, but rare specialist's weapon.

[SmokinLoon]

In the current year the La-7 has been credited with more tank kills than the dedicated 190 F. I think that says a lot about how uncommon the use of the PB-1 really is (especially if you take into account that many of that tank kills by the 190F are made with bombs):

(Image removed from quote.)

As you can see, only about 0.9% of all tanks killed by planes have been a victim of the 190F and only a part of them had been hit with the PB1. In all of my 8 years of AH, I have been hit by them not more like perhaps 3 or 4 times. (EDIT: Actually I have exactly 2 deaths in tanks to the 190F)
The difficulties of using it compared to tank busting guns or bombs makes it a potent, but rare specialist's weapon.

Is it safe to assume that the La7 "earns" those kills by flooding the tank with damage points via the triple 20mms and then they get the credit when the targeted tank receives a kill shot from a bomb, AP round, etc, and that the M18, M3, M8, wirbles, etc, are included in that stat?  It is very rare that I see an La7 take up the pair of 100kg bombs for anti-gv work.  Too difficult for most players.   

Lusche- you of all people should be able to consistently use the 190F-8 and the Pb1 rockets for anti-tank work.  If I can, you can.  Many people can, but the easy mode of the A20 and IL-2 (and evidently the La7, too) makes for a hard sell of the 190F-8, I know.  Just remember the firing order of the Pb1 rockets (2 left, 2 right, and so on), aim to the side of the tank opposite the wing being used (left rockets = right side aim), and wait 'til you see the whites of their eyes then let loose the dogs of war (under 400 yards)! 

There are many players out there that could successfully utilize the Pb1 rockets if they'd take the time to learn them, it isn't "rocket science".      

[Lusche]

Is it safe to assume that the La7 "earns" those kills by flooding the tank with damage points via the triple 20mms and then they get the credit when the targeted tank receives a kill shot from a bomb, AP round, etc, and that the M18, M3, M8, wirbles, etc, are included in that stat?

No other vehicles are included, I strictly limited it to tanks only to reduce the significance of fighters strafing down GVs and emphasize the usage of tank killing weapons.
But of course a lot (I'm sure it's the majority) of 'tank kills' by the La-7 are proxies. (But keep in mind, the "tag a tank to get the credit" doesn't really work that good anymore). After all, even the Fi-156 has more kills than both La and 190F
But still, the table shows how little the 190F is actually used for tank busting.

Lusche- you of all people should be able to consistently use the 190F-8 and the Pb1 rockets for anti-tank work.  If I can, you can.  

I have tried very hard in the past and practiced a lot offline. I just can't get hits with any kind of satisfying consistency. I'm afraid, I have to stick to the Hurri D and B5N

[BuckShot]

I try the pb1s against tanks all the time. I have killed one tiger with it (one shot!). You need a direct hit. My problem is getting consistent approaches.

I have also killed a flak with one of the German aa rocket, once.