Viva Central!

[Lusche]

That's why I like the central strats so much... they are best at creating long range missions with true high altitude combat

After Ndisles we had baltic up tonight, with the strats still way back. And then my eyes spot...



A conspicuously rear area darbar... that will probably require a Ta 152 sortie.

Tracking the darbar's movement over the map, and later on with updates of a fellow Rook having already a vis on that mission, I finally meet them:



Only 23k at that time, but climbing, and escorted by a couple of P-47s. Now I,m shadowing them for a time, giving constant updates about the mission on countrychannel. And when some other Rooks start to show up, it's time to reduce the protection level a bit:




With most escorts gone or dropped to lower alt, I can start to dive right into the bomber blob



Did I say most escorts gone? Unfortunately "most" doesn't mean all...



Fortunately that dude's aim sucked, else it would have been over at that point 

Still, after shaking him I find myself at 20k, about 10k lower than the bombers now and several miles away 
That gives the mission some valuable time to further close on their target and forces me to rush my final attacks after finally catching back up with them - now at 33-34k



Of course I'm not alone up here... even DR7 showed up in a Ta 152   

Here we see NathBDP gallantly turning his 262 into a flare to mark the raid 



And from inside of Nath's cockpit... literally



But each fun has to come to an end and after ~50 minutes, 5 kills and with a significantly lowered k/h, a satisfied Snail touches down 




Our strats just before & after the (already decimated) mission released their bombs:






I hope some of the bomber guys made it home - with the target already hit I abstained from upping a Me 163 this time... because I wan't them to repeat that again at another time 




Anyways, now you see which kind of combat I (<- yes, strictly subjective) do like the most... and you see why I hope HTC finds a balance between a huge centralized and difficult target worthy of a huge mission, and smaller, localised short range smash&run targets 

[caldera]

You should try FSO, if that time of day works for you.   All we seemed to do was climb to 30k every time. 

[BnZs]

How did Nath, a vet pilot made of lead, cordite, and sheer-bloodymindedness, manage to get flamed fighting MERE bombers in a 262? This goes against everything you taught me about the impotence of dozens of .50 caliber machineguns when stacked up against you experienced pilots armed with your PatienceSkillProperApproach 

[caldera]

How did Nath, a vet pilot made of lead, cordite, and sheer-bloodymindedness, manage to get flamed fighting MERE bombers in a 262? This goes against everything you taught me about the impotence of dozens of .50 caliber machineguns when stacked up against you experienced pilots armed with your PatienceSkillProperApproach 

Looks like I've made a new friend. 


Can't say that I know Nath, only that he's a vet from the "old days".  As for him getting flamed, he obviously made a mistake.  The bombers were well over 30k, which puts the 262 well out of its performance envelope.  Even you can admit that.  I have killed bombers over 30k in a 262 but not many and certainly wouldn't engage a whole group, bunched up together like that.  Maybe he didn't mind losing one and was enjoying the challenge of flying that bird at such a difficult altitude.  You will have to ask him.  But to use that picture as evidence that bombers are really badass in this game is disingenuous at best.  Kind of like David slaying Goliath that one time means midgets always kill giants. 

Here are the all-time stats of a much more average, certainly less than a "vet pilot made of lead, cordite, and sheer-bloodymindedness" type of pilot:

262 vs B-17

192 kills, 4 deaths.  That's a K/D+1 of 38.4.  Killing bombers is easy.



A special bonus picture, just for you:

[Lusche]

As for him getting flamed, he obviously made a mistake.  The bombers were well over 30k, which puts the 262 well out of its performance envelope. 

Well, when he upped the bombers were much lower than that. I don't know exactly when he started to make his first passes but the buffs were considerably below 30 at that time. Not his fault that the basterds continued to climb 
Even his final pass was almost textbook, attacking from a high 11 o clock position, not an easy one considering the 262's qualities at that altitude. He just had bad luck this time. Been there, done that

[LCADolby]

Multiple Central style strats spread across the map with zone bases

[HawkerMKII]

Bish had a very fun 234 mission to nit strat last night, think we got it handed to us but boy was it fun. I think we had close to 60 234's

[BnZs]

Looks like I've made a new friend. 

In point of fact I was talking to Snail, sorry 

  Kind of like David slaying Goliath that one time means midgets always kill giants. 

In point of fact the fundamental principle David used to slay Goliath (projectile weaponry vs. a hand weapon) turns out to be the dominant one in warfare. That is why we use really technologically advanced guns and missiles today instead of really technologically advanced swords and spears 

BTW, anyone else get the feeling from that part of the Bible that in reality Goliath was probably more equivalent to Lenny in "Of Mice and Men" than an unstoppable engine of destruction?

[caldera]

In point of fact I was talking to Snail, sorry 
In point of fact the fundamental principle David used to slay Goliath (projectile weaponry vs. a hand weapon) turns out to be the dominant one in warfare. That is why we use really technologically advanced guns and missiles today instead of really technologically advanced swords and spears 

BTW, anyone else get the feeling from that part of the Bible that in reality Goliath was probably more equivalent to Lenny in "Of Mice and Men" than an unstoppable engine of destruction?

More like Mel Gibson vs Blaster in that awful MadMax sequel.

[VuduVee]

centralized strats mean centralized fights, mega hordes for short. you cant keep strats down long enough to keep mega hordes to a minimum.  spread out strats, mean spread out fights. you can keep their strats down, you can spread the enemy  out and make them fight away from the horde. strat raids will still happen. only one strat raid on rooks last night. the 3 days we had ndisles, there were at least 3 a day. there was action everywhere. there is tons more strategy in spreadin the strats out. centralized strats are too easy. theres no strategy, you can just blunt force every base with 80 planes and roll map after map in  only a few hrs. its very boring and stale.

[jeffdn]

Anyways, now you see which kind of combat I (<- yes, strictly subjective) do like the most... and you see why I hope HTC finds a balance between a huge centralized and difficult target worthy of a huge mission, and smaller, localised short range smash&run targets 

I love this type of combat as well, and we aren't alone. So much fun.

[waystin2]

Cool pics and AAR Snail! 

[DubiousKB]

Cool pics and AAR Snail! 

Yeah, great After Action Report with photos... I always enjoy reading these.   

[Nath[BDP]]

short answaer: i suck

long answer: i never fly a 262 and didnt realize how much they suck at 30k.  thought i'd get above them and dive from 35k but nope.

[Lazerr]

short answaer: i suck

hahah