Author Topic: Bf 110G2 - is it too fragile? (Read 550 times)

Witless · « **on:** May 07, 2002, 08:01:11 PM »

Hello,

I've been trying out the Zerstorer this tour outside of missions, and have been rather suprised by how easily I find myself sitting atop a fireball with the entire tail section missing. It does look vulnerable, long spindly fuselage and I'm not sure where the aft fuel tanks actually are but it does 'seem' at odds with other aircraft.

During my extensive 5 min research on the web, most if not all sites point out that it was a failure for what it was designed for, and was outclassed by the Hurri and Spit but I could find nothing more specific. I think the Zero had a reputation for catching fire (?) and so I'm just wondering if the 110 also had one or some kind of structural flaw?

I'd like to point out I know nothing, and most of my trips in any plane tend to end this way, but not quite as quickly. It just 'seems' that the damage is a bit out of proportion.

I'd be very grateful for any answers or ideas or information so I can get back to my fireball secure in the knowledge I'm being historically accurate or alternatively, rant and rave and froth at the mouth and give myself an ulcer.

Cheers!

Karnak · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2002, 11:18:51 PM »

The Bf110 was a lightly built aircraft by comparison to other twin engined aircraft. The Bf110G addresses some of that, but it still isn't in P-38 league of toughness.

Tac · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2002, 12:07:15 AM »

odd, ive never had the tail shot out in any 110... I always lose a wing/wingtip.

Hortlund · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2002, 01:47:35 AM »

I lose the tail about 50% of the times I get shot down in a 110.

Duedel · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2002, 04:48:07 AM »

Got 5 hits by ack and still no damage. My tail never fell of. I think 110 is OK but I don't have any RL data so it's just my feeling.

Wilbus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2002, 06:26:39 AM »

As long as your tail doens't get hit you're OK, the tail falls of from a single 20mm hit, last night I attacked a 110 wgen flying a P51D, I only had 38 rounds TOTAL left, in my primary guns and hit most of them, saw his tail come off. The rest of the 110 is very sturdy and can take quite a few hits, like Karnak said, not as tough as the P38.

Airscrew · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2002, 06:09:05 PM »

Couple of weeks ago used 110g2 to clear ack from ammo factory. Got pinged five times from the ack before I cleared it all, and each time I got hit I expected to die. Nothing happened, not even a leak. I'm thinking Wow pretty tuff plane, then resupply train showed up. Boom.

Against other planes though it dies pretty easy, but I usually lose a wing or wing catches fire and I blowup.

AirScrew

Fester' · « **Reply #7 on:** May 10, 2002, 12:06:08 AM »

I was flying it yesterday against a cv. (dont do HO's against CV'S!!) I dove in & released my bombs, which missed, and then tried to egress. I cant tell you how many times I was hit, but it was a lot.

Soon the hail of bullets died down and I climbed out form under the table to find that the 110g2, though limping badly was still flying.

I did a damage assessment. My left wing from the engine out was gone.... I checked the right and was very alarmed to find that the right wing from the engine out was also gone.

I had lost the left vertical stabilizer as well.

I was losing alt and had no aileron control but still managed to bring the plane back and crash land at the field.

Pretty tough in that instance, but the other 11 hops against the CV I died very quickly

Urchin · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2002, 12:49:59 AM »

Ah, I think this is one of those questions where there is no way to 'prove' it one way or the other. Is the Bf110 to fragile in regards to what? The 109 or 190? No, I think it is tougher than them. Compared to the P-38? Well sure, but then so is every other fighter in the game.

There is just no way to tell whether or not a plane is 'too tough' or 'not tough enough'.

Best just not to get hit at all, but I understand that sometimes that just isn't an option.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2002, 12:53:00 AM »

Yes why the hell is the P38 so tough all of a sudden? It was big plane with lots of surface area but small internal volume and especially on the tailbooms would be very very vulnerable to cannon fire. Why is so hard lately?

Soulyss · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2002, 01:03:14 AM »

I recall reading somewhere someplace (ie, I have no idea how realiable of a source it was) that all the armor on the 110 was located up in the front of the airplane, as a result attacks from the rear and to the rear section of the aircraft would find it to be realitively fragile.

Urchin · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2002, 01:03:17 AM »

HTC toughened up the P-38 because it was way to fragile before. You used to be able to take the whole tail off with a few rounds. I think they went a bit to far in the other direction, but it is really a subjective thing.

MrRiplEy[H] · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2002, 01:57:34 AM »

In my experience the 110 G-2 has been an amazingly tough plane.

I've taken multiple field gun hits in it and still flown away. I've put multiple 20mm hits on one with him flying away with no major damage..

Whatever it is, it's not fragile.

Witless · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2002, 02:50:42 AM »

Hi,

Thanks for the info guys

I've had similar experiences with field ack, heard pings and thought 'this is it, fun while it lasted..' only to find minor damage like gear damaged and 1 rudder missing.

It makes sense that the front end of the plane was/is more rugged than the rear, the view from the rear gunners position looks similar to the nose section of a formula 1 car i.e. very thin. Never the less I've dived on pretty good shot's in M16's and lived to fly away with only a few machine guns out.

I guess I posted because of the 'apparent' inconsistencies like this, where you can take flak fire and live but a snap-shot from something without cannons rips the tail off. I'll put that down to my ignorance, and the wildly advanced and sophisticated damage model of HTC

On a side note, when 1.09 came out I was chasing down a low 234 in a 190D, when bugger me if I didn't lose a wing tip from the rear firing guns (I'd not realised/forgoton). Started wobbling all over the place when boom, lost the other wing tip, can't remember the name but he was a good shot. Anyway, plane became much more manageable and I was able to shoot him down! No-one was more suprised than I, except maybe the 234 pilot.

Cheers
Witless/Trikky

Pooh21 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2002, 03:38:17 AM »

Speaking of P38s, the other day on the mindinao terrian I was sitting in a panzer at a bish VH waiting for our goon to come in when this P38 starts to circle in, as he gets closer I notice his gear is down. I guess he dont see me, I am thinking as he lines up andcomes into land right in front of me. I wait for him to get about 1.6 away jump into turret aim and fire an AP at him. To my surprise first shot flies true nails him smack in the middle of the port propeller hub. To my amazment he didnt blow up nor did his wing fall off:( Thick black smoke from both engines was all that occured til he augered 3 sec later. Later he said he panicked and jammed the stick forward when he saw me.