Author Topic: Guide to Bombing  (Read 288 times)

dosequis

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Guide to Bombing
« on: August 07, 2000, 04:31:00 PM »
Is there a webpage with a guide to bombing? With screenshots and simple language so even I can do it?

XX
Possibly the worst bombadier in online history


flakholes

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2000, 06:20:00 AM »
I request this also.

Offline Andy Bush

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2000, 06:40:00 AM »
2X

The problem here is not you!

Instead, it is with how the sim is programmed...which may or may not have anything to do with how accurately you try to fly a bombing pass.

The only way to really know how to reliably get a hit in a sim is to have the sim programmers tell us the required parameters. Unfortunately, few, if any, sims have this info available for manual deliveries (other than CCIP-type deliveries).

The basic idea in bombing is to aim the gunsight reference at an aiming point on or near the target. The aircraft should be in exact level flight or in a specific dive angle. The bomb is released at a specific airspeed and altitude so that the bomb has the correct ballistics.

All of this may be done with a TLAR ('that looks about right') technique...but, if so, then the TLAR technique just happens to be at the desired parameters. Gravity and Newton's Laws are not about to be broken!!

For more RL info on A2G deliveries, see my A2G series in the Air Combat Corner at www.simhq.com.

Andy

Renfield

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2000, 08:19:00 AM »
Bombing in AH is really easy. Some say too easy.

First - did you know about zooming the bombsight? "z" then "[" and "]" will allow you to zoom in and see enough detail to put them in a barrel.

Other than that, level flight, throttle back so the plane slows to a nicely-controllable but slow enough to make corrections speed, and just drop away as you maneuver over each target.

In AH, bombing is extremely easy (my opinion) as long as you aren't getting pressured by fighters or trying to turn and return too fast to a target where you don't have much time to acquire and aim.

Don't use the SHIFT-X climb into a bombing run - manually go to level before you go to the bombardier position. If you have too much speed and go to the bomardier position, well, I've ripped my wings off before.

Offline Sparks

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2000, 08:52:00 AM »
Dosequis
The basics of bombing in AH are easy really - if you want I'll willing do some with you in the TA - I'm not a trainer or anything but I'm willing to help you with the basics if you need. E-mail me.

Offline AKFokerFoder+

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2000, 09:50:00 AM »
Renfield:

"Other than that, level flight, throttle back so the plane slows to a nicely-controllable but slow enough to make corrections                     speed, and just drop away as you maneuver over each target."

I never though of cutting throttle!  Thanks  

Does this make the bombs more accurate?  I mean I hate it when I put 3 1000 pounders into the middle of a fighter hangar and it doesn't go down.

What airspeed do you go for on a buff, do you drop flaps?

Lotsa questions  

I just wish the B17 carried more bombs I was reading on some web page that the payload of a B17 was just under 7 kilograms which I think is about 1 KG = 2.2 pounds so that makes the B17 able to carry about 14,000 or so pounds of BOOM!   A far cry from the 6 X 1000 we get in the "realistic" sim LOL

eskimo

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2000, 11:51:00 AM »
Originally posted under Help and Training:

Bombing Eskimo Style:

1. Select the right bomb;
   100s if you are great and are certain that you are going for ack only (I never use them).
   250s if you are good and are certain that you are going for ack only.
   500s for most jobs and mixed targets.
   1Ks if you are certain that you are only going for hangers or the HQ, or if you just don't need any more bombs, IE V-base.

2. Set salvo to 1 for general bombing, 3 for hangers (1Kers).  (Most of my "misses" come from when I have left the salvo at 3 from a previous mission.)

3. Get alt.  Ack shoots up to 6300' and 9000', AGL (Above Ground Level)!  V-bases have 6300' AGL ack only.  All other bases and strategic targets have ack that shoots up to 9K AGL (Or a mix of 6.3K and 9K.), check your GlarsMAPS for your target's alt. ( glarsmaps.warbirds.org ).  For saftey, be an extra 500' over the ack max hit alt.  
Flack can be found at large fields (the ones at 4K and above) and the HQ *.  The higher you are around Flack the safer you are, (I think it may have a low ceiling too, but it's definitely within the range of the other ack). Flack can kill you, however, on your first pass even at 30K!  Never fly straight towards a large field or the HQ, zigzag into them!  (Unless your wingman is significantly closer)    
*I have not found any other targets protected by flack.

4. Look at the maps and decide which targets you will kill on your first bomb run (And second run, etc.).  Look for a row of targets.  As you gain experience, you will even see a Z pattern of targets as a good run. Figure out how to line yourself up for that first run.  Also plan how you will set yourself up for your second run, and so on.

5. As you approach your target at a distance, hit the F3 key (external) and center the target under the center of your plane.

6.When you approach your target, hit the F3 key, and then hold down 8 and 0(Ins) keys on the keypad.  You are now looking externally down at a 45 degree angle towards your target.  Zoom back a bit if you are close up to your plane.  If you are climbing, go auto-level ( X ) when you see the target touch the nose of your plane.  If you are level and fast, zoom climb to scrub off speed a ways before the nose of your plane touches your target.  (Auto Climb Speed 140 works well, but don't engage if you are super fast, or your wings will rip off! ).  This is all done so that you do not approach your target too fast.  (Some AH bombardiers also engage flaps before going into the Norden.)

7. For the next few minutes, this will be your last chance to check for enemy fighters!  Do it!

8. Hit the F6 key, the O (for Open bay doors) key and hold down the 0 (Ins) key * (you are now in the Norden bombsight, and your bomb bay doors are open).  Make it a habit to open the bay doors when you get into the Norden, it really sucks when you forget!  (Confirm that bay doors are open by reading text.)
*I made a little tripod out of a coat hanger and a bolt for ballast.  I place 1 leg on the 0 (Ins) key when I begin a bomb run, it's just an old habit from my WB days that frees up a hand or thumb.  A programed key on some joysticks can sometimes interfere with other commands.

9. With the joystick, adjust the vertical cross hair until it lines up on the first target that you want to kill.

10. Ease back on the throttle, by ear, to about 80%.

11. As the target gets closer to the horizontal cross hair, hit the Z (zoom) key.  Use the ] key to zoom in even more.  If the vertical cross hair wanders, your joystick is probably out of calibration.  Bombing can be very tough, or even impossible with a spiky or out of calibration stick.

12. Chop a bit more throttle if you think are approaching your first target fast.  Unfortunately, it just takes experience to know what "fast" is.

   13. Drop (B key, or secondary fire button) when the horizontal cross hair touches the target.  500#ers and 1Kers allow you to off from an ack target by quite a bit.  
   Airbase hangers need 3 perfectly centered 1K hits to go down, or 4 slightly sloppy ones.  (Airbase hangers require so many bombs, at such high accuracy*, I consider them to be a poor target choice, especially since they only go down for 15 minutes. *(Even the best of bombardiers don't always get them with 3 1K hits.)
   A V-base hanger goes down well with 2 1K hits anywhere within the hanger walls.  
   Other airfield ground targets (fuel, ammo, barracks, etc), and strategic target buildings go down well with non-perfectly centered 500# hits. 1Ks allow you to be off by a pretty wide margin.
   The big building at the HQ takes 30,000# (That's 5 fully loaded B-17s with no misses) to be destroyed (I think).

*If you know for sure, the exact bomb-load required to take down specific targets, please add to this post.

14. As soon as you release your first bomb, adjust laterally with the joystick until the vertical cross hair lines up on the second target in your planned "row".  Be gentle!  Continue to chop throttle*, as needed, to keep your bomb run slow and controlled as you progress down your planned row.  Don't chop all of the throttle well before your last target, especially if your last two targets will require a big jog.  Get the vertical cross hair lined up as soon as possible after each bomb release, and then let the plane "relax" until your next release.  
All of this stuff in #14 is the "art" of bombing, and requires practice.
*Sustained low or 0 throttle while in the Norden can cause a violent stall!

15. After you drop your last bomb, apply full throttle and check your six!  Smart fighter pilots often attack bombers when they are on their bombing runs, knowing that they are unaware of their surroundings.  

16. If you have time, and have no threats, get into the ball turret (key 2 for B-17), point it straight down and zoom in to watch your bombs hit.  If you are pressed for time, adjust your plane so that a 180 degree turn will line you up on your next run.  Sometimes this means continuing straight, or turning 30 or 90 degrees, etc.  At very high altitudes, it is often faster to immediately do a 360 oval turn and set up from the same direction, than it is to fly past the target, do a 180, and approach it from the opposite direction.

17. As you fly away from your target hit the F3 key, and then hold down 8 and 2 keys on the keypad.  You are now looking externally down at a 45 degree angle towards your target as you fly away from it.  Adjust your flight path so that you are flying 10 to 20 degrees off of your next run, when you make your next 180 turn, you will close that angle.  When the tail of your plane passes the target, you are then ready to swing 180 degrees and begin your next run.  Make sure that you make your 180 degree turn in the direction that will line you up for your next run.  

18. Repeat steps 7 through 17 (Bay doors are still open though, leave them that way.) as needed.

19. Close bomb bay doors, and go home.

Eskimo

P.S.
I am an AH trainer and would be glad to work with anyone, on this, or any issue/skill.
You can often find me in the MA, TA, or feel free to E-mail me at:

        dnjhall@home.com



Rojo

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2000, 02:54:00 PM »
Don't have the exact figure with me at the moment, but the B-17's max bomb load was only about 6,000 lb. of bombs, depending on fuel load.  The B-24 could carry a bit more. The Lancaster, on the other hand, routinely carried upwards of 14,000 lb., and specially modified ones could carry a single bomb of some 22,000 lb. weight .  BTW, nice post, Eskimo.

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Sabre, a.k.a. Rojo
(S-2, The Buccaneers)

Offline Jigster

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2000, 05:56:00 PM »
 
Quote
Originally posted by Rojo:
Don't have the exact figure with me at the moment, but the B-17's max bomb load was only about 6,000 lb. of bombs, depending on fuel load.  The B-24 could carry a bit more. The Lancaster, on the other hand, routinely carried upwards of 14,000 lb., and specially modified ones could carry a single bomb of some 22,000 lb. weight   .  BTW, nice post, Eskimo.


6000lbs is about the max internal load of the B-17. Planes like the Lanc and B-24 have wide double bays (Taking into account for anti-shipping, with torpedos) but the B-17 just has a deep, single bay. But this was not the max load...it was tested with up to 17,000lbs of dummy bombs, which were on external bomb shackles. This was back when the Fort had only the 4 or 5 MG defense and little armor though. The price in speed and ROC from the drag of external stores was considered to great.

I believe at one time the B-17F's that first arrived in Britain were still using two shackles just inside the inner engine nacels.

- Jig

Offline Replicant

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2000, 06:18:00 PM »
dosequis, flakholes feel free to message me in AH if you see me online and we can go to the Training Arena.  I fly Bishops.  Failing that then feel free to drop me an e-mail and we can arrange a time in the TA.  I fly buffs a lot and also drive pnzrs a fair bit.  

Regards

'Nexx'


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[This message has been edited by Replicant (edited 08-08-2000).]
NEXX

Rojo

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Guide to Bombing
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2000, 06:36:00 PM »
Jigster: Got home and checked my sources.  You are correct...the B-17E was rated with a max bomb load of 17,600 lbs for short range missions.

"Bomb Load: 2,600 - 8,000 lbs.(long range) up to 17,600 lbs.(short range)"

Normal long-range bomb load listed for most of my sources say 6,000 lbs. The single, fairly narrow bombbay would only allow for certain load-outs, 6x1000 lb being the greatest number of standard GP bombs used by the US that could be carried internally.


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Sabre, a.k.a. Rojo
(S-2, The Buccaneers)

[This message has been edited by Rojo (edited 08-08-2000).]