Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Gianlupo on March 24, 2009, 03:21:10 PM
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I was wondering why the F6F can't load bombs and rockets at the same time. Looking at the hardpoints, it seems it should be able to do it, just like the Hogs. I couldn't find any evidence about historical use, so, is there anyone who can tell me if it's just something not modelled in the game or if the Hellcats didn't bring bombs and rockets during the war?
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-5 book says it can carry both.
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I use Bombs and rockets everyday, not sure what situation your running into. I know I have seen posts about the F6F-5 having a center pylon we don't have. Not 100% sure about it, just something I've seen a few times on the board.
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I use the loadout of bombs and rockets on the F6F all the time when attacking a CV Group ... 2 x 1000 for the cruiser and all the rockets for the CV deck/tower.
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Gian seems like you have a bug with your game...I can use bombs and rocks fine.
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F6F rockets are on the far left in the hanger under "rocket rails".
Bombs are selected in the center section under "pylons"
What we cannot do, as stated above, is carry bombs and a center drop tank at the same time even though they are three separate pylons.
On the other hand, a quick google search failed to turn up any "bombed up" F6F pictures.
wrongway
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What we cannot do, as stated above, is carry bombs and a center drop tank at the same time even though they are three separate pylons.
DO'H!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:
Sorry, guys, I got confused when I posted the thread.... what wrongway said it's what I meant... my question is, did the F6F-5 carry bombs and DT at the same time?
Again, sorry, I posted the thread in a hurry and didn't remember well what was the matter... :P
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May have been a weight issue off the CVs?
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ALWAYS use 3 notches of flaps and WEP when taking off from a CV with ords. If able, let the "auto take off" do all the work for you.
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ALWAYS use 3 notches of flaps and WEP when taking off from a CV with ords. If able, let the "auto take off" do all the work for you.
I'm talking about the reason you have a hard time finding pictures of the F6F with bombs and a drop tank. I can handle a loaded CV takeoff in game.
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ALWAYS use 3 notches of flaps and WEP when taking off from a CV with ords. If able, let the "auto take off" do all the work for you.
I take a heavy F6F (even at 100%) off of a CV without flaps. Just hit WEP and you're good. Rarely, I will drop to one notch, but three is not needed.
Just trying to help ya.
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On the other hand, a quick google search failed to turn up any "bombed up" F6F pictures.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F6F_Randolph_1945.jpg
Looks like bombs on the pylons outboard of the fuel tank. Don't know if those are 500 lbs or not, but they look like it.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:F6F_Randolph_1945.jpg
Looks like bombs on the pylons outboard of the fuel tank. Don't know if those are 500 lbs or not, but they look like it.
I don't know, Stoney, the picture's too dark to understand if there are bombs. Maybe someone from HTC can answer the question.
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Would bombs + DT even fit? The pylons seem rather close together
EDIT: Just found a picture from MS flight simulator, this F6F has both bombs and DT attached.
http://www.realflight.co.uk/product_images/f6f/screenshots/hellcat_1.png
Im not sure what this proves though, MS flight sim isn't the real thing either...
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I don't know, Stoney, the picture's too dark to understand if there are bombs. Maybe someone from HTC can answer the question.
I thought I could see a faint trace of the bomb silhouette and what looked like a fin assembly on the back. Perhaps its just the drop tank plumbing. I looked through America's 100,000 last night to see if I could find anything. It looks like there would be enough room between the tank location and the pylons. On the other hand, if you had any sideslip when they came off, I suppose you could run the risk of the bombs banging off the tank. It would be nice to hear an "official" explanation. :)
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However, would a fighter pilot start a bomb-run with his DT still attached?
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However, would a fighter pilot start a bomb-run with his DT still attached?
I don't know. I do know that later in the war, F6F units started to "fight" with their drop tanks still attached, not to mention that there would be a limited supply them onboard ship. Again, we (myself included) are starting to go down a hypothetical road that could be curtailed by someone that has the actual knowledge. It could be something as simple as the mechanics of the model in-game.
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Yep, Stoney, it looks like there are fins under the fuselage, but it's too dark to be sure.
Anyway, I must really be becoming dumb... first, I ask the wrong question, then, I forget where we can look for an answer... :P
Murdr posted on the Trainers website (and linked to the relative articles on AHWiki) the Pilot Operating Handbooks of a number of airplanes, among them, the F6F... here's the link:
http://trainers.hitechcreations.com/historical/Grumman%20F6F%20Pilot%20Manual.pdf
Now, at page 6, first column, we can read: "Two 1000# bombs can be carried under the center section or one full sized torpedo under the belly. When the airplane is operating with the torpedo or 1000# bomb under the belly, 100 gallon droppable fuel tanks can be carried under the wing center section".
So, it seems the plane could carry 1 bomb on the center rack, and 2 100 gallon fuel tanks on the other 2 racks under the belly. In fact, when the manual talks about "wing center section", it's clearly referring to the fuselage belly. This can be confirmed reading page 6, right column, under "Fuel system", where it states: "Two 100 gallon droppable fuel tanks can be installed on the 1000# bomb racks located under the wing center section".
On the other hand, at page 51, left column, under "d. Bombs.", the manual states: "This airplane is provided with two bomb rack supports located under the wing center section, left and right of the center line of the fuselage. These racks accommodate bombs up to 1000 pounds." While this confirms that for "wing center section" the manual refers to the fuselage belly, it's odd that in this part it doesn't make any reference to the possibility of carrying 1 bomb and 2 drop tanks, as it does at page 6...
Anyway, I think that the best possible explanation is that the Hellcat (under the fuselage) could carry 2 1000 pounds bombs and no drop tanks, or 1 bomb or torpedo in the center rack and 2 100 gallons DT (and, presumably, this configuration wasn't in widespread use, hence, we don't have it in the game).
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I definitely believe they can fit. The pylons where the bombs would be carried are on the wings between the landing gear and the fuselage. I don't doubt that it is possible to have all three on the aircraft at the same time either. I just can't find any pictures.
I speculate that it was possible but not necessary due to the short distances flown when on a ground support mission flown by Hellcats. Take off, drop your ordnance, RTB. No need to loiter long enough to justify carrying a drop tank.
wrongway
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Maybe you're right, wrongway (oh, the irony of this sentence! :D), but I find it odd that the manual says nothing about this possible loadout.