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General Forums => Axis vs Allies => Topic started by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 07:04:53 AM

Title: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 07:04:53 AM
Last night I spent a good hour or so in AvA on the axis side. We had 109E vs hurri 1s and Spit 1s. I love the no icon set up AVA and generally love the action, and game play. But I have to say I have two complaints. First was the Puffy being active on the ships in port, which essentially provided flak cover for the much of the English coast which was needlessly anoying.

But my real gripe was the difficulty in shooting down planes. An Bf 109E has 2 20mm cannons with 120 rounds per gun and 2 7.9mm machine guns with 2000 rounfds. And yet, it took 3 or 4 109s ganging a single hurrican to bring it down. I was told the 20mm are the old type and are less lethal, so I'm taking that into account when I say that the gun packages seem severly under modelled. I chased a hurri around from 200-400 yrds hitting him with a minimum of 5% of my 20mm rounds [10-12 rounds] and emptied all 2000 30 cal into him with what I would call better than average hit rates.   He flew away.
This happened repeatedly. I don't know if wood and canvass Hurris are modelled to tough, or the rounds are modelled to weak, but it strikes me that if they are close to reality then no one would have shot anyone down in the war. I did get kills when I had a full cannon load and scored 2 sec bursts on Spit 1s. But a 2-3 sec burst of 2x20mm from 200 yrds would NOT bring down a hurricane. And it was my experience that a Boston could not be brought down by a single fighter.

I think the bullets are not lethal enough. I'm sure this is not exclusive to AvA but it is hi-lighted by that gun packages available.  If the 30 cals are modeled correctly the Battle of Britain would have been a zero-zero tie.

As for AvA, If I out fly a hurri or a spit in 109E and score a high percentage of hits from close range, and can't get a kill.....What's the point?

The action was fun but the results were beyond frustrating.  :salute
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Atticus4 on February 09, 2011, 07:18:17 AM
Vinkman,

If it was the fight that started around 10-12 K and rolled down eventually to the deck, then I believe that was me in the Hurri your commenting on....I was banged up pretty bad, then the horde of Axis got involved and I think I luckily killed one or two, but ultimately succumbed.  Just so you know, I had 27 rounds out of 1300, most of which I thought I put on you and yet you didn't go down.  I was thinking the same thing you note in your post, but from the Allieds side.  Good fighting though  :salute
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 09, 2011, 08:10:24 AM
what do you have your convergence set to? i pushed mine out to 375 and was able to get a good concentration of fire on target...it did take a lot of hits to knock parts off the hurricane i flew in one sortie...i eventually lost half a wing

on the flip side i noticed it took a good bit of ammo at close range to damage the 109s...several times i put a heavy burst around the cockpit, to the point it looked like 20mm hits (from my viewpoint) only to have the same 109 come back to shoot me down...
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 08:10:50 AM
Vinkman,

If it was the fight that started around 10-12 K and rolled down eventually to the deck, then I believe that was me in the Hurri your commenting on....I was banged up pretty bad, then the horde of Axis got involved and I think I luckily killed one or two, but ultimately succumbed.  Just so you know, I had 27 rounds out of 1300, most of which I thought I put on you and yet you didn't go down.  I was thinking the same thing you note in your post, but from the Allieds side.  Good fighting though  :salute

It was a good fight <S>!  I didn't fly allies, but I assumed the same issue applied in reverse.  
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 08:15:21 AM
what do you have your convergence set to? i pushed mine out to 375 and was able to get a good concentration of fire on target...it did take a lot of hits to knock parts off the hurricane i flew in one sortie...i eventually lost half a wing

on the flip side i noticed it took a good bit of ammo at close range to damage the 109s...several times i put a heavy burst around the cockpit, to the point it looked like 20mm hits (from my viewpoint) only to have the same 109 come back to shoot me down...

Convergence was set to 450. I had that same thing happen with a hurri.. I got on his 6 in a fresh plane. Empltied my guns into him at very respectible hit % and ran out of bullets, at which point he flat turned around the circle until I had to exit and shot me down from my six at 400 ydrs, after emptying him guns into me for the next 3-5 minutes.

That was when I quit.  :cry     :lol
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Oldman731 on February 09, 2011, 09:07:35 AM
Convergence was set to 450.

This might be your problem.

The 1940 plane set is unique for several reasons, the biggest being that none of the planes involved has the .50s or 20mm cannon of later planes.  The Emil has MG FFs rather than the MG 151s that the later Luftwaffe planes had.  The MG FF fires a smaller shell at a lower muzzle velocity, with the dual effect of causing noticeably less damage when it hits, and a softball-like trajectory.  Not a thing you can do about the first problem, but the second you can take care of by bringing the convergence in (I have mine set to 200 yards in the Emil) and closing to that distance - or less - before you shoot.  I suspect that you were missing with a lot of your cannon shells because of the convergence setting.

The .303s on the British fighters can be even more frustrating.  As rifle-caliber guns they lack much velocity out past 200 yards (think of how far you'd fire a .303 at a deer) and fire bullets that are 1/4 as heavy as a .50 slug.  Result:  you have to get close and have them all set to converge at a close range.  I have mine set to 175 yards, many set them a bit further out, some in as close as 150.  At those ranges, btw, they do a great job of really chopping up an enemy plane.

Once you get used to the notion that neither of the British fighters, nor the Emil, can have much success with snap shots, and combine that with the grim realization that you have to get close on the enemy's tail AND STAY THERE, the BoB becomes a lot of fun.  It's absolutely my favorite plane set for those reasons.

- oldman
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 09:09:00 AM
what do you have your convergence set to? i pushed mine out to 375 and was able to get a good concentration of fire on target...it did take a lot of hits to knock parts off the hurricane i flew in one sortie...i eventually lost half a wing

on the flip side i noticed it took a good bit of ammo at close range to damage the 109s...several times i put a heavy burst around the cockpit, to the point it looked like 20mm hits (from my viewpoint) only to have the same 109 come back to shoot me down...

i can't fly and fight in the spit1....in the hurri1 i have my convergence set to 350 though. it works well for me there.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 09:10:35 AM
Convergence was set to 450. I had that same thing happen with a hurri.. I got on his 6 in a fresh plane. Empltied my guns into him at very respectible hit % and ran out of bullets, at which point he flat turned around the circle until I had to exit and shot me down from my six at 400 ydrs, after emptying him guns into me for the next 3-5 minutes.

That was when I quit.  :cry     :lol

vink...it sounds like you're shooting too far out.

try the usmk9 gunsight. it's basically 2 rings with a dot. when they fill the inner ring, they're about 400 yards, and the outer ring is about 200 yards.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: captain1ma on February 09, 2011, 09:18:42 AM
before i took off in my boston O' death last night, i put it in the shop. i had the boys add special kevlar lightweight armor to the skin of the plane. then i had them repaint it with the same paint scheme.

when i took off i had a nearly indestructible boston bomber. i then exacted my vengeance on the krauts with extreme predjudice. you were all already dead when i took off, you just didnt know it yet!  :D
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: ImADot on February 09, 2011, 09:22:02 AM
Absolutely spot on with the convergence discussion.  My Hurri-1 is set at 250 and I hold fire until I think they're at 300, but really press to 200 or closer before getting serious on the trigger.  At 200 or closer, I can saw off a wing or a tail with no more than a 1 second burst.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Dichotomy on February 09, 2011, 09:22:35 AM
hmmm I didn't even think about that.  I thought I was bring pathetic shooting to a new level. 
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Shifty on February 09, 2011, 09:42:48 AM
Vink like all the above have said pull your convergence in to around 200. Also the loadout for the Emil is 60 rounds per gun 120 rounds total.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 09, 2011, 10:01:31 AM
I took down 3x B-17s in a 109E once (an entire formation) and had almost 30 rounds left over after the fact.


Here's a learning tool for you, Vinkman: Only fire the cannons by themselves. You're seeing MG17 hit sprites and thinking they are 20mm hits. If you only fire cannons you'll only see cannon hits.


Normally I suggest you fire 'em all (you need everything you can get!) but for learning exercises I think this might help you get used to the gunnery on the Emil. When in doubt, get CLOSER.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Jappa52 on February 09, 2011, 11:35:52 AM
This might be your problem.
"Snip"
-oldman

^^This. And coming in from the MAs I shorted my convergence from 500 to 300. It took a little getting used to but then again this arena is not like the Mains. I feel that this arena is a little more.... personal. The lack of icons forces your tactics to change a little and brings you in closer. In the Mains I was routinely taking shots out at 500 but in the AVA I rarely take a shot over 400, most of them are 2-300.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 11:39:36 AM

Here's a learning tool for you, Vinkman: Only fire the cannons by themselves. You're seeing MG17 hit sprites and thinking they are 20mm hits. If you only fire cannons you'll only see cannon hits.


This is true, and At times I fire both , with the 303s scoring hits and 20mms going somewhere else. So I try to shoot them one at a time.

But not to seem unappreciative of the convergense advise, Hitting them is not the problem. I'm Hitting them a plenty! It the dying they're not doing that is frustrating me. 
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 11:55:43 AM
but how far away are they when you hit them? if you're hitting them at D500, you don't have much energy left in the rounds that are hitting, so they're not doing as much damage as if they wefre only D200/
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 12:20:45 PM
but how far away are they when you hit them? if you're hitting them at D500, you don't have much energy left in the rounds that are hitting, so they're not doing as much damage as if they wefre only D200/

I try to hit them tween 200 and 400, with most hits scoring at about 400 yds.  It's pretty hard to keep fire on a twisty turny hurri at 200 or less. You end up pulsing bursts into him.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: captain1ma on February 09, 2011, 12:28:28 PM
i dont shoot til i see the whites of their eyes........oh wait! thats a HO, nevermind! carry on!
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 12:30:36 PM
I try to hit them tween 200 and 400, with most hits scoring at about 400 yds.  It's pretty hard to keep fire on a twisty turny hurri at 200 or less. You end up pulsing bursts into him.

double check yourself in your films. they're very useful in the other arenas....and even moreso here. you may think you're hitting at 400, but it may actually be 600. in the film viewer, the icons are defaulted to on, even though they're off in the arena.

i'm not tryin to be a wise ass.....just tryin to help ya out.  :aok
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 12:31:11 PM
i dont shoot til i see the whites of their eyes........oh wait! thats a HO, nevermind! carry on!

unless it's me looking over my shoulder, trying to peek out from behind my headrest.  :D
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: ImADot on February 09, 2011, 01:20:05 PM
I try to hit them tween 200 and 400, with most hits scoring at about 400 yds.  It's pretty hard to keep fire on a twisty turny hurri at 200 or less. You end up pulsing bursts into him.

With the weapons of this time period, there's a HUGE difference in destructive power between hits at 200 and hits at 400.  If most of your hits are at 400, all you're doing is scratching the paint.  Trust those of us who fly EW rides a lot.  Even if you only pulse bursts, they do more damage and they all add up.  When you're in that close, it's easier to pick a vulnerable spot and concentrate fire on it, again and again if necessary.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 01:37:02 PM
double check yourself in your films. they're very useful in the other arenas....and even moreso here. you may think you're hitting at 400, but it may actually be 600. in the film viewer, the icons are defaulted to on, even though they're off in the arena.

i'm not tryin to be a wise ass.....just tryin to help ya out.  :aok

I was taking it as trying to help  :aok 

Also did you see I linked up my TrackIR setup file in one of these treads for you. I think you may find it helpfull with the looking backward, and other issues you may still be having with the Tracker.  :salute
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: CAP1 on February 09, 2011, 01:39:54 PM
I was taking it as trying to help  :aok 

Also did you see I linked up my TrackIR setup file in one of these treads for you. I think you may find it helpfull with the looking backward, and other issues you may still be having with the Tracker.  :salute

yes, i did see that, and thank you very much sir!!!

 you put it in the crazy8s helping cap thread. gonna download it tonight.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 09, 2011, 01:41:10 PM
yes, i did see that, and thank you very much sir!!!

 you put it in the crazy8s helping cap thread. gonna download it tonight.

Cool. If it helps drop a note back and let me know. Good luck. :salute
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vudu15 on February 09, 2011, 02:17:33 PM
The perfect Distance.......
(http://i1236.photobucket.com/albums/ff442/Vuduvince/ahss26-1.jpg)
But for real I have my guns on the Hurri set to 400, little far but thats what works for me. and If ya get in close ya just get to shoot at both his wings at the same time.  :devil
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: ImADot on February 09, 2011, 02:27:57 PM
But for real I have my guns on the Hurri set to 400, little far but thats what works for me. and If ya get in close ya just get to shoot at both his wings at the same time.  :devil

Hehehe, but it only takes losing one wing to bring him down.  Takes less ammo if all concentrated on one spot.  :aok
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 09, 2011, 05:20:29 PM
Folks mention lost of hitting power from 200 to 400. That's true of MGs, but the MG/FFm on the Bf109 are explosive cannon shells. They derive most of their destructive power from high explosives inside the shell. There's much less punching through things.

These guns are better at longer ranges, assuming you land any hits. They are more powerful if they land, but are many times harder to land at longer ranges.

Just an FYI, in case folks were overlooking that.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Wildcat1 on February 09, 2011, 05:33:00 PM
I took down 3x B-17s in a 109E once (an entire formation) and had almost 30 rounds left over after the fact.


all hits were to inboard engines, i presume? or just bad 17 gunnery :lol
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 09, 2011, 05:43:10 PM
Good gunnery on my part, bad on his. I was surprised I was able to. Not engine fires, either, if I recall. I seem to recall a wing fully removed, a pilot kill, and cannot recall the last.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 09, 2011, 05:53:22 PM
krusty, i don't believe the mg/ffm was noted for it's range or hitting power...hence the main reason it was replaced by the mg 151/15 and subsequently the mg 151/20...on the other hand, weren't the hurricane mk1's produced with wooden frames and fabric covering the fuselage? if it's modelled that way in ah, that would explain some of the low damage from the mg/ffm shells...it's been documented that the explosive shell wasn't as effective against the early hurricanes as it was against the all metal aircraft.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Oldman731 on February 09, 2011, 06:05:30 PM
krusty, i don't believe the mg/ffm was noted for it's range or hitting power...hence the main reason it was replaced by the mg 151/15 and subsequently the mg 151/20...on the other hand, weren't the hurricane mk1's produced with wooden frames and fabric covering the fuselage? if it's modelled that way in ah, that would explain some of the low damage from the mg/ffm shells...it's been documented that the explosive shell wasn't as effective against the early hurricanes as it was against the all metal aircraft.

You're both right.  The MG FF did have those explosive shells, but they were smaller than the stuff that came later AND, most important, as Krusty notes, they're harder to hit with at long ranges because the trajectory is so awful.  Fly in BoB, you'll observe that it's much easier for an Emil to shoot down a Spitfire than a Hurri, for the reasons Gyrene points out.  The Spitfire's stressed skin fuselage was more vulnerable to cannon shells than the Hurri's WWI-era construction.  Of course, the Spitfire was also a lot faster than the Hurri because it was lighter.  Yin and Yan.

Moral, as everyone seems to agree, is that with these planes you have to get on your opponent's six and then get very close before you fire.

- oldman
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 09, 2011, 06:14:38 PM
krusty, i don't believe the mg/ffm was noted for it's range or hitting power...hence the main reason it was replaced by the mg 151/15 and subsequently the mg 151/20...on the other hand, weren't the hurricane mk1's produced with wooden frames and fabric covering the fuselage? if it's modelled that way in ah, that would explain some of the low damage from the mg/ffm shells...it's been documented that the explosive shell wasn't as effective against the early hurricanes as it was against the all metal aircraft.

What is "range"? For the MG17s the effective range is really 150 yards. MG/FFm were good out to 400 and more. Yes, the accuracy got worse, the further out. BUT, if you hit you killed the target, whereas the MG17s did not. It was a major step upward, and one the RAF would mimick quickly. The BOB proved one thing: rifle caliber Mgs didn't bring down planes fast enough or at long enough range. All nations would move past this armament at some point.

The wooden vulnerability of the Hurricane is another myth that goes around. I don't think I really believe that one. I think it's possible some rounds went through just making a hole, but then some 20mm rounds in WW2 were solid AP rounds. Some were tracers. Some were duds. Not all exploded. Looking at other wooden planes, 20mms had no problems bringing them down if they landed hits. I tend to think that's more wishful thinking than actual fact.

Regardless, from personal opinion I think the hurricane is a bit tougher than the spitfire1 (in-game, I mean). So I think that's already accounted for.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Dichotomy on February 09, 2011, 06:23:02 PM
so Krusty when will you grace us with your presence in the arena?  Just askin
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 09, 2011, 06:49:01 PM

Regardless, from personal opinion I think the hurricane is a bit tougher than the spitfire1 (in-game, I mean). So I think that's already accounted for.
absolutely agreed...


The wooden vulnerability of the Hurricane is another myth that goes around. I don't think I really believe that one. I think it's possible some rounds went through just making a hole, but then some 20mm rounds in WW2 were solid AP rounds. Some were tracers. Some were duds. Not all exploded. Looking at other wooden planes, 20mms had no problems bringing them down if they landed hits. I tend to think that's more wishful thinking than actual fact.
not so sure about that...anectdotal evidence aside that is


What is "range"? For the MG17s the effective range is really 150 yards. MG/FFm were good out to 400 and more. Yes, the accuracy got worse, the further out. BUT, if you hit you killed the target, whereas the MG17s did not. It was a major step upward, and one the RAF would mimick quickly. The BOB proved one thing: rifle caliber Mgs didn't bring down planes fast enough or at long enough range. All nations would move past this armament at some point.
i dunno krusty...the 7.92mm mauser round is/was known to maintain supersonic velocity out to 1000m using the standard 192gr ball ammo...150 yards seems a bit short considering baseline infantry combat range was 300 to 500 yards and the mg17 had a longer barrel than the basic infantry rifle (kar98) which greatly improved its range and accuracy...similar to the mg42 machine gun.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Oldman731 on February 09, 2011, 07:53:54 PM
i dunno krusty...the 7.92mm mauser round is/was known to maintain supersonic velocity out to 1000m using the standard 192gr ball ammo...150 yards seems a bit short considering baseline infantry combat range was 300 to 500 yards and the mg17 had a longer barrel than the basic infantry rifle (kar98) which greatly improved its range and accuracy...similar to the mg42 machine gun.

...um...where are you getting this, gyrene?  I show 8x57 as less than 1300 fps at 500 yards, really doubt that it was 1100 or more at 1000.

- oldman
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 09, 2011, 10:23:24 PM
...um...where are you getting this, gyrene?  I show 8x57 as less than 1300 fps at 500 yards, really doubt that it was 1100 or more at 1000.

- oldman
well...among others...this is one reference i found back when i was still doing weapons modding for CoD...the luftwaffe version of the 7.92 used the same weight projectile but had a higher velocity than the standard infantry rifle round but i think the ballistics shown are still valid...

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/scoped-k98k-mosin-nagant-range-13601-6.html

and one i used as a starting point...

http://www.weaponwiki.org/7.92x57_mm_Mauser_Specs
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Plazus on February 09, 2011, 11:31:46 PM
If you guys want the easy way in this setup, fly the 110. Has lots of cannons, not to mention they are nose mounted, so convergence isn't an issue. You have two engines, and can turn very well with flaps. Also, since the 110 is big, it is harder to take down unless you aim for the pilot. Also, by fighting in the vertical, you can force the Hurris and Spits to stall their engine out nose-high. Then the rest just plays out in your favor. :)
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Oldman731 on February 10, 2011, 08:41:31 AM
well...among others...this is one reference i found back when i was still doing weapons modding for CoD...the luftwaffe version of the 7.92 used the same weight projectile but had a higher velocity than the standard infantry rifle round but i think the ballistics shown are still valid...

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/ww2-general/scoped-k98k-mosin-nagant-range-13601-6.html

and one i used as a starting point...

http://www.weaponwiki.org/7.92x57_mm_Mauser_Specs

Interesting, but perplexing.  According to these sources the Germans were loading 197 grain .311 bullets with nearly unbelievable ballistic coefficients to almost 2500 fps muzzle velocity.  I certainly don't have any contrary sources, other than to note that these were much hotter loads than factory ammunition today. 

Learned something interesting, gyrene, thanks, will study further and will stop hijacking this thread!

- oldman
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 10, 2011, 08:54:59 AM
You cannot compare a high powered, bolt-operated, sniper rifle of the same caliber with a fully automated machine gun. The two are not comparable in the least.

A bullet is not a bullet. A gun is not a gun. They're not all the same.

That bolt alone allows greater power in the chamber, as none of it is translated into rearward motion to push the spring backwards.

Here's the wiki data on the MG17 machine gun:

SpecificationsCalibre: 7.92 +/- .04 mm
Cartridge: 7.92x57 mm Mauser
Round weight: 35.5 grams (cartridge 24 grams, bullet 11.5 grams)
Muzzle velocity: from 855 m/s (Phosphor "B" round ) to 905 m/s (Armor Piercing Tracer "SmK L'spur" round)
Rate of fire: 1200 rpm
Dimensions

Length: 1175 mm
Weight: 10.2 kg
Action: Recoil
Feed system: Belt magazine


At the muzzle (0 yards) it's only doing 855 (or 905) m/s. At 200 yards it's less. At 400 yards much less.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 10, 2011, 09:32:58 AM
krusty...855 METERS/second = 2805 FEET/second...905 METERS/second = 2969 FEET/second...like i mentioned, the luftwaffe ammo used hotter powder loads that was not allowed in the infantry weapons.

of course the formulas only give approximations based on known factors, but much more accurate than the guesstimations being tossed around here...
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 10, 2011, 10:22:28 AM
Ahh, you were using fpm... I see. I thought you were saying 1100 m/s!!!!
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: gyrene81 on February 10, 2011, 10:43:11 AM
Ahh, you were using fpm... I see. I thought you were saying 1100 m/s!!!!
:lol i admit to being a real dummy at times but...sheesh...  :confused:
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Atticus4 on February 10, 2011, 11:46:14 AM
Or [instead of all of these logic and scientific posts] maybe the pilot of the Hurri was just wiley enough to prevent his bird from being critically hit.   :x
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: captain1ma on February 10, 2011, 12:26:18 PM
Wiley? i believe they call that "stick stirring"!     :D
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Chilli on February 10, 2011, 05:09:00 PM
That is "Rocket on a stick" stirring to you sir!

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_BD2HN8nAjQ0/TN-L5wVip8I/AAAAAAAAALw/OBgwf1E0K2E/s1600/wile_e_coyote.jpg)
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: pembquist on February 11, 2011, 03:26:30 PM
I think you'll find that if you shoot at me in the AVA that your weapons will be incredibly effective. I did have 2 kills with the 110 which says a lot about its armament and the quantity of ammunition that it carries.  I thought the RL Hurricane was constructed of steel tube truss with fabric covering and later aluminum wing skins.  I would think it would be more robust underfire than a wooden monocoque like the mossie as the chance of hitting non redundant load bearing structure would be lower in the hurricane.  I also recollect that the fuselage truss had pinned joints so you could remove a member and replace it without welding.  The weirdest thing about the british planes in AVA is the lack of a pressure carb.  Can you imagine actually fighting in the battle of france and having your engine cut out when you started diving without rolling?  If any of you guys read I would recommend "Piece of Cake" by Derek Robinson which gives a less romantic version of the battle of britain then most fiction/movies.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Krusty on February 11, 2011, 03:57:27 PM
You might be thinking of the older Gladiator frame, or the ancient Swordfish...

While the Hurricane did have a tube frame, that's not the only thing it had. The forward tubes were hidden under the metal skin. The aft tubes had to supply not only rigidity but structures. They had to prevent sagging (if the tail sags, all of a sudden the stabilizers are at a different angle, cables sag and all of a sudden elevators no longer work, etc). They had to withstand Gs and violent manuvers as well as hard landings.

It's not like they were just a hollow box frame. For example:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20Products%20107/Frame%20Hurricane%20fusilage%20picture.jpg)

To show you how busy the inside of this thing was:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20Products%20107/Frame%20top%20in%20Hurricane.jpg)

The outer ribs actually were part of the reinforcements:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20products%20131/Hurriace%20fusilarg%20A.jpg)

I don't know about you, but that's a LOT of stuff for a cannon round to hit, and it's so densely packed that any cannon round will do a lot of damage.

Whether that damage meant the tail came off, or the tail stayed on -- that's another story (i.e. B17s were known to make it back with astounding damage, same might be true for Hurricanes). However, I doubt the myth that "rounds passed through the fabric tail" or "failed to detonate in the soft wood" -- there's too much for that to happen IMO. Too much to go wrong with any amount of damage.

There's a reason everybody switched to metal skin. It was stronger and took up less space and weight in most cases.


EDIT: But this is all a side-track to the original post... Sorry.
Title: Re: shoot downs in AvA
Post by: Vinkman on February 14, 2011, 08:18:55 AM
You might be thinking of the older Gladiator frame, or the ancient Swordfish...

While the Hurricane did have a tube frame, that's not the only thing it had. The forward tubes were hidden under the metal skin. The aft tubes had to supply not only rigidity but structures. They had to prevent sagging (if the tail sags, all of a sudden the stabilizers are at a different angle, cables sag and all of a sudden elevators no longer work, etc). They had to withstand Gs and violent manuvers as well as hard landings.

It's not like they were just a hollow box frame. For example:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20Products%20107/Frame%20Hurricane%20fusilage%20picture.jpg)

To show you how busy the inside of this thing was:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20Products%20107/Frame%20top%20in%20Hurricane.jpg)

The outer ribs actually were part of the reinforcements:

(http://www.spitfirespares.com/spitfirespares.com/Website%20products%20131/Hurriace%20fusilarg%20A.jpg)

I don't know about you, but that's a LOT of stuff for a cannon round to hit, and it's so densely packed that any cannon round will do a lot of damage.

Whether that damage meant the tail came off, or the tail stayed on -- that's another story (i.e. B17s were known to make it back with astounding damage, same might be true for Hurricanes). However, I doubt the myth that "rounds passed through the fabric tail" or "failed to detonate in the soft wood" -- there's too much for that to happen IMO. Too much to go wrong with any amount of damage.

There's a reason everybody switched to metal skin. It was stronger and took up less space and weight in most cases.


EDIT: But this is all a side-track to the original post... Sorry.


My missunderstanding. I had always thought the original Hurris had a frame made of wood. Th esteel tubes woud indeed be prettty tough. .30 calibers would be a wate of time hitting that.