What is up with the strats?

[Larry]

Actually, your 110 has alot to do with it. Knowing our altitude, you chose a fighter that has no hope up there. You're attempt to stop a strat run failed, not because of our "unwillingness to fight", but because you brought the wrong equipment. Essentially you brought a wiffle-bat to a MLB game.

The Me110 may not be the best plane to take to 30k but to say it has no hope up there is just lunacy. Just last night I intercepted three sets of B17s flying around 27k on a strat run in my 110. I was able to take down a whole formation and one bomber from the remaining two before having to RTB for fuel. If I had more fuel and patience there is no doubt that I could have landed a few more pelts.

[MadHatter]

The Me110 may not be the best plane to take to 30k but to say it has no hope up there is just lunacy. Just last night I intercepted three sets of B17s flying around 27k on a strat run in my 110. I was able to take down a whole formation and one bomber from the remaining two before having to RTB for fuel. If I had more fuel and patience there is no doubt that I could have landed a few more pelts.

Cool. Like I said, I'm a mediocre fighter pilot at best. What I know is based on my experience in the bombers. That tells me you were extremely lucky or your a hell of a pilot. I would suspect the latter. In my experience, whenever a 110 came after me (above 25k), it was a fairly easy kill because it always seemed to be too sluggish. Questions tho. Did you climb up from underneath or meet them co-alt? Did they already make their drops? Did you dive on them, or take them from the 6? Nothing in this post is sarcastic, I ask because I genuinely want to know.

They only took 3 forms? That is a wasted strat run, in my opinion. But again, I go after them because I think the strats can be a potentially valuable target. When I up, I up to destroy it. 3 forms is not enough to knock the city down, and any factory would be back up before they landed anything. But I am glad to see people going after it.

[Larry]

It was in the MW and there were only three in that squad so I think is was just a squad mission. I spotted their darbar about three sectors out. I grabbed a 110G2, 50% fuel, DTs, big gun pack , and four WGr21 rockets. When I spotted them I I was at their 3 o'clock almost co-alt. I let them pass me and started making my way up the 6 of the last formation. Because I never fired my 'wockets' up that high I was only able to knock out the two drones (they drop a lot more then they do down low). I then dove down and come up from under the single bomber taking his tail and wing off. I then got out in front of them and made a low attack from their 10 o'clock killing one bomber. I again got out in front of them and came in directly underneath the highest set (30k by this time) and sawed the wing off his drone. All this before they were able to make their drop.

[MadHatter]

It was in the MW and there were only three in that squad so I think is was just a squad mission. I spotted their darbar about three sectors out. I grabbed a 110G2, 50% fuel, DTs, big gun pack , and four WGr21 rockets. When I spotted them I I was at their 3 o'clock almost co-alt. I let them pass me and started making my way up the 6 of the last formation. Because I never fired my 'wockets' up that high I was only able to knock out the two drones (they drop a lot more then they do down low). I then dove down and come up from under the single bomber taking his tail and wing off. I then got out in front of them and made a low attack from their 10 o'clock killing one bomber. I again got out in front of them and came in directly underneath the highest set (30k by this time) and sawed the wing off his drone. All this before they were able to make their drop.

Quite honestly, you should have been dead. Coming up the 6 allows the pilot to put 14 guns (3 sets tail, 3 sets ball/top, and 2 waist guns) on you. I pray that cins try to come up the 6. Tells me someone wasn't paying attention. Good way to capitalize. (And I mean that honestly) How did the 110 react? Was it sluggish at that alt?

[Motherland]

Quite honestly, you should have been dead. Coming up the 6 allows the pilot to put 14 guns (3 sets tail, 3 sets ball/top, and 2 waist guns) on you. I pray that cins try to come up the 6. Tells me someone wasn't paying attention. Good way to capitalize. (And I mean that honestly) How did the 110 react? Was it sluggish at that alt?

You can fire WGr 21 rockets outside of 1.0k (I don't know if it's more/less that high). You can maybe hit with tailguns at that distance but it's a bit of a longshot, generally.

[MadHatter]

You can fire WGr 21 rockets outside of 1.0k (I don't know if it's more/less that high). You can maybe hit with tailguns at that distance but it's a bit of a longshot, generally.

Well, something for me to keep an eye out for then

[Larry]

WGr21 rockets are fired right on the very edge of the .50s range. As soon as you fire them if you maneuver out of the way you wont get hit. The B17s were firing at me out from 1.5 and didn't get a single hit. While the 110 is sluggish up there IMO every plane is. You just have to watch your speed and everything will be fine.

[MadHatter]

Firing at 1.5? I know some people are William Tell when it comes to tailguns, but that seems a little, hell I can't think of a good smarta** remark for it. If you're flying flat, dumb, and happy, maybe I'll pop a few shots. I generally wait till 1k, then I'll pop "wake-up" bursts at 1k, 800, and 600. At 400 is when I let em have it. Of course now I have to rethink that strategy because of the rockets. Well, maybe not, If I'm that high then I'm on a strat run, which means escorts and other bombers...hopefully. Still gonna have to think on this.

I just upped a 15k run (testing out a new config on the joystick) in Blue. I had to run that bottleneck at A1 when it was busy as all get out. A 190 comes up behind me when I was on the chin following a zeke, and proceeds to pepper me. Pop into the tail and let out a burst, shot out his engine. He still managed to turn my lead plane into the Fourth of July. A second one comes in hot, so I pull off a "meteor". Speed command to 300, cut manifold and RPMs to 0, engage. 17 drops like a brick, poor bas**** runs right up to the tailgun. I don't know why,but he went negative to avoid a collision and ends up getting it in the cockpit from about 20 ft away. 

[Larry]

WGr21s explode at 1.2k which is right when the icon goes from 1.5 to 1.0. If you see a 109,190 or 110 position himself on your six then starts to slowly creep up then he might be packing them.

[Simba]

"The Me110 may not be the best plane to take to 30k"

No, not when you're trying to intercept my ol' B-17 Soozy Poo as she flogs home at 34,000 feet after bombing the strats.

 

[MadHatter]

WGr21s explode at 1.2k which is right when the icon goes from 1.5 to 1.0. If you see a 109,190 or 110 position himself on your six then starts to slowly creep up then he might be packing them.

Murphy's law. Just had someone try that on me. Soon as he hit 1 k I popped auto climb right as he loosed them. Still took damage. Whats the blast radius on those things?

[2Slow]

They like that alt.... nothing historic or anything. They just like the challenge of conserving fuel.

Leave us not to forget "A bombers best defense is speed and altitude" Gen. Hap Arnold