Author Topic: Saving bombers and destroying them (Read 390 times)

Black Jack · « **on:** December 01, 2006, 08:09:22 AM »

I have two questions for the bombers.

When flying a bomber and you're hit in an engine and it's flaming. I tried to stop that engine ASAP to stop it before it explodes but doesn't seem to work. Is there a key to shut the fuel pump of those engines?

For what I have seen from my long month and a half of experience. When you're attacking a bomber it's better to dive on him from above and maybe a bit on an angle so only the top and side guns can shoot at the bandit. I've seen this with the multiple times I was shot down while flying them. What are the ranges that you guys start to dive against them? Some guys seem to really hit the engines more than the whole plane. Is it luck or they really aim? Do you aim for 1 plane or just wait and see which one will line up and then shoot at his wing. I was able to shoot down a Me262 from my b24 but i don't think this will happen too often.

On the other hand he did cut two of my planes in half before he was mortally hit.

With all this, I'm trying to find the easiest way to fly them and defeat them depending in which one i'm in. Thanks

Black70

Lusche · « **Reply #1 on:** December 01, 2006, 08:33:21 AM »

Hello BlackJack,

Once your plane is on fire, you can do nothing about it.

And your observation is right. Those guys do really aim for the engines. For example the hitting innerboard engines / wingroot in a B24 sets this plane easily afire. Other people aim for outer wings to rip it off (especially effective at Lancasters) or the cockpit (instant kill). That depends pretty much on situation, personal preference and type of buff. Just aiming for the whole bomber wastes a lot of rounds. Aim for small area as possible. Even if you don´t hit exactly, your bullets will be concentrated in one area, greatly enhancing the effectiveness against the structure.

To prevent the enemy gunners from hitting hitting you, you need speed & angles, as you already figured out. The faster you are, the less time the gunner has to shoot at you, and attacking at angles hampers his aim. Best thing is to strive for angles vertically as well as horizontally, e.g. attacking from his 2-4 o´clock sectors AND from above or below. Attacking from below (with an appropriate surplus of speed!) works particulary well against Lancasters (no ball turret) or Ki-67 (which have a devastating 20mm on top)

Set up your attack with patience and at least 1.5K away. Depending on initial speed, I usually try to be about 1-3K above the enemy when commencing the attack, but that pretty much depends on circumstances.

One little note: When attacking formations, always attack the drones first, not the leading plane. The enemy gunner may find it a bit harder to take aim and you don´t crash into warping drones when the lead planes explodes...

Apers · « **Reply #2 on:** December 01, 2006, 11:05:08 PM »

I like to start high, dive under them, then come up at the belly.

When I run out of ammo I like to clip their tailplanes off.

kvuo75 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 02, 2006, 11:20:56 AM »

this may sound silly, but my latest technique to hunt bombers is to take up a pony-d with ROCKETS..

I haven't got it down to a science yet, but I've been able to kill all 3 bombers in one pass by just letting loose with rockets.. just fire them from normal guns range <600.. they are amazingly effective!

Simaril · « **Reply #4 on:** December 02, 2006, 01:38:43 PM »

Best attack angle I've found is to get 1- 1.5k alt advantage, displaced to one side of flght path. Build speed to be a bit faster than target, and get a bit ahead of them.

Then -- and this is the fun part -- roll into the target from the side, ahead, and especially above. You dive towards where he will be and time it so he flies into your sight as you get close. In firing range you should be almost directly above the target swooping almost straight down on the wing root. Blast away, and pull up as you scream to the far side of their flight path...roll to again be flying parallel, but on their opposite side. Build up speed again, rinse, and repeat.

This attack gives them a very short winddow with you in their sights. Most importantly, from their perspective your position, your direction, and your speed are constantly changing -- so they have to continually adjust their lead for their entire firing window. When you get to your closest part, they have to swing their guns a REALLY long way to keep tracking, and you will likely cut through a chunk of their view circle with them having no chance to shoot. If you reach the top of the gunner's upward angle, he has to rotate the turret (slow compared to other movements) and cant just raise the guns to keep tracking. And, when you cross the bombers' path, you get some free time while he turns the guns to catch up to you -- which lets you get farther away.

Next favorite is pure vertical. Get over them by 1-1.5k, get a faster level flight speed, and get ahead. Roll inverted (so you can see), pull down on them, and fire away at the wing roots. Pull up and extend...repeat. Its a little riskier, and a good gunner can rip you up if you pull out at the wrong time. But it is faster, and still very safe since the vertical shot from that top[ gun is one of the very toughest.

But most important is the simple rule -- never, ever, ever hang on a bomber's 6 (especially if you're slow). It's hard to stick to it, but most every time I die to a bomber its because I ignored the principle.

SAS_KID · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2006, 01:47:03 AM »

I like to come in about 1 to 2k alt adv. Once im about 9 o clock or 3 o clock of the formation i dive in and put giant softball sized taters into the drone farthest from me.