B-17 Deathstars

[Zimme83]

No but bomber gunners dont need to maneuver in order to adjust fire and the fighter almost always expose its most vulnerable parts to the bomber guns while the fighter is making holes in the rear of the bomber.

And at convergence range a fighter attacking a set of B-17 will take fire from up to 18x .50 cal mg, a split second burst will tear the fighter apart...

[hitech]

Thanks for your answer HT, do the bombers have longer effective range than the fighters ?

Yes an no and sorta.

I have to look but which have which but there are 2 50cal version short barrel and long barrel. Long barrels have slight higher mussel velocity.

But the big difference you notice is that when a gun is shooting backwards vs forwards on a moving object, the apparent range is much longer on the backward firing gun.

HiTech

[bustr]

B17 level flight 14,500 ft.

Nose 50 cal - 1190yds
Tail 50 cal   - 1250yds

[Scca]

They aren't all that bad...  I think TU's and B-26's are more dangerous. 

Aim for the outer wing tips.  Break them off, and the plane starts to tumble.  Often you can get two on one pass because they start flopping around, can't hit you.  Approach from the dead six, and you'll realize why they call it "dead" six. 

[hitech]

Also with the .wingman command , think what 7 guns in tight formation could do? Now we are talking death blossom.

HiTech

[captain1ma]

They aren't all that bad...  I think TU's and B-26's are more dangerous. 

Aim for the outer wing tips.  Break them off, and the plane starts to tumble.  Often you can get two on one pass because they start flopping around, can't hit you.  Approach from the dead six, and you'll realize why they call it "dead" six.

and if 999000 is flying it, your dead at D1500!!

[Zimme83]

Also with the .wingman command , think what 7 guns in tight formation could do? Now we are talking death blossom.

HiTech

Shown during the first 12 hour scenario. over 30 sets (~100 bombers) in tight formation. a lot of attackers made only one pass...

(on the other hand the scenario showed that unescorted bombers are turkey shoots for fighters that attacks in formation, it is impossible for the bomber pilots to track and shoot at all attackers.)

[Scca]

and if 999000 is flying it, your dead at D1500!!

Yes, he's a tough one.  He's the DR7 of bombers.  I remember one time I was in a Tempest and popped a B-17, it was 999000.  Considered deeply if I should go back for another pass...  The lesson learned that day, if you have patience, and do it right, bombers taste like chicken. 

[EagleDNY]

The lesson learned that day, if you have patience, and do it right, bombers taste like chicken. 

Sometimes those 18 .50 cals can make it Kung POW Chicken...

[RODBUSTR]

MOST Of the TIME I ONLY FIRE FROM 1 STATION .  A SLIDING CONVERGENCE  LIKE  THE C V BUTTONS ON RANGES WOULD be nice