Mud movin II

[Viper6 3]

Hey, I'm back to ask a couple more questions on advanced bombing, at what altitude should i start my dive? at what distance from target? what is a good angle of attack 45 degrees? or steeper? this pertains to the f4 trying to hit small hardened targets with 750lb, 1000lb and 2000lb bombs. it is the '68 campaign and it is just mission 5 and almost HALF my fellow pilots have been lost! OMFG!

[JediMaster 451]

I find angle seems less important than speed. The faster you go, the flatter the trajectory, and the closer to the target you'll be. Of course, it makes pulling up harder, but you don't fly those planes to be safe!

[tank03 1]

Here is a great article by Andy Bush that outlines various A2G tactics for use in SFP1/WOV. They are excellent strategies for dive bombing, level delivery, and strafing. Made a HUGE difference in my stats.

 

http://www.simhq.com/_air/air_055a.html

[Viper6 3]

Here is a great article by Andy Bush that outlines various A2G tactics for use in SFP1/WOV. They are excellent strategies for dive bombing, level delivery, and strafing. Made a HUGE difference in my stats.

 

http://www.simhq.com/_air/air_055a.html

Hey thanks a lot!

 

Viper6 out!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Angle and speed are just part of it.

 

45% is pretty much the best angle to take and the faster you're going the better. Not only for a flatter trajectory on the bomb, but for staying alive. In "When Thunder Rolled" by Ed Rasmius, the author overheard a radio call by an F-4 that pulled back it's throttles during an attack and had the engines cut out. Rasmius (a Thud pilot) wondered why ANYONE would do something like that over a target. The minimum i begin roll in is at about 12,000ft and i try my best to drop bombs and pull out above 4,000. Go lower and those 14.5 and 23mm guns will do a number on you sooner or later.

 

The speed is important for another big reason. Depending on your target and where you are at, you might want to get back to altitude as fast as you can to both avoid the worst of the AAA and to give you height in case of SAMs being fired at you. Believe me, i've been shot down by flak while i was about 1600ft dodging a SAM. Sometimes you might want to exit an area at low level and speed is life down there. If you aren't going at least 600 knots on the deck around Hanoi , you are on borrowed time.

[Viper6 3]

Angle and speed are just part of it.

 

45% is pretty much the best angle to take and the faster you're going the better. Not only for a flatter trajectory on the bomb, but for staying alive. In "When Thunder Rolled" by Ed Rasmius, the author overheard a radio call by an F-4 that pulled back it's throttles during an attack and had the engines cut out. Rasmius (a Thud pilot) wondered why ANYONE would do something like that over a target. The minimum i begin roll in is at about 12,000ft and i try my best to drop bombs and pull out above 4,000. Go lower and those 14.5 and 23mm guns will do a number on you sooner or later.

 

The speed is important for another big reason. Depending on your target and where you are at, you might want to get back to altitude as fast as you can to both avoid the worst of the AAA and to give you height in case of SAMs being fired at you. Believe me, i've been shot down by flak while i was about 1600ft dodging a SAM. Sometimes you might want to exit an area at low level and speed is life down there. If you aren't going at least 600 knots on the deck around Hanoi , you are on borrowed time.

Wow! I've been down to 500ft and BELOW letting loose. No wonder half my squadron is kia and pow's. those zsu's are no joke! I'll practice some in the single missions before continuing the '68 campain. Thanks for the insight from all you mud movers!

 

Viper6 out!

[Lt. James Cater 62]

Another thing to remember,

 

If you are going to go down on the deck, go DOWN on the deck. 500 feet or lower. The lower the better actually and as fast as you can. Whenever i'm zooming down on the deck i switch the radar to terrain avoidance so i don't fly into a hill.

 

Whenever you are in the Hanoi-Haiphong area ALWAYS KEEP THE SPEED UP! You want to be moving at least 500 knots no matter what altitude you are at. There are guns everywhere up in Pack 6. About the only time you won't have flak is when you're blazing down Thud Ridge heading downtown. But once you get to Hanoi, you can be sure that all hell is going to break loose.

 

Another great thing about going fast down below. there isn't a MIG around that can catch you on the deck.

[Buzzard 72 0]

Also, as lead you really have know how to manage your flight. Often when I'm dealing with a 8 ship formation( or greater) I change the loadout on ships 5-8. I basically make my own escort or I stand them down and use a strict 4 ship policy. The AI can be 'R' -tards with the friendlies (they typically won't envelope the plane).

 

Now with the 4 ship, 3 and 4 are going to run on AAA while I'm approaching the target. At about 10 miles I task them to engage ground targets. This usually keeps them out of trouble and allows them to use up some ordnance (nothing worse than having them hanging bombs for no reason). So that leaves Lead(me) and 2 going to the package. Decision time, have 2 run the target and I try and hit AAA or the reverse. Rarely do I miss that I need 2 to back me up on a bridge or runway. Rarely for fuel/oil depots or structures (though it does happen).

 

After delivery it's "piss on the fire and call the dogs!" When I'm feeling fatal and have an F-4 or an F-8 I may loiter for ACM after making sure second element is headed for the stable. Good fuel management has allowed me to run from Udon to Dragon's Jaw bridge at 30% throttle, 10K + ft and have enough gas in the externals to burn into the target in A/B and drop just prior to roll in. That essentially leaves me about 98% internal fuel (F-4) after drop so I usually am carrying a good tank even after initial egress. Besides...Sparrows are all sorts of fun to shoot at Mig-17's from 15 miles.

[Buzzard 72 0]

I stand corrected...it wasn't Udorn it was Tan Son Nhut air base.