Those B-17s...

Hi guys,

I've been trying to fly the stock instant action missions that have me going up against a bunch of B-17s. I get destroyed EVERY TIME. I do a head-on pass, take out one B-17, and that's it. Chasing behind them in the A8 is a suicide. I try coming in from the side but it's much harder to hit anything and they rip me to pieces as I fly past. And it takes forever to line up for another head-on pass.

So... can anyone give me some pointers on tactics for attacking the B-17s and actually surviving??? :)

Thanks,

Doc

The AI gunners are surely snipers right now. But I recently read Speer's Book - Inside the Third Reich and in it he mentions that Galland and himself estimated one German fighter would be lost of each enemy bomber destroyed. A statistic that seems amazing until you realize there is no safe way to approach these heavily armed bombers and they are very hard to destroy.

Speer/Galland actually thought they had the advantage with that attrition rate as the enemy crew (2 pilots) was usually lost or captured while the German crew (1 pilot) that survived parachuted and may return to duty. Anyway, a historical perspective that getting one bomber is pretty darn good.

You already know what you need to do. Take the time to do it right, or die. In real life the Luftwaffe would often mass up in a huge formation, make one head on pass through the swarm to break it up, then finish off the wounded stragglers. Approaching in a straight line at slow closure right behind them is obviously suicidal.

Also, you're not going to kill them all, no point in trying. You make a pass or two, however long it takes to do it properly, then go home. In real life they were not trying to ''stop'' the swarm, that was impossible. It was about long term attrition, nothing more.

As for specific tactics, read up on what the real Luftwaffe did. Personally, after the initial head on pass, I climb several thousand feet up above them, approach directly above the swarm outside their gun range. Pick one out, dive down past it, then pull up for a sweeping run across the belly as I zoom climb past. If you're on target for more than a second or two, you're doing it wrong. Remember, if he's nice and stable for you, you're nice and stable for him.

All there is to it. Be patient and do it right, or don't do it. This isn't an action movie where you have plot armor and it's all special effects and splosions. If you perform a poorly planned attack, you can expect it to fail.

Also you should be aiming for critical points : cockpit, engine, wing root. Nothing else. Body shots or scattered fire is pointless.

The AI gunners are surely snipers right now. But I recently read Speer's Book - Inside the Third Reich and in it he mentions that Galland and himself estimated one German fighter would be lost of each enemy bomber destroyed. A statistic that seems amazing until you realize there is no safe way to approach these heavily armed bombers and they are very hard to destroy.

 

Speer/Galland actually thought they had the advantage with that attrition rate as the enemy crew (2 pilots) was usually lost or captured while the German crew (1 pilot) that survived parachuted and may return to duty. Anyway, a historical perspective that getting one bomber is pretty darn good.

Wow! I always thought those big, lumbering B-17s were easy targets for small, fast, maneuverable fighters. Trading planes 1-for-1 doesn't seem like a good deal - certainly not for the Germans. Makes you wonder what those pilots - on both sides - were thinking as they climbed into their airplanes...

You need to keep in mind that gunners in real life didn't have the same accuracy like they have ingame, plus they could die.

The best strategy for destroying B-17 without getting hit once is simply attack from up high and then dive through them and back up. You can (or at least could) rince and repeat and down many bombers this way without getting hit once.

Also, you're not going to kill them all, no point in trying. You make a pass or two, however long it takes to do it properly, then go home. In real life they were not trying to ''stop'' the swarm, that was impossible. It was about long term attrition, nothing more.

Yeah, that was my mistake. I was trying to get them all - even after my AI wingmen quit and went home... :)

As for specific tactics, read up on what the real Luftwaffe did. Personally, after the initial head on pass, I climb several thousand feet up above them, approach directly above the swarm outside their gun range. Pick one out, dive down past it, then pull up for a sweeping run across the belly as I zoom climb past. If you're on target for more than a second or two, you're doing it wrong. Remember, if he's nice and stable for you, you're nice and stable for him.

Excellent tips! Personally, I find that the FW190A8 is not exactly a powerhouse that readily climbs, but I'll see what I can pull off tonight. I usually try to attack from the front and below...

Also you should be aiming for critical points : cockpit, engine, wing root. Nothing else. Body shots or scattered fire is pointless.

Well that's where experience pays off. For me, having sixteen B-17s, four P-51s and eight FW-190s in the air at the same time is a big scramble. I can't focus enough on the B-17s to take such accurate shots while constantly turning around (physically, I play VR...) to see if those P51s are not on my tail. I guess practice makes perfect...

Thanks for the excellent points Zhukov and 3mta3.

Doc

You need to keep in mind that gunners in real life didn't have the same accuracy like they have ingame, plus they could die.

 

The best strategy for destroying B-17 without getting hit once is simply attack from up high and then dive through them and back up. You can (or at least could) rince and repeat and down many bombers this way without getting hit once.

Just read your post, Razo+r. Thanks - I'll give it a try later tonight!

There's been several threads about this. Sitting on a bombers 6 is supposed to be suicidal, but still, DCS gunners are WAY too accurate. The way I balance it in my campaigns is that I set some of the flights to "weapons hold" some to "return fire" and some to "weapons free". This way not every gunner will fire at you, making things a bit more plausible.

Have you tried changing the accuracy of the gunners?

It’s a variable within the mission editor

Have you tried changing the accuracy of the gunners?

It’s a variable within the mission editor

You mean the skill setting of the unit? Even on "Rookie" they are like laser beams.

You mean the skill setting of the unit? Even on "Rookie" they are like laser beams.

Nope, look again within the ME at the B17 and you'll find Gunner Accuracy as another % variable that you can change.

I can't find it anywhere. Is it below Chaff and Flare? That's the ammo loadout %.

Which tab are you referring to?

Nope, look again within the ME at the B17 and you'll find Gunner Accuracy as another % variable that you can change.

Nope, unfortunately not.

If you would like to RTFM and see how it is supposed to be done, the have a look at The Air Combat Tutorial Library

Some good stuff there :thumbup:

Attacking Bombers #1 - Stern & Side Approaches

Attacking Bombers #2 - Overhead & Head On Approaches

Thanks to Sundowner here is The US Air Forces Manual No.64 Fighter Gunnery, Rocket Firing, Dive bombing for download here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/dvywtfij2m8...

Nope, look again within the ME at the B17 and you'll find Gunner Accuracy as another % variable that you can change.

I do not see "Gunner accuracy" anywhere in the B-17G's property settings. Please state explicitly where you found that parameter!

I do not see "Gunner accuracy" anywhere in the B-17G's property settings. Please state explicitly where you found that parameter!

Apologies, was very busy yesterday.

Within mission editor, click on a B17.

Now look in the tab PAYLOAD

Below the Chaff and Flares, and just above the Paint Scheme drop down list, there is the GUN as a % option.

That's what I'm referring to.

Enjoy!

Yeah, that’s the ammo load %. You have it in single seat fighters too. It doesn’t affect the accuracy of the gunners they’ll just run out of ammo faster.

Oh, I’ll get my coat....

Sorry chaps.