Level Bombing

[ddmd80]

When level bombing how do you figure true airspeed TAS? The B-25 has dual needles on the airspeed indicator which I think the outer needle is TAS. Is this true? How about the other bombers.

[robtek]

by the german bombers is a tas indicator in front of the bombardier, close to the bomb - sight

[JG6_Express]

Hi ddmd80,
There are several very good tutorials available that will walk you through the level boming step by step. Also, there is a great little program called Bombsite Table 2 That does the conversions for you for automatic level bombing. Here is a link that has them available for downloading.

http://www.mission4today.com/index.php?name=Knowledge_Base&cat=38

[Razer]

Want your TAS? Get out your Whizz-Wheel and your IFIS :)

The only problem with the bombsight table that we've discovered, is that it doesnt take into account your Height AGL - which you arent given... ie; you enter 15,000FT into the table - but its in AMSL (which is all you're basicaly given in the game) and you go to level bomb an airfield, or what have you - which is, for example 2,350 feel AMSL - so you're at 12650ft AGL, but what you've entered is infact correct, but incorrect for your accurate targeting... - it wont tell you what you need to know... However, generally, you can bet your bottom dollar that if the target is rather close to water, its at sea level... meaning that you can rely on the height your gauges tell you.

You may need to land at the target before hand :)

*EDIT* Sorry if that makes little sense, its 0650 here, and I havent been able to sleep; but hope you get the jist of what I mean :)

[BSS_Sniper]

Since neither of those methods are as accurate as they should be there is ONE way that never fails. After you set up your sight, turn on the automated bomb site. If the crossairs move off of the target, adjust the bomb sight's speed until they are stationary on the ground. When they appear to not be moving, they you have the correct speed in the sight. It works every time and you will be able to bomb from any altitude.

[ImMoreBetter]

Since neither of those methods are as accurate as they should be there is ONE way that never fails. After you set up your sight, turn on the automated bomb site. If the crossairs move off of the target, adjust the bomb sight's speed until they are stationary on the ground. When they appear to not be moving, they you have the correct speed in the sight. It works every time and you will be able to bomb from any altitude.

This is how I do it. Also note that the TAS appears to increase (relatively) the closer you get to the target.

It may take some practice, to get used too.

If the bombs go long, your TAS was entered too high. If short, too low.


I prefer a chart to Bombsight Table 2. Just to give an idea of where the TAS should end up.

http://mission4today.com/index.php?name=Downloads&file=details&id=327

[1.JaVA_Platypus]

Want your TAS? Get out your Whizz-Wheel and your IFIS :)

The only problem with the bombsight table that we've discovered, is that it doesnt take into account your Height AGL - which you arent given... ie; you enter 15,000FT into the table - but its in AMSL (which is all you're basicaly given in the game) and you go to level bomb an airfield, or what have you - which is, for example 2,350 feel AMSL - so you're at 12650ft AGL, but what you've entered is infact correct, but incorrect for your accurate targeting... - it wont tell you what you need to know... However, generally, you can bet your bottom dollar that if the target is rather close to water, its at sea level... meaning that you can rely on the height your gauges tell you.

You may need to land at the target before hand :)

*EDIT* Sorry if that makes little sense, its 0650 here, and I havent been able to sleep; but hope you get the jist of what I mean :)

In short, substract the altitude of the target with your own altitude. The TAS secret: Speed increases with 2% with a rise of 1000ft. In real life, this goes only as far as 400km/h or 250mph. But I doubt this is modelled in Il-2 currently.

Happy flying ;)

[6S.Maraz]

If the bombs go long, your TAS was entered too high. If short, too low.


I think the reverse is true...
If the bombs go long, it means that your actual TAS was higher than the one you entered (the bombs "walked" more than expected). So your entered TAS was too low.

If bombs go short, your TAS entered was too high.

Maraz

[EAF602_Joe90]

You can always adjust the speed dial on the fly - just lock on to your target and if the aim point drifts down decrease speed, if it drifts up then increase speed.

This is the method described here:

http://weebitfilms.blogspot.com/2008/03/norden-bombsight-training-apr-07.html

[T}{OR]

I love your manual Joe90. Even included link to it in my own, as reccomended starting point if you don't don't like manual release.


My preference is manual bomb release because with auto BS salvo drop you cannot bomb in formation. Accurately that is.

Version 2.0 should come out in a month and it will be avaliable on M4T, current version, 1.1 is avaliable from my signature. ;)