| Intercepting B17s in EAW
by Jerry Boucher |
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This article appeared earlier at EAW Online. FRANCE, 1943 Pre-Flight Checks To get the most from your EAW experience, you should install the latest versions of:
· The "Enemy Coast Ahead" patch, as it adjusts the damage from bombers' guns to a more realistic level and gives Axis aircraft more potent armament. PREPARATION The tactics described below have been learnt whilst taking on the role of Major of 4/II/JG2, flying Bf-109G6s from Creil, France. As far as pre-mission preparations go, the EAW flight school explains most of what needs to be done. However, when looking over the pilots roster in the 'Squadron' section, it is important to consider the default Schwarm assignments. II/JG2 are veterans of air combat over Russia and begin the campaign with a good deal of experience (read: kills), so it is prudent to divide the most experienced between the Schwarms. Choosing a wingman who you will favour throughout the campaign is also a wise move. Don't be tempted to commit all of your best pilots all of the time, as they will suffer from fatigue and new Staffel members will never acquire the necessary combat experience. As an added safety measure, and if you can spare them, designate one of your Schwarms as your 'Fighter Flight' - this is just a mental note when deciding on the allocation of your pilots. These can be used to deal with enemy fighters should the need arise (hopefully it won't, as their aircraft will be laden with the 20mm gun pods, but it's best to plan for all eventualities.) Once inside the cockpit, take off and climb towards your target vector. Order your Staffel to tighten formation - it will help concentrate your first pass attack. At this point, it may be tempting to use the Alt-N shortcut to jump to the next point of action. However, this can sometimes put you in a disadvantageous position relative to the bomber formation and any escorting fighters. If you don't want to literally fly all the way, it is sometimes best to use the Autopilot and then cycle through the time compression. By using Alt-M, you can keep an eye on the map, and may be able to see friendly aircraft ahead of your position, moving towards the target vector. |
 Pic 1. This approach is too far over from the bomber formation, making accurate and effective fire almost impossible. Unless you break left at this point, you will be exposed to heavy fire from the rear of the formation. FIRST PASS 1) If things have gone according to plan, when the enemy bomber formation comes into visual range it should be no more than 20 to 30 degrees off either side of your nose. (If you use the HUD, you may want to select the nearest bomber and hit F10 to see its facing position relative to yours.) 2) Switch off the Autopilot, then shift the throttle up to full and tell your Staffel to target the bombers. Order your wingman to cover you. (At this point I also select the 20mm nose cannon/ 2x13mm MG combination, but you may want to select all guns.) 3) The distance between your planes and the enemy bombers should be closing rapidly, so it is very important to line up on a target and concentrate on getting into a good attack position. Ideally this should be head on and slightly above or below (See Pics 1 to 3).
Pic 2. This is almost the best attack angle. The bomber in the centre of the picture is the target. An attack from a slightly higher angle will also be effective. This is also the best range to begin opening fire.
Pic 3. This attack angle is too high, but could still be quite effective if your aim is good and you calculate enough lead. Your closure speed will also be high, giving you less time to fire. 4) As the details of the bombers become more distinct, order your Staffel to 'Engage Bandits', order your wingman to cover you, and try to remain focused on your target. 5) Open fire from close range. Try to aim for the inner engines and/or cockpit area, and make every round count. On rare occasions, a cockpit hit will knock your target out of the sky. Fuselage hits may disable the gunners, and engine hits can slow the bomber down or force it to ditch its bombs and break formation. Go to Page Two
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