S3 Series

Given the intel concerning the axis super fighters, is an early jabo strike planned to intercept these beasts before they reach the BG's or are we having to see who's available on the night? If we can only manage to climb to about 26K as was suggested, we are still vulnerable to 109's & 190's unless they, or some at least, are tied to CAP's their fields to protect the uber-fighters. As mentioned previously, if they get amongst the bombers and despite limited ammunition, they will wreak havoc and not allow us to destroy sufficient targets, which is of course, their objective.

What was the historical altitude of bombing attacks given bomber fields were still largely the UK, for the heavies at least. If it was higher than 20K at the suggested start point, can the airstart altitude be changed?

I know this sounds like a whinge to load the dice in the allied favour but if we don't know numbers on either side until the event, at least be flexible to a degree such as: if sufficient axis fighters appear, bomber start altitude is higher as some may be delegated to defend uber-fighter fields. I would have thought as this was the death throw of the Nazi regime and as allied air power was completely dominant, the dice should be loaded a little. Just my humble opinion and as a newbie to the S3's.

Phil (pmhb)

262's are limited in number I believe. Komets I could not say, but they have a very short fuel supply and I believe their pilots do not have a lot of experience in them.

I am unable to test any flying in the S3 enhanced arena...

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To come near achieving stated goals as to altitude, escort fighters should launch in the UK.
This creates a straight line ability to climb without rotation in place over the continent.
On or near Paris(ish) 29k to 31K should be achieved.
Because of this buff launch at or around T+10(?) might be wise.

One would even proffer that a buff penetration of the DAR wall and then at around 4 minutes into DAR they do a 180 and go back out and then in at a different angle to waste enemy fuel, BUT, our present circumstance as to comms and skills with buff drivers is median at best. Therefore such a maneuver would probably scatter things.

Buff egress and accurate position reports are vital. One can forsee that mission to target may go well but the long egress being chopped to pieces if not above 30K+.

Suggested thoughts

Juice

I don't think there's any point in trying to remain hidden (off radar) by a Nth Sea route by anyone. Bombers will need maximum support and it seems sensible to me to go, as sleepy put it I think, straight in the front door. If we have the bombers split into 2 groups, 1 group about 1000 feet higher, it will split the targeting for the opposition. They still need to be close enough visually, just two fairly separate groups.

If this is accepted, then 1 group starts 10 or so mins before the other, (high group from 19, low group from 27 for example), and RV mid 4 line. Once established, the formation can then turn on roughly 075 degrees to the first target to the north of Berlin and make a clockwise route to the second target east of the city, the last one on the wsw of the city on the way out, following a parallel path back to friendly skies.

This route minimises time over nme territory although I doubt that will count for much. The formation should endeavour to climb to target and again away from target to minimise nme piston engine advantages. Jet and rocket powered aircraft are not affected by this.

If fighters can intercept 262's before they gain speed, so much the better but unless there is intel as to where they are launching, I'm guessing the first time they're seen will be on attack run.

Trying this as a pdf file...

as much as I would prefer to catch the 262s on the ground...we know they have 3 potential fields they could launch from...imagine the difficulty of flying the entire way there NOE and then jumping them at just the precise moment that they are launching... I find it to be an almost impossible scenario. It may be possible to follow a damaged one back to base and destroy it before it can land...

It will be important to have several extremely high escorts to use to jump any 262's

Remember, they have cannons that while very destructive, the heavy rounds fall off pretty quickly..that combined with their extremely high speed, and a hopefully tightly packed and stacked buff group, will make for an extremely difficult time for them.. I believe they will have a tough time at slashing attacks (trying to avoid collisions), and they will have to slow down as the increased speed will make their approach difficult and their available time to fire shortened.

We just need to keep their firing time on the buff group to a minimum. And a tight buff formation will mean a lot of 50 cals firing at them.


Intel has it that the LW will have 6 Me 262's.

-pmhb- thats probably the way to go...straight down the middle...we just need to make the buff group aware to NOT drop on the ballbearing factory E of Berlin as it is just too large of a target. 8th air Force command will just have to accept that it is too difficult a target.... maybe we can make it the sole target it next week.

No response from Darryl atm, I'll keep trying. RL does get in the way sometimes! As to second guessing axis flights... With all the radar coverage, there won't be a need to spread out too thinly, we can expect a full-on attack throughout the flight over their lands. I'm assuming we won't be attacked over allied territory? If yes, then we do have a small chance to increase the bomber altitudes as we approach, at least the piston fighters will find it harder.