All-Aircraft-Simulations
Formation - Ground pounders best defense - Printable Version

+- All-Aircraft-Simulations (https://allaircraftsimulations.com)
+-- Forum: Off Topic (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=275)
+--- Forum: Reference Center (https://allaircraftsimulations.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=278)
+--- Thread: Formation - Ground pounders best defense (/showthread.php?tid=52409)


Formation - Ground pounders best defense - Outryder - 03.02.2008

I never was any good as a fighter jockey, but I got pretty good as a ground pound-er. My favorite ride is the SBD's or Val's (may try the TB's now).

One of the things I learned in flying online on DF servers, such as Zekes vs Wildcats, is that the SBD's best chance of getting to the target (and back to base without a fighter escort) was to form up with several planes. Bandits attacking many SBD's that hold their formation during the attack will pay dearly for their aggression. I've read that the Japanese pilots, during WWII, were not inclined to pursue an attack against a formation of VB's or TB's when they were formed up. Too many rear guns to eat them up.

I'm sure everyone knows what happened to VT-8 at Midway. They were slaughtered. There was 2 reasons for this. 1) they got separated from the fighter escort and 2) they were green. They had never engaged in combat, so they did not realize the importance of holding formation while being bounced by bandits. They broke up trying to evade the enemy CAP and were picked off one by one.

IN online play this will happen to you as well.

For me, flying in formation is half the fun of this sim. It takes a bit of finis on the throttle and getting your plane trimmed out properly. (you should be able to let your stick go and your plane still fly straight and level) Bombers fly a slightly different formation from fighter formations. Fighters usually fly in formations of 2 to 4 a/c. 4 a/c make up a division of 2 sections (2 a/c). They usually fly in Echelon formation. Bombers form up a bit differently. A division of bombers (in this scenario - SBD's) would be 5 to 6 a/c. There are 2 sections in a bomber formation of 3 to 2 a/c, the first section usually has 3 planes and the 2nd section will have 2 to 3 a/c. These section fly in "V" formation, some times as 2 "V's" or as one large "v". In online play the leader of the division should be the ONLY pilot to jump to the back seat, while everyone else stays in front seat so they can maintain their position in the formation. The leader goes to the back seat to see where the bandits are so he can lead the formation in evasive actions. These actions can not be quick movements but rather slow banking turns towards the enemy (if they are coming in from the side) that will expose the bandits to the most firepower the formation has to offer. This technique is really good if you are flying low to the deck. (SBD's are very vulnerable from below.) And at altitude, this banking gives the rear gunners the ability to defend against a belly attack.

It's been my experience that it is really hard to get your wing-men in a formation to stay in the front seat. Guys, This is very important!!! You can not see where your section/div leader is going or hold your position if you go to the back seat Holding your position is critical to the formation. Have some faith in your AI rear gunner. And if you're worried about stats, I believe that you will get credit for the kill even though your AI gunner shot the plane down. If a leader of a 3 plane section is shot down one of the wing-men will have to take over as leader quickly. If your in a 2 plane section and your wing-man gets shot down, if there's another formation near by join them.

If you're flying at altitude (usually during Ingress) staying in formation is important to your success of a mission. You don't have to fly tight like the Blue Angels but reasonably close. You need just enough space between you to avoid collision during course changes and evasive actions. Once you start getting flak you will need to split sections up and widen the formation(s) some to disperse the intensity of the AA. When It comes time to attack target(s) the formation learder should assign target(s) and direction of egress after the attack. (IF you are fortunate enough to have an escort let them know your Egress plans. They will need to know which way your going to be leaving the target area so they can cover your 6 on your way out) If your dive bombing, do not pull up, after release, to climb! Level out on the deck (about 50 ft) and form back up ASAP. Stay on the deck until you are well out of the TZ. If you want, you can return to base at a reasonable low alt so that you can get back to the deck quickly if you are jumped before you get back. Being on the deck covers your vulnerable under belly as the enemy fighter can't get under you. But don't fly too low(below 50 ft) or you'll lieve a wake that can be spotted by the enemy.

That's about it. As for tactical, that will be up to your formation leader. Hopefully you'll have a good tactician leading you. If you choose to form up try to get an escort of fighters to go with you. Both you and the fighters will enjoy the experience. Your enemy, however, may not. LOL

NOTE TO FIGHTER JOKEYS
If you see bombers forming up or come accross a formation that is Ingressing the TZ, PLEASE escort them. You will get plenty of action, if you do, TRUST ME!. And the ground pound-ers will greatly appreciate it. Co-operation between both bomber and fighters is crucial to the success of any sortie.

SPECIAL NOTE
No body shoud go to the back seat in a coop. If you are the flight leader, and you have diverted from the flight path of the way points your a/c will immediately return to that flight path, when you jump to back seat, and could cause a collision with the other planes in your formation. The tactical information I have shared here is for DF for the most part. However, if you have all human pilots and a few human back seaters, the back seaters can help spot the bandits for you. If you don't have human back seaters, you can get an idea of where the badits are by watching the flashes of the rear guns on your canopy frame. The flash will be brighter on the frame in relation to the bandits position.