Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[btasm]

I've always had trouble using the Il-2 bombsight for level bombing. The Bombsight Assist mod has now been incorporated into BAT. This should make level bombing easier, but I'll be darned if I can figure out how to employ it.

Can anyone provided a simple explanation as to how to employ the bombsight assist and complete a level bombing run.

Thanks.

[whistler]

Hi btasm

First activate the VisualMod in JSGME, then map the following controls (I paste here my keys as example):

Set Altitude and Velocity
Increase Sight Altitude - Alt NumPad 9
Decrease Sight Altitude - Alt NumPad 3
Increase Sight Velocity - Alt NumPad 7
Decrease Sight Velocity - Alt NumPad 1

Move Sight
Increase Sight Distance - Alt NumPad 8 (Sight up)
Decrease Sight Distance - Alt NumPad 2 (Sight down)
Sight Drift to Right - Alt NumPad 6 (Sight right)
Sight Drift to Left - Alt NumPad 4 (Sight left)

Misc
Toggle Sight Mode (Auto) - Alt NumPad 5 (Sight Lock on Target, not needed if using the assistant)
Toggle Bomb Release Mode - Alt + B (Cycle Sigle/Pairs/Train/Salvo)
Open/Close Bomb Bay Doors - Ctrl + B
Weapon 4 - JoyButton 3 (Drop bombs)

1) Configure VisualMod to display TAS velocity and "extra info"
2) Level Stabilizer On, go to bombardier position > bombsight view (power and trim are available to control the bomber speed and adjust heading)
3) Set the Velocity to match your current bomber TAS Velocity
4) Set the Altitude to match your current Altitude (take into account the target altitude above sea level and adjust the sight altitude accordingly)
5) Move the sight up/down to match the angle provided by the assistant (degrees in yellow) and you will see where bombs will/should hit.

Check this post: https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php?topic=52863.0

You cannot miss your target with the assistant, but it takes away (IMHO) most of what makes a bombing mission a truly satisfying bombing run: all the pre-calculations, lock on target, wait wait wait, direct hit yeah! or a miss because you didn't take into account this or that

[btasm]

Whistler:

Thank you for your reply. I think I get it, well sort of.

I've tested this but I'm not sure I've gotten it down. I have a bomber set for level flight. I've set the altitude and speed to match the aircraft's height and speed. I'm flying reasonably straight. Bomb doors open. I've taken note the angle provided by the assistant. But here's the rub.

When I employ the bomb sight view angle and search the horizon for the target, at first at least, the angle of the target is always significantly greater than the indicated angle on the assist. (Let's say 70 degrees vs. 40 degrees). If I adjust (reduce) the bomb sight view angle to match the angle provided by the assist, the target is no longer visible in the sight - at least not until I am significantly closer but by that time, having lost sight of the target, I'm generally off line and/or I'm a bit surprised when the target suddenly appears in the viewer.

I now realize (I think) that I must manually realize the bomb load when the cross hairs match up with the target (instead of locking on with toggle sight mode (auto). But, as noted, since I lose sight of the target, that's hard to do.

Am I missing something here?

[whistler]

That is it, you got it, the assistant will either tell you:

- When bombs will be released when using sight auto/lock
- When bombs should be dropped when bombing manually

You are correct, in non-auto mode you must keep adjusting the sight to see how far the target is. Isn't it exciting?

I mapped my sticks semi left-right rotation to 'rudder trim' hotas and that helps a lot in maintaining course on target, which is the most challenging part (it would be ideal that the pedals take the rudder trim hotas role when in bomb-sight view, but that's a different topic).

Manual bombing with the assistant is perfect when bombing locations with many targets. You aim to your main target and then you just keep bombing targets as they get into your bomb-sight view...