IL2 AIR COMBAT! Attention all pilots...man your planes!

Hello All,

Here are my results from Mission #52.

Date Flown: 12/21/2020
Mission: Ship Strike
Aircraft: Beaufighter Mk21 armed with 1x Torpedo
Results: 350 points, 1x enemy ship destroyed, 1x enemy aircraft destroyed

After Action Review:

Departed our home base with a section of 4x Beaufighters, all armed with torpedos. We reached the target area without harassment from enemy aircraft. At the target area we were receiving heavy flak from the enemy ships.



I ordered the section to attack enemy shipping and then I took a line on what looked to be an enemy mine layer. I approached the ship from a slight "bow-on" position. I was roughly 50 feet above the water and about 100 knots airspeed. I dropped my torpedo about 100 yards from the ship's bow. The torpedo ran true and struck the ship just forward of mid-ships. I got a "ship destroyed" message. The torpedos explosion was terrific.



As I pulled up from my attack my plane was hit with enemy flack. My starboard (right) engine was smoking and sounding very rough. At this time three enemy bi-wing fighters arrived in the target area. At this time I made the decision to return to base. I ordered the section to break off their shipping attacks and "attack fighters". As I turned for home I was attacked by one of the enemy fighters. The enemy fighter missed me and I was able to maneuvered around to his six and let him have it with all my guns and cannons. The enemy fighter exploded in mid-air.



At this time I ordered the section to return to base. By this time as well my starboard engine had seized. I was able to make it home safely. In total three of my section survived this mission.





Results Total: 350 points, 1x enemy ship destroyed, 1x enemy aircraft destroyed



This was a great mission to fly, I had allot of fun flying this one !!!    Looking forward to the next set of missions and a new theater.

Thanks Lars

Quick question, are you using "fragile" torpedos?

After over 20 training missions where I kept breaking my fragile torpedo I took DH advice and deactivated that element of difficulty.
Mission date 23rd December 2020
Mod Vpmodpack
Type Anti shipping torpedo strike
Aircraft Beaufighter 21
Result 100pts for one air kill Survived.
Debrief
Flew over friendly seaplane base and began losing height. Ordered flight to attack my target. Turned towards enemy fleet and dropped to under 100ft. I lowered flaps 100% to drop more speed. Launched torpedo at 128mph and 67ft. No result but at least it didn't break up or fail. I may have been too close to activate the torpedo. I circled around, took a shot at the CR42s, then dived on a ship to strafe it with cannon fire. Again no effect. I helped a wingman who had two G50s on his tail and blew one to pieces. The other turned on me and knocked out my right engine and killed my rear gunner. I managed to crashland on the beach not far from the seaplanes. My three wingmen flew home.


Frustrating but so was the real thing. The Beaufighter is trickier to control after the more docile Beaufort, or is it that I had 7 months practice on the latter and only a week on the former. hah.

Mission date Dec 23
Vpmodpack
Type Anti shipping torpedo strike
Aircraft Beaufighter 21
Result 0 pts but lived to tell the tale
Debrief


Though I scored no points, I felt pretty good about this one. I got some practice in using the Beaufighter with torpedoes, and also had some good briefing tips from Lars. I still went in too hot and my torpedo broke up. Attacked the fighters and got some hits on 2 of the G50s, but did not bring one down. The highlight of my flight was a very good landing (by my standards) back at the base. I had a little flak damage (broken wind screen but not much else). Based on my recent flights I need to buy stock in virtual wind screen repair companies.

Von ... congrats on surviving your mission. Landing on the beach was a good idea, you can have a few beers with those Catalina boys.

Haukka ... nice to know your still around and living it up with those island girls. If your not careful, you may never make it back to civilization. 

Excellent result, Beo! You have accomplished your mission as expected. You have not only sent that Italian ship to the bottom of the sea, but you have also returned home and made a successful landing. Congratulations!

It is impressive how you have progressed in these missions, the rust is really falling off your wings. Keep practicing.