I actually called a warning to Java. They're not great at keeping
consistent formations so we can spot attackers. Also, I think they're
having real problem spotting with their Reverb G2s. I sorted out a
cockpit-moving problem for them at the end of the evening.
So, in real life, as long as they weren't directly attacked I think the
Tempests with bombs would have continued to target as we did, because
that's their mission. Shooting down enemy fighters is a secondary
objective. Us bombers assume the escort can look after themselves unless
outnumbered.
There's a case to be made that we should have turned back when Roke &
Stickz got attacked. But by then I wouldn't have known how many were down.
56RAF_phoenix
On 26/04/2021 20:01, Bart (Redacted sender bart_56 for DMARC) wrote:
Blaggards took off in K4’s from Kerch to patrol the northern sea lanes after flying north and then eastwards we sighted a formation of 5 aircraft.
With instructions of get in and out, no mixing it, I was preparing to take the rear left(most southern) of the formation. When Witch declared that he had another aircraft away slightly north and rear of the formation, I dipped my wing to look and saw another aircraft underneath me to the rear centre of the formation. So targets were changed and these were the first two.
Witch attacked his target(Biggles) a P51 caused enough damage to knock him out of any fight, I hit my target(Ice) with cannon and he went into an unrecoverable spin, two down.
We saw the main formation turn to the south as we recovered from our attack. With the most southerly pair of Tempests(Phoenix/Pod) with a P51(Jumper) turning south more or less the same time it left the northern pair of Tempests(Roke/Stickz) lagging behind and a gap started to open even more.
So now the chase is on we dived down towards the rear pair, noticing the front three were some way in front, we would have three vs two. I was lining up on the rear right Tempest(Stickz), they must of seen us as Stickz turned left followed by Roke. Not being able to follow the turn, I did a classic climb extend out, roll out then match the flat turn for line up. The fight was on:).
Now unbeknown by us there was a fourth P51(Roode Duivel) who was way to the rear(east) of everyone else at the beginning, who had now caught up and joined the fight, but some of the long long range shooting;).
Now we have a 3 vs 3, I managed to get one Tempest(Roke), we then had a conga line, P51(Roode Duivel) chasing our Red Devil, with Moose, chasing him and Tempest(Stickz) chasing Moose.
Now I reckon if only Stickz had got rid of all his bombs(the right wing bomb was still attached), he would have had a better chance of hitting Moose, especially with those Tempest guns;). As it turned out Moose got the Roode Duivel which just left Stickz, who was shot down by Witch.
A few things we noticed the 51’s, were at around 18000ft, we were at 23000ft, and they were well spread out. So maybe they might want to go a bit higher than they were and operate in closer pairs if possible?
The Tempest were in good finger four formation.
Did you get warned that two 51’s were down ?
When the formation turned south maybe get the northern pair go first, as they had the furthest to go and could close the gap that way. The gap just got bigger, and there was no way they were going to catch up, the front group.
Once we saw that the front group were not coming back it helped us dictate the fight with a 3 vs 2 situation. The fourth 51 almost threw a spanner in the works as we were then 3 vs 3. If the front group had dropped bombs and come back to help the rear group at the very least it would have caused us to disengage. As then it would have been 6 vs 3, and they would have had more energy as the 51 had, agree or disagree?
https://56punjabvirtualsquad.boards.net/post/459/thread <https://56punjabvirtualsquad.boards.net/post/459/thread>
Any thoughts, how did you see the skirmish go?
Good fight <S>
Bart
