Understanding the new bomb selection system - Ju 87

[LukeFF]

With the 1.004 update, there is a new system by which one drops bombs in all planes. If you are not using technochat, it will be imperative to know how the bomb arming panel works - in this case the Ju 87.

 

First off, there are two parts to the bomb arming panel. On the upper right, you will see a switch that toggles between Grosse Bomben (Large Bombs) and Kleine Bomben (Small Bombs). Whichever way the switch is set determines which bombs will be released. On the Grosse Bomben placard are 3 numbers - these refer to the switches on the bomb arming panel. 2 is for the left wing, 1 for the fuselage, and 3 for the right wing. Likewise, 1 and 3 refer to the left wing on the Kleine Bomben placard, while 4 and 2 refer to the right wing. 

 

Now, on to the main arming panel. The first switch of importance is the top one which switches between Mossenwurf? (multiple release) and Einzelwurf (Single Release). In other words, the former will release multiple bombs and the latter will release one bomb, with every press of the bomb release button.

 

Below, we have a row of squares above the word Entsichert (Armed). These are numbered 1-4 from left to right and they correspond to the Kleine Bomben and Grosse Bomben placards up above. When a particular bomb is armed, the corresponding square will turn white and the armed switched flipped up. 

 

Now, on to our example. For this, I have chosen the 1 x SC250 & 4 x SC70 loadout. In this first image, I have armed the SC250 for release - the upper switch is toggled to Grosse Bomben, Einzelwurf has been enabled, and Entsichert switch number 1 has been turned on. Once I release this bomb, the game will automatically switch to the SC70s.

 

 

Next image: one SC70 bomb will be released. Kleine Bomben and Einzelwuf is selected and bomb number 1 has been armed. After I drop this bomb, the arming panel will automatically switch to the other 3 SC70s until all 4 have been released.

 

 

Next image: two SC70s will be released with each press of the bomb release button. Kleine Bomben is still selected, but this time Mossenwurf is chosen. Entsichert switches 1 & 2 have been turned on - this means the outer bombs from each wing rack will be released first. Once those two have been released, the arming panel will automatically switch to the inner wing bombs (3 & 4).

 

 

Last example - all 4 SC70s will be released with one press of the bomb release button. The setup is the same as above, except this time all 4 Entsichert switches are on. 

 

 

The same sort of principle applies if one is carrying 3 large bombs - you can toggle between dropping each wing bomb singly, both wing bombs at the same time, the fuselage bomb only, or all 3 bombs at the same time.

 

Hopefully this all makes sense.

Edited November 12, 2014 by LukeFF

[TG-55Panthercules]

Luke - are these clickable in cockpit, or are you pressing some of the key or controller commands to make those switches and squares look like that?

[LukeFF]

Luke - are these clickable in cockpit, or are you pressing some of the key or controller commands to make those switches and squares look like that?

 

Nothing in the cockpit is clickable. You have to use the Drop Bombs Mode Toggle function, which by default is Left Control + B.

Also, it looks like there are some bugs when choosing 3-SC250s, so be aware of that if you choose that loadout. I've sent a PM off to Han about it.

[TG-55Panthercules]

Ah - I thought so, but just wanted to make sure.

 

Thanks for the quick response, and for the helpful explanation of the Ju-87 settings.  

 

So you just keep pressing Left Control + B to cycle through all the possibilities until you get the variation that you want?  Is it possible to set up the sequence you want all your bombs to drop in at one time (e.g., before you take off), or do you have to do it while you're flying around the target area?  (Guess it gives you something to do while you climb back up to altitude between dives).

[LukeFF]

So you just keep pressing Left Control + B to cycle through all the possibilities until you get the variation that you want?  Is it possible to set up the sequence you want all your bombs to drop in at one time (e.g., before you take off), or do you have to do it while you're flying around the target area?  (Guess it gives you something to do while you climb back up to altitude between dives).

 

 

Right, you keep pressing the key combo until you get to the bomb arming you want. 

 

As for the second question (if I understand it right), you can set that up once power is running to the plane.

 

 

 

Oh, and I'll get to the Pe-2 sometime in the next couple of days. It's a bit of a strange one, that's for sure.

Edited November 12, 2014 by LukeFF

[TG-55Panthercules]

As for the second question (if I understand it right), you can set that up once power is running to the plane.

 

 

 

Well, I get that you can set your first option/mode setting before you take off.  But if you want (for example) to drop the center bomb first, then the two outer wing bombs and then the two inner wing bombs next, can you set up that whole 3-stage sequence at one time before takeoff, or do you have to drop the center bomb first and then set your wing bomb options over the target area after releasing your center bomb?

[LukeFF]

Well, I get that you can set your first option/mode setting before you take off.  But if you want (for example) to drop the center bomb first, then the two outer wing bombs and then the two inner wing bombs next, can you set up that whole 3-stage sequence at one time before takeoff, or do you have to drop the center bomb first and then set your wing bomb options over the target area after releasing your center bomb?

 

Ah, OK. Sorry about that! Long day at work.  To answer your question: no, you have to drop the center bomb first and then set the wing bomb options. It seems like one could set it up, though, to drop all three in sequence. I'll ask Han about it.

[TG-55Panthercules]

OK - thanks.  Not a big deal to me, since it does take a while to climb back up to bombing altitude so you've got plenty of time to reset the next bomb setting.  I was just curious.  And I'm really glad for the decoder ring on the cockpit indicators, because I don't fly with any HUD elements and I wasn't sure how I was going to decide when to stop toggling the mode command.

[LukeFF]

However, I did just check what happens if you are carrying 3 SC250s and you choose the centerline bomb first: it will drop, and then the arming panel will automatically switch to the wing-mounted bombs, but those two wing-mounted bombs will drop at the same time. However, due to a bug it doesn't work the opposite way right now: if one chooses both underwing SC250s, the game will drop all 3 SC250s at the same time.

Edited November 12, 2014 by LukeFF

[csThor]

If you PM things to the devs then have them fix a typo. It's "Massenwurf", not Mossenwurf.

[LukeFF]

If you PM things to the devs then have them fix a typo. It's "Massenwurf", not Mossenwurf.

 

Done!

[Habu]

THX for the explanation Luke.

[Sokol1]

The il-2 bombs/rockets selectors work like a charm, include monitor the remaining ordnance.  Nice touch.

Edited November 14, 2014 by Sokol1

[Habu]

The il-2 bombs/rockets selectors work like a charm, include monitor the remaining ordnance.  Nice touch.

It's the same for the PE-2

[LukeFF]

It's the same for the PE-2

 

Yep, and in the Pe-2, one can also see the bomb release delay settings change.  

[JG1_Pragr]

Ah, OK. Sorry about that! Long day at work.  To answer your question: no, you have to drop the center bomb first and then set the wing bomb options. It seems like one could set it up, though, to drop all three in sequence. I'll ask Han about it.

 

Or you set your wing bombs to drop all at once and then the system automatically switch to the center line bomb and yu can drop it too. But still you have to push the release button twice which I think is bug. There should be a option allows you to drop all your bombs at once (or better there should be the automatic drop system as in real Stuka).

 

Just one more question. Is there any indication showing if bomb is attached to particular position?

[csThor]

Actually - no. I have the original manual and there is indeed no way to drop the entire load at once.

[JtD]

You could drop all of them by pulling the emergency release. This way they could all be dropped simultaneously either armed or unarmed. Same thing on several other German planes where standard bomb drop sequences did not include all at one.