Ju87 on the defensive

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Hello,

 

While I have no problems happily bombing stuffs and wrecking tanks with the Stuka, things get much uglier when I have a red on my 6.

I know that historically they were vulnerable to enemy fighters but some good pilots still managed to avoid being shot down most of the time.

 

When bounced upon when alone like after a dive recovery, do you have some tips to avoid ditching in flames in less than 30 seconds ? At least to keep flying until help arrives because I don't expect to shoot anything down aside from a very lucky shot.

 

Is it better to keep altitude and use your energy to force overshoot with sharp turns ? 

Forcing the opponent to bleed it's speed and force him in a turnfight ?

Dive straight to the ground to mask the low 6 and do shallow turns to pepper him with the rear MG ? 

 

The "best" solution is probably a mix of these but  I would be grateful if some experienced pilots can point me the do and don't of this plane for improving survivability.

 

 

It's a fun plane to fly and usually my go-to in MP with the 190 but I would enjoy it even more without that feeling of being a sitting duck in the sky as soon as I cross the frontline, or at least knowing that I can do a few things against that. 

 

[6./ZG26_5tuka]

Difficult to say since it's heavily situation dependend. Talking about dive recorvery and heading back home afterwards you likely have less than 1000m of altitude anyway.

 

Generally speaking you should not try to get into an engagement with any fighter if oyu're completely alone. That includes evasive turning ect. Your primary aim is to head straight back towards friendly forces as soon as possible.

If you are getting bounced try to evade enemy fire by making shapr course and altitude changes. You may take some short breaks doing that to let your gunner fire at your foe once in a while. You can also try diving on deck as fast as possible evading shots with light manouvering.

 

If you got more than 1 enemy behind or hes really sticky (Yak with landing flaps) you should first keep him busy with evasive manouvres, than chop your throttle at the right time, set flaps or dive breakes and pull slightly to lose speed faster. You will likely force your oppoment to overshoot. Than, once he turns or climbs away, retract everythning again and go full speed ahead. Remember to change you course slightly everytime the enemy overshoots you to fly on a less predictable path.

 

If you got backup and are pinned down by 1 or 2 fighters you can also get into turnfights. You can set flaps to TO and make very sharp turns at 250km/h. You will bleed speed rapidly though and can not evade an enemy Yak longer than for 1 completed turn without sacrifising altitude.

 

That's so far from my expirience. It can actually take a suprinsig punch if your engine isn't being hit, although it is very vulnerable if you decide to manouvre wiht it uncarefully.

Edited December 19, 2015 by Stab/JG26_5tuka

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Thanks, this is a good start to work from. I'll try to put this into practice.

 

If anybody have some other "tricks" to share don't hesitate to post !

[Dakpilot]

When being followed use plenty of rudder and yaw to give unpredictable target, having a good gunner with comms is only option to make best use of multi crew A/C  

 

A good 'break left now' can save you (for a little bit  )

 

Cheers Dakpilot

[F/JG300_Gruber]

Thanks, I wish I had a regular gunner with a good eyesight on the backseat, but when I manage to get my mates on the game, as strange as it might sound they usually prefer to fly a plane of their own 

 

I should get my plane equiped with a rearward lichtenstein radar for that matter, these last few days I had several occurence of La5 materializing behind me and sawing my wing off before I could even push on the stick.