Halberstadt Cl.II improvements (hand dropped bombs and single gun variants)

[Avimimus]

The Halberstadt Cl.II is going to have its 3d model reworked for Flying Circus volume 1... this is a chance to implement a few tweaks:

 

1) Many Halberstadt Cl.II's were fitted with only one forward firing machine gun. It seems that the second gun was fairly rare and when it was provided it seems it was often removed to reduce weight. This single fixed forward firing gun load-out was the most common historically and should be a realistic option.

 

2) Halberstadt Cl.IIs regularly employed gunner dropped bombs and grenade bundles:

• The ability to use hand dropped bombs is important (especially for early war aircraft)
• The code already exists to assign the gunner a task (during which they abandon using the gun)... for instance look at how reloading the Bk.37 works on the Bf-110 currently!
• With the animation reworks for WWI pilot models, adding animations for hand dropped bombs may even be possible currently

 

So, should these things be done?

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 13, 2018 by Avimimus

[Avimimus]

One can read some old discussions about bomb racks here: https://riseofflight.com/forum/topic/23737-halberstadt-clii-bombs/

[LukeFF]

The CL.II default load out includes a single forward-firing MG in Rise of Flight, so I don't see why that would change with Flying Circus. 

Edited December 14, 2018 by LukeFF

[Feathered_IV]

The handheld bombs would be too small for use against any objects that we are likely to see in game.  Their practical use would probably be disappointing. 

[LukeFF]

8 hours ago, Feathered_IV said:

The handheld bombs would be too small for use against any objects that we are likely to see in game.  Their practical use would probably be disappointing. 

 

True, but if MG positions are modelled, they might prove useful (the WWII titles already feature MGs used for the anti-infantry role). 

[Avimimus]

So, with the grenade bundle we're talking about something that would weight 4.2 kg (if it wasn't for the removal of the wooden handles), and which would have a 1.19kg explosive bursting charge. So, this puts it in the range of a PTAB 2.5 kg anti-tank bomb. It would lack the shaped charge, but would also produce more shrapnel. So, it would be more than enough to take out a machine gun nest, an artillery crew, or a truck!

 

The re-purposed granatenwerfer bombs shown in some of the pictures are smaller (1.85kg with a 500g bursting charge). This makes it smaller than the preceding bomb - but about the same characteristics as a HE shell fired from a 50mm KwK 39 gun on the Panzer III. So, you should really not be describing either round as ineffective unless you believe that the Panzer III shouldn't be able to take out trucks.