Gun Convergence for these old kites?

[BlitzPig_EL]

As someone with a majority of his seat time in WW2 birds, and mostly those with wing mounted guns, I have some questions.  So far in WW1, I have just left my gun setting at 300 meters, which is where I normally set them in US and RAF Pursuit planes.  On Bf109s, La5s, and the P38, I will set them out to 500, as it helps with deflection shooting, and convergence is not an issue with centerline guns.

 

With the WW1 aircraft, that again are mostly centerline mounted, I am wondering if this longer range setting would be prudent as well?  I have seen people online making good hits at ranges that I would not have thought possible, because of what I have read about gunnery in the real conflict.

 

Am I wrong here?  Or is there merit in longer convergence settings?

[1PL-Husar-1Esk]

I and Sahaj are using 100m in Camels. 

[Superflyer]

First World War I generally set the convergence to 100m, no matter which aircraft, no matter which country.

World War II: German machines, Me-109, FW-190, Me-110, 100m

Russian machines, I-16, Lagg-3; Jaks, La-5 series, 200m; / IL-2 series 400m

English machines, Hurricane, all Spitfire, Tempest, 180m = about 200 yards

 

 

I. Weltkrieg habe ich generell die Konvergenz auf 100m eingestellt, egal welches Flugzeut, egal aus welchem Land.

II. Weltkrieg: deutsche Maschinen, Me-109, FW-190, Me-110,  100m

                     russische Maschinen, I-16, Lagg-3; Jaks, La-5 Serie, 200m; / IL-2 Serie 400m

                     englische Maschinen, Hurricane, alle Spitfire, Tempest, 180m= ca.200 Yard

 

 

[Feathered_IV]

I’ve always left it at 400, but I’ll have to try shortening the deflection.  Normally I fly a Camel and open fire at 10-15 metres.  

[=LD=Bulldog*]

350 for a Bf 109. Barn door for an Se5A and hope for the best.

[=IRFC=Gascan]

I remember seeing a discussion about a year or so ago about whether setting gun convergence in WW1 actually changes anything the game. I've never touched it myself, so I'm not actually sure if changing the setting will change gun convergence. In WW2 you can clearly see the different patterns, but its not very obvious in WW1 with two machine guns next to each other. The easiest to see would be the SE5a or any of the planes with an over-wing gun. If you set the convergence really close, you should be able to see where the bullet streams cross. Then try setting it very long and look for the bullet streams crossing. If anyone wants to check to see if it actually makes a difference, I'd love to hear. If it doesn't do anything, then it doesn't matter if you prefer close or far.

[BraveSirRobin]

@BlitzPig_EL

You might as well set the convergence on the WW1 planes to the max allowed.  The guns are only about a meter apart, so convergence to concentrate fire is mostly meaningless.  If you set it to 100m, then at 201m the bullets will already be spread further apart than when they were fired (ignoring dispersion).  And it only gets worse after that.

 

Edited November 17, 2021 by BraveSirRobin
tag

[=LD=Brazo]

4 hours ago, BraveSirRobin said:

@BlitzPig_EL

You might as well set the convergence on the WW1 planes to the max allowed.  The guns are only about a meter apart, so convergence to concentrate fire is mostly meaningless.  If you set it to 100m, then at 201m the bullets will already be spread further apart than when they were fired (ignoring dispersion).  And it only gets worse after that.

 

That does make a lot of sense and wouldn’t it be nice if that was the cause of my gunnery failures rather than bad aim ?

[US103_Baer]

Rabbit-hole ahead

Edited November 17, 2021 by US28_Baer

[BlitzPig_EL]

True Baer, but still not as big of one as discussing oil on an automobile, motorcycle, or, firearms forum.

 

?

[LukeFF]

1 hour ago, BlitzPig_EL said:

True Baer, but still not as big of one as discussing oil on an automobile, motorcycle, or, firearms forum.

 

?

 

Or, one of my all-time favorites - the original finish on Mosin rifles. That one alone is enough to to write a small book. ?

[Todt_Von_Oben]

On 11/16/2021 at 6:23 PM, BraveSirRobin said:

@BlitzPig_EL

You might as well set the convergence on the WW1 planes to the max allowed.  The guns are only about a meter apart, so convergence to concentrate fire is mostly meaningless.  If you set it to 100m, then at 201m the bullets will already be spread further apart than when they were fired (ignoring dispersion).  And it only gets worse after that.

 

 

Exactly right. 

[vangel]

I experimented with extreme values like 100m and >800m and there is no difference in the vertical or horizontal adjustment of the guns of the WWI planes in game. Gun convergence is very clearly working with the WW2 planes I've tried thought.

 

[=LD=Bulldog*]

1,000' in the Se5a for me. 

[Koziolek]

OK, I understand that setting different convergence is not changing much for horizontal one but what about vertical? Is raising the guns implemented in game?

[=IRFC=Gascan]

Some guns with over-wing Lewis guns like the SE5a and Dolphin can pivot the gun up to shoot at the belly of an unsuspecting two-seater. I think you're asking about raising the guns to compensate for bullet drop over distance, though. In his post above, vangel said adjusting the convergence does not appear to make any vertical or horizontal difference in the WW1 airplanes, but there is a difference in the WW2 planes.