GUNNERY 
by Saku

S! All,

Yuri suggested that I make a tutorial for gunnery so here it goes.  I'll try and keep it short and simple.  Enjoy!

Basic Gunnery Needs

First off, you need a smooth frame rate...ideally frames over 35 fps are adequate.  If you are not getting these frames, download the newest drivers you can find for your video card and try and reduce some IL2 settings, such as density, shadows and make your resolution in the 16 meg range.  People like 32, but quite frankly, you need a fast cpu, a good video card and lots of ram to run at 32.  A 640x480 resolution with some anti-aliasing is just as good as 1024x780 at 16mg.

Secondly, one must set up his/her joystick so that it is not too sensitive.  This is most important for rudder control.  I have my X and Y axis set at 100% sensitivity but my rudder or Z axis is only set at about 30%.  Also, older JS users may want to test their JS's range of motion.  If you use a JS with the Z axis built in...make sure that there is not a lot of room for "play" or slack in any of the control surfaces.  If your plane moves around when you move your JS around and you feel no resistance from the axis, chances are they need to be tightened.  Even with non-force feedback JSs, there should be some resistance from the springs.  If there isn't...it could be time to either get new springs and install them yourself or get a new JS.  I am currently using a Logitech Wingman Extreme Digital 3D.  It is non-FF but has a rubber buffer at the base of the stick itself that acts as a force feedback mechanism and in the long run, the rubber will prohibit the "slack" problem of older sticks.  I spent about $40 (US) and so far it has been worth the buy.

Thirdly, a smooth connection.  For 56kers, turn off any online programs, such as ICQ, AOL, MSN Messenger and so on.  Also, if HL is too "jumpy" for you, I would recommend trying a direct connect to the server through the game itself.  If the squad is present and using RW, make sure your RW (Roger Wilco) settings are at the minimum, but not to the extent of where you can't utilize the program.  If you really want to smooth your connection out, put RW on read only and type out responses on the chat preset buttons so you don't have to type out "Saku, watch out, 109 on your 6!"  You can type that in before the mission on a preset number, then, while flying, all you have to do is hit the corresponding number of the message you want to send.

Flying to Meet Your Target; Gunnery Awareness

There are essentially two worlds that we fly in the 12th IAP, that of AI and that of flying against humans.  The following is to cover the gunnery basics while fighting AI targets.  Humans are much less predictable in many ways and are more cunning in their maneuvers.  While the AI in IL2 isn't flat out dumb, it is somewhat predictable. 

Flying to Meet Your Target; Getting To Your Target

The AI in IL2 is not nearly as aggressive as a human opponent, so the first thing one must realize is you have plenty of time to work on your target, unless of course if you or your flight is drastically outnumbered.  For the sake of this part, this will apply to 1v1 situations unless otherwise noted.  Typically, the AI will go for the #1 plane.  In this case, that is Yuri.  Knowing this, stick close to him but not directly behind him.  This will allow the 109 to engage Yuri with a false sense of security and gives you the opportunity to sneak up behind the 109 and destroy him.

Also note the target of what the AI is trying to achieve, whether it be escorting stukas, attacking a convoy, base and so on.  The AI will proceed to a target unless the enemy flight has spotted you or is currently engaged.  Otherwise, you have time to secure the basic advantages of dogfighting, that being gaining altitude and getting to the enemy flights rear without being noticed.

Once engaged in a dogfight, the AI has a tendency to fly straight after trying to assail one of us or is not paying attention.  The rule of thumb is to never fly straight for more than 30 seconds.  The AI seems to forget about such a rule and gives us the opportunity to sneak on their 6 without too much trouble.

En Route

Remember, unless a wingman is in danger, you have time to close with your target.  Once you spot a target and proceed to engage him, it is important to view your target at all times.  Typically, I start to engage a target using the widest view (the view furthest away from the sight) as I want to watch him and the situation around me.  Currently, Yuri has icons on in his server so I recommend that you use the widest view until you are within .30 (meters?) away from your target.  At this range is where the combat begins.

Closing To Kill; Maximizing Your Gunnery

This is where the pilot (12th_IAP____) has to make a decision and evaluate his/her current gunnery technique.  Do some quick missions with icons on and determine when you fire your guns.  Evaluate your hit/miss percentages (roughly...I don't want anyone busting out a calculator for this).  Do you hit your target and how much damage are you doing?  Understand that in IL2, range and bullet hitting power are calculated into the program.  The closer the better.  I begin to consider open firing at .20 away but I get as close as .10 even closer, .07 target depending.  If you are opening fire at a target at .30+ away, in my opinion, your wasting ammo trying to gauge the shot and if you do hit your target, especially if it is a 109 or 190, you have just pissed off the pilot even more.  The only instance in which I recommend firing at this range is if the target has begun to fire at your wingman.  However, your aim doesn't have to be specific in this case.  Just get his attention with a few shots...don't expect to do too much damage (if any) or take too long to aim.  Your wingman's life could depend on it.

Closing To Kill; Gun Convergence Evaluation

Simply put, gun convergence is the range at which the bullets meet.  After that range, they cross paths, separate and drop.  The values can be set from 100.0 to 1000.0.  The default value setting is at 500.0.  Knowing the concept of "closer is better", I have set my machine gun convergence to 120.0 and my cannon convergence at 100.0.   This enables me to have the highest probability of hitting my target at the range I engage it at, .10.  If your gun convergence is set at too high a value, your bullets have a good chance of missing the fuselage altogether, alerting the pilot to your presence.  Another problem is that if you close to the range that I use and have a high convergence setting, your bullets will not be  zero-ed in on your crosshair.  This means that if the target is right in the middle of the crosshair, your bullets will actually go over the target and you may never score a hit!  Remember that the further the convergence, the further the bullets have to go to meet, which means that the guns will be elevated to accommodate for the range.

At Your Target; Open Fire

Remember, you have time to kill your target.  Make sure that he is flying as level as possible so you don't have to gauge any sort of lead, giving your shot the best chance to hit your target.  Above, if I chose to fire, the bandit would have been altered to my presence and would begin evasive maneuvers.  Our current altitude is at 750 meters, which is plenty of wiggle room for him to buy time and call for help.  Ideally, you want to pin your opponent on the ground (and limiting his maneuver choices) or take him by surprise, whether it be sneaking up on him or clearing your wingman's tail.

CAUTION!

At Your Target; Shoot To Kill

The above pictures are the recommended aiming areas.  It is possible to dispose of a 109 with only 3 shots from the LA5FNs guns.  Pilots such as FB Viks claim that aiming for the joints where the wing meets the fuselage is very effective.  While this is so, the target size is much smaller and harder to hit.  The rear of the fuselage gives you the greatest chance of hitting your target as well as creating the most damage to the entire rear of the plane since the elevator, rudder and fuselage are all potential targets even if your aim is not the greatest.  Another tip that I recommend is attacking a plane from a difference in elevation, whether it be assailing him from above or below, it gives a greater chance to secure a hit without putting in the time required to line up a shot directly from behind.

At Your Target; Leading Your Shots

Leading is very difficult in IL2 and I don't recommend it too often.  Here is why:

Leading requires plenty of practice and "feel" for the type of ammunition used by your plane.  While the scale on the sight helps, in this situation, it didn't. 

Final Tips

To stabilize the distance between you and your target, always have your hand on the throttle controls since getting close requires constant throttle management.

When attacking a target from above and wanting to slow down, cut your throttle and position your plane in a 45 degree turn with full rudder deflection in the opposite direct.  (I.E. using a 45 degree right turn, the pilot should use full left rudder so increase the drag.  This way, using the elevators, ailerons and rudder will maximize the plane's drag coefficient)  To further increase your drag, lower your flaps, but use caution, evaluate your speed before you do.

When shooting, choose buttons on your joystick that are relatively close to each other, especially if you have a 3 axis JS.  If you put one finger on the trigger to fire the machine guns and the cannon button is on the upper left of the top of the stick, you run the risk of inadvertently using your rudder which will hinder your aim.  Try to align your gun buttons down the center of the stick.  If this is not possible, you may want to consider of using the option in IL2 where you can bind your machine guns and cannons to the same button of your choice.  Go into your button config screen under options and bind the button of your choice to the "Weapons 1+2" feature. 

Last but not least, HEADS UP!  Keep your head on a swivel...Jerry is looking for you!

Ende

I hope the above helps.  It is not Gospel, merely personal accounts of what I've found to work for me.  Any additions/suggestions and questions ARE welcome!  Email me at austrianassasin@nni.com or ICQ me at 164275734.  Enjoy and happy hunting!

Za Rodinu!

Saku Salwen