Rocket selection for russian planes!

[SoaringEagle74]

Hi. I am still trying to learn/master the basics like strafing successfully, rocket attacks, bombing etc. I am mostly A2G oriented.

 

I noticed about 8 rocket types to choose from and picking the right one is not always obvious. For example, what is the difference between B-8 and B-8CM? What is each most appropriate for?

 

What is difference between S-24 and S-25 other than the fact that one is 1mm wider than the other? What is each most appropriate for?

 

I found UB-13 rockets to be ideal for medium to heavy armored ground targets. S-24 and S-25 are ideal for large targets. B-8, B-8CM, UB-32 are good for small non-armored/lightely armored targets.

 

I know some of the basics from reading the manual but details are what I am after...so if you are not sure no need to respond!:pilotfly:

[britgliderpilot]

In order:

 

The B-32 is the lightest rocket, but the highest capacity pod. Really soft targets.

 

The B-8 is the next one up - slightly more power but at less capacity. Soft targets, perhaps BMPs and stuff if you're lucky.

 

The B-8CM is the smoke-marker version of the B-8. Shouldn't technically have much effect against even soft units.

 

The B-13 is a heavier rocket, originally designed for use against hardened aircraft shelters but useful against any harder target. Pretty powerful, very versatile, five rounds per pod.

 

The S-24 and S-25 are both super-heavy rockets. Not sure what separates them . . . the S-25L has limited laser guidance for some precision-guided capability, but they're both hard-hitting, accurate weapons for use against heavy fortifications and so forth. Both are only one to a pylon.

[brewber19]

Hi Eagle, exactly like BGP said and to add:

 

In order:

 

B-32: Fire from VERY short range (<500m) as dispersion is high and explosive is small...or 500-1000m if targets are only trucks.

 

B-8: Same tactic as B-32, fire short range to minimise dispersion.

 

B-13: High dispersion but extraordinary impact, excellent against a tight group of vehicles or buildings etc. The B13 is the compromise between the high round-capacity of the lighter rockets and the one-shot S-24 and S-25. Although 5 rounds per pod, it shoots all 5 rounds in one go so...they are a one-shot device.

 

S-24: Heav-ish rocket but difficult to shoot with pin-point accuracy, It has a smaller area of effect that the 25 so you need to hit targets almost spot on. Decent enough against tanks (one-shot kill) if you can hit them ;) (Laser on is the way to go with these, so you pipper is more precise).

 

S-25/L: Super-heavy rockets and excellent as one-shot kills against any ground unit and light ships (bulk carriers and that light AAA ship, Molnya or Albatros, I forget its name). Good against structures but I always prefer a BTAB-250 if I'm after shelters/ammo dumps etc. S-25 is very useful against Vulcan/Shilka and Avenger/Strela if you have no guided munitions or want a bit of head-to-head fun with air defences. They have a wide area of effect so you just need to strike near them...perfect for that banked diving turn and loosing the rocket as your pipper passes through/near the target, before you jink away.

 

S25s have a range of just under 3km...which is the Rmax of the SHORAD units I listed above...so you can go head-to-head with those units and, provided you are going fast enough, launch and bug out (hard) as they launch on you (which is enought to evade the IR missiles and easily evade the AAA). Because they have a large area of effect, you just need to get the rocket to land within 20m of the target and it'll die - they're a good rocket and multipurpose but very heavy though.

 

Hope that helps.

[159th_Viper]

....they're a good rocket and multipurpose but very heavy though....

 

As Brewber said - 25's are excellent but as Heavy as F#ck so watch out if you launch one and Break at a high angle of bank - really feel it especially if carrying them on the outer Pylons......

[SoaringEagle74]

Thanks for clarifying what each does. I found the UB-13 rockets to give the best trade-off in relation to lethality, weight, #available per load, dispersion, etc. Great all purpose rockets!

 

Another interesting distinction is between the S-24 and S-25 rockets. I always have trouble hitting targets with the first...the second type, possibly armed with a proximity fuse, allows for a greater error in aiming accuracy and is almost as effective as the first. Generally speaking, I think its a rather bad idea to 'waste' so much gun powder on mobile ground units. Vihkr, B-8 and UB-13 are much smarter choices.

[SoaringEagle74]

Another interesting concept is the mounted gunpods. I thought they were great but in retrospect the large seperation/dispersion of the rounds in space make them an ideal choice only for straffying large areas and large targets with light armor....worst choice for small pinpoint attacks!

[bogusheadbox]

 

B-13: High dispersion but extraordinary impact, excellent against a tight group of vehicles or buildings etc. The B13 is the compromise between the high round-capacity of the lighter rockets and the one-shot S-24 and S-25. Although 5 rounds per pod, it shoots all 5 rounds in one go so...they are a one-shot device.

 

 

You know you can change your fire settings to not fire all missiles at once.

 

I usually have set to fire continuously when triger is drepressed. That way it usually fires 3 per pod on first squeeze and 2 on the second squeeze. Hold down trigger for all 5 to go off

[Force_Feedback]

Okay, some little faq on the s-25 and s-24

 

S-24

Length: 2330 mm Span with stabilizer: 600 mm

Launch weight: 235 kg

Warhead: 123 kg of which 23.5 kg of High Explosive

Maximum velocity: 413 m/s Launch speed: 3.6 m/s

Active trajectory: 250 m

Time of rocket motors (7) operation: 1.1 seconds

Time to get to 1000 m: 3 sec

Maximum effective range: 2000 m

Maximum CEP of launch range: 0.3-0.4% of launch range

Maximum rotation: 450 rounds per minute

 

The rocket has a shaped fragmentation warheas capable of killing infrantry at 400-700 meters from the impact point.

 

S-25

There are 2 most used S-25 types, namely the S-25O with a fragementation warhead to defeat infrantry and soft targets. And there is the S-25F, with a blast-fragementation warhead.

 

S-25F

Diameter: 340 mm Length: 3310 mm

Launch weight: 480 kg

Fuel weight: 97 kg

Max flight speed: 550 m/s

Max effective range: 4000 m

Warhead: 190 kg, 27 of which are high explosives

 

S-25O (the model of which is used in Flaming Cliffs)

Diameter: 340 mm Length: 3307 mm

Launch weight: 381 kg

Fuel weight: 97 kg

Max flight speed: 550 m/s

Max effective range: 4000 m

Warhead: 150 kg, fragmentation type with a preset (on the ground) radio fuse, 5-20 meters burst heights are programmable. On detonation over 10000 fragments are formed. This rocket was always controversial, as its effects were deemed inhumane by most of the officers in the Soviet and CIS airfroces.

Thinknig about the fact that the S-24 can kill at 700 meters, one could make the assumption the S-25O will be farther than that, maybe 850 meters, as it has a bigger warhead.

 

P.S., it has been 4:20, so, well, you know, Jah Rastafari, peazz