Gun range

[timeforaction]

Can anyone tell me the optimum range for the use of the cannon in the SU 25 in both air to ground and air to air?

 

Secondly, what is the ideal dive angle for using the cannon in air to ground attacks?

[Vedexent]

It's really all a matter of experimentation, and preference.

 

I would say never use the cannon in air-to-air, because if you're involved in a dogfight with a Frogfoot, you're in serious trouble; run away.

 

But, sometimes you need to lob an air-to-air missile at a fighter before running away. If you have no other choice, do a "run and gun" pass as you run past the fighter and escape. In either case ... you probably won't survive unless you have a handy Su-27 running CAP for you to take the heat off.

 

Helos are easier - but no means simple, and never think air-to-air is impossible, just a really bad idea; after all, I've seen VapoR take out an F-16 with an Su-25.

 

As for air-to-ground, I'd say "as steep as you feel confident that you can pull out of again without ripping off the wings, or making a crater".

 

I'm finding that for for me, for cannon, and for rockets, high altitude (2,000 meter+) very steep dives (45deg +) followed by a hard climb back up to high altitude is a good idea (all the time popping chaff & flares). That gives you the least amount of exposure to low-level AAA fire. It also means minimal movement of your targeting reticule once you get it lined up. Also - armored units tend to have thinner armor on their top surfaces, so raining down 30mm rounds directly on their heads is a good tactic.

 

Low, long, fast, shallow angle passes tend to get the nose of my plane shot off, or an engine blown out (I've gotten quite good at flying & landing with no instrumentation, and trimming out a dead engine on my control surfaces as a result).

 

Of course, situations change the doctrine, so there's no one answer that's right all the time.

 

Practice, practice, practice - and think about your practice.

[enigma6584]

@Vedexent

 

You got any videos or tracks showing this stuff? I'm just starting in this aircraft myself and am learning as much as possible.

[Eldur]

For A-G, check these for a general "how to attack":

 

Fire the guns at 1km +-500m. Use your laser for rangefinding.

 

 

The circular bar unwinds as you get closer - 3 o'clock is 3km, 1 o'clock is 1km etc.

 

But most important: Do not spay and pray. Use very short bursts - you'll hit more. The longer you press the trigger, the more your aim gets off as the nose goes down slightly when firing.

 

For A-A, if you can't avoid it, probably best technique is Hartmann's "get as close as possible until it fills your windscreen".

[159th_Falcon]

About A-A in a 25(T), i think it's underradet and under appreciated;

 

Original thread to be found here, has a couple screenshots of the action;

http://www.159thgar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=34&t=7536

[enigma6584]

Good videos gents. Thanks.