Device range for aircraft weapons

[Chris21wen]

Plus we don't know how game uses these values in it's formulas/code.

If only we could.....

FOC - Fog of computation

[Moltrey]

The convergence distance is where the weapons are lined up so their bullets/shells meet, hopefully at a target. Closer than that, the target gets hit but not in a concentrated pattern and farther than that, fewer bullets/shells will meet the target.

Exactly, and convergence was dictated by the pilot. He would have his crew chief set them up where he wanted them. There was a standard setting from the factory, but once it the field ... So, whatever the game says, it is just a value to be used and only has relevance in the context of the other weapons. This also gets back to why C/L weapons are so potent; no convergence or better to say that they are convergent at ALL ranges. The game doubles the accuracy as a bonus, but for inexperienced pilots it was FAR greater; essentially low exp pilots had a very low chance to hit anything due to convergence, they were too busy just trying to fly. It took a fair amount of the combat flying experience to be able to get the target into the convergence zone, you had to plan for it in your aerial moves. Think about it, not only did you have to correctly predict what the target was going to do, but you had to get your aircraft in the right position at the right range to be able to hit it. With C/L guns, you only need to be in the correct position at any range. Huge advantage to the unskilled, decent advantage to the skilled.

OTOH, 8x50 cal would be VERY difficult (impossible? can't think of any 1E AC that had more than 4 guns C/L) to setup on the typical WWII fighter cowling/wing roots, and you have to see a video of exactly what 8x50 cal does at convergence; imagine cutting a 12" hole through anything except engine blocks (which are still pretty much useless afterwards), literally will cut an aircraft in half if it crosses that path.

My Dad was a AO2 with VBF-16 on the Randolph. If memory serves, he told me that at sea the method they used was a target cloth on the wall of the hangar bay with a plane positioned a certain distance away with tail raised just so. They then used a boresight in each machinegun to align the individual guns to match whatever convergence was required/requested.

[PaxMondo]

My Dad was a AO3 with VBF-16 on the Randolph. If memory serves, he told me that at sea the method they used was a target cloth on the wall of the hangar bay with a plane positioned a certain distance away with tail raised just so. They then used a boresight in each machinegun to align the individual guns to match whatever convergence was required/requested.

I've heard the same thing from others, (target hung on the hangar wall). In some cases I heard they would move the target around depending upon which aircraft needed it, other cases I heard they moved the aircraft to where the target was and lined them up there. It ain't rocket science is the point, and the crew chief set them up however the pilot wanted them.

If your Dad is still around, give him our best and thanks. If he's like my Dad, long gone, then I'll add him to the list when we get together and remember them. Hoist those Schooners high!

[Sardaukar]

There is picture of Me 109E with wing cannons being set similarly in Western Desert. though they also checked it by shooting target, obviously step not available in CV hangar...

Found it:

487547503_693469209860591_1984759468387546290_n.jpg (40.22 KiB) Viewed 284 times

[RangerJoe]

My Dad was a AO3 with VBF-16 on the Randolph. If memory serves, he told me that at sea the method they used was a target cloth on the wall of the hangar bay with a plane positioned a certain distance away with tail raised just so. They then used a boresight in each machinegun to align the individual guns to match whatever convergence was required/requested.

I've heard the same thing from others, (target hung on the hangar wall). In some cases I heard they would move the target around depending upon which aircraft needed it, other cases I heard they moved the aircraft to where the target was and lined them up there. It ain't rocket science is the point, and the crew chief set them up however the pilot wanted them.

If your Dad is still around, give him our best and thanks. If he's like my Dad, long gone, then I'll add him to the list when we get together and remember them. Hoist those Schooners high!

[Moltrey]

Much appreciated fellas.
Pop passed just before Christmas back in 2012. He had been dealing with Parkinsons for a few years and steadily declined. I imagine a large part of it was all the "stuff" his generation was exposed to before it was known to be detrimental to your health. I also remember working on the car together (points, plugs, condenser and a timing light!) and then him washing off the gunk with leaded gasoline outside before using soap and water inside- so, yeah.
It was very satisfying when he flew out to Hawaii in 1986 to be on our VS-21 Tiger Cruise onboard the USS Enterprise. I try not to dwell on it all too much as it reminds me all of it is gone; my squadron, the aircraft, the carrier and my Dad. Still, I cherish those days we shared as airmen in our Navy.

I keep meaning to pull out his keepsake box and post some photos here for you guys, need to get on that.
Thanks again.

[homer82]

Much appreciated fellas.
Pop passed just before Christmas back in 2012. He had been dealing with Parkinsons for a few years and steadily declined. I imagine a large part of it was all the "stuff" his generation was exposed to before it was known to be detrimental to your health. I also remember working on the car together (points, plugs, condenser and a timing light!) and then him washing off the gunk with leaded gasoline outside before using soap and water inside- so, yeah.
It was very satisfying when he flew out to Hawaii in 1986 to be on our VS-21 Tiger Cruise onboard the USS Enterprise. I try not to dwell on it all too much as it reminds me all of it is gone; my squadron, the aircraft, the carrier and my Dad. Still, I cherish those days we shared as airmen in our Navy.

I keep meaning to pull out his keepsake box and post some photos here for you guys, need to get on that.
Thanks again.

Shipmate, you got to take your dad on a tiger cruise - I'd give my left nut to have been able to do that!
You're a lucky man (as you know.)