Dogfights: FW-190 8x8 Box formation?
Thu Sep 13, 2007 11:47 am
Did anyone see the "no room for error" episode with the 190s flying in a tight box formation 8 across and 8 deep, and engaging the flight of B-17s? Anyone have any info on this tactic? I had never seen/heard/read anything like that before.
Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:43 pm
Ya, Seemed alittle hard to believe. I mean how could you bring all the planes guns to bare with that formation?
Phil
Phil
Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:52 pm
I didn't see the episode, but did they describe extra armor being applied to the '190s? A tactic used for formation busting was to fly in a fixed pattern directly through the bombers' defensive fire with a large group of fighters. I believe they were called "Sturmbock" or some such name. I will post a photo of the up-armored FW 190 when I get home from work if Jack doesn't beat me to it! 
Scott
Scott
Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:39 pm
8x8 is stretching it a bit.
The armour plated Fw190's were indeed called Sturmbock's, they had extra armour glass windscreen and side of canopy, as well as metal on sides of cockpit. Sometimes just the metal sides was worn.
They would usually attack 1st from head on.
Is this from a new TV series?
The armour plated Fw190's were indeed called Sturmbock's, they had extra armour glass windscreen and side of canopy, as well as metal on sides of cockpit. Sometimes just the metal sides was worn.
They would usually attack 1st from head on.
Is this from a new TV series?
Thu Sep 13, 2007 3:25 pm
Fri Sep 14, 2007 11:29 am
Yes, I have read about it before and it was a great tactic in that the 8x8 was in a 3-D formation where they could bear down a down of firepower on a formation of bombers.
Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:20 pm
Second link isn't working Hellcat
Fri Sep 14, 2007 5:50 pm
Try it again, comes up for me.
Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:09 am
So it does 
Sat Sep 15, 2007 6:57 pm
It was a legitimate tactic by the SturmGruppe, particularly in last six months of war when there were so many inexperienced pilots.
The line abreast was to keep the bomber defensive fire dispersed (vs 'trail') and the formation depicted would 'refresh' the frontal firepawer from the next rank as the first splits S and headed for the deck.
Down side is no maneuverabily if bounced by a significant force from behind.
The line abreast was to keep the bomber defensive fire dispersed (vs 'trail') and the formation depicted would 'refresh' the frontal firepawer from the next rank as the first splits S and headed for the deck.
Down side is no maneuverabily if bounced by a significant force from behind.