Ground pounding (A2G) discussions

[xpel]

Like with "Dogfighting", I think this needs also it's own thread. For many hours yesterday 
and few today, I was testing bombing of AI A-4s at Hanoi targets with bad results (bad accuracy
of bombing), until I figured out the "problem" : Starting altitude of the attack !

I know from posts that people consider bombing inaccurate. For improving AI bombing :

If bombs fall sort of target, increase starting Wpt altitude and vice versa. 

In my "epiphany", I had AI A-4s starting the attack low, at 1500-2000ft. Bombs were 
dropping more than 200 meters (600ft) away.
Increased at 4500ft and devastation... Bombs were falling less than 150ft from targets.

[edakridge]

Good catch Chris! Have you tried any High Level bombing? Say 18-2000 ft.

[xpel]

My AI highest was with your project B-24s (video) at 9000ft AGL with high accuracy (3 x bombs each).

[edakridge]

I meant 18-20000, but you knew what I meant.

[StuB]

Interesting find there Chris.

The three things that affect bombing accuracy are altitude, airspeed and dive angle.

In the Vietnam era, a "perfect" dive bombing mission would be done starting from a base altitude of about 10000 feet and an airspeed of 350 knots. The dive to the target would be about 45 degrees. and the the bomb would be released at about 4500 ft altitude and 450 knots airspeed. This should give a pullout altitude of about 1500 feet.

It sounds easy until you add in the threats. The SA-2 is effective between 3,000 and 60,000 feet altitude and most of the AAA was effective up to 5000 feet altitude.
So the pilots are under a lot of pressure at the beginning of the bombing run from the SAM threat and then from AAA during and right after the run.