Ground Attack

This article describes air-to-ground combat in IL-2 Sturmovik.

Level Bombing Guide
Note: This guide assumes that you know how to use the bombsight controls. See the Resources section on this page for help with bombsight usage.

Before you start your engines, do the following:
 * Find your target on the map and choose an IP (Intial Point) where you will start your bomb run.
 * Choose an IP near a prominent landmark, about 15 or 20 km away from the target. At 350 kph, the run from the IP will take about two and a half to three and a half minutes.


 * Ideally, your bomb run should pass over or near other prominent landmarks to make it easy to apply corrections to the run.


 * If you know how the target objects are distributed, align the bomb run to that distribution, which results in the maximum damage in one run. For example, if all of the buildings in a factory complex are distributed in a general line from North to South, make your run from North to South or from South to North. In multiplayer, check with other team members who may have been to the target already.


 * Note the general terrain features around the target, which makes it easier to line up the target before it is shown in detail on your screen.


 * Decide on the altitude (above ground level, not sea level) and airspeed that you want to use for the bomb run.
 * Set your altimeter to "nearest friendly airfield elevation" using the key for "Altimeter: reference pressure toggle".
 * Technochat will indicate "Altimeter reference pressure: nearest friendly airfield elevation".


 * This post discusses why you use the "nearest friendly airfield" altimeter setting. Note that the bombsight altimeter always shows the "standard atmosphere" reading.


 * In your bombsight, do the following:
 * For your bombing altitude, set the wind speed and set the wind angle relative to the direction of your bomb run to the target.
 * Set the mode to bombsight mode rather than view mode (the control labels differ for different planes)
 * For now, set the bombsight altitude to zero and the bombsight airspeed to maximum.
 * The zero altitude and maximum airspeed settings configure the bombsight view to the maximum distance, allowing you to make course corrections well in advance of the bomb release point.

Once you are established on the bomb run, do the following:
 * Make sure that your bomb bay doors are open (if necessary) and that the bomb release settings on the lower right of the bombsight interface are correct.
 * Make small course corrections left or right, using the keys for "Level flight AI-autopilot: left turn" and "Level flight AI-autopilot: right turn".
 * When you get closer to the target, start to change the airspeed and altitude settings toward your actual airspeed and altitude (from the cockpit altimeter, not the bombsight altimeter).
 * Make each change to keep the target in view.

Once you drop your bombs, you can then switch from the bombsight mode to the view mode in your bombsight and track the target to see bombing results.
 * Make sure to set the actual airspeed and altitude values once you are close enough to the target.

Resources
Here are some resources to help you with ground attack:
 * Bombsight Usage - Section 6.4 in the Official IL-2 Manual
 * IL-2: BoS Ground Attack - Requiem and Friend's Videos