R4/M attack tactics

[Oscar Ruf]

Hello everybody

I wonder if anybody could elaborate on the tactics used by JG 7 and JV 44 to perform their attacks using this rockets??.

I have read that the weapon could be launched in salvos or individually but...their use was left to the pilot's will or it was indeed an official/recommended tactic for its usage??

Any records of single launches to attack allied bombers?

Thanks in advance for your inputs gentlemen

Oscar

[Grzesio]

As far as I'm aware, the textbook tactics for a rocket attack looked like this (after A. Price "Luftschlecht ueber Deutschland):
the fighters climbed to a position some 5000 m behind enemy bomber formation and 2000 m above it, then they dived in a column, reaching some 850 km/h, breaking through enemy fighters' cover. As the speed was too high to attack bombers, Me 262s were flying to a point approx. 1600 m behind the target and 450 m below it, then the German pilots reduced thrust and climbed to the target's altitude, reaching it some 300 m behind the bombers, still being some 160 km/h faster. R4Ms were fired in a salvo at a choosen bomber from 200 m, followed by cannon fire, then the fighters broke off from the bombers accelerating again and climbing above them to avoid falling debris.

Regards

Grzesiu

[Oscar Ruf]

Truly clarifying Grzesio. Especially because that explanation talks about the firing of salvos, which probably would be of 12 or 24 rockets, depending on the target and the attack characteristics.

I have heard, however, that as the pneumatic fire control of the R4M rockets allowed that, some pilots preferred selective attack using single shots instead of massive salvos, but this is a thing I haven't been able to proof or read in any Me262 or JG 7/JV 44 dedicated book so far...

Thaks again

Oscar

[Kutscha]

The R4M was ripple fired in 4 salvoes of 6 missles, 0.07seconds apart from a range of 600m. It was all or nothing.