Su33 Board cannon ammunition

[Certified The Weeknd Addict]

Hi,

is there any way to increase the amount of ammo for the board cannon of the Su33? It feels like it has 200 shots only which feels like absolutely nothing. This is pretty unsatisfying when youre trying dogfighting.
Any help?

[★Macman★]

That's the lot and if you are a good shot will only need a 1 sec burst for a kill. The Su-33 is quite heavy to throw around but it can have a tight turn using Stick Deflection at moderate to slow speeds. The R-73 is also an incredible Missile for close combat. However, in all my fights I mainly just get them done with R-77 at fastest speeds I can home in on and then corkscrew to dodge any incoming. I have not found I need risk getting into Dogfights to require Guns.

[startrekmike]

Originally posted by PHYZ1X:

Hi,

is there any way to increase the amount of ammo for the board cannon of the Su33? It feels like it has 200 shots only which feels like absolutely nothing. This is pretty unsatisfying when youre trying dogfighting.
Any help?

You would be surprised just how little gun ammunition most combat aircraft actually carry. Even going as far back as WWII, total gun ammunition on fighters was measured in handfuls of seconds. About the only time in air combat history where planes could fire for longer periods was in WWI but that was because the guns fired so slowly in comparison to later aircraft mounted weapons.

Perhaps the problem here is one of expectation. In pop culture (films, television, games, etc), a more romanticized version of air combat is often on display where pilots get in real close to each other and dogfight with guns. To keep the excitement going, realistic ammunition loads are often not a factor so fights can be very drawn out, cinematic, and tense. For a mainstream audience, the idea of realistic beyond visual range combat and very limited ammunition/stores doesn't make for interesting drama.

There are two things you might want to keep in mind that may help you out in regards to not only understanding the tactical use of the gun but also how to conserve ammunition.

1.) Modern fighters in DCS all have systems in place that will help you get rounds on target very accurately. Understanding ALL the HUD symbology and even the limits of the gun you are working with (max effective range, etc) will help you understand what you are looking for when trying to get a sure shot.

2.) Patience. If you are flying a modern fighter in DCS, you have all the tools you need to shoot accurately but none of that will mean anything unless you let good shots develop. If you rush and start doing a bunch of snap shots, you are really just wasting ammunition. Sometimes it isn't just about getting your opponent in your sights, it is about waiting until you get a good shot that lets you end the fight in one burst.

One last thing to think about. Unlike in WWI or even in some cases in WWII, fighter aircraft today carry cannons that can do incredible amounts of damage with only a very quick well aimed burst. If you understand your systems and procedures, wait for the right shot, and take it. You should be able to knock them down without having to use a lot of ammo at all.

[Certified The Weeknd Addict]

I know that rockets get the job done more easily but im practising dog fighting with guns only because..yeah its cooler, you know. Considering how hard it is to hit an enemy jet, getting the job done with 200 bullets or whatever it is is pretty hard for me.

Im using the static HUD sight available on key 8 because the ordinary Air-To-Ground HUD seems not very helpful for me when fighting jets at least. It's not shooting at the circle at all ^^ But yeah u see im new to DCS so maybe i should read a bit on the internet because i already thought that there must be some helping tool in these modern jets that help to land the shots more easily.

Thought there is a way to get some more ammo just like with the Su25, but i guess unfortunately there isnt. Sad, but i guess i need to rely on those shots then. Thank you guys

[★Macman★]

Are you using Radar Mode for Canon which is far more easier? It's the small circle with a count down of closing distance. That's all I like to use instead of the Wing Space method with a long sweep. It gets you to shoot only at the circle too ;)

[Certified The Weeknd Addict]

No idea if the Su33 provides that but some sort of thing is probably available, sounds good. I probably just havent found out yet how to use it. I will look into it. Appreciate the help guys

[★Macman★]

Put it in Helmet Mode then Radar On then switch to Gun and close in until it's in range ;)
11:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyp-SsOxQcc

[Certified The Weeknd Addict]

Oh my god i already thought this HUD must have something to do with the board cannon haha. Guess that will make my life as a dcs noob easier, really appreciate it