Buccaneer S.2B

This page is about the strike aircraft Buccaneer S.2B. For other versions, see Buccaneer (Family).

Buccaneer S.2B

Buccaneer S.2

F-111C

Buccaneer S.2B

Buccaneer S.2

F-111C

Britain

VII Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
10.7	10.7	10.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Research:300 000

Purchase:830 000

Description

Following the defeat of the British forces during the Aden Emergency, and seeing other conflicts happening at that time near the Suez, the RAF (Royal Air Force) saw the need to update their anti-shipping capability vastly during the turn of the '70s. This saw the joint development of the AJ-168 Martel anti-ship missile between Britain and France. However, the problem of carrying it still existed and, strapped on budget and time, the RAF decided to simply modify a selection of their existing Buccaneer S.2 aircraft with the required avionics and data bus to use the AC-226 HS datalink pod, allowing for terminal "Man-in-the-loop" TV guidance for the Martel missiles. 49 of this new variant, called the Buccaneer S.2B, were built between 1973 and 1977, with three going to the Ministry of Defence for weapons trials and testing, and the rest (46) entering active service. While the Royal Navy's Buccaneers had a long and fruitful service life, the RAF's Buccaneer's sat collecting dust mostly for nearly two decades, with their most interesting deployment being to be on station in Germany to laser-designate targets in case the Cold War went hot. The RAF Buccaneers were seemingly finally going to face their trial by fire during the Gulf War in the early '90s, when 12 RAF Buccaneer S.2Bs were deployed at short notice to the Gulf during Operation 'Granby'. However, these Buccaneers' mission was only to laser designate targets for Royal Air Force Tornados and Jaguars, with almost no real strike missions flown by the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneer S.2B was introduced in Update "Alpha Strike". Being a direct upgrade to its predecessor in the tree, the Buccaneer S.2, the S.2B variant not only has access to the powerful AJ 168 Martel missiles, but various new hardware and avionics upgrades over the older S.2. For starters, the S.2B has access to built-in countermeasures and the all-aspect AIM-9L missile, a major upgrade over the external countermeasures pod and the AIM-9B of its predecessor. More importantly for a strike aircraft, the S.2B has access to the Pave Spike laser targeting pod alongside Paveway laser guided bombs, or alternatively, the AJ-168 Martel TV guided anti-ship missile, which due to its TV guidance, can also be used against ground targets in mixed ground battles, where it proves its potency thanks to having one of the highest TV lock ranges in-game and a very powerful warhead. Players must still be aware of the usual shortfalls of the Buccaneer family, being its large size and weight resulting in cumbersome flight performance, along with the lack of any built-in cannon armament.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 0 m1 166 km/h

Turn time32 s

Max altitude15 000 m

Engine2 х Rolls-Royce Spey 101

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight28 t

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics	Max speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	1,156	1,151	15000	33.0	34.4	71.5	65.2	900
Upgraded	___	___		__._	__._	__._	__._

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear	Drogue chute
✓	✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1181	416	518	463	370	~8	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 585	< 600	< 548	-

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Basic mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
Rolls-Royce Spey 101		2	14,526 kg		462 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Gross Weight
Weight (each)	Type		13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	43m fuel
2,361 kg	Low-bypass turbofan		16,686 kg	17,808 kg	19,446 kg	21,725 kg	25,613 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	13m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	43m fuel	MGW
Stationary	5,020 kgf	-	0.60	0.56	0.52	0.46	0.39
Optimal	5,120 kgf (1,000 km/h)	-	0.61	0.58	0.53	0.47	0.40

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff

Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural1 181 km/h

Gear416 km/h

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 754 → 4 469

RB7 797 → 12 654

SB8 929 → 14 491

Total cost of modifications260 000

404 000

Talisman cost2 900

Crew training240 000

Experts830 000

Aces3 000

Research Aces1 140 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 320 / 600 %

238 / 238 / 238 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 370 Airframe Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 430 Compressor Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 430 Wings repair Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 460 New boosters Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 460 Cover Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 600 Engine Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 600	G-suit Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 430 EFS(a) Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 600	540 LB Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 370 Matra №7 Mk 1 Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 370 Flares/Chaff Research: 13 000 Cost: 20 000 370 Mk.10 1000lb Research: 15 000 Cost: 23 000 430 Mk.13/18 Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 460 AIM-9L Research: 16 000 Cost: 25 000 460 AJ.168 Research: 21 000 Cost: 33 000 600

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns)	CCIP (Rockets)	CCIP (Bombs)	CCRP (Bombs)	EEGS

Offensive armament

The Buccaneer S.2B is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 30 x large calibre countermeasures
  • 90 x large calibre countermeasures

Suspended armament

The Buccaneer S.2B can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5
500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs	6	6	4	6	6
540 lb Mk.M2 bombs	6	6	4	6	6
1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 No.117 bombs	3	3	4	3	3
1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs	2, 3	2, 3	4	2, 3	2, 3
1,000 lb L.D H.E. M.C. Mk.1 bombs	2, 3	2, 3		2, 3	2, 3
546 kg Mk.13 bombs	1*	1*			1*
RP rockets	36	36		36	36
AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles	1				1
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles	1				1
AJ.168 missiles	1†			1†	1†
Data link pod		1†
Pave Spike targeting pod				1*
440 gal drop tanks			1
* Pave Spike pod must be equipped when carrying Mk.13 guided bombs † Data link pod must be equipped when carrying AJ.168 missiles

Default weapon presets

24 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs + 1 x 440 gal drop tank (12,000 lb total) 2 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 144 x RP rockets 3 x AJ.168 missiles 28 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (14,000 lb total) 28 x 540 lb Mk.M2 bombs (15,120 lb total) 12 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (12,000 lb total) 4 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs + 8 x 1,000 lb L.D H.E. M.C. Mk.1 bombs (12,000 lb total) 16 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 No.117 bombs (16,000 lb total) 3 x 546 kg Mk.13 bombs (1,638 kg total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Pros and cons

Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".

Pros:

Cons:

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

Devblog

Initially intended for the Royal Navy, the RAF showed little interest in the Buccaneer until the cancellation of both TSR-2 and the RAF's own version of the Aardvark, the F-111K, led to a decision to adopt the Buccaneer into service to fill a gap in capabilities. This coincided with the gradual retirement of Aircraft Carriers from the Royal Navy freeing up aircraft that could be provided to the RAF, as well as new build aircraft to the S.2B standard. This variant would initially see an enlarged "bulged" bomb bay and the capacity for Martel Anti-Ship missiles.

Operation Pulsator, supporting British forces in Lebanon in 1983, would see a further significant upgrade for the Buccaneer, introducing internal countermeasures to the aircraft for better self defence. AIM-9G and AIM-9L capability was also added, a notable improvement over earlier AIM-9Bs on earlier S.2s.

Despite its age, the Buccaneer would however still prove its worth as late as the 1991 Gulf War, acting as a laser designator aircraft for Tornado GR.1s to deliver their laser guided bombs before early TIALD pods became available for operations. Later in the conflict, Buccaneers would themselves take part in direct bombing attacks.

Initially not planned to take part in "Operation Granby", a handful of Buccaneer S.2Bs from No.12, 208 and 237 OCU were rushed over to the Gulf, hastily repainted in "Desert Pink" and equipped now with AIM-9Ls and Pave Spike pods. The pilots that would operate them dubbed themselves the "Sky Pirates" and were famous for their skull and crossbones flag and colourful nose art adorning many of the aircraft that took part.

The Tornado would however fully replace the last Buccaneers in service shortly after the Gulf War, covering all roles that it had previously maintained. The last Buccaneers would bow out of service with the RAF in 1994, 36 years after the first Buccaneer took to the skies.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Buccaneer S.2B from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #404 - Metal Beasts section at 00:24 discusses the Buccaneer S.2B.

See also

Related development

• Buccaneer (Family)

External links

• [Devblog] Buccaneer S.2B: Swashbuckling Sky Pirate

Blackburn Aircraft Ltd.
Fighters	Firebrand TF Mk IV · Firecrest
Strike aircraft	Buccaneer S.1 · Buccaneer S.2 · Buccaneer S.2B