Wellington Mk Ic

This page is about the British bomber Wellington Mk Ic. For the German premium version, see Wellington Mk Ic (Germany). For other versions, see Wellington (Family).

Wellington Mk Ic

Sunderland Mk V

Wellington Mk Ic/L

Wellington Mk Ic

Sunderland Mk V

Wellington Mk Ic/L

Britain

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.0	2.3	2.7

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Description

The Wellington Mk Ic is a rank II British bomber with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB), 2.3 (RB), and 2.7 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 4 572 m378 km/h

Turn time35 s

Max altitude6 500 m

Engine2 х Bristol Pegasus XVIII

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight14 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	366	352	6500	36.0	37.2	4.2	4.1	877
Upgraded	391	378		34.1	35.0	6.5	5.3

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
530	264	315	264	223	~5	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 275	< 275	< 310	> 320

Survivability and armour

Crew5 people

Speed of destruction

Structural530 km/h

Gear264 km/h

The Wellington Mk Ic has no armour protection. The fuel tanks, oil coolers, and engines are all located in the wings. The crew are spread throughout the fuselage. Due to the lack of armour the crew, especially the gunners, are very vulnerable. This could lead to enemy fighters quickly disabling your gunners and leaving you defenceless.

• No armour protection
• Self-sealing fuel tanks

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB624 → 843

RB1 055 → 1 425

SB1 647 → 2 225

Total cost of modifications8 430

9 500

Talisman cost640

Crew training4 500

Experts16 000

Aces180

Research Aces190 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

50 / 100 / 180 %

118 / 118 / 118 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 420 Cost: 470 90 Radiator Research: 420 Cost: 470 90 Airframe Research: 470 Cost: 530 100 Compressor Research: 470 Cost: 530 100 Wings repair Research: 530 Cost: 600 115 Engine Research: 530 Cost: 600 115 Cover Research: 550 Cost: 620 120 Engine injection Research: 550 Cost: 620 120	EFS Research: 550 Cost: 620 120	bmg303_turret_belt_pack Research: 420 Cost: 470 90 TC mk.I Research: 420 Cost: 470 90 vikkersK_turret_new_gun Research: 470 Cost: 530 100 LBC mk.I Research: 470 Cost: 530 100 bmg303_turret_new_gun Research: 530 Cost: 600 115 SBC mk.I Research: 530 Cost: 600 115 MBC mk.I Research: 550 Cost: 620 120 2000 Research: 550 Cost: 620 120

The default bomb load is a meagre 10 x 250 lb (117 kg) so upgrading to 18 x 250 or 9 x 500 lb (226 kg) should be task number one. In order: unlock the Turret 7 mm ammo first, then the TC mk.I (torpedo) rack, and then the LBC mk.I. Unlocking the 7 mm ammo gives access to the Universal AP-I belt as one works up to the bomb racks for 18 x 250 or 9 x 500. After that, you can pursue your choice of upgrades.

Upgrades to the turret should also be considered. The different belts do not have a considerable effect, but the upgraded turrets allow for a longer rate of fire. Very important for the small rifle calibre machine guns.

However, speed and climb rate is also a necessity and the unlocks help the sluggish Wellington a lot. The decision should depend on the pilots flying style. When rushing in better armament will help in the retreat, but the better performance will aid even more to get to friendly zones.

The sneaky approach, on the other hand, relies less on speed, but on surviving the random combat encounters. Turret upgrades are the way to go for this playstyle.

Armaments

Suspended armament

List of setups (8)

Setup 110 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 218 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 39 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 42 x 1000 lb G.P. Mk.I bomb
6 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 52 x 18 inch Mark XII torpedo (1548 lbs)

Setup 61 x 4000 lb H.C. Mk.II bomb

Setup 79 x 500 LB S.A.P. Mk.II bomb

Setup 82 x 2000 LB A.P. Mk.I bomb

The Wellington Mk Ic can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 10 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 18 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 9 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs + 6 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (3,500 lb total)
• 2 x 18 inch Mark XII torpedoes
• 1 x 4,000 lb H.C. Mk.II bomb (4,000 lb total)
• 9 x 500 lb S.A.P. Mk.II bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb A.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)

Defensive armament

Turret2 x 7.7 mm Browning machine gun

Ammunition2000 rounds

Fire rate1000 shots/min

Turret2 x 7.7 mm Browning machine gun

Ammunition4000 rounds

Fire rate1000 shots/min

2 х Turret7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun

Ammunition483 rounds

Fire rate950 shots/min

The Wellington Mk Ic is defended by:

• 2 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, nose turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)
• 2 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, tail turret (2,000 rpg = 4,000 total)
• 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (483 rpg)

Usage in battles

Air Battles

The Wellington Mk Ic offers great payload options for all types of bomber pilots, however beware of enemy fighters. Enemy fighters are your bane, the Wellington Mk Ic only has four turrets, two turrets in the side of the fuselage then one in the front and rear of the plane. If the rear turret is knocked out, only way to evade enemy fighters is to turn and perform defensive manoeuvres and try to get the enemy fighter with one of your other turrets.

The major weakness of the Wellington Mk Ic is its lack of defence, however it offers good speed, survivability and payload options.

Ground Battles

In ground battles, it is recommended to use the single 4,000 lb "Cookie" bomb. This bomb allows for destruction on a scale which the poor tankers can't comprehend. The Cookie bomb has 1,339 kg of Amatol explosives, allowing for any tanks gathered in a cap zone or (in a close environment) as long as the bomb lands in close proximity, the entire zone will be blown apart and their poor tanks will get knocked out.

The Wellington Mk Ic is a large aircraft, it's not a small fighter bomber or a medium bomber - it's a large heavy bomber. The Wellington Mk Ic is prone to being destroyed in flight by enemy SPAA or tank cannons with HE rounds.

When you spawn in game, descend fast towards a large grouping of enemy tanks and drop your payload, then withdraw to the airfield and rearm. Make sure you have set a bomb delay of 2-3 seconds or the shockwave from the bomb will rip you apart. The other playstyle for this mode is to climb high and circle around the map then wait for the enemies to gather in the cap zones or to group up and drop a 4,000 lb Cookie bomb on them.

Naval Battles

In naval battles, either equip yourself with the 9 x 500 lbs, 4,000 lb, or two torpedoes.

The two torpedoes should ideally be used, they are able to sink the biggest of ships from battleships to small coastal boats. Using the the torpedoes, come in from the side and try to predict where the enemy ships will be heading and drop them. The torpedoes do not drop in pairs, but individually, so with good placement and patience two ships can be sunk.

Using the 500 lb or 4,000 lb bombs or other bombs which can be used, either dive on the ship or straight and level then drop them all together on one target, since the ship will be turning hard to port or starboard to avoid your bombs.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent payload - up to 4,500 lbs at max payload weight
• Versatile payload options and access to the devastating 4,000 lb bomb
• Excellent turret coverage
• Very powerful torpedoes, two are enough to sink an aircraft carrier
• The aircraft can take a beating thanks to the cross-hatched airframe

Cons:

• Defensive turrets are easy to take out
• Defensive armament has poor damage output
• Extremely slow all-around mobility
• Easy prey for high altitude fighters/try to get near 6,000 m where very little opposition is found
• Having a fighter with good weaponry on your six usually means death
• The crew cannot take a beating due to the lack of armour. The cockpit is particularly vulnerable

History

Developed from the British Air Ministry's Specification B.9/32 in 1932, which called for a long range, twin-engine bomber capable of a range of 720 miles with a payload of 1,000 lbs, Vickers returned to the Ministry with a proposal for an aircraft with four times the range and bombload of the specification. Unsurprisingly, the Ministry ordered a prototype, designated the Vickers Type 271, which took off on its maiden flight on June 15, 1936 with Vickers Chief Test Pilot Joseph "Mutt" Summers at the controls. The aircraft, a mid-wing monoplane fitted with Bristol's Pegasus X engines outputting 915 HP each which drove a three-bladed, variable pitch propeller.

Unfortunately, the prototype crashed on April 19, 1937 after structural failure, throwing the pilot to safety who then deployed his parachute, but the radio operator wouldn't share the same luck. With trials nearly completed at the time, and the aircraft proving more than impressive, the Ministry removed another requirement, Specification B.29/36 to cover a production version as well as an initial order of aircraft. The name of the aircraft, Wellington, derived from the RAF's bomber tradition of naming the aircraft after towns, as well as echoing the 1st Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon.

The Mk Ic was the second most produced variant of the Wellington, at 2,685 airframes built between 1940 and 1942, and while virtually identical to the Mk.Ia, featured the removal of the ventral turret and replaced them with two machine gun positions firing from the sides. Initially, Vickers "K" machine guns were used, located in front of the wings, but the majority of Mk Ic aircraft carried a pair of Browning .303 machine guns located further back on the fuselage. While also featuring improved hydraulics and electrical systems, the aircraft was also the first version of the Wellington to feature Lorenz Blind Landing Equipment. Production of the Mk Ic proceeded into Autumn 1942, with an entrance into service in April 1940 as a night time bomber as daylight bombing had been ceased at that point.

[Expand]Archive of the in-game description

In May 1940, the Vickers Wellington bomber was included in the list of aircraft declared a high priority by Great Britain's Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Wellington was built around Barnes Wallis' geodetic structure concept, maximising airframe strength for minimum weight. Powered by two Bristol Pegasus engines, the Wellington was first test flown in May 1936 and entered service with RAF Bomber Command in 1938. Full-scale production of the Mk Ic (Type 415) model started in April 1940; the most numerous of the Mk.Is, the Mk Ic differed from previous variants by replacing the ventral turret with guns fitted to the aircraft's beams. In place of the Frazer-Nash FN-25 turret, the Mk Ic featured two side blisters consisting of 0.303 inch Vickers Class K machine guns with 483 rounds each (7 flat pan magazines, standard capacity). The Mk Ic bombers of later series were fitted with Colt-Browning Mk.II .303 inch belt-fed machine guns with 600 rounds each. The standard bomb capacity was 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg); this was normally made up of nine 500 lb (227 kg) bombs or two 2,000 lb (907 kg) bombs. A special model, the Type 423, was based on the Wellington Mk Ic; it was able to deliver one 4,000 lb (1,816 kg) extra-heavy Cookie Mk.I or Mk.II bomb to the target. To accomplish this, the central bomb bay doors were removed and the bomb bay itself was modified. The defensive armament remained the same. On the night of July 7th 1941, Sgt James Ward became the only Wellington crewman to win a Victoria Cross when his Mk Ic was hit by a German night fighter and its starboard engine set on fire. With a rope attached to him, Ward crawled out onto the wing and tearing holes in the aircraft's fabric for hand holds, reached the fire to extinguish it. The Wellington served not only as a bomber, it was also modified for use in the maritime role for RAF Coastal Command. In January 1941, the Mk Ic began to be used as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft, although no design changes were made. In December 1941, the first torpedo bomber conversions were made. The Wellington Mk Ic (TB) torpedo bomber was identical to the Mk Ic in terms of its engines and defensive armament but could carry up to two Mk.XII torpedoes. The first special anti-submarine model designed for the RAF Coastal Command was the Type 428 Wellington GR Mk.VIII (TB). Its structure had the airframe of the later Mk Ic series. The GR Mk.VIII (TB) reconnaissance/torpedo bomber began production in the spring of 1942 in three versions: one version with radar, one version with a retractable searchlight (in place of a nose turret), and the last variant developed as a long range reconnaissance aircraft with extra fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay. All three, starting with the 66th production aircraft, were equipped with the same torpedo mount as the Mk Ic (TB) model. The Wellington torpedo bombers were used for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of December 1941; anti-submarine models began to patrol the North Sea in May 1942. The first German submarine destroyed by these aircraft was sunk on July 6, 1942. 2,547 Mk Ic aircraft were produced, including 138 Mk Ic (TB) torpedo bombers and 271 GR Mk.VIII (TB) torpedo bombers.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Wellington Mk Ic from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #6 - Pages of History section at 00:40 discusses the Vickers Wellington.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• other literature.

[Expand]Vickers-Armstrongs Aircraft Limited
Bombers	Wellington Mk Ic · Wellington Mk Ic/L · Wellington Mk III · Wellington Mk X
Captured	▀Wellington Mk Ic