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F-4E Phantom II

2022-07-28T09:33:16Z

U104189941: Added several remarks about the F-4E's CAS capabilites

{{About
| about = American jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F-4 Phantom II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4e
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]].

The mighty F-4E Phantom II is a famous US aircraft from the Vietnam War era and a reliable workhorse of many militaries around the world. Powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 jets, each producing an incredible 8,010 kgf on maximum afterburner, the F-4E boasts high speed and a solid climb rate. Leading-edge "Agile Eagle" slats increase its turning capability and somewhat mitigate the reputation of the Phantom family as flying bricks. In the weapons department, the F-4E has access to AIM-7E-2 Sparrows for medium-to-long range combat, AIM-9J Sidewinders for close-in work, and an enormous array of ground attack ordnance including AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles and AGM-62 Walleye glide bombs. This multi-role vehicle is a supremely capable ground attacker and a competitive fighter, though in air combat pilots must account for its lack of a pulse-Doppler radar.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 12,192 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,097 || 2,074 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 27.5 || 160.8 || 151.2 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,202 || 2,140 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 221.6 || 190.0
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:F-4E Phantom II deploying drogue chute.png|right|thumb|420x420px|A ROKAF F-4E Phantom II from to 153th Combat Squadron deploying its drogue chute for landing]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 607 || 584 || 463 || ~11 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 810 || < 750 || < 700 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="4" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="2" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | General Electric J79-GE-17 || 2
| colspan="2" | 14,205 kg || colspan="2" | 408 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="3" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel
|-
| 1,750 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 15,964 kg || 18,027 kg || 20,069 kg || 24,000 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="4" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,200 kgf || 8,010 kgf
| 1.00 || 0.89 || 0.80 || 0.67
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,200 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,170 kgf (1,400 km/h)
| 1.27 || 1.13 || 1.01 || 0.85
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}


The survivability features of the {{PAGENAME}} have grown compared to its [[F-4C Phantom II|predecessor]] with an armour plate and missile countermeasures attached.

By this stage in the high-rank battles, all the fuel tanks are self-sealing. While this will assist with any fuel tank punctures from machine gun calibre weapons, the presence of fast-firing autocannons and missiles mean that these self-sealing tanks are only an accessory to the overall survival of the aircraft.

The addition of an armour plate is a minor benefit as it is only an 8.5 mm steel plate just below the forward fuel tank in the fuselage. This is only thick enough to block a glancing shot to the fuselage. Its most effective use seems to when the {{PAGENAME}} as it is pulling up from an attack run, as it is in that angle where the armour plate can potentially block any shot threatening the fuselage fuel tanks and engine. However, considering the small size it is made up of and the large plane overall, this armour plate should not be relied upon for the overall survival of the aircraft.

The biggest change from previous version is the countermeasure flares, which are greatly useful at deterring incoming infrared-homing missiles like the [[AIM-9J Sidewinder|Sidewinders]] or [[R-60]]s. To utilise the flares, one must turn off their engine afterburners to eliminate that as a significant source of heat, deploy the flares in a suitable manner, then bank away from the flares to that the missile lock onto the remaining heat source rather than the plane's engine.

A survivability feature shared with its predecessor is the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR). The RWR will ping the player in the source of any incoming radar scans, and will also notify if the radar source have achieved a lock-on with the player. Keep an eye on this as it may signify to the player that an enemy semi-active radar homing missile may be launched soon and evasive actions should be taken.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|M61A1 (20 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon + 90 x countermeasures

Due to this cannon's high rate of fire, trigger discipline is a must.

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|M117 cone 45 (750 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)|LDGP Mk 84 (2,000 lb)}}
{{main|AGM-62A Walleye I (505 kg)|GBU-8 (2,000 lb)|GBU-15(V)1/B (2,000 lb)|AGM-12C Bullpup|AGM-65B}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-7E-2 Sparrow|AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9J Sidewinder}}
{{main|BLU-27/B incendiary|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|GAU-4 (20 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 3 x 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total)
* 24 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 19 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (14,250 lb total)
* 13 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (13,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 4 x BLU-27/B incendiary bombs
* 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles
* 2 x AGM-12C Bullpup missiles
* 6 x AGM-65B missiles
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs (4,000 lb total)

==== Custom loadout options ====
{| class="wikitable" width="100%" style="text-align:center"
|-
! !! width="4%" | 1 !! width="4%" | 2 !! width="4%" | 3 !! width="4%" | 4 !! width="4%" | 5 !! width="4%" | 6 !! width="4%" | 7 !! width="4%" | 8 !! width="4%" | 9 !! width="4%" | 10 !! width="4%" | 11
| rowspan="20" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_F-4C_Phantom_II.png]]</div>
|-
! 20 mm GAU-4 cannons (1200 rpg)
| 1 || || || || || 1 || || || || || 1
|-
! 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs
| 6 || 3 || || || || 6 || || || || 3 || 6
|-
! 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs
| 6 || 3 || || || || 6 || || || || 3 || 6
|-
! 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs
| 4 || 3 || || || || 5 || || || || 3 || 4
|-
! 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs
| 2 || 3 || || || || 3 || || || || 3 || 2
|-
! 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs
| 1 || 1* || || || || || || || || 1* || 1
|-
! 2,000 lb GBU-8 bombs
| 1 || 1* || || || || || || || || 1* || 1
|-
! 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs
| || 1* || || || || || || || || 1* ||
|-
! 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs
| 1 || || || || || 1 || || || || || 1
|-
! BLU-27/B incendiary bombs
| 1 || || || || || 2 || || || || || 1
|-
! FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
| 57 || 57 || || || || 57 || || || || 57 || 57
|-
! Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
| 12 || 12 || || || || 12 || || || || 12 || 12
|-
! AGM-12C Bullpup missiles
| || 1* || || || || || || || || 1* ||
|-
! AGM-65B missiles
| || 3* || || || || || || || || 3* ||
|-
! AIM-7E Sparrow missiles
| || || || 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 || || ||
|-
! AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles
| || || || 1 || 1 || || 1 || 1 || || ||
|-
! AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
| || || 1, 2* || || || || || || 1, 2* || ||
|-
! AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
| || || 2* || || || || || || 2* || ||
|-
| colspan="12" | Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 1,500 kg
|-
| colspan="13" | * Marked options for hardpoints 2/10 cannot be used in conjunction with air-to-air missiles on hardpoints 3/9 respectively
|}

== Usage in battles ==


The F-4E Phantom II is well-suited for any in-game situation. For attacking ground targets, the plane is armed with an assortment of bombs and rockets, and against air targets, players may employ the vehicle's deadly air-to-air missiles and frontal cannon. If desired, three externally-mounted gunpods may be equipped, but note that these may not be useful in certain situations. Although they will undoubtedly increase the vehicle's destructive capabilities, they also appreciably hinder flight performance through induced drag. In many situations, one front-facing cannon is all that is required to dispatch an opponent aircraft. As for the missiles, the ones used by this plane are average at its rank, comparable to the [[R-60]] missiles equipped by the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)]] and the [[MiG-21SMT]] (albeit with worse maneuverability). The AIM-9J missiles are most effective when fired from between 1 to 3 km away from the target. Any closer and they will struggle to track and likely veer off target for a miss.

The F-4E has one of the highest rates of climb out of any vehicle in the game. This is however where most of its performance advantages end. Due to its weight, the Phantom has rather mediocre acceleration, and not the best top speed. It is not advised to dogfight anything other than Starfighters and other Phantom variants, as the F-4 has a very poor turn rate. Although the aircraft has better energy retention than most of its opponents, it still bleeds considerable amounts of speed while turning, which can't be regained very quickly due to the aircraft's heavy weight. It also performs quite poorly at low speeds, which is also caused by its weight.

In air realistic battles, it is recommended to take a balanced fuel load of 20 or 30 minutes, depending on how aggressive you fly (this will also allow you to liberally use the afterburner without fear of premature fuel exhaustion). The most useful default Air RB armament for the F-4E are the 4 AIM-9Js or 4 AIM-7E-2s, though both missiles can be used under a custom loadout setting. As the F-4E's dogfighting abilities are rather lackluster, the Sparrows may prove more useful in the long run compared to the AIM-9J Sidewinders. The best strategy is to accelerate to a speed of roughly 900-1100km/h on the deck and then zoom climb to altitude (5km or higher), where the pilot should accelerate to the highest speed possible. Lock on to targets with your radar and use your Sparrows to shoot down enemy aircraft when in range; and remember to keep an eye on your RWR as being at altitude makes you an easy target for the long range missiles prevalent at this tier. Sparrows should ideally be launched above Mach 1 to take maximum advantage of their range and manoeuvrability. After using up all your Sparrows, return to base to rearm, with the Sidewinders (if brought along) used moreso for self-defense rather as a primary weapon. It is important to note that because of its poor flight characteristics, the Phantom will struggle in one-on-one fights, making it vital to keep your teammates around and to avoid dogfighting whenever possible. The Phantom should target enemies turnfighting its friendlies, as not only the enemy may be distracted and slow, but it provides you a chance to save your teammate, who in turn may down another enemy chasing you later in the match.

To reiterate, dogfighting should be avoided as much as possible. The Phantom was designed around missiles, so they will naturally be your main way of getting kills, with the gun being a backup weapon for opportune targets. Furthermore, most of the enemies you will face at 11.0 or above can and will be able to easily maneuver around you, if they haven't already fired a high performance AAM at you. Although if one has unlocked the triple SUU-23/A gunpods, that is an almost surefire way to earn at least one kill in the classic head-on (in addition to its usefulness in attacking ground targets, possibly being the best option in Air Realistic).

Note that the F-4E can be quite useful in Ground Realistic Battles with the amount of options for guided weaponry available to the F-4E. To significantly make use of these guided weapons, climb atleast 5000 meters to give you time to properly aim, fire and pull away. Note that you have atleast 43 Chaff and Flares, which should be enough to ward off any SPAA wanting to shoot you out of the sky.

;Notable Air RB enemies include:

* [[MiG-21bis]]: the most advanced Soviet MiG-21, with amazing acceleration that can catch up to the F-4E quite easily and evade missiles with flares. The German [[MiG-21bis-SAU]] has access to all-aspect R-60MK missiles as well. Neither has competitive radar-guided missiles however.
* [[JA37C|JA37C Viggen]]: a Swedish powerhouse that boasts high low-altitude speed, good turning performance, similar weapons to the F-4E, and a Pulse-Doppler radar.
* [[Mirage IIIC]]/[[Mirage IIIE|IIIE]]: armed with two of the best infrared missiles in the game, the R.550 Magic, and a long-range radar-guided missile with similar performance to the AIM-7. Strong short-term turning capabilities make them dangerous in snapshots. The former does not have countermeasures, however.
* [[Phantom FGR.2]]/[[Phantom FG.1|FG.1]]: British Phantoms with more powerful engines, can out accelerate and outrun the F-4E. They also have pulse-Doppler radars and are superior in BVR.
* [[F-4EJ Kai Phantom II|F-4EJ Kai]]: Japanese Phantom with an excellent pulse-Doppler radar and the same armament as the F-4E.
* F-4E Phantom II: This very aircraft, as a result you simply play around its weaknesses as described in the section below.
* [[F-4J Phantom II]]: Later American Phantom variant, sacrifices ATGM/GBU capability for generally improved dogfighting performance/armaments over the F-4E.
* [[F-14A Early]]: American successor to the F-4 with the ultra-long range and fire-and-forget Phoenix missiles, a superior radar, and overall better dogfighting performance.
* [[MiG-23M]]/[[MiG-23MF (Germany)|MF]]/[[MiG-23MLD|MLD]]: swing-wing fighters with potent missiles, good avionics, and superior agility to the F-4E on lower sweep settings. Avoid dogfighting and keep an eye out for sneak attacks with the R-23T/24T missiles. The MiG-23M and MiG-23MF have very limited countermeasures, which the F-4E can exploit with its large missile capacity. The MiG-23MLD has excellent speed and climb performance that can match or exceed the F-4E.
* [[J-7E]]: a light and nimble Chinese fighter with exceptional agility but no radar-guided missiles. Avoid dogfighting whenever possible.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can carry up to eight missiles, allowing a total of four AIM-9Js and AIM-7E-2 (DF) for fighting either manoeuvring aircraft or at close-medium range head-on engagements respectively.
* Equipped with flares and chaff for evading enemy missiles
* Can carry a vast range of deadly ground attack ordinance (including fire-and-forget ATGMs)
* Deadly frontal armament with high burst mass and high damage
* Has a ballistic computer for assisting in the aim of cannons, rockets, and bombs
* Better manoeuvrability than most other Phantoms due to slats
* Has better CAS loadouts than any other Phantoms in the US tree.

'''Cons:'''

* Susceptible to wing rip, especially when doing negative G manoeuvres or rolls
* Limited ammunition in the frontally-mounted cannon
* Large target for aircraft and AA alike
* Despite having slats, it is still a heavy aircraft which will struggle in dogfights versus lighter fighters
* Two engines make for a strong heat signature, making it harder to dodge missiles
* Flight performance suffers immensely when carrying large amounts of ordnance
* Radar lacks pulse-Doppler or look-down capabilities, meaning it is difficult to lock and engage enemies below the horizon and/or at low altitudes
* In Air Battles, is often uptiered to top-rank where it can become outclassed in armament and maneuverability
* Has a high repair cost compared to contemporary aircraft
* Has low battlefield endurance in ground realistic battles due to the prevalence of SAMs and/or radar guided AAA

== History ==

[[File:F-4E Phantom.jpg|thumb|400x400px|An F-4E of Holloman Air Force base.]]
The F-4E was initially designed as an incremental upgrade to the standard F-4C airframe used by the US Air Force. The aircraft carried a new radar in a redesigned radome, and more importantly, an internal M61 cannon mounted in the nose. As well, later-production aircraft featured the Agile Eagle upgrade, which gave the Phantom leading edge slats which improved manoeuvrability at the expense of top speed. The addition of an internal cannon was a highly anticipated upgrade, as it fixed a problem that F-4C squadrons faced when operating over Vietnam.

The first F-4Es entered service in the 1960s and were dispatched to serve in Vietnam, where they complemented the existing inventories of F-4C and D variant aircraft. The aircraft type was credited with 21 kills in Vietnam, most of which were achieved using the AIM-7E-2 'Dogfight Sparrow'. Several pilots achieved Ace status while flying the F-4 in Vietnam, including Charles B. DeBellevue, who was the highest-scoring American ace in Vietnam. The F-4 went on to form the backbone of the US fighter force for the bulk of the 1960s and 70s. As well, F-4E was flown by the USAF Thunderbirds Demonstration Team between 1969 and 1974. The large, noisy Phantom performed around the world until 1974, when rising fuel costs forced the Thunderbirds to convert to the smaller T-38 Talon.

The F-4E was exported to a variety of countries. Israel was the largest foreign user of the F-4 Phantom, having purchased 124 F-4 Phantoms from the United States betwen 1971 and 1974; the Israelis were credited with at least 115 kills using the F-4 Phantom during various conflicts. As well, Germany and Japan both procured modified versions of the F-4E, being the F-4F and F-4EJ, respectively. Other notable foreign users of the F-4E include Australia (24 aircraft), Egypt (35 aircraft), Greece (34 aircraft), and Turkey (40 aircraft).

During service, the Phantom gained a number of nicknames, including "Rhino" (referencing its titanium construction and long nose), "Double-Ugly", and even "The world's largest distributor of MiG Parts", referencing the 277 MiGs downed by the Phantom during various conflicts. The USAF retired the aircraft in 1996, and the aircraft was used as a target drone until 2016. The aircraft remains in service with Iran, Japan, South Korea, Greece and Turkey, 62 years after its maiden flight.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=f-4e Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|TWT-ETcU_No|'''The Shooting Range #198''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:33 discusses the F-4E Phantom II.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-21 (Family)]]
* SAAB [[J35D]] ''Draken''
* Dassault [[Mirage IIIC]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/479889-f-4e/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{USA jet aircraft}}

F-4C Phantom II

2022-04-21T20:12:21Z

U104189941: /* Usage in battles */ Added a screenshot of the usage of a AIM-7D

{{About
| about = American jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F-4 Phantom II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4c
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.91 "Night Vision"]].

Development of fighter aircraft attempts to balance size, speed, armament and manoeuvrability to come up with the perfect fighter. Due to the difficulties and challenges of bundling all of these in one aircraft, many different varieties have been developed through the years which highlighted one or more aspects but rarely all in one. And sometimes the mould had to be broken and the motto "bigger IS better" came into play. Due to these such heavyweight fighters like the [[P-61C-1|P-61]], [[Me 410 (Family)|Me 410]], [[Beaufighter (Family)|Beaufighter]], [[J5N1]] and [[SM.91]] were developed to fly faster, remain manoeuvrable and carry heavier weapons and ordnance, sometimes much heavier than their lighter counterparts. The {{PAGENAME}} is no exception, originally developed as a souped-up F3H Demon, this fighter was modified into a larger, heavier, faster fighter-interceptor/bomber that the U.S. Navy didn't realize it needed and when it did, it went all in.<ref name="Hachette" />

The imposing {{PAGENAME}} can seem a bit intimidating at first due to its size, but the pilot will quickly find that with the dual J79-GE-15 engines that this fighter is no slouch. Going from takeoff, acceleration in a climb and to level flight the {{PAGENAME}} will move and is quite agile for an aircraft of its size. More than capable as a dogfighter, it, however, has many options up its sleeve to deal with enemy aircraft it may encounter. Pilots new to the {{PAGENAME}} will initially be set up with an M61 20 mm cannon. Due to this aircraft not being configured with an internal cannon, one was required to be mounted on a centre-line pylon. Options become available to mount two additional 20 mm cannon gun pods, one under each wing which all together will spew out a slew of 20 mm rounds acting like a shotgun effect even at >500 m. [[AIM-9B]] and [[AIM-9E]] Sidewinder missiles round out the Phantom's anti-air capabilities and are solid missiles to use against enemy aircraft which will cause the enemy pilot to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid the missile. In the event that happens, be ready with the cannons for backup as the enemy pilot should be an easy target after bleeding all of their speed and energy avoiding the missile.

[[File:F 4 phantom markymark 002.jpg|350px|thumb|left|Bird's eye view of a {{PAGENAME}} from the VF-111 Sundowners squadron.]]

Another arena where the {{PAGENAME}} shines is in the ground-pounding or ground attack function of the aircraft. With eleven hardpoints, this fighter/bomber can be configured in many different ways to carry a combination of guns, bombs and rockets. When it comes to bombs, the {{PAGENAME}} has the option to use either 250 lb, 500 lb, 750 lb or 1,000 lb bombs and can hold upwards of 9,000 lbs total. The Phantom also has three different rocket types to choose from, depending on the targets you are going after. These range from anti-tank AGM-12B and AGM-12C Bullpup guided rockets, Zuni Mk32 anti-tank rockets and the small but powerful FFAR Mighty Mouse in a volume of 228, which can be devastating when used en masse.

The amazing F-4 Phantom II was state-of-the-art in its day and even 60 years later, several countries are still utilising this iconic fighter/bomber as a force multiplier with their air forces today. This fighter coupled with a pilots skill and determination can help alter the outcome in the jet-battle matches.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


The {{PAGENAME}} is an incredibly stable aircraft, however from the way its wingtips and tailplanes look, one might think otherwise. Due to extensive wind tunnel testing, McDonnell engineers determined that by canting the tailplanes downward at a 23° anhedral (inclination) the stability and stall recovery characteristics of the aircraft dramatically improved and in the same fashion they didn't interfere with the engine's jet exhaust. The wings, on the other hand, were developed to be extremely strong to support large suspended armaments; however, they needed to be given a 5° upward inclination to prevent having to redesign the entire wing. So, the engineers elected to just raise the wingtips at a 12° dihedral which averaged the wing at the necessary 5°. The iconic shape of the {{PAGENAME}} was set.<ref name="Hachette" />

With the airframe, wings and tailplanes set in place, the fighter became a stable and solid aircraft. Stability is especially critical with a jet which closes in on the Mach 2 mark. Early speed trials identified flaws in the aircraft which at times proved fatal, but corrections and modifications for later aircraft increased their stability and airworthiness which saved many pilots with damaged aircraft. The {{PAGENAME}} is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-15 engines which are necessary to keep the fighter/bomber in the sky, especially with heavy ordnance loads, however, these engines don't bog down too much under heavy loads as it will still accelerate in a climb, during level flight and during a dive. A testament to the jet and its engines, during one altitude test, the F-4 flew Mach 2 all the way to 90,000 feet where the engines were shut off and the plane coasted up to 98,000 ft, slowing to almost 45 mph and upon dropping back to Earth, fired up its engines at around 70,000 ft and successfully landed.

The Phantom II has the speed and acceleration and also has sufficient manoeuvrability. As a low altitude bomber, the F-4C needed to be manoeuvrable or else it would have been an easier target for either the MiG fighters or the anti-aircraft ground fire. Even with heavy ordnance loads, the Phantom II could still shimmy into position, release its ordnance and then rocket away to a higher altitude. Pilots found out early on that some MiG fighters like the -17 were extremely manoeuvrable and had to be prepared to nullify the target to prevent the MiG from getting behind them.
For the F-4C pilot, it is important when bombing targets to keep a look around and watch for enemy fighters attempting to swoop in, attack the ground target and rocket up to safety. When flying at altitude, be careful not to get into a turning fight as the Phantom is a very heavy aircraft and does not turn very well, instead fly fast and work with Boom & Zoom techniques and always watch your six as a MiG may try to sneak up from behind. Furthermore, beware pulling negative G's as this can result in a broken wing quite easily (especially if equipped with ordnance on the wing hardpoints).

In game, however, the aircraft will not reach both its maximum altitude of 16,000 m or top speed of over 2,000 km/h (even when unarmed and with the minimum fuel loadout). After about 8,000-9,000 m the aircraft starts to slowly lose nearly all lift and eventually plateaus at 12,132 m. In order to reach higher altitudes one must go supersonic, enter a steep climb, and then level off at the desired altitude (although currently this serves little to no gameplay purpose). As for its actual average speed, the F-4C is more likely to just barely break Mach 1 after about 30-40 seconds of level flight at any altitude with all upgrades (so keep this in mind when attempting to boom and zoom or outrun an opponent).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 12,192 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,228 || 2,202 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 27.5 || 142.4 || 132.5 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,362 || 2,288 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 203.9 || 172.0
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| X || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 584 || 463 || ~11 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 810 || < 750 || < 700 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | {{Annotation|Basic mass|Mass of the aircraft with pilot and engine oil, but no fuel or weapons load}} || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | General Electric J79-GE-15 || 2
| colspan="2" | 13,405 kg || colspan="3" | 392 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 32m fuel
|-
| 1,720 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 15,164 kg || 17,014 kg || 18,819 kg || 19,270 kg || 24,000 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 32m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 4,910 kgf || 7,561 kgf
| 1.00 || 0.89 || 0.80 || 0.78 || 0.63
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 4,955 kgf (1,458 km/h) || 8,856 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.17 || 1.04 || 0.94 || 0.92 || 0.74
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}

[[File:F 4 phantom sgtroach.png|350px|thumb|right|Fox-2, Fox-2 - ROKAF {{PAGENAME}} launching an [[AIM-9B]] Sidewinder missile.]]
Due to the sheer weight of the {{PAGENAME}} it is surprising to note that there is no armour plating nor any bulletproof canopies. Littered with eight fuel tanks, one in each wing and the other six in the fuselage right above the engines, there isn't much protection for the self-sealing tanks. The Phantom pilot will need to be cognizant of where enemy aircraft are behind them to ensure they prevent their aircraft from taking damage as speed and manoeuvrability are the keys to survival and if lost, there is not much hope for the fighter.

For those aircraft attacking the {{PAGENAME}}, when using machine guns and cannons you can try to blow off a wing or snipe the pilot, however, your best bet will be to aim for centre fuselage where you have the greatest chance of hitting several fuel tanks or even the engines. Firing missiles will cause the pilot to take evasive manoeuvres which may cause the aircraft to pitch up or down which will expose the greatest surface area allowing your guns or cannons to finish the fight as for without any armour, only the thin metal skin separates the incoming bullets from critical {{PAGENAME}} components.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | [[Ballistic Computer]]
|-
! CCIP (Guns) !! CCIP (Rockets) !! CCIP (Bombs) !! CCRP (Bombs)
|-
| {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Tick}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

[[File:F 4 phantom news001.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Three-quarter view of an {{PAGENAME}} displaying the variance of suspended armament.]]
{{main|LDGP Mk 81 (250 lb)|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|M117 cone 45 (750 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)}}
{{main|AGM-12B Bullpup|AGM-12C Bullpup|AIM-7D Sparrow|AIM-9B Sidewinder|AIM-9E Sidewinder}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|M61 (20 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* 1 x 20 mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon in a SUU-16/SUU-23 gun pod (1,200 rpg)
* 2 x additional SUU-16/SUU-23 gun pods for a total of 3 x M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (9,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 12 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (9,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 8 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AGM-12C Bullpup missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 228 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 48 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 6 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (4,500 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 24 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 18 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (4,500 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (9,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 12 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (9,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 8 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 250 lb LDGP Mk 81 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 12 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 6 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (4,500 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7D Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles

It is rare for a fighter not to have any native offensive weapons, typically this is a situation you would find on a bomber. The {{PAGENAME}} is unique in that what it lacks in offensive weapons, it more than makes up for in suspended weapons. With a total of 11 hardpoint pylons, an array of guns, bombs, rockets and missiles can be added, fully customizing the mission to suit the needs of the pilot. The pilot has the choice of configuring for air-to-air, air-to-ground or a mixture of both (bombs and Bullpup rockets are ground attack only, missiles are air-to-air attack only while the cannons, Zuni and FFAR rockets can be used for both).

In regards to air-to-air combat, the {{PAGENAME}} is hard-pressed to find a competitor on equal footing, but that can be found with an exceptional pilot flying a less than equal aircraft. This fighter is fast and with its speed, it can relatively sneak up on enemy fighters by closing the gap on the field with its twin J79-GE-15 engines. Once in place and the enemy is in range, two options are available, guns or missiles? The M-61 Vulcan cannon can spew 20 mm rounds at the rate of just over 6,000 rounds per minute (roughly 100 per second), now multiply that by three (if the Phantom is configured for three gun pods) and you can see devastating firepower which will be difficult for any enemy aircraft to avoid. Even just quick bursts at a manoeuvring fighter can be enough to inflict critical damage or even blowing off a wing. Ground attack with the guns can be effective on lighter armoured vehicles with just a few quick bursts.

The AIM-9B and AIM-9E Sidewinders are the missile options available for the {{PAGENAME}}. During the Vietnam War, when US Air Force models of the Phantom like the F-4C and F-4D began operations, they did so without the capability of mounting AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles as the Navy models did, instead using the AIM-4 Falcon. Falcons had gained a reputation of not being reliable (not firing, not tracking, not exploding) so several squadrons had their fighters field-modified with the ability to mount their trusted Sidewinder missiles. Here on the {{PAGENAME}}, four Sidewinders are available and are effective at hounding down an aircraft when a lock is acquired. However, they are not guaranteed to hit, as a competent pilot can avoid them with hard manoeuvring, flying towards the sun, etc. However these actions will often hamper the target's speed and situational awareness, making them an easier target to clean up with the cannons.

[[File:F 4 phantom markymark 001.jpg ‎|350px|thumb|left|VF-96 Showtime-100 {{PAGENAME}} unloading bombs in Vietnam.]]
Zuni and FFAR rockets can be utilised effectively against bombers or even against other fighters, especially during a head-on. Though unguided and not very accurate, usually a salvo of these rockets is enough to cause an enemy to panic into an unexpected manoeuvre. Usage of these rockets on ground targets works very well too. Again, with them being unguided, shooting them en masse ensure a greater possibility of one or more to hit the target. The AGM-12B Bullpup rockets are excellent rockets to use against ground targets, however, the one drawback is that it needs to be guided in by the pilot, so if there are any distractions to the pilot, the rocket will likely go off course and miss the target.

9,000 lbs. Yes, you read that number correctly, the {{PAGENAME}} can carry up to 9,000 lbs of bombs, which is half of what a [[B-29A-BN|B-29]] bomber could carry, however, the Phantom is quite a bit more accurate dropping from much lower altitudes. Using combinations of 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 lb bombs allows the pilot to pick targets accordingly. To ensure the {{PAGENAME}} is not left defenceless after the bombs are away, each configuration has at least one 20 mm cannon pod and/or AIM-9B missiles to go with it.

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} relies on brute force to get its job done. With this version of the Phantom II, there is no protective armour, there are no defensive weapons and there are no countermeasures to ward off the enemy and the weapons they bring to the table. As a brute, the Phantom II muscles its way into a fight, it brings the big guns whether it is cannons, rockets, bombs, missiles or any combination of them and when it does bring them, it brings lots of them. When attacking a Phantom, don't assume it is just a fighter, interceptor or a bomber as it can switch roles on the fly depending on its suspended armament loadout and what needs to be done.

;Air-to-air

The {{PAGENAME}} was originally developed to be an all-weather fleet defensive interceptor for the U.S. Navy, however that role was already taken by the Vought F-8 Crusader, so going back to the drawing board, McDonnell engineers reconfigured the Phantom II so that it can be more versatile and be configured with weapons to suit the mission needed or the branch of military it would be flying for.<ref name="Hachette" /> Though large and intimidating, the Phantom II is a fast-moving beast of an aircraft which can hold its own in air-to-air combat. Due to its size and weight, turn fighting is not the best way to handle the aircraft as with its speed, acceleration and climbing abilities, it can Boom & Zoom with the best of them.

Typically two weapons can be mounted which help this fighter excel in combat of this type and which are AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles and M-61 Vulcan cannons (in a configuration of one or three). The Vulcan cannons can spray the area in front of the Phantom II with an insane amount of 20 mm rounds, especially when three gun pods are mounted which almost has a shotgun scatter effect by the time it gets to where the enemy fighter is and should put enough holes in it with a few quick bursts to get a critical or even just destroy the enemy aircraft. Sometimes the cannons may not be the right option and for this, the AIM-9B comes into play. The Sidewinder missile is very effective and has a very low failure rate, though, in the hands of a good pilot, an enemy fighter does have a chance to evade the missile. The {{PAGENAME}} carries four AIM-9Bs and can utilize them to "spook" an enemy aircraft which might have an energy advantage to attempt energy bleeding manoeuvres to avoid the missile only inadvertently actually setting them up for an easy fly-by shot with the Phantom II's cannons. Missiles are also helpful for finishing off enemies that are unable to dodge them due to battle damage or a lack of energy.

Rockets are another option for this aircraft, however for air-to-air combat, the Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets are the best bet of the three as they were designed to be fired off in large groups to take down large bombers, however, the Phantom II can make use of them not only with bombers but also against fighters attempting a head-on pass or even aircraft landing on airfield in domination matches, as a salvo of missiles will end short their attempt to capture the airfield.

It is recommended to zoom climb and sideclimb as the radar and missiles work better at high altitude. Retaining a high speed is important as the faster you go, the faster the missile goes at launch, allowing for a higher top speed during the missile's flight, making it possible for the missile to reach longer ranges. By side climbing, you avoid the major furball, keeping you out of danger. Once you climb up to a decent altitude (4-6 km), use your radar to lock onto someone, and start launching your AIM-7Ds, as later on in the game, the fight goes to low altitudes where your radar will struggle with ground clutter and will be unreliable to lock onto an enemy. In a head-on and at high speeds, you can launch and hit missiles at 15 km. The AIM-9Es are your dogfight missiles. For enemies not paying attention, you can launch them from 2.5-3 km (the range gets longer the higher you go as the thinner air gives less resistance). As the Phantom lacks in manoeuvrability, it is not recommended to get into a dogfight, but rather to make high speed passes as the Phantom retains controllability even at very high speeds while the Vulcan's incredibly high muzzle velocity allows for ease of aiming and use at high speed, in contrast to the comparatively low velocity of NR-30, ADEN, DEFA and especially the GSh-23 cannons.
[[File:F-4C A-5 kill.jpg|thumb|A F-4C eliminating a enemy A-5 with a AIM-7D Sparrow missile.]]
In a downtier, you can be independent as you can easily outspeed most enemies. Additionally, most enemies in a downtier lack a radar warning receiver (RWR), allowing you to lock them up with AIM-7Ds without alerting them in any way until you actually launch them. Your high top speed and high speed controllability allows you to boom-and-zoom, quickly getting out of a furball without much issue. However, it is not recommended to get into a dogfight with more manoeuvrable jets such as the MiGs as they will easily fly circles around you. instead, use the tried and true method of booming and zooming away from their short range R-60s and cannons.

In an uptier, it is recommended to fly near your teammates, supporting them as you have inferior top speed and manoeuvrability and weapon systems making it very difficult to dogfight any top-tier fighter. Even in a full uptier, 4 AIM-7Ds aren't too bad, especially against enemies without radar (J35D Draken, Mirage IIIC, MiG-21MF). By being near friendly F-4Es or F-5Es, you generally become a lower priority as people know the F-4C is not very competitive, so you can fly around relatively safe, and make quick passes with the deadly vulcan.

;Ground pounding

[[File:F 4 phantom iscari.png‎|450px|thumb|right|Fully loaded {{PAGENAME}} en route to bombing site.]]
The {{PAGENAME}} was not called a "Mud Mover" for nothing as with its legendary suspended ordnance options it can quickly reshape the landscape with bombs and rockets.<ref name="Hachette" /> One of the other configurations the McDonnell engineers designed the Phantom II for was to fit the role of a bomber. Knowing ahead of time this option would increase the fighters value as a force multiplier, the aircraft's wings were originally super strengthened to support eleven hardpoint pylons to allow for up to 9,000 lbs of bombs to be carried (to keep this in perspective, two {{PAGENAME}}s with four crew members could carry the same max weight of bombs of what one B-29 bomber with a total crew of 10 could but could do it a lot faster and at a lot lower altitude).
The bomb options for the Phantom II range from 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 lb bombs which will allow this fighter/bomber to virtually attack any ground target on the map to include large bases. As a bonus, once all of the bombs have been dropped, the F-4 will not be a sitting duck while waiting for the reload timer (arcade) or when heading back to base (realistic and simulator) to reload as each loadout option includes one 20 mm gun pod to allow for a continued attack. Zuni and FFAR Might Mouse rockets can be used for great effect on vehicles and anti-aircraft sites, especially those which are clustered close together, however against heavy pillboxes and heavy tanks they might not do much. The final option is to outfit the AGM-12B or AGM-12C Bullpup rockets. These rockets are a mixed bag for the pilot as they excel at being used against tanks due to their 250 lb warhead; however, on the flip side, these rockets are MCLOS (manual command line of sight) which requires the Phantom II pilot to guide the rocket all the way to the target. Any cause for pilot deviation could potentially throw the Bullpup off course. During the guiding phase of Bullpup on the way to the target, a Phantom II is vulnerable as the pilot cannot be looking around for incoming enemy aircraft and must keep a visual on the target until the rocket hits its target.

;Bait attack

The {{PAGENAME}} is a phenomenal aircraft to use in a group manoeuvre known as a baiting attack. This fighter can play both roles as either the bait or an attacking aircraft. For this to work, the Phantom II can be used as the bait aircraft, which flies in a way to attract the attention of an enemy fighter (or two), after closing in, the Phantom II should use its speed and acceleration to go into a climb, almost like setting up for a rope-a-dope manoeuvre. While the enemy aircraft are attempting to chase the F-4 in the climb the group buddies can swoop in and take out the distracted enemy aircraft. Due to the fast speed and acceleration of the F-4, it can also be used as the support aircraft in the manoeuvre as with its cannons and missiles; it can lunge in to take out the baited enemy fighters.

;Most dangerous enemies

MiG fighters, Mirages, and [[VTOL]] aircraft tend to be the most dangerous enemies, especially the MiG-21 and Harrier variants, which are quite agile and can typically outmanoeuvre the F-4. The max speed of the MiG-21 and the Mirages are comparable with the F-4, whereas aircraft such as the earlier MiG 17 and 19 will get left in the dust as they are almost half as fast. The early MiG-21 variants like the [[MiG-21F-13]] and [[J-7II]] can carry the R-3S/PL-2, missiles similar to the AIM-9B but inferior to the AIM-9E. They can also be equipped with rockets, and the 30 mm cannons can rip through the {{PAGENAME}} with careful aiming. The best bet against a MiG-21 is to attempt to first cripple the aircraft either during a head-on approach or through a missile, rocket or gun attack, once it is operating at less than 100%, it will be easier to manoeuvre around it and set up for the finishing blow. When facing a Harrier, Hunter, Mirage, or other Phantom variant the same strategy applies as they can be difficult to outmanoeuvre when in pristine shape. Although with the Phantoms and Mirages, it is best to avoid a head on approach due to the potential danger of a wall of fire from triple SUU-23/A gunpods (from the Phantoms) or taking a radar guided missile to the face (from both the Phantoms and the Mirages). Be wary of aircraft like the [[Mirage IIIC]], [[Mirage IIIE]], [[MiG-21SMT]], [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]], [[Yak-38 (Family)|Yak-38]], [[Hunter F.6]], and [[Harrier GR.1]] as they can carry up to four (two in the case of the Yak-38s and Mirages) high-performance missiles such as the [[R-60]] for the MiG-21s and Yak-38s, the [[SRAAM]]s for the Hunter and Harrier, and the [[Matra R550 Magic 1]] missile for the Mirages respectively. These are air-to-air missiles with high agility and high-aspect capability that are extremely difficult to dodge without countermeasures (something the F-4C lacks). Furthermore, foreign variants of the Phantom can match you in performance and often come equipped with later (higher-performing) variants of the Sidewinder and Sparrow missiles.

The most common missiles to face are the British SRAAM, AIM-9J, -9G, -9E, -9B, -7E, the R3-S, R-60 and Magics. In order to dodge a SRAAM, you do not turn. You must go fast and get separation from the SRAAM's wielder. The SRAAM relies on thrust vectoring, instead of control surfaces like most other missiles, and therefore cannot manoeuvre and will self destruct once the missile runs out of fuel, giving them very short ranges. AIM-9Gs have incredibly long ranges, so even if one is launched at you from 4 km, you must manoeuvre in order to lose it. You can either attempt to outturn it (they have worse agility than an AIM-9J, Magic or R-60), or attempt to outspeed it. By waiting for it to run out of fuel (this only works at long ranges), you can do big barrel rolls and large turns (not too sharp as to lose speed), and since missiles are incredibly light and will not be able to propel itself once it runs out of fuel, it will lose speed and you will outrun it. for an AIM-9E, -9E, or R3-S, you can simply turn a bit to the side and it will quickly lose track. Against an R-60, AIM-9J or Magic however, it is a bit more complex: the most effective way to outmanoeuvre one without countermeasures is to roll 90 degrees so your wings are perpendicular to the ground, turn, wait a bit, then begin rolling to the ground and keep pulling. this will usually outmanoeuvre most missile launched at you. However, you should not turn to the sky as you will quickly drop speed and make it easier for a missile to hit you.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:F 4 phantom commander drew.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Artistic rendition of a {{PAGENAME}} in a power climb.]]

'''Pros:'''

* Centre-line gun pod is available in all load-out configurations no matter the desired secondary ordnance, but can also be removed in certain load-outs for a performance boost
* Wide variety of payload options to include 20 mm cannons, rockets, missiles and bombs
* Has BVR engagement capability
* Has access to the AIM-9B/E Sidewinders and the AIM-7D Sparrow air-to-air missiles
* Has a ballistic computer
* Fantastic rate of climb
* Decent acceleration
* Good roll rate for a large aircraft
* M61 Vulcan is devastating to enemy aircraft and ground targets (especially when three gun pods are outfitted)

'''Cons:'''

* The gun pods are pointed slightly downwards (pilot must adjust aim to compensate)
* Radar generally has trouble finding and locking aircraft
* Large target profile compared to other fighters it will fly against
* Poor turning ability unless using minimum fuel
* When maxed out at 24 t (21,800 kg/48,000 lb) manoeuvrability suffers
* Using wing-mounted hardpoints will break wings at low altitudes while flying Mach +1.10
* Has a low negative G limit, causing wings to snap easily
* It has trouble outrunning common supersonic aircraft such as the MiG-21, A-5C and F-104
* No countermeasures
* Unlike the Soviet R3R or Matra R530E, the AIM 7D has a 1km warm up time where it flies completely straight, and once it completes the "warm up", it can begin tracking, but if it is not within the missile's sights, it will automatically self destruct, requiring you to lead the missile. This also makes it less reliable in a short range head on as the closing distances may be too fast for the missile to react
* AIM-7D Sparrow missiles are notoriously poor performing
* AIM-7Ds burn for a very long time giving the enemy a long time to see and react to the missile
* Cannot reach listed listed max speed/altitude performance figures
* AIM-9E unavailable in air-to-ground loadouts

 
{{Notice|Fun Fact: The {{PAGENAME}}'s air-intake splitters each have 12,500 small holes drilled into them to reduce incoming turbulence and allow the maximum amount of ram air available into the air-intakes for the engines.}}

== History ==

McDonnell Aircraft Corporation began operations in 1939, though it didn't produce any fighter aircraft for the second great war, it did make a name for itself manufacturing aircraft parts for other aircraft. Though the company worked on a prototype twin-engine, single-seat interceptor aircraft, the XP-67 "Bat" (also known as "Moonbat"), the destruction of the prototype due to an engine fire caused the project to be cancelled. However, starting in 1943, McDonnell began developing jet aircraft and successfully produced the FH-1 Phantom during the post-war era.<ref name="Hachette" /> The success of the Phantom prompted other McDonnell aircraft to have similar features such as the dual engines placed forward under the fuselage and exiting just behind the wings, unlike many single-engine jet fighters which ran the rear length of the aircraft and exited out the rear. Follow on aircraft which shared the engine style of the Phantom was the F2H Banshee, F3H Demon and the F-101 Voodoo.<ref name="Hachette" />

Though McDonnell had initial success with the Phantom and Banshee, they started having problems with the Demon, though it was not because of the aircraft itself, however, it was because of the engines it was outfitted with. The aircraft was sound in its construction and aerodynamics. Later after the Westinghouse XJ40 turbojet was replaced with the Allison J71, the Demon saw greater success.<ref name="Hachette" /> The F-101 Voodoo was an excellent performing aircraft which fulfilled its multi-role capability as an interceptor, fighter/bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, however, when going up against Vought Aircraft Company for a contract with the Navy, McDonnell lost out with the F-8 Crusader being the winner<ref name="Joiner" />.

McDonnell's response to this failure was to task their design team to build a fighter aircraft that the Navy could not refuse, but they did not yet know they needed. Part of the time spent gathering information included interviews with pilots and their wives and one major find was that while the pilots loved to fly fast single-engine fighters, they felt safer in an aircraft which had two engines. With this and other information in hand, McDonnell knew that they needed a single-seat, long-range attack aircraft which manifested itself in a full-size mock-up as the F3H-H, looking noticeably like a combination of a shortened Demon with the swept wings of a Banshee, plus straight tailplanes and an aerodynamic fuselage. This fighter was outfitted with four internal 20 mm cannons plus numerous external payload pylons mounted under the wings and fuselage. The F3H-H was considered more than just an aircraft and was evolving into what would be known as a weapon system. The original engines specified for this aircraft were the Wright J65-W-2, but McDonnell was eyeballing the new General Electric J79 engines for this project.<ref name="Hachette" />

The F3H-H was soon changed to the AH-1 (later the F4H-1) when it went into prototype status, but the aircraft was still having difficulty trying to find a place in the Navy as existing aircraft were already fulfilling the same roles. To make a fit, it was understood to the McDonnell engineers that major changes and modifications were needed to be made, the biggest of which was adding a second crew member.<ref name="Hachette" /> Also, the Navy was willing to sit down and detail out all of the requirements they would need the aircraft to have before they would consider buying it.<ref name="Joiner" /> Three other major requirements were that the aircraft was to be outfitted with the GE J79 engines, the aircraft was to be capable of Mach 2 and the internal 20 mm cannons were removed from the design. Upon the Navy committing to two prototypes, McDonnell knew they needed to undergo a major redesign of the flight surfaces. Through extensive wind tunnel testing the rear tailplanes ended up needing to be bent downward at a 23° anhedral while remaining clear of the jet exhaust. The wings needed to go through a similar change of a 5° dihedral, however, to save time and engineering, it was settled on just adjusting the outer most section of the wings at 12° dihedral which averaged to 5° across the entire wing.<ref name="Hachette" />

Though the first two test flights of the F4H-1 ran into issues (after the first one, the right engine needed to be replaced due to foreign object damage to the compressor blades), flights three and four went smoothly including exceeding Mach 1. The F4H-1 was then shipped to Edwards Air Force Base where it was tested against the Crusader III where after being tested to its full capabilities showed that is undeniably beat the Vought aircraft across the board. Following this McDonnell followed up with breaking a height record where an F4H-1 successfully reached 98,500 ft in altitude and successfully returned. After this, the name of the jet was agreed to be the "Phantom II" which was a nod to the Navy's first jet fighter, the FH-1 Phantom.<ref name="Hachette" />

The United States Marine Corps had shown interest in the F-4 program since its inception as they were tired of the worn-out hand-me-downs that Navy tended to give them.<ref name="Roblin" /> Impressed with the payload and range of the aircraft, the Corps went all in with this fighter to augment and enhance their current aircraft inventory. The United States Air Force, on the other hand, balked at the F-4, believing it to be a second-rate fighter having to be constrained to be built for carrier operations. However, the Air Force could not turn down a request to pit the Phantom II against their finest fighter, the Convair F-106 Delta Dart. During the endurance trials between the two aircraft, again it was shown that the F-4 excelled in just about every area tested (speed, payload, altitude, range and maintenance hours needed) over the F-106 and because of this, the Air Force requested two prototypes for further evaluation.<ref name="Hachette" /> At this point the Navy was receiving the F-4B fighters and ultimately after further testing, the Air Force put in an urgent request for a transfer of 29 Navy F-4Bs while the Air Forces F-4C models were being built.<ref name="Hachette" />

Air Force versions of the F-4C differed from the Navy's F-4B in that the C version had additional ground-attack capabilities along with a full set of controls for the rear seat.<ref name="Joiner" /> The rear-seater was typically a junior pilot nicknamed "Wizzo" or Weapons Systems Operator. Other changes included a reworking of the landing gear which led to lower pressure, but wider tires and an anti-skid assembly attached to the landing gear.<ref name="Hachette" /> The refuelling probe was replaced with a receptacle in the spine of the fighter (for boom refuelling operations) and the cockpit was reconfigured to improve visibility for the guy in back. Updated SST-181X Combat Skyspot radar bombing system allowed the F-4s to accomplish bombing missions under complete cloud cover. Though, not essential to the Air Force, their F-4s did retain the Navy's folding wings, catapult hooks and arrestor hook.<ref name="Hachette" />

Initial deliveries of the F-4C delivered them in the standard non-combat grey and white paintwork; however, upon arriving in Vietnam at Udon RTAFB in Thailand, the aircraft was painted to the more appropriate green and brown tactical camouflage.<ref name="Hachette" />

===[[wt:en/news/6352-development-f-4c-phantom-ii-the-record-breaker-en|Devblog]]===
In the early 1950s, McDonnell Aircraft began work on a revised design of their F3H Demon naval fighter, in an effort to expand upon its capabilities and improve performance in general. By September 1953, the design was submitted for Navy consideration. Showing interest in the project, the U.S. Navy ordered the construction of a mock-up and expressed interest in potentially procuring the type.

By 1955, however, the U.S. Navy changed the requirements for the aircraft substantially. Instead of a multipurpose aircraft, the new design was now supposed to act as a two-seat, long-range, all-weather fleet interceptor. Having revised the design, orders were issued for the construction of two XF4H-1 prototypes as well as an additional five pre-production F4H-1s. Following comparative testing against other machines in service with the Navy at the time, the F4H proved itself as highly capable aircraft and was thus ordered into full-scale production as the F-4. The name 'Phantom II' was given to the aircraft at McDonnell's 20th anniversary celebration in July 1959.

Some time after the Navy procured the F-4, other branches of the U.S. military also became interested in the aircraft. A result, the USAF also introduced a special "army" version of the F-4 into service during the mid 1960s under the designation F-4C.

The F-4 Phantom II would become one of the most produced and widely used American combat aircraft of the second half of the 20th century. With over 5,100 machines being built, the F-4 Phantom II saw service with several operators around the globe and remained in service until the 1990s, while some still serve to this day. Phantom II is widely known as a symbol of the US campaign in Vietnam, in particular.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f-4c Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:F 4 phantom news002.jpg
File:F 4 phantom news003.jpg
File:F 4 phantom news004.jpg
File:F 4 phantom news005.jpg
File:F 4 phantom news006.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|aFj2LOWdj5o|'''The Shooting Range #166''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|d5k2T9FP0bQ|'''Avoid them in frontal attack!''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:01 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

;Notable pilots

[[File:Robin_Olds_portrait.jpg|thumb|none|300px|link=User:U64962917#Olds,_Robin.|During the Vietnam war [[User:U64962917#Olds, Robin|Robin Olds]] flew the F-4C and F-4D fighters and failed to claim aircraft kills after #4 to prevent attaining ace status to remain flying in the war as long as possible.]]

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-21 (Family)]]
* SAAB [[J35D]] Draken
* Dassault [[Mirage IIIC]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6352-development-f-4c-phantom-ii-the-record-breaker-en|[Development] F-4C Phantom II: The Record Breaker]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/462647-f-4c-phantom-ii/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

=== References ===

;Citations
<references>
<ref name="Hachette">Hachette Partworks LTD. (2019)</ref>
<ref name="Joiner">Joiner, S. (2015, March)</ref>
<ref name="Roblin">Roblin, S. (2019, April 17)</ref>
</references>

;Bibliography

* Hachette Partworks LTD. (2019). McDonnell F-4 Phantom II - The Greatest Warplane in the West. (5th ed.). London: Hachette Partworks LTD. ISSN:[https://portal.issn.org/resource/ISSN/2517-259X# 2517-259X]
* Joiner, Stephen. [https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/what-couldnt-f-4-phantom-do-180953944/ "What Couldn't the F-4 Phantom Do?"], ''Air & Space Magazine'', On-line, March 2015. Retrieved on 27 September 2019.
* Roblin, Sebastien. [https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-you-need-respect-mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-ii-fighter-52862 "Why You Need to Respect the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II Fighter"] ''Nationalinterest.org website'', On-line 17 April 2019. Retrieved on 27 September 2019.

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{USA jet aircraft}}

File:F-4C A-5 kill.jpg

2022-04-21T20:09:54Z

U104189941:

just a cool, unedited F-4C screenshot

M46

2021-10-31T15:14:40Z

U104189941: /* Usage in battles */ Added reminder about the perks of APHE and some advice on the economy section

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m46_patton
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was one of the first American tanks to be released with the American ground tree in [[Update 1.45 "Steel Generals"]]. As an upgraded version of the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], it features many similarities to its predecessors but is improved with a better gun and engine for increased firepower and mobility.

== General info ==
=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}

'''Armour type:'''

* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Front)
* Rolled homogeneous armour (Side, Rear, Roof)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 101.6 mm (42-46°) ''Front Glacis'' 162.5 mm (25-60°) ''Upper front glacis'' 76.2 mm (26-53°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 76.2 mm ''Front'' 50.8 mm (0-9°) ''Rear'' || 50.8 mm ''Top'' 22.2 mm (65°) ''Bottom'' || 22.2 mm
|-
| Turret || 101.6 mm (1-55°) ''Turret front'' 114.3 mm (1-84°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 76.2 mm (3-54°) || 76.2 mm (0-79°) || 25.4 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 76.2 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 25.4 mm thick.

=== Mobility ===
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,255|rbMinHp=716|AoAweight=0.2}}

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

Get ''Parts'' and ''FPE'' like the usual routine to increase the tank's survivability. After that, work towards the APCR and ''especially'' the HEATFS round at the Rank III and IV modifications to boost your firepower against the enemy at the battle rating. Be sure to research the Add on armor to add a HEAT cage on the M46 turret to increase survivability.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|M3A1 (90 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M3A1 (90 mm)|90 mm M3A1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 70 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 24.3 || 33.6 || 40.8 || 45.1 || 48.0 || rowspan="2" | 9.7 || rowspan="2" | 8.6 || rowspan="2" | 7.9 || rowspan="2" | 7.5
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 15.2 || 17.9 || 21.7 || 24.0 || 25.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| M318 shot || APBC || 175 || 173 || 161 || 147 || 135 || 123
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 185 || 182 || 170 || 155 || 142 || 130
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 287 || 281 || 259 || 234 || 211 || 191
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 291 || 286 || 264 || 240 || 217 || 197
|-
| M348 shell || HEATFS || 305 || 305 || 305 || 305 || 305 || 305
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13 || 13
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="10" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Projectile Mass (kg)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay (m)
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity (mm)
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
! colspan="3" | Ricochet
|-
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%
|-
| M318 shot || APBC || 853 || 10.98 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M82 shot || APCBC || 853 || 10.94 || 1.2 || 14 || 137.2 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M304 shot || APCR || 1,021 || 7.62 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| M332 shot || APCR || 1,165 || 5.7 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
| M348 shell || HEATFS || 853 || 6.5 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 926.17 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| M71 shell || HE || 823 || 10.55 || 0 || 0.1 || 925 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics
|-
! Ammunition
! Velocity (m/s)
! Projectile Mass (kg)
! Screen radius (m)
! Screen deploy time (s)
! Screen hold time (s)
! Explosive Mass (TNT equivalent) (g)
|-
| M313 || 821 || 10.7 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''70''' || 41 ''(+29)'' || 11 ''(+59)'' || 1 ''(+69)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set.
* Rack 3 is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 10 shells and gets filled first when loading up the tank.
* This rack is also emptied early: the rack depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 1 - 2.
* Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from racks 1 and 2 into rack 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.

=== Machine guns ===
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|3}}

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (200) || 577 || -10°/+50° || ±120°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm M1919A4]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,900 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The tank plays almost like the M26 Pershing, it's relatively fast for its size yet has a very powerful gun. In comparison, the M46 Patton features improved manoeuvrability with increased acceleration, it also has a better gun to combat the foes it will face at its rank. Due to this, the M46 Patton can fit into multiple roles like the Pershing as an offensive or supporting unit. Attack and flank enemy units with the cooperation of allied units to get their more vulnerable sides.

At this rank, the more heavy duty vehicles appears such as the [[IS-3]], [[Tiger II (10.5 cm Kw.K)|10.5cm Tiger II]], [[T32|T32]], and the [[Maus|Maus]]. These tanks are a menace to not just you, but possibly your entire team. Taking these tanks out in the M46 Patton require close cooperation with other allies in order to get around and hit them in their side armour. More powerful ammunition unlocked in later modifications may improve your attempts at destroying these beasts.

'''Arcade Battles'''

The M46 plays like a light tank in Arcade, because it can reach speeds over 50 km/h in perfect conditions. Furthermore, it's very agile - turning on the spot and maneuvering in close quarters is extremely easy. Altogether, this tank is a pleasure to play in cities in Arcade, because you can escape stand-offs and flank the enemy tank, or you may decide to bait a shot by showing your side, then instantly reversing, or you might want to just leave the encounter altogether and help out a teammate who is relatively nearby. Oh, and your agility can also help you bounce shots - just move your hull and turret around slightly if you think you will get shot.

However, the agility of the tank comes at a cost - the armour is non-existent. At 7.0 Battle Rating all tanks can penetrate you anywhere. Luckily, though, this tank usually gets down-tiered to 6.7, although 7.7 is also frequent. Overall - try not to get shot, because you're likely to be very crippled, or dead, in one-shot. If you survive, however, there's a high chance that you can either shoot back, or use your mobility to get into cover, or just run away.

Lastly, in Arcade, your gun is very effective. Use HEAT-FS rounds and the markers to try to hit as many different enemies as possible - don't try to finish them off, just go for assists. Your round is almost guaranteed to penetrate wherever you hit, and if you don't hit ammunition and one-shot a tank, you are likely to take out a crew member or two, some vital component (e.g. the gun, the transmission, the engine etc.), making it very easy for your teammates to clean-up. It is unfortunate, however, that you don't get a stabilizer, so caution has to be taken when peeking corners or driving around flanks.

''Very importantly'', however, you ''must'' always move around the map. In Arcade, enemies often try to focus on a single tank that is slow, or not moving, and if you can move around the map - many enemies will forget about you, or think that their teammates will cover them. Just move around, and try not to get shot!

'''Realistic Battles'''

The M46 is not as effective in Realistic, due to much slower and focused gameplay, in the sense that a spotted vehicle is often a dead vehicle. The lack of armour doesn't help you here, either, because players take longer to aim at you, reducing any chances of lucky ricochets, and most rounds will be able to penetrate the anywhere.

If you can't rely on armour, mobility comes into question, and in Realistic it is dampened. Here, the tank behaves much more like a general medium tank, like the Centurion or the T-34. You are mobile, and quick, but you won't be able to run away from encounters, or flank an enemy in seconds (like you can do in Arcade). Therefore, you should play much more carefully, and avoid being seen at all, which can be easily accomplished because you can still maneuver rather easily in close quarters.

In terms of gunpower, it's still very reliable, penetration-wise. However, in Realistic it is advised to take your time to learn enemy vehicles and their ammo racks, because you would want to one-shot most of your enemies (if you don't, it's harder to escape from return shots). Hence why it's advised to flank your enemies and take your time, instead of running around the map like one might do in Arcade. Luckily, HEAT-FS does tend to explode ammo racks. Another note to take is that one manning the M46 should also carry APHE, as more often than not, HEAT-FS have the tendency to be a bit unreliable. Even when uptiered, the M46's APHE can deal devastating blows on the enemy's armor, but be sure to still know when to aim.

In general, in Realistic, just play calm and try to create a false sense of security for the enemies. Instead of tackling someone head-on, you should retreat and let them move into your ambush, because you don't have a stabilizer, nor armour.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 90 mm main cannon, especially with HEATFS rounds
* Great overall mobility
* Low profile
* Neutral steering
* Rear mounted transmission
* Excellent gun depression of -10 degrees
* The additional armour (fence around turret) can fend off some HEAT and HESH shells, and even ATGMs

'''Cons:'''

* Turret ring is prone to breaking
* Elevation gear is slow
* Armour can easily be pierced by other tanks at its rank
* Struggles to penetrate many opponents from the front without HEAT-FS
* Tendency to oversteer at high speeds in arcade battles due to high hp/ton ratio

== History ==

===Development===
The '''M46 Patton''' came about around the time of the Korean War. Before that, the US Army armoured units consisted of two tanks, the venerable [[M4A3 (76) W|M4 Shermans]] and the newer [[M26|M26 Pershings]]. Of the two, the Pershing was originally classified as a heavy tank as it weighed 41.7 tons compared to Sherman's 30-ton weight, but a reorganization had the M26 Pershing classified a medium tank after World War II. It proved unsuitable for the role as its mobility was unsatisfactory for that role, using the same Sherman engine, plus an unreliable transmission, to propel a vehicle ten tons heavier.

Work began in January 1948 to upgrade the Pershing's mobility with a new engine and transmission. The project was initially designated the ''M26E2'', but as newer upgrades and more modifications are installed onto the tank, it began to feel more like a completely new design rather than a Pershing upgrade, so it was decided to give the model a completely new designation. The end result was the Pershing tank mounting the mentioned upgrades, plus a new power plant and gun with a bore evacuator to expunge propellant fumes. This model was designated the '''M46 Patton''', named after General George S. Patton, the commander of the US Third Army and played a role in the establishment of American tank forces. The rebuilding of the tanks began in November 1949 and had 1,160 Pershings rebuilt into M46s, 800 to the standard variant and 360 to the ''M46A1'', which had better brakes, a cooling and fire protection system, a new engine and transmission, and better electrical equipment.

===Combat usage===
The M46 saw combat only during the Korean War. The first batch arrived on August 8, 1950, to the 6th Tank Battalion and proved superior to the North Korean and Chinese [[T-34-85]]s. About 200 M46 Pattons arrive in Korea by the end of 1950, making up 15% of the American armoured strength, though the majority was still the M4 Shermans. By 1951, all M26 Pershings in Korea were withdrawn and replaced by the M46 Pattons, and eventually, the units with Shermans were also re-equipped with the newer tanks as well. When the armistice was finally made, ending the conflict in the Korean Peninsula, the M46 Pattons were withdrawn back to the state.

By the later parts of the 1950s, the M46 Pattons in American service still were being replaced by the newer [[M47|M47 Pattons]] and those still in the inventory were leased for no cost to Belgium, France, and Italy for training purposes, sending American instructors to train the European crews and maintenance personnel.

=== In-game description ===
The M26, which appeared close to the end of World War II, was an excellent tank. However, power-to-weight ratio, maneuverability, and range were lacking. A special new 12-cylinder, air-cooled engine developed by Continental Motors to take care of the maneuverability issue reached 29,361 cm³, and at 2,800 rpm its 704 hp outstripped the M26's 500 hp. The 6.5-fold compression, which was large for the time, required 80 octane fuel, and the air-cooling system often overheated the engine. Giving the tank a new power plant required a replacement roof for the compartment housing the engine and transmission, resulting in the use of a single grating.

The new automatic CD-850 gearbox and steering mechanism were operated using a single lever that served both as a gearshift and steering wheel. The M46's running gear gained another small roller to keep constant tension on the tracks and prevent them from slipping between the leading wheels and rear road wheels. In addition, the front suspension points were given second shock absorbers. The tank was built for low temperatures and had water-crossing special equipment. As a result, it was heavier, though it did not suffer from reduced speed thanks to its upgraded power plant.

In 1948 the modernized tank was accepted as the M46 Patton and mass produced from 1949 through 1951. A total of 1,168 units spread across two modifications were built.

The M46 medium tank was used by US forces during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 and also served as part of the American forces in Europe.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23m46 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|p6cWlyUnJQA|'''Top 7 off-road beasts''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:55 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|Xwid3UCLr5U|'''The Patton Family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:29 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


* [[M46 "Tiger"]] - Premium version

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3154/current/|[Vehicle Profile] M46 Patton]]
* [http://www.massimocorner.com/afv/Surviving_M46_Pattons.pdf Surviving M46 Pattons] (PDF)

{{USA medium tanks}}

A6M6c

2021-10-31T15:06:39Z

U104189941: /* Usage in battles */ Added a optimal angle to climb while in a A6M6c and a reminder to be careful around bombers due to how it cannot take punishment very much

{{About
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = A6M (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=a6m6c
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Red Skies"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season IV, "Fearless Voltigeur"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}


With the new Sakae 31a engine, the A6M6c has a water-methanol injection that makes the engine less vulnerable to overheating under WEP. The main flaw of this engine is that once the water-methanol mixture runs out, WEP cannot be utilized anymore. The [[B7A2]] also shares this similar flaw with the A6M6c. The WEP lasts for a total of 8 minutes, so it's recommended to conserve it once cruising altitude is reached. Saving a few minutes of WEP for a dogfight can make a vital difference in combat effectiveness. In total, the WEP setting adds 136 additional horsepower compared to 100% throttle setting.

The general flight performance of this Zero will match the traditional expectations. It is relatively light and nimble, it has an excellent turn rate, and it has great low altitude performance. However, when compared with other late war zeros such as the [[A6M5]] [[A6M5 Ko|Ko]]/[[A6M5 otsu|Otsu]], it feels much heavier and more sluggish. It also has a rather poor rate of climb. It behaves similarly to the [[A6M5 Hei]], and if the pilot is familiar with the Hei, the pilot can master the A6M6.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,400 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 522 || 506 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.9 || 21.7 || 7.8 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 350
|-
! Upgraded
| 566 || 543 || 19.1 || 20.0 || 14.4 || 10.7
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| 740  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 398 || 369 || 220 || ~14 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 280 || < 420 || < 410 || > 336
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}

The A6M6c boasts pilot armour, armoured glass, and self-sealing fuel tanks, elements missing on earlier models of the A6M. It has increased survivability because of these bonus features. However, it isn't as tough as a P-51, as it is still a Zero, and the wings are vulnerable to incendiary rounds. The armour will save you, but you should not rely on it as your primary advantage.

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{Specs-Economy}}

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|Type 99 Model 2 (20 mm)|Type 3 (13.2 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 2 x 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 cannons, wing-mounted (125 rpg = 250 total)
* 1 x 13.2 mm Type 3 machine gun, nose-mounted (230 rpg)
* 2 x 13.2 mm Type 3 machine guns, wing-mounted (240 rpg = 480 total)

=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)|Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 (250 kg)|Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1|Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

* Without load
* 2 x 60 kg Navy Type 97 Number 6 bombs (120 kg total)
* 1 x 250 kg Navy Type Number 25 Model 2 bomb (250 kg total)
* 10 x Type 3 No.1 Mod.28 Mk.1 rockets
* 2 x Type 3 No.6 Mod.27 Mk.1 rockets

== Usage in battles ==


To master the A6M6c in the air, the pilot needs to channel all of the Zero's strengths and exploit them against the enemy. The primary goal is to set up a turning engagement and open fire roughly 300 meters from the target in a turn. The Zero is vulnerable to energy fighting tactics, so it isn't recommended to boom and zoom, as the Zero isn't a fast aircraft. The A6M6c has a poor rate of climb, and it is recommended to side climb slightly and engage targets that are low in energy and altitude. While side climbing, the most optimal angle to do so is around 20° and nothing more. This will allow you to climb without stalling your engines. When attacking bombers, one thing to take note is that a experienced bomber gunner can obliterate you out of the sky due to how relatively frail the airframe is. Your fighter cannot take much punishment so make sure to only pick targets that you can kill easily.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

The Zero's manual engine controls are simple to learn. The propeller pitch should be kept at 95% at all times. The radiators both should be kept between 5 and 15% depending if you are on a hot or cold map. The second supercharger gear should be activated at 3,500 m and above. The Mixture can be kept at 60% percent for all altitudes.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful armament with good ammo count, the 13 mm MGs are effective
* Retains some of the famous manoeuvrability of the A6M series, makes for a capable dogfighter
* Has some armour, combined with better guns it makes the plane capable for bomber hunting
* Can carry effective rockets
* Stronger WEP than earlier Zeros
* Capable of carrier landing and takeoff

'''Cons:'''

* Heavier than other zeros, does not handle as well
* Vulnerable to incendiary rounds
* Very poor top speed
* Not potent at high altitude
* Limited WEP mode. Only 8 minutes of WEP.
* Rockets are launched two at a time, limiting the amount of targets you can destroy

== History ==

In late 1944 into early 1945, the skies over the Pacific Ocean were ruled by US military aviation. The Japanese Empire was forced to deploy the already obsolete Zero against up-to-date Corsairs and Hellcats, because the development of new models of carrier-based fighter aircraft was delayed, and new Japanese army fighters often lacked range to win a tactical initiative. The design team of Mitsubishi did everything possible in an attempt to bring the Zero to the level of modern Allied combat aviation.

One of the latest versions of the Japanese carrier-based fighter was the Model 53 hei (A6M6c), developed after the design of the previous version, the A6M5 hei. Efforts to strengthen the structure and increase firepower were also traced in the new model: the A6M6c, like its predecessor, was armed with a pair of automatic cannons and three high-caliber machine guns, and also had protected wing tanks. In addition, this modification was supposed to install a new Nakajima Sakae 31 engine with a water-methanol injection system. As tests showed, the promising afterburner proved to be very unreliable in operation, so only a few A6M6c units were produced - one prototype at the Mitsubishi plant and several units of the testing batch at the Nakajima plant.

-From [[wt:en/news/7247-development-battle-pass-vehicles-a6m6c-en|Devblog]]

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a6m6c Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|477cgrAHIQg|'''Battle Pass "Fearless Voltigeur"''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 03:23 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== 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 ==


* [[wt:en/news/7247-development-battle-pass-vehicles-a6m6c-en|[Devblog] Battle Pass vehicles: A6M6c]]

{{AirManufacturer Mitsubishi}}
{{Japan fighters}}
{{Japan premium aircraft}}