War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

AS.34 Kormoran

2023-01-28T00:01:46Z

U105079229: /* Pros and cons */ added ineffective side-on targeting to cons

== Description ==
[[File:AS.34 Kormoran Blueprint.png|thumb|left|500px|The AS.34 Kormoran missile]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is a German anti-ship missile. It was introduced in [[Update "Apex Predators"]].

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|tornado_ids_de_mfg}}

== General info ==

The AS.34 Kormoran is a German-designed and -produced anti-ship missile, which was primarily designed to target and destroy enemy ships and other water-borne targets, though it also comes with limited ground-attack capability. It was designed to be carried by the [[F-104G (Germany)|F-104G Starfighter]] and [[Tornado IDS (Germany)|Tornado IDS Marineflieger]] aircraft.

The missile is designed as a fire-and-forget missile, which relies on an inertial navigation system (INS) in the initial phase directly after launch and active radar-homing (ARH) in the terminal phase. This means that in a real-world scenario, the pilot selects an acquired target on radar or visually points the missile at the intended target, after which the missile is launched and then autonomously guides itself onto the target.

The missile has a complex semi-armour piercing high-explosive warhead with a main charge and 16 additional shaped charges. The missile is designed to penetrate several bulkheads of a ship just above the waterline and then explode deep inside the ship for maximum damage in all directions.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics
|-
| '''Mass''' || 600 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || ARH+IOG
|-
| '''Signal''' || Pulse
|-
| '''Lock range''' || 50 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 32 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 0.9 M
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 101 secs
|-
| '''Explosive type''' || Composition B
|-
| '''Explosive mass''' || 56 kg
|-
| '''TNT equivalent''' || 73.36 kg
|-
| '''Warhead type''' || SAP-HE
|-
| '''Armour penetration''' || 75 mm
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

While possessing armour-piercing capabilities the missile truly does its damage through pure high explosive power. With 73.36 kg of TNTeq explosive force, the missile is more than capable of taking out lightly-armoured vehicles even with a hit to the ground close to the vehicle, as well as taking out better-armoured vehicles with a direct hit.

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc.)''

=== Pros and cons ===
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.''

'''Pros:'''

*

'''Cons:'''

- The missile aims for the top of the funnels of the targeted ship, making essentially all side-on attacks ineffective.

*

== History ==


The AS.34 Kormoran was the first major post-war missile project in West Germany.<ref name=":0">An Illustrated Guide to Modern Airborne Missiles, Bill Gunston, 1983.</ref> It was designed to meet the needs of the West German navy for a large anti-ship missile for use in coastal waters.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20070813022441/http://www.missilethreat.com/cruise/id.12/cruise_detail.asp</ref> Development began in 1962 and was handed over to West German aerospace manufacturer Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) in 1967. It wouldn't be until 1973 before the West German government decided to actually procure the missile and, after completing its trials in 1974, it finally entered into service with the West German Navy in 1977.<ref name=":1">http://www.military-today.com/missiles/kormoran.htm</ref>

The missile was originally based on a design by French Nord-Aviation, the makers of the [[AS-20 Nord]], [[AS-30 Nord]] and [[AS-30L Nord]] missiles, using the inertial guidance system from their cancelled AS.33 missile project.<ref>Jane's Strategic Weapons Systems, September 1997, JSWS-Issue 25</ref> After taking over the project, MBB replaced the inertial guidance system with a new and more advanced missile guidance package. The missile body is very similar to the aforementioned missiles made by Nord-Aviation, with a 4.40 m long fuselage, a narrow cross-section of 0.34 m, and a sharp-pointed conical nose. On the sides of the fuselage sit four swept delta fins, just behind of the centre of the missile body, and a set of four smaller trapezoidal stabilizer fins between the delta fins and the tail.<ref name=":1" />

The missile guidance system is made up of an SFENA/Bodenseewerk inertial navigation system (INS), a TRT radio altimeter as well as a Thomson-CSF two-axis radar seeker. The propulsion system consists of two Prades solid rocket boosters and a central Eole IV solid rocket sustainer motor. Immediately after launch, the rocket boosters fire for 1 second before the sustainer motor fires and sustains flight for an additional 100 seconds before shutting off, allowing the missile a cruising speed of Mach 0.9 and an effective range of 23 km.<ref name=":0" />

The warhead is a complex delayed-fuse high-explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) munition, that is designed to be able to penetrate a total of 90 mm of armour, typically the hull plates of a ship, before exploding deep inside the target. The warhead weighs 165 kg and consists of 16 elliptical charges mounted radially in two rows, which project zirconium fragments at sufficient speeds for them to penetrate up to seven bulkheads inside the ship and cause severe damage to ammunition stores and critical systems.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref>https://patents.google.com/patent/DE3701390A1/en</ref><ref name=":2">https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1977/august/weapon-systems</ref>
[[File:Tornado Luftwaffe feuert Kormoran.jpeg|thumb|A German Marine (Navy, Naval Air Wing 2) Panavia Tornado IDS launches a Kormoran air-to-surface missile during an exercise in the USA.]]
The missile is designed to be used against larger surface vessels, which allows the attacking aircraft to acquire the target, launch the missile and fly to safety before the target vessel is able to target and shoot it down.<ref name=":2" /> Once the missile is launched, the INS and radio altimeter guide the missile to descend to a typical cruising altitude of less than 30 m and make its way toward the target vessel's last known position. Upon final approach, the radar seeker head searches for the target and locks on before descending to around wavetop height, guiding the missile to the current position of the ship and aiming to strike the ship just above the waterline.<ref name=":0" />

The missile is able to be fired by any combat aircraft that has target acquisition radar, a self-contained navigation system, and which is capable of maintaining speeds of a minimum of Mach 0.6 during launch.<ref name=":2" /> Despite a previously aggressive marketing campaign by MBB, to date only Germany and Italy have purchased the missile.<ref name=":1" /> The first aircraft to be equipped to carry and launch the AS.34 Kormoran was the now-retired [[F-104G (Germany)|F-104G Starfighters]] of the Marineflieger, the air wing of the West German navy. Later also the [[Tornado IDS (Germany)|Tornado IDS]] of the German Marineflieger and Italian Aeronautica Militare were equipped with the missile and remain the only aircraft able to carry it to this day.<ref name=":1" />

The missile has never been used in a live combat situation but remains in storage with the German and Italian air forces for use with their remaining fleets of Tornado IDS aircraft. While the AS.34 Kormoran, and its later upgrade the AS.34 Kormoran 2, are still capable missiles in their own right, the changes in naval warfare with the advent of modern close-in weapon systems (CIWS) and ability to defeat attacking aircraft at long range, have made the missiles largely obsolete due to their fairly limited range.<ref name=":1" />

== Media ==
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''

== See also ==


;Other anti-ship missiles

* [[Nettuno]] (Italian AShM)

== External links ==


[[wikipedia:AS.34_Kormoran|[Wikipedia] AS.34 Kormoran]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]

Canberra B Mk 2

2023-01-22T16:45:59Z

U105079229: /* Usage in battles */ added alternative battle usage

{{About
| about = British jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Canberra (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=canberra_bmk2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

== 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 3,000 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
| 835 || 809 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.9 || 27.6 || 14.8 || 13.4 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 915 || 880 || 25.4 || 26.0 || 25.7 || 20.0
|-
|}

==== 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 || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 990  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 498 || 469 || 320 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 590 || < 550 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.101 || 2
| colspan="3" | 10,300 kg || colspan="3" | 171 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 50m fuel
|-
| 800 kg || colspan="2" | Axial-flow turbojet
| 11,800 kg || 12,280 kg || 13,240 kg || 14,680 kg || 15,160 kg || 20,865 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="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 50m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 2,850 kgf || N/A
| 0.48 || 0.46 || 0.43 || 0.39 || 0.38 || 0.27
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 2,850 kgf (0 km/h) || N/A
| 0.48 || 0.46 || 0.43 || 0.39 || 0.38 || 0.27
|-
|}

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


* No armour plating
* No armour glazing
* Critical components located at the fuselage of the aircraft (fuel, pilot, controls)
* Engines in wings

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

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

{{main|H.E. M.C. Mk.II (500 lb)|H.E. M.C. Mk.13 (1,000 lb)|H.C. 4,000 lb Mk.II (4,000 lb)}}

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

* 9 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (4,500 lb total)
* 6 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 1 x H.C. 4,000 lb Mk.II bomb + 2 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (6,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

Climbing high to around 10 kilometres will save you from most predators and AA fire in both AB and RB as the Canberra has one of the best climb rates and high-alt performances in the game. Watch out for the [[Me 163 B|Me 163]] and [[Ki-200]], who can climb to you easily thanks to their Rocket Engines. A common strategy by Canberras (and B-57s, as they are the same airframe) is to head to one base, drop all payload on such base and then running for their lives. Using the 6 x 1,000 lb payload is recommended for usage on bases while 1 x 4,000 lb + 2 x 1,000 lb payload works best when used on airfields.

Alternatively, flying in a 10-20 degree descent straight towards a bomb target can allow you to gain enough speed to reach, and subsequently bomb, the bases before most aircraft have a chance to notice and then fire on you. Often, this tactic will forfeit any chance of returning to base, as the Canberra is a large target and often a bulk of the enemy team will be a matter of kilometers away when you reach the base. Despite this, it is a quick & simple method of ensuring that you can destroy a base. 9x 500lb bombs is generally enough for one base, however the 6x 1,000lb payload or 1x 4,000lb + 2x 1,000lb payload will ensure that the base is destroyed, as base Hp can vary depending on BR.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good stock engine power
* Good stock acceleration speed
* Powerful airbrakes
* Good top speed for such a large aircraft
* Decent payload
* High service ceiling(max. altitude)
* Great climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* May rip wings by going straight for a while without intelligent use of air-brakes
* Likely to be a big target for fighter aircraft with an air-spawn and be engaged first.
* Slower than most fighters, which means you will be caught up by all jets that chase you
* An easy target for anything with guns that can go over 800 km/h
* First few fights will be running to a base, bombing the base and ending up dead by enemy jets.

== History ==

The Canberra B Mk.2 was created in 1949 to replace the Mosquito fast bomber. It was designed to have outstanding high altitude performance and speed, being unparalleled for 10 years. Despite the RAF originally expecting the Canberra to be obsolete within a few years of entering service, so much so that work to develop a replacement (eventually leading to the TSR-2) was started before it had even entered service, it would go on to be one of the RAF's longest serving aircraft. The Canberra remained in front line service with the RAF until its retirement in 2006, some 55 years after it first entered service (although it spent a lot of that time in the photo-reconnaissance role, as opposed to its original purpose as a bomber). The Canberra was replaced in the strategic bomber role by the Valiant (and other V-bombers), and in the strike role by the Buccaneer (following the cancellation of the TSR-2 programme). It established a world's highest altitude record of 21,430 m in 1957 and was the first jet-powered aircraft to make a non-stop transatlantic flight.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Whilst the United States and the Soviet Union were, in many ways, running ahead of Britain during the early development of jet fighters, Britain would at least keep up if not forge ahead with its very first jet bomber – the legendary English Electric Canberra.

The origins of the Canberra lay in 1944 when the Air Ministry called for a replacement for the de Havilland Mosquito in the light bomber role – a fast, agile tactical bomber was required by RAF Bomber Command to move into the jet age. English Electric set to work under Chief Engineer WEW Petter, who envisaged a bomber built around straight wings of a large area, and two of the new Rolls-Royce Avon jet engines. The prototype first flew in May 1949, with Typhoon-ace Roland Beamont at the controls. The Chief Test Pilot remarked that the aircraft was practically free of vices and possessed an agility that was reminiscent of a fighter rather than a bomber.

After various modifications were made, including the addition of a glass nose for a bomb aimer, the first production variant – the B Mk.2 - entered service in 1951 with No.101 Squadron. The Canberra was able to reach speeds of some 560 mph and reach heights of 48,000 feet whilst maintaining the capacity to carry 6000 lbs of ordnance. A series of modified Canberra B Mk.2s set a succession of world altitude records, culminating in August 1957 with a staggering 70,310 feet. It was a Canberra that saw victory at the Last Great Air Race from London to Christchurch in 1953. With a range of approximately 2600 miles, the Canberra was considered a tactical rather than a strategic bomber.

The Canberra was popular with its aircrew due to its performance, popular with ground crews due to its relatively simple maintenance schedule and also popular with Command due to its relatively low cost. Over 400 Canberra B Mk.2's were built until uprated engines led to the development of its successor, the B Mk.6, which entered service in the summer of 1954. As squadrons received the newer model, the now older B Mk.2 saw service with the RAF in Germany, Cyprus and the Far East, although the variant did serve successfully in the Suez Crisis of 1956. A small number of export variants of the B Mk.2 also saw service with the United States as a template for building under license as the Martin B-57, Australia and Venezuela.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=canberra_bmk2 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Canberra (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/648|[Devblog] Canberra Mk2]]
* [[wikipedia:English_Electric_Canberra|[Wikipedia] English Electric Canberra]]

{{AirManufacturer EEC}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}