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SBD-3

2021-12-15T09:48:40Z

U111620654: /* Engine performance */

{{Specs-Card
|code=sbd-3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_sbd-3.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American dive bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

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


As a dive bomber, it has very good dive characteristics and manoeuvres decently at most speeds. Although the engine is relatively weak, it could be WEP-ed for a long time before it reaches the overheating stage. This is not an aircraft which you will want to fly at high altitudes but should remain lower where it is a capable dive bomber.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,500 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
| 422 || 409 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.6 || 27.8 || 7.9 || 7.8 || rowspan="2" | 291
|-
! Upgraded
| 456 || 439 || 24.3 || 25.5 || 14.3 || 9.8
|-
|}

[[File:Kette of SBD.jpg|thumbnail|right|A trio of Dauntlesses in formation.]]

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

{| 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}} || 490 || 469 || 320 || ~13 || ~13
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 350 || < 350 || < 380 || > 299
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,324 m || 950 hp || 1,000 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,777 m || 800 hp || 842 hp
|-
|}

====Engine performance====

* Note: Can only WEP below a certain point

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine Name
! colspan="3" | Number present
|-
| colspan="3" | Wright Cyclone R-1820-52 9-cylinder || colspan="1" | 1
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine characteristics
|-
! colspan="2" | Weight (each)
! colspan="1" | Type
! colspan="1" | Cooling
|-
| colspan="2" | 907 kg || Radial || Air
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Stock)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
! colspan="2" | Max
! colspan="2" | Take-off
|-
| ''Arcade'' || colspan="2" | 889 hp || colspan="2" | 939 hp
|-
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || colspan="2" | 879 hp || colspan="2" | 930 hp
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Upgraded)
|-
! Mode
! colspan="2" | Max
! colspan="2" | Take-off
|-
| ''Arcade'' || colspan="2" | 1,023 hp || colspan="2" | 1,074 hp
|-
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || colspan="2" | 950 hp || colspan="2" | 1,000 hp
|-
|}

* Note: WEP doesn't affect temperature of water and oil drastically

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | WEP Duration
|-
! colspan="2" | Arcade
! colspan="2" | Realistic/Simulator
|-
| colspan="2" | 25 seconds || colspan="2" | Infinite
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm bulletproof glass in the windshield
* 12.7 mm steel pilot seat
* 12.7 mm steel protecting the gunner
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing)

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

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

{{main|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (180 rpg = 360 total)

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|Type A Mark I mine|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (gunpods) (340 rpg = 1,360 total)
* 1 x Type A Mark I mine

=== Defensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Defensive}}

{{main|Browning (7.62 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is defended by:

* 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==

The Dauntless is an underrated aircraft, as it is viewed as a weak and sluggish bomber by a majority of tier 1 players. Use this to your advantage by catching unsuspecting bombers and fighters. Its manoeuvrability is good enough to energy fight the enemy. You should try to keep your speed higher than 200 km/h and stay at altitudes lower than 2km.

This plane is good at what it was designed for Dive Bombing. Start at a high altitude at around 4-5,000 feet, fly directly above the target, invert the plane, cut the throttle and deploy airbrakes (h key by default), dive, at 1,000-700 feet release bombs, pull the nose up, retract air brakes, push the throttle to full, then pitch up in a climb.

The small bomb load requires you pick your targets carefully and make your bombs count, choose to attack artillery positions or bases, where you have a higher chance of hitting due to their stationary position. Ships are also prime targets (it is what it was designed for), as the 1000lb bomb is plenty to sink a small ship.

Do not rely on fighter support when focusing on ground targets. After you drop your bombs, the plane should be manoeuvrable enough to dogfight enemies. You should stay on deck and manoeuvre wisely to not expose your weak underbelly. If you are caught at high altitude, go into a steep dive until you are at the deck, there is a good chance you may out dive them. If you cannot lose the enemy, try to quickly turn to your enemy's direction. your high G tolerance is equal, if not better than most enemies so you could lose them if they cant follow your turn.

'''Realistic battles'''

With the gun pods attached, you could act as menacing fighter support. With a high altitude spawn, try to hunt bombers first before you consider killing fighters. climb up to 4,500 meters to get your max speed so you can dive down to the bombers. After eliminating a bomber or two, you should find that your allies are starting to engage the enemy. You could help them by catching enemies that are turning, have low speed, or attacking an ally. It should be easy to do all of this because of your energy advantage. You are still marked as a bomber, so enemies will surely consider you as an easy kill. You can not outrun them, but you can turn very well at almost every speed except stall. If they are coming from behind, a sudden reverse would be a good manoeuvre to throw them off. After that, you could either perform a head-on or fly under the enemy to avoid them. Avoid rushing upwards to maintain speed. Combine all of that with good trigger discipline, it is possible to achieve a five kill game.

'''Simulator battles'''

Hands-off carrier take-off (Auto engine control): Start the engine, flaps: raised, elevator trim: 15%, aileron trim: 11%, rudder trim: 6%, WEP throttle, hands-off controls until you lift off the carrier.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[Yak-2 KABB]]: Do not think that the {{PAGENAME}} can confidently outmanoeuvre this plane just because it is twin-engined. The Yak-2 has an amazing turn rate for a heavy fighter, thus the {{PAGENAME}} must avoid turning with it, if not dogfighting with it in general. It bears a pair of ShVAK cannons that can easily damage vital parts like engine or cooling systems. It has green camo, greatly resembling an Me 410 but with an H-tail like a Bf 110's.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Gets a bomber spawn which really makes up for its performance
* Can turn with most enemy fighters on its rank
* It has two powerful machine guns that are centrally mounted, meaning you can effectively hunt down low-tier bombers and in most situations, be a quasi-fighter aircraft
* Its bombs are powerful enough to destroy packed enemy ground vehicles
* Its manoeuvrability is good enough to attack enemy bombers and support friendly fighters
* Tail gunner has excellent coverage, almost a perfect 180 degrees on a horizontal plane
* Can "pullout" from a 60-degree dive quite effectively
* Tail gun also has plenty of ammunition
* Can be used as a fighter when needed
* Can increase the total firepower to 6 .50 cals, one of the earliest plane that has six M2 Brownings
* Good firepower, enough to make quick kills on planes and ground targets alike. Extremely useful for attacking weakly armoured tanks
* Decent dive characteristics
* Will not break its wing on high G turns up to 600 km/h

'''Cons:'''

* It is still a dive bomber, so its manoeuvrability is limited by its poor energy retention
* Low ammo capacity for the nose-mounted machine guns
* The tail gunner won't do so much, because he is too exposed and the 2 x 7.62 is not powerful enough to destroy planes of its tier
* Limited selection of bombs, only one payload is available to choose from
* Slow acceleration
* Poor climb rate
* Poor energy retention
* Slow speed
* WEP only works on low altitude
* Unprotected engine, any gunfire get your engine knocked out or badly damaged, forcing you to return to base

== History ==


First flight recorded 1st of may 1940. Retired 1959. Produced from 1940-1944 Top speed 410 kmh/254.7 mph. 1,200 hp engine. Length 33 feet. Wing span is roughly 41 feet. Empty weight 6,404 lb/ 2,905 kg. Gross weight is 10,400 lb/ 4,245 kg. Bomb load is 1,200 lb/ 544 kg.

The SBD-3, also known as the Dauntless is an American dive-bomber from the early 1940s. It was a carrier-based aircraft which was used for scouting and bombing. This plane is most famous for it's contribution to the Battle of Midway. This battle was the first ''major'' naval victory for the Americans, of which four Japanese carriers were sunk and multiple other ships heavily damaged and sunk.

Pilots and gunners of the SBD-3 and other military personnel gave the bomber the nickname "Slow But Deadly". Although this plane was slow, it has a large wing area and thus high manoeuvrability. This aircraft is a 2-man crew, so when going into and out of a dive the pilot wouldn't have to check the altitude saving him time, though that was not the only use of the gunner/radioman he would cover the pilot, engaging any enemy fighters who would come behind the aircraft and could also double as a radioman.

These incredible planes all saw service in the United States Navy, United States Army Air Corps, United States Marine Corps and the Free French Air Force. There were 5,936 SBD-3 made; unfortunately, only four or five original US Navy planes survive today with the rest being replicas.

=== In-game description ===
A carrier-based dive-bomber/reconnaissance aircraft.

The most well-known U.S. Navy bomber, and perhaps the most significant dive-bomber of the war. Despite the fact that the decision to write off the SBD as outdated was made before the war, the bomber was still actively involved in combat, and in 1942 it sunk more enemy ships than all other Navy aircraft combined.

Originally, the series was called the XBT, and showed as many innovations as it did drawbacks. This aircraft had a revolutionary honeycomb wing structure and a reasonably small fuselage. But its wings could not be folded, and occasionally it would spontaneously go into a barrel roll, which caused a series of catastrophic accidents. After intensive research in conjunction with NACA, the dive-bomber was radically redesigned, most of its shortcomings were removed, and it was named the Scout Bomber.

The SBD-3 variant was a Scout Bomber which was finally fit for combat. It had self-sealing fuel tanks, armour, and bulletproof cockpit glass. To keep its performance characteristics, the aircraft's weight was reduced by replacing its duralumin sheeting with a much lighter material. Also, all the equipment designed to keep the plane afloat in the event of a water landing was removed.

Soldiers dubbed the SBD the "Slow But Deadly". This aircraft destroyed the pride of the Japanese carrier force at the Battle of Midway, inflicting damage from which the Japanese Imperial Navy was never able to recover.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=sbd-3 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|rnfxWsXct9E|'''The Shooting Range #12''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 05:47 discusses the Douglas SBD Dauntless.}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[SB2 (Disambiguation)|SB2 dive bombers]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4442-profile-sbd-3-dauntless-slow-but-deadly-en|[Profile] SBD-3 Dauntless - Slow But Deadly]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/491957-sbd-3/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA bombers}}

M22

2021-12-15T09:35:25Z

U111620654: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m22_locust
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light 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"]]. One of the tiniest tanks in the game, the Locust is able to manoeuvre some of the smaller areas on the battlefield to get a clean shot on an opponent.

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

Outside of heavy machine guns and autocannon rounds firing at a bad angle-of-attack, the M22's armour offers very little ballistic protection against the standard kinetic shells encountered. With only three men in the tank clumped together around the center, a single penetrating shot through the center is bound to knock out two or more crew member and leave the tank immobile or incapacitated.

Aircraft coming in at certain angles can possess the necessary penetration values to utterly shred apart the Locust, especially the thin roof armour of 9.5 mm at the turret and hull. However, an oblique angle towards the front armour is already enough to get through the sloped 12.7 mm armour plate present.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (64-65°) ''Front glacis'' 25.4 mm (7-62°) ''Lower glacis'' 25.4 mm (9-85°) ''Driver's port'' || 9.5 mm (34-51°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (11-15°) ''Lower''
12.7 mm +9 mm ''Upper''
| 9.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (25-36°) ''Turret front'' 25.4 mm (22-53°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25.4 mm (3-6°) || 25.4 mm || 9.5 mm
|}
'''Notes:''' 

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, the bogies and tracks are 10 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 12.7 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 297|rbMinHp= 170|}}

Aside from its small size, the M22's next famous value is its speed as a light tank. This allows the light tank to zip across the battlefield, possible getting to locations that can annoy enemies like a locust.

In Arcade Battles, be wary of going too fast with the enhanced engine power, especially on paved roads, as it could put the M22 in a speed the transmission would not be able to steer properly without "snaking" the tank. Another worst case scenario is running full speed into an immovable object, which can disable certain components or even flat out knock out the tank.

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

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

{{main|M6 (37 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M6 (37 mm)|37 mm M6]] || 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" | 50 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+30° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 19.5 || 27.0 || 32.8 || 36.3 || 38.6 || rowspan="2" | 3.77 || rowspan="2" | 3.33 || rowspan="2" | 3.07 || rowspan="2" | 2.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 12.2 || 14.4 || 17.4 || 19.3 || 20.5
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 79 || 76 || 65 || 54 || 45 || 37
|-
| M63 Shell || HE || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3 || 3
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 87 || 84 || 73 || 60 || 50 || 41
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| M74B1 || AP || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M63 Shell || HE || 807 || 0.73 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 38 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M51B1/B2 || APCBC || 883 || 0.87 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
|}

==== [[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
|-
|| '''50''' || 39 ''(+11)'' || 25 ''(+25)'' || 1 ''(+49)'' || No
|-
|}
Note:

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.

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

{{main|M1919A4 (7.62 mm)}}

{| 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 || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Perhaps the best word to describe this tank is -- tiny -- it really is, no other tank is as small as the ''Locust'' (save the [[ASU-57]]). This is a pro and a con, which we will cover in a second. The ''Locust'' is a light tank and thus is never really meant to go up against other tanks in the game. This severely limits the opponents you are able to face against "fairly" in this tank as your small size also means the crew is compacted into a small area and a crew knockout is very easy to do onto you, so in order to beat the odds, some trickery has to be put into play...

;Run and Gun

The ''Locust'' is really fast (although it might be hard to handle at its max speed), use this to your advantage to get to favorable positions or the flanks of the enemy. The tiny size of the tank helps by presenting a smaller target to the enemy and allows the usage of smaller cover that could not be typically used by an average tank of the rank. With fast maneuvering and sneaky movements across terrains, you can cross the battlefield quickly and carry out sharp strikes against the enemy. A skilled player can swiftly move from one capture point to another, destroy any opposition there, and capture the point.

;Get in Close

The riskier tactic, which would work if done well, is to just get right up onto the enemy tank. Again the ''Locust'' is ''tiny'' and this could make you easier to be knocked out, but that also means you can exploit some of the other tanks weaknesses, like their gun depression. Get up right on that tank, point blank on the sides, you will find that some enemies will not be able to even move their gun down to hit you if you stay close to them. Also remember that you have an impressive fire rate of about 3 seconds. Use this advantage to find weak points on their side or rear armour and score a subsequent knockout. However, you must be careful as sometimes the enemy tank may move in a way that forces you into their crosshairs or their allies shoot you as you are attacking.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Enormous hp/ton ratio, allowing fast acceleration
* Great speeds across flat terrain
* Extremely low profile; tanks without a lot of gun depression can't shoot at you at close range
* Locust is shorter than the hulls of many tanks, so many opponents may not even be able to aim at the Locust if it's close enough
* The gun has no trouble penetrating tanks at its BR range
* Easy to turn a complete 180° at low speed and at a stop
* Armour can stop machine gun fire and shells with fuses often will just pass through like a normal AP shell

'''Cons:'''

* High acceleration and speed make tank handling rather difficult unless familiar with specs
* Handling becomes sluggish at higher speeds, noticeably in 3rd Gear
* Small crew of 3 confined in tiny space, no spare crew members to take over incapacitated ones, a penetrating shot can take out two of them easily
* Weak armour; will only stop 12.7 mm rounds, and sometimes not even
* Due to its low suspension, it may get stuck in the soft or uneven ground
* Strange driving issue, in arcade mode, that causes the ''Locust'' to shudder, wobble, and not accelerate at a constant rate
* Doesn't have explosive filler for the 37 mm shells

== History ==

===Development===
The development of this tank began in late 1941 as a request from the British military for an airmobile light tank that could travel on a glider. The British airborne forces used gliders as a mean to transport troops and equipment, and by 1941 the gliders were rated to be able to carry a tank weighing about 5.5 tons in a 300 to 350-mile flight. The British had a light tank design, the ''[[Tetrarch_Mk_I|Mk. VII Tetrarch]]'', but it was not built for the focus of airborne operations so the request was made for a purely-built airborne light tank to replace the Tetrarch, and for the tank to be made not in Britain due to constraints in industrial capacity.

The request to the Americans called for a tank weighing between 9-10 tons with a 37 mm cannon and a coaxial machine gun with a crew of three. The tank was to have a maximum speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) and could operate in a 320 km radius (200 miles). The turret and front armour thickness were to be between 40-50 mm and the sides 30 mm thick. US Ordnance Department requested three companies, General Motors, J. Walter Christie, and Marmon-Herrington to design a suitable tank, of which the Marmon-Herrington design was accepted. The design was made into a prototype in late 1941 and was designated the ''Light Tank T9''. This design had a crew of three and weighed 7.4 tons, with a 37 mm gun and coaxial machine gun, plus two more machine guns on the right side of the bow. The turret was powered and had a gun stabilizer. The tank was powered by a 162 hp six-cylinder Lycoming engine and the armour thickness was 12.5 mm on the entire hull side of the tank while the sloped area on the sides of the hull was 9.5 mm thick. The tank could go up to 40 mph (64 km/h) with the engine. The T9 was built to be mounted on a Douglas C-54 Skymaster plane, but it could still fit into a glider due to its dimensions and weight. The tank underwent a few changes, such as improvement in the tank suspension and removal of the two machine guns on the bow, the gun stabilizer, and the power traverse on the turret to reduce the weight. The result was designated the ''Light Tank T9E1''. Production was meant to start somewhere in 1942, but issues in the design change and factories caused the production to be delayed until April 1943. The tanks were produced from then until 1945, with a total unit of 830.

The tank was specified the '''Light Tank M22''' at some time in 1943, but this classified it as a "limited standard" equipment due to some faults discovered. Testings showed that loading the M22 tank on a C-54 plane required lots of time and complex equipment, plus the plane had to be landed on an airfield to be unloaded. The durability and reliability of the M22 were also brought into question, concerned that these factors would make it unsuitable for airborne operations and that the design was effectively obsolete. The M22 never saw service in American combat units except for training, and even with the establishment of two units with the M22s, they saw no combat due to America's lack of investment in airborne tanks. The British on the other hand believed that the M22 would be adequate at its role so adopted it as the ''' ''Locust'' ''', giving the name '''Light Tank M22 ''Locust'' ''' to the tank.

===Combat usage===
The British usage in World War II had the airborne light tanks used in 1st and 6th Airborne Division as the Light Tank 'C' Squadron. Although the M22 Locust started replacing the Tetrarch before the initiation of Operation Overlord, the Tetrarch was still used until October 1944, when a restructuring retired all Tetrarch and replaced them with Locusts. The 6th Airborne Division was involved in Operation Varsity in 1945, where eight Locusts were loaded onto Hamilcar gliders and flown to the battlefield on March 24. Of the eight Locusts sent, six landed intact, but two never reached their rendezvous point due to enemy action or mechanical breakdown. Of the four remaining Locusts, only two were undamaged at the rendezvous point. The tanks were deployed at a fortified area, where they engage German troops while being supported by an infantry company, the Locusts were forced to withdraw after the heavy losses in infantry denied them support. The four tanks and what is left of the infantry were finally relieved by the 44th Royal Tank Regiment and the rest of the 6th Airborne Division. Operation Varsity was the only operation the Locust would ever see action in World War II.

The M22 ''Locust'', while serving rather well as an airborne tank, was reported to be obsolete by January 1946 by the War Office in Britain. New designs were to take over the Locust's role in the airborne formations. What's left of the ''Locusts'' in British inventory were given to foreign militaries. Belgium used some as command tanks in their armoured regiments. America received a few tanks back which was converted into agricultural tractors. Egypt used the Locusts in a large number to replace their ageing tank models from the interwar period, these saw service in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

Today, sixteen M22 Locusts are known to have survived, though many have replica turrets. Of the batch, only three are known to be in running condition.

=== In-game description ===
"In 1941 an airmobile light tank designated the T9 entered development, with three major companies assigned the project: Christie, GMC, and Marmon-Herrington. The design provided by Marmon-Herrington proved the winner, as it satisfied practically every client requirement.
Trials of the new tank began in the fall of 1941, and in November 1942 the third T9E2 pre-production prototype was built.

Production began in March 1943 and continued through February 1944. Marmon-Herrington assembled and delivered over the space of that year 830 of the 1,800 tanks ordered. The first 26 had a box-shaped compartment for the driver, though it was removed for subsequent models. The frontal plate was then made from a single piece.

The tank was designated the M22 beginning September 1944, though the lack of heavy transport planes in the American army kept it out of the war.

The UK acquired 260 M22s via Lend-Lease, referring to them as Locusts. The British liked the tank thanks to its good mobility, small size, and reasonable weight. Its weak armament and armor, which was no thicker than 25 mm, were considered drawbacks. Some 37 mm cannons were equipped with Littlejohn adaptors, which were designed to boost initial velocity with special shells.

The M22 only saw combat in 1945. Its biggest battle was Operation Varsity, when 12 tanks were flown in using Hamilcar gliders on March 22, 1945. Some M22s may have taken part in the 1944 Normandy invasion."

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=us_m22_locust Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|YuBjyMQLRy0|'''Airmobile tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:43 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|OqGt9pefGSA|'''{{PAGENAME}} Locust Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''|Cdd0WWkWvRE|'''Tank Chat #87''' - ''Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same gun

* [[M3 Stuart (Family)]]
* [[M5 Stuart (Family)]]
* [[M8 Greyhound (Family)]]
* [[LVT(A)(1)]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Tetrarch Mk I]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/716|[Devblog] Developers about the M22]]
* [[wikipedia:M22_Locust|[Wikipedia] M22 Locust]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/us/light-tank-airborne-m22-locust <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Light Tank (Airborne) M22 Locust]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=252 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> M22 Locust (Light Tank, Airborne, M22)]
* [http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Panzers.html <nowiki>[The Shadock]</nowiki> Surviving M22 Locusts]

{{TankManufacturer Marmon-Herrington}}
{{USA light tanks}}

M4A3 (105)

2021-12-15T09:31:14Z

U111620654: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = American medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = other M4 Shermans
| link-1 = M4 Sherman (Family)
| usage-2 = other uses
| link-2 = M4 (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m4a3_105_sherman
|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"]]. Armed with a [[M4 (105 mm)|105 mm howitzer]] instead of the standard [[M3 (75 mm)|75 mm cannon]], the howitzer grants the Sherman a much more powerful high-explosive shell to use against lightly-armoured enemies. When the HEAT round is unlocked for the cannon, its firepower against more heavily armoured vehicle increases substantially.

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

The M4A3 (105) has certain flaws that can be exploited quite well. First of all, the howitzer armament means that the shell travels in a low-velocity, meaning the M4A3 (105) will be unlikely to engage at a long distance. Another is the fact that the M4A3 (105)'s gun has a long reload and a slow traverse speed, meaning it is also not very good in a close-range encounter. Despite these flaws, the M4A3 (105) is a formidable foe with its armament. The HE and HEAT shell the 105 mm can dish out has a real possibility to knock out friendly crew and teammates, if not absolutely destroying light tanks. These high-explosives can also break tracks easily, causing the player tank to be immobilized and exposed not only to the M4A3 (105), but to the other enemies as well, and the M4A3 (105) will most likely not be alone.

To engage the M4A3 (105), try not to engage its frontal armour if in a tank with BR lower than 3.7. It's frontal armour, despite what most will say about the Sherman's armour, is quite formidable and can deflect most incoming enemy round from light and medium tanks. This is why it is recommended to bring high-velocity guns like the [[M7 (76 mm)|3-inch]] on the M10 or the [[KwK 40 (75 mm)|long 75 mm]] on the later Panzer IV. If it can't be engaged from the front, manoeuvre to its side and rear armour, as these armour plates are extremely vulnerable to even 37 mm guns. When manoeuvring around the M4A3 (105), try not to expose the tank for a prolonged time and move faster than the M4A3 (105)'s slow turret traverse rate (though beware that the M4A3 can compensate this slow turn by turning the entire body). If fast enough, a tank could also move past the 105 mm low-velocity shell and mess up the enemy's lead. This will eventually lead to a good shot on the M4A3's weak points. Another simpler and less mobile way is to lie in wait in a tank destroyer such as the StuG III for the M4A3 to move right into the TD's line of fire, giving a clean shot to a vulnerable armour part. A good shot on a general part of the hull can ignite one of the many ammo racks strewn around the interior.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (Hull, Turret roof)
* Cast homogeneous armour (Turret, Transmission area)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (47°) ''Front glacis'' 63.5-107.9 mm (5-56°) ''Transmission area'' || 38.1 mm || 38.1 mm (22°) ''Top'' 38.1 mm (13-44°) ''Bottom'' || 19.5 mm
|-
| Turret || 76.2 mm (3-67°) ''Turret front'' 88.9 mm (3-86°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 50.8 mm (2-69°) || 50.8 mm (2-66°) || 25.4 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 63.5 mm || 25.4 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, bogies are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* Lower part of the hull (transmission housing) is 107.9 mm thick
* A small patch on the turret front right side is thinner (50.8 mm) than the rest (76.2 mm).

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 775|rbMinHp= 442|}}

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

"Parts", "FPE" and "M67 shot" are key modules. Focus then on Firepower improvements, and "Artillery Support". After that, all mobility upgrades are welcomed.

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

{{main|M4 (105 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M4 (105 mm)|105 mm M4]] || 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" | 66 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+35° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 5.7 || 7.9 || 9.6 || 10.6 || 11.3 || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | 11.50 || rowspan="2" | 10.60 || rowspan="2" | 10.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 3.6 || 4.2 || 5.1 || 5.6 || 6.0
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| M1 shell || HE || 27 || 27 || 27 || 27 || 27 || 27
|-
| M67 shot || HEAT || 130 || 130 || 130 || 130 || 130 || 130
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| M1 shell || HE || 472 || 14.85 || 0 || 0.1 || 2,180 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M67 shot || HEAT || 381 || 13.14 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 1,610 || 62° || 69° || 73°
|-
|}
{| 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)
|-
| M84 || 457 || 14.9 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 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
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''66''' || 54 ''(+12)'' || 34 ''(+32)'' || 22 ''(+44)'' || 13 ''(+53)'' || 1 ''(+65)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Racks disappear after you've fired all shells in the rack.
* To go into battle with the turret empty of ammo, pack 22 ''(+44)'' shells (racks 1 to 3 emptied).

=== 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 mount || 600 (200) || 576 || -10°/+30° || ±60°
|-
|}

{| 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 || 3,000 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

This tank plays best as a support tank, stay with other tanks that have better side armour while using the relatively thick front armour to soak a few shots. Use the HEAT rounds to penetrate most armour of the M4A3 (105)'s rank and above, and remember that the M4A3 (105) is no brawler, so staying in the front line too close to hostiles will most likely spell a K.O. by ammo or crew. This tank gun has a very low velocity, so make sure to compensate for a large amount of drop

Having in mind the large calibre of this tank's main weapon, one can conclude that the HE shell (M1 shell) is big enough to dispatch some tanks. However, any armour larger than 28 mm won't let the explosion result in penetration. So for firing at strong armour plates, the HEAT shell (M67 shot) is required. It should be a top priority to research it. The HE shell will, however, be the most effective option whenever this Sherman's controller can find a suitably soft spot in the enemy vehicle's armour. Against soft vehicles, like most [[:Category:Anti-aircraft_vehicles|SPAA]], the choice of ammunition for the main gun is fairly irrelevant, since a single shot should be enough to dispatch one of these, and remaining crew members can be taken down with one of the tank's [[M1919A4 (7.62 mm)|Browning]] machine guns, although HE is certainly the most effective at dishing out damage when armour is absent. With the new overpressure mechanics added in Update "Ixwa Strike", both HEAT and HE shells are more than capable to incapacitate heavy tanks such as the [[Matilda (Family)]] and [[KV-1 (L-11)|kv-1.]]

The HEAT round, unlike the HE one, has a tracer charge, which facilitates aiming. This is not critical, however, since the HE shell's sheer size allows for it to be seen without too much effort.

====Tactics====

The M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman is a support tank, not a front-line brawler. Its adequate armour protection and a powerful gun put it on about the level of the [[M10 GMC|M10 Tank Destroyer]], but it has certain flaws and qualities that make it different than the usual Sherman tanks. Due to the 105 mm howitzer, knocking out the enemy crew in lightly armoured vehicles is a piece of cake. Aim for the enemy tank's lower turret to cause the most damage possible with the HE shells, as the HE shrapnel can be deflected down onto the hull roof and mess up the enemy crew. The 105 mm HE could also be aimed at the enemy tracks to blow it off, immobilizing the enemy. If none of the HE shells does damage to the target (which shouldn't happen most of the time), a well-placed HEAT shell, once unlocked, can easily set a tank aflame or blow up ammo stores. Don't get to close to enemy vehicles '''unless''' it is a limited traverse gun tank destroyer, in which case blow up its tracks with a HE that should do the trick.

A downfall(s) of the M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman is its average mobility, slow turret traverse, and slow reload. Therefore, it is recommended to stick to allied tanks like glue or rely on hit-and-run tactics. The low velocity makes long-range shots relatively difficult. Never stay in the sights of tanks such as the [[KwK 40 (75 mm)|long-barrel 75 mm]] Panzer IV [[Pz.IV F2|F2]]/[[Pz.IV G|G]], StuG III [[StuG III F|F]]/[[StuG III G|G]] or [[T-34 (1942)|T-34]]/[[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]]. These tanks can penetrate the M4A3 (105) HVSS Sherman's front armour, some more easily than others. Try not to get hit in the rear area as it will set the tank on fire and immobilize it, putting it in an extremely disadvantageous situation.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

[[LVT(A)(4) (ZiS-2) (China)|LVT(A)(4)(ZiS-2)]]: don't assume that you are indestructible in a downtier. If you see the giant boat-like chassis of a LVT but with a long cannon on top, be very careful. This LVT is able to penetrate your armour easily within 400m, or if you are not angling the hull. To block its incoming shells, either angle your hull, be at a hull-down position or be >500m away from it. While its shells can tear through your armour with ease, you can also effortlessly destroy it with your HEAT by causing a hull break. While you reload, don't forget to wiggle around in a patternless way to mess up its aim -- its gun traverse rather slowly, making it quite hard to keep up with moving targets.

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Devastating against lightly armoured tanks
* HE shells can cause serious damages even with a non-penetrating hit
* HEAT shell option with approximately 130 mm of penetration at any range, making it able to take on even the KV-1 from the front
* Both HE and HEAT shells have a high chance of causing hull breaks on lightly armoured foes
* .50 cal machine gun on top can provide AA defence
* Good mobility, best hp/weight ratio of any Sherman
* HVSS suspension gives good cross-country mobility
* Wide tracks makes it easier to brake at high speeds and climb steep mountains
* Better sloped frontal armour that can withstand lots of punishment
* Smoke grenades (only USA Sherman equipped with them) and smoke shells are very useful for team support and self-protection

'''Cons:'''

* Poor ballistics, especially with HEAT shells, long-range fighting is not recommended, due to its extremely low shell velocity
* Slow reverse speed, retreating from dangerous situations may be a hassle
* Stock HE ineffective against even moderately armoured tanks
* HEAT shell post-penetration damage is somewhat punctual, follow up shots may be required at times
* Often targeted due to the large 105 mm gun
* Side and rear armour are very weak in comparison to the front
* Very slow turret traverse rate, relies on turning hull to get gun onto targets away from turret front
* Poor stationary turning ability combined with slow turret traverse makes flanking enemies a dangerous foe
* Long reload of more than 10 seconds
* Only equipped with chemical shells (HE/HEAT) which require a different playstyle compared to kinetic shells (AP/APCBC).

== History ==

The [[M4|M4 Sherman]] were originally equipped with the 75mm M3 cannon. Though the 75mm was thought to be an overall effective gun, certain situations called for more destructive power. Enter the 105mm M4 Howitzer, a mountable artillery piece for a tank. The army decided to arm the Shermans with these artillery pieces for a radical increase in explosive power. The first of its model was a [[M4A2|M4A2 Sherman]] with its turret mounting the formidable cannon in the M52 mount, these Shermans were designated '''M4(105)''' and were accepted into service in February 1944. Later, M4A3 Shermans were also being converted into 105mm with the name '''M4A3(105)''' When the HVSS was developed for the M4 Shermans by mean of the M4A3E8, the same was applied to the M4s with the 105mm because of its increased weight, so an improved suspension would increase mobility. These Shermans were then designated to '''M4(105) HVSS''' or '''M4A3(105) HVSS''' and remained that way to the end of the war. The 105 mm Shermans were produced by Chrysler Corporation at the Detroit Tank Arsenal. 800 M4(105) and 841 M4(105) HVSS were produced from February 1944 to March 1945, and 500 M4A3(105) and 2539 M4A3(105) HVSS were produced in May 1944 to June 1945. This brings a total of 4680 Shermans with the 105mm howitzer as its main armament during its production time.

After World War II ended, the M4A3E8 with the 76mm cannon and 105mm howitzer became the mainstay of the United States armoured forces as they were the most advanced version of the Shermans at the time. The M4 (105) are also quite good tank killers. Documents show that the HEAT rounds fired from the 105mm has penetrated through a Panther's frontal armour, which could kill the crew. Even then, the sufficiently powerful high-explosive rounds could cause massive spalling inside tanks, harming the crew inside.

=== In-game description ===
"In May 1944 the Detroit Tank Arsenal launched production of M4A3s equipped with 105 mm M4 howitzers. The modification happened similarly to the M4 (105) modernization, one of the most serious alterations of the tank's armament to be made. The upgraded turret boasted a 105 mm howitzer in place of the 76 mm cannon, making the tank capable of taking on many German models.

Shermans with the 105 mm cannon did not have wet stowage. Instead, their ammunition was kept in dry stowages, meaning that the storage bins were kept in the center of the battle compartment. The Detroit Tank Arsenal produced 800 M4A3(105)s between February 1943 and September 1943, though the earlier models did not have a cupola.

M4A3(105)s saw combat on the Western Front and in Italy between 1944 and 1945."

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m4a3_105_sherman Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|_xCgMBOiA8U|'''High-explosive power''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:24 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|PUw2CQ8e0lE|'''Best Combo #1''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 0:55 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|QoKRrQfYfeE|'''Impenetrable and Penetrating tank - M4A3 (105) Sherman''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|V_FO5JBhjy4|'''M4A3 (105) Revisited Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[StuH 42 G]]
* [[Sav m/43 (1946)]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:M4_Sherman|[Wikipedia] M4 Sherman]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/US/M4_Sherman <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Medium Tank M4 Sherman]
* [https://archive.org/details/FM17-76 [Manual<nowiki>]</nowiki> FM 17-76 - Crew Drill and Service of the Piece Medium Tank, M4 Series (105-mm Howitzer)]

{{USA medium tanks}}

F4F-3

2021-12-15T09:24:42Z

U111620654: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = American naval fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F4F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f4f-3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f4f-3.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The Wildcat is a beast when piloted well. Its strengths lie in its firepower and diving ability, but it also has the ability to outmanoeuvre most aircraft in War Thunder. This gives you numerous options when dogfighting.

The F4F-3 Wildcat is a good all-around fighter, though its top speed and rate of climb are lacking. It is good to go head-on with opponents from other nations as their aircraft won't be able to withstand the damage that the Wildcat can deal, and the good protection for your pilot added to the overall resilience of the aircraft gives it some pretty impressive defence.

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


In the air, the Wildcat performs pretty well, with roll rate and turn time being adequate for most engagements. However, on the ground (not on a carrier), it does not perform as well. The acceleration, even when fully upgraded, is subpar on the ground. When taking off, you will find yourself still struggling to take off when most of your teammates are already in the air.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,800 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
| 499 || 482 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.9 || 20.7 || 12.7 || 12.7 || rowspan="2" | 210
|-
! Upgraded
| 540 || 518 || 18.0 || 18.9 || 18.0 || 15.1
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 420 || 420 || 420 || ~14 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 300 || < 330 || < 350 || > 335
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,158 m || 1,100 hp || 1,210 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,444 m || 1,090 hp || 1,199 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,608 m || 1,040 hp || N/A
|-
|}

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


* 6.35 mm steel- behind pilot's body
* 8 mm steel - behind pilot's head
* 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

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

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

{{main|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (450 rpg = 1,800 total)

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

The Wildcat is an easy plane to fly. It is very manoeuvrable and well-armed for its class. You can out turn pretty much all German and Russian aircraft, but beware that you don't get sucked into a turn fight with any of the Japanese planes and especially the British Spitfire. Keep in mind that the Wildcat loses a large proportion of it's energy during a dogfight making sluggish, thus an easy target for third parties and planes with good energy retention, like the [[yak-1]].

The Wildcat will have a hard time downing planes simply because it has only 4 machine guns, you will often get matched with the [[Bf 109 E-3]] and [[Bf 109 F-1|F-1]] which have powerful cannons and a very good turn rate. The best way to use this plane is to BnZ since most of your opponents are less armoured and are slower. You can also out turn some of the Russian aircraft, but you cannot simply dive away, as you may rip the wings off.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 3 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* More than adequate turn rate
* Has combat flaps
* Decent armament with loads of ammo, 4 wing-mounted .50 calibre with 450 rpg
* Almost never overheats, even when holding down WEP
* Decent roll rate
* Can carry bombs
* Able to endure heavy punishment
* Good Pilot Protection for it's BR
* Good dive speed and characteristic
* Can fly with a red engine (AB)

'''Cons:'''

* The F4F-3 is a rather sluggish climber, doing 15 degrees at most
* Terrible at head-ons, due to the exposed engine being a target and the guns being wing-mounted
* Most of the flammable components are stored in the front of the plane, near the pilot
* Only 4 x .50 cals, somehow inadequate compared to the P-40
* Bad cockpit rear visibility (SB)
* Engine and oil overheat quickly when using WEP

== History ==

During the early years WW2, the United States' main fighter in its navy was the F4F Wildcat, one of the first monoplane navy fighters of its era. It served well in many battles, like the battle for Wake Island, and most notably in the battle of Guadalcanal. It was a very reliable aircraft, however, was constantly challenged by the infamous A6M2 and A6M3 Zero. However, most of the time skilled pilots like John Smith were able to out-dogfight more manoeuvrable fighters like the Zero and Oscar in those battles.

=== In-game description ===
The first model, the XF4F-1, was a biplane, but to meet the demands of U.S. Navy's carrier-based monoplane competition, the Grumman Company changed the design, creating the XF4F-2 prototype. Due to a number of defects in the XF4F-2, a competing firm won instead with the Brewster F2A Buffalo. However, the F4F had potential and was sent back for revision. The next model was superior to the Buffalo, and the other new versions of the Buffalo did not satisfy the requirements of the fleet, so in August of 1939, Grumman received an order for the first series of F4F-3 Wildcats.

The F4F-3 was a single-engine all-metal plane with midwing construction, armed with four 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine guns. Because of its lack of manoeuvrability, the F4F-3 lost to the Japanese fighter in close dogfights, so pilots prefer to avoid such situations by diving out of battle, taking advantage of their aircraft's higher speed.

The Wildcat had only one major drawback - the landing gear extension system. In order to release or retract the landing gear, the pilot had to crank a mechanical hoist handle 29 times, which was difficult given the need to direct the aircraft and start climbing after takeoff.

The Wildcat was exported to Greece, Britain and Canada.

All in all, 7251 F4Fs (including all variants) were constructed, including 285 F4F-3s.

== Media ==


;Images
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F4F-3 Rework Model.jpg|thumb|none|350px|Updated image of the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]] </li>
</ul></div>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Kn5rIoPjHuA|'''The Shooting Range #118''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:06 discusses the F4F Wildcat.}}

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

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

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
{{USA fighters}}

F4F-3

2021-12-15T09:20:23Z

U111620654: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = American naval fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F4F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f4f-3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f4f-3.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The Wildcat is a beast when piloted well. Its strengths lie in its firepower and diving ability, but it also has the ability to outmanoeuvre most aircraft in War Thunder. This gives you numerous options when dogfighting.

The F4F-3 Wildcat is a good all-around fighter, though its top speed and rate of climb are lacking. It is good to go head-on with opponents from other nations as their aircraft won't be able to withstand the damage that the Wildcat can deal, and the good protection for your pilot added to the overall resilience of the aircraft gives it some pretty impressive defence.

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


In the air, the Wildcat performs pretty well, with roll rate and turn time being adequate for most engagements. However, on the ground (not on a carrier), it does not perform as well. The acceleration, even when fully upgraded, is subpar on the ground. When taking off, you will find yourself still struggling to take off when most of your teammates are already in the air.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,800 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
| 499 || 482 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.9 || 20.7 || 12.7 || 12.7 || rowspan="2" | 210
|-
! Upgraded
| 540 || 518 || 18.0 || 18.9 || 18.0 || 15.1
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 420 || 420 || 420 || ~14 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 300 || < 330 || < 350 || > 335
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,158 m || 1,100 hp || 1,210 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,444 m || 1,090 hp || 1,199 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,608 m || 1,040 hp || N/A
|-
|}

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


* 6.35 mm steel- behind pilot's body
* 8 mm steel - behind pilot's head
* 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

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

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

{{main|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (450 rpg = 1,800 total)

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

The Wildcat is an easy plane to fly. It is very manoeuvrable and well-armed for its class. You can out turn pretty much all German and Russian aircraft, but beware that you don't get sucked into a turn fight with any of the Japanese planes and especially the British Spitfire. Keep in mind that the Wildcat loses a large proportion of it's energy during a dogfight making sluggish, thus an easy target for third parties and planes with good energy retention, like the [[yak-1]].

The Wildcat will have a hard time downing planes simply because it has only 4 machine guns, you will often get matched with the [[Bf 109 E-3]] and [[Bf 109 F-1|F-1]] which have powerful cannons and a very good turn rate. The best way to use this plane is to BnZ since most of your opponents are less armoured and are slower. You can also out turn some of the Russian aircraft, but you cannot simply dive away, as you may rip the wings off.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 3 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* More than adequate turn rate
* Decent armament with loads of ammo, 4 wing-mounted .50 calibre with 450 rpg
* Almost never overheats, even when holding down WEP
* Decent roll rate
* Can carry bombs
* Can take some damage
* Good Pilot Protection
* Good dive speed and characteristic
* Can fly with a red engine (AB)

'''Cons:'''

* The F4F-3 is a rather sluggish climber, doing 15 degrees at most
* Terrible at head-ons, due to the exposed engine being a target and the guns being wing-mounted
* Most of the flammable components are stored in the front of the plane, near the pilot
* Only 4 x .50 cal, somehow inadequate compared to the P-40
* Bad cockpit rear visibility (SB)
* Engine and oil overheat quickly when using WEP

== History ==

During the early years WW2, the United States' main fighter in its navy was the F4F Wildcat, one of the first monoplane navy fighters of its era. It served well in many battles, like the battle for Wake Island, and most notably in the battle of Guadalcanal. It was a very reliable aircraft, however, was constantly challenged by the infamous A6M2 and A6M3 Zero. However, most of the time skilled pilots like John Smith were able to out-dogfight more manoeuvrable fighters like the Zero and Oscar in those battles.

=== In-game description ===
The first model, the XF4F-1, was a biplane, but to meet the demands of U.S. Navy's carrier-based monoplane competition, the Grumman Company changed the design, creating the XF4F-2 prototype. Due to a number of defects in the XF4F-2, a competing firm won instead with the Brewster F2A Buffalo. However, the F4F had potential and was sent back for revision. The next model was superior to the Buffalo, and the other new versions of the Buffalo did not satisfy the requirements of the fleet, so in August of 1939, Grumman received an order for the first series of F4F-3 Wildcats.

The F4F-3 was a single-engine all-metal plane with midwing construction, armed with four 12.7 mm M-2 Browning machine guns. Because of its lack of manoeuvrability, the F4F-3 lost to the Japanese fighter in close dogfights, so pilots prefer to avoid such situations by diving out of battle, taking advantage of their aircraft's higher speed.

The Wildcat had only one major drawback - the landing gear extension system. In order to release or retract the landing gear, the pilot had to crank a mechanical hoist handle 29 times, which was difficult given the need to direct the aircraft and start climbing after takeoff.

The Wildcat was exported to Greece, Britain and Canada.

All in all, 7251 F4Fs (including all variants) were constructed, including 285 F4F-3s.

== Media ==


;Images
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F4F-3 Rework Model.jpg|thumb|none|350px|Updated image of the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]] </li>
</ul></div>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Kn5rIoPjHuA|'''The Shooting Range #118''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:06 discusses the F4F Wildcat.}}

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

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

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
{{USA fighters}}