War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Black Night

2022-03-25T23:42:43Z

U116940880: Gun an armour specs

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_challenger_2_bn
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Wind of Change"]].

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

''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.''

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull ||38 mm (79-82°), 50* mm (60°) ''Upper glacis''
70 mm (28°) ''Lower glacis''
60 mm (84°-0'°) ''Driver hatch''||25 mm (0°) ''Top''
50 mm (0°), 38 mm (14°) + 4 mm ''Bottom''
|25 mm (29-30°) + 4 mm
|20 mm (90°)
25 mm (71-74°) S''ides''
10 mm (90°) ''Engine grille''
|-
| Turret ||50* mm (50°)
30 mm (50-0°), 4 mm ''Gun mantlet''
38 mm (0-90°) ''Turret cast''||20 mm (6-7°) ''Front''
25 mm (6°) ''Mid right''
80 mm (6°) ''Mid''
10 mm (6-7°) ''Rear''
|10 mm (17-18°)
38 mm (82°)
|10 mm (80-90°) ''Rear''
38 mm (75-78°)
20 mm (71°) S''ides''
38 mm (82-79°)''Turret cast''
|-
| Cupola ||60mm||60mm||60mm||44 mm
|-
!Composite armour
!Front
!Sides
!Rear
!Roof
|-
|Hull
|'''Upper'''
Kinetic: 420-1,000 mm
Chemical: 700-950 mm
'''Lower'''
Kinetic: 100-400 mm
Chemical: 350-570 mm
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|Turret
|'''Turret Cheeks'''
Kinetic: 440-720 mm
Chemical: 780-1,000 mm
|'''Internal Composite'''
Kinetic: 190-740 mm
Chemical: 300-1,000 mm
|N/A
|N/A
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


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

''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''

{{tankMobility}}

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

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

{{main|L30A1 (120 mm)}}

''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L30A1 (120 mm)|120 mm L30A1]] || 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°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" |6.5|| rowspan="2" |5.75|| rowspan="2" |5.30|| rowspan="2" |5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS ||396|| 394 ||387||376||367||357
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH ||152||152||152||152||152||152
|-
| L26 || APFSDS ||493||491||487||481||474||468
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS ||564||562||557||551||545||538
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS ||1,535
|3.89
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A||78°
|80°
|81°
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH ||670
|17.1
|0.1||4||6560||73°
|77°
|80°
|-
| L26 || APFSDS ||1650||4.1
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|78°
|80°
|81°
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS ||1650||4.1
|N/A
|N/A
|N/A
|78°
|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)
|-
| L34 ||670
|17.1
|20
|5
|25
|50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __
|-
|}

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

{{main|L37A2 (7.62 mm)|L94A1 (7.62 mm)}}

''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.''

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L37A2 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L37A2]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| || ___ (___) || ___ || __° || __°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L94A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L94A1]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| || ___ (___) || ___ || __° || __°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

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

=== Pros and cons ===

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

'''Pros:'''

*

'''Cons:'''

*

== History ==

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

== Media ==

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

== See also ==


* [[Challenger 2 (Family)]]

== External links ==

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

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

{{Britain medium tanks}}

Galer's F3F-2

2022-02-19T01:58:50Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
|about=premium aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=the regular version
|link=F3F-2
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f3f-2_galer
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f3f-2_galer.jpg
}}

== Description ==

'''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica"]]. The plane is painted after the camouflage scheme of American pilot Bob Galer in the USMC, whose plane can be viewed today at the National Naval Aviation Museum.

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

[[File:Galer's F3F screenshot 5.jpg|thumb]]
The F3F-2 is a highly manoeuvrable aircraft as would be expected from its biplane configuration, this allows it to competitively turn with majority of the enemy aircraft that it encounters, the energy retention is good at lower speeds (<250 km/h), but at higher speeds the F3F-2 will lose energy quickly when in a hard turn, problems will be found when facing higher BR monoplane fighters which will have a considerably superior top speed this can cause problems due to the slower speed of the F3F.

Despite the slower speed of the F3F-2 it does have good early acceleration (0-240 km/h) and will usually be one of the first aircraft in the air at the start of the match thanks to its 210 m needed takeoff distance, the 16 m/s climb rate will also allow for the F3F-2 to have an altitude against majority of the enemy fighters that it will face.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,300 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
| 407 || 392 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 13.5 || 13.9 || 11.9 || 11.9 || rowspan="2" | 57
|-
! Upgraded
| 444 || 425 || 12.8 || 13.0 || 19.9 || 15.6
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || N/A || ~13 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 220 || < 280 || < 420 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,600 m || 850 hp || 952 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,214 m || 750 hp || 840 hp
|-
|}

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


* 8.5 mm steel boxes in the rear fuselage
* Critical components located in front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
* Two self-sealing fuel tanks located in the fuselage

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

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

{{main|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|Browning (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg)

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

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

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

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

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Galer's F3F screenshot 3.jpg|thumb]]
The F3F is first and foremost a fighter aircraft, this is a role in which it thrives with its brilliant manoeuvrability allowing it to deal with majority of enemy aircraft in a turn fight, trying to get an enemy aircraft to turn with you will be the best way to engage and win a fight, if the enemy is a monoplane they will usually have worse performance at slower speeds, so making them turn and lose energy is a good way to gain an advantage with your superior slow speed performance, if the enemy aircraft is also a biplane your main focus should be preventing them from getting guns onto your aircraft, if you can gain a turning advantage you should move into position and attempt to down the enemy aircraft, your two guns can end up putting lots of rounds into an enemy, but a hit to any critical component such as the pilot or engine will either end the fight or put it strongly in your favour. It is best to avoid "head on" engagements with enemy aircraft, as the engine on the F3F has a large frontal profile (Radial engine) along with the engine front being exposed, this makes the engine being hit a common occurrence and without your engine survival is unlikely.

The F3F will commonly come across aircraft with superior top speed, such as many of the early Bf-109 variants (A,B-1,E-1 & F-1), these aircraft will usually attempt to use a "boom & zoom" attack style against your aircraft, the best you can do is to keep a good amount of energy and be ready to evade when the commit to an attack run, if you can evade them for long enough you will hopefully receive some help from some of your other team members or you might be able to make the enemy try and commit to a turn fight where you should have an advantage and be able to critically damage or down their aircraft.

As for using the F3F for close air support (CAS) you will have a few possibilities, the most popular choice will be to take the two 100 lb bombs (AN-M30A1), these only contain 24.5 kg of explosive mass so you will need to land them very close to the intended target to do any meaningful damage. A second option is to use your .50 cal (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine gun to destroy ground targets, all belts for this gun have 26 mm of penetration, although the ground targets belts are best as they contain more AP rounds, these will be able to go through SPAA (Self Propelled Anti Aircraft) vehicles as well as some light & medium tanks, firing for the upper armour or side armour on enemy vehicles will usually prove to be the most effective way of going through enemy armour.

It is recommended not to hold the brakes on landing, as the F3F will likely flip over, it is best to tap the breaks on and off to avoid this occurring.

=== 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 || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:Galer's F3F screenshot 4.jpg|thumb]]

'''Pros:'''

* Excellent manoeuvrability
* Very low stalling speed
* Controls are extremely responsive
* Powerful .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine gun
* Climb rate is competitive against aircraft of similar [[Battle ratings|BR]]
* Two 100 lb bombs for attacking ground targets

'''Cons:'''

* Small primary armament which can be inadequate against large targets
* Low ammunition count for the 12.7 mm machine gun
* Can flip over the nose when landing if the brakes are held down too long
* The 100lb bombs are small and aren't very effective against ground targets

== History ==

[[File:Grumman F3F-2 BuNo 0976 displayed at NMNA, NAS Pensacola.jpg|thumb|Galer's F3F-2 on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, after being recovered from the Pacific Ocean.]]
Galer’s F3F-2 is the F3F-2 flown by then-First-Lieutenant Bob Galer, USMC, who was forced to bail out during landing operations. Lt. Galer would become a double-ace during WWII, having survived being shot down four times, received the Medal of Honor for heroism at Guadalcanal, and retired as a brigadier general. Galer’s F3F-2 was recovered in 1988 from the bottom of the Pacific Ocean; following a reunion with the aircraft’s former pilot, the plane is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum of the United States.

Robert ‘Bob’ E. Galer was a naval aviator in the United States navy, having joined the navy in 1936. While assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron two (VMF-2), he was attempting a landing on the USS Saratoga (CV-3) when his F3F-2 failed; as a result, he was forced to ditch the aircraft into the ocean. He was later stationed in Hawaii for most of 1941, promoted to the rank of captain. He was stationed with VMF-211 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbour on December 7th, 1941.

Galer was given command of VMF-224 in May of 1942 and later fought at the Battle of Guadalcanal; it was during this conflict that he shot down 11 enemy aircraft, becoming a double-ace and receiving the Medal of Honor for his actions. Galer was also awarded the British Distinguished Flying Cross, a rare occurrence for the time. Afterwards, Galer served as assistant operations officer at Naval Air Station (NAS) Miramar; he was not permitted to fly in combat due to his status as a medal-of-honor recipient, exacerbated by the fact that he had been shot down three times already.

By 1945, Galer had obtained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Staying with the navy, he was sent to Korea in 1952 as a full Colonel, received a Gold Star (in lieu of a second Distinguished Flying medal) for leading an aerial attack on Pyongyang. He was shot down once more in August of 1952 after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. Galer returned to the United States after the end of the Korean conflict and retired in 1957 at the rank of Brigadier-General; he later served as vice-president of Ling-Temco-Vought (LTV) later as an executive with Bright & Co. He would be reunited with his former F3F-2 in 1988 after the aircraft was recovered from the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Brigadier General Galer died of a stroke on 27 June 2005 in Dallas, Texas; he is survived by his wife, four children and six grandchildren. Galer’s F3F-2 is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum, restored to its markings when flown by Galer in 1940.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f3f-2_galer Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200px">
File:Galer's F3F screenshot 1.jpg
File:Galer's F3F screenshot 2.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|YZtAEsSpwNM|'''The Shooting Range #96''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 08:18 discusses the F3F-2.}}

== See also ==


* [[F3F-2]] - the normal tech tree version of the F3F
* [[Zhukovsky's I-153-M62]] - similar Soviet aircraft

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
{{USA fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

Spitfire Mk Vb/trop

2022-02-17T20:57:25Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = British fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the non-tropical version
| link-1 = Spitfire Mk Vb
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = Spitfire (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=spitfire_mk5b
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_Spitfire_Mk_Vb_trop.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

Having picked up experience from the previous Mk Ia, IIa and IIb, most players will welcome the Spitfire Mk Vb. The Vb sports a new and more powerful Merlin-45 inline compared to the previous Merlin-XII engine giving it an extra 100 horsepower when upgraded, which provides better high altitude performance and faster top speed than the IIb. Unfortunately, the Vb still has similar problems as experienced with the early Spitfires such as a very weak airframe, weak wings, bad roll rate at high speeds and lack of combat flaps to help with dog-fighting. Experienced Spitfire Mk Vb pilots use close convergence ranges. Generally, the best convergence range for a Spitfire is 300 metres, with 20 minutes of fuel. Once you arrive on the battlefield you should generally have between 12-15 minutes of fuel. The Spitfire manoeuvres best with this load of fuel. The Spitfire fights best at close-range. The basic strategy that many Spitfire pilots use is a tactic whereby they bait head-ons from enemy aircraft, before evading and turning around to put shots into the target at close range while the enemy is pulling out. When the Spitfire has the initiative in the engagement and has successfully manoeuvred onto a six-o-clock aspect, it is nearly impossible for the opponent to regain the advantage. Using clever management of the throttle and manoeuvres to gain or bleed energy, an experienced pilot can maintain the initiative in the engagement and stay on an opponent's six o'clock.

== 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 4,878 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
| 545 || 526 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.4 || 18.0 || 13.5 || 13.5 || rowspan="2" | 340
|-
! Upgraded
| 605 || 573 || 15.9 || 16.5 || 23.9 || 17.8
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 230 || ~10 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 321 || < 400 || < 350 || > 450
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,900 m || 1,190 hp || 1,583 hp
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
* 4 mm Steel - Armoured plate in pilot's seat
* 6-7 mm Steel - Armoured plate behind the pilot
* 3 mm Steel - Armoured boxes around the wing ammunition
* 1 mm Steel - Armoured plate in front of the top fuel tank
* 3 mm Steel - Armoured plate in front of liquid cooling system

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

All Spitfires have similar research paths, where the first upgrade that should be researched is "Radiator" or cannon belts, and then "New 20 mm cannons" or "Airframe". The Spitfire Vb does not need the "Radiator" upgrade due to the good thermodynamics of the new engine, so pilots should research the "Offensive 20 mm" belts first, and then "New 20 mm cannons". Pilots should leave Mk.II mod 1942 & 1943 until last, and instead prioritise performance first. Research "Airframe" to make the plane a bit lighter so it turns faster, and then research "Engine", "Wings repair" and finally "Engine injection". Once you have received "Engine injection", go back and research "Radiator", and then finally research "Cover", then 1942 cannons, then "Fuselage repair" and finally 1943 cannons.

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

{{main|Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)|Browning (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

The 7.7 mm machine guns seem ridiculous to have at this rank. At this BR, you need to keep either one long burst or a series of shorter bursts on a target to cause enough damage for it to fall and hit it many times (50-100 bullets need to hit critical modules such as wing spars) to secure a kill unless you are lucky and manage to set fire to a fuel tank, mangle the engine, or kill the pilot of the enemy. Going by sheer damage and fire chance, the best belt is the Tracer belt. The incendiary tracer and armour-piercing incendiary bullets are able to crit pilots, shatter wing spars and spark fires in fuel tanks with ease. Coincidentally, the belt is also good for "walking" in the 20 mm guns onto the target.

The Hispano Mk.II has the third-most damaging World War II HEFI round in the game, with an explosive power coming in behind the [[MG 151 (20 mm)|MG 151/20]] and the [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]]. The best belt is the stealth belt, as it contains 75% useful rounds (HEF-I, HEF-I, AP) and 25% selective-use rounds (HEF-SAPI). Since the tracer rounds are just ball-point ammunition with a tracer element, and you only have 60 rounds per belt, you should load the stealth belt and aim with the 7.7 mm machine guns in the method described in the [[#Using the guns|"Using The guns" section]].

== Usage in battles ==


The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop fills the role of an angles-fighting aerial superiority fighter in the early British tier III lineup. It cannot fulfil any ground attack duties due to its low cannon ammunition pool and the absence of any heavy machine guns which can penetrate a tank's thin roof armour. In addition, the aircraft cannot carry any bombs or other air to ground ordnance. Like most Spitfires, the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop is meant to be used as a pure aerial superiority fighter, while fighter-bomber duties are relegated to other aircraft, such as the [[Beaufighter (Family)|Beaufighter]] series of aircraft. Further details on the aircraft are as follows:
[[File:Spitfire Mk Vb sun.png|alt=Spitfire Mk Vb/trop turning into the sun over Sicily|thumb|Spitfire Mk Vb/trop turning into the sun over Sicily.]]

'''Performance:'''

The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop is a well-rounded fighter that can turn excellently. When the plane has not been fully upgraded, the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop's Merlin-45 engine has less power than the Merlin-XII engine of the [[Spitfire Mk IIb]]. However, once all engine upgrades have been acquired the Merlin-45 is easily a superior engine with better cooling and power, blessing this variant of the Spitfire with better energy retention and better cooling than the Mk I and II Spitfires. The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop has outstanding energy retention and easily gains speed in a dive and retains it after pulling out into more level flight. In addition, it does not lose speed too quickly in a turn and thanks to outstanding acceleration from the Merlin-45, the aircraft easily accelerates after pulling a high-G turn that initially bled a large amount of speed. However, the newer, more powerful, heavier engine and airframe only has more energy retention capability due to being heavier than the Spitfire Mk IIb. This means that the aircraft cannot turn as tightly or as fast as its predecessor. The extra weight comes from the new cannons, which are slightly longer than the older Hispano Mk.Is, and the extra weight of the more powerful Merlin-45 engine.
[[File:Spitfire Mk Vb-trop Kill-shot.png|left|thumb|356x356px|A Spitfire Mk Vb/trop breaking out of its attack run after a successful kill. Note the large Vokes Sand filter on the bottom of the engine, which is a distinctive feature of this plane.]]
The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop has a quoted rate of climb of 17.8 m/s at around 255 km/h in a moderate climb, however, when factoring in 20 minutes of fuel reduces is capability and it can manage around '''22.7 m/s''' in a climb at '''251 km/h IAS''', or around '''20.6 m/s''' in a climb at '''270 km/h IAS'''. In addition, by alternating between shallow and sharp climbs, one can make the Spitfire climb much faster in the initial stages of the match. Through practising these techniques, it is possible to achieve an end result of an average of around 20-21 metres per second in a single, steady climb to 4,000 metres. The aircraft's nose was kept pointing between 15 - 20 degrees during this climb.

Experienced Spitfire Mk Vb pilots use close convergence ranges. Generally, the best convergence range for a Spitfire is 300 metres, with 20 minutes of fuel. Once you arrive on the battlefield you should generally have between 12-15 minutes of fuel. The Spitfire manoeuvres best with this load of fuel. The Spitfire fights best at close-range. The basic strategy that many Spitfire pilots use is a tactic whereby they bait head-ons from enemy aircraft, before evading, and turning around to put shots into the target at close range while the enemy is pulling out. When the Spitfire has the initiative in the engagement and has successfully manoeuvred onto a six-o-clock aspect, it is nearly impossible to regain the advantage. Using clever management of the throttle and manoeuvres to gain or bleed energy, an experienced pilot can maintain the initiative in the engagement and stay on an opponent's six o'clock.

This Spitfire has a good turn time compared to its opposition and cannot be out-turned by anything save for a Japanese Zero. However, its 16.8 second turn time and slightly wider turn radius are a far cry from the [[Spitfire Mk Ia]]'s outstanding turn radius and turn time. Don't expect to out-turn everything. While you have good energy retention, you have low manoeuvrability below 280 km/h, and the plane has a tendency to lock up above 450 km/h. A prime tactic used by enemy pilots is entering a steep dive, and then cutting speed near the ground, resulting in you ramming into terrain. Don't let that happen. If the target's too slow, then pull out into a quarter-loop, before rolling 180 degrees and inverting. They'll have lost a lot of speed by cutting the throttle and nearly nothing rivals the acceleration of a Spitfire Mk Vb/trop under 4,000 metres save for high-performance Russian aircraft and the Fw-190s.

The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop begins to lose its edge below 280 km/h IAS. It begins to slow down, become sluggish, and starts to show its weaknesses. Although it has good energy retention, it will lose a lot of speed turning above 400 km/h and loses speed slowly but steadily in a turn below that speed. Beginning at 270 km/h IAS, the aircraft begins to lose speed and agility until it becomes heavy and unwieldy beginning at 250 km/h. A favourite tactic of Fw 190 A-1 pilots to use against Spitfire Mk Vb/trops is to keep the Spitfire turning until it loses speed, or to utilize their outstanding agility and acceleration to turn the fight into a vertical manoeuvring fight that moves upwards. They utilize a series of loops & Chandelles to force the Spitfire to lose energy, bait it into a turnfight and then attempt to use their superior acceleration and energy retention to force the Spitfire to lose speed and either crash or become a sitting duck. Spitfire pilots are advised not to engage in an extended turn-fight with an Fw 190 A. Should you be able to gain the initiative on an Fw-190 by diving on him from a higher altitude, then you will have the upper hand and defeat him easily.

'''Using the guns:'''

The Spitfire Mk Vb/trop is armed with two pairs of British .303s with 350 rounds per gun and two Hispano Mk.II cannons with sixty rounds per gun. In continuous firing, assuming that no jams happen at all, the Hispano's ammo will dry up quicker than the 7.7 mm Brownings. However, jams do happen and the Hispanos jam quicker than the Browning.

Use the cannons sparingly. Use the cannons when in the aircraft's most effective convergence range and envelope, and use the machine guns to 'sight' the cannons. Fire the machine guns' tracer belts for maximum AP-I and tracer ammo, using the similar muzzle velocities to get an idea of where the cannon rounds will go, and then fire cannons once you are getting consistent hits. If your cannon ammo drops to 20 rounds or below, try and return to base quickly. That way, if you get bounced on the way back, you can at least have some cannon ammo left to surprise any raider looking to kill you. Generally, the stealth belt works best, as it contains a high percentage of HEF-I rounds (50%), especially seeing as you don't have the ammo capacity to use belts with functionally useless ammunition such as the tracer and ball-point rounds, which do nearly nothing.

Go for deflection shots against enemy aircraft. These shots are side-on shots where you "lead" an enemy aircraft in front of you, and get off a burst when you're not directly behind them, but instead when they're turning. While this may be difficult for newer players, it provides valuable training and is a good learning experience for later tiers. In addition, should you use this technique, you can easily cause enemy planes' wings to completely fall off if you pull it off right and hit a wing spar. [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109]]s, with their single-wing spars, are especially vulnerable to a well-aimed side-on shot.

{{Youtube-gallery|7Gp8Q8MqMQg|An example of an attack made using the machine guns to "aim" the cannons. This attack was done with a [[Spitfire Mk IIb]], but it should be actively used in any Spitfire with .303s coupled with cannons ([[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfires IIb through LF Mk IXc]])}}

=== 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 || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

On takeoff, switch on manual engine control. Set the prop pitch to 100% immediately, and the radiator to 100%. 120% mixture may be used below 1000 m, but above that altitude, use 60-78% mixture for optimal performance. Should you be looking to conserve fuel, a good cruising engine setup is 90% throttle with 40% mixture.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent turn time
* Decent all-round performance
* Powerful cannons
* Extremely manoeuvrable
* Decent ammo count for the .303 Brownings
* Can pull negative G manoeuvres unlike its predecessors

'''Cons:'''

* Low ammo count for the Hispanos
* Requires good skill & knowledge of energy fighting to be used to its full potential
* Still uses a float carburettor and will sometimes suffer engine failures
* .303s have a low damage output
* Poor high altitude performance
* Does not turn as well as A6M2s etc
* Prone to overheating easily while stock
* Very fragile
* Somewhat poor climb rate
* Cannons jam easily when stock

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
A single-seat, single-engine all-metal monoplane fighter. After the Mk II and two more experimental variants of the Spitfire, the next major variant to see mass production was the Spitfire Mk V. Central to this new Spitfire was its engine – the 1470 HP Rolls Royce Merlin 45. This was equipped with a single stage supercharger and, coupled with a new carburettor design, allowed the Mk V to perform zero G manoeuvres without starving the fuel flow to the engine; a problem which had plagued earlier models of the Spitfire. The engine change necessitated strengthening the engine housing and installing a more effective oil radiator with a circular rather than U-shaped housing, and fitting two strengthening longerons to the upper surfaces of each wing.

The Mk V initially followed a similar pattern to the Mk I and Mk II in that it was fitted either with the Type A or Type B wing, again carrying eight machine guns or two cannon and four machine guns respectively. Less than 100 of the Mk VA were produced; it would be the Mk VB with its formidable 20mm cannon and four machine guns which would be the major production model, with 3911 VBs manufactured.

Some of the fighters were made for tropical climate conditions: a Vokes filter was installed over the carburettor air intake, under the engine. It was covered by special "lips" which helped prevent excessive dust intake, but at the cost of top speed and rate of climb. This variant was named the Spitfire Mk VB/Trop and was used in the Mediterranean theatre of operations, especially North Africa and Malta.

The first Mk Vs entered combat in February of 1941. The improved power and performance characteristics of the Spitfire Mk V made it a competitive match for the new German Messerschmitt Bf109F, but it was found to be inferior to the new Focke-Wulf FW190. As a result, the Spitfire Mk V was the first variant to experiment with the option of clipped wing tips, which increased the aircraft's roll rate and top speed at low level, but sacrificed its rate of climb.

The Mk V formed the backbone of RAF Fighter Command across several theatres of operations, and was considered by some pilots to be the definitive model of the Spitfire.

=== Notable pilots ===
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:John_Plagis_portrait.jpg|thumb|none|200px|link=User:U64962917#Plagis,_Ioannis_"John"_A.|Top scoring Southern Rhodesian ace pilot [[User:U64962917#Plagis,_Ioannis_"John"_A.|John Plagis]] and highest scoring pilot of Greek origin of WW II. Plagis flew the '''Spitfire Mk Vb/trop''' during the defence of Malta.]] </li>
</ul></div>

== Media ==


;Images
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:FighterImage Spitvbtrop 1.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Dogfight over Malta]] </li>
</ul></div>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 03:26 discusses the Spitfire Mk Vb/trop.}}

== 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/5371-development-spitfire-mk-v-model-update-and-new-modifications-en|[Devblog] Spitfire Mk.V: model update and new modifications]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/287253-supermarine-spitfire-mk-vbtrop/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Supermarine}}
{{Britain fighters}}

Spitfire Mk IIb

2022-02-17T20:42:13Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = British fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Spitfire (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=spitfiremkii
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

The {{PAGENAME}} is an excellent turn-fighter and has excellent climb and speed characteristics - forming a middle ground between the sheer speed of the German fighters and American fighters and the nimble agility of the Japanese machines. These aircraft, however, have little in the way of armour protection - any hits will most likely damage something, and in addition, you will be helpless if you try to head-on something. Turn-fighting is the most efficient way of using this nimble, fast fighter, and it should be used in this way most of the time. A suggested loadout is to equip Tracers on the 7.7 mm machine guns, and Stealth Belts on the 20 mm cannons - this allows maximal amounts of damaging rounds - namely the Armour-Piercing Incendiary (AP-I), High-Explosive Fragmentation Semi-Armour-Piercing Incendiary (HEF-SAPI) and High-explosive Fragmentation Incendiary (HEF-I) rounds. The technique to use this loadout will be described in the "Usage in battles" section.

Note, however, that with the two 20 mm cannons, the {{PAGENAME}} can also be used as a reasonable Boom & Zoom fighter with fewer results. It is recommended to maximise the use of AP-I ammo for the {{PAGENAME}}'s 7.7 mm machine guns and the HEF-I ammo for the 20 mm cannons for air damage. It is also advisable to make sure that you conserve your ammo and only fire when you have a clear target, as you'll find you'll run out of ammo very quickly. Sixty rounds of 20 mm is not a very large ammunition pool and will run out faster than the machine guns in most cases.

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

As mentioned constantly, the {{PAGENAME}} has excellent turn-fighting, climbing, and speed characteristics for a fighter. With the Merlin engine, the {{PAGENAME}} can utilise the power to gain speed and altitude for an energy advantage over its opponents, as well as having the manoeuvrability to perform aerobatic manoeuvres to get out of a sticky situation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 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
| 550 || 534 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 15.9 || 16.5 || 16.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 597 || 571 || 14.4 || 15.1 || 23.9 || 19.4
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 230 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 321 || < 400 || < 350 || > 500
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,490 m || 1,140 hp || 1,311 hp
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
* 4 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
* 6-7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.
* Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
* More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage
* Cooling systems heat up ridiculously fast

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

Your priorities should be the weaponry upgrades and engine upgrades. It is suggested to research the gun upgrades first, and use engine upgrades to unlock tiers. New 7 mm MGs are not really needed since the Brownings are relatively reliable. Airframe upgrades can take priority over the 7 mm MGs. However, to really make this bird sing, you need to have the radiator upgrade and all 20 mm cannon upgrades.

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

{{main|Hispano Mk.I (20 mm)|Browning .303 (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.I cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning .303 machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

In continuous firing, assuming that no jams happen at all, the Hispano's ammo will dry up quicker than the 7.7 mm Brownings. However, jams do happen and the Hispanos will jam quicker than the Brownings.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Spitfire Mk IIb Pretty Picture.png|thumb|450px|right|A Spitfire Mk IIb, perched on a hill.]]
The Spitfire is a high-performance thoroughbred, which is more than a match for any and all opposition it faces at its battle rating. However, if you don't know what you're up against and just try to out-turn everything with flat turns, you'll be able to get kills you need to grind up the tree, but you will not be able to excel in using the plane. Something important to remember is the seven P's: Proper Perusal, Planning & Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

In order to use your plane most effectively, you need to know your own plane almost inside-out (Perusal). In order to fight, you need to plan your every move well and have a good idea of how you're going to start your match and at what point you're going to RTB (Planning). You need to know and be prepared to fight enemies that may have better performance than you in a turn, in the vertical, in a straight line, or all three, and have tactics to combat them when necessary (Preparation).

The {{PAGENAME}} is a very good turn-fighter, being one of the most agile aircraft in the game, and has good weapons configurations that can be used against enemies. It can reliably out-turn many of the aircraft in-game, and out-zoom-climb some as well with WEP on. It has an excellent rate of climb, and due to this and the armament, is a good bomber interceptor. Using its agility, speed, and rate of climb, it can easily run rings around enemy fighters and dispense punishing blows as well. However, there are several points to be kept in mind while flying the {{PAGENAME}}. These are:

# The relatively low amount of damage that the 7.7 mm Browning machine guns put out
# The propensity of the 20 mm Hispano to jam after prolonged firing
# Lack of any armour on the engine and (relatively) small amounts of windscreen glass armour
# Decreased engine power at altitudes higher than ~3900-4300 metres
# Proximity of vital systems towards the front of the aircraft, including a forward fuel tank that does not self-seal, and will keep burning until all the fuel inside has disappeared.
# Lack of combat flaps
# Increased efficiency of control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, rudder) at medium speeds (300 km/h-450 km/h) and engine efficiency at low altitudes (below 4,500 m)
# Inability to hold WEP for long, before the engine begins overheating without MEC
# The float carburettor, should the plane pull any negative G, the carburettor will be fuel-starved cutting power to the engine
# Similarity of the muzzle velocity of the 20 mm Hispano and the 7.7 mm Brownings (meaning that they'll have similar trajectories- this seems unimportant, but the significance will be explained shortly)

This fighter, unlike American and German fighters, is neither a gun platform nor a potent Boom & Zoom fighter. It is well-armed and can Boom & Zoom decently, but if an aspiring pilot tries to fly it like a P-40, the Spitfire will be shot down very, very quickly. Conversely, if a pilot tries to fly it like a Bf 109, while they might have some amounts of success, the Spitfire is outperformed as a B&Z fighter by US fighters such as the F4U-1A and German fighters such as the Bf 109. It will not be able to hold its top speed for very long due to its lacking cooling systems unless the radiator is forced open by manual engine control - which doubles or triples the WEP time when used properly (forced 100% radiator directly after takeoff). In addition, the aircraft does not have combat flaps, which means you cannot have 'reserve manoeuvrability' to out-turn a fighter in order to retreat.

Try to find lone opponents to face off against as the Spitfire performs best when facing enemies one at a time. Always keep an eye on the tactical map as your adversaries (mostly 109s) will travel in "wolf packs" and shoot you down. For fighting at low altitude stay above the opponent you have singled out and dive on them. If you have too much energy go for a high yo-yo manoeuvre to bleed your energy. 90% of the time you will easily out-manoeuvre anything you face so get on their tail and shoot them down. For high altitude fighting, try to get the altitude advantage and bait your opponent into a turn fight. Stay away from energy sapping manoeuvres as at high altitude this will lead to the Mk IIb being left a sitting duck (also stay away from 1v2s and the like).

Abuse the vertical as well as the horizontal in a fight. Use manoeuvres such as yo-yos and chandelles that will bleed the speed of an enemy while allowing you to retain more speed than your enemy. Your primary opponent - Bf-109s (Primarily [[Bf 109 E-3|E-3s]] and [[Bf 109 E-4|E-4s]], sometimes even [[Bf 109 F-4|F-4s]]) - perform better in the vertical than you do, so do not try to out-dive or out-climb them. Should you try to climb against a Bf-109 ending its dive and entering a loop, usually, you will bleed speed and stall out, making you a sitting duck for anybody who decides to target you. If you can, try to fly downwards instead of heading up. Make a split-S instead of an Immelmann to perform a reversal- roll inverted (upside down) and then pull hard on the elevator, looping back up to get back into a fight. Use your superior turning abilities in the semi-vertical, making chandelles instead of pure loops. You can theoretically use flat turns only, but if you get into an uptier, you'll be out-performed by Zeroes (who perform better at lower speeds) and [[Fw 190 A-1]]s (which have excellent energy retention and will still be going fast when you're stalled out in a turn). When fighting these aircraft, it is recommended that you fight less in terms of strictly up or down, but instead, plan your engagement according to whether you're travelling at a faster speed (You're outrunning them) or above/below them. When engaging these aircraft, having altitude definitely helps. Spitfires can out-dive A6M2s, and can out-turn Fw-190s. In both cases, however, if you bleed too much speed, you will be shot down due to becoming easy meat. The A6M2 stalls at a lower speed than you and also turns better at speeds below 330 km/h (205 mph), while the Fw-190, although unable to turn as fast as you do, will be able to keep its speed for longer.

Of course, to do everything that was described, it is better to have altitude before doing so. For example, you can't make a split-S from the astronomically low altitude of 200 metres (650 ft) and expect not to crash into the ground. While pilots may tell you otherwise, you should not climb to 3,000 m and stay there for the entire match. Remember the proverb: Speed is Life. Altitude is Speed in the Bank. Spitfire pilots should use their excellent Merlin engine to climb into the 4,000 m range in order to be able to gain energy when necessary to either run away or to fight an enemy.

Experienced players may recommend that you use landing flaps below 250 km/h to get an edge in turn time. Don't do this if you're a new pilot. The Spitfire IIb will slow down dramatically if you do so and you'll end up losing too much speed. Landing flaps may increase lift, but they also reduce your speed by acting as brakes by increasing drag. They also rip easily, and unless micromanaged, they will immediately rip off, leading to difficulties in controlling the plane.

'''Using the armaments:'''

A possible strategy for the {{PAGENAME}}'s set of armaments is one akin to that used on the [[Hurricane Mk IV]], using the cannons sparingly to conserve ammo and reduce chances of jamming. Use the cannons when in the aircraft's most effective convergence range and envelope, and use the machine guns to 'sight' the cannons. Fire the machine guns tracer belts for maximum AP-I and tracer ammo to get an idea of where the cannon rounds will go, and then fire cannons once you know where you should aim. This technique works well because the Hispano cannons and the 7.7 mm machine guns share similar muzzle velocities to one another.

The video below shows how to use the aiming technique described:

{{Youtube-gallery|7Gp8Q8MqMQg|An example of an attack made using the machine guns to "aim" the cannons. This attack was done with a
Spitfire Mk IIb, but it should be actively used in any Spitfire with .303s coupled with cannons (Spitfires IIb through LF Mk IXc)}}

Go for deflection shots against enemy aircraft. These shots are side-on shots where you "lead" an enemy aircraft in front of you, and get off a burst when you're not directly behind them, but instead when they're turning. While this may be difficult for newer players, it provides valuable training and is a good learning experience for later tiers. In addition, should you use this technique, you can easily cause enemy planes' wings to completely fall off if you pull it off right and hit a wing spar. Bf 109s, with their single wing spars, are especially vulnerable to a well-aimed side-on shot. If your cannon ammo drops to 50 rounds or below that, try and return to base quickly. That way, if you get bounced on the way back, you can at least have some cannon ammo left to surprise any raider looking to attack you.

'''Fighting the enemy:'''
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:1100px; overflow:auto;">
Click '''Expand''' to show
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
{{Notice|Disclaimer: This is a very general guide to the aircraft's capabilities. Following these to the letter without consideration of the enemy's abilities can still lead to a loss.}}

Tips for using the Spitfire against other nations' fighters are as follows:

* American fighters - In mixed battle, you will face US fighters such as the F4F, the P-39s and sometimes P-47Ds (Including the German and Soviet premiums) and many other aircraft which have .50 calibre machine guns. These large-calibre machine guns will shred a Spitfire to pieces if given the opportunity to fire a long, sustained burst at you, such as in a head-on engagement. Lure the enemy down and force them to lose energy, using your manoeuvrability to break the enemy's aiming solution at the last moment with manoeuvres such as the scissors and barrel rolls.

* German fighters will usually have cannons and hold a speed advantage over you, as well as being more capable at higher speeds and altitudes. If you head-on a German fighter, you will lose over 90% of the time, unless you are lucky and manage to land critical hits on the engine and the pilot - and this is also unlikely given that the 7.7 mm machine guns and thie hispano cannons are not known for their armour-piercing abilities. Like with American fighters, try to make the enemy bleed speed, while dodging enemy fire. You can also attempt to lure the enemy into turning with you. You may have a chance with a head-on, but this requires that you know your plane completely. Head-ons are suicide, since F-model [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109 Variants]] have their guns mounted near the engine, and the [[Fw 190 A-1]] has an overwhelming frontal armament. Although the spitfire can shrug off a few hits from machine guns or [[MG FF (20 mm)|20 mm MG FFs]], it cannot survive hits from mine-shell equipped [[MG FF/M (20 mm)|MG FF/M]] or [[MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 151/20]] cannons, such as those on the [[Bf 109 E-4]].

* Soviet fighters will have cannons, large-calibre machine guns, or both, in conjunction with small-calibre guns, mounted in-line on the fuselage, but are weak and vulnerable to fires. Again, facing these head-on is suicide, and at the low altitudes you will meet them at, you cannot disengage by running or climbing away. Keep in mind that while you can turnfight, Soviet fighters are very, very manoeuvrable at low altitudes. Again, like always, abuse the vertical with the horizontal. Soviet planes have inferior ShVak cannons, but they have 12.7 mm Berezin UBs with API ammo. Do not try to head-on them unless you know how to get your shots into the enemy's fuel tank or engines or pilot on the first try. If you let them get into firing range in a head-on, you're absolutely cooked.

* Japanese fighters are more nimble than you. If you enter a turn-fight with them, and the pilot is smart, he or she can and will deploy their combat flaps and shoot you down. Attempt to bait them into energy-fighting manoeuvres (otherwise known as Boom-and-zoom), where your superior speed, acceleration, and climb rate will prove you to be the victor.

* Italian fighters are the high-performance counterparts of the Germans, just like the British are to the Americans. They possess either similar agility ([[Re.2001 (Family)|Re.2001-series aircraft]]) or superior speed and energy retention in vertical manoeuvres ([[C. 202 (Family)|C. 202]] & [[C. 205 (Family)|C. 205]]-series aircraft). In addition, all of them are equipped with versions of the Bf-109's DB-605 engine, and they do well at high operating altitudes. Most Italian aircraft at the BR range of 2.3-3.3 are extremely poorly armed, with only two low-velocity, low-rate-of-fire [[Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns coupled with a pair of [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] machine guns. However, a few aircraft- namely the [[Re.2001 CN]] and the [[C. 202EC]]- have two [[MG 151/20 (20 mm)|20 mm MG 151/20]] cannons, making them dangerous opponents.

* French fighters are a bit of a mixed bag, having some of the more heavily armed aircraft and some of the less heavily armed aircraft in the game. In general, however, they will have either cannons or heavy-calibre machine guns, and good manoeuvrability. Turn-fighting these aircraft is preferable to a head-on engagement. They will also do better at high altitudes and speeds. Rope-a-dope them into fighting you on your own terms at lower speeds and altitudes where you'll have a chance. In addition, they have low ammo count (60 rounds for cannons and 300-500 for machine guns), just like you do, so try and make them waste their ammo.
</div>
</div>

'''Specific enemies worth noting:'''
<div class="toccolours mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:1100px; overflow:auto;">
Click '''Expand''' to show
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
* [[BV 238]] - Don't face these things from above, level, or from the rear. The massive amounts of defence armaments on this flying boat will ensure the Spitfire will be shot down. They're also massive - but not impossible to shoot down. The only reasonable chance of shooting the BV 238 down is via aiming for the cockpit at the front (very hard), or by aiming at the wings. The process to do this is to get to its rear and dive down below the enemy, corkscrewing and rolling and skidding across the sky seemingly at random and get within 600 metres of it and approximately a hundred metres below. Start firing machine guns at the wings. Once closed into 400 metres, fire the cannons. Once you set fire to a BV, usually, it will not go out

* [[A6M2]] - These nimble fighters may have low-velocity cannons, but they can easily out-turn you with combat flaps and stay with you in a fight, and out-turn you with flaps on. Don't even bother trying to turn-fight them. Use boom-and-zoom manoeuvres. Even if the enemy pilot wants to, the A6M2's climb rate is not very good compared to the Spitfire, and it will not be able to keep up. Get at least 2 km away from the enemy before you go in again, or at least wait until it is distracted by another enemy.

* [[I-153P]] "Chaika" - The I-153P is a Soviet biplane from the late 1930s. These small biplanes will rip you to shreds if you don't play smart. These biplanes have an insane turn rate and will effortlessly out-turn you without any flaps. They are armed with two [[ShVAK (20 mm)|20 mm ShVAK]] cannons that will obliterate you if you present a side-on profile to them (i.e. let them get a "deflection" shot on you), and they can destroy you in a head-on if you're not careful. To counter these aircraft you do not engage in a turn fight, instead you [[Energy fighting|energy fight]] (a recommended tactic is to use yo-yos and to out-climb/out-speed the enemy) as your Spitfire is much faster, has an excellent climb rate, and has superior energy retention.

* [[Bf 109 E-1]]/[[Bf 109 E-3]]/[[Bf 109 E-4]] - These planes have superior high-altitude performance, top speed, dive characteristics, as well as two centrally mounted machine guns and two cannons. However, you can outclimb them at low altitudes. You may find it hard to out-turn them, though. Trying to out-turn a Bf 109 is harder than it seems, since the two planes are both very agile. Abuse the vertical to get a definite edge on them. Use low-yo-yos and high-yo-yos to gain the altitude or speed advantage over a turning Bf 109.

* [[Bf 109 F-1]]/[[Bf 109 F-2]]/[[Bf 109 F-4]] - These aircraft climb, accelerate and dive faster than you. However, they will find it much harder to out-turn you. Use split-S's to get under them and a combination of high/low yo-yos. If one tries to engage in a head-on, fire off a desultory burst of MG fire and hope to hit something, and immediately dive and try to get under it. If you lock into a head-on, it is likely that they will hit your cooling system and your engine will die, along with your plane.

* [[Fw 190 A-1]] - This aircraft has a similar turn radius to you, but superior acceleration, (arguably) superior armament, superior high-altitude performance and better top speed than you do, but a worse rate of climb. You can turn faster than it, but you can't out-turn it per se. Don't get baited into a turn-fight. You should have the altitude advantage, since most Fw 190 pilots stay low (3500-ish m), where their engine does best. You can out-climb them when they're slow, so try and energy fight them. Just don't use loops, since the Fw 190 will happily slice and dice you when you're in a loop using its superior energy retention. Don't turn-fight it, since it'll make you bleed speed and subsequently use its superior energy retention to turn and burn for longer periods of time and eventually get on your six and shoot you down in flames. This plane has the feared "minengeschoß" (Mine shot) round for its 20 mm cannons, and four machine guns, so do not head-on this plane.

* [[C. 202EC]] - This aircraft is easily the most dangerous enemy that you will ever face. It brings excellent armament, top speed, energy retention and dive characteristics to the table, along with excellent high-altitude performance and climb rate. Do not head-on this plane. This aircraft has two MG151/20s with Mine shot, and will absolutely shred you into pieces should you enter a head-on. C. 202EC pilots are usually confident in their abilities to chop enemy aircraft into pieces in a head-on, and some (including this contributor) will actively seek it. It also has two 12.7 mm machine guns, centrally mounted in the nose, which can do some damage if the C. 202 can get close. You can out-turn a C. 202EC, and possibly out-climb it, but not much else. The C. 202EC does best at high speeds and high altitudes, so try and bring things into your favour. Force it into a low-speed fight, or bait it towards other friends who are better able to deal with it.
</div>
</div>

=== 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 || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Absolutely amazing turn capabilities, even at low speeds
* Superb climb capabilities
* Relatively good armament with a 20 mm and 7.7 mm combination arrangement
* Very easy aircraft to control
* Good acceleration
* Short bursts can decimate the enemy, even bombers if aimed correctly

'''Cons:'''

* 7.7 mm machine guns have low damage and stopping power
* Cannons have a low ammo count in general - just enough for 6 seconds of firing
* Hispano Mk.I 20 mm has a tendency to jam under continuous firing when not upgraded
* Hispano cannons may be finicky to use if you are not able to aim them well
* Due to aforementioned weapon disadvantages, proper trigger discipline, convergence, and knowing the effective cone of fire is key
* Wings overload quickly when turning at high speeds
* Most enemy contemporaries in the matchmaking bracket can out-dive you
* Low dive speed limit
* Poor roll rate, especially at high speed
* Poor high-altitude performance (compared to lower altitudes)
* Engine easily overheat
* There are only two positions for flaps: raised and landing

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
The Supermarine Spitfire was a British fighter which served with various nations from the late 1930's up into the 1950's. It was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. Various modifications served as fighters, interceptors, high-altitude fighters, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. A total of some 20,300 Spitfires of all types were built during the war, including two-seater trainers.

In the summer of 1939, an early Spitfire Mk I was fitted with the new Rolls Royce Merlin XII engine, which had a higher output of 1175 HP and was fitted with a Coffman engine starter instead of the previous Merlin's electrical starter system. This, combined with the Rotol variable pitch propeller which had been used on many Spitfire Mk Is would now form the powerplant of the new Spitfire Mk II, although some production models used the De Havilland propeller. The Mk II was some 6-7 mph faster than the later Spitfire Mk I, but still slower than the original Spitfires before a series of modifications increased the aircraft's weight. As with the Mk I, the Spitfire Mk II was produced with either eight machine guns as the Spitfire Mk IIA, or two 20 mm cannon and four machine guns as the Mk IIb. The earlier problems with cannon fitted to the Mk IB had now been solved by introducing a belt feed system to the weapon to replace the earlier drum, turning the cannon on its side and fitting a blister on the wing to house the new mechanism.

920 Spitfire Mk IIs entered service; 750 Mk IIA and 170 MK IIB, although fighters used in the air-sea rescue role were later designated Mk IIC. The Spitfire II quickly replaced the Spitfire I, with the older variant being relegated to use in Operational Training Units. By April 1941, RAF Fighter Command had completed re-equipping with the Mk II, although this too would soon be replaced by the Mk V.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 02:45 discusses the Spitfire Mk IIb.}}

== See also ==


* [[Sea Hurricane Mk IC]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4507-development-spitfire-mk-iib-an-old-friend-en|[Devblog] Spitfire Mk IIb: an old friend]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/287256-supermarine-spitfire-mk-iib/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[wikipedia:Supermarine_Spitfire_(early_Merlin-powered_variants)#Mk_II_(Type_329)|[Wikipedia] Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants) - Mk II (Type 329)]]

{{AirManufacturer Supermarine}}
{{Britain fighters}}

Phantom FG.1

2022-02-12T23:27:22Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', otherwise known as the '''F-4K''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. Like the other British Spey Phantom, the [[Phantom FGR.2]], this Phantom comes with AIM-9Ds, stock RHAW, and two turbofan engines that differentiate it from other [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|Phantoms]] in the game. This Phantom is the naval variant of the British Phantom FGR.2, and as such has several adaptations for use on the smaller flight decks of British Carriers, including a longer nose wheel, slotted elevators like on the [[F-4E]], larger leading-edge flaps, a tougher undercarriage, Spey 203s with a quicker Afterburner activation time, and a slew of other upgrades that are not modeled in War Thunder, such as a folding nose radome, drooping ailerons to aid in lift, and a different radar to the FGR.2 (AN/AWG-11 as opposed to the AN/AWG-12 in the FGR, and the AN/AWG-10 in the base F-4J model). The FG.1 takes off a good deal faster than the FGR.2 thanks to the more rapid gain of afterburner thrust, higher angle of attack possible due to the extended nose wheel, and the larger flaps.

== 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 10,667 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
| 2,190 || 2,160 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 26.7 || 176.2 || 165.5 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,355 || 2,268 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 246.6 || 210.0
|-
|}

==== 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" | Rolls-Royce Spey 203 || 2
| colspan="2" | 13,705 kg || colspan="3" | 397 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel
|-
| 1,860 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 15,457 kg || 17,177 kg || 18,913 kg || 19,545 kg || 25,400 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
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,110 kgf || 9,014 kgf
| 1.17 || 1.05 || 0.95 || 0.92 || 0.71
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,110 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,311 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.33 || 1.20 || 1.09 || 1.06 || 0.81
|-
|}
The radiator can be manually controlled for increased time with afterburner without the engines overheating.

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


The Phantom FG.1 has no armour protection, the fuel tanks are self-sealing. The crew members are located towards the front of the fuselage, and all the important modules (engines, fuel tanks) are located in the rear of the fuselage. There are also fuel tanks in the wings. These factors make the pilots well protected from the rear, but vulnerable to the front, whereas all important modules are extremely vulnerable from the rear.

* No armour protection
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

"Flares" should be one of your top priorities, as well as the "1000 LB GP" upgrade. These give you a fighting chance against your missile-armed opponents, and the bombs provide a relatively reliable source of RP {{rp}} as you work towards better equipping the aircraft for dogfights later down the line. "Compressor" and "Engine" provide the single largest addition to performance, far more than any of the other upgrades, and should be prioritised. The Airframe and Cover are not priorities, but New Boosters help immensely with taking on trickier opponents. The "Offensive 20mm" and "New 20mm cannon" upgrades are not priorities, as the M61 is more accurate than one would think, and with a cyclic fire rate of 6,000 rounds per minute, belt composition simply does not matter.

== 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|}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** Without offensive armament
** 90 x countermeasures

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

{{main|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|SNEB type 23|M61 (20 mm)}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9G Sidewinder|Skyflash}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, belly-mounted (gunpod) (1,200 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 8 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles

== Usage in battles ==
[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 of 111 Squadron, or "Treble One", patrolling over the North Atlantic.]]

[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 5.png|thumb|533x533px|An [[F-4M|F-4M/FGR.2]] (front) and F-4K/FG.1 (back), both in the post-1983 RAF Medium Sea Grey camouflage scheme, flying above a Norwegian Fjord. While outwardly similar, the two Spey Phantoms perform slightly differently.]]
The F-4K/Phantom FG.1 is the ultimate energy fighter- its advantages over other aircraft are sheer power, roll rate, its ability to climb to high altitudes, and its nearly unparalleled speed and thrust-to-weight ratio down low are only rivaled by the MiG-21SMT. The twin Rolls-Royce Spey 203 engines produce just over 9,000 kgf thrust when you are stationary- that is to say, on the runway- and over 10,000 kgf when you're travelling at near-supersonic speeds.

Side-climb high- around 8,000-9,000 m will do- and attack those beneath you. The Phantom's fantastic climb rate, as well as the FG.1's faster acceleration to maximum speed than any other F-4, including the FGR.2, gives it an excellent climb advantage over any and all opposition up to around 5,000 m (16,500 ft), and with side-climbing can easily manage to get to 10,000 m (33,000 ft) before anybody else can, save for F-4Es. It must be noted however that the Phantom's high-altitude controllability is not very good, and the aircraft flies like a brick above 7,500 m (24,000 ft).

The Phantom also has an RWR that can also differentiate between simple radar pings and a radar lock, which is invaluable in deciding whether one needs to start evasive manoeuvres to try break the lock or whether it is simply a sign of a distant enemy contact. The RWR is particularly useful when "notching" against an enemy Pulse Doppler radar. Use the UI to bring the radar lock warning line to the side of your aircraft (90 degree off the nose/tail). This will place the Phantom in zero relative velocity to the enemy and the ground clutter thus rendering you "invisible" to their radar.

The Ferranti AN/AWG-11 Radar can scan up to 370 km away in a 120 degree arc, but generally you should keep the radar scanning in a 120 degree search pattern for targets at 18.5 km away from you. The radar also has an Air Combat Mode, or ACM mode, that shortens the radar search to an 11-by-11 degree search pattern with a maximum range of 9.25 km. In this mode, it will lock on the first target that it manages to detect and will not stop tracking nor switch to another target until the lock is lost, which can be a useful tool for detecting and tracking targets that are not visible due to clouds, distance, or other such factors.

The AIM-9D/Gs do excellently when launched from 2.3-5.5 km (1.5-2.5 miles) away, but not up close. They are superior to the AIM-9E, with 18 Gs of maximum overload as opposed to 10 Gs, but they are still inferior to the [[R-60|R-60/AA-8 Aphid]] (30G) and the [[AIM-9J Sidewinder|AIM-9J]] (20G). However, it is of note that the AIM-9D/G's seeker head is able to lock on and maintain a lock at much longer distances than either missile. It is possible to kill aircraft from 8-10 km away given the right conditions and a bit of luck.

Any British Phantom should not be taken close to the beginning furball. All mentioned facts combined give the image of a long-range missile-hauler with a licence to kill from long range given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself. This is indeed the case. British Phantoms perform admirably in a support role in a furball, killing tailsitting MiGs, Mirages and Phantoms, as well as taking out enemy aircraft who go high to try to attack aircraft with an energy advantage, and enemy aircraft extending away from the furball to make another pass. [[File:Phantom FG1 SC1.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 over El Alamein]]

This, however, does not mean that the Phantom FG.1 cannot handle itself in a dogfight. The FG.1 is more than capable of engaging aircraft up close (between 0-1.5 km away), with a powerful M61 Vulcan. You can easily kill aircraft in a head-on, but that doesn't mean that you should commit and stay there! Always break off if you see enemy tracer, or at the very least when the enemy aircraft is 1 km away, lest you would like your own example of the World's Best Distributor of MiG Parts spread all over the sky. When using the Vulcan, one has two options on how to engage, one of which is more risky than the other, and depends on your aircraft being spaded.

* The first method of engagement is a fairly standard low-risk hit-and-run pass. Approach the enemy, shoot, and break off. There's nothing too special about it, and it relies more on the Phantom's blinding speed to get into the target area, the Vulcan's overwhelming Burst Mass to put at least a few rounds on the target, and then get out of the danger zone as soon as possible lest you become the target of unwanted attention. It requires little in the way of skill and little in the way of performance upgrades, as the FG.1 already has considerable engine power. However, it does not allow for sustained time on target and gives you only a small window of opportunity to make the shot.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 2.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 above the North Atlantic.]]
* The second method of engagement is much more risky, more rewarding, and requires a fair amount of pilot skill and a fully upgraded plane. In addition, this method is specific to British Phantoms, if not the FG.1 in general, as the FG.1 is the only Phantom which has this type of afterburner performance. Pilots are not recommended to try this in the [[F-4C]], [[F-4E]] or [[F-4EJ]]. Conversely, this tactic works very effectively against turning non-Spey phantoms. This method should not be used above 5,000 m under any circumstances. This method works best while in cloud and with an ACM lock on the enemy. The Phantom has its best roll performance at 700-950 km/h (380-515 kts) and can use its takeoff flaps below 700 km/h without risking them ripping off. You can use the airbrakes to slow the aircraft to the required speed, and then by tapping the flaps from raised to takeoff position, you can turn a little tighter than usual, and then use your outstanding afterburner performance to rapidly regain speed. You can out-accelerate any phantom in-game below 5,000 m, and even from a slower start you can rapidly close the gap. This manoeuvre can also be attempted at an angle to the horizontal, although speed can become a much greater concern (both flap rip speed and stall speeds). While this tactic may at first seem illogical- speed, after all, is the lifeblood of jet battles- the fast afterburner acceleration of the Spey Phantom can often ensure that you do not end up stalling. This tactic is, however, highly situational and requires a fair bit of situational awareness and pilot skill to pull off. Phantom neophytes shouldn't attempt this until they have at least spaded it and grown comfortable with it.

The Astute reader may have noticed that the engagement ranges described leave a "dead zone" between 1.5-2.4 km away from the aircraft. This is correct. Unless the enemy is low, slow, or simply unaware of their surroundings, they can easily dodge the AIM-9D/Gs at this range, and they are too far away for a reliable guns kill. Pilots have two options should they come to this impasse. They can either break off the engagement, extend a little to a more comfortable range (hopefully 3 km) and fire a missile, or head straight at the enemy, casting all pretenses of subtlety to the wind to go for a guns kill with the Vulcan. The choice is up to the pilot to decide.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 6.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 breaking away to the left while an [[Phantom FGR.2|FGR.2]] presses onwards.|left]]

===Dodging Missiles: The Do's and Don'ts===
The Phantom FG.1 is slightly more manoeuvrable than the FGR.2 due to aerodynamic modifications to allow it to perform better at speeds. This means it has a slightly easier time dodging missiles. However, the easiest to avoid missiles is to not let the enemy get the opportunity to launch them at all. Keep your tail pointed away from enemy radars and the front of enemies. Utilize oblique angles and the Phantom's blinding speed and unrivalled acceleration to get out of missile lock range, and use head-on passes to avoid IRM locks on targets you wish to get gun kills on, before extending out quickly with full afterburner. Do not stay still for prolonged periods of time without checking behind you for tell-tale white streaks or the missile markers. In addition, don't let MiG-21s get close to you. Fly at an oblique angle to them (but keep your tailplane out of clear sight!) until you reach 2.5 km. The R60s, while having a lock range of 3.5 km, have an effective range of around 2.5 km, making them almost useless at longer ranges (unlike the AIM-9D/Gs, which are most effective when at long range, and manoeuvres when seen from a distance mean smaller course corrections). Matra Magics are harder to evade using distance, but a similar rule applies, where having at least 3-5 km between you and the enemy and travelling at an angle that obscures your engines from enemy aircraft helps massively in avoiding missile launches. Manoeuvring and flares should be an absolute last resort. Pre-emptive manoeuvring to deprive the enemy of chances to lock is the first and foremost way to avoid getting blown out of the sky.

If you need to manoeuvre, though, remember to turn off the afterburner. The Afterburner provides a large beacon-like heat signature that any IRM can track with a modicum of ease. Break into a missile while popping flares. Press your flare button at least three times to release a sufficient amount to decoy off the enemy missile.
[[File:Missile Inboard annotated.png|thumb|350px|Breaking into a missile.]]

==== Breaking into a missile ====
This situation assumes that you are in a Phantom FG.1, and have been locked on and launched at by an enemy aircraft from around 1.5-2.4 km with a missile.

# A missile is launched from the left of the Phantom, which is turning to the left. The Phantom pilot sees this, and switches off the afterburner in order to reduce heat signature.
# The missile is closing rapidly and is around 1 km away. The Phantom turns inwards towards the missile to increase the amount of Gs which the missile must pull, while popping flares (6-8) in an attempt to decoy off the missile.
# The missile cannot pull the necessary Gs, and it misses. The Phantom escapes.

If dodging SAMs at low altitude during Ground Battles matches, try to put terrain features such as trees, buildings and cliffs between you and the missile to force the radar to break a lock, and break towards the missile in order to increase the G-force it needs to pull. While you can do this to some extent in Air RB, there aren't often many terrain features to begin with, and missiles are usually IRMs, which means that they don't require the launcher to continuously maintain line-of-sight with the target they launched at. Another method to dodge missiles is a barrel roll while popping flares, executed at the last possible moment, while the missile is below 1 km away. This method, while risky, is sometimes the only way you can evade close-range missiles such as the [[Hunter F.6]]'s [[SRAAM]]s, the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]] and [[MiG-21SMT]]'s [[R-60]]s and the [[Mirage IIIC]]'s [[Matra R550 Magic 1|R550 Magics]], as well as helicopter-mounted IRMs such as the [[9M39 Igla]] on Russian helicopters, the [[AIM-92 Stinger]] on US helicopters, the British [[Starstreak]], and the [[Mistral]] on French, German, and Italian helicopters.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great top speed, one of the fastest aircraft in the game
* Decent instantaneous manoeuvrability for a plane of its size
* Excellent engine performance at low altitude
* Excellent rate of climb
* Excellent energy retention
* Adequate selection of secondary ordnance
* Powerful M61 Vulcan with sufficient ammo can wreak havoc against enemy aircraft
* Access to pulse doppler radar and 4 Skyflash missiles, making it the second best high-altitude heavy fighter (the best being the F-4EJ KAI)
* Access to AIM-9Gs, great when engaging at about 3 km.

'''Cons:'''

* As with most jets, tends to bleed off energy in sustained turns- less so than the other top tiers but still significant enough to be worth mentioning
* Worst sustain turning performance out of any top tier jet
* Large target for cannons
* Limited payload options compared to American Phantoms
* Engines lose their edge at higher altitudes compared to US turbojets
* Control authority suffers drastically above ~8,000 m
* Possibility of ripping its wings in turns above 1,000 km/h
* The gunpod produces a noticeable amount of drag

== History ==


===Background===
From the late 1950s onwards the British Government began looking to replace a number of its early second-generation jet aircraft. The RAF was looking to replace the [[Canberra_(Family)|English Electric Canberra]] in the long-range interdictor role, and the [[Hunter_(Family)|Hawker Hunter]] in the close air support role; meanwhile the Royal Navy was looking to replace their de Havilland Sea Vixens in the fleet air defence role<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK">Wikipedia: McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service</ref>. Two aircraft programs were started to produce suitable replacements; the BAC TSR-2 was to be a highly advanced strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Canberra. Meanwhile the Hunter and the Sea Vixen would be replaced by different versions of the P.1154; a Mach 2 capable VTOL aircraft developed from the P.1127 (the predecessor of famous Harrier Jump Jet). The Navy were not entirely happy with the idea of the navalised P.1154, believing that it did not suit their needs; and in 1964 they dropped out of the programme, deciding to purchase the F-4 Phantom from America instead. In the same year a new government was elected and in 1965 cancelled both the TSR-2 and P.1154 programmes on cost grounds, leaving the RAF without its much needed Canberra and Hunter replacements. The Government announced a plan to purchase the F-111K from America to replace the TSR-2 program (the F-111K would also eventually be cancelled on grounds of cost), while the Hunter would be replaced by F-4 Phantoms from America<ref name="BurkePhantom">Burke 2016</ref>.

===Development===
Both the Royal Navy and RAF were now set to purchase the F-4 Phantom. The RAF could have operated standard F-4 Phantoms (and to some extent would have preferred to)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />, however the aircraft was going to need modifications in order to be able to operate off of the UK's aircraft carriers, which were smaller than the ones Phantoms usually operated from. In a bid to help the British aviation industry (which had been hurt by a number of cancelled programmes), and make the aircraft suitable for use by the Royal Navy it was agreed that all UK Phantoms would be significantly modified, by British companies, from their US counterparts. The most notable change would be the replacement of the American J79 turbojet engines with larger and more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans; a modified rear fuselage to accommodate the new engines would also be built by BAC, and the aircraft's radar system would be built under license by Ferranti<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

It was decided that the UK Phantoms would be based off of the F-4J, which was then the primary version in service with the US Navy at the time<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. As the RAF and Royal Navy had differing requirements it was decided that two variants of the UK Phantom would be designed: the first variant, for the Royal Navy, would be designated F-4K or Phantom FG.1; while the RAF variant would be developed from the navy variant and be designated F-4M or Phantom FGR.2. Work began on modifying the F-4J to meet the Royal Navy's needs; the nose radome had to be made to hinge 180 degreed, to allow the Phantom fit on the smaller deck elevators of British carriers, and a telescopic nose gear was installed to allow the aircraft to sit pitched nose-up on the flight deck (by up to 11°), reducing take-off distance<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The new engines were installed at a slight downwards angle to further increase take-off performance and the rear fuselage to be redesigned to both accommodate the new engines and cope with the increased heat they produced; the air intakes also had to be made larger, and additional intake doors added in the fuselage to provide the Speys with the airflow they required<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. Many other small changes were also made to UK Phantoms. The first F-4K prototype flew on 27 June 1966, with the First F-4M prototype flying on 17 February 1967.

===Service===
The first F-4Ks were delivered in April 1968 and were designated Phantom FG.1, early the following year they began test flights from HMS Eagle and the USS Saratoga. During the testing the intense heat produced by the downward-angled Spey engines, while the afterburner was engaged, caused the flight deck plating of the USS Saratoga to buckle<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. On-board HMS Eagle heavy-duty steel plating had to be welded to the flight deck; and be cooled using water from the ship's fire hoses between flights, in order to stop it from melting<ref name="SearlesPhantom">Searles n.d.</ref>. When the HMS Ark Royal was upgraded to operate Phantoms it had to have water-cooled blast deflectors and decking installed to prevent the Phantom's engines from damaging the flight deck <ref name="BurkePhantom" />. HMS Ark Royal had finished its refit in 1970, by which point the refit of HMS Eagle had been cancelled, along with plans to build two additional aircraft carriers. With the Navy now only having one carrier capable of operating Phantoms it was decided to reduce the Navy's Phantom fleet down to 28 aircraft, with the other 20 FG.1s being transferred to the RAF. The remaining Royal Navy Phantoms would serve on the HMS Ark Royal (R09) until her retirement.

The first F-4Ms entered RAF service in May 1969, filling the role of tactical strike aircraft; they were given the designation Phantom FGR.2 (with FGR standing for Fighter/Ground attack/Reconnaissance). The RAF's Phantom FGR.2 was overall very similar to the Navy's FG.1 variant, but had a number of changes; they used a slightly different version of Spey engines (the FG.1 had faster afterburner engagement to aid with aborted landings on aircraft carriers), and naval features like the telescopic nose gear, slotted tail, and cockpit-controlled wing folding were dropped. The FGR.2 also had different avionics, the radar was slightly different and additional functionality such as an inertial navigation / attack system was added, as well as modification needed to allow the FGR.2 to use a gun pod and reconnaissance pod, among other changes<ref name="GledhillPhantom">Gledhill 2017</ref>. Both the FGR.2 and FG.1 would later be modified with squared off tails, holding a radar warning receiver.

The Phantom FG.1s were withdrawn from Royal Navy service in 1978, with the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal, and were transferred to the RAF to serve in air defence roles. The Phantom FG.1 was not originally equipped to carry a gun pod while in Royal Navy service, following their transfer to RAF service they were modified in order to carry the SUU-23/A 20 mm gun pod (the same one used by the RAF Phantom FGR.2s). The Phantoms were replaced in Navy service by the Harrier Jump Jet, which was able to operate from the Navy's new Invincible-class aircraft carriers (which were smaller than the HMS Ark Royal).

Following the Falklands War in 1982 the UK deployed a Squadron of FGR.2s to defend the Falkland Islands from any future attack; however this left a gap in the Air defence of the UK Mainland. It was decided to purchase 15 more F-4Js from America to fill this gap. The F4-Js were upgraded to F-4S standard and entered service with the RAF on 19 October 1984 under the designation Phantom F.3 or F-4J(UK)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. The Phantom remained the UK's primary Air defence aircraft until it was gradually replaced by the Panavia Tornado; the last FG.1s retired on 30 January 1990, the last F.3s retired on 31 January 1991, and the FGR.2 left RAF service on 1 November 1992. The FGR.2 was due to retire earlier however just before retirement it was called back into service to defend RAF Akrotiri, on Cyprus, during the First Gulf War<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

A total of 48 Phantom FG.1s, 118 Phantom FGR.2s and 15 Phantom F.3s were built<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

===Further development plans===
Prior to the Phantom's retirement from RAF service there had been a plan to retrofit them with an upgraded version of the Spey engine. A program was started to design the new engines; they would have various improvements, the most notable of which being new turbine blades, reportedly manufactured from a single metal crystal<ref name="ThrustSSC">SSC Programme Ltd 1997</ref>. These blades would increase the operating life of the engines under normal conditions, but also give the option of operating the engines at higher temperatures, and thus higher thrust (although this would come at the expense of reduced engine life). These engines were known as Spey 205s and had a maximum thrust of 25,000 lb (11,340 kgf)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, compared to 20,515 lb (9,305 kgf) for the regular Spey engines; although it is unclear if they would be used at this thrust rating while in service. With the Phantom retired the Spey 205 programme was cancelled, and no engines were produced under the Spey 205 name; however 12 Spey 202 engines had been upgraded to Spey 205 standard for testing (and are now generally referred to as Spey 205s, or Spey 202 hybrids)<ref name="BourneSSC">Bourne 1997</ref>. It is known that after the programme was cancelled two of the Spey 205 prototypes, along with two standard Spey 202s were obtained by the ThrustSSC programme (the world's fastest car)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, although reports vary on whether the car was fitted with Spey 202s or 205s when it completed its record-breaking run.

===Comparison with American Phantoms===
The Rolls-Royce Spey engines gave British Phantoms notably different performance to their American counterparts. At low altitude British Phantoms accelerated faster than standard F-4Js and had a higher top speed; it was estimated that they had a 30% shorter take-off distance and a 20% faster climb to altitude<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The Spey turbofan engines were also more fuel efficient than the J-79 turbojets, giving British Phantoms a 10 - 15 % increase in range compared to American aircraft<ref name="GledhillPhantom" />. The main drawback of the British design was that the reshaped fuselage produced more drag than the original design, meaning that at high altitude British Phantoms were slower and performed worse than their American counterparts (British Phantoms topped out at about Mach 1.9 at altitude, while American Phantoms could reach Mach 2.1)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|YTV8OmfpR0Y|'''Phantom FG Mk1 Review So Far''' - ''TWM12''}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

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

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service|[Wikipedia] McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service]]
* [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php <nowiki>[Thunder and Lightnings]</nowiki> McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II]

===Citations===
<references />

===Bibliography===

* Bourne, Nigel. (1997). Development of the Rolls-Royce Military Spey Mk202 Engine. Retrieved from [http://www.thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Burke, Damien. (2016). McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II. Retrieved from [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php Thunder and Lightnings]
* Gledhill, David. (2017). Phantom in the Cold War: RAF Wildenrath 1977 - 1992. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation.
* Searles, Dick. (n.d.). HMS Eagle Deck Trials 1969. Retrieved from [https://www.phantomf4k.org/video-library/hms-eagle-deck-trials-1969 Phantom F4K - Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy]
* SSC Programme Ltd. (1997). The Story of the Rolls-Royce Spey. Retrieved from [http://thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Wikipedia. (n.d.). McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service. Retrieved from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service Wikipedia]

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}

Swingfire

2022-02-10T01:05:42Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_fv438_swingfire
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British tank destroyer {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.63 "Desert Hunters"]].

The Swingfire is the first dedicated ATGM of British nation tree. It doesn't have any cannons, just a light machine gun. Instead, it has two ATGM launchers that are reloaded separately and fire upwards with missiles that are guided by mouse. Missiles are slow and relatively easy to control, as long as they are visible by the ATGM camera. You can only directly control the missile last fired.

The main point is the player can fire while being completely concealed and fire on people that try to hide from the Swingfire, whether they are hiding behind rocks (vertically) or houses (horizontally). You just need to "swing" the missile into their cover, which surprises people who expect long range ATGM sniping from 2 km range like other ATGMs. But another side of that is, it's very easy to see the missiles coming and hide from them, making it twice as hard to hit enemies, unless the player can judge the distance well and drop missiles right on them.

Because of that, main purpose of the Swingfire is either control of hills, castles, streets and so on to block enemy offensive pushes or assist in team assaults by hiding behind teammates. walls or rocks and blasting enemy out of covers.

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

The Swingfire's hull can be easily damaged by anything, as it has almost no armour. This leads people to think that it is useless in close combat, and ignore it. Despite that, most of the hull can sustain 7.62 mm MG fire. However, avoid exposing the right side of the tank's hull, as the crew sits on that side and a short spray of 12.7 mm MG there will destroy the tank immediately.

The area around launchers have the least armour on the tank, so even shrapnel of MG rounds hitting the launcher can accidentally injure the commander and the loader. If the tank got set on fire, it will likely take long time until fire reaches ammunition rack, in the best case scenario allowing to fire back 6 times until the engine melts completely and sets the ammo rack off. With some luck, low calibre sabot shells can be blocked by the engine, but that probability isn't that high.

The Swingfire can be easily overpressurized with explosives, but HEAT hitting missile launcher sometimes fails to destroy it. HE can obliterate it even with a close miss, which can be exploited to defeat the Swingfire when it stands too close to the edges of its cover.

When fighting on hilly maps, be exceptionally vigilant about hiding the camera podium, as it is much higher than the rest of the hull. In Arcade, some people may drop HESH or HEAT projectiles over hill right into it, resulting in crew knockout. The use of solid cover for the launchers and the hull at close ranges or longer than 1 km range is often required, particularly on hilly maps.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12 mm (42°) ''Front glacis'' 10 mm (38°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12 mm ''Top'' 12 mm (13°) ''Bottom'' || 10 mm (2°) || 10 mm
|-
| Turret || 10 mm || 10 mm || 10 mm || 12 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick, though the torsion bars are 10 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=341|rbMinHp=212}}

The mobility of the {{PAGENAME}} is average. It can't retreat fast backwards and it has very poor turn rate when stock. If someone flanks at close range, the Swingfire won't be able to turn the launcher in time. It can keep up with some heavy and medium tanks, when going forward.

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

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

{{main|BAe Swingfire}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[BAe Swingfire|170 mm BAe Swingfire ATGM]] (x2) || 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" | 14 || rowspan="2" | N/A || rowspan="2" | N/A || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.5 || 15.5 || 18.9 || 20.9 || 22.2 || rowspan="2" | 13.00 || rowspan="2" | 11.50 || rowspan="2" | 10.60 || rowspan="2" | 10.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 10.5 || 10.5 || 12.8 || 14.1 || 15.0
|-
|}

* The turret is represented by a camera to the right of missile launchers. Improving its rotation speed affects the responsiveness of missile, whether you see or don't see the target directly.
* The camera can only turn 90 degrees in each direction, so it cannot automatically control missiles behind the Swingfire. It still can send commands to the missiles, allowing to hit targets manually, though it is challenging.
* The inability to see the target and missile at same time disables automatic guidance system, forcing you into manual mode.

The Swingfire is a giant box, which has two enormous launcher tubes on its left, that face upwards and a big control camera near to them, which is also your gunner's camera. Whenever needed to fire, you want that camera to see as much as possible, as losing the sight of the target will make you lose easy control over missiles. Without direct sight on target, you will only be able to control them with mouse movements, but not with the targeting reticle point. If sight of the missile is lost, control is lost entirely. You also can only initially launch missiles forward.

People may think, that your missiles inside launchers explode violently when shot by MG, but it won't destroy you even if that happens. Still, the launchers are very fragile and they are a large target, that can be easily shot by HE, instantly destroying the tank in the process. For that reason alone, an enemy might stop and stare at your cover, waiting for your move, like with most ATGM tanks. What they generally don't realize, is that you don't even have to drive out of your cover or into their territory to attack them.

Since your launcher faces upwards, to attack an enemy you just have to expose your camera or even nothing at all, and send missile over cover straight at them. If they are at least 150 m away and the camera has a direct sight on the enemy, the missile will correct itself back on target without hitting the ground, otherwise, you might need to aim in specific ways, or manually correct it, by pulling mouse to steer it away from obstacles or ground, depending on the missile flight path. If a target is too close (closer than 100 m away), simply aim into the ground in between of the Swingfire and them, then correct missile manually after launch to achieve a hit. If an enemy is attempting to ram the Swingfire directly, simply aim below missile carrier itself to land a fatal turret shot.[[File:Custom made sight for the Swingfire example.jpg|thumb|The custom-made sights provides great aid when mastering the Swingfire; notably with the characteristic initial drop of the missile! {{Break}}
''To download it, proceed to the [[Swingfire#Media|Media]] section''.|300px]]Because of how launcher and camera work, missiles cannot be fired precisely backwards or close to your sides, even though missiles can turn that hard. If your target is far enough, you can try and use Third Person view to force missile into sharp turn behind you. If you can't allow yourself to miss - make sure your opponent is at least 100 m away from you, turn your hull until you can aim the camera directly at your enemy in sniper mode, then launch a missile in opposite direction and only then turn the camera towards the enemy and aim straight at them in sniper mode. Firing such shot without sniper aim is only as precise as calling artillery strike, which makes hitting people behind you more of a miracle than skill since you cannot control missile after it went behind you, and it's not guaranteed, that it will be aimed straight at them, or just fly into space by that point.

Each launcher has 7 missiles, that reload separately. In AB, if you spent entire magazine for one launcher, the game will rearm exactly that magazine completely. In RB (Realistic Battles) you can only rearm at capture points. Rearms can happen for both launchers at the same time, but you only see one timer at once.

'''Use of custom made sight'''

The Swingfire can be a complicated vehicle to master due to the very different playstyle from what is presented in the early British ground forces tree. One of the most complicated issues to master for some British tank commanders are the aiming and effective use of the Swingfire ATGM at close distances. Fortunately, things like the custom made sights can drastically improve the player's performance in combat.

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable" 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
|-
| BAe Swingfire || ATGM || 535 || 535 || 535 || 535 || 535 || 535
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Range (m)
! 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%
|-
| BAe Swingfire || ATGM || 185 || 4,000 || 27 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 4,550 || 80° || 82° || 90°
|-
|}

* BAe Swingfire missiles are specifically designed for cover-busting and attacking out of unexpected places, so it's initially slower than most ATGMs out there, and its max speed isn't very impressive.
* Missile tends to fall down after flying about 150 m forward, so if you aren't attacking someone in their cover, but need to fire relatively close (about 250 m) you might need to aim higher, to avoid dropping it on the ground.
* In case you are firing at range <150 m, missile will fly roughly double the distance you aimed for. (so if you fire at target that stands in 50 m range, you should aim at ground before it in 25 m .)
* Dead zone of launcher is ~5 m, but even if someone got that close to you, it's still possible to aim reticle right below the tank, to force missile to drop straight down, resulting in generally fatal turret roof shot, assuming you hit the target and it doesn't ricochet.
* Despite its low speed, this model of BAe Swingfire is one of few ATGMs that can fly for 4 kilometres. This means, that the Swingfire can snipe across the map and even attack ATGM helicopters in hover mode, even if they are out of map bounds, because it has 4 km range and they like to sit at about 3 km. Beware of instant retaliation, since maximum speed of this missile is also below average, and helicopter pilot must be very busy to not notice your attack, dodge it and attempt to fire back at you.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''14''' || No
|-
|}
Notes:

* It is not possible to select how many missiles to bring into battle.

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

{{main|L3A1 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L3A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L3A1]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 2,500 (250) || 500 || -5°/+25° || ±45°
|-
|}

The small calibre of the L3A1 machine gun makes it largely ineffective against all armoured vehicles but the ones with an open compartment exposing any crew members. It still can be used to ping targets as a rangefinding help or to mow down minor obstacles blocking the line of sight. This cleaning with the light machine gun is important part of the gameplay on ATGM carriers, as bushes and small fences are likely to trigger the ATGM upon contact. Wasting the missile and probably exposing the position of the Swingfire to the enemy team- Another use is against low-level flying aircrafts.

== Usage in battles ==


;Combat tactics

Whatever the tankers do, always try to hide behind something, whether it is the terrain, allies, or indestructible obstacles.

The most important quirk of the missiles is that when the player targets someone on the same ground levelling and they are too close, the missile initially drops really hard to ground and may detonate.

To avoid this, aim the reticle a bit higher than the target, at least initially. Alternatively - have the high ground, which will solve this problem, but adds the problem of firing precisely. In need to duel someone at 100 m or closer, the players can overwork the characteristic of the missile's initial drop and aim the reticle into the ground in third person view. This will force the missile to land in front of the Swingfire; any more precise firing will require practice.[[File:Swingfire SniperSetup.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The only thing limiting the Swingfire to fire above cover is the camera elevation angles, is possible to fire without even exposing the camera!]]To fire at the enemy in cover or above hills, simply fire above it, when the missile is actually near to them or above cover, aim straight at the enemy or below them, depending on how close missile is to them. It is possible to do so from long range. In case the aim calculations are not precise, just expose the camera and aim straight at them in sniper mode; the constant back-up missile will provide a second chance against any enemy thinking it was just one ATGM then the reload.

After a bit of practice of this technique, the player is likely to hit the target. The further away is the cover, the sharper the turn the missile can make. For point-blank fights in urban areas, it is usually better to face the passageway or the corner with the camera before firing, an praise to the namesake, the Swingfire.

* If the Swingfire must fire from behind a building or a high rock, that makes it unable to fire at them directly or from above, first take around 100 m of distance from the corner of their cover, then fire a bit away from it and force the missile to take a sharp horizontal turn towards the enemy. If done right, the enemy will get hit by a missile in their side.
* Alternatively, thanks to the low acceleration of the missiles, is possible to wiggle the missile in between houses or walls; even if the launcher faces an obstacle and as long as you have control of the camera at least 40 m away from the target.

The [[Advance to the Rhine]] location presents an adequate example for both of these attacks.

[[File:Swingfire_FlankPreventions.jpg|thumb|360x360px|right|''An example of why should never fire secondary launcher immediately: another enemy nearby the first target.''{{Break}}

Consider curving missiles horizontally, that way hitting enemies behind buildings and in uncomfortable situations like this.]]It's very tempting to fire the second launcher immediately in case of a miss, but if alone the player should let the first launcher to reload at least half-way before firing again, so the Swingfire won't get overrun if missing again. If they are already rushing towards the Swingfire - fire at will. This is very important against fast targets like the commonly found German tanks [[Leopard (Family)|Leopards]] and [[Ru 251]] or the Soviet [[T-54/55 (Family)]].

In RB, it's possible to destroy planes with missiles, achieving "unguided" reward. It's not recommended to do in AB, since planes there can do unrealistic manoeuvres without damaging themselves into the ground or ripping their wings off. Helicopters can be shot down with 4 km range ATGM, but remember that Swingfire missile is the rather slow and cautious pilot will just dodge the shot. Soviet helicopters like the [[Mi-4AV]] provide a rather easy frag thanks to their huge size; their Falanga ATGM is also ranged up to 4 km therefore the possibility of sniping it with the Swingfire is possible.

Even if enemy tank is lightly armoured and can be "overpressurized", try to treat them as normal targets, as HEAT warhead can only instantly destroy such tanks if hit them in a weakspot. Be also aware, that all vulnerable SPGs, most light tanks and SPAAs can instantly destroy the Swingfire with basic suppressive fire. Do not leave the cover.

If an enemy is behind smokes:

* In AB try to fire closer to ground, that way at least de-track it, which is crucial in case of fast tanks. Try to disable the gun for slower tanks, but be aware that 12.7 mm MG like the Soviet [[DShK (12.7 mm)]] can still destroy the Swingfire.
* In RB fire at turret or centre of the hull first regardless, because even if missile takes out their gun barrel and the crew remains alive within the vehicle, the enemy becomes very uncomfortable with chances of jamming their gun completely, along with long repair times.

;Specific enemies worth noting


'''Soviet tanks''' ▂: Aim for hull centre or right side at their ammo rank inside fuel tanks, as hits there are usually deadly and their round turrets have way too high ricochet chance. If you can't angle the missile right, at least hit their tracks when they try to escape, so they turn over and expose their side to your fast follow-up shot, or become unable to chase you, while your second launcher reloads. If firing at the turret - aim for the gun mantled sides, thus trying to destroy MG operator, as their 12.7 is lethal for the Swingfire. If it's too late and they are already reaching point-blank range - attempt to fire at the rooftop with a curved missile; if they carry enough ammunition, they will blow up.

'''German MBTs ▀''' : They rely less on machine guns and more on moving fast. Spook them away with single missile shot, remember how the rocket was aimed. After that, if you missed, keep the second one just in case if they try to rush. At the worse case, you will disable just the driver but thanks to the great damage of the Swingfire ATGM, a hit in the upper hull or the turret is often enough to finish the entire crew.

'''Heavy tanks in general''': They will usually be afraid of the Swingfire, but if they manage to call-in medium tank friends, and your crew is not skilled enough, it is better to retreat, as it's not easy to fight both heavy and medium at same time on the Swingfire, because heavy tank can just hull break or suppress with machine gun at your crew, and most medium and light tanks can flank the missile launcher easily. You just cannot reload fast enough. As a last resort, high ground can be used combined with attempts to break their tracks or transmission and to set their engines on fire to delay and slowly destroy them.

'''Fences and trees''': If a street is full of high fences, it's not worth defending that street. Destroy them all with your machinegun. If they are solid - the Swingfire can't do anything about it so better reposition. Trees also obscure the vision and are almost impossible to clear in the Swingfire. If you use them as cover, do not fire your launchers in front of them as it will detonate and waste ammo.

'''ATGM Carriers''': Avoid attacking other ATGM carriers directly to the line-of-sight; use the fact, that you can fire over tall obstacles in front of your carrier and they usually cannot because of their extremely fast missiles. Be wary of certain ATGM carriers like the Japanese [[type 60 ATM]], as they can do the same to you. Destroy them before they can reach you or try to curve missiles into your cover, as your hull is very long and tall, which makes it vulnerable to top-down attacks of other vertical ATGM.

'''Planes''': Drive backwards or frontally into the Swingfire's smoke screen and with some luck they wont hit the ammo or tank commander in the back. The best defence is to reposition situationally based on the enemy air superiority. If gaining notoriety in a area of the map, proceed to retreat and avoid sticking around to much. If needed, attempt to use the Machine gun and score some hits in the plane. Call the treat to any allied aircraft or nearby anti-air tank!

;Counter-tactics


The Swingfire cannot really damage vehicles that are directly behind it or directly on its sides. The closer you are to it, while being behind it, the harder it is for the gunner to pull off a miracle shot. Explosives and SPAA guns destroy it easily. Same with artillery, if the Swingfire is stuck facing its cover.

Being in front of the Swingfire in 200 m range is a very bad idea, regardless of your cover, as if its launchers will reload in time, you can suddenly be destroyed. If you have to do that, at least face it with frontal armour and never show the sides, so missiles have a harder time destroying the tank. Having tall cover further improves your chances of survival. Forcing it to move around by dropping artillery on it or its retreat route before pushing is also a good idea. In the worst-case scenario - try to shoot down its ATGM with your MG. Don't think, that it cannot fire forward in 30 m range, it actually can. It's just very hard to do accurately. Any solid obstacle can stop missiles, and trees make it hard to see you, so the more things there are between you and the Swingfire, the better.

If you want to destroy it with machine guns from the front - fire straight in middle around the place where the camera is, then spray the bottom of it. It's more likely to break something important or disable the gunner (commander) that way.

If the Swingfire is driving around and going on a destruction spree, it means the team underestimated its operator. Don't repeat someone's mistake and attack with everything you've got before is too late - the Swingfire can destroy quite a few tanks, until it depletes all the ATGMs, don't dismiss it for that reason alone.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Missiles are very agile in both vertical and horizontal plane, they can even do 180 degree turns
* Can blast enemy out of their own cover by firing over or around it, without having to deal with them frontally; even without direct sight at close ranges
* Sniper setup and missile effective range allows {{PAGENAME}} to attack from almost anywhere on the map, while staying relatively hidden
* Together the launchers can reload faster than medium tanks; one of them can be kept to deter heavily armoured opponents - Something some other ATGM tanks like the [[IT-1]] can't do
* Has significantly more ammo than [[Type 60 ATM]], which allows it to hold off sieges in a less risky and more confident manner
* Provides a different playstyle from the regular MBT configuration
* Missiles are easier to control and deliver than the latter [[Striker]], camera placing grants more flexibility
* The sight is above the tank and the atgm launchers are angled upwards meaning that you can fire from completely in cover with only your sight visible

'''Cons:'''

* Complicated to know how long a reload will be, players have to guess by looking at launcher's animation
* Missiles are rather slow on launch and accelerate slowly, which can be a problem at long range
* Missiles launchers are static upwards with limited horizontal camera guidance, difficult to aim at close ranges; fast opponents can get close or behind {{PAGENAME}}
* Sluggish and unarmoured, possible to get outflanked and shot down by medium or light tanks, or to get suppressed by artillery strike or aerial attacks
* Tall vehicle, vulnerable to overhead shots in the launchers, even more so in Arcade Battles, it is generally easier to destroy than the low-height [[RakJPz 2]] when using just the terrain as a cover
* Does not have Night Vision for sniper scope, during the night it will be at a severe disadvantage at long range against most rank VI tanks

== History ==

Developed in the early 1960s, the "Swingfire" was a relatively slow missile that would allow directional changes of 45 degrees on the horizontal and 20 degrees of elevation which created the apt name. It was a 27 kg (60 pounds), 1 m (3.5 ft) long rocket with range of 4 km (2.5 miles), capable of penetrating up to 500 mm of enemy armour. The FV 438 was a British light anti-tank vehicle, equipped with the wired-guided "Swingfire" missile. The 438's primary weapon was launched through two Swingfire ATGM launchers, or bins, which could be reloaded from inside the vehicle. Apart from the 2 missiles stored in launchers, it could carry up to 12 additional reloads. Its only secondary armament was a 7.62 mm M1919 General Purpose Machine-Gun.

The FV 438 Swingfire was based on the FV432 armoured personnel carrier, a vehicle that was very lightly armoured - it was meant to deliver its crew to combat, while keeping it protected from machine-gun fire. This platform was used for several other modifications amongst which is its sister vehicle already in game: the Falcon. The FV 438 "Swingfire" was powered by a Rolls-Royce K60 multifuel engine with maximum of 240 horsepower. It was a quick and nimble vehicle with weight slightly exceeding 16 tons, which could reach up to 52 km/h (32 mph).

Although the Swingfire missile was used during various engagements on other platforms, the 438 carrier was never used in combat and was decommissioned in the 90s. The vehicle was built in rather smaller numbers.

== Media ==


;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/834317/en/ Schindibee's Custom-made sight for the {{PAGENAME}}.]

;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=missile_tank&vehicle=uk_fv438_swingfire Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|FCtsWUUDAqU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


;Vehicles equipped with the same missiles

* [[Striker]]

;Other vehicles of similar configuration and role

* [[Type 60 ATM]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4227-development-fv-438-swingfire-surprise-package-en|[Devblog] FV 438 Swingfire - Surprise Package]]
* [[wikipedia:FV438_Swingfire|[Wikipedia] FV438 Swingfire]]

{{Britain tank destroyers}}
[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

Challenger

2022-02-10T00:34:52Z

U116940880: /* Modifications and economy */

{{About
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''
| usage = other uses
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_a30_challenger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' 38 mm ''Top hull'' 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' 14 mm ''Engine deck''
|-
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}

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

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

{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || 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" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and tanks with open fighting compartments, but useless against anything else.
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.

{| 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
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126
|-
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°
|-
|}
{| 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)
|-
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 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
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
|-
| '''48''' || 46 ''(+2)'' || 43 ''(+5)'' || 40 ''(+8)'' || 37 ''(+11)'' || 35 ''(+13)''
|-
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| 32 ''(+16)'' || 30 ''(+18)'' || 24 ''(+24)'' || 19 ''(+29)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.
* Turret empty: 35 ''(+13)'' shells.

==== Optics ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x3 || x6
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]
|-
|}

Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.

With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.

In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.

=== 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 || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability, getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.

Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice.

When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock APDS as soon as possible. With this round, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces. Hitting ammo racks often equals a detonation and it performs well at long range.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available.
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder.
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time.
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground.
* Fast turret traverse.
* Wide gun depression and elevation.
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret.
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas.
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation.
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks.
* APDS has low shell drop.

'''Cons:'''

* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon).
* No explosive filler in any AP shells.
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully).
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles.
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed.
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good.
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately.
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull

== History ==

===Development===
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.

The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.

The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.

===Combat usage===
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.

Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.

An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.

The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.

===Survivors===
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 {{PAGENAME}}. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the A30 {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]

{{Britain medium tanks}}

Challenger

2022-02-10T00:32:27Z

U116940880: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
| about = British medium tank '''A30 Challenger'''
| usage = other uses
| link = Challenger (Disambiguation)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_a30_challenger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.55 "Royal Armour"]] alongside the rest of the British Ground Forces Tree. Taking the outdated Cromwell chassis, extending it and adding a new turret, it gave life to this improved variant with the much powerful 17-pounder anti-tank gun.

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


'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 63.5 mm (1°) ''Front plate'' 30 mm (73°) ''Front glacis'' 57.15 mm (19-35°) ''Joint plate'' 25 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 29-50.8 mm ''Top hull'' 14 + 14 mm ''Lower Hull'' || 51 mm ''Turret base'' 38 mm ''Top hull'' 38 mm (19°), 20 mm (57°) ''Lower Hull'' || 20 mm ''Front'' 14 mm ''Engine deck''
|-
| Turret || 63-102 mm (0-1°) ''Turret front'' 102 mm (4-12°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 40 mm || 40 mm (1°) || 20 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick, suspension bars are 10 mm thick, and tracks are 20 mm thick.
* 5 mm RHA plates between the engine compartment and crew, as well as separating driver from turret and ammunition.
* Lower side hulls are spaced with the suspension springs lined up in between.
* A 25 mm RHA bar line up in front of the turret to protect the turret ring.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=930|rbMinHp=531}}

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

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

{{main|QF 17-pounder (76 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|76 mm QF 17-pounder]] || 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" | 48 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 31.4 || 43.5 || 52.8 || 58.4 || 62.1 || rowspan="2" | 6.63 || rowspan="2" | 5.87 || rowspan="2" | 5.41 || rowspan="2" | 5.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 19.6 || 23.1 || 28.1 || 31.0 || 33.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''Shot Mk.6:''' {{Annotation|AP|Armour-piercing}} - Standard penetrating round, use until better rounds are unlocked.
* '''Shell Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|HE|High-explosive}} - It is ideal for destroying SPAA and lightly armoured tanks, but useless against anything else.
* '''Shot Mk.4:''' {{Annotation|APC|Armour-piercing capped}} - Cap for better grip against sloped armour.
* '''Shot Mk.8:''' {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-piercing capped ballistic capped}} - Like Shot Mk.4 but with a ballistic cap for improved flight path, as well as better penetration.
* '''Shot SV Mk.1:''' {{Annotation|APDS|Armour-piercing discarding sabot}} - Highest armour penetration of any shot, but has worse spalling effect.

{| 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
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 171 || 168 || 155 || 139 || 126 || 113
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 190 || 187 || 172 || 155 || 140 || 126
|-
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 228 || 226 || 207 || 189 || 159 || 134
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Shot Mk.6 || AP || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Shell Mk.1 || HE || 883 || 6.98 || 0 || 0.1 || 580 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shot Mk.4 || APC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot Mk.8 || APCBC || 883 || 7.71 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| Shot SV Mk.1 || APDS || 1,203 || 1.73 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 75° || 78° || 80°
|-
|}
{| 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)
|-
| 17pdr Shell SS Mk.1 || 229 || 8.44 || 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
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
|-
| '''48''' || 46 ''(+2)'' || 43 ''(+5)'' || 40 ''(+8)'' || 37 ''(+11)'' || 35 ''(+13)''
|-
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| 32 ''(+16)'' || 30 ''(+18)'' || 24 ''(+24)'' || 19 ''(+29)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2 or 3, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired all shells in the set.
* Turret empty: 35 ''(+13)'' shells.

==== Optics ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
! colspan="3" | {{PAGENAME}} [[Optics]]
|-
! Which ones
! Default magnification
! Maximum magnification
|-
! Main Gun optics
| x3 || x6
|-
! Comparable optics
| colspan="2" | [[VFW]]
|-
|}

Uses now default x6 scope of the British. As of rank III, this scope is slightly or moderately superior to most medium and heavy tanks, but do not expect to outsnipe German SPG as they have same optics or even better.

With Challenger being on the edge in between rank III and IV it is possible to get into rank IV battle with full up-tier. In that case, the tank optics are no longer superior to most opponents.

In particular, do not let Japanese medium tanks [[ST-A1]] get an upper hand at all costs, as they have optics eclipsing these of Challenger at long ranges and might as well snipe Challenger from 2 km away, if they have accuracy modifications.

=== 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 || 3,750 (250) || 500 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

This tank has a high penetration gun (with APDS), great manoeuvrability, and good speed. However, it has extremely weak armour, terrible reverse, and quite a high profile. As such it requires some skill to use. It excels as a sniper or an ambushing tank destroyer, waiting for the enemy to come into its sights and firing from a point of advantage. It is also a good flanker due to its speed and manoeuvrability, getting around the enemy and hitting them from the side or back.

Do not attempt to brawl or use this vehicle as a front line tank. The Challenger cannot afford to take even a single hit from enemy tanks, and it will be up against German 88 mm and Soviet 85 or 122 mm guns which will easily take it out in one shot. The poor reverse speed also makes hit and run tactics a bad choice.

When in its stock form, this tank will be quite frustrating to play. The stock AP round bounces often and does very little damage, it is also quite hard to aim at range. The first aim upon getting this tank should be to unlock APDS as soon as possible. With this round, the Challenger can easily penetrate most of the tanks that it faces. Hitting ammo racks often equals a detonation and it performs well at long range.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the 17-pounder with APDS rounds available.
* The Challenger has the fastest reload speed from all tanks armed with the 17-pounder.
* Able to deal a lot of damage in a very short amount of time.
* Fast tank that is capable of reaching 50km/h on even ground.
* Fast turret traverse.
* Wide gun depression and elevation.
* Plays similarly to the Comet I and Avenger, albeit with a higher profile and less armour on the turret.
* Turret armour is still about 102 mm thick in certain areas.
* Ammo is stored in a strategic location, lowering the risk of ammo detonation.
* Very low risk of fire due to rear mounted transmission and fuel tanks.
* APDS has low shell drop.

'''Cons:'''

* Paper thin hull armour (glass cannon).
* No explosive filler in any AP shells.
* APDS shot causes only punctual damage (aim carefully).
* Turret is very tall compared to hull profile, making it hard to hide behind obstacles.
* Suffers from an awful reverse speed.
* Four man in the turret, an APHE shot will disable the tank for good.
* The Challenger requires a very high skill cap to perform adequately.
* Traversing the hull, especially on sloped angles, might be hard due to its long hull

== History ==

===Development===
The development of the [[Cromwell V|Cromwell]] tank due to the implementation of the Rolls-Royce Meteor engine helped Roy Robotham from Rolls to become the Minstry of Supply on the Tank Board, despite his lack of experience around the development of tanks. With the Cromwell in service with the British military, attempts were made to upgrade the armament on the tank from its 6-pounder and 75 mm gun. The first attempt was by Vickers with a "high-velocity" 75 mm gun, but the Cromwell turret ring proved too small for the adaption. While these attempts were made to upgun the Cromwell, improved tanks to replace the Cromwell was underway as the [[Comet I|Comet]] and the [[Centurion Mk 3|Centurion]] tank. The General Staff specification for a 17-pounder armed cruiser tank was A29, but this was changed to A30 for any 17-pounder tank. The first order for such a tank came in 1942 to the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Company to build the 17-pounder tank from the components of the A27M Cromwell tank. While responsibility of the turret and gun mounting went to Stothert & Pitt, Birmingham was responsible for modifying the Cromwell hull for the new turret.

The resulting tank from the design team was completed in 1942. Compared to the Cromwell, the hull machine gun was removed for more stowage space for the longer 17-pounder ammunition. However, the stowage location and ammo size facilitated the need for two loaders in the tank to keep the firing rate stable. A larger turret was needed for this requirement, the larger turret thus caused the Cromwell hull to be lengthened with another road wheel on the suspension, but the track width was not modified to fit this so the tank's mobility was reduced. The total armour is reduced to save on weight, especially the turret area, which gave the crew inside the turret a sense of vulnerability. The turret ring of the turret was unprotected and was thus given a jacking feature to clear any jams that forms from combat situations.

The tank, named the '''A30 Challenger''', was tested at Lulworth and was criticized for having a slow firing rate and thin armour, but its long range effectiveness against German tanks was satisfactory. An order for 200 Challengers was made in February 1943. The order was finished, but it was announced that no more were to be ordered on November the same year.

===Combat usage===
The Challenger was criticized and generally unpopular in its service, the crews complain that the tank throws its track, the armour was too thin, and the profile was too tall. The Challenger had no provisions for deep wading and was thus unable to participate during the D-day landings during Operation Overlord, thus the Challenger deployment was delayed until the artificial mulberry harbors and ports were captured before able to be delivered.

Though the Challenger saw some modifications to fix the track throwing issue, it was found that the equipping of the 17-pounder onto the American [[M4|M4 Sherman]] tank into the [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] was faster and easier than the production of the Challenger, thus production lines were stopped after the initial orders. Both tanks saw use in the same role in the British tank forces, accompanying the tank squadrons into enemy territory and firing at enemy armour from a long distance. The Challenger saw more use with Cromwell units due to interchangeability in parts. Some perks of the Challenger was its speed and agility compared to the Firefly, but the vehicle's initial bad reputation still struggled due to the low number produced in the war.

An attempt to improve on the Challenger was the [[Avenger|A30 SP Avenger]], which used a different open-topped turret to save weight on the tank design. However, due to priorities on the [[Comet I|Comet]] tank in the Vauxhall Motors plant, they were not being built until 1945 and weren't used until after the war in Europe is over. 250 unit were built and formed part of the British Army of the Rhine stationed in Germany after the war.

The Challenger saw use with other Allied forces as well, with the 1st Czechoslovak Armoured Brigade using the tank during the assault on Dunkirk and the 1st Polish Armoured Division receiving them by mid-1945. After the war, Czechoslovakia wanted to buy 22 Challengers to equip its army, which it did until 1959.

===Survivors===
Two Challenger survive in intact condition today. One is at the Overloon War Museum in the Netherlands and the other is currently in storage at the Isle of Wight Military Museum to be restored, when it will then be displayed at the Bovington Tank Museum.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_a30_challenger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|geVC8UNdmBM|'''Spade Review, A30 {{PAGENAME}}. Giving it my all!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|rpvKhy22Erc|'''The Shooting Range #85''' - ''War Machines'' section at 00:33 discusses the A30 {{PAGENAME}}.|My_9I21oaHY|'''{{PAGENAME}} - Left Behind''' - ''Oxy''|sKC3cBuViRE|'''{{PAGENAME}} Tank Review''' - ''NUSensei''}}

== See also ==


* [[Avenger]] - Tank destroyer spin-off also using the Cromwell chassis to carry the 17-pdr.

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/852/|[Devblog] A34 Comet I and A30 Challenger]]

{{Britain medium tanks}}

Spitfire Mk IIb

2022-02-10T00:26:01Z

U116940880:

{{About
| about = British fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Spitfire (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=spitfiremkii
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

The {{PAGENAME}} is an excellent turn-fighter and has excellent climb and speed characteristics - forming a middle ground between the sheer speed of the German fighters and American fighters and the nimble agility of the Japanese machines. These aircraft, however, have little in the way of armour protection - any hits will most likely damage something, and in addition, you will be helpless if you try to head-on something. Turn-fighting is the most efficient way of using this nimble, fast fighter, and it should be used in this way most of the time. A suggested loadout is to equip Tracers on the 7.7 mm machine guns, and Stealth Belts on the 20 mm cannons - this allows maximal amounts of damaging rounds - namely the Armour-Piercing Incendiary (AP-I), High-Explosive Fragmentation Semi-Armour-Piercing Incendiary (HEF-SAPI) and High-explosive Fragmentation Incendiary (HEF-I) rounds. The technique to use this loadout will be described in the "Usage in battles" section.

Note, however, that with the two 20 mm cannons, the {{PAGENAME}} can also be used as a reasonable Boom & Zoom fighter with fewer results. It is recommended to maximise the use of AP-I ammo for the {{PAGENAME}}'s 7.7 mm machine guns and the HEF-I ammo for the 20 mm cannons for air damage. It is also advisable to make sure that you conserve your ammo and only fire when you have a clear target, as you'll find you'll run out of ammo very quickly. Sixty rounds of 20 mm is not a very large ammunition pool and will run out faster than the machine guns in most cases.

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

As mentioned constantly, the {{PAGENAME}} has excellent turn-fighting, climbing, and speed characteristics for a fighter. With the Merlin engine, the {{PAGENAME}} can utilise the power to gain speed and altitude for an energy advantage over its opponents, as well as having the manoeuvrability to perform aerobatic manoeuvres to get out of a sticky situation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 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
| 550 || 534 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 15.9 || 16.5 || 16.0 || 16.0 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 597 || 571 || 14.4 || 15.1 || 23.9 || 19.4
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 230 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 321 || < 400 || < 350 || > 500
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,490 m || 1,140 hp || 1,311 hp
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
* 4 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
* 6-7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.
* Critical components located at the front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
* More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage
* Cooling systems heat up ridiculously fast

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

Your priorities should be the weaponry upgrades and engine upgrades. It is suggested to research the gun upgrades first, and use engine upgrades to unlock tiers. New 7 mm MGs are not really needed since the Brownings are relatively reliable. Airframe upgrades can take priority over the 7 mm MGs. However, to really make this bird sing, you need to have the radiator upgrade and all 20 mm cannon upgrades.

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

{{main|Hispano Mk.I (20 mm)|Browning .303 (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.I cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning .303 machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

In continuous firing, assuming that no jams happen at all, the Hispano's ammo will dry up quicker than the 7.7 mm Brownings. However, jams do happen and the Hispanos will jam quicker than the Brownings.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Spitfire Mk IIb Pretty Picture.png|thumb|450px|right|A Spitfire Mk IIb, perched on a hill.]]
The Spitfire is a high-performance thoroughbred, which is more than a match for any and all opposition it faces at its battle rating. However, if you don't know what you're up against and just try to out-turn everything with flat turns, you'll be able to get kills you need to grind up the tree, but you will not be able to excel in using the plane. Something important to remember is the seven P's: Proper Perusal, Planning & Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.

In order to use your plane most effectively, you need to know your own plane almost inside-out (Perusal). In order to fight, you need to plan your every move well and have a good idea of how you're going to start your match and at what point you're going to RTB (Planning). You need to know and be prepared to fight enemies that may have better performance than you in a turn, in the vertical, in a straight line, or all three, and have tactics to combat them when necessary (Preparation).

The {{PAGENAME}} is a very good turn-fighter, being one of the most agile aircraft in the game, and has good weapons configurations that can be used against enemies. It can reliably out-turn many of the aircraft in-game, and out-zoom-climb some as well with WEP on. It has an excellent rate of climb, and due to this and the armament, is a good bomber interceptor. Using its agility, speed, and rate of climb, it can easily run rings around enemy fighters and dispense punishing blows as well. However, there are several points to be kept in mind while flying the {{PAGENAME}}. These are:

# The relatively low amount of damage that the 7.7 mm Browning machine guns put out
# The propensity of the 20 mm Hispano to jam after prolonged firing
# Lack of any armour on the engine and (relatively) small amounts of windscreen glass armour
# Decreased engine power at altitudes higher than ~3900-4300 metres
# Proximity of vital systems towards the front of the aircraft, including a forward fuel tank that does not self-seal, and will keep burning until all the fuel inside has disappeared.
# Lack of combat flaps
# Increased efficiency of control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, rudder) at medium speeds (300 km/h-450 km/h) and engine efficiency at low altitudes (below 4,500 m)
# Inability to hold WEP for long, before the engine begins overheating without MEC
# The float carburettor, should the plane pull any negative G, the carburettor will be fuel-starved cutting power to the engine
# Similarity of the muzzle velocity of the 20 mm Hispano and the 7.7 mm Brownings (meaning that they'll have similar trajectories- this seems unimportant, but the significance will be explained shortly)

This fighter, unlike American and German fighters, is neither a gun platform nor a potent Boom & Zoom fighter. It is well-armed and can Boom & Zoom decently, but if an aspiring pilot tries to fly it like a P-40, the Spitfire will be shot down very, very quickly. Conversely, if a pilot tries to fly it like a Bf 109, while they might have some amounts of success, the Spitfire is outperformed as a B&Z fighter by US fighters such as the F4U-1A and German fighters such as the Bf 109. It will not be able to hold its top speed for very long due to its lacking cooling systems unless the radiator is forced open by manual engine control - which doubles or triples the WEP time when used properly (forced 100% radiator directly after takeoff). In addition, the aircraft does not have combat flaps, which means you cannot have 'reserve manoeuvrability' to out-turn a fighter in order to retreat.

Try to find lone opponents to face off against as the Spitfire performs best when facing enemies one at a time. Always keep an eye on the tactical map as your adversaries (mostly 109s) will travel in "wolf packs" and shoot you down. For fighting at low altitude stay above the opponent you have singled out and dive on them. If you have too much energy go for a high yo-yo manoeuvre to bleed your energy. 90% of the time you will easily out-manoeuvre anything you face so get on their tail and shoot them down. For high altitude fighting, try to get the altitude advantage and bait your opponent into a turn fight. Stay away from energy sapping manoeuvres as at high altitude this will lead to the Mk IIb being left a sitting duck (also stay away from 1v2s and the like).

Abuse the vertical as well as the horizontal in a fight. Use manoeuvres such as yo-yos and chandelles that will bleed the speed of an enemy while allowing you to retain more speed than your enemy. Your primary opponent - Bf-109s (Primarily [[Bf 109 E-3|E-3s]] and [[Bf 109 E-4|E-4s]], sometimes even [[Bf 109 F-4|F-4s]]) - perform better in the vertical than you do, so do not try to out-dive or out-climb them. Should you try to climb against a Bf-109 ending its dive and entering a loop, usually, you will bleed speed and stall out, making you a sitting duck for anybody who decides to target you. If you can, try to fly downwards instead of heading up. Make a split-S instead of an Immelmann to perform a reversal- roll inverted (upside down) and then pull hard on the elevator, looping back up to get back into a fight. Use your superior turning abilities in the semi-vertical, making chandelles instead of pure loops. You can theoretically use flat turns only, but if you get into an uptier, you'll be out-performed by Zeroes (who perform better at lower speeds) and [[Fw 190 A-1]]s (which have excellent energy retention and will still be going fast when you're stalled out in a turn). When fighting these aircraft, it is recommended that you fight less in terms of strictly up or down, but instead, plan your engagement according to whether you're travelling at a faster speed (You're outrunning them) or above/below them. When engaging these aircraft, having altitude definitely helps. Spitfires can out-dive A6M2s, and can out-turn Fw-190s. In both cases, however, if you bleed too much speed, you will be shot down due to becoming easy meat. The A6M2 stalls at a lower speed than you and also turns better at speeds below 330 km/h (205 mph), while the Fw-190, although unable to turn as fast as you do, will be able to keep its speed for longer.

Of course, to do everything that was described, it is better to have altitude before doing so. For example, you can't make a split-S from the astronomically low altitude of 200 metres (650 ft) and expect not to crash into the ground. While pilots may tell you otherwise, you should not climb to 3000m and stay there for the entire match. Remember the proverb: Speed is Life. Altitude is Speed in the Bank. Spitfire pilots should use their excellent Merlin engine to climb into the 4000m range in order to be able to gain energy when necessary to either run away or to fight an enemy.

Experienced players may recommend that you use landing flaps below 250 km/h to get an edge in turn time. Don't do this if you're a new pilot. The Spitfire IIb will slow down dramatically if you do so and you'll end up losing too much speed. Landing flaps may increase lift, but they also reduce your speed by acting as brakes by increasing drag. They also rip easily, and unless micromanaged, they will immediately rip off, leading to difficulties in controlling the plane.

'''Using the armaments:'''

A possible strategy for the {{PAGENAME}}'s set of armaments is one akin to that used on the [[Hurricane Mk IV]], using the cannons sparingly to conserve ammo and reduce chances of jamming. Use the cannons when in the aircraft's most effective convergence range and envelope, and use the machine guns to 'sight' the cannons. Fire the machine guns tracer belts for maximum AP-I and tracer ammo to get an idea of where the cannon rounds will go, and then fire cannons once you know where you should aim. This technique works well because the Hispano cannons and the 7.7mm guns share similar muzzle velocities to one another.

The video below shows how to use the aiming technique described:

{{Youtube-gallery|7Gp8Q8MqMQg|An example of an attack made using the machine guns to "aim" the cannons. This attack was done with a
Spitfire Mk IIb, but it should be actively used in any Spitfire with .303s coupled with cannons (Spitfires IIb through LF Mk IXc)}}

Go for deflection shots against enemy aircraft. These shots are side-on shots where you "lead" an enemy aircraft in front of you, and get off a burst when you're not directly behind them, but instead when they're turning. While this may be difficult for newer players, it provides valuable training and is a good learning experience for later tiers. In addition, should you use this technique, you can easily cause enemy planes' wings to completely fall off if you pull it off right and hit a wing spar. Bf 109s, with their single wing spars, are especially vulnerable to a well-aimed side-on shot. If your cannon ammo drops to 50 rounds or below that, try and return to base quickly. That way, if you get bounced on the way back, you can at least have some cannon ammo left to surprise any raider looking to attack you.

'''Fighting the enemy:'''
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{{Notice|Disclaimer: This is a very general guide to the aircraft's capabilities. Following these to the letter without consideration of the enemy's abilities can still lead to a loss.}}

Tips for using the Spitfire against other nations' fighters are as follows:

* American fighters - In mixed battle, you will face US fighters such as the F4F, the P-39s and sometimes P-47Ds (Including the German and Russian premiums) and many other aircraft which have .50 calibre machine guns. These large-calibre machine guns will shred a Spitfire to pieces if given the opportunity to fire a long, sustained burst at you, such as in a head-on engagement. Lure the enemy down and force them to lose energy, using your manoeuvrability to break the enemy's aiming solution at the last moment with manoeuvres such as the scissors and barrel rolls.

* German fighters will usually have cannons and hold a speed advantage over you, as well as being more capable at higher speeds and altitudes. If you head-on a German fighter, you will lose over 90% of the time, unless you are lucky and manage to land critical hits on the engine and the pilot - and this is also unlikely given that the 7.7 mm machine guns and thie hispano cannons are not known for their armour-piercing abilities. Like with American fighters, try to make the enemy bleed speed, while dodging enemy fire. You can also attempt to lure the enemy into turning with you. You may have a chance with a head-on, but this requires that you know your plane completely. Head-ons are suicide, since F-model [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109 Variants]] have their guns mounted near the engine, and the [[Fw 190 A-1]] has an overwhelming frontal armament. Although the spitfire can shrug off a few hits from machine guns or [[MG FF (20 mm)|MG FFs]], it cannot survive hits from mine-shell equipped [[MG FF/M (20 mm)|MG FF/M]] or [[MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 151/20]] cannons, such as those on the [[Bf 109 E-4]].

* Soviet fighters will have cannons, large-calibre machine guns, or both, in conjunction with small-calibre guns, mounted in-line on the fuselage, but are weak and vulnerable to fires. Again, facing these head-on is suicide, and at the low altitudes you will meet them at, you cannot disengage by running or climbing away. Keep in mind that while you can turnfight, Soviet fighters are very, very manoeuvrable at low altitudes. Again, like always, abuse the vertical with the horizontal. Soviet planes have inferior ShVak cannons, but they have 12.7mm Berezin UBs with API ammo. Do not try to head-on them unless you know how to get your shots into the enemy's fuel tank or engines or pilot on the first try. If you let them get into firing range in a head-on, you're absolutely cooked.

* Japanese fighters are more nimble than you. If you enter a turn-fight with them, and the pilot is smart, he or she can and will deploy their combat flaps and shoot you down. Attempt to bait them into energy-fighting manoeuvres (otherwise known as Boom-and-zoom), where your superior speed, acceleration, and climb rate will prove you to be the victor.

* Italian fighters are the high-performance counterparts of the Germans, just like the British are to the Americans. They possess either similar agility ([[Re.2001 (Family)|Re.2001-series aircraft]]) or superior speed and energy retention in vertical manoeuvres ([[C.202 (Family)|C.202]] & [[C.205 (Family)|C.205]]-series aircraft). In addition, all of them are equipped with versions of the Bf-109's DB-605 engine, and they do well at high operating altitudes. Most Italian aircraft at the BR range of 2.3-3.3 are extremely poorly armed, with only two low-velocity, low-rate-of-fire [[Breda-SAFAT (12.7 mm)|Breda-SAFAT 12.7mm]] machine guns coupled with a pair of [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|Breda-SAFAT 7.7 mm]] machine guns. However, a few aircraft- namely the [[Re.2001 CN]] and the [[C.202EC]]- have two [[MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 151/20]] 20mm cannons, making them dangerous opponents.

* French fighters are a bit of a mixed bag, having some of the more heavily armed aircraft and some of the less heavily armed aircraft in the game. In general, however, they will have either cannons or heavy-calibre machine guns, and good manoeuvrability. Turn-fighting these aircraft is preferable to a head-on engagement. They will also do better at high altitudes and speeds. Rope-a-dope them into fighting you on your own terms at lower speeds and altitudes where you'll have a chance. In addition, they have low ammo count (60 rounds for cannons and 300-500 for machine guns), just like you do, so try and make them waste their ammo.
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</div>

'''Specific enemies worth noting:'''
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* [[BV 238]] - Don't face these things from above, level, or from the rear. The massive amounts of defence armaments on this flying boat will ensure the Spitfire will be shot down. They're also massive - but not impossible to shoot down. The only reasonable chance of shooting the BV 238 down is via aiming for the cockpit at the front (very hard), or by aiming at the wings. The process to do this is to get to its rear and dive down below the enemy, corkscrewing and rolling and skidding across the sky seemingly at random and get within 600 metres of it and approximately a hundred metres below. Start firing machine guns at the wings. Once closed into 400 metres, fire the cannons. Once you set fire to a BV, usually, it will not go out

* [[A6M2]] - These nimble fighters may have low-velocity cannons, but they can easily out-turn you with combat flaps and stay with you in a fight, and out-turn you with flaps on. Don't even bother trying to turn-fight them. Use boom-and-zoom manoeuvres. Even if the enemy pilot wants to, the A6M2's climb rate is not very good compared to the Spitfire, and it will not be able to keep up. Get at least 2 km away from the enemy before you go in again, or at least wait until it is distracted by another enemy.

* [[I-153P]] "Chaika" - The I-153P is a Soviet biplane from the late 1930s. These small biplanes will rip you to shreds if you don't play smart. These biplanes have an insane turn rate and will effortlessly out-turn you without any flaps. They are armed with two [[ShVAK (20 mm)|20 mm ShVAK]] cannons that will obliterate you if you present a side-on profile to them (i.e. let them get a "deflection" shot on you), and they can destroy you in a head-on if you're not careful. To counter these aircraft you do not engage in a turn fight, instead you [[Energy fighting|energy fight]] (a recommended tactic is to use yo-yos and to out-climb/out-speed the enemy) as your Spitfire is much faster, has an excellent climb rate, and has superior energy retention.

* [[Bf 109 E-1]]/[[Bf 109 E-3]]/[[Bf 109 E-4]] - These planes have superior high-altitude performance, top speed, dive characteristics, as well as two centrally mounted machine guns and two cannons. However, you can outclimb them at low altitudes. You may find it hard to out-turn them, though. Trying to out-turn a Bf 109 is harder than it seems, since the two planes are both very agile. Abuse the vertical to get a definite edge on them. Use low-yo-yos and high-yo-yos to gain the altitude or speed advantage over a turning Bf 109.

* [[Bf 109 F-1]]/[[Bf 109 F-2]]/[[Bf 109 F-4]] - These aircraft climb, accelerate and dive faster than you. However, they will find it much harder to out-turn you. Use split-S's to get under them and a combination of high/low yo-yos. If one tries to engage in a head-on, fire off a desultory burst of MG fire and hope to hit something, and immediately dive and try to get under it. If you lock into a head-on, it is likely that they will hit your cooling system and your engine will die, along with your plane.

* [[Fw 190 A-1]] - This aircraft has a similar turn radius to you, but superior acceleration, (arguably) superior armament, superior high-altitude performance and better top speed than you do, but a worse rate of climb. You can turn faster than it, but you can't out-turn it per se. Don't get baited into a turn-fight. You should have the altitude advantage, since most Fw 190 pilots stay low (3500-ish m), where their engine does best. You can out-climb them when they're slow, so try and energy fight them. Just don't use loops, since the Fw 190 will happily slice and dice you when you're in a loop using its superior energy retention. Don't turn-fight it, since it'll make you bleed speed and subsequently use its superior energy retention to turn and burn for longer periods of time and eventually get on your six and shoot you down in flames. This plane has the feared "minengeschoß" (Mine shot) round for its 20mm cannons, and four machine guns, so do not head-on this plane.

* [[C.202EC]] - This aircraft is easily the most dangerous enemy that you will ever face. It brings excellent armament, top speed, energy retention and dive characteristics to the table, along with excellent high-altitude performance and climb rate. Do not head-on this plane. This aircraft has two MG151/20s with Mine shot, and will absolutely shred you into pieces should you enter a head-on. C.202EC pilots are usually confident in their abilities to chop enemy aircraft into pieces in a head-on, and some (including this contributor) will actively seek it. It also has two 12.7mm machine guns, centrally mounted in the nose, which can do some damage if the C.202 can get close. You can out-turn a C.202EC, and possibly out-climb it, but not much else. The C.202EC does best at high speeds and high altitudes, so try and bring things into your favour. Force it into a low-speed fight, or bait it towards other friends who are better able to deal with it.
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=== 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 || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Absolutely amazing turn capabilities, even at low speeds
* Superb climb capabilities
* Relatively good armament with a 20 mm and 7.7 mm combination arrangement
* Very easy aircraft to control
* Good acceleration
* Short bursts can decimate the enemy, even bombers if aimed correctly

'''Cons:'''

* 7.7 mm machine guns have low damage and stopping power
* Cannons have a low ammo count in general - just enough for 6 seconds of firing
* Hispano Mk.I 20 mm has a tendency to jam under continuous firing when not upgraded
* Hispano cannons may be finicky to use if you are not able to aim them well
* Due to aforementioned weapon disadvantages, proper trigger discipline, convergence, and knowing the effective cone of fire is key
* Wings overload quickly when turning at high speeds
* Most enemy contemporaries at the 2.7-4.7 matchmaking range can out-dive you
* Low dive speed limit
* Poor roll rate, especially at high speed
* Poor high-altitude performance (compared to lower altitudes)
* Engines easily overheat
* The only position for flaps is in landing mode

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
The Supermarine Spitfire was a British fighter which served with various nations from the late 1930's up into the 1950's. It was a single-engine, all-metal, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear. Various modifications served as fighters, interceptors, high-altitude fighters, fighter-bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. A total of some 20,300 Spitfires of all types were built during the war, including two-seater trainers.

In the summer of 1939, an early Spitfire Mk I was fitted with the new Rolls Royce Merlin XII engine, which had a higher output of 1175 HP and was fitted with a Coffman engine starter instead of the previous Merlin's electrical starter system. This, combined with the Rotol variable pitch propeller which had been used on many Spitfire Mk Is would now form the powerplant of the new Spitfire Mk II, although some production models used the De Havilland propeller. The Mk II was some 6-7 mph faster than the later Spitfire Mk I, but still slower than the original Spitfires before a series of modifications increased the aircraft's weight. As with the Mk I, the Spitfire Mk II was produced with either eight machine guns as the Spitfire Mk IIA, or two 20mm cannon and four machine guns as the Mk IIb. The earlier problems with cannon fitted to the Mk IB had now been solved by introducing a belt feed system to the weapon to replace the earlier drum, turning the cannon on its side and fitting a blister on the wing to house the new mechanism.

920 Spitfire Mk IIs entered service; 750 Mk IIA and 170 MK IIB, although fighters used in the air-sea rescue role were later designated Mk IIC. The Spitfire II quickly replaced the Spitfire I, with the older variant being relegated to use in Operational Training Units. By April 1941, RAF Fighter Command had completed re-equipping with the Mk II, although this too would soon be replaced by the Mk V.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 02:45 discusses the Spitfire Mk IIb.}}

== See also ==


* [[Sea Hurricane Mk IC]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4507-development-spitfire-mk-iib-an-old-friend-en|[Devblog] Spitfire Mk IIb: an old friend]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/287256-supermarine-spitfire-mk-iib/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[wikipedia:Supermarine_Spitfire_(early_Merlin-powered_variants)#Mk_II_(Type_329)|[Wikipedia] Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants) - Mk II (Type 329)]]

{{AirManufacturer Supermarine}}
{{Britain fighters}}

Halifax B Mk IIIa

2022-02-08T00:48:14Z

U116940880: added a playstyle and some pros and cons

{{Specs-Card
|code=halifax_mk3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows"]].

The Halifax is an interesting member of the British bomber line. It is the first true British heavy bomber, a big change from its predecessors, which are all either flying boats, medium, or light bombers. With the transition to heavy bombers, comes a change in tactics. The Halifax will outclass almost every rank 2 and 3 bombers in terms of payload. It will also generally beat every same battle-rated bomber in the payload department as well. However, being a heavy bomber has its drawbacks. Compared to nearly all previous British bombers, this one is slower and has a noticeably slow climb rate. While the payload upgrade is nice, the Halifax is not very durable. Worse, the Halifax lacks effective defensive weapons, a flaw of nearly all British bombers. The main priority, as a result, should be targeting bases and avoiding opposing pilots as much as possible. Use high altitude and less direct travel routes to get to your targets. If you are engaged, your defensive guns can save you, but they are not very reliable. In addition, this bomber does not have any ventral turrets, leaving a massive defensive gap directly under the aircraft. You also only have one singular machine gun able to cover the fore-lower approach to your aircraft and little in the way of armour plating for the pilot other than a steel bulkhead that won't protect against cannon shells or rifle-calibre bullets well. However, if you can keep safe and deliver your payload, you will find this to be a very effective bomber.

== 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 4,115 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
| 436 || 420 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 35.0 || 35.8 || 3.8 || 3.8 || rowspan="2" | 750
|-
! Upgraded
| 478 || 454 || 33.2 || 34.0 || 9.9 || 6.5
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:Halifax 3.png|450px|right|thumb|A Halifax in action over Sicily.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 491 || 454 || 260 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 350 || < 370 || < 350 || > 280
|-
|}

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


* 6.35 mm steel in front and floor of the cockpit
* 8 mm steel behind the pilot and in rear fuselage bulkhead

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

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

{{main|G.P. Mk.IV (250 lb)|G.P. Mk.IV (500 lb)|M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I (1,000 lb)}}

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

* 15 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (3,750 lb total)
* 15 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (7,500 lb total)
* 9 x 1,000 lb M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 6 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (12,000 lb total)

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

{{main|Browning (7.7 mm)|Vickers K (7.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (600 rpg = 2,400 total)
* 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, tail turret (1,700 rpg = 6,800 total)

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Cool Halifax.png|alt=A Halifax landed on a hill at sunrise.|thumb|550x550px|A Halifax, landed on a hill, looking good.]]
The Halifax Mark IIIa is the first true "heavy" bomber that an Allied player will unlock. It has four engines that do well at higher altitudes- above the height of 4,000 m (13,000 ft) - and it has a large payload of around 12,000 pounds of bombs, going by weight. This is sufficient so that one Halifax can, on their own, annihilate all three minibases in a match and take a small chunk out of the enemy airfield, and otherwise, it can take a sizeable chunk out of the airfield- around three-quarters of the base's total HP. Two Halifaxes can annihilate all the bases and most of the airfield together in the 3.7-4.7 BR bracket. Three Halifaxes can destroy everything in a 5.0 uptier. Four Halifaxes, should they survive the trip to the enemy bases, can destroy everything they see on the map and result in a fast game-over. It dwarfs the payloads of contemporary 4.0 bombers, such as the [[Pe-2-83]], [[B-25J-1]], and the [[Yer-2 (M-105)]] with its overwhelmingly large bombload.

However, the Halifax is not all explosions, sunshine and rainbows. The aircraft requires you to play very defensively and requires you to be a crack shot with the turrets and able to know where enemies are going and be lucky enough to avoid their fire. The Halifax B Mk IIIa is a British bomber, and in-game, has a notorious reputation for carrying a lot of bombs, but being unable to avoid fighter aircraft (doesn't climb fast enough nor perform well enough at high altitude) or defend itself (four/eight 7.7 mm machine guns is barely adequate at 3.3, let alone 4.0). However, if your aim is extremely on point, you may be able to defeat one or two enemy fighter aircraft before being defeated yourself. While it does have a good bombload, pilots will find that it has problems in actually getting to the target. Sideclimbing can be a very useful tactic in the Halifax, as you can wait for some of the enemy fighters to lose altitude while gaining some yourself.

One technique that some British pilots use to some degree of success are low-altitude dambusters-style raids flying at treetop level, just above terrain. This allows you to avoid Axis fighters (most of which climb too high to dive on you), but if you are unlucky , will simply leave you at the mercy of Bf-109s, Fw-190s, low-flying Japanese aircraft and all attackers which will enjoy the opportunity for a free kill. You need to be watching the skies and make course corrections to avoid enemy aircraft, since you do not have the weapons nor performance to take them out or outrun them. You need to pre-empt where enemy aircraft will be and make adjustments as such. You are also harder to see above water, above forests and above large urban areas (e.g. the cities on Ruhr) due to the bi-colour night-time camouflage. Use this to your advantage.

When you start an air RB match it is advised to sideclimb to 6500-7,000m to avoid interceptors (as they usually only climb to 4500m and don't want to waste time climbing up to you) and approach one of the sets of two bases from an angle where you can take them both out in a single pass with 6x500lb and 1x1000lb bombs for the first base and 3x1000lb bombs for the second. After that approach the other bases in the same manner(if they are not already destroyed) with 3x1000lb bombs for the first and the remaining 2x1000lb bombs on the second base. If the second set of bases have been bombed before you get to them, bomb the airfield and your remaining 4x1000lb bombs will take a hefty chunk out of the airfield's HP.

=== 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
|-
| Not controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

Vent the radiator and set prop pitch to 100% immediately after spawning in. Set supercharger gears to gear 2.

For some extra speed in level flight set prop pitch to 85%.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Versatile - It is capable of flying low-altitude runs for minibases, or high-altitude bombing runs.
* Can carry an overwhelming 12,000 lb of bombs, giving it the heaviest payload at ranks II-III, and outclasses many rank IV bombers
* In RB, the bomber can with a full payload take out three out of the four bases (and most of fourth base) without needing to rearm.
* Full payload can also take out 3/4 of an Airfield's HP in the BR bracket
* Fast and fairly manoeuvrable for a heavy bomber, with flaps that do not rip easily
* Performance is almost unaffected by payload options due to the internal payload carriage that doesn't create drag
* Fantastic climb rate with WEP; can easily reach 6,000 m (~20,000 ft), with full payload just by side climbing (which is heavily advised to minimize interception by enemies)
* Reliable engines that will not overheat with continuous WEP at 7,500 m (~25,000 ft) and above
* Can fly with two engines if needed - or even one, if trying to land
** Dorsal and tail gunner can do a lot of damage to aircraft attacking from above if used correctly (typically BnZ fighters)
** Tail gunner can fire almost directly down, underneath the turret, so unless an enemy goes under your airframe, you should have time to react and fire a few bursts
** Both dorsal and tail turrets contain a lot of ammunition, capable of spraying enemies with waves of continuous gunfire
* The aircraft, if in the hands of a capable pilot, can continue to fly with horrific damage to control surfaces and engines

'''Cons:'''

* Being a large bomber with a heavy payload makes it a priority target in Air Battles
* Stock payload is useless for base bombing, and the plane isn't manoeuvrable enough to effectively attack smaller ground targets
* Nose is defended by a single 7.7 mm gun and the belly has no machine gun coverage, leaving them very vulnerable for enemy attacks
* Enemies attacking from below can deal serious damage to control surfaces and engines of the plane, making the plane difficult to manoeuvre
* 7.7 mm machine guns overall do not inflict a lot of damage, repeated hits are needed to disable an enemy plane
* Only one pilot, and no co-pilot unlike other heavy bombers. In addition, the pilot is not armoured, and is vulnerable to a head-on, since the only frontal defence is a single 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun
* WEP causes overheating at low altitudes unless manual engine control is used to force radiators open
* Severe lack of armour for crew leaves them vulnerable
* The wings rip easily when under fire from a .50caliber or anything larger

== History ==


The Handley Page Halifax was an archetypal British heavy bomber, making up nearly half of all that were produced. At the point of its maximum production, its operations enveloped 41 separate factories, 600 subcontractors and 51,000 employees, with one Halifax completed every hour. The peak of its usage saw 76 Halifax-equipped Bomber Command Squadrons. As with the rest of its kind, the Halifax was known for its huge, lumbering profile and punishing bomb load. During its service with Britain, it flew 82,773 operations and dropped 224,207 tons of bombs. A grand total of 6,178 Halifaxes of all variants were built, with 1,833 planes lost.

During the mid-1930s, the British Air Ministry released Specification P.13/36, which detailed its need for a twin-engined medium/heavy bomber, suitable for "world-wide use". Multiple aircraft manufacturers submitted designs to meet its requirements, among them Handley Page, which submitted the HP56. By February 1937, the list of aircraft designed to meet specification was narrowed down to two candidates, Handley Page's HP56, and rival manufacturer Avro's Avro 679, with the possibility that both designs were to be selected. Ultimately, the 679 alone was selected for production and dubbed the "Manchester", as the Air Ministry had other plans for the HP56. After both American and Soviet engineers saw success in experimentation with four-engined bombers, the Air Ministry became interested in the concept. Accordingly, in 1936, it released Specification B.12/36, which detailed a four-engined heavy bomber with a range of 2,000 miles (~3,200 km), capable of carrying 14,000 lbs (6,350 kg) of ordnance. In 1937, as it prepared to select the 679 to meet P.13/36, the Air Ministry asked Handley Page to redesign the HP56 in order to meet B.12/36. By the end of the year, the initial design, designated the HP57, was complete. The RAF was so impressed with the design that in January of 1938, it ordered 100 of the aircraft into production. Construction of the prototype began in March 1938. It made its first flight on October 25, 1939, and after subsequent successful tests, was given the name "Halifax". It officially entered service in November of 1940, and flew its first combat mission, a bombing raid of the Le Havre docks, on March 10-11, 1941, but its existence was not confirmed by the RAF until it took part in a daylight bombing raid in July. Besides bombing raids, its duties included pathfinding, supply transport, paratroop transport, and, under Coastal Command, anti submarine, reconnaissance, and meteorological operations. Towards the end of the war in Europe, a few Halifaxes were modified for Allied use in the Pacific, but were ultimately too late to have any real effect on the outcome of that theatre. After the war, it was retired from British military service, and the majority of Halifaxes were scrapped. However, many found civilian use both at home and abroad. In addition, they remained in military service for the French, Egyptian, and Pakistani Air Forces. It remained in Pakistani service until 1961.

The B Mk. III was the most produced variant of the Halifax, beginning service in November of 1943. The main improvement included replacing the underperforming Rolls-Royce Merlin X engine with the more powerful Bristol Hercules XVI. This allowed the Halifax to perform better and increased its ceiling, a critically needed change that allowed the Halifax to fly at altitudes needed to avoid enemy fighters, whose attacks were becoming increasingly effective by that point of the war. Other changes included the adoption of de Havilland Hydromatic propellers and rounded wing tips. A total 2,091 were built.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=britain&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=bomber&vehicle=halifax_mk3 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VTLOUPW67to|'''Ultra Cheeky Sneaky Tea - Halifax B Mk III a''' - ''Napalmratte''}}

== 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/3750-development-halifax-the-knight-of-the-sky-en|[Devblog] Halifax: the Knight of the Sky]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/315766-handley-page-halifax-mk-iii/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Handley}}
{{Britain bombers}}

Kurnass

2022-01-31T02:39:20Z

U116940880: added most efficient altitude

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Israeli jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]].

This aircraft is almost identical to the American [[F-4E Phantom II]] with little changes like Israeli weapons.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1292m)
! 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 ====
{| 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
| 15,964kg || 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}}

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

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{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|M61 (20 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (640 rpg) + 90 x countermeasures

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

{{main|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-15(V)1/B (2,000 lb)|AGM-65B}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-7E-2 Sparrow|AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9P Sidewinder}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|M61 (20 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 3 x 20 mm M61 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total)
* 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (1,200 rpg)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AGM-65B missiles
* 2 x AGM-65B missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AGM-65B missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (1,200 rpg)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles (4,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Vast variety of air and ground ordnance
* High top speed
* RWR and countermeasures
* Can carry up to 8 AAMs
* 20 mm M61 cannon has long firing range, and high rate of fire
* Good acceleration

'''Cons:'''

* Relatively large aircraft, easy to hit
* Carrying heavy payload greatly reduces the flight performance
* 20 mm ammo can be depleted in just a few bursts
* Wings can be ripped off quite easily at high speed manoeuvres
* Lacking all-aspect IR missiles
* No look-down radar

== History ==

Israel was a prominent user of the [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|F-4 Phantom II]], having acquired its Phantoms starting in 1968. At first, the USA was unwilling to offer Israel the F-4, but developments in 1967-1968 led the USA to reconsider its position. Notably, a French embargo of Israeli aircraft and the defection of a Soviet MiG-21 convinced the USA to sell its F-4Es to Israel. The first of these aircraft arrived in January of 1968, nicknamed Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) in service.

Israeli Phantoms saw their first combat action in the War of Attrition (1967-1970) against Egypt, where they were used against Egyptian ground and air targets. During this time, more Phantoms continued to be delivered including six RF-4E reconnaissance Phantoms. During the Yom Kippur war, Israeli Phantoms were once again used against air and ground targets. This conflict also marked the debut of the AGM-65 Maverick in Israeli service shortly after the missile entered service with the USAF.

In total, Israeli Phantoms scored ~116 aerial kills against Arab aircraft between 1969-1982 compared to ~55 combat losses (total number disputed). The last Phantom was delivered in 1976, with a total of 204 aircraft delivered, including some as replacements for aircraft lost during the Yom Kippur war. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Phantom was complemented with newer aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16; the last Israeli Phantom was retired in 2004.

== Media ==

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

== 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 ==

=== References ===

* Aloni, S. (n.d.). ''Israeli Kurnass Aces – Part 1''. F4Phantom.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from <nowiki>http://www.f4phantom.com/SmokeTrails/ST1503_1.pdf</nowiki>
* Jewish Virtual Library. (1998). ''IAF Aircraft Inventory''. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-ii</nowiki>

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Israel jet aircraft}}

Kurnass

2022-01-31T02:21:04Z

U116940880: /* Engine performance */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Israeli jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]].

This aircraft is almost identical to the American [[F-4E Phantom II]] with little changes like Israeli weapons.

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

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at _,___ 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 ====
{| 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
| 15,964kg || 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}}

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

=== Modifications and economy ===
{{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|M61 (20 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)
** 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (640 rpg) + 90 x countermeasures

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

{{main|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-15(V)1/B (2,000 lb)|AGM-65B}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-7E-2 Sparrow|AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9P Sidewinder}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP|M61 (20 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 3 x 20 mm M61 cannons (1,200 rpg = 3,600 total)
* 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (6,000 lb total)
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 171 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 36 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (1,200 rpg)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AGM-65B missiles
* 2 x AGM-65B missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AGM-65B missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (2,020 kg total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon (1,200 rpg)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 24 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 16 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (12,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 11 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (11,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 18 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (9,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 10 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,500 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles + 7 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs + 4 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 2 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb GBU-15(V)1/B bombs + 4 x AIM-7E-2 Sparrow missiles (4,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Vast variety of air and ground ordnance
* High top speed
* RWR and countermeasures
* Can carry up to 8 AAMs
* 20 mm M61 cannon has long firing range, and high rate of fire
* Good acceleration

'''Cons:'''

* Relatively large aircraft, easy to hit
* Carrying heavy payload greatly reduces the flight performance
* 20 mm ammo can be depleted in just a few bursts
* Wings can be ripped off quite easily at high speed manoeuvres
* Lacking all-aspect IR missiles
* No look-down radar

== History ==

Israel was a prominent user of the [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|F-4 Phantom II]], having acquired its Phantoms starting in 1968. At first, the USA was unwilling to offer Israel the F-4, but developments in 1967-1968 led the USA to reconsider its position. Notably, a French embargo of Israeli aircraft and the defection of a Soviet MiG-21 convinced the USA to sell its F-4Es to Israel. The first of these aircraft arrived in January of 1968, nicknamed Kurnass (Heavy Hammer) in service.

Israeli Phantoms saw their first combat action in the War of Attrition (1967-1970) against Egypt, where they were used against Egyptian ground and air targets. During this time, more Phantoms continued to be delivered including six RF-4E reconnaissance Phantoms. During the Yom Kippur war, Israeli Phantoms were once again used against air and ground targets. This conflict also marked the debut of the AGM-65 Maverick in Israeli service shortly after the missile entered service with the USAF.

In total, Israeli Phantoms scored ~116 aerial kills against Arab aircraft between 1969-1982 compared to ~55 combat losses (total number disputed). The last Phantom was delivered in 1976, with a total of 204 aircraft delivered, including some as replacements for aircraft lost during the Yom Kippur war. In the last decades of the 20th century, the Phantom was complemented with newer aircraft such as the F-15 and F-16; the last Israeli Phantom was retired in 2004.

== Media ==

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

== 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 ==

=== References ===

* Aloni, S. (n.d.). ''Israeli Kurnass Aces – Part 1''. F4Phantom.com. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from <nowiki>http://www.f4phantom.com/SmokeTrails/ST1503_1.pdf</nowiki>
* Jewish Virtual Library. (1998). ''IAF Aircraft Inventory''. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Retrieved December 22, 2021, from <nowiki>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/mcdonnell-douglas-f-4-phantom-ii</nowiki>

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Israel jet aircraft}}

Stormer HVM

2022-01-31T01:59:49Z

U116940880: updated max speed

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy"]].

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


This tank uses the chassis of Scorpion, which you might be familiar with since [[Striker]]. As before, it can only take punishment from the front and it's best to avoid anything more serious than autocannon armed light tanks or [[KPz-70]], since most 9.0+ tanks have at least 100 mm gun along with their coaxial weapons.

The launcher on the back was replaced with a turret carrying Starstreak HVM and search optics. The usually small camera next to commander cupola now has heavy optics and is much bigger as a result. The turret is much higher than the old launcher and is very hard to hide.

The missiles do not have any protection this time around and user should avoid being bombed and shot by artillery '''at any cost'''. Even a 7.62 mm machine gun can ignite missiles on a good hit. Even close artillery or HE miss might set off Starstreaks and cause the entire rack to explode, annihilating the carrier and probably taking it's allies nearby with it in process. Even if missiles did not explode, it is very likely that the hull will take enough overpressure damage to take out the crew.

The missile carrier has very short burnout time, so even if it survived a strafe run from a gunship while just being set on fire, it will burn fast and explode in about 8 seconds.

As such, Stormer should avoid fighting anything directly, if possible. To ensure not a single aircraft knows about its presence, an IRST system is used instead of radar - not even best helicopters around can detect it. In arcade mode, they can still see the Stormer, but the optronic system will allow the tank to destroy them before they have even a chance to aim at it.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=355|rbMinHp=221}}

As with [[Striker]], the {{PAGENAME}} is capable of driving both forward and backwards relatively fast even with no upgrades. The ability to drive forward and turn around at same time still relies on driver being maxed out, so your crew must be very high level.

The more you upgrade the chassis and engine, the more obscure position you can climb and take over in order to avoid being spotted and destroyed by other tanks.

Do not race against Japanese [[Type 90]] and Italian scout tank [[Centauro ROMOR]], they are much faster.

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

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

{{main|Starstreak}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Starstreak]] missile || 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" | 16 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+60° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 72.5 || 72.5 || 88.1 || 97.4 || 103.6 || rowspan="2" | 1.30 || rowspan="2" | 1.15 || rowspan="2" | 1.06 || rowspan="2" | 1.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 49.0 || 49.0 || 59.5 || 65.8 || 70.0
|-
|}

The {{PAGENAME}} uses surface-to-air Starstreak missiles and their unique properties make it hard to use them for anything else. There are 8 of them mounted on the turret and there are 8 more spares in the back of the tank.

The missiles are launched in two stages - the carrier missile and the "darts". The information in the stat-card is presented for the carrier missile and differs from the actual payload unleashed after ~580 m of flight.

In spite of the indicated top speed, Starstreaks bleed their speed very fast when forced to chase jets at an angle, so consider practicing fire discipline or look for spots from which you can hit them head-on or in the back.

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable" 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
|-
| Starstreak HVM || SAM || 30 || 30 || 30 || 30 || 30 || 30
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="11" | Shell details
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! rowspan="2" | Velocity (m/s)
! rowspan="2" | Range (m)
! 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%
|-
| Starstreak HVM || SAM ||1178|| 7,000 || 14 || 0.5 || 0.1 || 1,570 || 80° || 82° || 90°
|-
|}

==== [[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
|-
| '''16''' || 11 ''(+5)'' || 9 ''(+7)'' || 1 ''(+15)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Missiles are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Rack 4 (launcher) is a first stage ammo rack. It totals 8 shells.
** The launcher gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
** Once the launcher rack has been depleted, you can't shoot until at least one missile has been restocked .
** Simply not firing when the launcher is ready to fire will move ammo from racks 1 and 2 into rack 3. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready rack.
** The depletion order at full capacity is: 3 - 1 - 2.

===Radars===

Stormer HMV uses special infrared search devices to detect targets. While they have a significantly shorter range than "normal" radar and cannot tell the range towards target until specifically locked onto it, they can tell which targets are friendly and do not target them, or at least specifically mark them as "friendly". They also scan Stormer HVM surroundings approximately 6 times a second even when locked on, which makes bypassing it next to impossible.

Infrared detectors are invisible to "radar detectors" and will not alert helicopters or supersonic jets of your presence. There is no benefit in powering it down as of now.

Trees and smokes can completely block IRST system - if you cannot see your opponent yourself through thick forest, neither will the system.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="5" | Thales ADAD - Passive Infared Search
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Detection Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum Detection Range|The range, below which, a target cannot be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum relative speed|The minimum speed a target must be moving, relative to the radar, in order to be detectable by the radar}}
|-
| ~8,000 m || N/A || 360° || -__°/+__° || N/A
|-
! colspan="5" | Thales ADAD - Passive Infared Track
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Tracking Range|The maximum range at which a target can be tracked}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum Tracking Range|The range below which targets cannot be tracked by the radar}}
! {{Annotation|Azimuth Tracking Angle|How far to each side the radar can track a target}}
! {{Annotation|Elevation Tracking Angle|How far up and down the radar can track a target}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum target speed|The minimum speed a target must be moving, relative to the radar, in order to be tracked by the radar}}
|-
| ~8,000 m || N/A || 360° || -__°/+__° || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


It is best to hide from sight of others when using this SPAA - move around battlefield and use terrain and caves as a hiding spot for yourself. Exploit mobility upgrades to stand on mountain edges, if necessary.

Avoid participating in direct combat with medium tanks at any cost, as you definitely will not help in winning the fight directly and they might use the gigantic ammo rack as a way to destroy your allies. The only logical exception is if you are supporting allied ATGM tank by removing hostile tank ERA and turning their attention towards you, then immediately retreat. Any attempts to do sneaky shots on medium tanks should only be done if you are sure it's worth it.

In case if you managed to spot hostile SAM, you can try to remove them by igniting their missiles to help your team achieve air superiority. Remember, you cannot fire on move, so if they will also notice you and have actual guns, the tables will turn immediately. At long range you can fire at least three times before missiles of most other SAM tanks would reach you.

Using forests as cover is less reliable than just using terrain, as IRST will likely fail to detect your opponents through trees, unlike radar which only get its signal halved in power.

In case if you have nothing better to do at the moment or spotted an enemy tank, you can scout it from a remote location. Do not try to scout if enemy team is actively searching for you.

{{Notice| Be aware, that while Stormer HVM itself is nigh undetectable in RB, it still uses laser pointer to guide missiles. Some modern helicopters and some tanks have Laser Warning System and will receive attack alert on launch, and probably will try to dodge. Do not expect every static target to never move.|!}}

'''General missile behaviour and ground targets:'''

;First Launch

The carrier missile drags the actual missiles away from Stormer at a speed of about 800 m/s and unleashes them at about ~580 m range. Until that point, the missile can be used as a weak form of HE ATGM and if it hits enemy light tank or SPG weak spot it can do fatal overpressure damage.

Carrier missile does shrapnel-like damage and it will deteriorate after hitting '''any''' obstacles, so it is necessary for an explosion to hit the target weak spot directly, almost like with HESH. The explosion range also seems to be halved compared to HE. '''Anything''', including simplest forms of side skirts, will block SAM from destroying an enemy tank. Most of BR 9-10 tanks have not just side skirts but either ERA or NERA screens all over them and will not take any damage from single missile and hitting those randomly is going to only damage machine guns and the screens.

At short ranges other SPAA, SPG and light tanks are fair game and it is preferable to try and destroy them via overpressure damage if they try to attack Stormer HVM, as simply running away from them is rather difficult.

;After ~580 m

Three missiles disassemble from carrier missile and start increasing their speed to the extreme, easily reaching 1178 m/s. To not lose control over their movement due to speed, they constantly spiral. Missiles have acceptable agility and will instantly react to any scope movements, so aim them using sniper mode. Be quick and precise, if possible.

They have minimal penetration and, mostly due to their spiralling nature, aiming them at ground forces is practically pointless, unless you try to disintegrate tanks which have little to no armour, like other SPAA or ATGM tanks - in the case of such tanks, if you somehow hit their weak spot, they still can be destroyed by smaller missiles, so it is worth trying.

Medium tanks will shrug off Starstreaks and usually it does little more than just annoy them.

[[File:Stormer HMV passive system lock on.jpg|right|thumb|325px|Make sure there aren't any trees around or the lock will become unstable.]]
'''Against air targets:'''

To helicopters, the missiles usually are fatal, as they are almost bound to get hit by at least one of Starstreaks, and explosion either tears off the tail or knocks out the pilot. However, even in the case of this missile, there are cases when Support helicopters somehow survived a direct hit, so you might want to launch another one if you aren't sure that they are done for.

To use the missiles against moving aircraft (mainly, planes) properly, you need to lock on to an aerial target. The IRST system cannot tell you where the targets really are, just the direction they're in. Instead of wasting time while looking for them manually, simply lock onto any target on your "radar" display via hotkeys like with [[Chieftain Marksman]] and turret will near instantaneously turn towards them by itself.
[[File:Stormer HVM hit with weird lock-on data.jpg|right|thumb|325px]]

As could be seen on the screenshots, in full IRST mode sniper crosshair tries to imitate the drag of missile as it tracks the aircraft, and by keeping sniper crosshairs on plane or helicopter you can guide your missiles towards an aircraft. Keeping '''an actual missile''' on target is more important, however, as system accuracy is generally far from stellar and it shouldn't be trusted too much.

{{Notice| "Targeting" and "leadership" on your crew should be maxed out. This SPAA cannot track targets properly without it and should not be used by a level 1 crew. You have been warned.|!}}

Do note, that a plane approaching at a sharp angle will mess with turret automatic guidance, due to it passing by too fast.

It is also very difficult for the darts to catch up to jets not flying straight away from or towards the Stormer HVM at speeds above 600 km/h, as the missiles bleed their speed very fast. It's better to attack when jet is further than 3 km away, slows down or flies in a straight line, so that you can attempt to adjust the shot yourself.

The Stormer HVM has huge gaps in optics: 10-40X optics, which can be manually adjusted during AA duty, simply hitting "maximum zoom" will probably result in a miss at some angles of attack.

Since it is extremely inconvenient to toggle zoom level every time, one can remain in sniper seat and use radar display to lock-on to targets around. Quickly spin turret into the direction of the hostile plane, as seen on the radar display, and press lock-on as soon as your turret pointer hits them. Targeting device should be able to do the rest for you.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Invisible to anti-radar - helicopters do not receive radar alert from it in RB, greatly reducing the chances of it being detected and targeted with rockets or missiles
* Unique anti-air missiles - triple missile with one of the highest speeds in a straight line in-game
* Has far more agreeable rearm sequence and timings than the latter [[ADATS (M113)]]
* While triple missiles only explode on contact, they still can manoeuvre at maximum speed and always spiral, which allows them to bypass rocket walls, Vulcan gun fire and other countermeasures. Proximity missile attack from [[ADATS]], [[ZPRK 2S6]] and other such SAM SPAA in same circumstances would fail due to their missiles getting a false positive and exploding without reaching the target (which subsequently results in their user being hit by a rocket rain), which makes the Stormer in some ways better against helicopters
* Good speed of chassis
* X10-40 optics and powerful thermal scope allow it to track enemy until the very end of the map
* Can scout as well, when isn't busy
* Carrier missile can be used against light and some older medium tanks at close range, many hostile ATGM and SAM tanks have no armour whatsoever, being somewhat vulnerable to mini-missiles as well
* Missiles are immune to flares and chaff

'''Cons:'''

* High profile of ammo rack, which is also a weak spot, which can be ignited even by 7.62 mm machine guns or close artillery miss. Any damage to the missiles causes entire vehicle to explode, unlike with [[Striker]]
* On top of high profile, ammo racks visually remind players of [[ADATS]] and will likely make ground forces drop everything and immediately attack it - stealth approach is required at all times
* Two-stage launch, lack of proximity fuse, questionable lock-on accuracy and speed bleed on turns make it difficult for missiles to hit jets, at least at ranges below 3,000 m
* Hull defences are inadequate against tanks and aircraft with weapons bigger than 20 mm autocannon, even if your ammo rack happened to be empty
* While technically invisible, the Stormer HVM will still trigger laser Warning Systems on launch, potentially spooking away targets which have LWS (though usually they only have a second to react before missiles hit them)
* Lock-on does not provide a 100% accurate targeting solution - turret and the optical system sometimes fail to track planes properly, relying on the crew and operator skills to compensate, especially noticeable when the inappropriate zoom level is used
* Lock-on can become unstable around trees and immediately breaks if visual contact is lost
* Due to a huge gap in optics zoom levels, the operator is often required to manually adjust scope, instead of just hitting "maximum zoom" button, and to lock on different aircraft without leaving the sniper seat
* After dispersing, triple missiles constantly spiral, making precise long-range aiming at ground forces pointless, not to mention that most tanks in its natural battle rating range are immune to triple missile attack unless hit at a perfectly flat angle

== History ==

In the mid-1980's it became clear that supersonic aircraft and strike helicopters proved to be dangerous against ground troops. To counter these threats back in 1986, the British Ministry of Defence began development of the "Starstreak HVM" (High-Velocity Missile) anti-aircraft missile system. The production was done by the Shorts Missile Systems company. On the 1st of September in 1997, the famous Starstreak anti-aircraft missile system had been put into service by the British Army. Initially, it was developed in 3 different variants: portable, stationary and mobile, although later they additionally developed an air version but it didn't find a practical application.

The armoured personnel carrier Stormer was created by using the propulsion system, the transmission and chassis of the light scouting FV101 Scorpion tank for the mobile version of the system. In 1975 on the base of this armoured personnel carrier, the self-propelled anti-tank missile system FV102 Striker was created. Since the vehicle proved itself well, it was decided to additionally create the self-propelled anti-aircraft system Alvis Stormer HVM on its platform.

''- From [[wt:en/news/6208-development-alvis-stormer-hvm-control-of-the-skies-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|VNoalq4WIt4|'''The Shooting Range #151''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the Stormer HVM.|luvhoX8Ht1I|'''New anti-air defence''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 6:16 - ''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 vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6208-development-alvis-stormer-hvm-control-of-the-skies-en|[Devblog] Alvis Stormer HVM: Control of the skies!]]

{{Britain anti-aircraft vehicles}}

Challenger 2 (2F)

2022-01-31T01:40:31Z

U116940880: edited a con

{{About
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Challenger 2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_challenger_2_dorchester
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]].

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

The Challenger 2 (2F) was created to give increased protection against shaped charges and as much is evident when evaluating the armour. While the internal composite armour remains the same from the previous variant, a large amount of external composite and ERA has been added to the hull front and sides as well as the turret sides. Additional slat armour has also been mounted to the sides and rear of the hull and turret.

With the only real change being the additional external armour, the same structural weakspots that exist on the Challenger 2 remain on the 2F. The large driver's port is an obvious target for enemy armour, which can penetrate it at almost any angle due to only RHA protection. Kinetic rounds aimed through the driver's port from the direct or near-direct front will often go straight through the tank, often taking several crew members, the cannon breech or the engine, occasionally resulting in a knocked out crew. Chemical rounds are less effective but fragments may set off the charges stored next to the driver, especially when fired at from above.

The gun mantlet is also a large weakspot, although kinetic rounds will be most effective, as chemical rounds will often only knock out the cannon breech or be blocked by the optics mounted at the top of the gun, which will allow the tank to pull back and repair provided it has the distance to do so. Kinetic rounds will often not fragment properly, going straight through the back of the turret, at max taking out two crew members due to the breech acting as a shield to the other side of the turret. Only when attacking from above will rounds have a significant chance of detonating ammunition due to the 2 stage system used by British tanks. Any ammunition stored in the turret will be warheads which are not able to be detonated.

As with the last variant and many other MBTs, the sides have no real kinetic protection, however the 2F has additional protection against chemical rounds. Most shots to the side of the front half of the turret have a high likelihood of taking out the cannon breech and a crew member, occasionally knocking out 2 or 3 crew. Any shots the the back half of the turret from the side will be ineffective due to the large amount of empty space. Aiming low on the tank's hull will give the best results for penetration and ammo detonation. Despite the additional ERA on the lower frontal plate, chemical rounds such as the German DM12A1 can still get through, and can get through the side mounted composite screens on a flat angle (0-25°).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38-50 mm (56-83°) ''Upper Plate'' 70 mm (31-34°) ''Lower Glacis'' 60 mm (0-80°) ''Driver's Port'' || 25 mm (70°) ''Top'' 25 mm ''Middle'' 38 mm ''Bottom'' || 25 mm (32°) || 10-20 mm
|-
| Turret || 38 - 50 mm (56-82°) ''Turret Front'' 30 mm (3-82°) ''Gun Mantlet'' || 20-25 mm (8-10°) || 20 mm (18°) || 10-38 mm
|-
| Cupola || 8 mm (3-78°) || 8 mm (9-60°) || 8 mm (1-80°) || 44-60 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* ''Upper Frontal Plate'' has additional 10 mm external plate.
* ''Lower Frontal Plate'' has 25.4 mm external steel and ROMOR-A ERA. This is upgraded to a composite with NERA plate when mounting the Dorchester 2F upgrade, as detailed in the table above.
* Parts of the side and rear hull have mounted Slat Armour (50 mm Chemical Protection).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Composite Armour !! Front !! Sides
|-
| Hull || '''Upper''' Kinetic: 420-1,000 mm Chemical: 700-950 mm '''Lower''' Kinetic: 100-400 mm Chemical: 350-570 mm
'''With Dorchester 2F Modification''' '''Upper''' Kinetic: 420-1,000 mm Chemical: 700-1200 mm '''Lower''' Kinetic: 140-180 mm Chemical: 200-860 mm
| '''Ext. Composite with NERA:''' Kinetic: 30 mm Chemical: 400 mm
|-
| Turret ||'''Turret Cheeks''' Kinetic: 440-720 mm Chemical: 780-1,000 mm || '''Internal Composite''' Kinetic: 190-740 mm Chemical: 300-1,000 mm '''Ext. Composite with NERA''' Kinetic: 30 mm Chemical: 400 mm
|-
|}

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,886|rbMinHp=1,076|AoAweight=1.1|weight=63.6}}

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

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

{{main|L30A1 (120 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L30A1 (120 mm)|120 mm L30A1]] || 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°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 29.5 || 40.8 || 49.6 || 54.8 || 58.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 18.4 || 21.7 || 26.4 || 29.1 || 31.0
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS || 396 || 394 || 387 || 376 || 367 || 357
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152
|-
| L26 || APFSDS || 493 || 491 || 487 || 481 || 474 || 468
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS || 564 || 562 || 557 || 551 || 545 || 538
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS || 1,535 || 3.89 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH || 670 || 17.1 || 0.1 || 4 || 6,560 || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
| L26 || APFSDS || 1,650 || 4.1 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS || 1,650 || 4.1 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 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)
|-
| L34 || 670 || 17.1 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! Ammo part
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! 11th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50'''
| ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants''
| 44 ''(+6)'' 45 ''(+5)''
| 39 ''(+11)'' 39 ''(+11)''
| 32 ''(+18)'' 30 ''(+20)''
| 30 ''(+20)'' 22 ''(+28)''
| 28 ''(+22)'' 13 ''(+37)''
| 25 ''(+25)'' 5 ''(+45)''
| 22 ''(+28)'' 1 ''(+49)''
| 14 ''(+36)''  
| 5 ''(+45)''  
| 4 ''(+46)''  
| 1 ''(+49)''  
| No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_Challenger_2.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the Challenger 2]]

* Projectile racks 10 and 11, and propellant rack 7, are first-stage ammo racks
* Hull front empty: 22 ''(+28)''

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

{{main|L37A2 (7.62 mm)|L94A1 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L37A2 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L37A2]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,700 (100) || 650 || -10°/+50° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L94A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L94A1]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 2,300 (2,000) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

In many ways, the Challenger (2F) plays the same as the precursor [[Challenger 2]]. This is because the original armour from the base Challenger 2 chassis remains unchanged, the same occurs with the powerplant. However, it distinguishes with an increase in the ability to brawl, mainly because of the optional Dorchester armour package. The 2F can more confidently find itself brawling alongside its teammates. Though players should be wary of the adversaries they are facing to decide which way of engagement is safer, depending on the map or the circumstances of the battle.

==== Protecting the Challenger ====
Ideally, Challenger 2 needs distance to operate to its full potential as a support tank sniping from very afar. This is beneficial for 3 main reasons:

* Obscure major weak spots on frontal armour (Driver position and gun mantlet)
* Protect the side armour from faster tanks capable of flanking
* Increase the effectiveness of the armour against enemy rounds

As expected, the tank excels at sniping as it has access to its Depleted Uranium round, the L27A1. It will be enough to knock out most enemy tanks, even at large distances. The combined use of the laser range finder and this round will be very effective during sniping. Smoke rounds are readily available for more supporting roles. Some moments will be more appropriate to use the smoke shells, as when capturing a point, interrupting an enemy sniper, or covering allied tanks while they advance; perfect for those who desire a more teamplayer gameplay.
[[File:Challenger 2F hulldown.png|thumb|Challenger's gun elevation angles should be used to increase the armour effectiveness whenever possible.]]
Apart from distance, another key aspect in the gameplay of the Challenger 2 is the'' smart terrain placing and hull-down tactics''. The nearly-unbeatable turret cheeks of the Challenger 2 are one of its specialities, therefore is greatly rewarding to enhance these protection levels even more with the gun depression levels; in a way echoing the older British MBTs as the Chieftains and Challenger Mk.1

The best way to use this strong turret protection is by choosing uneven terrain, where the lower frontal plate remains hidden from the enemy light of sight. Usually, on slopes, small rocks, impact craters or even destroyed enemy tanks. Most maps will offer some degree of elevations or slopes in which the Challenger 2 can lay down to snipe. This hull-down can be mixed with shoot-and-scoot tactics and sustained throughout the entire match, if done correctly this is one of the best ways of fighting.

Unfortunately, this playstyle comes with the hindrance of putting the Challenger 2 in exposed positions against enemy aircraft and helicopters, therefore is very important to relocate and keep a situational awareness, even if the tank is not in the core of the fight. Luckily, the Challenger can now more easily resist missiles from helicopters which one can expect to happen in open areas that lend to sniping. This is possible provided the missile does not hit the roof, so if a player sees a missile approaching, release smoke grenades and aim the turret towards the missile. The slat armour on the back of the tank is very effective against chemical rounds, including missiles, which can be the difference between living and being knocked out. Once hit, however, it will fall off and therefore players should attempt to avoid exposing their rear more-so where slat armour has been destroyed.

==== Urban maps ====
Brawling with the Challenger is now more plausible because of the 2F armour pack, although is not recommended to brawl in every scenario. Since the tank is heavier, taller and with more weak spots than many tanks in close ranges. Especially against enemies such as the [[T-90A]] or [[T-72B3]]. Both of these Soviet tanks are similar in speed to the Challenger, but their weak spots in frontal armour are harder to pinpoint than those on the Challenger. The brawling also creates an unsustainable situation against relentless adversaries such as the [[Leopard (Family)|Leopards]], [[T-80 (Family)|T-80]]<nowiki/>s or other various light tanks. Whenever possible, these fast vehicles will flank the Challenger 2. If CQB cannot be avoided, slight angling should be used to counter rounds. Players should attempt to draw attention to their turret or bait shots onto the Challenger 2s impenetrable turret cheeks, any experienced enemy player will quickly target the gun mantlet or driver's hatch. Challenger players should never attempt to endure in brawling with tanks as a [[Leopard 2A6]] or [[Ariete]], these tanks bring powerful rounds capable of nullifying any armour advantage of the Challenger on close ranges.

Anticipation, ambushing and camping tactics are important while in urban areas (guarding roads, crossroads or bridges). Moving up, taking a position, and waiting to see tanks or hear approaching engines is a viable strategy. Especially when going against Russian or American tanks, as their turbine engines give off that characteristic rotary whine.

During the early module research, the urban engagements can be done with some level of success, once the laser rangefinder, 2F armour pack and the L27A1 round has been researched, the full sniping potential of the Challenger 2 will be unleashed.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Effective side-ERA against air-to-ground missiles
* Fast reload, particularly for a 120 mm (5 seconds aced)
* Sights with high zoom, 2nd generation thermals and a wide FOV
* High reverse of -40 km/h
* The L30A1 120 mm gun is incredibly accurate, even at long range
* Turret cheeks are invulnerable to all HEAT-FS and APFSDS, including the dreaded DM53 shell

'''Cons:'''

* Vulnerable commander's hatch and cannon breech
* No CITV (Commander Independent Thermal Viewer)
* Dorchester 2F only marginally increases LFP armour against FIN shells
* Dorchester 2F adds 1,100 kg of weight to an already sluggish tank
* L27A1 has low penetration compared to other top rank NATO ammunition
* Accessible weakspots, especially the gun mantlet

== History ==

The Challenger 2F or CR2 TES is an upgraded version of the Challenger 2, featuring the upgrade kit known as TES (Theatre Entry Standard) and nicknamed 'Megatron'. The upgrade protection kit saw several adjustments over the years until the present time.

These modifications were ordered by the MOD, as part of the numerous updates inside the Challenger 2's LEP (Life Extension Programme) to increase the operability, lethality and protection of the 1998 design until 2025, or until a new British MBT design is available. The TES aims to increase the protection levels against the operational threats of the British Army such as the IEDs, hollow charges or Tandem charges - common threats during suburban deployments.

'''MCS'''

The Challenger 2 was covered with an MCS (Mobile Camouflage System) all around the tank, reducing the heat signature and keeping the vehicle almost indistinguishable from Thermal imaging devices.

'''Bar armour '''

The slat or bar armour was added to the sides and the rear of the vehicle to increase the levels of protection against rocket-propelled grenades while not downgrading the mobility of the Challenger. The bar armour must disrupt any hollow charges from detonating; either by crushing it upon impact or damaging the warhead and the fuze through contact with the '''bars.'''

'''Dorchester 2F armour kit'''

Most previous NERA (Non-Explosive Reactive Armour) side plates have been reinforced with additional Dorchester armour plates, notably the lower frontal-glacis protection was drastically improved, with the addition of a large block of Dorchester armour; augmenting the protection in one of the most vulnerable areas for the Challenger 2. Furthermore, the sides of the turret also received external Dorchester armour packages, enhancing the protection of the crew inside the fighting compartment from possible side-attacks.

'''Remote controlled weapon systems (RCWS) '''

As an offensive upgrade, the TES received a new Remote controlled weapon systems (RCWS) over the loader's hatch ring, capable of assessing the battlefield and engaging light targets or infantry from within the vehicle. Previously, the operator had to open the hatch to fire the pintle-mounted L37A2 7.62mm GPMG machine gun.

The CR2 TES also received IED jammers near the left and right front fenders and ECM countermeasures antennas capable of detecting nearby Improvised Explosive Devices.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_challenger_2_dorchester Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Gj2pAfJ5cxo|'''Should You Grind The Challenger 2 (2F)?''' - ''Sako Sniper''}}

== See also ==


;Analogues in other nations

* [[Leopard 2A6]]
* [[Ariete PSO]]
* [[Leclerc S2]]
* [[M1A2 Abrams]]
* [[T-72B3]]

== External links ==

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

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

{{Britain medium tanks}}

Pe-8

2022-01-31T01:30:29Z

U116940880: added some pros

{{Specs-Card
|code=pe-8_m82
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet heavy bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]].

The Petlyakov {{PAGENAME}} was an early design Soviet heavy bomber which debuted in 1936. This monster of a bomber was the only four-engine bomber produced by the Soviet Union during World War II. Though impressive as it was, it was only produced in limited numbers and was reserved for special occasions called "morale raids" to encourage and raise the spirits of the Soviet population by hitting important German targets deep behind enemy lines to include bombing Berlin in mid-1941. Other prime targets included the nighttime bombing of factories, German airfields and rail yards. As such an important aircraft to the Soviet people, it became a priority target for the German Luftwaffe pilots to go after. By 1944 all remaining {{PAGENAME}}s were removed from service but were retrofitted for other jobs such as VIP transport and operations up into the arctic circle.

The {{PAGENAME}} though a large and tempting target, it is not without its merits. The huge bomber has a nose gunner, tail gunner, rear-facing dorsal turret and two rear-facing underwing gun pods. Attacking this aircraft especially from the rear whether above, below or directly from the rear is a bad choice as, like with the [[BV 238]], there are many defensive guns which can hit and hit hard. These defensive weapons are critical to protecting the bomber against inbound enemy fighter especially because of the bomb payload which it can carry. Options can range between 2,000 and 5,000 kg bomb loads with as many as 40 x 50 kg or 100 kg bombs, or fewer but heavier bombs such as 6 x 500 kg bombs or a single massive 5,000 kg FAB-5000 bomb.

It is easy to see why the {{PAGENAME}} would be a prime target to eliminate as if left unchecked, it could easily wipe out the enemy bases without flinching and move onto the next. Other payload options are useful for carpet bombing areas where clusters of lighter vehicles or fixed anti-aircraft targets may sit. Fleet vessels are not to discount this bomber as it has the means to destroy ships with its accurate bomb site, pending the pilot slowing the aircraft down enough to let the bombardier line up the target and release the necessary ordnance. For the pilot of the {{PAGENAME}}, fly high and drop as much as you can on the targets, as a fighter trying to take out the {{PAGENAME}} set up your run so that in the event you lose control of your aircraft, it has a good chance of ramming the bomber causing it to crash as this aircraft has a good propensity to soak up bullets.

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


The Pe-8 has poor flight characteristics: the plane is very heavy for its engines and thus is slow. This limits its top speed as well as its climb rate. The wings being massive, the turn radius is large and the bomber's manoeuvrability is mediocre. Combined with a short tail, this creates instability and causes the Pe-8 to wobble when changing directions. The bomber usually compresses and wobbles after doing sharp turns, which can be very lethal at low altitude. It can take the pilot a certain time to regain control of the bomber. When engaged in a steep dive, the same phenomenon (compressing and wobbling) takes place, restricting it only to a level bombing role.

Note for new Pe-8 pilots - Since this plane's control surfaces are huge and rotate very slowly, they will have lots of inertia: after you release a keyboard button for rolling, the ailerons will keep deflecting for a second or two before stopping, which is unlike the controls of smaller aircraft where the control surfaces stop deflecting immediately as soon as you release the button. Therefore it is a good practice to release the button a second before the Pe-8 is at an optimal position, as the control surfaces' inertia will do the job after letting go the keyboard input.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,900 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
| 402 || 387 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 36.9 || 37.6 || 4.9 || 4.9 || rowspan="2" | 1,500
|-
! Upgraded
| 445 || 422 || 35.1 || 36.0 || 10.2 || 7.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:Pe-8 lunarrainbow 001.jpg|450px|thumb|right|]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 460 || 434 || 280 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 320 || < 350 || < 380 || > 341
|-
|}

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


The Pe-8 has a durable airframe, meaning the bomber can take some damage, still complete its mission and make it home. Even if its fuel tanks are self-sealing, fires tend to be devastating for the structural integrity of the wings.

;Armour plates

* 8 mm Steel - Plate behind pilot's seat
* 8 mm Steel - Plate behind copilot's seat
* 8 mm Steel - Plate for underwing nacelle gunners x 2
* No armour glazing

;Critical components

* The pilot and the controls are located in front of the aircraft
* Engines and fuel tanks located throughout the wings
* Fuel tanks are self-sealing

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
[[File:Pe-8 *jermster 91 001.jpg|450px|thumb|right|]]
=== Suspended armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}

{{main|FAB-50sv (50 kg)|FAB-100sv (100 kg)|FAB-250sv (250 kg)|FAB-500sv (500 kg)|FAB-1000 (1,000 kg)}}
{{main|FAB-5000 (5,000 kg)}}

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

* 40 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 40 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (4,000 kg total)
* 12 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (3,000 kg total)
* 6 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (3,000 kg total)
* 4 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bombs (4,000 kg total)
* 1 x 5,000 kg FAB-5000 bomb (5,000 kg total)

The Pe-8 can carry the FAB-5000 bomb, the largest bomb in-game, with over 5 tons of TNT equivalent, which proves extremely deadly in ground RB and naval battles. The 40 x 100 kg bombs loadout is suitable for carpet bombing against columns of vehicles and occasionally base bombing while the 4 x 1000 kg bombs loadout is best suited for destroying bases and airfields. The stock payload of 40 x 50 kg bombs has very little efficiency against ground targets due to lack of explosive power and is ill-suited for base bombing.

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

{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)|Berezin UB (12.7 mm)|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, dorsal turret (200 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, tail turret (230 rpg)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, 2 x engine nacelle turrets (200 rpg)
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, nose turret (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

The rear-facing 20 mm ShVAK cannon turrets are quite accurate and easy to aim, they will deal with any enemy fighter daring to come close. The 12.7 mm Berezin MGs in the engine nacelle turrets provide extra coverage from behind. While the defensive armament can be powerful, it is still ridden with weaknesses: the turrets lack any kind of armour, so your gunners can be knocked out easily and each turret has a low ammo count, resulting in frequent reloads that essentially leave you defenceless. The frontal 7.62 mm ShKAS MGs lack power to deal with fighters flying towards the Pe-8 head-on. Aircraft coming from high altitude can also avoid defensive firepower by exploiting their dead angles.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Pe-8 the interceptor 002.jpg|450px|thumb|right|]]

The Pe-8, as mentioned earlier, is in essence a Soviet Death Star (a.k.a Tu-4 at a lower tier). It both boasts a very effective cannon armament and a high bomb load, able to kill two bases in one pass. Its 5,000-kilo bomb is especially useful in Ground Battles as a "tactical nuke" of sorts, able to wipe out large concentrations of enemy tanks.

However, the FAB-5000's practicality ends there. In Air Battles, the FAB-5000 is woefully overpowered against most targets and makes it inferior to most of the plane's other bomb loadout combinations. In addition, it peculiarly does less damage against an airfield than the 4 x 1,000 kg payload, further decreasing its usefulness. Instead, use the other payloads. The stock payload of 40 x 100 kg bombs, while difficult to aim, can still be used to base bomb, simply drop 12 on a base to destroy it (remember that the first 16 are pylon mounted meaning they drop in pairs, so the first base will require only 6 presses of the bomb release button). Keep using this payload for base bombing until you unlock the 4 x 1,000 kg modification, as all the other payloads yield less damage. You can use your bombs to destroy ground targets as well, however, be sure to be high enough or use a timer so that the bomb's splash damage doesn't kill you.

Try to side climb around the main battle when going after bases, though your defensive armament is powerful, you will be an easy target for experienced players, heavy fighters, and groups of fighters that encounter you. If you see an enemy, always turn the plane to make sure the rear cannon-armed guns face the pursuer so you can focus as much of your defensive firepower on them as possible while also increasing the time you can put your guns on the target. Make sure to fire in bursts as your guns will jam if fired for too long.

===Ground RB===
In Ground Realistic mode, the Pe-8 can be used as a CAS aircraft to a devastating effect. If there are no fighter aircraft or few SPAA, try to find the largest group of enemies and drop the FAB-5000 as fast as you can. This usually results in 1-2 kills, but can easily net many more. Try to spawn early game, as there will be less fighter aircraft and SPAA. Let it be noted that there is a certain terror from seeing a FAB-5000 slam into the ground next to your tank that is not easily replicated elsewhere in War Thunder.

===Naval Battles===
In Naval Battles, the Pe-8's FAB-5000 is capable of destroying any ship. Due to its huge explosive mass, the FAB-5000 is able to create a massive shockwave from underwater explosion that can cause an ammunition detonation to nearby ships (~ 50 m from explosion radius), this means it does not require a direct hit to deal a crippling blow to the enemy.

However, delivering the FAB-5000 to the targets can be a bit tricky as anti-aircraft fire in Naval battles is much more accurate, hard-hitting, and plentiful. One would try to compensate for this by flying high up, but you will find that it is hard to aim the FAB-5000 from these altitudes. Thus, it is more effective to bring the Pe-8 to higher-tier battles with less manoeuvrable, usually slower ships.

To drop the bomb accurately, start by set the bomb fuse to 1 second to ensure that the enemy will not get away from the explosion radius, then fly up to an altitude of at least 1,800 m to avoid most of short range AA barrages (around 2,500-3,000 m is a suitable altitude for accurate and relatively safe drop), select an isolated or a slow target which has a few escorts, then approach them. Make sure to watch the long range flak barrages while flying to ensure that they will not hit you, while getting close. Take a look at the water trail left behind the target to get an idea of their trajectory and speed. Then aim the bomb sight, make a compensation and drop the bomb. You can use the bomb tracking camera to see where the bomb dropped and adjust your aim for the next drop in case the shockwave wasn't able to kill the target.

====Counter-tactics====

When pursuing the Pe-8, try to go for a head-on - nearly all the time there is critical damage and "pilot snipes" to down the aircraft - with the added bonus that the front is the least defended area of the Pe-8. Use your mobility to do so. When in a not so optimal position, try to come up at a angle above the Pe-8 - with a sharp enough angle, you will stop the 12.7 mm MGs from reaching you, and with a bit of luck, you will make it past the single 20 defending the plane.

=== 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 ===

[[File:Pe-8 the interceptor 001.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Inbound bogie as seen by the nose gunner somewhere over the Eastern Front.]]

'''Pros:'''

* Good payload option for various mission types, including a massive 5000kg bomb (which is the most powerful bomb in the game).
* Can get many multi kills in ground RB/SB
* Powerful defensive armament
* Durable airframe, can take some damage and make it home
* Can resist being uptiered for a while, possible to bring in tier IV matches

'''Cons:'''

* Poor flight performance
** Large, heavy, and slow
** Poor climb rate, top speed and manoeuvrability (large turn radius, wobbling effect)
* Prone to devastating fires
* Stock payload is mediocre
* Defensive armament is poorly protected
* Almost no defensive capability against enemy planes attacking from the front or right from above
* In mixed ground battles, the very large blast radius of the FAB-5000 bomb can easily cause accidental teamkill.

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

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=pe-8_m82 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:Pe-8 hammer 91 001.jpg
Image:Pe-8 *jermster 91 002.jpg
Image:Pe-8 hammer 91 002.jpg
Image:Pe-8 the interceptor 003.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ZRRbMZ12LHQ|'''The Shooting Range #241''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:34 discusses the Pe-8.}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Boeing [[B-17 (Family)|B-17]] Flying Fortress
* Messerschmit [[Me 264]]
* Short [[Stirling B Mk I|Stirling]]
* Nakajima [[G5N1|G5N]]
* Piaggio [[P.108B serie 1|P.108]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/272434-petlyakov-pe-8-m-82a/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Petlyakov}}
{{USSR bombers}}

JA37C

2022-01-31T01:22:31Z

U116940880: added and edited an con

{{About
| about = Swedish jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = SAAB 37 Viggen (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=saab_ja37
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Swedish jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Direct Hit"]].

== 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 9,000 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
| 1,920 || 1,874 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.1 || 26.4 || 169.2 || 158.8 || rowspan="2" | 900
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,061 || 1,997 || 23.9 || 25.0 || 232.9 || 199.6
|-
|}

==== 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 || ✓ || ✓ || 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 1,536  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 400 || ~12 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 865 || < 700 || < 520 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | {{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" | Svenska Flygmotor RM8B || 1
| colspan="3" | 12,315 kg || colspan="3" | 364 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
|-
| 2,350 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 13,641 kg || 14,080 kg || 14,963 kg || 16,287 kg || 16,735 kg || 19,000 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="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 50m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 6,585 kgf || 11,025 kgf
| 0.81 || 0.78 || 0.74 || 0.68 || 0.66 || 0.58
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 6,585 kgf (0 km/h) || 15,990 kgf (1,250 km/h)
| 1.17 || 1.14 || 1.07 || 0.98 || 0.96 || 0.84
|-
|}

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

The JA37C, being primarily a fighter-interceptor, is not equipped with any armour plating. Fuel tanks comprise much of the fuselage and wing area, and a fire will usually mean death. The elevons on the wing handle both elevator pitch and roll, so losing even 1 will make the plane nearly uncontrollable. Avoid damage at all costs, as even a damaged non-critical component will likely cause drag, making flight performance worse. As with most top tier fighters, it becomes much more challenging to fly with even a slight amount of damage compared to lower tier planes.

=== 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}} || {{Cross}} || {{Cross}}
|-
|}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|Akan m/75 (30 mm)}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 1 x 30 mm Akan m/75 cannon, belly-mounted (150 rpg)
** 1 x 30 mm Akan m/75 cannon (150 rpg) + 48 x countermeasures

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

{{main|RB24|RB24J|RB71|psrak m/70}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x RB24 missiles
* 6 x RB24 missiles
* 6 x RB24J missiles
* 2 x RB71 missiles
* 2 x RB71 missiles + 4 x RB24 missiles
* 2 x RB71 missiles + 4 x RB24J missiles
* 24 x psrak m/70 rockets
* 24 x psrak m/70 rockets + 2 x RB24 missiles
* 24 x psrak m/70 rockets + 2 x RB24J missiles
* 12 x psrak m/70 rockets + 2 x RB71 missiles + 2 x RB24 missiles
* 12 x psrak m/70 rockets + 2 x RB71 missiles + 2 x RB24J missiles

== Usage in battles ==

The Viggen is a simple and effective plane to use in realistic battles. You will notice on take-off it is a bit sluggish and won't accelerate very well, as it is heavy, but once you're above 700 km/h the thrust and aerodynamics help you accelerate better from here. The Viggen performs better compared to most fighters at lower altitudes (3,000 m and below) in terms of manoeuvrability and top speed. Taking advantage of your top speed, Doppler radar and Skyflash missiles, you can be aggressive and hit the battle early and low level to take out any attackers using your Doppler radar.

If you want to be more conservative, you can hang with your team and go around the side. The Viggen is very hard to rip, getting some altitude and coming into the fight at a supersonic dive can be very effective if you maintain your speed trying to find targets for your Skyflash missiles. If in a head-on, the Skylfash can hit targets about 6 km away at sea level if they don't change direction. It is usually very effective and hard to dodge the agile Skyflash if head to head launched at about 3 km. The motor will still be burning and your missile will maintain energy to the target. The Doppler radar will no longer track a target if it starts to turn at a 90 degree angle (this is called beaming). The radar will lose lock and the missile will be unable to track if this happens. If you have enough time, you can potentially switch to the AIM-9J to try to get a lock behind the target from here. In last resort, you can use the gun, basically an Aden, it hits hard but is hard to target with a slower velocity and is placed underneath the fuselage. It is best to give a lot of lead and aim above the target usually within 300 m it is most effective but can hit targets out to 600 m if you can get the nose in the right position.

Though it is pretty manoeuvrable at all speeds, the Viggen won't do well in any dogfight with sustained turns, it will just bleed too much energy and getting slow is the last place for a Viggen. It is heavy, slow to accelerate and a big target. So get fast, and stay fast. 30 minutes of fuel won't last long either with any afterburner in this thing. There is not much difference taking 47/52min (full tank) when your plan is to maintain a high speed and avoid dogfighting.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very fast at sea level, can accelerate up to Mach 1.21.
* Good energy retention if not max performing
* Great agility, responsive elevons and a large rudder at high speeds
* Low stall speed
* Strong firepower: 30 mm gun shreds everything it hits
* Agile RB71 missiles
* Good air-to-air payload with up to 6 missile pylons
* Access to countermeasures
* Easy to land: strong landing gear and access to reverse thrust
* Strong air-to-air radar with access to pulse Doppler tracking

'''Cons:'''

* Very high fuel consumption (especially when using reheat)
* Mediocre acceleration
* Weak airbrakes
* Very sluggish at lower speeds, poor stall control
* Low ammo count and lacks access to tracer munitions
* Unconventional flaps, mostly useful during landings
* Carries only 6 AAMs compared to the phantoms 8

== History ==

'''Background'''

During the 1960s, advances in technology occurred rapidly alongside the aviation industry, paving the way for more complex and capable designs. In order to keep up with the rest of the industry, SAAB had to develop aircraft at a constant pace, often coming up with replacements before the predecessor had even entered service. The SAAB Viggen was sought to be the replacement for the A32A and was being considered as early as 1952. The decision of whether to make a fighter or attacker design continued for years. By the end of the '50s, project 1500 started to show potential, with a delta wing design capable of performing multiple roles through different versions. The wing design would allow for short-distance take-off and landings, following the BAS60 roadbase system requirements. These also included all-weather capability and full coverage of the 2,000 km Swedish coastline.

The 37-1 prototype took to the skies in February of 1967. The design still had to go through extensive modifying before the plane could reach the production line. The canards were angled, the wing adjusted, and the fuselage bent slightly. Much of the unorthodox appearance of the Viggen arrived from the extensive testing done on the first prototypes. When finalized, an order of AJ37 Viggens was handed over to F7 Skaraborg, becoming the first division utilizing the aircraft.

'''JA37'''
[[File:JA37 Prototype.jpg|thumb|333x333px|JA37 Prototype airborne, carrying Rb71 Skyflash missiles.]]
With the Viggen successfully replacing ageing attack and reconnaissance aircraft, the focus shifted towards the replacement of the J35 Draken. This required extensive modifying of the Viggen as a whole, as the requirements for an interceptor wouldn't be met with the powerplant and avionics used in the already existing variants. The project was extensive, redesigning most areas of the plane to fit these specifications. SAAB had to fit an internal gun, an air-to-air radar, and a new flight computer which allowed a real-time data-feed between ground stations and flight groups. One of the more complicated adjustments was the powerplant, where the engineers had to install an additional fan stage. This helped counteract the compressor stall the RM8 engine often experienced at high angles of attack, allowing the JA37 to dogfight more comfortably. These modifications were expensive, exceeding the set budget several times. But SAAB pressed on with the design until the version was fully developed.

The first completed JA37 flew on November 4th, 1977. The first service variants were delivered to F13 Bråvalla in June of 1980, while F17 Blekinge and F21 Luleå received theirs in 1981 and 1982 respectively. The JA37 would go on to be the most produced variant of the Viggen, with 147 aircraft delivered between eight different divisions. The JA37 was highly appreciated by those who flew it, and saw many modifications that extended its lifespan.

'''JA37C'''

As the 80s came to an end, the Viggen platform began to require an overhaul to bring the capabilities closer to that of other countries. The Gripen project was still years away from being completed, so an upgrade program began that would involve all JA37 in continued service being upgraded to the JA37C standard. This package introduced countermeasures, and a new signal processor, allowing the radar to track more efficiently against enemy jamming. The radar could now follow multiple targets simultaneously and also display virtual targets to enhance pilot training. This variant of the JA37 would see use up until the end of the decade, still being a capable platform for its time.

=== [[wt:en/news/7304-development-perfect-interceptor-ja37c-jaktviggen-and-premium-j35a-draken-en|Devblog]] ===
The requirements for a new aircraft with very high performance to replace the SAAB 35 Draken emerged in the early 1960s. In 1962, the design team of the SAAB company prepared a draft design of the SAAB 37 aircraft, built according to an exotic double delta wing. The project seemed interesting for military authorities , and SAAB received funding to fully develop a new fighter in four basic configurations. The last and most advanced version was the SAAB JA37 Jaktviggen fighter-interceptor, the development of which continued until the mid-1970s, which was associated with the improvement of the engine and the development of modern electronic equipment. The first flight of the experimental JA37 interceptor fighter took place in June 1974, and in 1979 the fighter began to be supplied for service. Until 1990, 149 JA37 Jaktviggen units were produced. The specific appearance made the aircraft of the J37 family a "calling card" of the Royal Swedish Air Force for a long time.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=saab_ja37 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hi_oRpH0stM|'''The Shooting Range #271''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 01:07 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== 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/7304-development-perfect-interceptor-ja37c-jaktviggen-and-premium-j35a-draken-en|[Devblog] Perfect interceptor JA37C Jaktviggen and Premium J35A Draken]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/534245-viggen-ja-37/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Saab}}
{{Sweden jet aircraft}}

Phantom FG.1

2022-01-31T01:13:25Z

U116940880: added a con about the gunpod

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', otherwise known as the '''F-4K''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. Like the other British Spey Phantom, the [[Phantom FGR.2]], this Phantom comes with AIM-9Ds, stock RHAW, and two turbofan engines that differentiate it from other [[F-4 Phantom II (Family)|Phantoms]] in the game. This Phantom is the naval variant of the British Phantom FGR.2, and as such has several adaptations for use on the smaller flight decks of British Carriers, including a longer nose wheel, slotted elevators like on the [[F-4E]], larger leading-edge flaps, a tougher undercarriage, Spey 203s with a quicker Afterburner activation time, and a slew of other upgrades that are not modeled in War Thunder, such as a folding nose radome, drooping ailerons to aid in lift, and a different radar to the FGR.2 (AN/AWG-11 as opposed to the AN/AWG-12 in the FGR, and the AN/AWG-10 in the base F-4J model). The FG.1 takes off a good deal faster than the FGR.2 thanks to the more rapid gain of afterburner thrust, higher angle of attack possible due to the extended nose wheel, and the larger flaps.

== 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 10,667 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
| 2,190 || 2,160 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 26.7 || 176.2 || 165.5 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,355 || 2,268 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 246.6 || 210.0
|-
|}

==== 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" | Rolls-Royce Spey 203 || 2
| colspan="2" | 13,705 kg || colspan="3" | 397 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel
|-
| 1,860 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 15,457 kg || 17,177 kg || 18,913 kg || 19,545 kg || 25,400 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
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,110 kgf || 9,014 kgf
| 1.17 || 1.05 || 0.95 || 0.92 || 0.71
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,110 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,311 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.33 || 1.20 || 1.09 || 1.06 || 0.81
|-
|}
The radiator can be manually controlled for increased time with afterburner without the engines overheating.

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


The Phantom FG.1 has no armour protection, the fuel tanks are self-sealing. The crew members are located towards the front of the fuselage, and all the important modules (engines, fuel tanks) are located in the rear of the fuselage. There are also fuel tanks in the wings. These factors make the pilots well protected from the rear, but vulnerable to the front, whereas all important modules are extremely vulnerable from the rear.

* No armour protection
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

"Flares" should be one of your top priorities, as well as the "1000 LB GP" upgrade. These give you a fighting chance against your missile-armed opponents, and the bombs provide a relatively reliable source of RP {{rp}} as you work towards better equipping the aircraft for dogfights later down the line. "Compressor" and "Engine" provide the single largest addition to performance, far more than any of the other upgrades, and should be prioritised. The Airframe and Cover are not priorities, but New Boosters help immensely with taking on trickier opponents. The "Offensive 20mm" and "New 20mm cannon" upgrades are not priorities, as the M61 is more accurate than one would think, and with a cyclic fire rate of 6,000 rounds per minute, belt composition simply does not matter.

== 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|}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** Without offensive armament
** 90 x countermeasures

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

{{main|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|SNEB type 23|M61 (20 mm)}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9G Sidewinder|Skyflash}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, belly-mounted (gunpod) (1,200 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 8 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles

== Usage in battles ==
[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 of 111 Squadron, or "Treble One", patrolling over the North Atlantic.]]

[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 5.png|thumb|533x533px|An [[F-4M|F-4M/FGR.2]] (front) and F-4K/FG.1 (back), both in the post-1983 RAF Medium Sea Grey camouflage scheme, flying above a Norwegian Fjord. While outwardly similar, the two Spey Phantoms perform slightly differently.]]
The F-4K/Phantom FG.1 is the ultimate energy fighter- its advantages over other aircraft are sheer power, roll rate, its ability to climb to high altitudes, and its nearly unparalleled speed and thrust-to-weight ratio down low are only rivaled by the MiG-21SMT. The twin Rolls-Royce Spey 203 engines produce just over 9,000 kgf thrust when you are stationary- that is to say, on the runway- and over 10,000 kgf when you're travelling at near-supersonic speeds.

Side-climb high- around 8,000-9,000 m will do- and attack those beneath you. The Phantom's fantastic climb rate, as well as the FG.1's faster acceleration to maximum speed than any other F-4, including the FGR.2, gives it an excellent climb advantage over any and all opposition up to around 5,000 m (16,500 ft), and with side-climbing can easily manage to get to 10,000 m (33,000 ft) before anybody else can, save for F-4Es. It must be noted however that the Phantom's high-altitude controllability is not very good, and the aircraft flies like a brick above 7,500 m (24,000 ft).

The Phantom also has an RWR that can also differentiate between simple radar pings and a radar lock, which is invaluable in deciding whether one needs to start evasive manoeuvres to try break the lock or whether it is simply a sign of a distant enemy contact. The RWR is particularly useful when "notching" against an enemy Pulse Doppler radar. Use the UI to bring the radar lock warning line to the side of your aircraft (90 degree off the nose/tail). This will place the Phantom in zero relative velocity to the enemy and the ground clutter thus rendering you "invisible" to their radar.

The Ferranti AN/AWG-11 Radar can scan up to 370 km away in a 120 degree arc, but generally you should keep the radar scanning in a 120 degree search pattern for targets at 18.5 km away from you. The radar also has an Air Combat Mode, or ACM mode, that shortens the radar search to an 11-by-11 degree search pattern with a maximum range of 9.25 km. In this mode, it will lock on the first target that it manages to detect and will not stop tracking nor switch to another target until the lock is lost. While unlike other aircraft it does not give you a lead indicator, it is a useful tool for detecting and tracking targets that are not visible due to cloud, distance, or other such factors.

The AIM-9D/Gs do excellently when launched from 2.3-5.5 km (1.5-2.5 miles) away, but not up close. They are superior to the AIM-9E, with 18 Gs of maximum overload as opposed to 10 Gs, but they are still inferior to the [[R-60|R-60/AA-8 Aphid]] (30G) and the [[AIM-9J Sidewinder|AIM-9J]] (20G). However, it is of note that the AIM-9D/G's seeker head is able to lock on and maintain a lock at much longer distances than either missile. It is possible to kill aircraft from 8-10 km away given the right conditions and a bit of luck.

Any British Phantom should not be taken close to the beginning furball. All mentioned facts combined give the image of a long-range missile-hauler with a licence to kill from long range given by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II herself. This is indeed the case. British Phantoms perform admirably in a support role in a furball, killing tailsitting MiGs, Mirages and Phantoms, as well as taking out enemy aircraft who go high to try to attack aircraft with an energy advantage, and enemy aircraft extending away from the furball to make another pass. [[File:Phantom FG1 SC1.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 over El Alamein]]

This, however, does not mean that the Phantom FG.1 cannot handle itself in a dogfight. The FG.1 is more than capable of engaging aircraft up close (between 0-1.5 km away), with a powerful M61 Vulcan. You can easily kill aircraft in a head-on, but that doesn't mean that you should commit and stay there! Always break off if you see enemy tracer, or at the very least when the enemy aircraft is 1 km away, lest you would like your own example of the World's Best Distributor of MiG Parts spread all over the sky. When using the Vulcan, one has two options on how to engage, one of which is more risky than the other, and depends on your aircraft being spaded.

* The first method of engagement is a fairly standard low-risk hit-and-run pass. Approach the enemy, shoot, and break off. There's nothing too special about it, and it relies more on the Phantom's blinding speed to get into the target area, the Vulcan's overwhelming Burst Mass to put at least a few rounds on the target, and then get out of the danger zone as soon as possible lest you become the target of unwanted attention. It requires little in the way of skill and little in the way of performance upgrades, as the FG.1 already has considerable engine power. However, it does not allow for sustained time on target and gives you only a small window of opportunity to make the shot.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 2.png|thumb|Phantom FG.1 above the North Atlantic.]]
* The second method of engagement is much more risky, more rewarding, and requires a fair amount of pilot skill and a fully upgraded plane. In addition, this method is specific to British Phantoms, if not the FG.1 in general, as the FG.1 is the only Phantom which has this type of afterburner performance. Pilots are not recommended to try this in the [[F-4C]], [[F-4E]] or [[F-4EJ]]. Conversely, this tactic works very effectively against turning non-Spey phantoms. This method should not be used above 5,000 m under any circumstances. This method works best while in cloud and with an ACM lock on the enemy. The Phantom has its best roll performance at 700-950 km/h (380-515 kts) and can use its takeoff flaps below 700 km/h without risking them ripping off. You can use the airbrakes to slow the aircraft to the required speed, and then by tapping the flaps from raised to takeoff position, you can turn a little tighter than usual, and then use your outstanding afterburner performance to rapidly regain speed. You can out-accelerate any phantom in-game below 5,000 m, and even from a slower start you can rapidly close the gap. This manoeuvre can also be attempted at an angle to the horizontal, although speed can become a much greater concern (both flap rip speed and stall speeds). While this tactic may at first seem illogical- speed, after all, is the lifeblood of jet battles- the fast afterburner acceleration of the Spey Phantom can often ensure that you do not end up stalling. This tactic is, however, highly situational and requires a fair bit of situational awareness and pilot skill to pull off. Phantom neophytes shouldn't attempt this until they have at least spaded it and grown comfortable with it.

The Astute reader may have noticed that the engagement ranges described leave a "dead zone" between 1.5-2.4 km away from the aircraft. This is correct. Unless the enemy is low, slow, or simply unaware of their surroundings, they can easily dodge the AIM-9D/Gs at this range, and they are too far away for a reliable guns kill. Pilots have two options should they come to this impasse. They can either break off the engagement, extend a little to a more comfortable range (hopefully 3 km) and fire a missile, or head straight at the enemy, casting all pretenses of subtlety to the wind to go for a guns kill with the Vulcan. The choice is up to the pilot to decide.[[File:PHANTOM FG 1 COOL 6.png|thumb|A Phantom FG.1 breaking away to the left while an [[Phantom FGR.2|FGR.2]] presses onwards.|left]]

===Dodging Missiles: The Do's and Don'ts===
The Phantom FG.1 is slightly more manoeuvrable than the FGR.2 due to aerodynamic modifications to allow it to perform better at speeds. This means it has a slightly easier time dodging missiles. However, the easiest to avoid missiles is to not let the enemy get the opportunity to launch them at all. Keep your tail pointed away from enemy radars and the front of enemies. Utilize oblique angles and the Phantom's blinding speed and unrivalled acceleration to get out of missile lock range, and use head-on passes to avoid IRM locks on targets you wish to get gun kills on, before extending out quickly with full afterburner. Do not stay still for prolonged periods of time without checking behind you for tell-tale white streaks or the missile markers. In addition, don't let MiG-21s get close to you. Fly at an oblique angle to them (but keep your tailplane out of clear sight!) until you reach 2.5 km. The R60s, while having a lock range of 3.5 km, have an effective range of around 2.5 km, making them almost useless at longer ranges (unlike the AIM-9D/Gs, which are most effective when at long range, and manoeuvres when seen from a distance mean smaller course corrections). Matra Magics are harder to evade using distance, but a similar rule applies, where having at least 3-5 km between you and the enemy and travelling at an angle that obscures your engines from enemy aircraft helps massively in avoiding missile launches. Manoeuvring and flares should be an absolute last resort. Pre-emptive manoeuvring to deprive the enemy of chances to lock is the first and foremost way to avoid getting blown out of the sky.

If you need to manoeuvre, though, remember to turn off the afterburner. The Afterburner provides a large beacon-like heat signature that any IRM can track with a modicum of ease. Break into a missile while popping flares. Press your flare button at least three times to release a sufficient amount to decoy off the enemy missile.
[[File:Missile Inboard annotated.png|thumb|350px|Breaking into a missile.]]

==== Breaking into a missile ====
This situation assumes that you are in a Phantom FG.1, and have been locked on and launched at by an enemy aircraft from around 1.5-2.4 km with a missile.

# A missile is launched from the left of the Phantom, which is turning to the left. The Phantom pilot sees this, and switches off the afterburner in order to reduce heat signature.
# The missile is closing rapidly and is around 1 km away. The Phantom turns inwards towards the missile to increase the amount of Gs which the missile must pull, while popping flares (6-8) in an attempt to decoy off the missile.
# The missile cannot pull the necessary Gs, and it misses. The Phantom escapes.

If dodging SAMs at low altitude during Ground Battles matches, try to put terrain features such as trees, buildings and cliffs between you and the missile to force the radar to break a lock, and break towards the missile in order to increase the G-force it needs to pull. While you can do this to some extent in Air RB, there aren't often many terrain features to begin with, and missiles are usually IRMs, which means that they don't require the launcher to continuously maintain line-of-sight with the target they launched at. Another method to dodge missiles is a barrel roll while popping flares, executed at the last possible moment, while the missile is below 1 km away. This method, while risky, is sometimes the only way you can evade close-range missiles such as the [[Hunter F.6]]'s [[SRAAM]]s, the [[MiG-21MF (Germany)|MiG-21MF]] and [[MiG-21SMT]]'s [[R-60]]s and the [[Mirage IIIC]]'s [[Matra R550 Magic 1|R550 Magics]], as well as helicopter-mounted IRMs such as the [[9M39 Igla]] on Russian helicopters, the [[AIM-92 Stinger]] on US helicopters, the British [[Starstreak]], and the [[Mistral]] on French, German, and Italian helicopters.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great top speed, one of the fastest aircraft in the game
* Decent instantaneous manoeuvrability for a plane of its size
* Excellent engine performance at low altitude
* Excellent rate of climb
* Excellent energy retention
* Adequate selection of secondary ordnance
* Powerful M61 Vulcan with sufficient ammo can wreak havoc against enemy aircraft
* Access to pulse doppler radar and 4 Skyflash missiles, making it the second best high-altitude heavy fighter (the best being the F-4EJ KAI)
* Access to AIM-9Gs, great when engaging at about 3 km.

'''Cons:'''

* As with most jets, tends to bleed off energy in sustained turns- less so than the other top tiers but still significant enough to be worth mentioning
* Worst sustain turning performance out of any top tier jet
* Large target for cannons
* Limited payload options compared to American Phantoms
* Engines lose their edge higher up compared to US turbojets
* Control authority suffers drastically above ~8,000 m
* Possibility of ripping its wings in turns above 1,000 km/h
* The gunpod produces a noticeable amount of drag

== History ==


===Background===
From the late 1950s onwards the British Government began looking to replace a number of its early second-generation jet aircraft. The RAF was looking to replace the [[Canberra_(Family)|English Electric Canberra]] in the long-range interdictor role, and the [[Hunter_(Family)|Hawker Hunter]] in the close air support role; meanwhile the Royal Navy was looking to replace their de Havilland Sea Vixens in the fleet air defence role<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK">Wikipedia: McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service</ref>. Two aircraft programs were started to produce suitable replacements; the BAC TSR-2 was to be a highly advanced strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Canberra. Meanwhile the Hunter and the Sea Vixen would be replaced by different versions of the P.1154; a Mach 2 capable VTOL aircraft developed from the P.1127 (the predecessor of famous Harrier Jump Jet). The Navy were not entirely happy with the idea of the navalised P.1154, believing that it did not suit their needs; and in 1964 they dropped out of the programme, deciding to purchase the F-4 Phantom from America instead. In the same year a new government was elected and in 1965 cancelled both the TSR-2 and P.1154 programmes on cost grounds, leaving the RAF without its much needed Canberra and Hunter replacements. The Government announced a plan to purchase the F-111K from America to replace the TSR-2 program (the F-111K would also eventually be cancelled on grounds of cost), while the Hunter would be replaced by F-4 Phantoms from America<ref name="BurkePhantom">Burke 2016</ref>.

===Development===
Both the Royal Navy and RAF were now set to purchase the F-4 Phantom. The RAF could have operated standard F-4 Phantoms (and to some extent would have preferred to)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />, however the aircraft was going to need modifications in order to be able to operate off of the UK's aircraft carriers, which were smaller than the ones Phantoms usually operated from. In a bid to help the British aviation industry (which had been hurt by a number of cancelled programmes), and make the aircraft suitable for use by the Royal Navy it was agreed that all UK Phantoms would be significantly modified, by British companies, from their US counterparts. The most notable change would be the replacement of the American J79 turbojet engines with larger and more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans; a modified rear fuselage to accommodate the new engines would also be built by BAC, and the aircraft's radar system would be built under license by Ferranti<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

It was decided that the UK Phantoms would be based off of the F-4J, which was then the primary version in service with the US Navy at the time<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. As the RAF and Royal Navy had differing requirements it was decided that two variants of the UK Phantom would be designed: the first variant, for the Royal Navy, would be designated F-4K or Phantom FG.1; while the RAF variant would be developed from the navy variant and be designated F-4M or Phantom FGR.2. Work began on modifying the F-4J to meet the Royal Navy's needs; the nose radome had to be made to hinge 180 degreed, to allow the Phantom fit on the smaller deck elevators of British carriers, and a telescopic nose gear was installed to allow the aircraft to sit pitched nose-up on the flight deck (by up to 11°), reducing take-off distance<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The new engines were installed at a slight downwards angle to further increase take-off performance and the rear fuselage to be redesigned to both accommodate the new engines and cope with the increased heat they produced; the air intakes also had to be made larger, and additional intake doors added in the fuselage to provide the Speys with the airflow they required<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. Many other small changes were also made to UK Phantoms. The first F-4K prototype flew on 27 June 1966, with the First F-4M prototype flying on 17 February 1967.

===Service===
The first F-4Ks were delivered in April 1968 and were designated Phantom FG.1, early the following year they began test flights from HMS Eagle and the USS Saratoga. During the testing the intense heat produced by the downward-angled Spey engines, while the afterburner was engaged, caused the flight deck plating of the USS Saratoga to buckle<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. On-board HMS Eagle heavy-duty steel plating had to be welded to the flight deck; and be cooled using water from the ship's fire hoses between flights, in order to stop it from melting<ref name="SearlesPhantom">Searles n.d.</ref>. When the HMS Ark Royal was upgraded to operate Phantoms it had to have water-cooled blast deflectors and decking installed to prevent the Phantom's engines from damaging the flight deck <ref name="BurkePhantom" />. HMS Ark Royal had finished its refit in 1970, by which point the refit of HMS Eagle had been cancelled, along with plans to build two additional aircraft carriers. With the Navy now only having one carrier capable of operating Phantoms it was decided to reduce the Navy's Phantom fleet down to 28 aircraft, with the other 20 FG.1s being transferred to the RAF. The remaining Royal Navy Phantoms would serve on the HMS Ark Royal (R09) until her retirement.

The first F-4Ms entered RAF service in May 1969, filling the role of tactical strike aircraft; they were given the designation Phantom FGR.2 (with FGR standing for Fighter/Ground attack/Reconnaissance). The RAF's Phantom FGR.2 was overall very similar to the Navy's FG.1 variant, but had a number of changes; they used a slightly different version of Spey engines (the FG.1 had faster afterburner engagement to aid with aborted landings on aircraft carriers), and naval features like the telescopic nose gear, slotted tail, and cockpit-controlled wing folding were dropped. The FGR.2 also had different avionics, the radar was slightly different and additional functionality such as an inertial navigation / attack system was added, as well as modification needed to allow the FGR.2 to use a gun pod and reconnaissance pod, among other changes<ref name="GledhillPhantom">Gledhill 2017</ref>. Both the FGR.2 and FG.1 would later be modified with squared off tails, holding a radar warning receiver.

The Phantom FG.1s were withdrawn from Royal Navy service in 1978, with the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal, and were transferred to the RAF to serve in air defence roles. The Phantom FG.1 was not originally equipped to carry a gun pod while in Royal Navy service, following their transfer to RAF service they were modified in order to carry the SUU-23/A 20 mm gun pod (the same one used by the RAF Phantom FGR.2s). The Phantoms were replaced in Navy service by the Harrier Jump Jet, which was able to operate from the Navy's new Invincible-class aircraft carriers (which were smaller than the HMS Ark Royal).

Following the Falklands War in 1982 the UK deployed a Squadron of FGR.2s to defend the Falkland Islands from any future attack; however this left a gap in the Air defence of the UK Mainland. It was decided to purchase 15 more F-4Js from America to fill this gap. The F4-Js were upgraded to F-4S standard and entered service with the RAF on 19 October 1984 under the designation Phantom F.3 or F-4J(UK)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. The Phantom remained the UK's primary Air defence aircraft until it was gradually replaced by the Panavia Tornado; the last FG.1s retired on 30 January 1990, the last F.3s retired on 31 January 1991, and the FGR.2 left RAF service on 1 November 1992. The FGR.2 was due to retire earlier however just before retirement it was called back into service to defend RAF Akrotiri, on Cyprus, during the First Gulf War<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

A total of 48 Phantom FG.1s, 118 Phantom FGR.2s and 15 Phantom F.3s were built<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

===Further development plans===
Prior to the Phantom's retirement from RAF service there had been a plan to retrofit them with an upgraded version of the Spey engine. A program was started to design the new engines; they would have various improvements, the most notable of which being new turbine blades, reportedly manufactured from a single metal crystal<ref name="ThrustSSC">SSC Programme Ltd 1997</ref>. These blades would increase the operating life of the engines under normal conditions, but also give the option of operating the engines at higher temperatures, and thus higher thrust (although this would come at the expense of reduced engine life). These engines were known as Spey 205s and had a maximum thrust of 25,000 lb (11,340 kgf)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, compared to 20,515 lb (9,305 kgf) for the regular Spey engines; although it is unclear if they would be used at this thrust rating while in service. With the Phantom retired the Spey 205 programme was cancelled, and no engines were produced under the Spey 205 name; however 12 Spey 202 engines had been upgraded to Spey 205 standard for testing (and are now generally referred to as Spey 205s, or Spey 202 hybrids)<ref name="BourneSSC">Bourne 1997</ref>. It is known that after the programme was cancelled two of the Spey 205 prototypes, along with two standard Spey 202s were obtained by the ThrustSSC programme (the world's fastest car)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, although reports vary on whether the car was fitted with Spey 202s or 205s when it completed its record-breaking run.

===Comparison with American Phantoms===
The Rolls-Royce Spey engines gave British Phantoms notably different performance to their American counterparts. At low altitude British Phantoms accelerated faster than standard F-4Js and had a higher top speed; it was estimated that they had a 30% shorter take-off distance and a 20% faster climb to altitude<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The Spey turbofan engines were also more fuel efficient than the J-79 turbojets, giving British Phantoms a 10 - 15 % increase in range compared to American aircraft<ref name="GledhillPhantom" />. The main drawback of the British design was that the reshaped fuselage produced more drag than the original design, meaning that at high altitude British Phantoms were slower and performed worse than their American counterparts (British Phantoms topped out at about Mach 1.9 at altitude, while American Phantoms could reach Mach 2.1)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|YTV8OmfpR0Y|'''Phantom FG Mk1 Review So Far''' - ''TWM12''}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

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

== External links ==


* [[Wikipedia:McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service|[Wikipedia] McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service]]
* [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php <nowiki>[Thunder and Lightnings]</nowiki> McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II]

===Citations===
<references />

===Bibliography===

* Bourne, Nigel. (1997). Development of the Rolls-Royce Military Spey Mk202 Engine. Retrieved from [http://www.thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Burke, Damien. (2016). McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II. Retrieved from [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php Thunder and Lightnings]
* Gledhill, David. (2017). Phantom in the Cold War: RAF Wildenrath 1977 - 1992. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation.
* Searles, Dick. (n.d.). HMS Eagle Deck Trials 1969. Retrieved from [https://www.phantomf4k.org/video-library/hms-eagle-deck-trials-1969 Phantom F4K - Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy]
* SSC Programme Ltd. (1997). The Story of the Rolls-Royce Spey. Retrieved from [http://thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Wikipedia. (n.d.). McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service. Retrieved from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service Wikipedia]

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}

Phantom FGR.2

2022-01-31T01:06:45Z

U116940880: change out of date infomation about the tolls royce spey 203 being the most powerful in the game

{{About
| about = jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = F-4 Phantom II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f-4m_fgr2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the '''F-4M''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.93 "Shark Attack"]]. It is a British version of the American F-4 Phantom II.

Although at first glance the F-4M appears very similar to its American counterpart the [[F-4C Phantom II]], there are a number of major visual and performance differences between the two aircraft. Phantoms produced for the RAF were redesigned to use British Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan engines, instead of the General Electric J79 turbojet engines found on American Phantoms. The British engines produced more thrust than the American engines, but were larger; as a result, the fuselage of British Phantoms was modified to be slightly wider than on the American models. In addition, the Phantom FGR.2 has larger air intakes than the F-4C, in order to allow for the increased airflow required by the new engines. The rear of the Fuselage is also significantly different on the Phantom FGR.2; the engines are noticeably angled downwards, and due to the different afterburner arrangement on the Spey engines the exhaust ports and the surrounding area were redesigned. Most distinctively, the Phantom FGR.2 has a squared-off tail and lacks the under-nose probe of the F-4C.

In-game these changes mean that the Phantom FGR.2 has much better low altitude acceleration and climb rate, compared to the [[F-4C]], as a result of the more powerful engines. In games you will usually see the Phantom FGR.2s get off the ground and to altitude quicker than the F-4Cs; however due to the increased drag of the redesigned fuselage, and the performance characteristics of the Spey engines, it does not perform quite as well as the F-4C at high altitude, and cannot reach the same maximum speed.

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

[[File:FGR.2 fenris 001.jpg|400px|thumb|right|]]
The Phantom FGR.2 is a large and heavy aircraft (more than twice the weight of a MiG-21), but there are times when you would hardly know it. The Phantom's two Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans are one of the most powerful jet engines in the game and give it an incredible thrust to weight ratio, leading to the Phantom FGR.2 being the fastest accelerating, and flat out fastest aircraft in the game at low altitude, while also being a strong contender for the fastest climbing. On take-off even stock FGR.2s will be the first aircraft to get off the ground and make it top the end of the runway (usually be a decent margin); while in terms of flat out speed a fully upgraded FGR.2 will push Mach 1.22 along the deck, a good bit faster than any other aircraft. The Phantom also climbs incredibly well, when loaded with 20m of fuel, missiles and a gun pod it can accelerate past Mach 1 in a 20° climb and even gain speed in a 50° climb (until it reaches about 2,000 m altitude); only few aircraft make it to altitude as fast as / faster than the FGR.2.

While the Phantom FGR.2 is certainly not the most manoeuvrable fighter in the game it can prove to be more agile than you would expect at low altitude. While you shouldn't be getting into full blown turn fights the Phantom handles very nicely when down low and can pull some manoeuvres with surprisingly little speed loss (mainly thanks to the amount of engine power you have).

Where the Phantom FGR.2 suffers is at higher altitudes, the Spey engines perform worse at altitude and the structural changes to accommodate them caused increased drag; this makes it slower than the American [[F-4C]]. At high altitude the FGR.2 loses the agility it had at lower altitude, and generally does not handle as nice. While it is still flyable evasive manoeuvres become harder and the turn radius is much larger.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,667 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
| 2,189 || 2,146 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.5 || 26.7 || 176.0 || 165.3 || rowspan="2" | 850
|-
! Upgraded
| 2,355 || 2,268 || 25.5 || 26.0 || 246.9 || 210.0
|-
|}

==== 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 || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ 
|-
|}
[[File:FGR2 full ordnance.jpg|thumb|400x400px|Phantom FGR.2 with multi-role ordnance]]
{| 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" | Rolls-Royce Spey 203 || 2
| colspan="2" | 13,645 kg || colspan="3" | 396 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel
|-
| 1,860 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan
| 15,397 kg || 17,124 kg || 18,863 kg || 19,485 kg || 25,400 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
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 5,120 kgf || 9,031 kgf
| 1.17 || 1.05 || 0.96 || 0.93 || 0.71
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 5,120 kgf (0 km/h) || 10,331 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 1.34 || 1.21 || 1.10 || 1.06 || 0.81
|-
|}

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

Much like the older [[F-4C]] variant, the British {{PAGENAME}} is without any armour protection whatsoever - the weight savings allow the aircraft to take on more fuel or ordnance while utilising speed as its best defence. This fighter packs numerous fuel tanks, while some are located in the leading edges of the wings, the majority of the fuel tanks are located within the fuselage packed around the engines and behind the cockpit. The control lines for the {{PAGENAME}} run from the cockpit down the length of the upper fuselage to the tailplane, relatively exposed to enemy gunfire.

Fighters attempting to take down a {{PAGENAME}} should try to force it to bleed its energy in a turn with missiles - a slow Phantom is a vulnerable Phantom. Autocannons and missiles will be most effective for disabling or destroying critical components, but smaller rockets such as [[M/55]], [[SNEB Type 23]] or [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] unguided rockets fired in salvos during a head-on engagement may cause enough of a scattered grouping that a {{PAGENAME}} may not be able to avoid them all and fly into at least one.

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

The order in which modifications are unlocked on the Phantom FGR.2 will depend to some extent on how one would like to play the aircraft. The [[AIM-9D]] missiles are among the best available to top tier jets, and so most fans of missile combat will likely want to unlock them as soon as possible. If missiles are not desired then it may be wise to instead focus on unlocking the 20 mm belts and new 20 mm cannon modification, to make the spread of the gun less extreme and more usable; and if one plans to use it as a ground attacker, then the ordnance options are the obvious choice (although the FGR.2 does not excel in this role to the same extent as its American counterpart). When equipped with its 8 x 1,000 lb bombs the FGR.2 becomes highly potent bomber; using its low altitude performance to get to enemy bases incredibly quickly, it is possible to unlock the bombs and use this tactic to speed up unlocking other modifications, although the FGR.2 is a capable fighter when stock so this is not a necessity.

Even when stock the Phantom FGR.2 is just about the best-performing aircraft in the game at low altitude; with this in mind flight performance upgrades are not as much of a priority as on other aircraft, so weapons upgrades can be prioritised. When unlocking flight performance upgrades one may wish to focus on engine upgrades to further improve the FGR.2's incredible acceleration and climbing performance.

;Possible modifications to prioritise (depending on playstyle of the pilot)

* Powerful missiles: AIM-9D, AIM-9G, AIM-7E, and Skyflash modifications
* Ammunition variety: Offensive 20 mm modification
* Ground attack: 1,000 LB GP modification for larger bombs followed up with Matra SNEB modification for unguided rockets

== 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|}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** Without offensive armament
** 90 x countermeasures

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

{{main|G.P. Mk.I (1,000 lb)|SNEB type 23|M61 (20 mm)}}
{{main|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9G Sidewinder|Skyflash}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, belly-mounted (gunpod) (1,200 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 8 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x AIM-7E Sparrow missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 108 x SNEB type 23 rockets
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles
* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon + 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles + 4 x 1,000 lb G.P. Mk.I bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 4 x Skyflash missiles + 4 x AIM-9G Sidewinder missiles

Like the [[F-4C]], the Phantom FGR.2 lacks any internal guns; instead relying on an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, mounted centrally under the fuselage. The cannon is angled downwards at about 1°, coupled with the position of the gun under aircraft this makes aiming slightly more difficult than on other aircraft; the gun also has a wide bullet spread. A benefit of the rotary cannon is that it can fire all 1,200 rounds of ammo before it can overheat and jam. Unlike the F-4C the Phantom FGR.2 can only carry a single gunpod.

In terms of other suspended weaponry, the Phantom FGR.2 falls far behind the F-4C. It has a more limited choice of bombs, carries fewer rockets and cannot carry Bullpup air to ground missiles.

In terms of air to air missiles, the Phantom FGR.2 can carry up to four IR missiles (AIM-9D/G), in conjunction with four SARH missiles (AIM-7E/Skyflash). Compared to analogues such as the [[AIM-9J]], AIM-9D and G have much longer engine burn times while only slightly sacrificing flight performance characteristics. Notably, the AIM-9G can be slaved to a radar lock, and has no G-load limit when launching, allowing for a very versatile and powerful medium-range missile.

The AIM-7E Sparrow is radar-guided which means it uses semi-active radar homing to find and track the target. It can pull up to 15 G but it is recommended for longer range engagements, e.g lock a target and fire from up to around 8 km away, because the Sparrow is all-aspect and pilots without RWR (radar warning receiver) will not know it is even coming if they are not situationally aware. This means that you can launch Sparrows at people who will never even see the missile coming. Although good for medium to longer range engagements, the Sparrow is not very good at making sudden changes to its flightpath and it takes a while to start tracking opponents. This is somewhat mitigated by the improved G-overload of the Skyflash missiles, however you are better off switching to your infrared homing missiles (using the [[Weapons selector|weapon cycle function]]) if it becomes a closer-range rear-aspect engagement.

== Usage in battles ==


The thing which sets the Phantom FGR.2 apart from other jets is the sheer power of its engines (the most powerful in the game); this gives it incredible speed, acceleration and climb rate, especially at low altitude. The engines are however very fuel hungry, leading to a decision needing to be made about the fuel load you take. It may be tempting to take the 7 minute load to maximise flight performance, although this is ill advised as this will only give you a little over three minutes of flight time when using the afterburner, even if you only use the afterburner sparingly the 7 minutes fuel load will still limit your endurance quite significantly, and can often lead to you having to return to base sooner than you would want to. It is usually best to pick 20 minutes of fuel; this should give adequate endurance for the majority of games, and although the aircraft feels noticeably heavier than with 7 minutes of fuel it still performs incredibly well.

There are two main schools of thought on how to fly the Phantom FGR.2 to best make use of its advantages. One is to start the game by climbing to high altitude, and the other is to maintain low altitude throughout the game. Most games will use a mixture of both tactics i.e. starting the game by climbing high to get long range missile kills, then dropping down to low altitude to make use of your best-in-class low altitude performance.

; Start by climbing

The Phantom FGR.2 is one of the best climbing aircraft in the game; some players prefer to use this to their advantage and get to altitude at the start of the game in order to be above the vast majority of enemy aircraft. When choosing to play this way a good climbing technique is to take off on full afterburner straight into either a 20° or a 30° climb, depending on if you value speed or altitude more. A spaded Phantom FGR.2 with 20m of fuel the cannon pod and 4x [[AIM-9G]] and 4x [[Skyflash]] (the recommended load-out for most players) will accelerate to > Mach 1 in a 20° climb and reach 5,000 m about 1 minute 10 seconds after leaving the ground; by comparison in 30° climb it will reach 5,000 m in about 55 seconds after leaving the ground, albeit travelling at only Mach 0.8. The choice of which climb profile to follow (or make your own) is up to you; 30° will get you to altitude quicker and in less horizontal distance, but at the expense of speed; on larger maps you may wish to take the 20° to get to the battle area quicker, it depend on your playstyle; there are also other situations where having more speed once you get to altitude is desirable.

Everything varies depending on your playstyle and the situation in battle, but as a rough guide if you want to learn the climbing play style: it is advisable to climb to an altitude between 6,000 m and 10,000 m. At these altitudes the Phantom has a lot worse handling than it does at low level: evasive manoeuvres are harder and the turning radius is greatly increased. However, such high altitudes altitude are ideal for scoring long range kills with the Skyflash in a merge, or with the AIM-9G in a chase. The radar can help spot targets, however, continue looking for silhouettes as the radar will only pick up targets from the horizontal up to 9 degrees, and within 60 degrees left or right.

The Skyflash is a lethal SARH missile, combining the long range capabilities of the original AIM-7E Sparrow with a 25G overload compared to the previous AIM-7E's 10G. These missiles can be launched at over 15 km where the missile marker may not be visible, or within 7 km to limit the target's time to react. At high altitude, the Skyflash effectively cannot be dodged within 4 km. After launch, keep the target within the gimbal limits of the radar and the Skyflash will always hit the locked target if they do not take action in time.

Along with the Skyflash, the FGR.2's pulse doppler (PD) radar effectively grants immunity against chaff in a merge. The only way to break the FGR.2's PD lock is to 'notch' (turn perpendicular to the lock), or turn cold and run away. As mentioned above, while waiting to launch the Skyflash at dangerously close ranges is certainly risky, doing so will almost always guarantee a kill at high altitudes.

Comparing the 2 western top tier IR missiles - the AIM-9G and AIM-9J - the AIM-9G slightly falls behind in track rate, manoeuvrability, and seeker sensitivity. However, it makes up for these downsides with a 6-second rocket burn time, the removal of a G limit on launch, and a massive 30 degree acquisition envelope. This Sidewinder is effective up to 4 km at high altitudes. The greater the distance on launch, the less likely the enemy is to notice the incoming missile. In diving attacks on low-flying enemies, the best targets are those directly below and flying away in the same direction to maximise the chance of maintaining the IR lock. The AIM-9G has a tendency to lose lock when perpendicular to the heat source, which makes attacking manoeuvring targets unideal regardless of altitude. The massive engagement envelope and the lack of a G limit on launch allows the pilot to lead the AIM-9G up to 30 degrees while pulling manoeuvres that would prevent an AIM-9J from leaving its pylon.

; Staying low

[[File:R-60 Dodge Phantom PoV.mp4|thumb|right|Dodging an R-60 in the Phantom FGR.2 (Phantom player view)]]
[[File:R-60 Dodge Missile PoV.mp4|thumb|right|Dodging an R-60 in the Phantom FGR.2 (Missile view)]]
At high altitudes the Phantom becomes much less manoeuvrable, and to some extent loses its raw performance advantage compared to other top tier jets. Therefore, you may alternatively learn how to best use the Phantom at lower altitudes where controls are more responsive and its acceleration and speed dominate the competition. All missiles have a reduced effective range (by a factor of ~1/3) due to denser air and the greater probability of the target evading missiles. Skyflashes will only be effective within 3 km in headons only, and AIM-9Gs within 2 km in subsonic pursuits. Holding on to any energy is crucial as it keeps open the option to disengage when needed. Phantoms have a few last-ditch tricks to shake off a pursuer closing the distance, however, the manoeuvre must be timed and executed perfectly or it will result in your death. The 20 mm M61 Vulcan is the ideal weapon for these knife fights, sporting a 6,000 rpm rate of fire and a 1,050 m/s muzzle velocity. The stock Vulcan is accurate enough even for high deflection shots at 1 km, and spraying a barrage of 20 mm at the enemy's cockpit in a head-on is more likely to cripple the enemy in several components (pilot, radar, wing roots, tail, even the engines) than a laser beam. While the HEF-I rounds in the Air Targets belt is enticing, the best belt against enemy aircraft is the Ground Targets belt. API rounds tends to ignite enemy aircraft more than HEF-I, and as an added bonus, leftover ammo can be used to attack ground targets after the furball ends. The default belts may be used instead to save on Silver Lions, as both the default and Ground Targets belts perform exceptionally well against aircraft and ground targets. Even though most air-to-air kills will be achieved with missiles, it is imperative to regularly practice marksmanship with the Vulcan or you will end up in a similar situation to the early Phantoms in Vietnam.
On a side note, it is highly advisable to fight at low altitude until countermeasures have been unlocked.

In theory, the ideal playstyle for the Phantom is to combine the best of both worlds: secure air superiority at high altitude then fight downwards. Principled Phantom pilots typically climb to high altitude to use their SARH missiles and make diving attacks with Sidewinders, whereas modern pilots tend to rush in at low altitude and get into the action in the shortest time.
You will develop your own tactics, but a good place to start is by sideclimbing to ~3,000 m, then fly to the side of the combat area and flank your enemies from behind. Use missiles to engage farther targets and use the Vulcan at close range. Engage a target a high speed, then break away and gain sufficient separation before turning around for another pass. Your aircraft handles at its best below ~3,000 m at Mach ~0.9. You can hold your speed well in turns (mainly down to the incredibly powerful engines), but the Phantom is still far from the most manoeuvrable aircraft, so turning engagements should be avoided. MiGs will often try to pull you into vertical manoeuvres, your engines do have enough thrust to let you attempt to follow them if you really need to, but it is seldom recommended as you will not usually be able to get guns or missiles on the MiG and it will leave you vulnerable to attack from other aircraft. If you notice your target begin pulling a manoeuvre you cannot follow, lightly turn the opposite direction to maximise separation rate.

When partaking in the low altitude brawl you need to maintain good situational awareness. You can outrun any other jet in a straight line, but if you get caught up in a dogfight all it takes is one MiG-21 with [[R-60|R-60s]] slotting onto your tail to ruin your day. The MiG-21s equipped with [[R-60|R-60s]] are probably your biggest threat, but they can be managed. The R-60 will rarely hit you if it is fired from more than 2 - 2.5 km away; if one is fired at you from within 2 km then you will not always be able to dodge it depending on the situation, but there are techniques you can use to significantly increase your chances. The first technique is to turn one way when the missile is launched, then roll and pull the aircraft downwards when you see it pulling lead on you. However, this method will not work if you are flying at treetop level with no room to descend. If you do not have flares, you must stay above 1,000 m for safety. Alternatively, R-60s and many other IR missiles are easily decoyed by deploying flares with a moderate turn.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:FGR.2 fenris 003.png |400px|thumb|right|]]

'''Pros:'''

* Very powerful Spey engines make the FGR.2 one of the best jets in top speed, acceleration, climb rate, energy retention
* [[AIM-9D]] and [[AIM-9G Sidewinder|AIM-9G]] have significantly longer range than other NATO IR missiles and have no G limit restrictions on launch
** AIM-9G has a massive 30 degree acquisition envelope
* Carries Skyflash SARH missile
* Multi-role capabilities with [[Ballistic Computer|CCIP and CCRP]] and various ground attack ordinance
* Can carry a total of 90 countermeasures
* Has radar warning receiver
* M61 in a belly-suspended gunpod sporting excellent ballistics, fire rate, and ammo capacity
* Has tail hook for carrier landings
* Has drag chute to reduce landing distance and time
* Has pulse doppler radar, granting some chaff immunity and enabling SARH missiles to be used at low altitude
* AIM-9Ds are very good for a stock missile
* Lack of Agile Eagle slats further improves energy retention (compared to the F-4E)

'''Cons:'''

* Poor turn rate even compared to other Phantoms, especially the [[F-4E]]
* M61 gunpod adds significant amount of drag, missiles-only loadout is inadequate for high aspect attacks
* Difficult to land on carriers
* Spey engines produce less thrust than J79-GE-17 engines at very high altitudes
* Has limited ground attack loadouts compared to other Phantoms

== History ==


===Background===
From the late 1950s onwards the British Government began looking to replace a number of its early second-generation jet aircraft. The RAF was looking to replace the [[Canberra_(Family)|English Electric Canberra]] in the long-range interdictor role, and the [[Hunter_(Family)|Hawker Hunter]] in the close air support role; meanwhile the Royal Navy was looking to replace their de Havilland Sea Vixens in the fleet air defence role<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK">Wikipedia: McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service</ref>. Two aircraft programs were started to produce suitable replacements; the BAC TSR-2 was to be a highly advanced strike and reconnaissance aircraft to replace the Canberra. Meanwhile the Hunter and the Sea Vixen would be replaced by different versions of the P.1154; a Mach 2 capable VTOL aircraft developed from the P.1127 (the predecessor of famous Harrier Jump Jet). The Navy were not entirely happy with the idea of the navalised P.1154, believing that it did not suit their needs; and in 1964 they dropped out of the programme, deciding to purchase the F-4 Phantom from America instead. In the same year a new government was elected and in 1965 cancelled both the TSR-2 and P.1154 programmes on cost grounds, leaving the RAF without its much needed Canberra and Hunter replacements. The Government announced a plan to purchase the F-111K from America to replace the TSR-2 program (the F-111K would also eventually be cancelled on grounds of cost), while the Hunter would be replaced by F-4 Phantoms from America<ref name="BurkePhantom">Burke 2016</ref>.

===Development===
Both the Royal Navy and RAF were now set to purchase the F-4 Phantom. The RAF could have operated standard F-4 Phantoms (and to some extent would have preferred to)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />, however the aircraft was going to need modifications in order to be able to operate off of the UK's aircraft carriers, which were smaller than the ones Phantoms usually operated from. In a bid to help the British aviation industry (which had been hurt by a number of cancelled programmes), and make the aircraft suitable for use by the Royal Navy it was agreed that all UK Phantoms would be significantly modified, by British companies, from their US counterparts. The most notable change would be the replacement of the American J79 turbojet engines with larger and more powerful Rolls-Royce Spey turbofans; a modified rear fuselage to accommodate the new engines would also be built by BAC, and the aircraft's radar system would be built under license by Ferranti<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

It was decided that the UK Phantoms would be based off of the F-4J, which was then the primary version in service with the US Navy at the time<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. As the RAF and Royal Navy had differing requirements it was decided that two variants of the UK Phantom would be designed: the first variant, for the Royal Navy, would be designated F-4K or Phantom FG.1; while the RAF variant would be developed from the navy variant and be designated F-4M or Phantom FGR.2. Work began on modifying the F-4J to meet the Royal Navy's needs; the nose radome had to be made to hinge 180 degreed, to allow the Phantom fit on the smaller deck elevators of British carriers, and a telescopic nose gear was installed to allow the aircraft to sit pitched nose-up on the flight deck (by up to 11°), reducing take-off distance<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The new engines were installed at a slight downwards angle to further increase take-off performance and the rear fuselage to be redesigned to both accommodate the new engines and cope with the increased heat they produced; the air intakes also had to be made larger, and additional intake doors added in the fuselage to provide the Speys with the airflow they required<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. Many other small changes were also made to UK Phantoms. The first F-4K prototype flew on 27 June 1966, with the First F-4M prototype flying on 17 February 1967.

===Service===
The first F-4Ks were delivered in April 1968 and were designated Phantom FG.1, early the following year they began test flights from HMS Eagle and the USS Saratoga. During the testing the intense heat produced by the downward-angled Spey engines, while the afterburner was engaged, caused the flight deck plating of the USS Saratoga to buckle<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. On-board HMS Eagle heavy-duty steel plating had to be welded to the flight deck; and be cooled using water from the ship's fire hoses between flights, in order to stop it from melting<ref name="SearlesPhantom">Searles n.d.</ref>. When the HMS Ark Royal was upgraded to operate Phantoms it had to have water-cooled blast deflectors and decking installed to prevent the Phantom's engines from damaging the flight deck <ref name="BurkePhantom" />. HMS Ark Royal had finished its refit in 1970, by which point the refit of HMS Eagle had been cancelled, along with plans to build two additional aircraft carriers. With the Navy now only having one carrier capable of operating Phantoms it was decided to reduce the Navy's Phantom fleet down to 28 aircraft, with the other 20 FG.1s being transferred to the RAF. The remaining Royal Navy Phantoms would serve on the HMS Ark Royal (R09) until her retirement.

The first F-4Ms entered RAF service in May 1969, filling the role of tactical strike aircraft; they were given the designation Phantom FGR.2 (with FGR standing for Fighter/Ground attack/Reconnaissance). The RAF's Phantom FGR.2 was overall very similar to the Navy's FG.1 variant, but had a number of changes; they used a slightly different version of Spey engines (the FG.1 had faster afterburner engagement to aid with aborted landings on aircraft carriers), and naval features like the telescopic nose gear, slotted tail, and cockpit-controlled wing folding were dropped. The FGR.2 also had different avionics, the radar was slightly different and additional functionality such as an inertial navigation / attack system was added, as well as modification needed to allow the FGR.2 to use a gun pod and reconnaissance pod, among other changes<ref name="GledhillPhantom">Gledhill 2017</ref>. Both the FGR.2 and FG.1 would later be modified with squared off tails, holding a radar warning receiver.

In 1970 Phantom FGR.2s were deployed to West Germany to serve the roles of ground attack, interdiction, and reconnaissance; while English Electric Lightnings covered bomber interception. Over the years it was determined that the increased range and weapons payload of the Phantom made it a better fit for defending the UK's airspace, than the Lightning; so from 1974 onwards Phantoms began to be withdrawn from Germany to serve in air defence roles; they were replaced in the Close Air Support role by the SEPECAT Jaguar. The Phantoms took over more and more of the air defence role from the Lightning; however the Lightning would remain in service until 1988 (retiring only a few years before the Phantoms). The Phantom FG.1s were withdrawn from Royal Navy service in 1978, with the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal, and were transferred to the RAF to serve in air defence roles. The Phantoms were replaced in Navy service by the Harrier Jump Jet, which was able to operate from the Navy's new Invincible-class aircraft carriers.

Following the Falklands War in 1982 the UK deployed a Squadron of FGR.2s to defend the Falkland Islands from any future attack; however this left a gap in the Air defence of the UK Mainland. It was decided to purchase 15 more F-4Js from America to fill this gap. The F4-Js were upgraded to F-4S standard and entered service with the RAF on 19 October 1984 under the designation Phantom F.3 or F-4J(UK)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />. The Phantom remained the UK's primary Air defence aircraft until it was gradually replaced by the Panavia Tornado; the last FG.1s retired on 30 January 1990, the last F.3s retired on 31 January 1991, and the FGR.2 left RAF service on 1 November 1992. The FGR.2 was due to retire earlier however just before retirement it was called back into service to defend RAF Akrotiri, on Cyprus, during the First Gulf War<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

A total of 48 Phantom FG.1s, 118 Phantom FGR.2s and 15 Phantom F.3s were built<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />.

===Further development plans===
Prior to the Phantom's retirement from RAF service there had been a plan to retrofit them with an upgraded version of the Spey engine. A program was started to design the new engines; they would have various improvements, the most notable of which being new turbine blades, reportedly manufactured from a single metal crystal<ref name="ThrustSSC">SSC Programme Ltd 1997</ref>. These blades would increase the operating life of the engines under normal conditions, but also give the option of operating the engines at higher temperatures, and thus higher thrust (although this would come at the expense of reduced engine life). These engines were known as Spey 205s and had a maximum thrust of 25,000 lb (11,340 kgf)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, compared to 20,515 lb (9,305 kgf) for the regular Spey engines; although it is unclear if they would be used at this thrust rating while in service. With the Phantom retired the Spey 205 programme was cancelled, and no engines were produced under the Spey 205 name; however 12 Spey 202 engines had been upgraded to Spey 205 standard for testing (and are now generally referred to as Spey 205s, or Spey 202 hybrids)<ref name="BourneSSC">Bourne 1997</ref>. It is known that after the programme was cancelled two of the Spey 205 prototypes, along with two standard Spey 202s were obtained by the ThrustSSC programme (the world's fastest car)<ref name="ThrustSSC" />, although reports vary on whether the car was fitted with Spey 202s or 205s when it completed its record-breaking run.

===Comparison with American Phantoms===
The Rolls-Royce Spey engines gave British Phantoms notably different performance to their American counterparts. At low altitude British Phantoms accelerated faster than standard F-4Js and had a higher top speed; it was estimated that they had a 30% shorter take-off distance and a 20% faster climb to altitude<ref name="WikipediaPhantomUK" />. The Spey turbofan engines were also more fuel efficient than the J-79 turbojets, giving British Phantoms a 10 - 15 % increase in range compared to American aircraft<ref name="GledhillPhantom" />. The main drawback of the British design was that the reshaped fuselage produced more drag than the original design, meaning that at high altitude British Phantoms were slower and performed worse than their American counterparts (British Phantoms topped out at about Mach 1.9 at altitude, while American Phantoms could reach Mach 2.1)<ref name="BurkePhantom" />.

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|DXovE9BD1a0|'''Should You Buy the Phantom FGR.2''' - ''Sako Sniper''|03iOjLo81uU|'''British Phantom FGR.2 Gameplay review war thunder''' - ''Sgt. Vittie''|nrfff8Y8pK8|'''War thunder Phantom FGR.2''' - ''riko toho''}}

== 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/468663-f-4m-phantom-fgr2/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[Wikipedia:McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service|[Wikipedia<nowiki>]</nowiki> McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service]]

===References===
'''Citations'''
<references />

'''Bibliography'''

* Bourne, Nigel. (1997). Development of the Rolls-Royce Military Spey Mk202 Engine. Retrieved from [http://www.thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Burke, Damien. (2016). McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II. Retrieved from [https://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/phantom/history.php Thunder and Lightnings]
* Gledhill, David. (2017). Phantom in the Cold War: RAF Wildenrath 1977 - 1992. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Aviation.
* Searles, Dick. (n.d.). HMS Eagle Deck Trials 1969. Retrieved from [https://www.phantomf4k.org/video-library/hms-eagle-deck-trials-1969 Phantom F4K - Fleet Air Arm Royal Navy]
* SSC Programme Ltd. (1997). The Story of the Rolls-Royce Spey. Retrieved from [http://thrustssc.com/ ThrustSSC]
* Wikipedia. (n.d.). McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service. Retrieved from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_Phantom_in_UK_service Wikipedia]

{{AirManufacturer McDonnell}}
{{Britain jet aircraft}}

T-90A

2022-01-31T00:58:13Z

U116940880: edited a con for the t90

{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_t_90a
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|T-90A WebsiteImage 1.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "New Power"]].

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


Overall, the armour protection of the T-90A can be considered almost the same as in the [[T-72B3]] and [[T-80U]]. However, despite the hull being exactly the same as the T-72B3 with same thickness, composition, and add-on armour, the turret of the T-90A shows a new turret design which can be considered better due to the armour layout and composition. The T-90A, as the T-72B (1989) and T-72B3, has access to the CONTACT-5 ERA. This ERA (different from Relict and CONTACT-1 seen in other T-72B series) has the particularity that has stopping power against APFSDS (similar to Dorchester). Different from other T-72s, the T-90A has a rolled homogeneous armour turret with spacing for composite armour blocks rather than built-in. Fuel tanks on either side of the driver can soak up some shrapnel and add to the overall survivability although they are most likely to be lit on fire if hit with HEAT-FS or an ATGM. However, as with all Russian autoloaded MBTs, there are only three crew members so a well-placed shot is capable of causing a crew knock-out. Despite having a carousel autoloader which is not protected by any blast shield like on the Leclerc and Type 90 MBTs, it is harder to ammo rack compared to the T-80s especially since the ammo is scattered horizontally on top of each other ("=" in this shape) and not in an L shape (in which charges are vertical and projectiles are horizontal). This reduces the chances of ammo rack compared to the T-80s. However, all side shots on the hull will be lethal regardless of the carousel as said shot will take your two crew members. The ERA offers really good protection against chemical energy penetrators such as HEAT-FS, ATGMs, and anti-tank grenades, having a protection of 420 mm against chemical energy and 120 mm against kinetic energy. This makes the tank capable of withstanding hits of all HEAT-FS of the BR (most of them penetrate between 320 mm to 480 mm) and ATGMs (between 400 mm to 1,000 mm). It should be noted that ERA itself cannot stop all the spalling created by the premature explosion, the armour plating is what stops the spalling in case the ATGM has more penetration than what the ERA can withstand.

==== Shtora-1 Active Protection System ====
The T-90A has access to an infrared jammer, the Shtora-1 APS. It is a constant APS which provides protection against a wide variety of threats. The scanner-type jamming device (also known as "doom eyes" or "Russian eyes") is mounted on the front of the turret to cover the vulnerable frontal arc. It is called an "infrared countermeasure" because SACLOS guidance utilizes a beam-riding guidance which is connected to the GPS (gunner main sight in some cases, on others it is a different sight like on [[T-55AM-1]] and [[T-62M-1]]) which uses a flare as reference point for the guidance system in the ATGM. The missile moves with the gunner's sight and the flare tries to stay on the crosshairs. IRCM confuses the GPS with a brighter IR light decoy acting as the flare (the flare is also IR) which signals the ATGM to move to a different position, overriding the gunner's flare. The Shtora-1 APS has a minimum jamming range of roughly 50 m, meaning it will only deviate ATGMs past 50 m although it depends on the ATGM speed and angle of attack. This is the approximate distance between all ATGMs in-game but it may vary. It will be able to jam a missile launched by a [[Swingfire]] faster due to its launch speed and flight path than an [[M3 Bradley]]. Shtora-1 has a field of view of 360 degrees horizontally (due to being turret mounted) and -5 to +25 degrees in elevation.

Shtora-1 will jam SACLOS missiles including wire-guidance:<div style="column-count:3;-moz-column-count:3;-webkit-column-count:3">
** [[3M7]] ([[IT-1]])
** [[9M17M Falanga]] ([[Mi-4AV]]/[[Mi-24A]])
** [[9M17P Falanga-PV]] ([[Mi-24D (USSR)|Mi-24D]])
** 9M112 ([[T-64B]] / [[T-80B]])
** [[9M113 Konkurs|9M113]] ([[BMP-1]]/[[SPz BMP-1]]/[[BMP-2]])
** [[9M114 Shturm]] ([[Shturm-S]]/Russian helicopters)
** [[9M120 Ataka]] ([[Mi-35M]]/[[Mi-28N]])
** [[9M311]] ([[ZPRK 2S6]])
** [[BGM-71A TOW]]
** [[BGM-71B TOW]]
** [[BGM-71C I-TOW]]
** [[AS.11]]
** [[HOT-1]]
** [[HOT-2 TOW]]
** [[HOT-3]] ([[EC-665 Tiger HAD]]/[[EC-665 Tiger HAP]]/[[EC-665 Tiger UHT]])
** MGM-51B ([[M551 Sheridan|M551]]/[[M60A2]])
** MGM-51C ([[XM-803]]/[[MBT-70]]/[[KPz-70]])
** [[Swingfire]] ([[Swingfire]]/[[Striker]])
** [[MILAN]] ([[Marder A1-]]/[[Ratel 20]]/[[Warrior]])
** [[HJ-73E]] ([[ZBD86]])
** [[Roland]] ([[FlaRakPz 1]]/[[Roland 1]]/[[FlaRakRad]])
** [[VT1]] ([[FlaRakRad]]/[[ItO 90M]])
** ACRA ([[AMX-30 ACRA]])
** [[Rbs 55]] ([[UDES 33]]/[[Pvrbv 551]])
</div>

Laser guided missiles (AGM-114 Hellfire, MIM146 ADATS, etc) will not be jammed by Shtora-1.
[[File:T-90A Shtora NVD.png|left|thumb|303x303px|As seen in picture, Shtora-1 acts like "eyes" which emit IR light aura and beam which can be seen with NVD and act as a spotlight.]]
In order to let the APS work, it must be turned on ("Switch IRCM on/off" keybind). The APS can be destroyed. Shtora-1 can be used while on the move (although turret must be facing the enemy). While on the move (especially horizontally), the jammed ATGM will move in an uncontrolled direction like normal jamming but riskier, keep this in mind as it can hit a track, engine deck or close enough to create fragmentation and mark the tank and/or friendlies. When moving towards an enemy who fired an ATGM, it will be affected by the APS but due to the momentum, the ATGM may still hit if it is redirected towards the ground. Shtora-1 creates a thermal signature which can be seen with thermal sights. It also can also be used as an IR spotlight (as shown in picture). It should be noted that this can be a disadvantage when in night maps as tanks with NVD (except when tanks are using thermal view) will be able to see the light beam. The APS should be turned on and off at commander's discretion. When on day maps, this will not be an issue. Shtora must have a clear line-of-sight with the enemy launcher (at least enemy sights must be able to see the tank). Tanks firing from behind cover like the Swingfire can also be affected by the APS. As long as the enemy is within the jamming arc, the T-90 will be protected against SACLOS ATGMs. Different from [[AMX-30B2 BRENUS]], the T-90A has access to a Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) which lets the commander know when there is a laser aiming at them. The LWR will be triggered by laser rangefinders, laser-guided ATGMs and laser lock-on by helicopters. This is particularly helpful as the commander will know when they are being aimed at and can engage the target with the main gun or jam incoming ATGMs. When facing laser-guided missiles such as AGM-114 Hellfire, the Shtora-1 will not work. However, the LWR will trigger and the commander will be able to pop smoke '''(do not use ESS)''' and disrupt the laser lock-on. This not only works for Hellfires but for PARS 3 LR IR guided AGM (main AGM used by the [[EC-665 Tiger UHT]]) as the smoke disrupts the thermal signature.

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 60 mm (68°) || 80 mm ''Top'' 20 mm ''Bottom'' || 40 mm || 30 - 40 mm
|-
| Turret || 70 mm ''Turret front'' 120 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 70 mm || 70 mm || 45 mm
|-
| Cupola || 100 mm || 100 mm || 100 mm || 45 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:'''

* CONTACT-5: 17 mm High Hardness Rolled Armour
* Shtora-1: 10 mm Structural Steel
* Tracks: 30 mm

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1,550|rbMinHp=884}}

The T-90A has a greater mobility compared to previous T-72 series tanks. However, it lacks speed, manoeuvrability and reverse speed compared to the T-80 series but has a more powerful engine. The T-90A has mediocre speed and overall mobility compared to NATO tanks which is compensated with armour and low profile. With its powerful engine, the T-90A is able to pull and push enemy tanks with ease (winching them is recommended to activate the tank corpse track movement as they will not move if no cable is attached)

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

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

{{main|2A46M-5 (125 mm)}}

The T-90A has access to the 2A46M-5 125 mm smoothbore main gun. This gun is nothing new in the Russian MBT tree and fires the same ammunition as seen in previous models (APFSDS varies from the T-72A to the rest of the T-72 and T-90 tanks). This can be considered as a pro as all rounds have same handling between series, including the 3BM60 (modern round for the T-90A). As all T-72 past T-72A, they are able to fire the 9M119 ATGM from the main gun. However, T-90A has access to the 9M119M1, a modernized 9M119 with a tandem charge with slightly reduced speed.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[2A46M-5 (125 mm)|125 mm 2A46M-5]] || 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" | 43 || rowspan="2" | -4°/+14° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10 || rowspan="2" | 7.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
The T-90A has access to the same ammunition shown in previous T-72s with exception of the 3BM60 and the 3OF26 EDKV (time-fused version of the standard HE shell). All are capable rounds which are not new and have same handling.

''HEAT-FS:''

The 3BK18M is the first round the T-90A has access to, it can be considered a mediocre round as most of the enemies which will be faced will be able to withstand it due to composite armour. However, it is particuallary useful when facing light armoured vehicles which are prompt to overpressure (SPAA, light tanks, etc) and useful when facing enemy helicopters as it has enough explosive mass and flight speed to be competitive as last resort. As a hollow charge, it is prompt to detonate mid air due to trees, bushes and fences. This makes the round difficult to use when in long range engagements as some field elements (forage, objects, etc.) may not be rendered and the round's velocity make aiming harder.

''APFSDS:''

The T-90A has access to 2 types of APFSDS: the 3BM42 and 3BM60. The 3BM42 is a decent round with decent penetration and stopping power. While it lacks penetration to penetrate Leopard 2 tanks upper frontal plate, Leclercs' lower frontal plate or M1A1/2 turret plates, it has enough penetration to hit and cause critical damage in weakspots and side shots. 3BM60 however, different from the 3BM42 seen in previous T-72s, has much more penetration (as seen in table) which can penetrate all tanks from all sides (be aware of Leopard 2 turret wedges and firing at M1A2 turret with an obliquity greater than 45°).

''ATGM:''

The 9M119M1 is a tandem version of the previously seen 9M119 SACLOS ATGM in past T-72's. The main upgrade is the tandem charge, everything else remains practically the same with exception of reduction of flight speed.

''HE:''

The 3OF26 EDKV is the time-fused version of the 3OF26 HE round met in previous T-72s. Fuse is set when laser rangefinding an object. It is pretty much useless against non-lightly armoured vehicles (even 20 mm roofs will stop the spalling if an air explosion is done) but can be devastating against helicopters as there will be no need for direct hit in order to cause critical damage.

{| 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
|-
| 3BK18M || HEATFS || 550 || 550 || 550 || 550 || 550 || 550
|-
| 3OF26 EDKV || HE-TF || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42 || 42
|-
| 3BM42 || APFSDS || 457 || 454 || 445 || 431 || 419 || 406
|-
| 9M119M1 || ATGM (tandem) || 850 || 850 || 850 || 850 || 850 || 850
|-
| 3BM60 || APFSDS || 580 || 576 || 567 || 555 || 543 || 532
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| 3BK18M || HEATFS || 905 || 19 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 2,790 || 65° || 72° || 77°
|-
| 3OF26 EDKV || HE-TF || 850 || 23 || 0 || 0.1 || 5,240 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| 3BM42 || APFSDS || 1,700 || 4.85 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| 9M119M1 || ATGM (tandem) || 400 || 17.2 || 0.4 || 0.01 || 4,720 || 80° || 82° || 90°
|-
| 3BM60 || APFSDS || 1,660 || 5.12 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
|}

==== [[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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''43''' || 40 ''(+3)'' || 37 ''(+6)'' || 22 ''(+21)'' || 0 ''(+43)'' || No
|-
|}

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

{{main|6P49 (12.7 mm)|PKT (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[6P49 (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm 6P49]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 300 (150) || 700 || -4°/+75° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[PKT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm PKT]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 2,000 (250) || 700 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

As a modernized T-72B (originally known as T-72BU), the T-90A has a similar playstyle to its predecessors. Due to reduced mobility (but better than the previous T-72), it cannot perform the exact same tasks as the T-80 series. It has three main playstyles.

===Flanking===
The T-90A performs well as a flanker. The low profile, low engine noise, and strong armour makes this a scary opponent in urban combat. However, it must be said that the T-90A has a horrible reverse speed, meaning there is little to no chances of retreating, each shot must count.

===Sniping===
Sniping is another area in which the T-90A performs well, as it has adequate shell velocity and penetration. The HEAT-FS is not an amazing shell in terms of armour penetration or muzzle velocity, but if a target is hit, it will most likely disable critical components if aimed right. The use of APFSDS is critical in this playstyle as it reduces the chances of missing due to higher velocity and easier aiming due to higher penetration. Due to the low profile nature of the tank with strong armour and additional ERA, the T-90A should attempt to stay hull-down, exposing minimal silhouette. Countering enemy fire is relatively easy due to the strong turret and K5 ERA. The addition of the Shtora-1 APS makes this a hull down monster that cannot be attacked without exposure.

===Frontline support===
This playstyle is very risky, as your slow reverse speed will turn your tank into a coffin, but with access to the 3BM60 shot, it will become more viable. Do not do this alone. Always try to have at least two reliable teammates covering you. Your main goal in this playstyle is to cover offensives, defend and attack bases. Cover weaker tanks by attracting fire and secure base capturers. In this mode, you should not focus on making experience for your own, like capturing bases, but to ensure the achievement of victory. This style will mostly take your tank as sacrifice, unless played very carefully and prudently, but victory multipliers will overcome your losses.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Shtora active protection system prevents otherwise lethal missiles from hitting the tank, ensuring that the tank's reactive armour lasts longer
* Impressive protection thanks to the ERA
* Very strong turret
* Access to the unlockable 3BM60 shell with very good penetration

'''Cons:'''

* Active protection system only covers whatever the turret is facing, meaning that you can still be blindsided by canny missile users
* Worst acceleration and top speed out of all top tier Russian MBTs
* Gun mantlet still a huge, and well known, weak spot
* Cramped interior, easy to one shot
* Gun depression and elevation next to non-existent
* Shtora active protection system doesn't work for MCLOS (manually guided), SACLOS missiles with ECCM and laser-guided missiles

== History ==


=== [[wt:en/news/6931-development-t-90a-boris-the-bullet-dodger-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1989, the Ural Design Bureau of Heavy Engineering developed a prototype of a modernized T-72B tank, designated as "Object 188". The vehicle was a deep modification of the Soviet main battle tank, with a number of modern technical solutions, including a new fire control system, guided weapons, combined protection and a completely innovative electro-optical active protection system. The tank successfully passed tests and was recommended for mass production under the designation T-90; its serial production began in 1992. Meanwhile, the systemic economic crisis in Russia forced the tank builders to stop serial production of the tank. Meanwhile, research and development on a further T-90 modernization continued for the needs of foreign operators, as well as the Russian Army. Soon, when the economic situation in the industry began to improve, the tank builders combined their developments into an upgrade program, the T-90A. Unlike the basic version, the new tank featured a slightly more powerful engine, and a welded turret with improved protection. The main difference is the increased fire potential: a new cannon and a modern fire control system with an advanced thermal imaging sight. The T-90A tank was produced from 2004 to 2011.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=ussr&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=medium_tank&vehicle=ussr_t_90a Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" caption="T-90A Devblog Images" heights="200">
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 003.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 004.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 005.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 006.jpg|
File:T-90A WTWallpaper 007.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|CFmL0qG0bB4|'''The Shooting Range #231''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:28 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== 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 vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6931-development-t-90a-boris-the-bullet-dodger-en|[Devblog] T-90A: Boris the Bullet Dodger]]

{{USSR medium tanks}}
[[Category:ATGM vehicles]]

Challenger 2 TES

2022-01-31T00:46:14Z

U116940880: Added a con about the ERA not working against tandem-charge warheads and added a few full stops

{{About
| about = British medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Challenger 2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=uk_challenger_2_tes
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} British medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Winged Lions"]].

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

The Challenger 2 TES has the armour that would be expected of the name (TES - Theatre Entry Standard). The tank has been updated to meet the modern theatres of war, including streetfighting and more effective chemical munitions and kinetic weapons. The ERA on the sides displays this exact line of thought. The tank now boasts some of the most effective ERA in the game, beating the T-90A's frontal chemical protection by over 500 mm of effective thickness.

Equipped with the iconic jammer plate mounted to the roof, this tank will be easy to spot and identify, so one should take care to cover their weak points with extra care, as many will know where the weaknesses are, and feel pressured to shoot them due to the increased armour elsewhere. The tank retains the same weakspots; the gun mantlet, driver's port and the lower frontal plate, though it is less vulnerable to chemical munitions now. The gun breech will most likely block spalling from any penetrating round, allowing TES players to retreat and repair their breech, should they be far enough away from danger.

When opposing enemy tanks, commanders should attempt to angle their tank slightly, as the composite side screens can take most of the brunt of lower power kinetic rounds (M111, DM33) at an angle. Chemical rounds will also fail to penetrate when hitting any ERA on the side. Angling has the added bonus of making the driver's port less effective as a means of knocking out the tank's crew.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 38-50 mm (56-83°) ''Upper Plate'' 70 mm (31-34°) ''Lower Glacis'' 60 mm (0-80°) ''Driver's Port'' || 25 mm (70°) Top 25 mm ''Middle'' 38 mm ''Bottom'' || 25 mm (32°) || 10-20 mm
|-
| Turret || 38 - 50 mm (56-82°) ''Turret Front'' 30 mm (3-82°) ''Gun Mantlet'' || 20-25 mm (8-10°) || 20 mm (18°) || 10-38 mm
|-
| Cupola || 8 mm (3-78°) || 8 mm (9-60°) || 8 mm (1-80°) || 44-60 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* ''Upper Front Plate'' has additional 6.35 mm external structural steel plate.
* ''Lower Front Plate'' has additional composite with NERA elements, which is very effective against chemical munitions.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Composite Armour
! Front !! Sides
|-
| Hull || '''Upper''' Kinetic: 420-700 mm Chemical: 800-1100 mm '''Lower''' Kinetic: 100-270 mm Chemical: 130-800 mm || '''Ext. Composite Screen with ERA:''' Kinetic: 88 mm Chemical: 1900 mm
|-
| Turret || '''Turret Cheeks''' Kinetic: 440-720 mm Chemical: 780-1000 mm || '''Internal Composite''' Kinetic: 190-740 mm Chemical: 300-1000 mm '''Ext. ERA''': Kinetic: 30 mm Chemical: 222 mm
|-
|}

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

''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.''

{{tankMobility|abMinHp=1886|rbMinHp=1076}}

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

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

{{main|L30A1 (120 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L30A1 (120 mm)|120 mm L30A1]] || 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°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || 29.5 || 40.8 || 49.6 || 54.8 || 58.4 || rowspan="2" | 6.50 || rowspan="2" | 5.75 || rowspan="2" | 5.30 || rowspan="2" | 5.00
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 18.4 || 21.7 || 26.4 || 29.1 || 31.0
|-
|}

==== 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
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS || 396 || 394 || 387 || 376 || 367 || 357
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152 || 152
|-
| L26 || APFSDS || 493 || 491 || 487 || 481 || 474 || 468
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS || 564 || 562 || 557 || 551 || 545 || 538
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Shot L23A1 || APFSDS || 1,535 || 3.89 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| Shell L31A7 || HESH || 670 || 17.1 || 0.1 || 4 || 6,560 || 73° || 77° || 80°
|-
| L26 || APFSDS || 1,650 || 4.1 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 80° || 81°
|-
| L27A1 || APFSDS || 1,650 || 4.1 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 78° || 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)
|-
| L34 || 670 || 17.1 || 20 || 5 || 25 || 50
|-
|}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Full ammo
! 1st rack empty
! 2nd rack empty
! 3rd rack empty
! 4th rack empty
! 5th rack empty
! 6th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''50''' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __ ''(+__)'' || __
|-
|}

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

{{main|L37A2 (7.62 mm)|L94A1 (7.62 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L37A2 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L37A2]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,700 (100) || 650 || -10°/+50° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[L94A1 (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm L94A1]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 2,300 (2,000) || 600 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Impressive chemical protection on the front and sides.
* Maintains the kinetic protection from previous variants, with improvements in places.
* Very accurate L30A1 120 mm gun.
* Fast reload.

'''Cons:'''

* No composite plates behind the ERA panels on the turret sides.
* Heaviest MBT in the game with a very poor hp/ton ratio; very poor acceleration.
* Same ammunition options as the previous Challenger 2s.
* Maintains the same weak spots from previous variants.
* No CITV (Commander Independent Thermal Viewer).
* L27A1 has low penetration compared to other top rank NATO ammunition.
* ERA is useless against tandem-charge warheads.

== History ==

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

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=uk_challenger_2_tes Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== 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 vehicles;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/7438-development-challenger-2-tes-a-new-perspective-en|[Devblog] Challenger 2 TES: a new perspective]]

{{Britain medium tanks}}