War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Tiger II (H) Sla.16

2024-06-16T16:12:05Z

U118268877: /* Counter-tactics */

{{About
| about = German heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = Tiger II (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code = germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_b_tiger_IIh_sla
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
|store = 5185
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' ([[Abbreviations#.28DE.29_Sd.Kfz._Index|Sd.Kfz. Index:]] '''Sd.Kfz. 182''') is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} German heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]].

As part of a purchasable bundle, this variant comes with premium bonuses and the experimental installation of a diesel engine, vastly increasing its mobility. But besides that, the Sla.16 works almost exactly like the regular tech-tree version. It fits very well into the 6.7 line-up and because of its enhanced combat capabilities, can be utilised in battle to great effect.

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


The frontal protection of the Tiger II is average with 150 mm sloped armour, while the 185 mm strong flat turret armour can be penetrated by most tanks at its BR and slightly fewer in a down-tier. Still, a large percentage of the tanks encountered in a typical battle will be able to penetrate the turret frontally. Angling this tank can save both driver and radio operator behind the comparatively thick frontal armour, but only them. Since it would be unwise to angle the turret, it's a matter of luck if the battle ends with the original gunner or the radio operator sitting in the gunner seat.

The side and back armour is weak, only 100 mm at its thickest. Some SPAA at rank IV can penetrate back and sides, so it is advised to always face the enemy to not be forced to go back to the hangar. The Sla.16 is slightly more armoured than its non-premium counterpart, with additional 30 mm thick tracks on the sides on the turret.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=968|rbMinHp=663}}

The top speed on-road is around 42-44 km/h, and the reverse speed is surprisingly good at -11 km/h (RB). These speeds combined with neutral steering mean the {{PAGENAME}} is quite agile despite its heavy tank status. The engine has a lot of horsepower, and climbing hills is surprisingly easy with this variant of the famed King Tiger.

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

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

{{main|KwK43 (88 mm)}}

The main gun of this tank is the long-barreled 88 mm KwK43 cannon, which performs astoundingly well for this BR, offering high muzzle velocity with more than enough post-penetration damage. The muzzle velocity of this gun sits at around 1,000 m/s for APCBC and 1,400 m/s for the APCR round, and also has HEAT shells, making it an exceptional sniper and brawler alike. The APCBC stock shell gets a fair amount of explosive filler with a wide knock-out capability upon penetration. This shell excels in ammo-racking enemy tanks, so aim for ammo stowage on the enemy vehicle. The APCR should only really be used for engagements on enemies you cannot punch through with APCBC alone, since it offers significantly higher penetration at the expense of post-penetration damage, making it a very situational round. The same can be applied to the HEAT shell for long-range, as penetration drop-off does not matter on angled armour layouts, but instead offers poorer penetration values.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK43 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK43]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 70 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.4 || 21.3 || 25.8 || 28.6 || 30.4 || rowspan="2" | 9.75 || rowspan="2" | 8.63 || rowspan="2" | 7.95 || rowspan="2" | 7.50
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 11.3 || 13.3 || 16.1 || 17.9 || 19.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:KwK43 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39/43, PzGr 40/43, Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr.43}}

==== [[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
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''70''' || 65 ''(+5)'' || 59 ''(+11)'' || 48 ''(+22)'' || 37 ''(+33)'' || 30 ''(+40)'' || 23 ''(+47)'' || 12 ''(+58)'' || 1 ''(+69)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_Tiger_II_(H).png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the [[Tiger II (H)]] (identical)]]
Thanks to the ready rack feature found on this tank, the ammo racks found in the back of the turret will always be full of ammo, making it the prime target for enemy tankers who are looking to detonate your ammo rack. Even solid shots like APCR and APDS that commonly pierce your front turret can make their way to the rear of the turret, potentially hitting the ready racks and can cause a critical hit to become a deadly one.

'''Notes:'''

* Recommended ammo load is 23 ''(+47)'' to keep the hull empty and both ready racks full.
* Racks 7 and 8 are ready racks, and take priority in being filled at the beginning of the battle, racks are then filled 6 through 1 in that order.
* Full reload speed will be realized as long as ammo exists in either ready rack. If both ready racks are empty, a penalty to reload speed will occur.
* Simply not firing the main gun when it is loaded will load ammo from racks 1-6 into 8 then 7, as long as there is ammo in racks 1-6. Firing the main gun will interrupt the loading of the ready racks.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 3,000 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
| Pintle || 2,000 (150) || 900 || -10°/+25° || -55°/+160°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Considering most of the players who use this vehicle will be using it in RB/SB, this section will be directed to them. The Tiger II can be used both as a brawler and a sniper. With its excellent 88 mm KwK43 gun and reliable armour layout, the Tiger II can take a fair few shots before getting knocked out. Try not to let your flanks become exposed if playing in urban maps especially. On open maps, you should stick to towns or hills and remain hull down to utilize your thick turret cheeks well. Aim for noticeable weak spots on enemies, ie. lower glacis shots or ammo rack shots will more often than not result in a reliable way to destroy them. The gun has a solid rate of fire, not too slow, so you can follow up with a return shot fairly quickly.

One common mistake many new Tiger II players make is assuming they can waltz down a road towards the enemy thinking they are invincible and will completely dominate them. In reality, they will either die immediately or get 1-2 kills before dying. Instead, try to maintain situational awareness and carefully advance towards the capture zone. Also, constantly make sure you aren't getting flanked. Light tanks especially can be quite annoying when playing the Tiger II so always make sure nobody can get to your side and destroy you.

You will adapt over time and learn where the weak spots of most opposing vehicles. At times, this tank will act more as a support tank when considering the typical opponents will more than likely have stabilizers and sufficient suspension dampening, putting you at a disadvantage if you can't train your gun onto the target first. American heavy tanks such as the [[T29]], [[T34]], [[T32]] and [[M103]] will sometimes give you trouble. The trick to dealing with these tough, heavily armoured foes is to aim for the lower glacis and more specifically towards the left/right of the lower glacis to avoid possible ricochets. When engaging these vehicles, if you are not confident in being able to penetrate on your first shot, try and shoot the gun barrel to prevent your foes from firing back at you. If you mess up the shot and the enemy can shoot you, use the Tiger II Sla.16's good reverse speed and pull out until you have reloaded.

It is best used at mid to long ranges, where its' small weak spots are hardest to hit. It can, however, be put to work on the front lines, protecting medium tanks and tank destroyers - just be aware of your limited mobility, and ensure you have options should you get advanced upon by multiple enemies.

When used as a sniper, it is best that you find a position with a good overview of the battlefield. Keep your tank positioned directly towards the enemy and keep an eye out for any medium tanks trying to flank you (Tiger II has great frontal armour, do not be afraid to use it. However, keep in mind that the lower plate offers less protection and penetrations can easily cause fires due to the positioning of mechanical parts). It is best that you find cover behind a solid object and slightly rotate your vehicle e.g.: rotate your tank about 10-15 degrees from the enemy (your turret too). Positioning, combined with distance, can easily give you effective armour greater than 300 mm. When "sniping" it is best to wait for the enemy to expose their weak points, fire a steady, accurate shot and retreat to a safe position. Wait for your reload to be completed and slowly show your frontal plate (most of the players will engage even though the chances of penetration are low); once the enemy has fired, you can take your time and engage the tank while they reload.

Using the Tiger II to advance and to support the front line can be rather tricky. While this tank offers great firepower and superior frontal armour, you'll notice that it is hard to fight in urban areas. In situations like this, you will quickly realize that the high weight and sheer size of the tank can cause major problems. Almost any tank that is faster will easily outmanoeuvre the Tiger II and destroy it. To avoid this, it is best to stay in the back (not too far from your team), keeping your tank positioned at an angle and using "peek-a-boo" techniques. You should always look for a position that can protect you during the assault of small tanks, such as "U" shaped buildings where you can easily retreat and protect your weak points.

====Counter-tactics====

[[File:Tiger II Shooting Guide.jpg|500px|left|thumb|Colour-frames showing the viability of targets on the Königstiger.]]

A Tiger II is a formidable enemy when it's used correctly by its operator, but it's by no means indestructible under any conditions.

The first thing you want to do is deny the Tiger II of the advantage of its gun by getting as close as possible while keeping clear of its cannon (the closer you get, the better the penetration values for you and the Tiger II) most Tiger II operators will avoid getting flanked at all costs so you might find yourself forced to face one from the front. The biggest weak spot is the lower frontal hull plate, its slopped but only 100 mm thick and behind it lies the transmission that likes to catch fires and create nasty shrapnel when destroyed, the shrapnel will fly inwards and if your shell is large enough they will take out the entire crew. However, this shot will most likely only leave the Tiger II unable to move for a minute and make his operator quite angry (at you) while his gun remains perfectly operational and before you have a chance to reload you will most likely receive a very accurate shot from an irritated Tiger II operator.

The lower frontal plate is a good place to hit but it should be a second option, with this tank, you need to disable that gun as soon as possible, the turret is a very reliable target at close range, even with HEAT ammo you should be able to deliver a shot that will disable its firing capability for long enough for you to reload and shoot again. Using your best AP round for this is recommended since the frontal turret has a fairly thick (but flat) plate if nothing else works try APCR.

Using high calibre HE rounds is also effective. The cupola is probably the best place to hit with a HE shell since the explosion will deflect into the thin upper plate and destroy everything inside. It is not easy to hit, but if you manage to hit the cupola it's very unlikely it survives.

The Tiger II is very vulnerable to "Circling attacks", that means, running around it in circles and harass it with side shots. Its turret can turn quite fast (especially in arcade mode) but most medium tanks are fast enough to outrun it.

If you somehow manage to see an enemy Tiger II from the side, try to land a shot in the middle of the hull, near of the turret (not on the turret, the upper part of the hull), there's a good chance there will be ammo there, and if there isn't, you will either knock out the tank by taking out many crew members or cripple it heavily

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Armed with the powerful 88 mm KwK43 cannon
* The default APCBC round has very high shell velocity, penetration, and damage potential at all ranges
* Optics have magnification levels of 2.5x-5.0x. Really good for close range target acquisition and long range sniping
* 22 shells in the first stage ammo rack, giving this tank an impressive 7.5 seconds reload rate when equipped with an ace crew
* Front armour excels against most kinetic shells, though is lacking against APDS or HEAT shells that may be encountered
* Enemy shells that penetrate the lower plate will likely have all of its damage absorbed by the transmission
* Same small turret as the Tiger II H, but has 30 mm of track armour covering the entire exterior of the turret sides
* Turret front is a small target, and the gun mantlet is large, offering ~340 mm of protection, and angled to an extent that can bounce most rounds
* Armed with 12-rounds, semi-automatic smoke grenade launcher
* Thanks to its diesel engine, this tank has better acceleration and hill-climbing speed than the standard Tiger II (H)
* Though a heavy tank, it is a very fast and highly manoeuvrable when running at full power
* Decent reverse speed. Shoot and scoot tactics are easy to perform

'''Cons:'''

* While being a small target, most enemy tanks can penetrate the weakly armoured turret front
* All 22 rounds in the first stage ammo rack are located in the back of the turret. Shells entering the back of the turret will likely lead to an ammo rack explosion
* Both of the upper hull sides are lined with ammo. Any shells penetrating these areas almost always mean certain death
* The APCR shells are lacklustre and inferior to most of the contemporary US APCR rounds
* Terrible HEAT and HE shells. Load only a handful of HE shells for really soft targets
* Though the transmission will routinely eat enemy shells, that doesn't change the fact that the tank can still be immobilized from both front and rear shots
* Still a heavy tank, most mediums will have no problems catching up/flanking the tank if the player is not paying attention
* The roof mounted MG34 has a high rate of fire, but still only fires 8 mm bullets. Critically damaging enemy planes is unlikely
* The {{PAGENAME}} can frequently face tanks with guns capable of penetrating the armour easily, such as the [[M-51]] with its 400 mm penetrating HEAT shells

== History ==

The Sla.16 diesel engine developed by Simmering-Graz-Pauker from Vienna. With a power output of around 750 hp, it was considerably more powerful than Maybach engine used by the [[Tiger E|Tiger I]], [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]], and [[Panther A|Panther]] tanks that had 690 hp. The Sla.16 was also proposed as the power unit for the infamous super-heavy [[Maus|Maus]] tank. According to various of sources such as ''Military Engineer'' and ''Amazing Porsche and Volkswagen Story'', the engines were tested with positive results. The recommendation was that these diesel engines were to be attached to the heavy tanks and tank destroyers currently in production for increased efficiency of the vehicles. A diesel engine was mounted onto a Tiger II as a prototype built by Nibelungen Werke and went through testing, though results have not been found from this test. Further proposals also wanted the engine to be mounted in the Panther and Jagdtiger vehicles for increased power, but the war's constraint on supplies and Nazi Germany's capitulation resulted in the cancellation of these programs.

== Media ==


;Skins

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

;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|H5no8rcdihw|'''Should You Buy The Tiger II (H) Sla.16?''' - ''Sako Sniper''|N5YJmEcfLxQ|'''The Shooting Range #5''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 03:12 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.}}

== See also ==


* [[Tiger II (H)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/875/|[Devblog] Tiger II Sla.16: the diesel-engined "King Tiger"]]

{{Germany heavy tanks}}
{{Germany premium ground vehicles}}

IL-2-37

2024-06-08T18:37:15Z

U118268877: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = Soviet strike aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = IL-2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=il_2_37_1943
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]].

The IL-2-37 is the slowest of all of the extended-cockpit IL-2 variants (those featuring a gunner). As such, the IL-2-37 should be played as a strike aircraft and only as a strike aircraft. Anything else will get it destroyed very quickly.

The IL-2-37 is meant for swooping down and taking out tanks with its dual 37 mm NS-37 cannons. It does a fairly decent job at doing so, it is recommended to dive at a high angle and shoot the top of the tank to set them on fire or kill the crew.

== 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 1,320 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
| 369 || 353 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 41.3 || 42.6 || 6.2 || 6.1 || rowspan="2" | 550
|-
! Upgraded
| 408 || 391 || 38.7 || 39.8 || 11.2 || 8.6
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 620  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 418 || 270 || ~13 || ~13
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 320 || < 300 || < 370 || > 329
|-
|}

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


* 6 mm Steel plate behind propeller.
* 4 mm Steel plate covering the front fuselage.
* 12 mm Steel plate in air intake.
* 6 mm Steel plates around the oil cooling system.
* 5 mm Steel plates around the fuel tank.
* 6 mm Steel plates surrounding the cockpit.
* 64 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
* 4 mm Steel plate above cockpit fuel tank.
* 12 mm Steel plate separating cockpit and rear gunner.
* 6 mm Steel plate in front of the rear gunner.

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

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

{{main|NS-37 (37 mm)|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 37 mm NS-37 cannons, wing-mounted (56 rpg = 112 total)
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

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

{{main|FAB-50sv (50 kg)|FAB-100sv (100 kg)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (200 kg total)
* 2 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (200 kg total)

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

{{main|Berezin UB (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (150 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

Being a true attacker, it should head straight to its target immediately as the battle starts.

'''Tips for gunners'''

The gunner is extremely powerful and accurate even before upgrades, it is not uncommon to get three or more gunner kills in one game. Take advantage of the fact that many enemies will approach the aircraft from straight behind, so switch to gunner view and just aim for the cockpit of the enemy plane attacking the tail. Use the ''Armoured targets'' belt for the gunner, as they feature a cement-core round capable of penetrating through most bulletproof glass, engine casing, and armour.

'''37 mm's'''

The IL-2-37 comes with a pair of 37 mm guns, each with 56 rounds loaded. In tank battles, dive from above and attack targets through their more vulnerable roof. In air battles, come from the side or back as enemies are usually travelling in a straight line. Set a gun targeting distance of no less than 500 m so the IL-2-37 can pull out of the fray once it passes over. When the enemy is in sights, fire once and see if the shots hit and kill the target. If it doesn't, fire again, and pull out of the engagement if the target was not destroyed in the two volleys. Go around for another pass or focus on a new ground target in the IL-2-37's flight path.

=== 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 || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great at ground striking
* Has dual 37 mm NS-37 cannons on the wings
* Extremely generous ammo count
* One of the most durable single-engine planes in the game
* First Sturmovik model with a rear gunner

'''Cons:'''

* Hard to fly
* Takes skill to fly at low speeds
* Does not want to roll when exceeding 500 km/h (310 mph)
* The armament weight restricts the amount of payload ordnance
* No rocket armament
* Stock aircraft has an abhorrent turning radius
* 37 mm stock cannon repetitive shot spread unreliable

== History ==


Based on the two-seat Il-2, armed with Nudelman-Suranov NS-37 in conformable gun pods under the wings, instead of the 20/23 mm cannons, this version is an attempt to create an anti-tank aircraft, first used in combat during the Battle of Kursk. However, the combat effectiveness was quite low and production of the variant was limited to about 3,500. Moreover, the bomb load was decreased from 600 kg to 200 kg. It was replaced by the conventional Il-2 attackers armed with cassettes with cumulative bomblets.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=il_2_37_1943 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 aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4543-profile-il-2-37-the-sturmovik-tankbuster-en|[Vehicle Profile] IL-2-37 - The Sturmovik Tankbuster]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/234784-ilyushin-il-2m-ns-37/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[wikipedia:Ilyushin_Il-2|[WIkipedia] Ilyushin IL-2]]

{{AirManufacturer Ilyushin}}
{{USSR strike aircraft}}

Tiger H1

2024-04-05T09:48:00Z

U118268877: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = German heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Tiger I (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H1 (Tiger H1)''' is the first (early-production) variant of the [[Tiger I (Family)|Tiger I heavy tank family]], designed and built by Henschel and used by the German Army during World War II. It offered the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the 88 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 tank gun, developed from the 88 mm Flugabwehrkanone (FlaK) 36 anti-aircraft gun. Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were ordered on May 26, 1941, to submit proposals for a 45-ton heavy tank that would be available by June 1942. Porsche developed an improved version of its VK 30.01 (P) prototype (which was originally intended to compete for the Panther contract), while Henschel developed two prototypes: the VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 tank gun and the VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm KwK42 L/70 tank gun. The Henschel VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype was accepted after evaluation, primarily because the Porsche [[VK 45.01 (P)]] prototype design used a petrol-electric transmission system that required large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electrical drivetrain components, a strategic war material of which Germany had limited supplies. Early Tiger H1s with the Krupp-designed turret featured a high commander cupola. Later in the war, the design was modified, resulting in the [[Tiger E]], which had a new dome-shaped cast-armour commander's cupola and a ring installed on the commander's cupola to accommodate the mounting of an anti-aircraft light machine gun. There are additionally five S-Mine dischargers on the hull-roof, three on the left side and two on the right. Two Feifel air cleaner units designed for dusty environments are located on the hull's back. Between August 1942 and August 1944, a total of 1,347 units were constructed. The Tiger I was phased out of production after August 1944 in favour of the [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]].

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the Tiger H1 was the German Army's first truly heavy tank during World War II, due mostly to combat experience against the French and British Matilda heavy tanks, which demonstrated that the German Army needed better armed and armoured tanks. Within 2,500 metres, Tiger H1 had higher penetration than the 75 mm KwK40 L/43 on the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IVs]] but poorer penetration than the 75 mm KwK42 L/70 on the [[Panther tank (Family)|Panthers]]. At longer ranges, the 88 mm KwK36 L/56 performed better in terms of penetration and accuracy. The Tiger H1, capable of fighting any adversary at any range, is a true marvel of German engineering during World War II and will undoubtedly reward players well.

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

[[File:TigerIHTank Armour Angling.png|right|thumbnail|The ideal angling of hull armour on {{PAGENAME}} for maximum effective armour all-around|300px]]
One may feel the need to charge head-on into battle, blaring that 88 mm gun as shells bounce off the front armour while the Schachtellaufwerk suspension system runs over the ground; this is a short-lived strategy.

The Tiger H1 should be played more like a bulky medium tank rather than a heavy tank despite its status, supporting allies from the sideline or from a distance rather than leading directly from the front. This is due to the poor armour arrangement, most of the thickness of the tank is concentrated on the front face of the tank and leaves the sides exposed, especially since this model of tiger has a 'boxier' design. This is even more important to remember as ammunition is stowed along the sides the tank, protected by the inferior side armor. One must remain a distance, exploit the 88 mm long-distance power, and maintain a diamond-shape compound angling to maximize armour thickness against the trailing enemy shells that will inevitably come towards the Tiger's way.

The Tiger H1 is equipped with 12 smoke grenades that can help cover the vehicle while it escapes or repairs. Smoke grenades discharge in 2 salvos of 6 (3 to each side of the turret) covering a 120° sector 10 m in front of the vehicle. The grenades deploy smoke in 4 seconds and last 25 seconds. Both salvos are separated by a 1-minute reload time.

The commander cupola is tall and weak: this can lead APHE shells to detonate inside, knocking out at best the loader or even the commander, loader, and gunner.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear (Slope angle) !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 102 mm (9°) ''Front plate'' 62 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' 102 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis''|| 82 mm ''Top'' 62 mm ''Bottom''|| 82 mm (9°)|| 26 mm
|-
| Turret || 100 mm ''Turret front'' 90 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 82 mm || 82 mm || 26 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 80 mm (cylindrical) || 26 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Turret front covered by gun mantlet has variable thickness depending on exact place, ranging from 90 to 200 mm of armour.
* Turret side (about 1/3) is covered by attached tracks, adding additional 30 mm of armour.
* While the hull side of the tank is 82 mm, the side where the suspension is located is only 62 mm thick so be aware of this weak point.
* On paper, the best angle is roughly 38.8° with armour all-round being from the front 130 mm.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 839|rbMinHp= 575}}

Speed is not the strong suit of the Tiger H1. While the Tiger H1 can generate speed on flat surfaces, it does this very slowly. When stopping, do not expect a burst of power when moving from a complete stop. Like most heavy tanks, the Tiger H1 does not take well to hills. Inclines can quickly bog down the heavy Tiger HI, so try to avoid them when ever possible. However, when on a hill, the Tiger H1 can use the hill's decline to your advantage to build up speed quickly in order to get across open areas.

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

For Tier I modifications obtain the vital "Parts" and "Horizontal Drive" modifications as the former will give the Tiger the ability to repair and the latter will provide a much-needed boost to the Tiger's slow turret traverse rate.

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

{{main|KwK36 (88 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36]] || 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" | 92 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+16° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.71 || 13.44 || 16.32 || 18.05 || 19.20 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.10 || 8.40 || 10.20 || 11.30 || 12.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''PzGr 39''': The go-to shell for all Tiger H1 drivers as this is arguably the best. It will do incredible damage to any tank shot by it, except SPAA, or any extremely thin armoured vehicles. Heavier tanks like the IS-1, IS-2, or American heavy tanks are able to resist the round at longer ranges, but well-placed shots from close range or sides will do the job. All other medium and light tanks will be history as soon as this shell make contact with them. This shell, however, will almost always over-penetrate all but the most armoured SPAA vehicles, so it is best to use HE or machine gun fire on thin-skinned vehicles.
* '''PzGr ''': This shell is also very useful. It has very similar characteristics as PzGr 39, but sacrifices some penetration for about 150% more Explosive Filler, meaning even more damage than already powerful PzGr 39. It is recommended to carry some of these shells and use them regularly, as the penetration is still enough to deal with most targets (at least when being down-tiered), and switch to PzGr 39 when shooting targets far away, or those that are heavily armoured.
* '''Hl.Gr. 39''': On paper the HEAT rounds don't bring anything new to the table, however they can be used as a substitute for the HE shells due to the greater explosive mass and still gives a fighting chance if caught with pants down.
* '''Sprgr. L/4.5''': The HE shell is completely ineffective against all but SPAA or the AI artillery on the Kursk and Ash River maps, and the machine gun mounted on the Tiger has proven quite capable of dealing with these. Keep a small supply of this shell on hand if planning to flank the enemy and take out their SPAA or artillery, but avoid them for everything else.

{{:KwK36 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Pzgr., Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr. L/4.5}}

==== [[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
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''92''' || 76 ''(+16)'' || 60 ''(+32)'' || 44 ''(+48)'' || 28 ''(+64)'' || 24 ''(+68)'' || 20 ''(+72)'' || 16 ''(+76)'' || 12 ''(+80)'' || 6 ''(+86)'' || 0 ''(+92)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set
* Large sides empty: 28 ''(+64)'' shells.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,350 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The main role of the Tiger tank was to eliminate enemy tanks at a far range, similar to behaving like a sniping tank, or a Tank Destroyer. Nonetheless, the Tiger can excel at brawling with other tanks at medium, even possibly against two [[Panther D|Panther]] tanks to close range and escape undamaged. It's recommended to not stay in one place for too long or risk getting outflanked, spotted, or bombed.

While guns like the Soviet [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm]] cannon can easily penetrate the Tiger at close range, the Tiger can stay nearly invulnerable at long range. The 88 can take out any tank on Rank 3 at any combat range but may have problems with the [[IS-1]]'s 120 mm front armour at some ranges. When having to close in a bit, it is generally advisable to angle the hull to the sides by about 30°, improving the armour rating enough that it can keep away 85 mm shells very well, even at closer ranges. The {{PAGENAME}} is still vulnerable to the [[SU-152|SU-152s]] howitzer and its HE shell at any range. So whenever encountering these heavy-calibre vehicles, it should be prioritized and eliminated first.

The Tiger's hull has many flat areas that can be easily penetrated. To maximize the angles and thus the protection, the tank should be angled about 40º to either side. An easy way of angling your tank is to make sure the corner of the hull is pointed at the enemy. The side armour is strong enough for such angling, and is flat as well. The turret is more complicated. It features many pieces of armour that overlap and such, and as such will either be exceptionally strong or be penetrated easily. As such, avoid relying on the turret to absorb shells. On the other hand, opponents will also try to avoid hitting the turret, as there is a chance to not penetrate.

Mobility-wise the {{PAGENAME}} is pretty good for a heavy tank. It is much faster than a [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] and about as equally fast as the [[IS-1]], although medium tanks like the [[T-34-85]] can easily outmanoeuvre all three at close range. Try to use the Tiger's mobility to keep a distance rather than for closing in on a target. Don't be afraid to use the speed to fall back if necessary as the Tiger cannot survive close range engagements on open terrain vs. mediums, due to the slow turret and the vulnerability to the 85 mm guns on Soviet medium tanks.

The Tiger has a very bad turret traverse, it is recommended to get the "Turret Drive" traverse modification as fast as possible. Even then, the Tiger will have to turn the tank in the direction of the traverse to make the most of the time to quickly engage a target. What makes this worse is the smoke grenade launchers in the hull, which would interfere with the gun depression at certain turret angles. This, together with very exposed ammo racks on both sides (though one side can be emptied by reducing the ammo stowage) means that facing multiple enemies at once is almost a certain end to the Tiger tank. The best option is to take cover from one tank and fire on the other.

As far as ammo is concerned, the default PzGr 39 will be the standard AP rounds many players will use. The second AP round available, the Pzgr., is also a good round to use against the enemy as the shell contains more explosive filler than the default, but suffers from a lower penetration value compared to the PzGr 39. The HEAT rounds offer consistent penetration at all ranges including more than 2,000 m. However, they provide less damage upon penetration. HEAT rounds usually are usually not used as the primary ammunition type for this sole reason. Upgrading the tank should mainly be dedicated to turret traverse, hull traverse (as this is needed even with the turret traverse upgrade) and engine upgrades. The Tiger's 88 has massive destructive power. Unlike the other German tank of its rank, all armed with 75 mm guns, the Tiger can easily knock out all the mediums like the T-34s, M4 Shermans with a single shot, and still be a threat against heavy tanks like the IS-1s. If it doesn't destroy a tank in one hit, most of the enemy crew will be wounded or incapacitated. The best place to aim with the 88 is either at the gunner's side of the enemy turret to incapacitate an enemy's firepower, or between the driver and the gunner which would usually wound or knock out most of the enemy crew at once. Attacking from the side also presents a good shot opportunity, as the best shot placement is right below the turret on the hull where most of the tank ammunition are stored, giving a big chance for an ammo-rack explosion.

When driving the Tiger, plan ahead on where it will drive. Even with engine and track modifications, the {{PAGENAME}} is still a heavy tank and a 90 degree or more turn will almost always mean an immediate standstill as the tank try to make the change in movement. Even small adjustments can knock the speed down a bit. Thus, knowing the terrain and destination is of the utmost importance to preserve its mobility to its fullest extent.

The {{PAGENAME}} is also best used on the flanks of the current maps, as these are usually more open and allow good use of its armour and excellent gun. The centre of the map would seem more logical as there are a lot of enemies, but as has already been established a Tiger taking fire from multiple directions won't last long. Going in a flank and taking down light and medium tanks is an easy task for this beast, and thus a flank can be easily secured if the {{PAGENAME}} is driven carefully. Then, work the {{PAGENAME}} into the enemy sides and rear of the main force in the centre, doing much more damage than if the Tiger faced the force head-on because a shot to the side and rear will set most enemies alight if not outright exploding the ammunition. Able to destroy vehicles in one hit, the Tiger can quickly jump from target to target and eliminate a good number of enemies in its lifespan.

The Tiger H1 is very effective at long range, and should be used accordingly. Players should try to avoid point blank fights with other tanks, since this will often result in the vulnerable sides being exposed. As a sniper or flanker, the tank is wonderful and as long as its sides are not exposed, it will last a long time.

There will be many hard eggs to crack such as the IS- Series, T-34 Series, American Jumbos, and several other tanks that will give the {{PAGENAME}} trouble.

* The Russians have many tanks at the BR able to handle the Tiger H1 easily. The main tank at this BR is the T-34-85's. While it may have very thin armour and is easy to penetrate it is easy to angle and the T-34 is a flanking machine, it will drive circles around the Tiger so it needs to be destroyed quick. The IS- Heavy tanks are the second worst nightmare situation. Thick armour and a huge gun. If the IS tank is not destroyed first, it will definitely destroy the Tiger.
* The American Jumbos are similar to the T-34. The 75 mm variant would have trouble to penetrate the Tiger's armour at long ranges, but caution needs to be exercised when they are armed with a 76 mm gun.
* The Japanese tanks all have very thin armour that the 88 mm gun can easily penetrate through with no problem, but their guns at this BR all have enough penetration to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} if it gets a hit on.

'''Against the Tiger H1:'''

'''Light tank''': when dealing with a Tiger I, you must utilise your superior speed and agility to your advantage, to compensate for your weak firepower. If your penetration is less than 100 mm, then manoeuvre to the Tiger's side as that is where you can destroy it. The upper part of the hull side is 80 mm thick, without any angling, meaning that light tanks such as [[M24 (Family)|M24]] can reliably penetrate there. Even the reserve [[BT-5]] can punch through that armour section, though guns with less post-penetration damage will have to shoot several times to ensure that all crew are knocked out. The lower section of the hull side is only 60 mm, meaning that even if the player does not have a high tier light tank and can only use low tier tanks like the M3A3 Stuart, that area can still be penetrated. The Tiger's turret turns slowly, but still be careful to move out of its gun's way. Facing a Tiger I is a hard job because it can penetrate most places on your light tank so a frontal strike against it has a high chance of failing.

'''Medium tank''': with a medium tank, you can more confidently target the Tiger's frontal weak spots. Medium tanks such as [[M4A3 (76) W]], [[T-34-85]], and [[Sherman Firefly]] can all pierce through the Tiger's frontal hull armour when it is not angling. The turret armour is way harder to penetrate as it has some complex bulges, leading to the shells being absorbed. However, an experienced Tiger commander will angle its hull, stacking up the effective thickness to more than ~130 mm thus making it immune to all the above medium tanks. Now, if you cannot flank, aim for the commander's cupola. An explosive-packed shell through there will knock out ~1-3 crew in the turret. If the gunner is knocked out, wait for around 12 seconds for it to replenish a new gunner, then shoot at the cupola again. You can also try breaking the gun barrel, since the muzzle brake is quite large and therefore easier to catch onto shells, damaging the barrel. Note, it is better to avoid shooting at the lower front plate as the transmission behind it will absorb all incoming shells for the crew. Throughout this whole process, the player should be very careful not to get hit as the 88 mm cannon is very potent against most tanks.

'''Heavy tank/tank destroyer''': with a more powerful cannon and perhaps better armour, the player can finally duel the Tiger I with relative ease. For a heavy tank or tank destroyer who sacrifices mobility and/or armour just for superior firepower (e.g. [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]], [[ISU-122]]), a Tiger H1 can be penetrated in the hull even if it is angling. Still, do not shoot at the turret and lower front plate where the shells tend to do no damage. Also, try aiming for armour plates that are free of any obstruction, because vehicles who can easily penetrate the Tiger usually have a large calibre gun, their large shells will be bounced or lose penetration should the shell edge impact anything. For example, if you shoot at a Tiger who is facing you, target the dead center of the upper front plate where there is nothing but armour, instead of aiming right next to the driver's port where the armour blocks sticking out will absorb the shell.

'''SPAA''': anti-aircraft guns at this BR cannot really penetrate the Tiger I's armour effectively, but thanks to their fast-firing autocannons SPAAs are great for breaking the Tiger's gun barrel and tracks, assisting your teammates in destroying it. If no supporting fire is near, drop an artillery strike after immobilising the Tiger. Some SPAAs (e.g. [[Phòng không T-34]], [[M42 Duster (Family)|M42]]) have access to AP shells, any shell with more than 60 mm penetration is adequate to penetrate the lower side of the hull. Other than this area, the minimum thickness is 80 mm which is hard for any SPAA. This is an advantage of the Tiger I, although its flat armour performs poorly against heavier cannons, its all-round armour protection is fairly effective against low-penetrating vehicles like SPAAs.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The gun mantlet, MG port and driver's port are particularly hard to penetrate due to their complex, varying shape and thickness
* Decent cannon with adequate accuracy and a range of shells to choose. Stock shell has great penetration and damage, and can knock out common opponents easily with a single shot (e.g. [[T-34-85]], [[M4A2 (76) W]], [[IS-1]], [[M6A1]]). Has another AP that sacrifices a bit penetration for more TNT
* One of the fastest heavy tanks with its top speed of 45 km/h, meaning it can get to some positions quickly alongside friendly medium tanks.
* The box-like hull shape gives the ability to angle. When angling the hull at around 40° and placing yourself far from the enemies (at least 500 m away) the Tiger H1 can resist common tanks like the 76 mm Shermans, T-34-85s and [[M36 Jackson (Family)|M36]]
* Good reverse speed and hull traverse allows it to quickly angle for deflecting shells
* -8° gun depression works well in most hilly terrain
* The rear is surprisingly hard to penetrate, partially due to the slightly-angled armour and partly due to the large exhaust pipes which seem to deflect shells
* The strong gun makes it easy to destroy most opponents at the its battle rating with a single shot, even M4A3E2 Jumbo, as long as you carefully aim for the machine gun port
* The tank is equipped with smoke grenades, which can help escape an undesirable situation alive

'''Cons:'''

* Weak and vertical armour protection. If not angling the Tiger H1 can get destroyed easily by the T-34-85 or 76 mm Sherman. Even if the {{PAGENAME}} is angling, the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] can still knock it out with a single shot easily
* The upper front plate is extremely vulnerable if it is not angled. It will be penetrated by any vehicle at its BR
* Struggles to penetrate heavy targets frontally like the [[M4A3E2]], [[M26 (Family)|M26]] and [[IS-2 (1944)]]
* Rather slow acceleration limits its short range manoeuvrability
* Slow turret traverse makes it hard to respond to flankers quickly. The [[M18 GMC]] is very common at this BR
* Ammo storage at the hull sides are very easy to explode when hit
* Commander's cupola is tall and easy to penetrate
* Is a big and tall target, easy to get spotted and shot at
* S-Mine dischargers on the hull limits gun depression in certain areas
* Tracks are rather loud so enemies will most times hear you and will be alert, so surprise attacks will be difficult

== History ==

===Development===
The Tiger I heavy tank was arguably the most infamous tank of World War II. The design for this tank began as early as January 1937 when Henschel & Sohn worked on a large "breakthrough" called the "Durchbruchwagen" that weighed about 30 tons on request by the German military.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref> The request was modified over time for more armour and better gun that increased the weight to 36 tons, but this project was dropped in 1938 in favour of the better prototypes VK 30.01(H) and VK 36.01(H). These new prototypes were the start of the usage of the Schachtellaufwerk wheel arrangements, but these also never passed prototype stages and were both cancelled in 1942.

During the development of the prototypes above, the German invasion of France showed that the Allied tanks such as the Somua, Char B1, and [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] were impervious to their current anti-tank weaponry and a need for better armoured and armed tanks was emphasized. So on May 26, 1941, Henschel and Porsche were asked to submit designs for a 45-ton heavy tank that was to be ready for demonstration by June 1942. During their development in June 1941, Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union and was shocked by appearance of the [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] tanks that were invulnerable to all but the most potent anti-tank weapon in German inventory, one of which was the [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36 cannon]]. The potency of the 88 mm cannon against the heavily armoured tanks that the Germans faced had Hitler ordered that the heavy tank design undertaken by Henschel and Porsche to utilize the 88 mm as its main armament instead of a 75 mm cannon.

The designs of the tank were finalized and ready for demonstration on April 20, 1942, Hitler's birthday, and showed the VK 45.01(H) and the [[VK 45.01 (P)]]. The demonstration and subsequent evaluations on the two designs determined that the Henschel variant was superior to the Porsche variant, proving more reliable, more mobile, and more easily produced than the Porsche. This caused the Henschel variant to be adopted as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger and production started in August 1942. The Porsche variant had many chassis produced as Ferdinand Porsche thought the design would win, so the chassis was instead used in the [[Ferdinand]] tank destroyer.

===Design===
What perhaps made the Tiger I so unique in tank development and German doctrine is a change of focus between the three characteristics of the tank; with more emphasis to firepower and armour than to mobility. The Tiger I contained the large 88 mm KwK36 cannon which was very accurate and powerful, being able to penetrate every Allied armour present at its introduction. The armour on the Tiger I was also one of the greatest at the time, with an astounding 102 mm of armour on the front hull armour, 82 mm on the side superstructure and rear, and 120 mm on the gun mantlet. The armour was vertical faced so no sloping benefits were present like on the [[Panther D|Panther]]. All these armour thicknesses proved invulnerable to most Allied anti-tank weaponry at the time, requiring more creative methods in a shot placement to disable the tank. The mobility, while taken with less emphasis in the development, was still respectable at the time as the tank weighed about 57 metric tons, about 20 tons more than other country's main tanks, yet is able to keep up a speed of 38 km/h (Maximum speed was 45 km/h, but an engine governor was installed to preserve the engine life).

The tank utilized a torsion-bar suspension system in a Schachtellaufwerk overlapping pattern, making the Tiger one of the first German tank design to use the pattern. While the design gave the Tiger I great flotation due to the use of a wider track for lower ground pressure, it had disadvantages in environment and maintenance. In the Eastern Front, mud and other foreign objects could be jammed in between the overlapping wheels, which would freeze in the winter and jam the wheels; the overlapping wheels also were a hassle to change out, in order to replace one wheel in the inside of the suspension, it requires the removal of at least nine other wheels in order to access it. The first 250 Tiger tanks used a Maybach V-12 HL210 engine with 650 hp before switching over to the more powerful Maybach V-12 HL230 engine with 700 hp. The engine proved adequate in propelling the tank but was still considered underpowered for the tank weight.

The Tiger I, as innovative as it is to tank warfare, was a strain on German war production. The tank was over-engineered, taking much more man-hour and materials for its worth as a war machine. Cost-wise, two [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] or four [[StuG III G|StuG IIIs]] can be built for the cost of one Tiger I. The tank was also expensive to maintain and took lots of fuel to run. These attributed to the low number of only 1,354 Tiger Is produced from 1942 to August 1944.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref>

===Variants===
There are three main production Tiger I variants known today, the "early-production", "mid-production", and "late-production" models. The Early-production model, designated as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H, were the first few batches and are distinguished by their drum-style cupola with an over-swinging hatch. The model also had two vehicle lights on the front side of the tank and dished steel wheels with rubber tyres. The Mid-production featured Zimmerit paste and a side-swinging cupola with accommodation for a machine gun mounted on the cupola. The vehicle light was also changed to just one placed right in the front of the hull armour. The mid-production was also redesignated in May 1943 as the [[Tiger E|Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E]]. Late-production models featured the removal of the Zimmerit paste as there was an assumed flaw with it, and the overlapping wheels were instead made into interleaving with full-steel road wheels as well, in a manner similar to the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]].

Other specialized variants of the Tiger I was produced as well. A small number of demolition carrier models were field-made in Italy, where it had its main gun replaced by a crane to carry demolition to clear minefields or destroy obstacles. The demolition carrier version was interpreted by Allied intelligence as a BergeTiger, an armoured recovery vehicle, though it is not known if it ever saw service in this role. Another specialized variant produced in 1944 in some numbers was the [[Sturmtiger]], an heavy assault gun with a 38 cm rocket launcher made from a depth charge. 19 of these were made and saw use in all fronts, though its most noteworthy combat action was in the Warsaw Uprising.

===Combat usage===
In its introduction, Hitler ordered the new Tigers to be used in the Leningrad siege in September 1942. However, as the faults of the tank were still not yet fully ironed out at this stage, the mechanical unreliability and the unsuitable terrain caused one of the Tiger Is to be stuck in the swamps and abandoned by its users. This example was then captured by the Red Army and tipped off the Allies of the development of the new Tiger tanks and so developments in countermeasures began. In North Africa, the Tigers saw the first action against the Western Allies in Tunisia in December 1942. Its impact there left an impression on the Allied armour forces, but its myth as an invulnerable tank was shattered when two Tigers were taken out by the British [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder anti-tank guns]]. The total loss in that campaign was seven Tigers by February 1943.

Once mass-numbers of Tiger Is were available, they were employed in heavy tank battalions that were to be deployed in breakthrough operations or counter-attacks. Field experience with the Tiger showed that the Tiger's heavyweight proved a nuisance in operational mobility, an example being that small bridges were unable to support the Tiger tank's weight. An attempt to remedy this was to use a snorkel device so the tank could ford rivers as deep as four metres, however, this system was phased out of later production models for cost-savings. The Tiger suffered reliability problems in all of its service life that impeded its effectiveness and its high fuel usage limited its combat operations. Armour recovery of the vehicle was also terrible as three heavy recovery half-tracks were required to tow the tank away, causing a strain on the German support line to keep the Tiger tanks in running order. Despite that, the Tiger I proved superior in terms of armour and armament against the Allies and created massive losses among their armoured forces, causing many soldiers to keep an eye out for the infamous "Tigers".

The impact the Tiger had on the battlefield as the superior tank at its introduction created fame to the commanders and crew operating this tank, further fueling the Tiger's reputation in the war as a killing machine. Some Tiger units were able to achieve kill ratios up to 10:1, and some even higher. Some notable Tiger aces known were Kurt Knispel (168 tank kills), Otto Carius (150+), Johannes Bölter (139+), and Michael Wittmann (138).

However, as the war progressed and the impact of the Tiger's surprise in Kursk and Italy has dissolved, Allied developments gave forth more capable tanks able to defeat the Tiger I tanks. The Soviets solution was to up-gun their [[T-34 (1942)|T-34s]] with an [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm gun]] to make the [[T-34-85]], and the Western Allies with the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm]] and [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounders]] on the [[M4A1 (76) W|M4 Sherman]] and [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] respectively. The Tiger went as an highly-invulnerable tank design into a simple heavy tank as the war went on, and it was replaced by the more powerful and more heavily armoured [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]] in 1944. Despite its replacement, many Tiger I models still saw use up until the end of World War II.

===Survivors===
Due to the low number of Tiger Is created during the war (1,354, compared to [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV]]'s 8,550 and the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]'s ~50,000), very few intact Tiger I pieces are left in the world. Today, only seven tanks in various conditions are existent in the world. The most famous of these is the Tiger 131, captured by the British in Tunisia in April 1943, when the crew abandoned the tank due to a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] shot from a [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill tank]] jamming the gun mantlet and turret ring, causing it to be unable to aim. The intact sample is also famous for being the only fully operational Tiger I in the world due to a reconstruction effort by the Bovington Tank Museum in the 1990s. However, the Tiger 131 does not run on its original Maybach HL210 engine, as it was taken out to be used as a separate display; rather, it uses the HL230, which was mostly used for the Tiger II. It is still there as a display and remains the museum's most popular exhibit.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Work on the creation of a heavy tank began in 1937. Only after the attack on the USSR were the tactical and technical requirements needed for this new war machine met. The tank was designed by the Henschel company, led by Erwin Aders.

Production was handled by Henschel and Weggman factories, which made about 450 tanks from July 1942 to August 1943.

The first 495 vehicles included equipment that enabled the crossing of water obstacles up to 4 metres deep. Beginning with the 251st tank, the Maybach HL 230 P30 engine (600 hp) was replaced with a Maybach HL 230 P45 (700 hp). The Tiger was armed with an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK36 L/56 gun, which was a tank version of the famous Flak 18/36 anti-aircraft gun. In the spring and summer of 1943, the tank received smoke grenade launchers and mortars for launching anti-personnel mines.

The Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger entered service with heavy tank battalions. The tanks were first used in the fall of 1942, on the Leningrad front, in the 502nd heavy tank battalion. In December 1942, in North Africa, Tigers entered service with the 501st battalion.

The first tanks which arrived often broke, owing to the haste with which they were put into mass production. The vehicle was very heavy, with low manoeuvrability. It consumed 10 liters of fuel every 1 km. A full fuel tank, 567 liters, was enough for only two and a half hours of combat work, which was one of the tank's major drawbacks. But this was all compensated for by the battle machine's simplicity and ease of operation. Tank operators who served in Tigers were constantly praising its transmission and steering. The tank's armour also gave the crew a high chance of surviving battle, even if the tank was disabled.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ryx7Uxo_3X0|'''The Shooting Range #250''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:40 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|tcIeR_s6fp8|'''The Shooting Range #204''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:50 discusses the Tiger I and the VK 45.01 (P).|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 10:50 discusses the Tiger I.|QEz1MgTjUAw|'''Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|kFQd8TYt6Ew|'''Tank Chats #17 Tiger I''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Tiger E]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4528-profile-pz-kpfw-vi-tiger-ausf-h1-en|[Vehicle Profile] Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1]]
* [[wt:en/news/2641--en|[Vehicle Profile] Pzkpfw VI "Tiger" Ausf. H1]]
* [[wikipedia:Tiger_I|[Wikipedia] Tiger I]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzer-VI_Tiger.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=72 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 181 Panzer VI / Tiger I]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Germany heavy tanks}}

Tiger H1

2024-04-05T09:43:40Z

U118268877: /* Modifications and economy */

{{About
| about = German heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Tiger I (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H1 (Tiger H1)''' is the first (early-production) variant of the [[Tiger I (Family)|Tiger I heavy tank family]], designed and built by Henschel and used by the German Army during World War II. It offered the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the 88 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 tank gun, developed from the 88 mm Flugabwehrkanone (FlaK) 36 anti-aircraft gun. Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were ordered on May 26, 1941, to submit proposals for a 45-ton heavy tank that would be available by June 1942. Porsche developed an improved version of its VK 30.01 (P) prototype (which was originally intended to compete for the Panther contract), while Henschel developed two prototypes: the VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 tank gun and the VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm KwK42 L/70 tank gun. The Henschel VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype was accepted after evaluation, primarily because the Porsche [[VK 45.01 (P)]] prototype design used a petrol-electric transmission system that required large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electrical drivetrain components, a strategic war material of which Germany had limited supplies. Early Tiger H1s with the Krupp-designed turret featured a high commander cupola. Later in the war, the design was modified, resulting in the [[Tiger E]], which had a new dome-shaped cast-armour commander's cupola and a ring installed on the commander's cupola to accommodate the mounting of an anti-aircraft light machine gun. There are additionally five S-Mine dischargers on the hull-roof, three on the left side and two on the right. Two Feifel air cleaner units designed for dusty environments are located on the hull's back. Between August 1942 and August 1944, a total of 1,347 units were constructed. The Tiger I was phased out of production after August 1944 in favour of the [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]].

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the Tiger H1 was the German Army's first truly heavy tank during World War II, due mostly to combat experience against the French and British Matilda heavy tanks, which demonstrated that the German Army needed better armed and armoured tanks. Within 2,500 metres, Tiger H1 had higher penetration than the 75 mm KwK40 L/43 on the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IVs]] but poorer penetration than the 75 mm KwK42 L/70 on the [[Panther tank (Family)|Panthers]]. At longer ranges, the 88 mm KwK36 L/56 performed better in terms of penetration and accuracy. The Tiger H1, capable of fighting any adversary at any range, is a true marvel of German engineering during World War II and will undoubtedly reward players well.

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

[[File:TigerIHTank Armour Angling.png|right|thumbnail|The ideal angling of hull armour on {{PAGENAME}} for maximum effective armour all-around|300px]]
One may feel the need to charge head-on into battle, blaring that 88 mm gun as shells bounce off the front armour while the Schachtellaufwerk suspension system runs over the ground; this is a short-lived strategy.

The Tiger H1 should be played more like a bulky medium tank rather than a heavy tank despite its status, supporting allies from the sideline or from a distance rather than leading directly from the front. This is due to the poor armour arrangement, most of the thickness of the tank is concentrated on the front face of the tank and leaves the sides exposed, especially since this model of tiger has a 'boxier' design. This is even more important to remember as ammunition is stowed along the sides the tank, protected by the inferior side armor. One must remain a distance, exploit the 88 mm long-distance power, and maintain a diamond-shape compound angling to maximize armour thickness against the trailing enemy shells that will inevitably come towards the Tiger's way.

The Tiger H1 is equipped with 12 smoke grenades that can help cover the vehicle while it escapes or repairs. Smoke grenades discharge in 2 salvos of 6 (3 to each side of the turret) covering a 120° sector 10 m in front of the vehicle. The grenades deploy smoke in 4 seconds and last 25 seconds. Both salvos are separated by a 1-minute reload time.

The commander cupola is tall and weak: this can lead APHE shells to detonate inside, knocking out at best the loader or even the commander, loader, and gunner.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear (Slope angle) !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 102 mm (9°) ''Front plate'' 62 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' 102 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis''|| 82 mm ''Top'' 62 mm ''Bottom''|| 82 mm (9°)|| 26 mm
|-
| Turret || 100 mm ''Turret front'' 90 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 82 mm || 82 mm || 26 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 80 mm (cylindrical) || 26 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Turret front covered by gun mantlet has variable thickness depending on exact place, ranging from 90 to 200 mm of armour.
* Turret side (about 1/3) is covered by attached tracks, adding additional 30 mm of armour.
* While the hull side of the tank is 82 mm, the side where the suspension is located is only 62 mm thick so be aware of this weak point.
* On paper, the best angle is roughly 38.8° with armour all-round being from the front 130 mm.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 839|rbMinHp= 575}}

Speed is not the strong suit of the Tiger H1. While the Tiger H1 can generate speed on flat surfaces, it does this very slowly. When stopping, do not expect a burst of power when moving from a complete stop. Like most heavy tanks, the Tiger H1 does not take well to hills. Inclines can quickly bog down the heavy Tiger HI, so try to avoid them when ever possible. However, when on a hill, the Tiger H1 can use the hill's decline to your advantage to build up speed quickly in order to get across open areas.

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

For Tier I modifications obtain the vital "Parts" and "Horizontal Drive" modifications as the former will give the Tiger the ability to repair and the latter will provide a much-needed boost to the Tiger's slow turret traverse rate.

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

{{main|KwK36 (88 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36]] || 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" | 92 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+16° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.71 || 13.44 || 16.32 || 18.05 || 19.20 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.10 || 8.40 || 10.20 || 11.30 || 12.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''PzGr 39''': The go-to shell for all Tiger H1 drivers as this is arguably the best. It will do incredible damage to any tank shot by it, except SPAA, or any extremely thin armoured vehicles. Heavier tanks like the IS-1, IS-2, or American heavy tanks are able to resist the round at longer ranges, but well-placed shots from close range or sides will do the job. All other medium and light tanks will be history as soon as this shell make contact with them. This shell, however, will almost always over-penetrate all but the most armoured SPAA vehicles, so it is best to use HE or machine gun fire on thin-skinned vehicles.
* '''PzGr ''': This shell is also very useful. It has very similar characteristics as PzGr 39, but sacrifices some penetration for about 150% more Explosive Filler, meaning even more damage than already powerful PzGr 39. It is recommended to carry some of these shells and use them regularly, as the penetration is still enough to deal with most targets (at least when being down-tiered), and switch to PzGr 39 when shooting targets far away, or those that are heavily armoured.
* '''Hl.Gr. 39''': On paper the HEAT rounds don't bring anything new to the table, however they can be used as a substitute for the HE shells due to the greater explosive mass and still gives a fighting chance if caught with pants down.
* '''Sprgr. L/4.5''': The HE shell is completely ineffective against all but SPAA or the AI artillery on the Kursk and Ash River maps, and the machine gun mounted on the Tiger has proven quite capable of dealing with these. Keep a small supply of this shell on hand if planning to flank the enemy and take out their SPAA or artillery, but avoid them for everything else.

{{:KwK36 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Pzgr., Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr. L/4.5}}

==== [[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
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''92''' || 76 ''(+16)'' || 60 ''(+32)'' || 44 ''(+48)'' || 28 ''(+64)'' || 24 ''(+68)'' || 20 ''(+72)'' || 16 ''(+76)'' || 12 ''(+80)'' || 6 ''(+86)'' || 0 ''(+92)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set
* Large sides empty: 28 ''(+64)'' shells.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,350 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The main role of the Tiger tank was to eliminate enemy tanks at a far range, similar to behaving like a sniping tank, or a Tank Destroyer. Nonetheless, the Tiger can excel at brawling with other tanks at medium, even possibly against two [[Panther D|Panther]] tanks to close range and escape undamaged. It's recommended to not stay in one place for too long or risk getting outflanked, spotted, or bombed.

While guns like the Soviet [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm]] cannon can easily penetrate the Tiger at close range, the Tiger can stay nearly invulnerable at long range. The 88 can take out any tank on Rank 3 at any combat range but may have problems with the [[IS-1]]'s 120 mm front armour at some ranges. When having to close in a bit, it is generally advisable to angle the hull to the sides by about 30°, improving the armour rating enough that it can keep away 85 mm shells very well, even at closer ranges. The {{PAGENAME}} is still vulnerable to the [[SU-152|SU-152s]] howitzer and its HE shell at any range. So whenever encountering these heavy-calibre vehicles, it should be prioritized and eliminated first.

The Tiger's hull has many flat areas that can be easily penetrated. To maximize the angles and thus the protection, the tank should be angled about 40º to either side. An easy way of angling your tank is to make sure the corner of the hull is pointed at the enemy. The side armour is strong enough for such angling, and is flat as well. The turret is more complicated. It features many pieces of armour that overlap and such, and as such will either be exceptionally strong or be penetrated easily. As such, avoid relying on the turret to absorb shells. On the other hand, opponents will also try to avoid hitting the turret, as there is a chance to not penetrate.

Mobility-wise the {{PAGENAME}} is pretty good for a heavy tank. It is much faster than a [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] and about as equally fast as the [[IS-1]], although medium tanks like the [[T-34-85]] can easily outmanoeuvre all three at close range. Try to use the Tiger's mobility to keep a distance rather than for closing in on a target. Don't be afraid to use the speed to fall back if necessary as the Tiger cannot survive close range engagements on open terrain vs. mediums, due to the slow turret and the vulnerability to the 85 mm guns on Soviet medium tanks.

The Tiger has a very bad turret traverse, it is recommended to get the "Turret Drive" traverse modification as fast as possible. Even then, the Tiger will have to turn the tank in the direction of the traverse to make the most of the time to quickly engage a target. What makes this worse is the smoke grenade launchers in the hull, which would interfere with the gun depression at certain turret angles. This, together with very exposed ammo racks on both sides (though one side can be emptied by reducing the ammo stowage) means that facing multiple enemies at once is almost a certain end to the Tiger tank. The best option is to take cover from one tank and fire on the other.

As far as ammo is concerned, the default PzGr 39 will be the standard AP rounds many players will use. The second AP round available, the Pzgr., is also a good round to use against the enemy as the shell contains more explosive filler than the default, but suffers from a lower penetration value compared to the PzGr 39. The HEAT rounds offer consistent penetration at all ranges including more than 2,000 m. However, they provide less damage upon penetration. HEAT rounds usually are usually not used as the primary ammunition type for this sole reason. Upgrading the tank should mainly be dedicated to turret traverse, hull traverse (as this is needed even with the turret traverse upgrade) and engine upgrades. The Tiger's 88 has massive destructive power. Unlike the other German tank of its rank, all armed with 75 mm guns, the Tiger can easily knock out all the mediums like the T-34s, M4 Shermans with a single shot, and still be a threat against heavy tanks like the IS-1s. If it doesn't destroy a tank in one hit, most of the enemy crew will be wounded or incapacitated. The best place to aim with the 88 is either at the gunner's side of the enemy turret to incapacitate an enemy's firepower, or between the driver and the gunner which would usually wound or knock out most of the enemy crew at once. Attacking from the side also presents a good shot opportunity, as the best shot placement is right below the turret on the hull where most of the tank ammunition are stored, giving a big chance for an ammo-rack explosion.

When driving the Tiger, plan ahead on where it will drive. Even with engine and track modifications, the {{PAGENAME}} is still a heavy tank and a 90 degree or more turn will almost always mean an immediate standstill as the tank try to make the change in movement. Even small adjustments can knock the speed down a bit. Thus, knowing the terrain and destination is of the utmost importance to preserve its mobility to its fullest extent.

The {{PAGENAME}} is also best used on the flanks of the current maps, as these are usually more open and allow good use of its armour and excellent gun. The centre of the map would seem more logical as there are a lot of enemies, but as has already been established a Tiger taking fire from multiple directions won't last long. Going in a flank and taking down light and medium tanks is an easy task for this beast, and thus a flank can be easily secured if the {{PAGENAME}} is driven carefully. Then, work the {{PAGENAME}} into the enemy sides and rear of the main force in the centre, doing much more damage than if the Tiger faced the force head-on because a shot to the side and rear will set most enemies alight if not outright exploding the ammunition. Able to destroy vehicles in one hit, the Tiger can quickly jump from target to target and eliminate a good number of enemies in its lifespan.

The Tiger H1 is very effective at long range, and should be used accordingly. Players should try to avoid point blank fights with other tanks, since this will often result in the vulnerable sides being exposed. As a sniper or flanker, the tank is wonderful and as long as its sides are not exposed, it will last a long time.

There will be many hard eggs to crack such as the IS- Series, T-34 Series, American Jumbos, and several other tanks that will give the {{PAGENAME}} trouble.

* The Russians have many tanks at the BR able to handle the Tiger H1 easily. The main tank at this BR is the T-34-85's. While it may have very thin armour and is easy to penetrate it is easy to angle and the T-34 is a franking machine, it will drive circles around the Tiger so it needs to be destroyed quick. The IS- Heavy tanks are the second worst nightmare situation. Thick armour and a huge gun. If the IS tank is not destroyed first, it will definitely destroy the Tiger.
* The American Jumbos are similar to the T-34. The 75 mm variant would have trouble to penetrate the Tiger's armour at long ranges, but caution needs to be exercised when they are armed with a 76 mm gun.
* The Japanese tanks all have very thin armour that the 88 mm gun can easily penetrate through with no problem, but their guns at this BR all have enough penetration to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} if it gets a hit on.

'''Against the Tiger H1:'''

'''Light tank''': when dealing with a Tiger I, you must utilise your superior speed and agility to your advantage, to compensate for your weak firepower. If your penetration is less than 100 mm, then manoeuvre to the Tiger's side as that is where you can destroy it. The upper part of the hull side is 80 mm thick, without any angling, meaning that light tanks such as [[M24 (Family)|M24]] can reliably penetrate there. Even the reserve [[BT-5]] can punch through that armour section, though guns with less post-penetration damage will have to shoot several times to ensure that all crew are knocked out. The lower section of the hull side is only 60 mm, meaning that even if the player does not have a high tier light tank and can only use low tier tanks like the M3A3 Stuart, that area can still be penetrated. The Tiger's turret turns slowly, but still be careful to move out of its gun's way. Facing a Tiger I is a hard job because it can penetrate most places on your light tank so a frontal strike against it has a high chance of failing.

'''Medium tank''': with a medium tank, you can more confidently target the Tiger's frontal weak spots. Medium tanks such as [[M4A3 (76) W]], [[T-34-85]], and [[Sherman Firefly]] can all pierce through the Tiger's frontal hull armour when it is not angling. The turret armour is way harder to penetrate as it has some complex bulges, leading to the shells being absorbed. However, an experienced Tiger commander will angle its hull, stacking up the effective thickness to more than ~130 mm thus making it immune to all the above medium tanks. Now, if you cannot flank, aim for the commander's cupola. An explosive-packed shell through there will knock out ~1-3 crew in the turret. If the gunner is knocked out, wait for around 12 seconds for it to replenish a new gunner, then shoot at the cupola again. You can also try breaking the gun barrel, since the muzzle brake is quite large and therefore easier to catch onto shells, damaging the barrel. Note, it is better to avoid shooting at the lower front plate as the transmission behind it will absorb all incoming shells for the crew. Throughout this whole process, the player should be very careful not to get hit as the 88 mm cannon is very potent against most tanks.

'''Heavy tank/tank destroyer''': with a more powerful cannon and perhaps better armour, the player can finally duel the Tiger I with relative ease. For a heavy tank or tank destroyer who sacrifices mobility and/or armour just for superior firepower (e.g. [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]], [[ISU-122]]), a Tiger H1 can be penetrated in the hull even if it is angling. Still, do not shoot at the turret and lower front plate where the shells tend to do no damage. Also, try aiming for armour plates that are free of any obstruction, because vehicles who can easily penetrate the Tiger usually have a large calibre gun, their large shells will be bounced or lose penetration should the shell edge impact anything. For example, if you shoot at a Tiger who is facing you, target the dead center of the upper front plate where there is nothing but armour, instead of aiming right next to the driver's port where the armour blocks sticking out will absorb the shell.

'''SPAA''': anti-aircraft guns at this BR cannot really penetrate the Tiger I's armour effectively, but thanks to their fast-firing autocannons SPAAs are great for breaking the Tiger's gun barrel and tracks, assisting your teammates in destroying it. If no supporting fire is near, drop an artillery strike after immobilising the Tiger. Some SPAAs (e.g. [[Phòng không T-34]], [[M42 Duster (Family)|M42]]) have access to AP shells, any shell with more than 60 mm penetration is adequate to penetrate the lower side of the hull. Other than this area, the minimum thickness is 80 mm which is hard for any SPAA. This is an advantage of the Tiger I, although its flat armour performs poorly against heavier cannons, its all-round armour protection is fairly effective against low-penetrating vehicles like SPAAs.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The gun mantlet, MG port and driver's port are particularly hard to penetrate due to their complex, varying shape and thickness
* Decent cannon with adequate accuracy and a range of shells to choose. Stock shell has great penetration and damage, and can knock out common opponents easily with a single shot (e.g. [[T-34-85]], [[M4A2 (76) W]], [[IS-1]], [[M6A1]]). Has another AP that sacrifices a bit penetration for more TNT
* One of the fastest heavy tanks with its top speed of 45 km/h, meaning it can get to some positions quickly alongside friendly medium tanks.
* The box-like hull shape gives the ability to angle. When angling the hull at around 40° and placing yourself far from the enemies (at least 500 m away) the Tiger H1 can resist common tanks like the 76 mm Shermans, T-34-85s and [[M36 Jackson (Family)|M36]]
* Good reverse speed and hull traverse allows it to quickly angle for deflecting shells
* -8° gun depression works well in most hilly terrain
* The rear is surprisingly hard to penetrate, partially due to the slightly-angled armour and partly due to the large exhaust pipes which seem to deflect shells
* The strong gun makes it easy to destroy most opponents at the its battle rating with a single shot, even M4A3E2 Jumbo, as long as you carefully aim for the machine gun port
* The tank is equipped with smoke grenades, which can help escape an undesirable situation alive

'''Cons:'''

* Weak and vertical armour protection. If not angling the Tiger H1 can get destroyed easily by the T-34-85 or 76 mm Sherman. Even if the {{PAGENAME}} is angling, the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] can still knock it out with a single shot easily
* The upper front plate is extremely vulnerable if it is not angled. It will be penetrated by any vehicle at its BR
* Struggles to penetrate heavy targets frontally like the [[M4A3E2]], [[M26 (Family)|M26]] and [[IS-2 (1944)]]
* Rather slow acceleration limits its short range manoeuvrability
* Slow turret traverse makes it hard to respond to flankers quickly. The [[M18 GMC]] is very common at this BR
* Ammo storage at the hull sides are very easy to explode when hit
* Commander's cupola is tall and easy to penetrate
* Is a big and tall target, easy to get spotted and shot at
* S-Mine dischargers on the hull limits gun depression in certain areas
* Tracks are rather loud so enemies will most times hear you and will be alert, so surprise attacks will be difficult

== History ==

===Development===
The Tiger I heavy tank was arguably the most infamous tank of World War II. The design for this tank began as early as January 1937 when Henschel & Sohn worked on a large "breakthrough" called the "Durchbruchwagen" that weighed about 30 tons on request by the German military.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref> The request was modified over time for more armour and better gun that increased the weight to 36 tons, but this project was dropped in 1938 in favour of the better prototypes VK 30.01(H) and VK 36.01(H). These new prototypes were the start of the usage of the Schachtellaufwerk wheel arrangements, but these also never passed prototype stages and were both cancelled in 1942.

During the development of the prototypes above, the German invasion of France showed that the Allied tanks such as the Somua, Char B1, and [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] were impervious to their current anti-tank weaponry and a need for better armoured and armed tanks was emphasized. So on May 26, 1941, Henschel and Porsche were asked to submit designs for a 45-ton heavy tank that was to be ready for demonstration by June 1942. During their development in June 1941, Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union and was shocked by appearance of the [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] tanks that were invulnerable to all but the most potent anti-tank weapon in German inventory, one of which was the [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36 cannon]]. The potency of the 88 mm cannon against the heavily armoured tanks that the Germans faced had Hitler ordered that the heavy tank design undertaken by Henschel and Porsche to utilize the 88 mm as its main armament instead of a 75 mm cannon.

The designs of the tank were finalized and ready for demonstration on April 20, 1942, Hitler's birthday, and showed the VK 45.01(H) and the [[VK 45.01 (P)]]. The demonstration and subsequent evaluations on the two designs determined that the Henschel variant was superior to the Porsche variant, proving more reliable, more mobile, and more easily produced than the Porsche. This caused the Henschel variant to be adopted as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger and production started in August 1942. The Porsche variant had many chassis produced as Ferdinand Porsche thought the design would win, so the chassis was instead used in the [[Ferdinand]] tank destroyer.

===Design===
What perhaps made the Tiger I so unique in tank development and German doctrine is a change of focus between the three characteristics of the tank; with more emphasis to firepower and armour than to mobility. The Tiger I contained the large 88 mm KwK36 cannon which was very accurate and powerful, being able to penetrate every Allied armour present at its introduction. The armour on the Tiger I was also one of the greatest at the time, with an astounding 102 mm of armour on the front hull armour, 82 mm on the side superstructure and rear, and 120 mm on the gun mantlet. The armour was vertical faced so no sloping benefits were present like on the [[Panther D|Panther]]. All these armour thicknesses proved invulnerable to most Allied anti-tank weaponry at the time, requiring more creative methods in a shot placement to disable the tank. The mobility, while taken with less emphasis in the development, was still respectable at the time as the tank weighed about 57 metric tons, about 20 tons more than other country's main tanks, yet is able to keep up a speed of 38 km/h (Maximum speed was 45 km/h, but an engine governor was installed to preserve the engine life).

The tank utilized a torsion-bar suspension system in a Schachtellaufwerk overlapping pattern, making the Tiger one of the first German tank design to use the pattern. While the design gave the Tiger I great flotation due to the use of a wider track for lower ground pressure, it had disadvantages in environment and maintenance. In the Eastern Front, mud and other foreign objects could be jammed in between the overlapping wheels, which would freeze in the winter and jam the wheels; the overlapping wheels also were a hassle to change out, in order to replace one wheel in the inside of the suspension, it requires the removal of at least nine other wheels in order to access it. The first 250 Tiger tanks used a Maybach V-12 HL210 engine with 650 hp before switching over to the more powerful Maybach V-12 HL230 engine with 700 hp. The engine proved adequate in propelling the tank but was still considered underpowered for the tank weight.

The Tiger I, as innovative as it is to tank warfare, was a strain on German war production. The tank was over-engineered, taking much more man-hour and materials for its worth as a war machine. Cost-wise, two [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] or four [[StuG III G|StuG IIIs]] can be built for the cost of one Tiger I. The tank was also expensive to maintain and took lots of fuel to run. These attributed to the low number of only 1,354 Tiger Is produced from 1942 to August 1944.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref>

===Variants===
There are three main production Tiger I variants known today, the "early-production", "mid-production", and "late-production" models. The Early-production model, designated as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H, were the first few batches and are distinguished by their drum-style cupola with an over-swinging hatch. The model also had two vehicle lights on the front side of the tank and dished steel wheels with rubber tyres. The Mid-production featured Zimmerit paste and a side-swinging cupola with accommodation for a machine gun mounted on the cupola. The vehicle light was also changed to just one placed right in the front of the hull armour. The mid-production was also redesignated in May 1943 as the [[Tiger E|Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E]]. Late-production models featured the removal of the Zimmerit paste as there was an assumed flaw with it, and the overlapping wheels were instead made into interleaving with full-steel road wheels as well, in a manner similar to the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]].

Other specialized variants of the Tiger I was produced as well. A small number of demolition carrier models were field-made in Italy, where it had its main gun replaced by a crane to carry demolition to clear minefields or destroy obstacles. The demolition carrier version was interpreted by Allied intelligence as a BergeTiger, an armoured recovery vehicle, though it is not known if it ever saw service in this role. Another specialized variant produced in 1944 in some numbers was the [[Sturmtiger]], an heavy assault gun with a 38 cm rocket launcher made from a depth charge. 19 of these were made and saw use in all fronts, though its most noteworthy combat action was in the Warsaw Uprising.

===Combat usage===
In its introduction, Hitler ordered the new Tigers to be used in the Leningrad siege in September 1942. However, as the faults of the tank were still not yet fully ironed out at this stage, the mechanical unreliability and the unsuitable terrain caused one of the Tiger Is to be stuck in the swamps and abandoned by its users. This example was then captured by the Red Army and tipped off the Allies of the development of the new Tiger tanks and so developments in countermeasures began. In North Africa, the Tigers saw the first action against the Western Allies in Tunisia in December 1942. Its impact there left an impression on the Allied armour forces, but its myth as an invulnerable tank was shattered when two Tigers were taken out by the British [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder anti-tank guns]]. The total loss in that campaign was seven Tigers by February 1943.

Once mass-numbers of Tiger Is were available, they were employed in heavy tank battalions that were to be deployed in breakthrough operations or counter-attacks. Field experience with the Tiger showed that the Tiger's heavyweight proved a nuisance in operational mobility, an example being that small bridges were unable to support the Tiger tank's weight. An attempt to remedy this was to use a snorkel device so the tank could ford rivers as deep as four metres, however, this system was phased out of later production models for cost-savings. The Tiger suffered reliability problems in all of its service life that impeded its effectiveness and its high fuel usage limited its combat operations. Armour recovery of the vehicle was also terrible as three heavy recovery half-tracks were required to tow the tank away, causing a strain on the German support line to keep the Tiger tanks in running order. Despite that, the Tiger I proved superior in terms of armour and armament against the Allies and created massive losses among their armoured forces, causing many soldiers to keep an eye out for the infamous "Tigers".

The impact the Tiger had on the battlefield as the superior tank at its introduction created fame to the commanders and crew operating this tank, further fueling the Tiger's reputation in the war as a killing machine. Some Tiger units were able to achieve kill ratios up to 10:1, and some even higher. Some notable Tiger aces known were Kurt Knispel (168 tank kills), Otto Carius (150+), Johannes Bölter (139+), and Michael Wittmann (138).

However, as the war progressed and the impact of the Tiger's surprise in Kursk and Italy has dissolved, Allied developments gave forth more capable tanks able to defeat the Tiger I tanks. The Soviets solution was to up-gun their [[T-34 (1942)|T-34s]] with an [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm gun]] to make the [[T-34-85]], and the Western Allies with the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm]] and [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounders]] on the [[M4A1 (76) W|M4 Sherman]] and [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] respectively. The Tiger went as an highly-invulnerable tank design into a simple heavy tank as the war went on, and it was replaced by the more powerful and more heavily armoured [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]] in 1944. Despite its replacement, many Tiger I models still saw use up until the end of World War II.

===Survivors===
Due to the low number of Tiger Is created during the war (1,354, compared to [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV]]'s 8,550 and the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]'s ~50,000), very few intact Tiger I pieces are left in the world. Today, only seven tanks in various conditions are existent in the world. The most famous of these is the Tiger 131, captured by the British in Tunisia in April 1943, when the crew abandoned the tank due to a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] shot from a [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill tank]] jamming the gun mantlet and turret ring, causing it to be unable to aim. The intact sample is also famous for being the only fully operational Tiger I in the world due to a reconstruction effort by the Bovington Tank Museum in the 1990s. However, the Tiger 131 does not run on its original Maybach HL210 engine, as it was taken out to be used as a separate display; rather, it uses the HL230, which was mostly used for the Tiger II. It is still there as a display and remains the museum's most popular exhibit.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Work on the creation of a heavy tank began in 1937. Only after the attack on the USSR were the tactical and technical requirements needed for this new war machine met. The tank was designed by the Henschel company, led by Erwin Aders.

Production was handled by Henschel and Weggman factories, which made about 450 tanks from July 1942 to August 1943.

The first 495 vehicles included equipment that enabled the crossing of water obstacles up to 4 metres deep. Beginning with the 251st tank, the Maybach HL 230 P30 engine (600 hp) was replaced with a Maybach HL 230 P45 (700 hp). The Tiger was armed with an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK36 L/56 gun, which was a tank version of the famous Flak 18/36 anti-aircraft gun. In the spring and summer of 1943, the tank received smoke grenade launchers and mortars for launching anti-personnel mines.

The Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger entered service with heavy tank battalions. The tanks were first used in the fall of 1942, on the Leningrad front, in the 502nd heavy tank battalion. In December 1942, in North Africa, Tigers entered service with the 501st battalion.

The first tanks which arrived often broke, owing to the haste with which they were put into mass production. The vehicle was very heavy, with low manoeuvrability. It consumed 10 liters of fuel every 1 km. A full fuel tank, 567 liters, was enough for only two and a half hours of combat work, which was one of the tank's major drawbacks. But this was all compensated for by the battle machine's simplicity and ease of operation. Tank operators who served in Tigers were constantly praising its transmission and steering. The tank's armour also gave the crew a high chance of surviving battle, even if the tank was disabled.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ryx7Uxo_3X0|'''The Shooting Range #250''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:40 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|tcIeR_s6fp8|'''The Shooting Range #204''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:50 discusses the Tiger I and the VK 45.01 (P).|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 10:50 discusses the Tiger I.|QEz1MgTjUAw|'''Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|kFQd8TYt6Ew|'''Tank Chats #17 Tiger I''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Tiger E]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4528-profile-pz-kpfw-vi-tiger-ausf-h1-en|[Vehicle Profile] Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1]]
* [[wt:en/news/2641--en|[Vehicle Profile] Pzkpfw VI "Tiger" Ausf. H1]]
* [[wikipedia:Tiger_I|[Wikipedia] Tiger I]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzer-VI_Tiger.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=72 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 181 Panzer VI / Tiger I]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Germany heavy tanks}}

Tiger H1

2024-04-05T09:43:04Z

U118268877: /* Mobility */

{{About
| about = German heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Tiger I (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausführung H1 (Tiger H1)''' is the first (early-production) variant of the [[Tiger I (Family)|Tiger I heavy tank family]], designed and built by Henschel and used by the German Army during World War II. It offered the German Army its first armoured fighting vehicle equipped with the 88 mm Kampfwagenkanone (KwK) 36 tank gun, developed from the 88 mm Flugabwehrkanone (FlaK) 36 anti-aircraft gun. Henschel and Ferdinand Porsche were ordered on May 26, 1941, to submit proposals for a 45-ton heavy tank that would be available by June 1942. Porsche developed an improved version of its VK 30.01 (P) prototype (which was originally intended to compete for the Panther contract), while Henschel developed two prototypes: the VK 45.01 (H) H1 with an 8.8 cm KwK36 L/56 tank gun and the VK 45.01 (H) H2 with a 7.5 cm KwK42 L/70 tank gun. The Henschel VK 45.01 (H) H1 prototype was accepted after evaluation, primarily because the Porsche [[VK 45.01 (P)]] prototype design used a petrol-electric transmission system that required large amounts of copper for the manufacture of its electrical drivetrain components, a strategic war material of which Germany had limited supplies. Early Tiger H1s with the Krupp-designed turret featured a high commander cupola. Later in the war, the design was modified, resulting in the [[Tiger E]], which had a new dome-shaped cast-armour commander's cupola and a ring installed on the commander's cupola to accommodate the mounting of an anti-aircraft light machine gun. There are additionally five S-Mine dischargers on the hull-roof, three on the left side and two on the right. Two Feifel air cleaner units designed for dusty environments are located on the hull's back. Between August 1942 and August 1944, a total of 1,347 units were constructed. The Tiger I was phased out of production after August 1944 in favour of the [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]].

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the Tiger H1 was the German Army's first truly heavy tank during World War II, due mostly to combat experience against the French and British Matilda heavy tanks, which demonstrated that the German Army needed better armed and armoured tanks. Within 2,500 metres, Tiger H1 had higher penetration than the 75 mm KwK40 L/43 on the [[StuG III (Family)|Sturmgeschütz IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV (Family)|Panzer IVs]] but poorer penetration than the 75 mm KwK42 L/70 on the [[Panther tank (Family)|Panthers]]. At longer ranges, the 88 mm KwK36 L/56 performed better in terms of penetration and accuracy. The Tiger H1, capable of fighting any adversary at any range, is a true marvel of German engineering during World War II and will undoubtedly reward players well.

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

[[File:TigerIHTank Armour Angling.png|right|thumbnail|The ideal angling of hull armour on {{PAGENAME}} for maximum effective armour all-around|300px]]
One may feel the need to charge head-on into battle, blaring that 88 mm gun as shells bounce off the front armour while the Schachtellaufwerk suspension system runs over the ground; this is a short-lived strategy.

The Tiger H1 should be played more like a bulky medium tank rather than a heavy tank despite its status, supporting allies from the sideline or from a distance rather than leading directly from the front. This is due to the poor armour arrangement, most of the thickness of the tank is concentrated on the front face of the tank and leaves the sides exposed, especially since this model of tiger has a 'boxier' design. This is even more important to remember as ammunition is stowed along the sides the tank, protected by the inferior side armor. One must remain a distance, exploit the 88 mm long-distance power, and maintain a diamond-shape compound angling to maximize armour thickness against the trailing enemy shells that will inevitably come towards the Tiger's way.

The Tiger H1 is equipped with 12 smoke grenades that can help cover the vehicle while it escapes or repairs. Smoke grenades discharge in 2 salvos of 6 (3 to each side of the turret) covering a 120° sector 10 m in front of the vehicle. The grenades deploy smoke in 4 seconds and last 25 seconds. Both salvos are separated by a 1-minute reload time.

The commander cupola is tall and weak: this can lead APHE shells to detonate inside, knocking out at best the loader or even the commander, loader, and gunner.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear (Slope angle) !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 102 mm (9°) ''Front plate'' 62 mm (80°) ''Front glacis'' 102 mm (25°) ''Lower glacis''|| 82 mm ''Top'' 62 mm ''Bottom''|| 82 mm (9°)|| 26 mm
|-
| Turret || 100 mm ''Turret front'' 90 - 200 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 82 mm || 82 mm || 26 mm
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" style="text-align:center" | 80 mm (cylindrical) || 26 mm
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Turret front covered by gun mantlet has variable thickness depending on exact place, ranging from 90 to 200 mm of armour.
* Turret side (about 1/3) is covered by attached tracks, adding additional 30 mm of armour.
* While the hull side of the tank is 82 mm, the side where the suspension is located is only 62 mm thick so be aware of this weak point.
* On paper, the best angle is roughly 38.8° with armour all-round being from the front 130 mm.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 839|rbMinHp= 575}}

Speed is not the strong suit of the Tiger H1. While the Tiger H1 can generate speed on flat surfaces, it does this very slowly. When stopping, do not expect a burst of power when moving from a complete stop. Like most heavy tanks, the Tiger H1 does not take well to hills. Inclines can quickly bog down the heavy Tiger HI, so try to avoid them when ever possible. However, when on a hill, the Tiger H1 can use the hill's decline to your advantage to build up speed quickly in order to get across open areas.

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

For Tier I modifications obtained the vital "Parts" and "Horizontal Drive" modifications as the former will give the Tiger the ability to repair and the latter will provide a much-needed boost to the Tiger's slow turret traverse rate.

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

{{main|KwK36 (88 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36]] || 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" | 92 || rowspan="2" | -8°/+16° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 9.71 || 13.44 || 16.32 || 18.05 || 19.20 || rowspan="2" | 9.62 || rowspan="2" | 8.51 || rowspan="2" | 7.84 || rowspan="2" | 7.40
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 7.10 || 8.40 || 10.20 || 11.30 || 12.00
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====

* '''PzGr 39''': The go-to shell for all Tiger H1 drivers as this is arguably the best. It will do incredible damage to any tank shot by it, except SPAA, or any extremely thin armoured vehicles. Heavier tanks like the IS-1, IS-2, or American heavy tanks are able to resist the round at longer ranges, but well-placed shots from close range or sides will do the job. All other medium and light tanks will be history as soon as this shell make contact with them. This shell, however, will almost always over-penetrate all but the most armoured SPAA vehicles, so it is best to use HE or machine gun fire on thin-skinned vehicles.
* '''PzGr ''': This shell is also very useful. It has very similar characteristics as PzGr 39, but sacrifices some penetration for about 150% more Explosive Filler, meaning even more damage than already powerful PzGr 39. It is recommended to carry some of these shells and use them regularly, as the penetration is still enough to deal with most targets (at least when being down-tiered), and switch to PzGr 39 when shooting targets far away, or those that are heavily armoured.
* '''Hl.Gr. 39''': On paper the HEAT rounds don't bring anything new to the table, however they can be used as a substitute for the HE shells due to the greater explosive mass and still gives a fighting chance if caught with pants down.
* '''Sprgr. L/4.5''': The HE shell is completely ineffective against all but SPAA or the AI artillery on the Kursk and Ash River maps, and the machine gun mounted on the Tiger has proven quite capable of dealing with these. Keep a small supply of this shell on hand if planning to flank the enemy and take out their SPAA or artillery, but avoid them for everything else.

{{:KwK36 (88 mm)/Ammunition|PzGr 39, Pzgr., Hl.Gr 39, Sprgr. L/4.5}}

==== [[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
! 7th rack empty
! 8th rack empty
! 9th rack empty
! 10th rack empty
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''92''' || 76 ''(+16)'' || 60 ''(+32)'' || 44 ''(+48)'' || 28 ''(+64)'' || 24 ''(+68)'' || 20 ''(+72)'' || 16 ''(+76)'' || 12 ''(+80)'' || 6 ''(+86)'' || 0 ''(+92)'' || No
|-
|}
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you fire both shells in the set
* Large sides empty: 28 ''(+64)'' shells.

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

{{main|MG34 (7.92 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[MG34 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG34]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 4,350 (150) || 900 || N/A || N/A
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The main role of the Tiger tank was to eliminate enemy tanks at a far range, similar to behaving like a sniping tank, or a Tank Destroyer. Nonetheless, the Tiger can excel at brawling with other tanks at medium, even possibly against two [[Panther D|Panther]] tanks to close range and escape undamaged. It's recommended to not stay in one place for too long or risk getting outflanked, spotted, or bombed.

While guns like the Soviet [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm]] cannon can easily penetrate the Tiger at close range, the Tiger can stay nearly invulnerable at long range. The 88 can take out any tank on Rank 3 at any combat range but may have problems with the [[IS-1]]'s 120 mm front armour at some ranges. When having to close in a bit, it is generally advisable to angle the hull to the sides by about 30°, improving the armour rating enough that it can keep away 85 mm shells very well, even at closer ranges. The {{PAGENAME}} is still vulnerable to the [[SU-152|SU-152s]] howitzer and its HE shell at any range. So whenever encountering these heavy-calibre vehicles, it should be prioritized and eliminated first.

The Tiger's hull has many flat areas that can be easily penetrated. To maximize the angles and thus the protection, the tank should be angled about 40º to either side. An easy way of angling your tank is to make sure the corner of the hull is pointed at the enemy. The side armour is strong enough for such angling, and is flat as well. The turret is more complicated. It features many pieces of armour that overlap and such, and as such will either be exceptionally strong or be penetrated easily. As such, avoid relying on the turret to absorb shells. On the other hand, opponents will also try to avoid hitting the turret, as there is a chance to not penetrate.

Mobility-wise the {{PAGENAME}} is pretty good for a heavy tank. It is much faster than a [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] and about as equally fast as the [[IS-1]], although medium tanks like the [[T-34-85]] can easily outmanoeuvre all three at close range. Try to use the Tiger's mobility to keep a distance rather than for closing in on a target. Don't be afraid to use the speed to fall back if necessary as the Tiger cannot survive close range engagements on open terrain vs. mediums, due to the slow turret and the vulnerability to the 85 mm guns on Soviet medium tanks.

The Tiger has a very bad turret traverse, it is recommended to get the "Turret Drive" traverse modification as fast as possible. Even then, the Tiger will have to turn the tank in the direction of the traverse to make the most of the time to quickly engage a target. What makes this worse is the smoke grenade launchers in the hull, which would interfere with the gun depression at certain turret angles. This, together with very exposed ammo racks on both sides (though one side can be emptied by reducing the ammo stowage) means that facing multiple enemies at once is almost a certain end to the Tiger tank. The best option is to take cover from one tank and fire on the other.

As far as ammo is concerned, the default PzGr 39 will be the standard AP rounds many players will use. The second AP round available, the Pzgr., is also a good round to use against the enemy as the shell contains more explosive filler than the default, but suffers from a lower penetration value compared to the PzGr 39. The HEAT rounds offer consistent penetration at all ranges including more than 2,000 m. However, they provide less damage upon penetration. HEAT rounds usually are usually not used as the primary ammunition type for this sole reason. Upgrading the tank should mainly be dedicated to turret traverse, hull traverse (as this is needed even with the turret traverse upgrade) and engine upgrades. The Tiger's 88 has massive destructive power. Unlike the other German tank of its rank, all armed with 75 mm guns, the Tiger can easily knock out all the mediums like the T-34s, M4 Shermans with a single shot, and still be a threat against heavy tanks like the IS-1s. If it doesn't destroy a tank in one hit, most of the enemy crew will be wounded or incapacitated. The best place to aim with the 88 is either at the gunner's side of the enemy turret to incapacitate an enemy's firepower, or between the driver and the gunner which would usually wound or knock out most of the enemy crew at once. Attacking from the side also presents a good shot opportunity, as the best shot placement is right below the turret on the hull where most of the tank ammunition are stored, giving a big chance for an ammo-rack explosion.

When driving the Tiger, plan ahead on where it will drive. Even with engine and track modifications, the {{PAGENAME}} is still a heavy tank and a 90 degree or more turn will almost always mean an immediate standstill as the tank try to make the change in movement. Even small adjustments can knock the speed down a bit. Thus, knowing the terrain and destination is of the utmost importance to preserve its mobility to its fullest extent.

The {{PAGENAME}} is also best used on the flanks of the current maps, as these are usually more open and allow good use of its armour and excellent gun. The centre of the map would seem more logical as there are a lot of enemies, but as has already been established a Tiger taking fire from multiple directions won't last long. Going in a flank and taking down light and medium tanks is an easy task for this beast, and thus a flank can be easily secured if the {{PAGENAME}} is driven carefully. Then, work the {{PAGENAME}} into the enemy sides and rear of the main force in the centre, doing much more damage than if the Tiger faced the force head-on because a shot to the side and rear will set most enemies alight if not outright exploding the ammunition. Able to destroy vehicles in one hit, the Tiger can quickly jump from target to target and eliminate a good number of enemies in its lifespan.

The Tiger H1 is very effective at long range, and should be used accordingly. Players should try to avoid point blank fights with other tanks, since this will often result in the vulnerable sides being exposed. As a sniper or flanker, the tank is wonderful and as long as its sides are not exposed, it will last a long time.

There will be many hard eggs to crack such as the IS- Series, T-34 Series, American Jumbos, and several other tanks that will give the {{PAGENAME}} trouble.

* The Russians have many tanks at the BR able to handle the Tiger H1 easily. The main tank at this BR is the T-34-85's. While it may have very thin armour and is easy to penetrate it is easy to angle and the T-34 is a franking machine, it will drive circles around the Tiger so it needs to be destroyed quick. The IS- Heavy tanks are the second worst nightmare situation. Thick armour and a huge gun. If the IS tank is not destroyed first, it will definitely destroy the Tiger.
* The American Jumbos are similar to the T-34. The 75 mm variant would have trouble to penetrate the Tiger's armour at long ranges, but caution needs to be exercised when they are armed with a 76 mm gun.
* The Japanese tanks all have very thin armour that the 88 mm gun can easily penetrate through with no problem, but their guns at this BR all have enough penetration to deal with the {{PAGENAME}} if it gets a hit on.

'''Against the Tiger H1:'''

'''Light tank''': when dealing with a Tiger I, you must utilise your superior speed and agility to your advantage, to compensate for your weak firepower. If your penetration is less than 100 mm, then manoeuvre to the Tiger's side as that is where you can destroy it. The upper part of the hull side is 80 mm thick, without any angling, meaning that light tanks such as [[M24 (Family)|M24]] can reliably penetrate there. Even the reserve [[BT-5]] can punch through that armour section, though guns with less post-penetration damage will have to shoot several times to ensure that all crew are knocked out. The lower section of the hull side is only 60 mm, meaning that even if the player does not have a high tier light tank and can only use low tier tanks like the M3A3 Stuart, that area can still be penetrated. The Tiger's turret turns slowly, but still be careful to move out of its gun's way. Facing a Tiger I is a hard job because it can penetrate most places on your light tank so a frontal strike against it has a high chance of failing.

'''Medium tank''': with a medium tank, you can more confidently target the Tiger's frontal weak spots. Medium tanks such as [[M4A3 (76) W]], [[T-34-85]], and [[Sherman Firefly]] can all pierce through the Tiger's frontal hull armour when it is not angling. The turret armour is way harder to penetrate as it has some complex bulges, leading to the shells being absorbed. However, an experienced Tiger commander will angle its hull, stacking up the effective thickness to more than ~130 mm thus making it immune to all the above medium tanks. Now, if you cannot flank, aim for the commander's cupola. An explosive-packed shell through there will knock out ~1-3 crew in the turret. If the gunner is knocked out, wait for around 12 seconds for it to replenish a new gunner, then shoot at the cupola again. You can also try breaking the gun barrel, since the muzzle brake is quite large and therefore easier to catch onto shells, damaging the barrel. Note, it is better to avoid shooting at the lower front plate as the transmission behind it will absorb all incoming shells for the crew. Throughout this whole process, the player should be very careful not to get hit as the 88 mm cannon is very potent against most tanks.

'''Heavy tank/tank destroyer''': with a more powerful cannon and perhaps better armour, the player can finally duel the Tiger I with relative ease. For a heavy tank or tank destroyer who sacrifices mobility and/or armour just for superior firepower (e.g. [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]], [[ISU-122]]), a Tiger H1 can be penetrated in the hull even if it is angling. Still, do not shoot at the turret and lower front plate where the shells tend to do no damage. Also, try aiming for armour plates that are free of any obstruction, because vehicles who can easily penetrate the Tiger usually have a large calibre gun, their large shells will be bounced or lose penetration should the shell edge impact anything. For example, if you shoot at a Tiger who is facing you, target the dead center of the upper front plate where there is nothing but armour, instead of aiming right next to the driver's port where the armour blocks sticking out will absorb the shell.

'''SPAA''': anti-aircraft guns at this BR cannot really penetrate the Tiger I's armour effectively, but thanks to their fast-firing autocannons SPAAs are great for breaking the Tiger's gun barrel and tracks, assisting your teammates in destroying it. If no supporting fire is near, drop an artillery strike after immobilising the Tiger. Some SPAAs (e.g. [[Phòng không T-34]], [[M42 Duster (Family)|M42]]) have access to AP shells, any shell with more than 60 mm penetration is adequate to penetrate the lower side of the hull. Other than this area, the minimum thickness is 80 mm which is hard for any SPAA. This is an advantage of the Tiger I, although its flat armour performs poorly against heavier cannons, its all-round armour protection is fairly effective against low-penetrating vehicles like SPAAs.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The gun mantlet, MG port and driver's port are particularly hard to penetrate due to their complex, varying shape and thickness
* Decent cannon with adequate accuracy and a range of shells to choose. Stock shell has great penetration and damage, and can knock out common opponents easily with a single shot (e.g. [[T-34-85]], [[M4A2 (76) W]], [[IS-1]], [[M6A1]]). Has another AP that sacrifices a bit penetration for more TNT
* One of the fastest heavy tanks with its top speed of 45 km/h, meaning it can get to some positions quickly alongside friendly medium tanks.
* The box-like hull shape gives the ability to angle. When angling the hull at around 40° and placing yourself far from the enemies (at least 500 m away) the Tiger H1 can resist common tanks like the 76 mm Shermans, T-34-85s and [[M36 Jackson (Family)|M36]]
* Good reverse speed and hull traverse allows it to quickly angle for deflecting shells
* -8° gun depression works well in most hilly terrain
* The rear is surprisingly hard to penetrate, partially due to the slightly-angled armour and partly due to the large exhaust pipes which seem to deflect shells
* The strong gun makes it easy to destroy most opponents at the its battle rating with a single shot, even M4A3E2 Jumbo, as long as you carefully aim for the machine gun port
* The tank is equipped with smoke grenades, which can help escape an undesirable situation alive

'''Cons:'''

* Weak and vertical armour protection. If not angling the Tiger H1 can get destroyed easily by the T-34-85 or 76 mm Sherman. Even if the {{PAGENAME}} is angling, the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] can still knock it out with a single shot easily
* The upper front plate is extremely vulnerable if it is not angled. It will be penetrated by any vehicle at its BR
* Struggles to penetrate heavy targets frontally like the [[M4A3E2]], [[M26 (Family)|M26]] and [[IS-2 (1944)]]
* Rather slow acceleration limits its short range manoeuvrability
* Slow turret traverse makes it hard to respond to flankers quickly. The [[M18 GMC]] is very common at this BR
* Ammo storage at the hull sides are very easy to explode when hit
* Commander's cupola is tall and easy to penetrate
* Is a big and tall target, easy to get spotted and shot at
* S-Mine dischargers on the hull limits gun depression in certain areas
* Tracks are rather loud so enemies will most times hear you and will be alert, so surprise attacks will be difficult

== History ==

===Development===
The Tiger I heavy tank was arguably the most infamous tank of World War II. The design for this tank began as early as January 1937 when Henschel & Sohn worked on a large "breakthrough" called the "Durchbruchwagen" that weighed about 30 tons on request by the German military.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref> The request was modified over time for more armour and better gun that increased the weight to 36 tons, but this project was dropped in 1938 in favour of the better prototypes VK 30.01(H) and VK 36.01(H). These new prototypes were the start of the usage of the Schachtellaufwerk wheel arrangements, but these also never passed prototype stages and were both cancelled in 1942.

During the development of the prototypes above, the German invasion of France showed that the Allied tanks such as the Somua, Char B1, and [[Matilda Mk II|Matilda II]] were impervious to their current anti-tank weaponry and a need for better armoured and armed tanks was emphasized. So on May 26, 1941, Henschel and Porsche were asked to submit designs for a 45-ton heavy tank that was to be ready for demonstration by June 1942. During their development in June 1941, Germany initiated Operation Barbarossa against the Soviet Union and was shocked by appearance of the [[T-34 (1941)|T-34]] and [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|KV-1]] tanks that were invulnerable to all but the most potent anti-tank weapon in German inventory, one of which was the [[KwK36 (88 mm)|88 mm KwK36 cannon]]. The potency of the 88 mm cannon against the heavily armoured tanks that the Germans faced had Hitler ordered that the heavy tank design undertaken by Henschel and Porsche to utilize the 88 mm as its main armament instead of a 75 mm cannon.

The designs of the tank were finalized and ready for demonstration on April 20, 1942, Hitler's birthday, and showed the VK 45.01(H) and the [[VK 45.01 (P)]]. The demonstration and subsequent evaluations on the two designs determined that the Henschel variant was superior to the Porsche variant, proving more reliable, more mobile, and more easily produced than the Porsche. This caused the Henschel variant to be adopted as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger and production started in August 1942. The Porsche variant had many chassis produced as Ferdinand Porsche thought the design would win, so the chassis was instead used in the [[Ferdinand]] tank destroyer.

===Design===
What perhaps made the Tiger I so unique in tank development and German doctrine is a change of focus between the three characteristics of the tank; with more emphasis to firepower and armour than to mobility. The Tiger I contained the large 88 mm KwK36 cannon which was very accurate and powerful, being able to penetrate every Allied armour present at its introduction. The armour on the Tiger I was also one of the greatest at the time, with an astounding 102 mm of armour on the front hull armour, 82 mm on the side superstructure and rear, and 120 mm on the gun mantlet. The armour was vertical faced so no sloping benefits were present like on the [[Panther D|Panther]]. All these armour thicknesses proved invulnerable to most Allied anti-tank weaponry at the time, requiring more creative methods in a shot placement to disable the tank. The mobility, while taken with less emphasis in the development, was still respectable at the time as the tank weighed about 57 metric tons, about 20 tons more than other country's main tanks, yet is able to keep up a speed of 38 km/h (Maximum speed was 45 km/h, but an engine governor was installed to preserve the engine life).

The tank utilized a torsion-bar suspension system in a Schachtellaufwerk overlapping pattern, making the Tiger one of the first German tank design to use the pattern. While the design gave the Tiger I great flotation due to the use of a wider track for lower ground pressure, it had disadvantages in environment and maintenance. In the Eastern Front, mud and other foreign objects could be jammed in between the overlapping wheels, which would freeze in the winter and jam the wheels; the overlapping wheels also were a hassle to change out, in order to replace one wheel in the inside of the suspension, it requires the removal of at least nine other wheels in order to access it. The first 250 Tiger tanks used a Maybach V-12 HL210 engine with 650 hp before switching over to the more powerful Maybach V-12 HL230 engine with 700 hp. The engine proved adequate in propelling the tank but was still considered underpowered for the tank weight.

The Tiger I, as innovative as it is to tank warfare, was a strain on German war production. The tank was over-engineered, taking much more man-hour and materials for its worth as a war machine. Cost-wise, two [[Pz.IV G|Panzer IVs]] or four [[StuG III G|StuG IIIs]] can be built for the cost of one Tiger I. The tank was also expensive to maintain and took lots of fuel to run. These attributed to the low number of only 1,354 Tiger Is produced from 1942 to August 1944.<ref name="ImagesOfWarTiger">Anthony Tucker-Jones. Images Of War Special: Tiger I & Tiger II Great Britain: Pen & Sword Military, 2013</ref>

===Variants===
There are three main production Tiger I variants known today, the "early-production", "mid-production", and "late-production" models. The Early-production model, designated as the Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. H, were the first few batches and are distinguished by their drum-style cupola with an over-swinging hatch. The model also had two vehicle lights on the front side of the tank and dished steel wheels with rubber tyres. The Mid-production featured Zimmerit paste and a side-swinging cupola with accommodation for a machine gun mounted on the cupola. The vehicle light was also changed to just one placed right in the front of the hull armour. The mid-production was also redesignated in May 1943 as the [[Tiger E|Panzerkampfwagen VI Ausf. E]]. Late-production models featured the removal of the Zimmerit paste as there was an assumed flaw with it, and the overlapping wheels were instead made into interleaving with full-steel road wheels as well, in a manner similar to the [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]].

Other specialized variants of the Tiger I was produced as well. A small number of demolition carrier models were field-made in Italy, where it had its main gun replaced by a crane to carry demolition to clear minefields or destroy obstacles. The demolition carrier version was interpreted by Allied intelligence as a BergeTiger, an armoured recovery vehicle, though it is not known if it ever saw service in this role. Another specialized variant produced in 1944 in some numbers was the [[Sturmtiger]], an heavy assault gun with a 38 cm rocket launcher made from a depth charge. 19 of these were made and saw use in all fronts, though its most noteworthy combat action was in the Warsaw Uprising.

===Combat usage===
In its introduction, Hitler ordered the new Tigers to be used in the Leningrad siege in September 1942. However, as the faults of the tank were still not yet fully ironed out at this stage, the mechanical unreliability and the unsuitable terrain caused one of the Tiger Is to be stuck in the swamps and abandoned by its users. This example was then captured by the Red Army and tipped off the Allies of the development of the new Tiger tanks and so developments in countermeasures began. In North Africa, the Tigers saw the first action against the Western Allies in Tunisia in December 1942. Its impact there left an impression on the Allied armour forces, but its myth as an invulnerable tank was shattered when two Tigers were taken out by the British [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder anti-tank guns]]. The total loss in that campaign was seven Tigers by February 1943.

Once mass-numbers of Tiger Is were available, they were employed in heavy tank battalions that were to be deployed in breakthrough operations or counter-attacks. Field experience with the Tiger showed that the Tiger's heavyweight proved a nuisance in operational mobility, an example being that small bridges were unable to support the Tiger tank's weight. An attempt to remedy this was to use a snorkel device so the tank could ford rivers as deep as four metres, however, this system was phased out of later production models for cost-savings. The Tiger suffered reliability problems in all of its service life that impeded its effectiveness and its high fuel usage limited its combat operations. Armour recovery of the vehicle was also terrible as three heavy recovery half-tracks were required to tow the tank away, causing a strain on the German support line to keep the Tiger tanks in running order. Despite that, the Tiger I proved superior in terms of armour and armament against the Allies and created massive losses among their armoured forces, causing many soldiers to keep an eye out for the infamous "Tigers".

The impact the Tiger had on the battlefield as the superior tank at its introduction created fame to the commanders and crew operating this tank, further fueling the Tiger's reputation in the war as a killing machine. Some Tiger units were able to achieve kill ratios up to 10:1, and some even higher. Some notable Tiger aces known were Kurt Knispel (168 tank kills), Otto Carius (150+), Johannes Bölter (139+), and Michael Wittmann (138).

However, as the war progressed and the impact of the Tiger's surprise in Kursk and Italy has dissolved, Allied developments gave forth more capable tanks able to defeat the Tiger I tanks. The Soviets solution was to up-gun their [[T-34 (1942)|T-34s]] with an [[D-5T (85 mm)|85 mm gun]] to make the [[T-34-85]], and the Western Allies with the [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm]] and [[Ordnance QF 17-pounder (76 mm)|17-pounders]] on the [[M4A1 (76) W|M4 Sherman]] and [[Sherman Firefly|Firefly]] respectively. The Tiger went as an highly-invulnerable tank design into a simple heavy tank as the war went on, and it was replaced by the more powerful and more heavily armoured [[Tiger II (H)|Tiger II]] in 1944. Despite its replacement, many Tiger I models still saw use up until the end of World War II.

===Survivors===
Due to the low number of Tiger Is created during the war (1,354, compared to [[Pz.IV H|Panzer IV]]'s 8,550 and the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]'s ~50,000), very few intact Tiger I pieces are left in the world. Today, only seven tanks in various conditions are existent in the world. The most famous of these is the Tiger 131, captured by the British in Tunisia in April 1943, when the crew abandoned the tank due to a [[Ordnance QF 6-pounder Mk.III (57 mm)|6-pounder]] shot from a [[Churchill Mk III|Churchill tank]] jamming the gun mantlet and turret ring, causing it to be unable to aim. The intact sample is also famous for being the only fully operational Tiger I in the world due to a reconstruction effort by the Bovington Tank Museum in the 1990s. However, the Tiger 131 does not run on its original Maybach HL210 engine, as it was taken out to be used as a separate display; rather, it uses the HL230, which was mostly used for the Tiger II. It is still there as a display and remains the museum's most popular exhibit.

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
Work on the creation of a heavy tank began in 1937. Only after the attack on the USSR were the tactical and technical requirements needed for this new war machine met. The tank was designed by the Henschel company, led by Erwin Aders.

Production was handled by Henschel and Weggman factories, which made about 450 tanks from July 1942 to August 1943.

The first 495 vehicles included equipment that enabled the crossing of water obstacles up to 4 metres deep. Beginning with the 251st tank, the Maybach HL 230 P30 engine (600 hp) was replaced with a Maybach HL 230 P45 (700 hp). The Tiger was armed with an 88 mm 8,8 cm KwK36 L/56 gun, which was a tank version of the famous Flak 18/36 anti-aircraft gun. In the spring and summer of 1943, the tank received smoke grenade launchers and mortars for launching anti-personnel mines.

The Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger entered service with heavy tank battalions. The tanks were first used in the fall of 1942, on the Leningrad front, in the 502nd heavy tank battalion. In December 1942, in North Africa, Tigers entered service with the 501st battalion.

The first tanks which arrived often broke, owing to the haste with which they were put into mass production. The vehicle was very heavy, with low manoeuvrability. It consumed 10 liters of fuel every 1 km. A full fuel tank, 567 liters, was enough for only two and a half hours of combat work, which was one of the tank's major drawbacks. But this was all compensated for by the battle machine's simplicity and ease of operation. Tank operators who served in Tigers were constantly praising its transmission and steering. The tank's armour also gave the crew a high chance of surviving battle, even if the tank was disabled.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=germ_pzkpfw_VI_ausf_h1_tiger Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Sights

* [https://live.warthunder.com/post/675135/en/ RideR2's Realistic gunsight (TZF4a, TZF 5a/b/d/e/f/f2, TZF 9b/b1/c/d, TZF 12/a) for Pzkpfw II, Pzkpfw III, Pzkpfw IV, Pzkpfw V, Pzkpfw VI]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ryx7Uxo_3X0|'''The Shooting Range #250''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:40 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|tcIeR_s6fp8|'''The Shooting Range #204''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:50 discusses the Tiger I and the VK 45.01 (P).|9_txEPailKc|'''The Shooting Range #92''' - ''Tactics & Strategy'' section at 10:50 discusses the Tiger I.|QEz1MgTjUAw|'''Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1''' - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|kFQd8TYt6Ew|'''Tank Chats #17 Tiger I''' - ''The Tank Museum''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[Tiger E]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4528-profile-pz-kpfw-vi-tiger-ausf-h1-en|[Vehicle Profile] Pz.Kpfw. VI Tiger Ausf. H1]]
* [[wt:en/news/2641--en|[Vehicle Profile] Pzkpfw VI "Tiger" Ausf. H1]]
* [[wikipedia:Tiger_I|[Wikipedia] Tiger I]]
* [https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/ww2/nazi_germany/Panzer-VI_Tiger.php <nowiki>[Tanks Encyclopedia]</nowiki> Panzerkampfwagen VI Tiger Ausf.E (Sd.Kfz.181) Tiger I]
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/armor/detail.asp?armor_id=72 <nowiki>[Military Factory]</nowiki> SdKfz 181 Panzer VI / Tiger I]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Germany heavy tanks}}

IS-2 (1944)

2024-04-05T09:39:45Z

U118268877: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = Soviet heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = IS-2 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_is_2_1944
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png|ArtImage2_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''IS-2 model 1944''' is the late-generation second variant of the IS heavy tank family. It features a uniformly sloped 100 mm hull upper front glacis plate at a 60° angle. Reliability was improved over time as well: the earliest IS-2s were only guaranteed for a 1,000 km distance before breakdowns; by late 1944, however, the commander of the 1st Belorussian Front stated that "the heavy tanks worked well and exceeded the warranty period by 1.5 to 2 times, both in hours usage and kilometres." As a light defence against hostile aircraft, a 12.7 mm DShK heavy machine gun is installed on the turret roof near the commander cupola. Some sources claim that 1,150 units were constructed before May 1945 when the [[IS-2 (Family)|IS-2]] was discontinued in favour of the much better [[IS-3]].

Introduced in the Closed Beta Test for Ground Forces before Update 1.41, the IS-2 model 1944 provides improved protection compared to the early-generation IS-2. Shells have a better likelihood of ricocheting off a uniformly sloped hull front armour plate than of successfully penetrating it. The main armament remains the 122 mm D-25T tank gun, capable of destroying any enemy ground vehicle in a single shot. Since reload speed remains on the slower side, it is critical to make every shot count. Given its respectable reverse speed, it is possible to play in "reverse" mode with the back of the hull facing the adversary, which can greatly boost survival during battle. Additional metal meshes can be researched as an add-on armour modification to improve protection against some high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds.

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

[[File:IS-2 1944 Screenshot 1.jpg|thumb|IS-2 (1944) on [[Finland]].]]
The armour, while having a nigh-impenetrable front plate and a decent turret, has many weak spots.

First, there is the right part of the turret because while on the left side the gun mantlet is connected to the turret armour, there is no mantlet on the right-hand side, so it has just half the thickness of the left side.

Next, we have the lower glacis, which is a very prominent target, with very little armour for its BR (~130 mm effective thickness). Shots of a German 88 mm or an American 90 mm will wreck your IS-2 (1944).

Last but not least, we have the driver's hatch. While not as prominent as the first two mentioned, many experienced players will go for a shot right here, when you are hull-down. With around 120 mm effective thickness, it is really easy to penetrate even with small guns such as the American 76 mm and has a devastating effect on your tank.

'''Armour type:''' 


{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 90 mm (40 - 60°, volumetric) ''Upper Glacis'' 100 mm (30°) ''Lower Glacis'' || 100 - 130 mm (12 - 41°, volumetric) ''Top front'' 90 mm (12°) ''Top rear'' 90 mm ''Bottom'' || 60 mm (45 - 49°) || 30 mm
|-
| Turret || 100 mm (0 - 60°) ''Turret front'' 75 - 115 mm (volumetric) ''Gun mantlet'' || 100 mm (21°) || 100 mm (21 - 29°) || 30 mm (86 - 90°)
|-
| Cupola || colspan="3" | 90 mm (cylindrical) || 30 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp= 671|rbMinHp= 460|AoAweight= 0.15}}

The forward and reverse acceleration on the {{PAGENAME}} is quite superb even when stock. However, the {{PAGENAME}} suffers especially when attempting to turn. Speed will bleed out very quickly when turning, this can lead to difficulty when attempting to turn at low speed and so will require the tank to move forwards until it reaches a good speed to turn adequately to respond to any targets not at the direct hull front.

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

When researching the first modifications, it's a priority to research Parts and FPE (you may want to activate several universal back-ups to be able to respawn twice in one match if you really wish to upgrade this vehicle quickly).

General stock advice:

* Don't show your rear to any enemies, because a single fire will be your death.
* Your gun is still very effective, so don't be afraid to attack enemies frontally, just make sure to aim for weak spots if possible.
** Shooting at planes in Arcade with your machine gun (or main gun) and scoring some hits can often award you a kill if the plane crashes, which grants points.
* Play as a support tank - push with your team and let them take fire, then poke out and take your shots, then retreat back into cover.
* Try to push into objectives with your team to gain those points as well.

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}
=== Main armament ===
[[File:IS-2 1944 Screenshot 2.jpg|thumb|IS-2 (1944) on [[Finland]].]]
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}

{{main|D-25T (122 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[D-25T (122 mm)|122 mm D-25T]] || 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" | 28 || rowspan="2" | -3°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 11.33 || 15.68 || 19.04 || 21.06 || 22.4 || rowspan="2" | 27.1 || rowspan="2" | 23.92 || rowspan="2" | 22.05 || rowspan="2" | 20.8
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 8.33 || 9.8 || 11.9 || 13.16 || 14.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{{:D-25T (122 mm)/Ammunition|BR-471, OF-471, BR-471B, BR-471D}}

==== [[Ammo racks]] ====
[[File:Ammoracks_IS-2.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the IS-2]]

{| 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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''28''' || ''Projectiles'' ''Propellants'' || 13 ''(+15)'' 27 ''(+1)'' || 1 ''(+27)'' 24 ''(+4)'' || N/A 21 ''(+7)'' || N/A 11 ''(+17)'' || N/A 6 ''(+22)'' || N/A 1 ''(+27)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* The {{PAGENAME}} uses two-piece ammunition, composed of projectiles (yellow) and propellant bags (orange). Both have separate racks.
* Shells are modeled individually and disappear after having been shot or loaded.
* Centre floor rack emptied: 11 ''(+17)'' shells.

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

{{main|DShK (12.7 mm)|DT (7.62 mm)}}

The machine gun armament of the {{PAGENAME}} is vastly improved from the [[IS-2|previous iteration]] due to the presence of a 12.7 mm DShK machine gun on a pintle-mount. This allows not only a better ability to defend against aircraft, but as an alternative offensive capability to the slow-firing 122 mm gun. Penetrating more than 20 mm of armour from at maximum 500 m, the DShK is great to attack lightly armoured vehicles. The coaxial gun in this case has little use aside from an harassing tool against an armoured enemy or foliage clearing device against fences that may be in the way. Still, these two machine guns should not be neglected from the arsenal of the {{PAGENAME}}.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DShK (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm DShK]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 250 (50) || 600 || -10°/+60° || ±180°
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Coaxial || 1,890 (63) || 600 || - || -
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The IS-2 (1944) is a definite improvement on its predecessor, the [[IS-2]]. Most notably the frontal armour now features a slope, which can bounce or outright block some rounds, although the 0.6 Battle Rating increase seems slightly too much. This iteration of the IS-2 also features a roof-mounted machine gun that can be used to attack aircraft without moving your turret (by using weapon selection keys set in the controls). Otherwise, the IS-2 (1944) is identical to the IS-2.

If you are to apply bushes onto the IS-2 (1944), consider putting most of them on the curved sides next to the upper glacis. You can even leave the upper glacis exposed, as it is very tough. This is because that quite some opponents will automatically target the curved armour, knowing that area is a common weak spot when the IS is angling. By covering up these curves, it will cause some confusion and delay the enemy's reaction & aiming time, as they now cannot directly see where your curved armour is, gifting you a few precious seconds before they open fire. For any leftover bushes, the turret front and the lower front plate are also good spots to put them on.

[[File:IS-2 1944 Screenshot 3.jpg|thumb|IS-2 (1944) on [[Finland]].]]

=== General Gameplay ===
At its BR, you will face the Tiger II (H) a lot, as well as much more heavily armoured vehicles such as the Jagdtiger, the Ferdinand, the T32 and the T95 (in an uptier). These tanks are near-impossible to penetrate frontally, so you will have to try to flank them. Otherwise, the gameplay remains the same as with the previous IS-2.

Overall, you shouldn't over-extend into enemy territory because your reload is still slow; you should play off of your teammates and use your great reverse speed to get out of line of sight as soon as you shot, or have been shot; you should have fun with the 122 mm gun that blows roofs off of most enemies you penetrate. Flanking is best done in Arcade, while in Realistic you're better of setting up ambushes at a medium distance away from main pathways.

==== Arcade Battles ====
In Arcade, the IS-2 (1944) proves to be quite mobile when fully upgraded. This can be used effectively to get into superior positions to engage enemies early in the match when they haven't yet set-up camp in well-covered positions and/or presented their strongest armour. Thus, it's easy to gain a kill at the start of the match, if you are comfortable with the 122 mm gun.

Close quarters combat proves even more deadly in Arcade Battles because all opposing vehicles will be able to easily overrun a single IS-2 (1944), especially after it has shot and is now waiting through it long reloads (20 seconds). Hence why it's advised to use your improved reverse speed to quickly disengage after shooting and retreating towards your teammates, who will likely be able to return fire. If the map forces you to fight in close quarters, attempt to get into a position where your teammates can cover your sides, while you can face forwards and clear the road. If the map allows, you can try taking 5 rounds of ammunition and camp at a capture point (usually one that's given to your team) to snipe all enemies that enter your line of sight while reducing your chances of blowing up at the first incoming shot.

In rare cases, it's possible to rush with the IS-2 (1944) and surprise lighter vehicles at a contested capture point in the early stages of a game. This strategy relies on the capture point being unpopular and being lucky to face only one enemy vehicle at a time. Some light tanks are unable to penetrate the IS-2 (1944) frontally, especially if they are from a much lower rank (e.g. [[BT-7]], the [[Sd.Kfz.234/2|Puma]] or the [[R3 T20 FA-HS|R3]]), so that's an added benefit of being a decently mobile heavy tank. If successful, the IS-2 (1944) can then flank to other objectives or advance to the enemy spawn to destroy another enemy or two. You shouldn't expect a lot of easy targets with this strategy, because it exposes your tank to potentially a lot of enemy fire.

==== Realistic Battles ====
In Realistic, the IS-2 begins to feel like a heavy tank. Its mobility is heavily reduced and its speed is outmatched by practically everything, mostly due to poor acceleration off-roads. However, this should be used as an advantage to gauge where the enemies are set-up, by looking where your teammates are killed from. You can then decide to return fire, although sometimes opponents don't show themselves until later in the match, in which case you should stay passive and try to remain behind your team's front lines.

Due to generally increased map size in Realistic, you will have to get comfortable with the bullet drop. There is an added benefit to that because the following [[IS-3]] and [[IS-4M]] mount the same gun (as does [[T-44-122]] and [[KV-122]], if you have them), and [[T-10M]] has similar bullet drop. Now, the IS-2 performs decently well at longer ranges, but it will cost you a lot if you miss or don't penetrate, because the reload is so long. Often, you will need to rely on the rangefinder, the teammates or map knowledge to gauge how high you need to shoot, so it might be a great idea to take out another vehicle first (such as the [[T-44]] or [[T-34-85]]) remember the distance and then take the IS-2 out. However, on larger maps, it is generally a better idea to take out other vehicles.

A more reliable strategy for the IS-2 is to camp nearby an objective and pick off any enemies who pose a threat. Just make sure to find a flat spot with cover, because your poor gun depression and long reload will be your death in hilly or open areas. It's also a good idea to target heavy enemies, because they are easier to hit, and also will likely pose a larger threat to your general team (e.g the [[Ferdinand]], the [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]] or the [[Tiger II (H)]]).

====General Tactics====

Although classified as a heavy tank and an upgraded improved design over the KV predecessor, the IS-2's armour will no longer hold up to its more common and heavier opponents at its BR. Compared with other vehicles such as the new German Tiger II, American heavy T-series tanks; most of which can easily deflect even the most powerful shots of the IS-2 unless targeted specifically and known weak spots. Because of this, it is recommended to always travel and fight in groups of two or more vehicles. The slow and difficult in the manoeuvring of the vehicle (especially in confined spaces) will more than once place the IS-2 in significant danger. It is recommended to field the IS-2 into a fire-support role, peeking over the shoulder of friendly, more heavier vehicles and firing a shot against the opposition in tandem.

Another significant note of this vehicle is the IS-2's considerably fast reverse speed, inherited from its IS-1 predecessor, topping at 17 km/h. During situations where engagement is expected, an unorthodox strategy can be utilized where the operator of the IS-2 tank re-positions the vehicle 90 degrees and drive in reverse with the rear-facing towards the enemy. By driving in reverse this way, the engine blocks make a crude yet somewhat effective shield to protect the more delicate crew members. As the fuel tanks are mostly stored at the front on the left and right side of the driver's station, the risk of fire and fuel-tank explosion is reduced significantly (but not completely eliminated) and thus, the tank is able to resist even the most powerful of shots. Be aware that more experienced players may attempt to instead fire at the more exposed turret of the IS tank and instantly knocking out the crew with a common APHE penetrating shell in this way.

In regards to shells, the D-25T cannon is also equipped with powerful High Explosive (HE) Shells which should not go ignored. Firing a HE shell with precise aim directly underneath the chassis of enemy vehicles were the armour, like on the top of the vehicle if thinnest, can cripple or instantly destroy said enemy vehicles. In rare instances, the HE shell of the D-25T is so powerful to the point two or more medium or heavy tanks close to each other can be destroyed with a single exploding HE Shell. Alternatively, the powerful armour-piercing capability of the D-25T cannon's APHE rounds has also been documented to pierce two or three light-armoured targets without exploding.
[[File:Wsp volumetric shell diagram.png|thumb|Differences between non-volumetric shells and volumetric shells hitting a Tiger I]]
An important note when engaging tanks, especially Tiger I's, is that, with the implementation of volumetric shells, you can no longer expect your shells to pierce through small openings or right past an obstacle. The large 122 mm calibre of your shells will result in it catching on an armour plate's edge very often, losing all of its penetration. For example, a Tiger I has some edges that can absorb your shell unexpectedly, despite having flat armour. Thus you must always make sure that where you are aiming at is absolutely free of obstruction, or it may result in a non-penetration or a ricochet. This can be seen in the diagram to the right.

=== Moving from IS-2 to IS-2 (1944) ===
This section will go into more detail about the differences between fighting with this machine, the challenge is that some of the enemies which can be faced are simply impenetrable frontally. You will have to either have to run or outflank them! However, it is critically important to watch your flanks, due to the other enemies which will also be facing, trying to outflank you and hit you in your sides!
because of the saturation of good and highly mobile vehicles that other nations have at this Battle Rating such as: [[Ru 251]], [[Panther (Disambiguation)|Panther tanks]], [[Tiger II (H)]], [[Caernarvon]], [[T34]], [[AMX M4]] and many more.

==== Specific Enemies Worth Noting ====
These are new (or common) vehicles you will see in this tank. Read the specific enemies section in the IS-2 article to get a full run-down.

* ☠ T32 - You have to go for the MG port in the lower left of the UFP, otherwise you can only penetrate the side armour or the rear.
* ☠ T28 - You can only penetrate the cupolas on top of the tank. If they're hidden or you are unsure about the shot, you can try hitting the cannon barrel and running away.
* ☠ Ferdinand - Go for the angled armour at the sides of the lower front plate (below the casemate, but above the lowest plates), this will disable Ferdinand's engine and/or driver, so you can flank and finish it off.
* ☠ Jagdtiger - You cannot reliably penetrate or damage this tank frontally. You can try disabling the cannon barrel, and then flanking is your best option (or running away).
* ☠ Conqueror - Shoot the hull, don't shoot the turret.
* ☠ Ho-Ri Production - You cannot reliably penetrate or damage this tank frontally. You can try disabling the cannon barrel and then flanking is your best option (or running).
* ☠ AMX-50 Foch - You cannot reliably penetrate or damage this tank frontally. You can try disabling the cannon barrel and then flanking is your best option (or running).
* T34 / T29 - Turret cheeks can work, although it's best to go for the LFP because the ammo storage is very low in the tank. If you don't see the LFP, try going just below the turret ring, where the driver sits.
* Tiger II (H) / Panther II - You can easily penetrate the turret cheeks with BR-471B.
* Panther D, A, G, F - You can penetrate the UFP 
* Tortoise - Shoot to the right of the gun of the Tortoise, when you see it head-on if shoot on the left plate there is a chance to knock it out with a single shot.
* AMX-50 Surbaissé - Go for the LFP.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely powerful 122 mm gun. Can easily knock out any tank with a single shot
* The top 122 mm APHE shell has good overmatching mechanics. Can go through the upper plate of the Panther at 500+ m fairly easily
* The gunner has a decent set of optics with 4x magnification
* Upper plate is as tough as the Tiger II's upper plate. Basically immune to anything that isn't HEAT or APDS
* Has good mobility and a high top speed for a heavy tank
* Has a roof mounted 12.7 mm machine gun. So dealing with lightly armoured vehicles and defending its self from planes is possible
* Is a good flanker and ambushing tank thanks to its good top speed, armour, and massive gun
* Add on spaced armour to protect the turret

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible reload speed. Getting into brawls with contemporary heavies like the Tiger II is ill-advised
* Despite the good overall armour, has some serious weak spots on the turret
* Horrible gun depression. Hill fighting is nearly impossible without exposing the entire tank
* Has a massive, flat, and weakly armoured lower plate. All 6.0 and up tanks can slice right through
* Very small crew compartment. Any APHE shell that pens it will likely kill everyone in the tank
* Can't effectively side scrape due to its hull cheeks
* The 12.7 mm machine gun isn't as potent as American .50 cal MGs due to the low mag size and low total carried ammo

== History ==

{{main|IS-2#History|l1=History of the IS-2}}

{{break}}
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}|expand=true}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
In 1944, the IS-2 was modernised. The new model had a flattened sloping frontal hull, and a slot covered with a glass brick was installed to replace the driver's observation hatch. This increased the front hull projection's defences. A high-calibre 12.7 mm anti-aircraft DShK machine gun was attached on a trunnion fixed to the command cupola's traverse circle.
The turret could be rotated mechanically and electrically. With electric drive activated, its maximum speed reached 2.4 revs/min.

The IS-2 was advantageous for its economy and relatively low material requirements in general. With a mass of 46 t, the Soviet tank was far better protected than the German Panther. It also surpassed the 55 tonne Tiger I in this regard and was only somewhat inferior to the 68 tonne Tiger II. Its design had some serious flaws. Its tight layout meant that some of the fuel tanks had to be placed in the fighting compartment and there was no space for a driver's hatch, which often led to an injured tanker being unable to quickly leave a burning tank.
On the whole, the new tank met the leadership's expectations in full as a means of strengthening units and divisions intended to break through the enemy's preemptively well reinforced defensive lines and storm cities.

IS-2 tanks were put into service in separate tank regiments which received the "guards" designation during their formation.
Manufacturing continued until 1946, and around 3,300 were made.
After the war, the IS-2 was modernised and served in the Soviet and Russian armies until 1995.
A small number of tanks of this model were given to China in the 50s. Later, some of these tanks were deployed in Vietnam.
{{Navigation-End}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_is_2_1944 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|0tRz1s5AL2M|'''IS-2: When 85 mm is not enough''' - ''Military History Visualized''}}

== 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/2824--en|[Vehicle Profile] IS-2 Mod. 1944]]

==References==
<references />

{{TankManufacturer ChTZ}}
{{USSR heavy tanks}}

Bf 109 E-1

2022-02-17T09:06:17Z

U118268877: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = German fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Bf 109 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=bf-109e-1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.35]]. The second [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109]] in the German aviation tech tree, introducing the '''E'''mil air frame to the player, it improves from its predecessor [[Bf_109_B-1/L|Bf 109 B]] in every regard. The E-1 is better in armament, climb rate, sustained turn rate and top speed. The Bf 109 E-1 is succeeded by the cannon-armed [[Bf 109 E-3|E-3]] variant.

The Bf 109 E-1 will most likely not be an immediate success for new players. While sporting a very respectable climb rate and good acceleration over its historic counterparts, the Bf 109 E-1 is not an easy plane to fly. That said, its light weight in relation to its engine performance allows the player to wield a pure-breed energy-fighter. However, it is lacking in two regards that often make it hard for new players to perform well in. First, while the Emil does have a good turn, its main historic enemies either turn equally well or better. Second, its armament (four MG 17 7.92 mm, 3,000 rounds) is usually insufficient to reliably dispatch enemies in a quick burst.

That being said, learning how to do well in the E-1 (and later E-3) will pay great dividends to the player in the long run. Alongside its main strength of a good power-to-weight ratio, the Bf 109 E sports a good roll rate, allowing for excellent manoeuvrability. This helps the plane during manoeuvres of all kinds, both in defensive or offensive situations. With this, a seasoned pilot will be able to get on the six of even the tightest turning Spitfire long enough to get their shots in. However, do not overextend for the latter, lest you end up with no speed to escape with.

== 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 5,000 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
| 549 || 536 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.0 || 21.8 || 14.7 || 14.7 || rowspan="2" | 358
|-
! Upgraded
| 591 || 570 || 19.0 || 20.0 || 21.5 || 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 477 || 448 || 300 || ~12 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 450 || < 390 || < 400 || > 312
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,500 m || 960 hp || 1,037 hp
|-
|}

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


There is no armour protection on the Bf 109 E-1, and the fuel tank is not self-sealing. The fuel tank is located behind the pilot's seat. The engine and cooling systems are located in the nose of the plane. This layout allows the pilot some protection, but the lack of real armour still leaves the pilot vulnerable.

* No armour protection
* Fuel tanks are not self-sealing (1 behind pilot)

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

It is recommended to unlock all flight performance and survivability upgrades at first. The default 7.92mm belts are good enough. Energy fighters require acceleration, they live and die by it. Therefore most of "flight performance" upgrades are advised: ''Compressor'', ''Engine'' and ''Engine injection''.

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

{{main|MG 17 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)
* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Of the four machine guns, two are mounted in the upper nose section just in front of the pilot, each armed with 1,000 rpg. The other two machine guns are mounted with one in each wing with a total of 500 rpg.

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

{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
* 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==

When fighting in the Bf 109, the player needs to understand the concept of energy and maintain energy superiority over their foe at all times, while also keeping an eye on their surroundings and incoming bandits. To do this, use speed and altitude to your advantage, constantly shifting between the two in a fight. This calls for discipline on the side of the pilot, as you will often be tempted to bleed away speed or forgot attempts at gaining back altitude in hopes for a few more shots on targets. As your experience with the Emil grows, you will be able to more reliably judge when you can bleed speed/forsake altitude to obtain a positional advantage and when not to, but newer players with a too gung-ho attitude often get themselves into more trouble than they can handle.

Sadly, the E-1, with its limited armament, will often take too long to dispatch an enemy and thus prove unrewarding to one's efforts. Four 7.92 mm machine guns are mounted on this plane, providing a very different experience from Messerschmitt fighters in the game that follow it. The centre-mounted guns hold 1,000 rounds each, while the wings hold 500 each. This means that after some shooting, your effective firepower is halved. The 7.92 mm can be effective against enemy fighters when the pilot is accustomed to them, but they require certain patience to handle. Once accustomed to the ballistics, the player can opt to use stealth ammunition belts. This will ensure that the target moves less while being shot at (especially since the lower tiers have many new pilots), providing better and longer opportunities for shots. Also, the 7.92mm bullets that the E-1 fires when using stealth belts are slightly visible, facilitating target adjustment while still being inconspicuous to the prey.

At engaging large and/or armoured targets such as bombers, the E-1's guns struggle hard. On bombers, specifically, aim for the engines and fuel tanks. The ammunition might not destroy the plane itself, but knocking out an engine or two helps other fighters with heavier armament and can also cause the plane to crash and attribute you the kill.
That said, if done well and left alone, the E-1 will stitch an enemy to death in many well-timed and executed attacks, which makes for a fulfilling experience. If you happen to mess up, extend from the bandit going into a very slight dive to help acceleration. Unless they are right on you, this allows you to gain distance and sets up a nice climbing match in which the Bf 109 E holds all the cards (unless it is facing enemies of later years). Diving away straight down can be done as a last resort but usually leads to you wasting way too much altitude.

'''New players''' should adopt a hit and run tactic with the Bf 109s (also known as Boom and Run). While often called a Boom and Zoom aircraft, the 109s are not dedicated Boom & Zoomers, and many other aircraft such as the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190]] do it much better. That said, the 109s do build up speed quickly in a dive, and they have a respectable zoom climb that ends in a strongly sustained climb at ~ 270 km/h (optimal climbing speed 260, and dash 280 km/h). Doing so will often give the player the maximum speed or altitude advantage they can have over their chosen target. A straight-up bounce, with a short extension from the target and a slowly increasing climb leading into an Immelmann, tends to work best for rookie pilots. Remember to check your six and surroundings during the climb and just before diving back on your target.

'''Simulator Battles'''

In Simulator, the Bf 109 E-1 is quite a friendly fighter that can perform many tasks. It offers great flight performance with its smooth handling, adequate speed, and impressive climb rate and turn rate. Its guns are scattered around the nose, which require little convergence setting, making it very easy to aim. The nose gently slopes down from the windscreen, offering great over-the-nose vision. There are also a few bomb options to choose from which are beneficial for ground-pounding or base-bombing, although these are not its primary objectives. Despite having a razorback, the Emils actually have great visibility towards the tail, increasing the pilot's situational awareness. Finally, the engine is not as powerful as the later models, making takeoff easier. However the E-1 does suffer from rather poor one-second burst mass given by the 4 x 7.92 mm MGs.

Bring at least 30 minutes of fuel for prolonged patrolling and fighting. The convergence does not really matter, it might be anywhere between 250-600m. You can also set keys for vertical head movement, as lifting up your head a little helps improving the over-the-nose visibility.

Dogfighting in SB involves everyday RB tactics. Utilise common manuevers such as Immelmann, Split-S, scissor, barrel roll, etc. Note: the Bf 109 handles very sluggishly in the roll axis at low speed, so take this into account if dogfighting at low speed/altitude. You can even pull the elevator fully for maximum agility, but only if you pull gently and gradually will the 109 manoeuvre as you wish. If maximum elevator input is harsh and sudden, the plane will start swaying around and enter a flat spin. The aircraft can quite easily recover from a flat spin by fully deflecting the elevator downward and rudder to the opposite direction to which the plane is spinning, then wait until it starts a dive and gathers some speed to pull up.

Landing may require practice for some. It is easy at first: decelerate and descend towards the runway, deploy combat, takeoff, landing flaps and landing gear, in order, fly at ~190 km/h before touchdown. If the plane bounces up with landing flaps, use takeoff/combat flaps instead to reduce lift. Note that you must align the plane with the airstrip correctly prior to touchdown and do not yaw or brake to one side too much when braking, as the main landing gears are so close together that they cannot support such sideways force, causing the plane to wobble dangerously or even tilt towards one side, striking a wingtip into the ground.

====Specific enemies worth noting====

'''[[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfire]]'''- the great nemesis: Fast, agile and with a powerful punch. This recurrent enemy will change its traits in its development, but even in this early era, the Spitfire possesses them. The Spitfire Mk.I and Mk.II is on par in top speed above 2,000 m, but near sea-level, the E-series has 20 km/h more speed. Further, the 109 can get to these top speeds faster, due to its superior power-to-weight ratio. The latter also allows it to duel the Spitfire in defensive dogfights. In extended manoeuvres, the Spitfire can run out of energy, which the Bf 109 E-1 has fewer issues in regaining. Getting there can be done via scissoring, where the Emil also benefits from its far better roll rate. Yet at these close to stall speed dogfights (~230 km/h), the Spitfire can more easily pull high angle of attack manoeuvres, as it stalls way later than the 109. An alternative defensive manoeuvre is a spiral climb, followed up by a rope-a-dope, although this is only executable in [[Simulator_Battles|Simulator]].

The late '''LaGG-3s''' ([[LaGG-3-35|35]] and [[LaGG-3-66|66]] series) are a serious threat featuring many of the Bf 109 traits, including top speed, climb rate and manoeuvrability. For defensive manoeuvres, scissoring is one of the few options. In Simulator, the chance of throwing off the opponent by making them lose the sight of you is hard, as the LaGG has great frontal cockpit visibility but a bad rear view, coincidentally like the Bf 109 E-1.
Early LaGG-3s such as the [[LaGG-3-8|8]] and [[LaGG-3-11|11]] series are much easier to deal with. They are equal in manoeuvrability, but their engine performance is sub-par in every regard. Out-climbing or simply out-running after breaking off in scissors can help rid this pursuer. However, it can be hard to distinguish the different LaGG-3 series, especially in game modes without HUD.

The '''[[MiG-3-15|MiG-3]]''' is a high-altitude fighter. Do not fight it above 5,000 m. It lacks manoeuvrability but possesses great top speed and good energy retention at altitude.

The '''[[Yak-1B]] and [[Yak-7B]]''' are generally superior to the Emil series in turning and low altitude speed. The [[Yak-1]] is around equal in performance.

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

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:FighterImage_Bf109E-1.jpg|thumbnail|right|In the hangar.]]

'''Pros:'''

* Great climb rate and acceleration
* Great energy fighter
* Good top speed
* Overall performance compares favourably against historic counterparts
* Good ammunition count
* Decent high-altitude performance
* Can double as a fighter-bomber, although not recommended
* Can carry 250 kg of bombs

'''Cons:'''

* Water overheats quickly if WEP is used for too long.
* Unrewarding for newer pilots
* Average rear cockpit visibility (SB)
* Only small calibre guns, lacking in armament, compared to similar tier planes of other nations

== History ==

The Bf 109 E-1 is essentially the first 'modern' 109. While the Bf 109's earlier models (V [Prototype], A, B, C) were tested during the Spanish Civil War and developed out of the experiences made in that conflict, it took a few more years for it to develop into a true front-line fighter. The E-1 was the first of a new breed of [[Bf_109_(Family)|Bf 109]] fighters. Entering production in late 1938, the "Emil" quickly replaced its earlier brethren in service with the Luftwaffe. The distinctive chin radiator of the Jumo powered variants was replaced with two much subtler underwing-mounted versions integrated with flaps, and the cowling was redesigned to carry the Daimler-Benz 601 series of engines. The result was a much more aerodynamically efficient aircraft that was more than a match for the new Supermarine Spitfire that was entering service with the RAF around the same time the first Emils were rolling off the production lines. The Bf 109 E-1 was also sent into action with the Condor Legion in the Spanish Civil War during its twilight stages.

Entering service in 1939, the E-1 would see combat in the early phases of WW2, quickly obtaining aerial supremacy over the skies of Europe. The Bf 109 E was able to outclass many of the standard fighters of the day and was a key component of the German Blitzkrieg tactics that dominated the early years of WW2. A small run of E-1B Jagdbomber versions were also created, capable of mounting up to 250 kg of bombs on a centreline pylon. The Bf 109 "Emil" would finally meet its match in the RAF's Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire fighters that intercepted German formations during the Battle of Britain (where its limited fuel supply restricted combat effectiveness). By the beginning of the Battle, the Bf 109 E-1 was already being replaced or upgraded to the [[Bf 109 E-3]] MG FF cannon armed variant and improved E-4; however, some E-1s would still see combat before the end of the year. After the Battle of Britain's conclusion, the "Emil" series would ultimately lead to another major variant, the [[Bf_109_F-1|Bf 109 F]] or "Friedrich" that would form the basis of all following Bf 109s.

== Media ==


== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=bf-109e-1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|XYQEDmFkMF8|'''Realistic: Bf 109 E-1 [Born Excellence!]''' - ''Jengar''|xV8bQU5m_iA|'''Bf 109 E-1 Gameplay and Review''' - ''DigitalDigging''}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[C.R.714]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.ru/index.php?/topic/105629-pasport-bf-109-e1e3/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* Radinger, Willy & Otto, Wolfgang, Messerschmitt Me 109 - Das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt - Entwicklung, Erprobung, Technik - Bf 109A bis 109K, Aviatic Verlag, Oberhachingen: 2011
* [http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/web.php?lang=de&auth=e&name=bf109b&versionscategory=6 "Falcon's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Hangar" Bf 109E subpage]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants#Bf_109E English Wikipedia: "Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants – Bf 109 E"]
* [http://kurfurst.org/#Emil "Performance Information Bf 109E"]
* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/271405-vehicle-profile-bf-109-e-1/ War Thunder forum: ''[Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> Bf 109 E-1'']

{{AirManufacturer BFW}}
{{Germany fighters}}

Hs 129 B-3

2022-02-17T08:49:39Z

U118268877: /* Manual Engine Control */

{{About
| about = German strike aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Hs 129 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=hs-129b-3
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.37]].

The Hs 129 is a pure ground attack aircraft, designed mostly to take out tanks and armoured vehicles. The 75 mm BK 7.5 cannon derives from the [[PaK40/3 L46 (75 mm)|PaK 40]] anti-tank gun and is capable of knocking out medium tanks, while the 7.92 mm LMGs can destroy armoured cars and mobile SPAAs. The plane is both slow and sluggish, meaning that it practically has to go after ground targets, but the armament and armour somewhat compensate for that and enable the plane to take out nearly all ground targets except pillboxes and heavy tanks.

The plane is very heavy, which makes it nearly impossible to take out fighters. Even most medium bombers are more manoeuvrable; however, the plane is heavily armoured, so it can last a while even under heavy fire, even to such a degree that some planes run out of ammunition before taking out a Henschel.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,550 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
| 421 || 404 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.4 || 31.3 || 5.9 || 5.9 || rowspan="2" | 331
|-
! Upgraded
| 466 || 439 || 26.5 || 27.9 || 11.2 || 8.3
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 287 || 252 || 190 || ~10 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 320 || < 320 || < 300 || > 280
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,550 m || 1,300 hp || 1,530 hp
|-
|}

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


* 5 mm Steel - Oil cooler covers
* 5 mm Steel - Lower engine cowl protection
* 2 mm Steel - Cockpit side plates
* 12 mm Steel - Cockpit back plate, floor, and front plates
* 75 mm Bulletproof glass

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
[[File:Hs-129 B-3 destroying a ground vehicle.png|thumb|Hs-129 B-3 destroying a ground vehicle with its 75 mm BK 7.5 cannon]]
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|BK 7.5 (75 mm)|MG 17 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 75 mm BK 7.5 cannon, chin-mounted (13 rpg)
* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, cheek-mounted (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

The two machine guns are arranged on each side of the fuselage. The 75 mm cannon is mounted to the underside of the fuselage. When aiming do not use the crosshair, instead, to be more precise with your shots, take the diameter of the aiming circle and put the length under the circle. This should provide the most accurate shot as that spot is a rough estimation of where your shot will land.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:Cockpit_Hs129B.jpg|x400px|thumbnail|right|The Hs 129 B's instrument panel.]]

The Hs 129 B-3 is capable of destroying most mission-relevant ground targets. Tanks of all sorts, as well as light pillboxes, can be destroyed in one hit, provided armour piercing ammunition is used. Thanks to the 13 shells available, this can make a single Hs 129 B-3 a game-changing aircraft.

The Hs 129, however, does have major drawbacks. Its engines are weak which results in poor top speed, acceleration and climb rate. This, combined with the armour of nearly one-ton weight, makes it perform poorly in air combat and very vulnerable to attacks of enemy fighters. This, however, goes so far that sometimes enemy pilots underestimate the Hs 129 and overshoot it after a tight turn, which gives the Hs 129 pilot a moderate chance of defending himself.

In simulator battles, it is highly advisable to climb to at least 600 meters, level, and build speed (energy) before turning and returning for another attack. When spawning, it is still recommended to climb to 1000 meters above ground and use the scope to spot enemy ground vehicles in simulator battles. If there are possible enemies in the area, lose altitude, and fly away from the enemy to take a different path.

Do not attempt to make quick adjustments when aiming in a dive. Pull up, and try again. The AI tanks will go nowhere. Use 'universal belts' to help aim the main tank gun. It is not recommended to use tracers. The plane needs one major virtue to produce desirable results: patience.

The plane may sound very weak but, every tool in the box has a specific purpose: the Hs 129 B-3 is designed to win through objective destruction.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

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

[[ZSD63]]: A dangerous SPAA to go up against in Tank Realistic Battles. Though it is hard to identify specific SPAA vehicles on the ground (especially when they are shooting tracers at the plane), if a ZSD63 is identified, avoid it at all costs and do not attempt head-ons with it, ever. It can easily snap a wing off by casually putting a short burst in the {{PAGENAME}}'s flight path. Don't even get close to it unless it is busy shooting someone else. Even the {{PAGENAME}}'s mighty 75mm cannon cannot effectively damage it as its hull is overall quite empty, causing your shells to do little to no damage. Some identifying features of the ZSD63 is its rather boxy and tall hull with a geometric turret sitting at the back, slightly similar to a Wirbelwind's. The firing manner is also distinctive: the sound and green tracers are very rapid, much like a buzz saw, but then it will remain silent for half a minute reloading. Note that an experienced ZSD player will hold its fire or shoot in single salvos with long halts between, making it look like that it's reloading.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* The combination of the 7.92 mm machine guns and the 75 mm anti-tank gun can make short work of armoured columns
* Can be quite profitable in Air RB when used right, as destroying tanks gets you quite a high score
* A shot from the 75 mm gun can tear an aircraft apart when firing High Explosive rounds
* Extremely effective in tank realistic battles with air superiority. The 75 mm can take out even the most heavily armoured Allied tanks
* The 7.92 mm machine guns allow for engaging unarmoured targets without wasting 75 mm ammunition
* Can take a fair amount of punishment
* Quite a stable gun platform
* Default ammunition for 75 mm gun is made up of only AP shells, unlike similar aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely slow from underpowered engines
* Terrible climb rate
* Not particularly manoeuvrable
* Poor energy retention
* Damage to engines can lose enough power to the extent that the plane simply falls out of the sky
* No defensive armament translates to a "sitting duck" in some combat situations, especially without friendly fighters in the air
* Cockpit has very thin armour that leaves pilot vulnerable to most enemy projectiles
* The gun has large horizontal drop-off (if you dive at a higher angle, the shots will land nearer to the crosshair)
* 75 mm cannon is rather inaccurate when stock
* Has only 13 rounds for the 75 mm cannon

== History ==


Produced in 1944, the B-3 variant of the Henschel Hs 129 was installed with the 7.5 cm BK 7,5 cannon, a lighter version of the PaK 40 which already been tested on the Junkers Ju 88. The 7.5 cm BK 7,5 had 12 rounds in a rotary magazine. The gun was fully automatic, with a newly designed hydraulic recoil dampening system and a more aerodynamic muzzle brake. The gun pod had a circular port to let the cartridges eject after firing. The 7.5 cm BK 7,5 was the most powerful forward-firing weapon ever fitted to a production aircraft at the time. It can theatrically destroy any armoured target it found. Only 25 units of the Hs 129 B-3 were produced.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=hs-129b-3 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|ObEcMPqFBbE|'''The Shooting Range #259''' - ''Tips & Tricks'' section at 10:54 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|VHJN6ZWOmnY|'''The bane of tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 3:12 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Similar aircraft fitted with a large-calibre gun

* [[PBJ-1H]]
* [[XA-38]]
* [[Ki-109]]
* [[P.108A serie 2]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/2689--en|[Ugly Ducklings] - Hs 129]]

{{AirManufacturer Henschel}}
{{Germany strike aircraft}}

M18 GMC

2022-02-17T04:05:38Z

U118268877: /* Description */

{{About
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = M18 Hellcat (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=us_m18_hellcat
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank{{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]]. It was categorized as a [[:Category:Tank_destroyers|tank destroyer]] since its in-game introduction, but it was recategorized as a [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tank]] during [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]] on [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1240|7 May 2021]].

The M18 "Hellcat" was the epitome of the American tank destroyer doctrine, it was very fast, very mobile, and has a powerful gun, though with a large trade-off with only 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) of armour.

The M18 "Hellcat" compensates the lack of anti-tank capability on U.S vehicles by having access to a 76 mm gun with APCR ammunition, all in the battle rating of 5.7. This makes the M18 able to fight off many of the high-ranking vehicles it could face like the [[Panther D|Panther D]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger H1]], [[KV-1_(ZiS-5)|KV-1]], [[KV-85]], and [[IS-1]].

Unlike the other tank destroyers known in the game, the M18 "Hellcat" has access to a 360° traversable turret, allowing players to have a greater arc of fire than a typical casemate tank destroyer like the [[StuG III G|StuG III]], but at the expense of a slightly higher profile. Americans tank destroyers also have very high manoeuvrability compared to other nation's tank destroyers, allowing it to flank the enemy.

The main weak point of M18 is its very thin armour, a feature that actually allows the M18 to reach its high speed. The thin armour makes it possible for any enemy tanks to penetrate the vehicle. A single hit would destroy many critical components in the M18 or cripple the crew. The only saving grace with this extremely thin armour is that standard AP rounds may over-penetrate the armour, doing minimal damage to the internals. Thus, when facing the M18, it's best to use AP rounds with explosive fillers or HE and HEAT rounds while avoiding usage of pure AP rounds and APCR.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour (hull, turret)
* Cast homogeneous armour (gun mantlet)

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 12.7 mm (39-64°) ''Front glacis'' 12.7 mm (23-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12.7 mm (23-26°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (12°) ''Top'' 12.7 mm (36°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm
|-
| Turret || 25.4 mm (15-26°) ''Turret front'' 19 mm + 25.4 mm (0-55°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 12.7 mm (1-21°) || 12.7 mm (7°) || N/A ''Open-top'' 8 mm ''Bustle and Front''
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.
* The hull underside right above the tracks are only 8 mm thick.
* Tracks are attached the turret rear, granting some 15 mm in thickness.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=620|rbMinHp=354}}

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

As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top priority. Following that, depending on player preferences, one of 3 should be researched: Horizontal Drive (close-range, flanking), Suspension (medium-range) or Adjustment of Fire (long-range of a typical engagements). Following this the goal is to get rank IV mobility improvements in order Filters -> Engine -> Transmission. On rank III, along the way, the Crew Replenishment should be prioritized, as its an open-top vehicle, so it will suffer significant causalities from enemy airplanes. If your preferred engagement range is above 700 m then the Elevation Mechanism should be researched. Otherwise: Mobility upgrades are the most important, shells are the lowest priority, as even the situational advantage of the M93 shot is not worth researching over improved mobility, or even accuracy.

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

{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}

76 mm M1 is an extremely capable gun with a high damage potential and a very good gun handling. It can be found on tanks used up to battle rating 6.0, making it one of the most widely used guns throughout the battle ratings and with M18 being the first tanks to use it - it gives it a very high staying power throughout battle ratings. Once upgraded, the turret has very fair guidance in both: horizontal and vertical axis allowing to quickly catch pot-shots, though given exceptional mobility of the platform even it struggles to catch up with the near-instant hull rotation.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]] || 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" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 22.8 || 31.6 || 38.4 || 42.5 || 45.2 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.02 || rowspan="2" | 6.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.10
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 14.3 || 16.8 || 20.4 || 22.6 || 24.0
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
M18 comes with an exceptionally good stock shell, allowing it to unleash its full potential pretty much right off the bat. Additional unlocks are more specialized.

* M62 shell - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - The best anti-tank shell, also the stock round. It has very good penetration and an excellent post-penetration effect.
* M42A1 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - The best round for dealing with unarmoured targets or unarmoured sections of vehicles. It should be used carefully, as everything over 10 mm armour can negate its effects. Typically M62 is superior.
* M79 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Round inferior in every way to the M62, it's in-game largely for historical reasons.
* M93 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Round trades a significantly lower post-penetration effect for a 20% increase in penetration and flatter flight path.

{| 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
|-
| M62 shell || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 133 || 119 || 106 || 95
|-
| M42A1 shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7
|-
| M79 shot || AP || 134 || 132 || 121 || 109 || 99 || 89
|-
| M93 shot || APCR || 190 || 186 || 167 || 146 || 128 || 112
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| M62 shell || APCBC || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| M42A1 shell || HE || 800 || 5.84 || 0 || 0.1 || 390 || 79° || 80° || 81°
|-
| M79 shot || AP || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| M93 shot || APCR || 1,036 || 4.22 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°
|-
|}
{| 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)
|-
| M88 || 274 || 3.44 || 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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''45''' || 37 ''(+8)'' || 27 ''(+18)'' || 17 ''(+28)'' || 9 ''(+36)'' || 1 ''(+44)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* Turret empty: 37 ''(+8)'' shells.
* When fighting in downtiers it's best to take only 17 shells, which allows the turret and sides of the tank to be empty of shells, notably increasing survivability. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many rounds are loaded, as most hits against the tank will prove deadly regardless.

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

{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 800 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

Before all, avoid colourful or bright decals. Camouflage is the main part of the M18's defence. Chances for good performance in battle are: be "invisible", fast and effective.

The M18's speed is its best ally. This speed has to be used for flanking manoeuvres and relocate. Not for trying to cross an open field, that will leave it open to enemy fire, speed is not a substitute for armour.

'''Relocate:'''

* This movement will have to be done again and again. Choose a good spot wisely, remove the foliage if necessary to get a clear field of fire. When in the fire spot, use the gun depression and stay in a hull-down position until a target is located. Once a target is locked on, aim at critical components. Try to immobilize the enemy by firing at the engine or transmission, or remove their firepower by shooting the gun or breech, or for instant destruction with a shot to the ammo storage. The last option can work very well or not, as skilled players only carry a few rounds of ammo.

* If positive that the enemy hasn't discovered the firing spot, go for another shot. Stay attentive that none of the enemy's teammates has also located the firing spot. If detected, hide immediately and relocate.

'''Flanking:'''

* Flanking is the most dangerous manoeuvre of all because the vehicle will have to be exposed as it moves to the enemy's rear, but it is very effective when it's coordinated with other vehicles. A distraction is needed to gain the enemy's attention while the M18 makes its move. Isolated enemy units are very vulnerable to this tactic. Using the M18 speed to get to the rear and as the enemy heads toward the objective, the firing perspective should give a very clear view of the enemy's side armour. A good shot with the M62 APCBC shell could knock out the enemy rather quickly, but if using solid AP shots like the M79, aim at critical components on mobility and firepower before knocking out the crew or ammo stowage.

'''Avoid flat terrain'''

* Flat terrain means that the Hellcat will become an easy target for virtually any vehicle by exposure, especially when not moving or when moving in a straight line. Open plains are the bane of the Hellcat. Whenever possible, one should try to stay amongst hills.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Overall mobility is superb, with very responsive manoeuvring that allows the Hellcat to excel in flanking manoeuvres
* Fast reload speed and turret traverse
* Stock APCBC round has great penetration and lots of explosive fillers, rarely requiring more than one penetrating shot to kill common tanks like M4, Cromwell, [[Tiger H1]] or [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]
* Low profile, reducing target size and allows it to hide behind small bushes or rocks easily
* The nature of its thin armour means AP rounds have a tendency to pass straight through without damaging modules, and an APHE fuse may not even be triggered. For example the Soviet 122 mm will over-penetrate, dealing little damage
* The M18 is very good at climbing hills, particularly at steep angles
* Has access to the scouting mechanic and is able to provide assistance in repairing friendly vehicles

'''Cons:'''

* Thin armour means rapid-fire autocannons, heavy machine guns, and aerial weapons could easily shred it. Beware of the [[R3 T20 FA-HS]], [[IL-2 (Family)|IL-2]] and [[ZSD63]]!
* Commander is exposed at the 0.50 calibre machine gun mount, and knocking him out would render the weapon useless
* Open-top construction means aerial strikes and artillery could rain havoc onto the crew
* Gun has poor penetration in an uptier, often can't penetrate anything frontally unless hitting a weak spot. The [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Tiger II (H)]] and [[M26 (Family)|M26]] are frontally immune to this 76 mm M1.
* A moment of immobility due to a damaged engine or transmission could be a sign of impending doom for the M18
* HEAT or HE shells can cause the vehicle to be over pressurized and destroy the vehicle instantly, even if it wasn't aimed at a critical spot.

== History ==


===US Tank Destroyer Doctrine===
The self-propelled anti-tank doctrine established by the US military called for fast, powerful vehicles able to stop the German blitzkrieg tactics by ambushing the attacking tank forces. This doctrine, known as the "Tank Destroyer Doctrine", called for anti-tank forces to be held in reserve to blunt the massed Panzer attacks that many in the War Department believed was the key to German victory in France in 1940. The concentration of antitank weaponry away from the frontline was eventually determined to be an unnecessary weakness, and the solution was to keep a few anti-tank guns in the front-line as the first defence, while a large reserve of mobile tank destroyers would move in at the location where a German tank breakthrough is happening to ambush and destroy the enemy forces. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun and mobility. Minimal emphasis was placed on armour, as the doctrinal role of tank destroyers was to respond rapidly to an enemy armoured breakthrough; heavy armour would only hinder a timely response. The development of a purpose-built tank destroyer languished in bureaucratic limbo for the early years of the war (a delay caused by poor designs such as the M5 Cletrac and bureaucratic infighting between the various departmental cliques), and consequently, the majority of self-propelled tank destroyers were expedients derived from the M4 Sherman chassis. The most common tank destroyer was the [[M10 GMC|M10 GMC]], made from the [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]] hull and armed with a 3-inch M1918 gun. Although perfectly capable and welcome addition for frontline forces, it was no faster than an ordinary Sherman tank. The tank destroyers would in 1944 finally receive their purpose-built self-propelled tank destroyer in 1944: the M18 Hellcat.<ref name="ZalogaM18" />

===Development===
The origin of the M18 design came as early as December 1941 with the requirement of a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun. This requirement called for a radical new tank design rather than a derivative of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. These requirements changed as the war progressed, the first change was to the new and innovative Torsion bar suspension from Buick Motor Division from General Motors and another change was to mount the British [[Ordnance_QF_6-pounder_Mk.III_(57_mm)|QF 6-pounder gun]] then in use on their [[Churchill_Mk_III|Churchill Mark III]] tanks, the developed prototype vehicle was called the ''T49 GMC''. Then the US Army wanted the heavier [[M3_(75_mm)|75 mm gun]] used on the Shermans on it, this prototype was designated the ''T67 GMC''. Finally, the army decided to mount the [[M1_(76_mm)|76 mm gun]] also in development for the Sherman onto the prototype, now known as ''T70 GMC''. Changes to hull shape and turret took place to accommodate all these new requirements and armament, but it eventually was approved for service and finally renamed as the '''M18 GMC''' and started production in mid-1943, which went on until ending in October 1944 with 2,507 units produced. A variant called the ''M39 Armored Utility Vehicle'' was also produced, its turret was removed for space for cargo, 8 personnel, or to tow guns.

===Combat usage===
These vehicles saw combat debut in the summer of 1944, where they are given the unofficial nickname "Hellcat" by the crews using them. Unlike the [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] that was built before it, the M18 GMC was purely made for emphasis on speed. Armour was restricted down to a maximum of 1-inch (25 mm) on the turret front while the rest of the body plating is a measly .50-inches thick (12.7 mm). The turret was also an open-top design similar to the M10 tank destroyer, meaning the crew are left exposed to the elements and enemy fire and shrapnel. These faults were mitigated by the fact that as its role as a tank destroyer, it was to have minimum contact with infantry and ambush enemy tanks in concealed position rather than face them in an offensive operation. Nevertheless, the M18 GMC was well-liked by the crew for its 76 mm cannon, which allows it to destroy the newer German [[Tiger H1|Tiger Is]] and [[Panther D|Panthers]] tanks from the front with HVAP ammo (though the Panther at close range only) when unable to flank around to the side or rear of these tanks. The speed was also astounding, reaching 55 miles per hour maximum, this makes the M18 GMC the fastest armoured fighting vehicle in World War II.

While use in the Pacific theatre was limited due to the inadequate armour of Japanese tanks, it saw most of its service in the European theatre against Nazi Germany. Due to the lack in armour and emphasis on speed, the M18 crews utilize the "shoot and scoot" tactic in attacking the enemy from one position and quickly move to another before the enemy could find their initial firing position, this tactic confuses the German tanks, and could even lead them to believe there is more armoured enemy than what it appears. The M18 GMCs were present during the Battle of Arracourt in France as the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lt. Edwin Leiper led an M18 platoon of C Company and in the battle knocked a total of 15 German tanks for the loss of three M18; six of these German tank kills, most of which were Panthers, were credited to one M18 led by Sgt Henry R. Hartman. The M18 also played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, where its top speed of 55 mph was finally put to good use in bypassing the enemy forces. Four M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion assisted the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in attacking the 2nd Panzer Divison and their support to kill the fuel lines to the German tanks. The overall attack had the M18 GMC credited with at least 24 tank kills of the 30 total inflicted in the attack.

===Legacy===
Overall, the M18 GMC proved itself by having the highest kill-to-loss ratio to any other tanks and tank destroyer in American service, making it the most effective tank destroyer in American service. However, like its other tank destroyer brethren, it soon found itself obsolete along with the entire tank destroyer doctrine. Mainly due to increasing prevalence of well-armoured tanks that could do its job more efficiently such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], but also the lack of German AFVs at the time of the war and a study on ammo usage indicates that the tank destroyers spent more time supporting infantry with high-explosive shells than killing tanks with armour-piercing, rendering the anti-tank section an unnecessary component in the modernizing armoured forces.

Today, some countries in the world such as Yugoslavia still have the M18 Hellcats in reserves.

=== In-game description ===
A self-propelled artillery/tank destroyer mount based on the M24 tank. It was part of the American arsenal during World War II. It was produced from the middle of 1943 to October, 1944 and was used in combat operations in Italy and northern Europe. Its primary gun was the M1 76 mm cannon, as was the case with late-model Sherman tanks. This tank destroyer featured very light armour, but the M18 was nevertheless the fastest armoured vehicle in World War II.

The Hellcat was the most effective anti-tank SPG in the American army despite its extreme vulnerability and the fact that its 76 mm cannon was unable to penetrate the armour of late German tanks. The vehicle stood out for its speed and manoeuvrability. Able to accelerate and change direction quickly, the Hellcat could easily outflank German tanks or even get behind them, whereas the rotation speed of the German tanks was not fast enough to attack the M18 and the M1 cannon could penetrate the enemy's weak points with relative ease.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=us_m18_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|1PfD0Wd2Sts|'''M18 "Hellcat" - Why everyone plays (and likes) it? [review]''' - ''HowToPlay1337''|MMbI22Uya8A|'''M18 Hellcat Supplemental''' - ''rob762x51''}}

== 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/3772-profile-m18-gun-motor-carriage-hellcat-en|[Profile] M18 Gun Motor Carriage – Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/news/3448--en|[Vehicle Profile] As fast as deadly: The M18 Hellcat]]
* [[wt:en/devblog/current/760|[Devblog] M18 and M18 'Black Cat']]

=== References ===
<references>
<ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga Steven. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004</ref>
</references>

{{TankManufacturer Buick}}
{{USA light tanks}}

PT-76-57

2022-01-26T08:33:50Z

U118268877: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = Soviet light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = PT-76 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ussr_pt_76_57
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Direct Hit"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season V, "River Hunter"]].

Otherwise known as the PT-76E, the PT-76-57 possesses many significant upgrades, including night vision and a two-plane stabiliser. The main difference is the armament, a rapid firing AU-220 57 mm cannon fitted in a unique turret which, using the same BR-281 shells used in the [[ZSU-57-2]], proves very effective when dealing with numerous enemies at once. Compared to the ZSU-57-2 due to the similar armament, the PT-76-57 makes up having only half the firepower by instead having a significantly faster rate of fire. On a relatively mobile and low-profile chassis, the PT-76-57 can be a true menace on the battlefield when flanking otherwise heavily-armoured foes or tearing through lightly-armoured IFVs and light tanks.

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

Overall, armour is extremely weak. You cannot rely on the armour to save you in any circumstance, as almost everything in the BR bracket can penetrate you at any angle, and at any range. The turret face averages around 35 mm of armour, the upper and lower glasis averages between 23 mm and 45 mm, and the sides are extremely weak, at only 13 mm of armour. The frontal armour and the angles will only protect you from heavy machine guns. Even light machine guns can penetrate your vehicle from the side, so if you disable an enemy's main gun, be sure to avoid showing your vulnerable sides to enemy machine gun fire.

'''Armour type:'''

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

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 10 mm (79°) ''Top'' 13 mm (56°) ''Bottom'' || 13 mm ''Top'' 10 mm ''Bottom'' || 6 mm || 5 - 6 mm
|-
| Turret || 22 mm ''Turret front'' 30 mm ''Gun mantlet'' || 18 - 22 mm || 15 mm || 6 mm
|-
|}

'''Notes:''' 


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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=465|rbMinHp=265}}

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

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

{{main|AU-220 (57 mm)}}

The AU-220 cannon is extremely effective in the BR bracket, as it can destroy any light tank at ranges up to 2.5 km, most medium tanks up to 2 km, and can reliably destroy heavies using weak spot sniping from 1.5 km. In CQB, the cannon is devastating, and the 20 g of TNT filler in the round ensure catastrophic damage from a successful penetration. The cannon performs best in CQB, or at ranges of less than ~1 km. At long range, use your laser rangefinder and pinpoint weak spots, or aim for the vulnerable sides. Some things to consider remain, though, like the relatively low muzzle velocity of the round, the low penetration at ranges beyond 2 km, and the fact that you cannot reliably destroy heavies frontally. Unlike most tanks, it thrives best in an uptier, where you face early MBTs with poor armour. Plus, the cramped crew compartments of these MBTs allow for consistent single-shot knock-outs from the sides.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="6" | [[AU-220 (57 mm)|57 mm AU-220]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)
|-
! Mode !! Capacity !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced
|-
! ''Arcade''
| rowspan="2" | 100 || rowspan="2" | 120 || rowspan="2" | -5°/+35° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | Two-plane || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._ || rowspan="2" | 0.50 || rowspan="2" | 0.50 || rowspan="2" | 0.50 || rowspan="2" | 0.50
|-
! ''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
|-
| BR-281 || APCBC || 151 || 147 || 132 || 114 || 100 || 87
|-
| OR-281U || HE* || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5 || 5
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| BR-281 || APCBC || 1,000 || 2.8 || 1.2 || 9 || 20 || 48° || 63° || 71°
|-
| OR-281U || HE* || 1,000 || 2.8 || 0 || 0.1 || 153 || 79° || 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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''100''' || 21 ''(+79)'' || 1 ''(+99)'' || No
|-
|}
'''Notes''':

* As they are modeled by sets of 2, shells disappear from the rack only after you've fired both shells in the set.
* Rack 2 is a first stage ammo rack (autoloader magazine). It totals 20 shells.
** This racks gets filled first when loading up the tank and is also emptied first.
** As the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with an autoloader, manual reloading of the gun is not possible.
** Once the autoloader magazine has been depleted, you can't shoot until the autoloader has been restocked with at least 1 shell. The restocking time is much longer than the normal reload time of the gun. Take this into account when playing.
** Simply not firing when the gun is loaded will move ammo from rack 1 into rack 2. Firing will interrupt the restocking of the ready racks.
** The depletion order at full capacity is: 2 - 1.

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

{{main|PKT (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" | [[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 ==

The PT-76-57 performs extremely well in the support role, or as a flanker type of vehicle. In smaller maps, try to avoid face-to-face confrontations with heavy tanks, as it will quickly get your vehicle destroyed. Instead, try to secure a good position near a cap point, or flank to a side route to surprise passing tanks. As a support tank, stick with friendly tanks, scouting and helping to repair as needed. Disable tanks for allies to finish when you can't, and destroy more lightly armoured targets. This tank performs exceptionally well as a flanker as well, as it is fairly mobile and can easily take out tanks from the sides. If a more aggressive playstyle suits you better, rush a capture point, find a secure position, and destroy enemies pushing into it.

;Notable enemies

* [[T26E5]], [[T34]], [[T32 Heavy Tank (Family)|T32]] - These American heavies cannot be taken out frontally quickly enough to avoid return fire. Either flank the sides to cook the ammo, or disable and let allies pick them off.
* [[M46]], [[M60 (Family)|M60]] - These American mediums are abundant at this BR, and cannot be reliable penetrated from the front. Disable the main gun and mobility first, then shoot the cupola to incapacitate ~ 2 crew members. If it is safe to push, get a sideshot for a crew knockout or ammo. Make sure not to expose your sides to machine guns.
* [[M48 Patton (Family)|M48]] series - These tanks can be penetrated frontally, or from the side, or the rear of the turret. However, with powerful weaponry and decent armour, they can easily disable your vehicle. Most of them also have rangefinders, so distance is not a sure way to protect yourself.
* [[SPz BMP-1]], [[BMP-1]] - These fast, mobile light tanks can easily take out enemies with the 75 mm anti-tank gun, or their missiles. Luckily, they are easy to take out, as 1-2 rounds will usually either destroy the ammo or knockout the small crew.
* [[Tiger II (Family)|Tiger II]] - This tank is heavily armoured, has a powerful gun, and excellent surviveablity. Ideally, you only face them from the side, where you can easily penetrate. However, from the front, you need to go in this order: Disable the main gun, then break a track, and then knockout crew by shooting the commanders cupola. This will incapacitate at least 2 turret crew members.
* [[Kugelblitz]] and [[Wiesel 1A4]] - These German AA's can shred you from any angle and most ranges, so beware. However, you can destroy them just as easily, so be aware of your surroundings. The Wiesel is exceptionally dangerous because of it's mobility and small size, so it can take key positions and show up behind friendly lines quickly.
* [[Marder A1-]] and [[DF105]] - The Marder has missiles and a rapid fire autocannon - two things that don't match with the PT-76-57 very well. The DF105 has a powerful HEAT-FS round that will one shot you instantly. Again, powerful light tanks are a major threat and a top priority.
* [[Centurion Mk.5 AVRE]] - This HESH lobbing medium tank is one of your most dangerous enemies, because even a hit NEAR your tank will cause destruction by overpressure. However, the long reload makes it extremely vulnerable for an extended period of time, and a penetrated commander cupola will incapacitate turret crew members. Make sure to disable the barrel first, though, or you will see the hanger screen very quickly.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Rapid-firing 57 mm autocannon can deal huge damage in a short amount of time
* Two-plane stabiliser grants it the ability to fire first, compared to most opponents which lack stabilisers
* 5-14x gunsight zoom is great for both short range and long range engagements
* Fast -17 km/h reverse allows it to pull out dangerous situations in time
* ~150 mm penetration plus 20 g TNT filler is deadly for side shots
* Has both smoke grenade launchers (2 salvos) and ESS
* Is amphibious

'''Cons:'''

* Inherits the PT-76 hull, meaning extremely poor armour and vulnerable to overpressure and strafing aircraft
* Only 3 crew members, meaning a turret hit will take your vehicle out with a single shot
* ~150 mm penetration will struggle against late/cold war heavy tanks like [[M103]], [[Conqueror]], [[Maus]], etc.
* Ammunition carousel layout increases detonation risk in the event of a centre-mass penetration
* Limited -5° gun depression restricts the tank's capacity in mountainous environment
* 20-round ready rack, while replenished quickly, is a weak spot easy to target

== History ==


In the early 2000’s, the issue of increasing the combat effectiveness of the numerous, but outdated PT-76’s was proposed to be solved in a very non-trivial way. Engineers of the Nizhny Novgorod design bureau "Burevestnik" combined the 57mm automatic gun developed in the USSR at the end of the 70’s with a mechanized ammunition rack, combining this in a combat module for a specially created turret for light tanks of the PT-76 series. While considering possible ways to re-equip old amphibious tanks with a new weapon, the small-caliber automatic cannon, although it was inferior to other variants of larger calibers in terms of armour penetration, gained a lot in terms of the burst weight to time ratio, as well as in possible applications - from destroying armoured vehicles (including a modern MBT when hit to the side) to fighting helicopters.

The AU-220 module itself, built on the basis of the Soviet S-60 anti-aircraft gun, has already been proposed for the fleet in the form of a remotely controlled shipborne mounting. For use on armoured vehicles, the module was equipped with a modern fire control system with night vision devices and a laser rangefinder. The prototype PT-76 with a 57mm gun, remained at a stage as a working prototype, however, the AU-220M module continues to exist as a promising solution for the latest vehicles in the Russian army.

''- From [[wt:en/news/7389-development-battle-pass-vehicles-pt-76-57-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ussr_pt_76_57 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|hSLQiy5cnbk|'''The Shooting Range #280''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:27 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/7389-development-battle-pass-vehicles-pt-76-57-en|[Devblog] Battle Pass vehicles: PT-76-57]]

{{USSR light tanks}}
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}

Pe-8

2022-01-13T06:29:57Z

U118268877: /* Naval Battles */

{{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 bomb
* 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}}

Pe-8

2022-01-13T06:28:45Z

U118268877: /* Naval Battles */

{{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 leave 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 bomb
* 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}}

Achievements

2021-12-21T06:43:40Z

U118268877: /* Miscellaneous */

'''Achievements''' are in-game milestones that players reach while playing the game. A player does not have to activate an achievement to start it. However, some achievements are tiered: the previous level must be completed to start on the next level.

===General===

*'''Get to Know Us!''': Watch the credits to the end.
*'''In Disguise''': Play a match in a vehicle with a non-standard camouflage pattern.
*'''Decoration''': Put a sticker on your aircraft.
*'''Knowledge Is Power''': Enter the Encyclopedia.
*'''Amateur Film Maker''': Save and watch a Replay.
*'''Where am I?''': Visit the Record Tables.

----
===Missions===

*'''Just the Beginning''': Play a Dynamic Campaign mission.
*'''Not the End Yet''': Complete one of Dynamic Campaigns.
*'''Making History''': Win a Dynamic Campaign.
*'''Unidentified Heights''': Win a Dynamic Campaign by capturing all sectors.
*'''Small Stories''': Complete 1 / 5 / 20 / 40 Single Missions.
*'''Spirit of the Age''': Complete 1 / 5 / 20 / 40 Single Missions on the Simulator difficulty level.
*'''Teamwork''': Complete 20 Single Missions in co-op mode.
*'''Battle-Tried''': Participate in 1 / 10 / 50 / 100 / 1,000 / 5,000 fights against other players.
*'''Champion''': Win 1 / 10 / 100 / 500 / 1,000 / 5,000 fights against other players.
{{Sp-begin|Removed achievements (remain visible for players who completed them)}}
<div align="left">
*'''Free Swinging''': Win all 9 types of missions in a Dynamic Campaign.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Missions
|-
| Bombing Mission || Bombers Cover Mission
|-
| Cover Ground Attack || Air Combat Patrol
|-
| Ground Attack Mission || Defend From Bombers Mission
|-
| Defend From Assault Mission || Head to Head Combat
|-
| Intercept Bombers Mission ||
|-
|}

*'''Fun with Friends''': Play at least one Dynamic Campaign mission in the 4-player co-op mode.
</div>
{{Sp-end}}
----
===Miscellaneous===

*'''Fully Equipped''': Obtain 16 designated types of ship modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Ship Modifications
|-
| Engine Maintenance || Propeller Replacement
|-
| Dry-Docking || Rudder Replacement
|-
| Tool Set || Fire Protection System
|-
| Smokescreen || New Pumps
|-
| Improved Rangefinder || Primary Armament Targeting
|-
| Auxiliary Armament Targeting || Anti-Air Armament Targeting
|-
| Artillery Support || Depth Charges
|-
| Ventilation || Shrapnel Protection
|-
|}

*'''It's Only Smoke!''': Spend over 30,000 Silver Lions at once on auto-repair.
*'''Maintenance! Rise and Shine!''': The aircraft standing in the slot has been repaired in time.
*'''It Will Heal Itself''': The aircraft in the hangar has been repaired in time.
*'''Proper Maintenance''': Repair an aircraft on your own (without auto-repair).
*'''Rearmament''': Obtain new weapons.
*'''Proved as Improved''': Obtain a modification for any vehicle.
*'''Custom-built''': Obtain 8 designated types of aircraft modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Aircraft Modifications
|-
| Wings repair || Engine
|-
| Fuselage repair || Cover
|-
| Radiator || Compressor
|-
| Engine injection || Airframe
|-
|}

*'''Path of perfection''': Obtain 12 designated types of tank modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Tank Modifications
|-
| Tracks || Suspension
|-
| Filters || Brake System
|-
| Transmission || Engine
|-
| FPE || Parts
|-
| Horizontal Drive || Elevation Mechanism
|-
| Artillery Support || Adjustment of Fire
|-
|}

*'''Additional Stuff''': Add a new vehicle to your fleet.
*'''Enough for Everything''': Save up 5,000,000 Silver Lions.

----
===Aircraft===

*'''Missile-Launching Magic Carpet''': Obtain a helicopter.
*'''Master (USSR)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (USA)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Japan)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Germany)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Great Britain)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 British aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Italy)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (France)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 French aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (China)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Chinese aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Sweden)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Swedish aircraft to perfection.
*'''Multitasker''': Master 100 aircraft to perfection.
*'''Real Pilot''': Master 200 aircraft to perfection.
*'''Can't Catch Me!''': Obtain a rank VII aircraft.
*'''Collector''': Obtain 30 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 aircraft.

----
===Tanks===

*'''Soviet Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet tanks to perfection.
*'''German Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German tanks to perfection.
*'''US Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US tanks to perfection.
*'''UK Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 UK tanks to perfection.
*'''Japanese Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese tanks to perfection.
*'''French Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 French tanks to perfection.
*'''Italian Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian tanks to perfection.
*'''Chinese Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Chinese tanks to perfection.
*'''Swedish Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Swedish tanks to perfection.
*'''Tanker-Multitasker''': Master 50 tanks to perfection.
*'''Victory Machine''': Obtain a rank VII tank.
*'''Steel legion''': Obtain 25 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 tanks.

----
===Navy===

*'''Old sea salt (USSR)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (US)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Germany)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (UK)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 UK ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Japan)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Italy)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian ships to perfection.
*'''Admiral''': Master 50 ships to perfection.
*'''Flagship''': Obtain a rank V ship.
*'''Armada''': Obtain 25 / 50 / 100 ships.

----
===Crews===

*'''They'll Repair Everything!''': Reach the maximum level of Repair Speed and Repair Rank skills.
*'''Expert''': Obtain the Expert qualification for 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 50 crews.
*'''Squadron Commander''': Obtain 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 crews.

====Navy====

*'''Hardened by storms (USSR)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Soviet crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (US)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the US crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Germany)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the German crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the British crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Japan)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Japanese crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Italy)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Italian crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on ships.
*'''Chosen Brigade (navy)''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on ships.

====Aircraft====

*'''Experienced Crew (USSR)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Soviet crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (US)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the US crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Japan)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Japanese crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Germany)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the German crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the British crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Italy)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Italian crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (France)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the French crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (China)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Chinese crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Sweden)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Swedish crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (France)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 French crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (China)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Chinese crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Sweden)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Swedish crews on planes.
*'''Elite Squadron''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on planes.

====Tanks====

*'''Baptism of Fire (USSR)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Soviet crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (US)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the US crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Japan)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Japanese crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Germany)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the German crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the British crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Italy)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Italian crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (France)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the French crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (China)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Chinese crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Sweden)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Swedish crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (France)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 French crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (China)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Chinese crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Sweden)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Swedish crews on tanks.
*'''Chosen Brigade''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on tanks.

----
===Advancement===

*'''Only the Stars Are Higher''': Reach player level 5 / 15 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100.

====Helicopters====

*'''Hovering Threat (USSR)''': Obtain rank VI in the development branch of the Soviet Air Force (helicopters).
*'''Hovering Threat (USA)''': Obtain rank VI in the development branch of the US Air Force (helicopters).

====Navy====

*'''Under the flag of Soviet Navy''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Soviet navy.
*'''Under the flag of the Kriegsmarine''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the German navy.
*'''Under the Star Spangled Banner''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the US navy.
*'''Under the flag of his Majesty''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the UK navy.
*'''Under the flag of the rising sun''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Japanese navy.
*'''Under the flag of the Royal Navy''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Italian navy.
*'''Worldwide Fame (Navy)''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' navies.

====Aircraft====

*'''From Spain to Korea''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Soviet Air Force (planes).
*'''From Pearl Harbor to Korea''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the US Air Force (planes).
*'''From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Japanese Air Force.
*'''From Spain to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the German Air Force.
*'''From Great Britain to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the British Air Force.
*'''From France to Italy''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Italian Air Force.
*'''From France to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the French Air Force.
*'''From Guangdong to Shenyang''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Chinese Air Force.
*'''In The North''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Swedish Air Force.
*'''Worldwide Fame''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' air forces.

====Tanks====

*'''Steel march (USSR)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI / VII in the development branch of the Soviet ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Germany)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the German ground forces.
*'''Steel march (USA)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the US ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Great Britain)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the UK ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Japan)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Japan ground forces.
*'''Steel march (France)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the French ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Italy)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Italian ground forces.
*'''Steel march (China)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Chinese ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Sweden)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Swedish ground forces.
*'''Worldwide Fame (Ground forces)''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' ground forces.

----
===Steam trophies===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy001 Kraken.png]]||'''Kraken''' Sink 5 aircraft carriers
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy002 Hooked.png]]||'''Hooked''' Land on an aircraft carrier
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy003 AirtoAir.png]]||'''Air-to-Air''' Get "Hero of the sky" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy004 GroundtoAir.png]]||'''Ground-to-Air''' Get "Wing Breaker" 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy005 AirtoGround.png]]||'''Air-to-Ground''' Get "Thunderer" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy006 GroundtoGround.png]]||'''Ground-to-Ground''' Get "Heavy Metal Hero" 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy007 Ultimate.png]]||'''Ultimate''' Get "Mission Maker" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy008 Ninja.png]]||'''Ninja''' Get "Shadow Strike" 100 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy010 AtOneBlow.png]]||'''At one blow''' Destroy 5 targets within 1 second
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy011 TreasureHunter.png]]||'''Treasure Hunter''' Open 10 chests
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy012 ButHow.png]]||'''But... how?!''' Shoot down a plane with tank cannon in simulator mode
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy013 SpeedUp.png]]||'''Speed up!''' Activate 10 boosters
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy014 Guide.png]]||'''Guide''' Get "Intelligence" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy015 AirSupport.png]]||'''Knowledge is Power''' Get the 'According to Intelligence' reward 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy016 Arcade1000.png]]||'''Arcade 1000''' Destroy 1000 players' vehicles in arcade battles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy017 Realistic500.png]]||'''Realistic 500''' Destroy 500 players' vehicles in realistic battles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy018 True100.png]]||'''True 100''' Destroy 100 players' vehicles in simulator battles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy019 Nemesis.png]]||'''Nemesis''' Get "Avenger" 5 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy020 RevengeSeeker.png]]||'''Revenge-Seeker''' Get "Eye for an Eye" 5 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy021 Firestarter.png]]||'''Firestarter''' Destroy 30 players' vehicles by setting them afire
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy022 Rank1.png]]||'''Rank 1''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 1
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy023 Rank2.png]]||'''Rank 2''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 2
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy024 Rank3.png]]||'''Rank 3''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 3
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy025 Rank4.png]]||'''Rank 4''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 4
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy026 Rank5.png]]||'''Rank 5''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 5
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy042 Rank6.png]]||'''Rank 6''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 6
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy027 AccurateFire.png]]||'''Accurate Fire''' Get "Triple Strike"
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy028 Sniper.png]]||'''Sniper''' Destroy 5 players' vehicles at the distance of 1.5 kms or more
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy029 VengefulSpirit.png]]||'''Vengeful Spirit''' Destroy a player's vehicle while being dead
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy030 TrueandFable.png]]||'''True and Fable''' Win 50 single missions
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy031 JapaneseCollection.png]]||'''Japanese Collection''' Order 50 Japanese vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy032 USCollection.png]]||'''US Collection''' Order 50 US vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy033 SovietCollection.png]]||'''Soviet Collection''' Order 50 Soviet vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy034 BritishCollection.png]]||'''British Collection''' Order 50 British vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy035 GermanCollection.png]]||'''German Collection''' Order 50 German vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy047 ItalianCollection.png]]||'''Italian Collection''' Order 50 Italian vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy043 FrenchCollection.png]]||'''French Collection''' Order 50 French vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy052 ChineseCollection.png]]||'''Chinese Collection''' Order 50 Chinese vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy053 SwedishCollection.png]]||'''Swedish Collection''' Order 50 Swedish vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy036 FullyModified.png]]||'''Fully Modified''' Purchase 50 modifications
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy037 ElementofSurprise.png]]||'''Element of Surprise'''' Capture an enemy strategic point with hostile team players in direct vision
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy038 ColdBlooded.png]]||'''Cold-Blooded''' Destroy 2 players' vehicles while your vehicle's on fire
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy039 KingoftheHill.png]]||'''King of the Hill''' Destroy in one battle 5 players' vehicles while standing on the strategic point captured by your team
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy040 DeadWeight.png]]||'''Dead Weight''' Destroy a player's vehicle which is tied to other player's vehicle by a cable
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy041 StreetBrawler.png]]||'''Street Brawler''' Destroy 2 players' vehicles within 30 seconds from a distance of 10 meters or less
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy044 WeaponOfHeroes.png]]||'''Weapon of Heroes''' Destroy 10 enemy ships by ramming them
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy045 SizeDoesntMatter.png]]||'''Size Doesn't Matter''' Destroy 3 destroyers in a boat without losing your vehicle
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy046 RainingLead.png]]||'''Raining Lead''' Destroy 10 players' vehicles with artillery strikes
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy048 Destroyer.png]]||'''Destroyer''' Deal 10000 damage while controlling an aircraft or a naval vessel
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy049 FirstDozen.png]]||'''First Dozen''' Destroy 12 players' vehicles while controlling an aircraft
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy050 JustAScratch.png]]||'''Just a Scratch''' Get the "Adamant" award 5 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy051 FirstClass.png]]||'''First-Class''' Play 3 battles, taking first place in any team
|}
----
===PS4 trophies===

*'''War Hero''': Destroy 3,000 player vehicles in Random Battles 🏆
*'''Super Soldier''': In Random Battles, get these five battle achievements: Mission Maker, Hero of the Sky, Thunderer, Heavy Metal Hero and Wing Breaker. 🏆
*'''Destructive Precision''': In Random Battles, destroy a player airplane with a rocket. Complete the Mission. 🏆
*'''Leader''': In Random Battles, win a battle at rank five with first place in the match statistics (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''Heavenly Judgement''': In Random Battles, destroy 500 vehicles while in an airplane using bombs. 🏆
*'''Bird of Prey''': In Random Battles, destroy 100 player units while in an airplane. 🏆
*'''Steel Hunter''': In Random Battles, destroy 100 player units while in a tank. 🏆
*'''Bird Catcher''': In Random Battles, destroy 50 airplanes in an anti-air gun. 🏆
*'''Soviet Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for the USSR (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''US Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for the USA (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''British Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Britain (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''German Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Germany (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''Japanese Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Japan (battle activity: 50%). 🏆

[[Category:Achievements]]

Achievements

2021-12-21T06:42:33Z

U118268877: /* Miscellaneous */

'''Achievements''' are in-game milestones that players reach while playing the game. A player does not have to activate an achievement to start it. However, some achievements are tiered: the previous level must be completed to start on the next level.

===General===

*'''Get to Know Us!''': Watch the credits to the end.
*'''In Disguise''': Play a match in a vehicle with a non-standard camouflage pattern.
*'''Decoration''': Put a sticker on your aircraft.
*'''Knowledge Is Power''': Enter the Encyclopedia.
*'''Amateur Film Maker''': Save and watch a Replay.
*'''Where am I?''': Visit the Record Tables.

----
===Missions===

*'''Just the Beginning''': Play a Dynamic Campaign mission.
*'''Not the End Yet''': Complete one of Dynamic Campaigns.
*'''Making History''': Win a Dynamic Campaign.
*'''Unidentified Heights''': Win a Dynamic Campaign by capturing all sectors.
*'''Small Stories''': Complete 1 / 5 / 20 / 40 Single Missions.
*'''Spirit of the Age''': Complete 1 / 5 / 20 / 40 Single Missions on the Simulator difficulty level.
*'''Teamwork''': Complete 20 Single Missions in co-op mode.
*'''Battle-Tried''': Participate in 1 / 10 / 50 / 100 / 1,000 / 5,000 fights against other players.
*'''Champion''': Win 1 / 10 / 100 / 500 / 1,000 / 5,000 fights against other players.
{{Sp-begin|Removed achievements (remain visible for players who completed them)}}
<div align="left">
*'''Free Swinging''': Win all 9 types of missions in a Dynamic Campaign.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Missions
|-
| Bombing Mission || Bombers Cover Mission
|-
| Cover Ground Attack || Air Combat Patrol
|-
| Ground Attack Mission || Defend From Bombers Mission
|-
| Defend From Assault Mission || Head to Head Combat
|-
| Intercept Bombers Mission ||
|-
|}

*'''Fun with Friends''': Play at least one Dynamic Campaign mission in the 4-player co-op mode.
</div>
{{Sp-end}}
----
===Miscellaneous===

*'''Fully Equipped''': Obtain 16 designated types of ship modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Ship Modifications
|-
| Engine Maintenance || Propeller Replacement
|-
| Dry-Docking || Rudder Replacement
|-
| Tool Set || Fire Protection System
|-
| Smokescreen || New Pumps
|-
| Improved Rangefinder || Primary Armament Targeting
|-
| Auxiliary Armament Targeting || Anti-Air Armament Targeting
|-
| Artillery Support || Depth Charges
|-
| Ventilation || Shrapnel Protection
|-
|}

*'''It's Only Smoke!''': Spend over 30,000 Silver Lions at once on auto-repair.
*'''Maintenance! Rise and Shine!''': The aircraft standing in the slot has been repaired in time.
*'''It Will Heal Itself''': The aircraft in the hangar has been repaired in time.
*'''Proper Maintenance''': Repair an aircraft on your own (without auto-repair).
*'''Rearmament''': Obtain new weapons.
*'''Proved as Improved''': Obtain a modification for any vehicle.
*'''Custom-built''': Obtain 8 designated types of aircraft modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Aircraft Modifications
|-
| Wings repair || Engine
|-
| Fuselage repair || Cover
|-
| Radiator || Compressor
|-
| Engine injection || Airframe
|-
|}

*'''Path of perfection''': Obtain 12 designated types of tank modifications.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
! colspan="2" | Tank Modifications
|-
| Tracks || Suspension
|-
| Filters || Brake System
|-
| Transmission || Engine
|-
| FPE || Parts
|-
| Horizontal Drive || Elevation Mechanism
|-
| Artillery Support || Adjustment of Fire
|-
|}

*'''Additional Stuff''': Add a new vehicle to your fleet.
*'''Enough for Everything''': Save up 5,000,000 Lions.

----
===Aircraft===

*'''Missile-Launching Magic Carpet''': Obtain a helicopter.
*'''Master (USSR)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (USA)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Japan)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Germany)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Great Britain)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 British aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Italy)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (France)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 French aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (China)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Chinese aircraft to perfection.
*'''Master (Sweden)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Swedish aircraft to perfection.
*'''Multitasker''': Master 100 aircraft to perfection.
*'''Real Pilot''': Master 200 aircraft to perfection.
*'''Can't Catch Me!''': Obtain a rank VII aircraft.
*'''Collector''': Obtain 30 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 aircraft.

----
===Tanks===

*'''Soviet Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet tanks to perfection.
*'''German Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German tanks to perfection.
*'''US Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US tanks to perfection.
*'''UK Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 UK tanks to perfection.
*'''Japanese Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese tanks to perfection.
*'''French Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 French tanks to perfection.
*'''Italian Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian tanks to perfection.
*'''Chinese Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Chinese tanks to perfection.
*'''Swedish Ace Tanker''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Swedish tanks to perfection.
*'''Tanker-Multitasker''': Master 50 tanks to perfection.
*'''Victory Machine''': Obtain a rank VII tank.
*'''Steel legion''': Obtain 25 / 50 / 100 / 150 / 200 tanks.

----
===Navy===

*'''Old sea salt (USSR)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Soviet ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (US)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 US ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Germany)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 German ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (UK)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 UK ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Japan)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Japanese ships to perfection.
*'''Old sea salt (Italy)''': Master 1 / 5 / 10 / 20 Italian ships to perfection.
*'''Admiral''': Master 50 ships to perfection.
*'''Flagship''': Obtain a rank V ship.
*'''Armada''': Obtain 25 / 50 / 100 ships.

----
===Crews===

*'''They'll Repair Everything!''': Reach the maximum level of Repair Speed and Repair Rank skills.
*'''Expert''': Obtain the Expert qualification for 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 / 20 / 50 crews.
*'''Squadron Commander''': Obtain 1 / 3 / 5 / 10 crews.

====Navy====

*'''Hardened by storms (USSR)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Soviet crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (US)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the US crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Germany)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the German crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the British crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Japan)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Japanese crews on ships.
*'''Hardened by storms (Italy)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100 for one of the Italian crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on ships.
*'''Knight of the sea (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on ships.
*'''Chosen Brigade (navy)''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on ships.

====Aircraft====

*'''Experienced Crew (USSR)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Soviet crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (US)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the US crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Japan)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Japanese crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Germany)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the German crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the British crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Italy)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Italian crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (France)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the French crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (China)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Chinese crews on planes.
*'''Experienced Crew (Sweden)''': Reach levels 5 / 15 / 30 / 45 / 75 for one of the Swedish crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (France)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 French crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (China)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Chinese crews on planes.
*'''Jacks of All Trades (Sweden)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Swedish crews on planes.
*'''Elite Squadron''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on planes.

====Tanks====

*'''Baptism of Fire (USSR)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Soviet crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (US)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the US crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Japan)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Japanese crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Germany)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the German crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Great Britain)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the British crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Italy)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Italian crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (France)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the French crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (China)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Chinese crews on tanks.
*'''Baptism of Fire (Sweden)''': Reach levels 10 / 30 / 50 / 90 / 140 for one of the Swedish crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (USSR)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Soviet crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Japan)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Japanese crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (US)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 US crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Germany)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 German crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Great Britain)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 British crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (France)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 French crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Italy)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Italian crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (China)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Chinese crews on tanks.
*'''The Best of the Best (Sweden)''': Reach the maximum level for 2 / 3 / 5 Swedish crews on tanks.
*'''Chosen Brigade''': Reach the maximum level for 25 crews on tanks.

----
===Advancement===

*'''Only the Stars Are Higher''': Reach player level 5 / 15 / 30 / 50 / 75 / 100.

====Helicopters====

*'''Hovering Threat (USSR)''': Obtain rank VI in the development branch of the Soviet Air Force (helicopters).
*'''Hovering Threat (USA)''': Obtain rank VI in the development branch of the US Air Force (helicopters).

====Navy====

*'''Under the flag of Soviet Navy''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Soviet navy.
*'''Under the flag of the Kriegsmarine''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the German navy.
*'''Under the Star Spangled Banner''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the US navy.
*'''Under the flag of his Majesty''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the UK navy.
*'''Under the flag of the rising sun''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Japanese navy.
*'''Under the flag of the Royal Navy''': Obtain ranks II / III / IV / V in the development branch of the Italian navy.
*'''Worldwide Fame (Navy)''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' navies.

====Aircraft====

*'''From Spain to Korea''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Soviet Air Force (planes).
*'''From Pearl Harbor to Korea''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the US Air Force (planes).
*'''From Pearl Harbor to Okinawa''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Japanese Air Force.
*'''From Spain to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the German Air Force.
*'''From Great Britain to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the British Air Force.
*'''From France to Italy''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Italian Air Force.
*'''From France to Berlin''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the French Air Force.
*'''From Guangdong to Shenyang''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Chinese Air Force.
*'''In The North''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Swedish Air Force.
*'''Worldwide Fame''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' air forces.

====Tanks====

*'''Steel march (USSR)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI / VII in the development branch of the Soviet ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Germany)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the German ground forces.
*'''Steel march (USA)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the US ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Great Britain)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the UK ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Japan)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Japan ground forces.
*'''Steel march (France)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the French ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Italy)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Italian ground forces.
*'''Steel march (China)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Chinese ground forces.
*'''Steel march (Sweden)''': Obtain rank II / III / IV / V / VI in the development branch of the Swedish ground forces.
*'''Worldwide Fame (Ground forces)''': Obtain the access to the maximal rank in the development branches of all countries' ground forces.

----
===Steam trophies===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy001 Kraken.png]]||'''Kraken''' Sink 5 aircraft carriers
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy002 Hooked.png]]||'''Hooked''' Land on an aircraft carrier
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy003 AirtoAir.png]]||'''Air-to-Air''' Get "Hero of the sky" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy004 GroundtoAir.png]]||'''Ground-to-Air''' Get "Wing Breaker" 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy005 AirtoGround.png]]||'''Air-to-Ground''' Get "Thunderer" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy006 GroundtoGround.png]]||'''Ground-to-Ground''' Get "Heavy Metal Hero" 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy007 Ultimate.png]]||'''Ultimate''' Get "Mission Maker" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy008 Ninja.png]]||'''Ninja''' Get "Shadow Strike" 100 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy010 AtOneBlow.png]]||'''At one blow''' Destroy 5 targets within 1 second
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy011 TreasureHunter.png]]||'''Treasure Hunter''' Open 10 chests
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy012 ButHow.png]]||'''But... how?!''' Shoot down a plane with tank cannon in simulator mode
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy013 SpeedUp.png]]||'''Speed up!''' Activate 10 boosters
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy014 Guide.png]]||'''Guide''' Get "Intelligence" 10 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy015 AirSupport.png]]||'''Knowledge is Power''' Get the 'According to Intelligence' reward 10 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy016 Arcade1000.png]]||'''Arcade 1000''' Destroy 1000 players' vehicles in arcade battles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy017 Realistic500.png]]||'''Realistic 500''' Destroy 500 players' vehicles in realistic battles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy018 True100.png]]||'''True 100''' Destroy 100 players' vehicles in simulator battles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy019 Nemesis.png]]||'''Nemesis''' Get "Avenger" 5 times
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy020 RevengeSeeker.png]]||'''Revenge-Seeker''' Get "Eye for an Eye" 5 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy021 Firestarter.png]]||'''Firestarter''' Destroy 30 players' vehicles by setting them afire
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy022 Rank1.png]]||'''Rank 1''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 1
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy023 Rank2.png]]||'''Rank 2''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 2
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy024 Rank3.png]]||'''Rank 3''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 3
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy025 Rank4.png]]||'''Rank 4''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 4
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy026 Rank5.png]]||'''Rank 5''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 5
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy042 Rank6.png]]||'''Rank 6''' Win 100 battles using vehicles of rank 6
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy027 AccurateFire.png]]||'''Accurate Fire''' Get "Triple Strike"
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy028 Sniper.png]]||'''Sniper''' Destroy 5 players' vehicles at the distance of 1.5 kms or more
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy029 VengefulSpirit.png]]||'''Vengeful Spirit''' Destroy a player's vehicle while being dead
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy030 TrueandFable.png]]||'''True and Fable''' Win 50 single missions
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy031 JapaneseCollection.png]]||'''Japanese Collection''' Order 50 Japanese vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy032 USCollection.png]]||'''US Collection''' Order 50 US vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy033 SovietCollection.png]]||'''Soviet Collection''' Order 50 Soviet vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy034 BritishCollection.png]]||'''British Collection''' Order 50 British vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy035 GermanCollection.png]]||'''German Collection''' Order 50 German vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy047 ItalianCollection.png]]||'''Italian Collection''' Order 50 Italian vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy043 FrenchCollection.png]]||'''French Collection''' Order 50 French vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy052 ChineseCollection.png]]||'''Chinese Collection''' Order 50 Chinese vehicles
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy053 SwedishCollection.png]]||'''Swedish Collection''' Order 50 Swedish vehicles
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy036 FullyModified.png]]||'''Fully Modified''' Purchase 50 modifications
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy037 ElementofSurprise.png]]||'''Element of Surprise'''' Capture an enemy strategic point with hostile team players in direct vision
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy038 ColdBlooded.png]]||'''Cold-Blooded''' Destroy 2 players' vehicles while your vehicle's on fire
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy039 KingoftheHill.png]]||'''King of the Hill''' Destroy in one battle 5 players' vehicles while standing on the strategic point captured by your team
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy040 DeadWeight.png]]||'''Dead Weight''' Destroy a player's vehicle which is tied to other player's vehicle by a cable
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy041 StreetBrawler.png]]||'''Street Brawler''' Destroy 2 players' vehicles within 30 seconds from a distance of 10 meters or less
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy044 WeaponOfHeroes.png]]||'''Weapon of Heroes''' Destroy 10 enemy ships by ramming them
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy045 SizeDoesntMatter.png]]||'''Size Doesn't Matter''' Destroy 3 destroyers in a boat without losing your vehicle
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy046 RainingLead.png]]||'''Raining Lead''' Destroy 10 players' vehicles with artillery strikes
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy048 Destroyer.png]]||'''Destroyer''' Deal 10000 damage while controlling an aircraft or a naval vessel
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy049 FirstDozen.png]]||'''First Dozen''' Destroy 12 players' vehicles while controlling an aircraft
|-
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy050 JustAScratch.png]]||'''Just a Scratch''' Get the "Adamant" award 5 times
|[[File:Achievements SteamTrophy051 FirstClass.png]]||'''First-Class''' Play 3 battles, taking first place in any team
|}
----
===PS4 trophies===

*'''War Hero''': Destroy 3,000 player vehicles in Random Battles 🏆
*'''Super Soldier''': In Random Battles, get these five battle achievements: Mission Maker, Hero of the Sky, Thunderer, Heavy Metal Hero and Wing Breaker. 🏆
*'''Destructive Precision''': In Random Battles, destroy a player airplane with a rocket. Complete the Mission. 🏆
*'''Leader''': In Random Battles, win a battle at rank five with first place in the match statistics (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''Heavenly Judgement''': In Random Battles, destroy 500 vehicles while in an airplane using bombs. 🏆
*'''Bird of Prey''': In Random Battles, destroy 100 player units while in an airplane. 🏆
*'''Steel Hunter''': In Random Battles, destroy 100 player units while in a tank. 🏆
*'''Bird Catcher''': In Random Battles, destroy 50 airplanes in an anti-air gun. 🏆
*'''Soviet Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for the USSR (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''US Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for the USA (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''British Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Britain (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''German Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Germany (battle activity: 50%). 🏆
*'''Japanese Patriot''': In Random Battles, win 10 battles at rank four for Japan (battle activity: 50%). 🏆

[[Category:Achievements]]

Category:Game modes

2021-12-21T06:32:01Z

U118268877: /* Arcade Battles */

{{DISPLAYTITLE:Game modes}}

[[File:GameModes Banner TripleWindow.jpg|x250px|frameless]]

__TOC__
== Multiplayer ==
=== Arcade Battles ===
'''Aviation:''' 
In '''arcade''' mode, the game draws two teams of players (up to 32 people) with planes of different nations with similar battle ratings. It is possible to see aircraft of the same type on opposing teams. Damage models, flight models, and physics are greatly simplified (e.g. in very high-speed dives, planes do not have their wings ripped off and are still controllable), but retain some realism (e.g. bombers are not as manoeuvrable as fighters), and ammunition reloads after a certain period of time without players returning to an airfield. Multiple views are available; third person view, cockpit view, gunner view (if the aircraft has a gunner) and virtual cockpit view (if the aircraft does not have a cockpit model the virtual cockpit will be used). Arcade mode games are played in either "Ground Strike" mode - where in order to win you must destroy all enemy ground units, shoot down all enemy aircraft or destroy the enemy bombing points and airfield- or "Domination" mode, which consists of seizing enemy airfields by landing your aircraft on them, causing the opposing team to slowly lose 'tickets'; the team whose tickets reach zero first or lose all of their aircraft loses. Also, to help simplify aiming, a 'leading marker' appears when an enemy plane is in range. This shows where the enemy plane will be by the time your shots reach it if the plane continues its current trajectory. 

'''[[Assault Mode|Air Assault/Ground Assault:]]''' 
In Air assault mode the same rules as in arcade apply to flight and damage models and in-flight rearming. What is different is that this mode is for either random or premade team of 10 and requires at least some teamwork. There is also an unlimited number of respawns at 80% AB Silver Lion repair cost. The main objective is to defend your team's base from growing waves (15 in Air Assault or 11 in Ground Assault) of enemy AI-controlled bombers, fighters, and howitzers or tanks and fighters in Ground Assault. The bomber's gunners are active but most of the fighters and howitzers do not pose a direct threat to the player.
 

'''Ground Forces:''' 
In Arcade Ground Forces - tank handling is simplified (tanks move faster, and turn faster than they would do in reality), spotted enemy vehicles are displayed on the minimap and have visible nametags above them when aimed at. There is also an "Aim assistant" - crosshair indicating where your shot would land if fired under current elevation, together with an indication of how likely your shell will be able to penetrate the target. 
Teams are composed with no regard to nationality, the only factor is the vehicle's [[battle ratings|battle rating]]. Lastly, when your vehicle is knocked out, you can respawn with a different vehicle (from your line-up), up to 3 spawns total (+ 1 reserve tank).

During the battles, the player can collect the "airstrike points" by scoring kills or assists to play as a random aircraft from three different classes; fighters (costing one point), attacker (two points), or bombers (three points). Each aircraft can be controlled for only one minute. As of [[Update "New Power"]], in a battle of BR 6.0 or higher, you can spawn as a nuclear bomb-equipped bomber by scoring 20 kills, the side who were able to drop the nuclear bomb will instantly win the round.

'''Naval Forces:''' 
In Arcade Naval battles, all naval vessels receive a significant boost of engine power and traverse speed to make it easier to control, and spotted enemy vehicles are displayed on the minimap and have visible nametags on them when aimed at (similar to ground battles). There is an "aim assistant" indicating the range of enemy from your vessel, simplified "ranging" mechanics, as well as a 'lead marker' for torpedoes that show the angle that will guarantee a hit provided that the target continues moving at the same velocity and direction. In this mode, you can spawn as a naval vessel up to 3 times, all reserve vessels can be respawned for free up to 3 times without the need of backup vehicles. Similar to Ground Realistic battles, you can collect "spawn points" for aircraft by performing actions within the battle, and are able to choose aircraft from your own preselected line-up, provided the aircraft is not more than one BR step higher than your highest-rated vessel (for example, a BR 3.3 boat would allow up to BR 3.7 aircraft to be used). A random aircraft from game-generated pools of the same nation can also be selected instead (with a BR lower than your highest-rated vessel by up to 1.0), divided into two categories: fighters and bombers/attackers. If you wanted to respawn the same type of aircraft again (i.e respawning as a fighter for second time) the respawn price for said category of aircraft will be doubled. You can respawn as the same aircraft up to 2 times and overall up to 3 times (provided that you have enough respawn points).
----

=== Realistic Battles ===
'''Aviation:'''

Realistic mode (alias '''RB''') is designed for more experienced players. More realistic damage models, flight models, and physics makes gameplay less forgiving, and aircraft fly much more similar to their historical counterparts, with their strengths and weaknesses more apparent than in arcade mode. Also, once all ammunition and ordnance are expended players will have to return to their airfield to reload, and there is no 'leading marker' to assist with aiming. In this mode, unlike the arcade game, teams feature aircraft from specific nations, making gameplay more accurately reflect historical encounters such as the Battle of Stalingrad, fought between the USSR and Germany, or the Battle of Midway, fought between the Japanese Empire and the US. These historical scenarios will all have different objectives similar to the battles they represent, such as destroying a German tank advance at Kursk or repelling a Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor.

'''Ground Forces:'''

In Ground Forces, characteristics of the realistic mode are similar to that of the Aviation Realistic mode - Tank behaviour is more realistic. Tanks feel overall much more "heavy" - they accelerate slower, lose much more speed in turns, do not slide so much and handle much more "jerky" as real tanks do. Traversing the turret, and aiming the gun at the target also takes much more time, some crew skills become very obvious (an inexperienced gunner first rotates the turret horizontally, and only then slowly adjusts the gun elevation, while an experienced gunner can do both tasks at the same time). Then, when your tank is hit, and needs a field repair, doing it takes much longer than it does in Arcade battles (often up to 2 minutes).

Battles themselves change as well - only certain maps are played, and they are usually larger than the original. Teams are additionally sorted by nations, e.g. USSR vs Germany in Berlin map (although occasionally mixed nation battles, like USA+Germany vs USSR, are still possible).

Unlike its Arcade counterpart, Ground realistic battles uses a "spawn points" mechanics. Players are given a starting amount of spawn points to spawn their first ground vehicles. They can collect spawn points via various actions within the battle to respawn when they are knocked out. Different types of vehicles have different spawn costs (i.e light tanks usually have lower spawn cost than heavy tanks), and the battle rating of the vehicle relative to the maximum battle rating of the battle will also affect the cost. You can respawn as long as you have enough spawn points and vehicles that are still allowed to spawn (i.e a non-reserve vehicle can be respawned one more time provided that you have a backup).

During the battle, you are also able to choose an aircraft/helicopter from your own preselected line-up to spawn. Unlike ground arcade battles, aircraft/helicopters spawned in ground realistic battles can be controlled indefinitely, and various properties from air realistic battles (i.e limited fuel and ammunition) are also applied.

As of [[Update "New Power"]], in a battle of BR 6.0 or higher, you can spawn as a nuclear bomb-equipped bomber for 2,500 spawn points, a team that is able to drop the nuclear bomb will instantly win the round.

Last important differences are visual - there is no coloured crosshair to tell you where will your shot go after being fired, or whether it can penetrate your target. Enemy vehicles are also not displayed on the minimap, and have no name tags on them - instead, only a red coloured icon is briefly displayed on the minimap when nearby allies scout or hit a vehicle, approximately showing you the position of an enemy.

----

=== Simulator Battles ===
'''SB''' mode is based on the most realistic simulation settings; only the first-person view in the cockpit or gunner views are available, and flight physics are at their most realistic settings, reflecting the real-world attributes of aircraft to a fairly accurate level. The gameplay of simulator mode is similar to that of realistic battles - two teams of different nations are fighting each other for dominance in the sky and on the ground to achieve their objectives, but the realism of the game at this level is even higher. Simulator settings also require players to play with a joystick, gamepad or 'mousejoy' as opposed to mouse-aim available in other modes, lead indicators are not present and players must return to airfields to rearm and repair their aircraft.
----

=== [[Enduring_Confrontation|Enduring Confrontation]]===
Enduring Confrontation (also known as “EC”) is a separate game mode for aircraft in War Thunder. Unlike in traditional random battles, this mode allows you to join a battle at any time. You also have unlimited respawns, subject to certain rules. In EC, the emphasis is on the players’ ability to influence the situation on the battlefield.

Battles in EC occur as Events, so you can find this mode in the “Events and Tournaments” section underneath the “To Battle” button. EC is the primary game mode for aircraft in Simulator Battles, and a simplified version of it in Arcade Battles is the only separate game mode for helicopters. To join a battle in Enduring Confrontation, you can either wait in the general queue as you would in random battles, or call up a list of active rooms (ongoing battles) sorted by country and rank and, if there are available spots on a team, join your preferred side in that room. You can call up a list of rooms by pressing the button of the same name.
----
=== Events ===
==== Historic missions ====
Events mode is often available in realistic and simulator battle settings, allowing players to partake in battles recreated as accurately as possible using historical sets of aircraft, rather than using the regular matchmaking system of battle ratings. This allows for a more challenging experience for players wishing to play less advanced nations, whilst still providing balanced gameplay through different numbers of players on each team - the more technologically advanced team will often have several less aircraft than the disadvantaged team, whilst the opposition will retain numerical superiority. Occasionally, special community events will be held with arcade mode settings.

Examples:

* '''''Flight of the swallows'''''

:German team has sole access to the [[Me_262_A-1a|Me 262 ''Schwalbe'']] jet fighter and must bring down a bomber formation of [[B-17G-60-VE|B-17G Flying Fortresses]]. All while they are under attack by their escorts, the legendary [[P-51D-5|P-51D ''Mustang'']]. "''In 1944, on the threshold of the battle of the Bulge, the US was concerned about the increasing numbers of jet-propelled aircraft in German hands. In order to put an end to this threat, an armada of B-17’s were tasked with bombing the airfields that the “swallows” were based at.''"

* '''''Operation Uranus'''''

:German forces are trying to break through the encircled city of Stalingrad.

*'''''Operation "Chastise"'''''

:Night time escort mission. [[Lancaster B Mk III|Lancaster]] formation must break through German air defense on their way to an industrial night raid. [[:Category:Britain_aircraft|RAF]] equivalent to 'Guardian Angels' event. "''On the 5th of March, 1943, the Battle of Ruhr was begun; a campaign of strategic bombing that took place during the Second World War. This campaign was planned as an assault on the German industrial area of Ruhr, and both British and American forces took part.''"

*'''''Guardian Angels'''''

:[[:Category:USA_aircraft|USAAF]] equivalent to 'Guardian Angels' event, but in the daytime and B-17s"''Schweinfurt was the location of most of the ball-bearing production in Germany at the onset of World War II, it was eventually devastated following a series of Allied strategic bombing raids. It was hoped that the destruction of the factories located in the city would cripple the production of new tanks and aircraft.''"

==== Squadron battles ====
For Arcade and matched by ranks, this mode lets teams of 8 players per side duel each other for air supremacy. [[Matchmaker]] will only put squadron members of the same clan into the teams, so have 8 fellow pilots ready! Maximum opponent dispersion is one rank e.g. [[:Category:Third_rank_aircraft|rank III]] vs [[:Category:Fourth_rank_aircraft|rank IV]] is possible, but not [[:Category:Second_rank_aircraft|rank II]] vs [[:Category:Fourth_rank_aircraft|rank IV]].

For Realistic a different setup is in use known as Tactical Battles with fixed line-ups and a team count of 7v7. Unlike common tank RB matches, all markers are enabled.

Due low attendance this event is limited to the following times:

*17:00 -> 23:00 (West coast US time)
*20:00 -> 02:00 (East coast & Peru & Columbia & Ecuador & Cuba & Jamaica time)
*22:00 -> 04:00 (East Brazilian & Argentinian & Greenland time)
*'''01:00 -> 07:00 GMT (British, Irish & Portuguese time)'''
*02:00 -> 08:00 (Central European time)
*03:00 -> 09:00 (East European & Near East & South Africa time)
*09:00 -> 15:00 (Manila & Perth time)

Often enough, no available opposition caused teams of players to wait almost indefinitely, or the matchmaker to go haywire and put jet versus piston aircraft. [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/226192-squadron-battles-availability/ Official forum announcement] detailing these changes. 
A Question and answer session script can be found on the War Thunder forum: [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/227286-qa-session-about-squadron-battles/ Q&A session about Squadron Battles]

==== Racing ====
Players use the plane at his disposal to fly through a marked course to get to the finish line first. The matchmaker only takes eras into account. Rockets, bombs and [[:Category:Ammunition|guns]] are disabled.

In the '''[http://warthunder.com/en/news/2623-formula-war-thunder-the-first-stage-en "Formula War Thunder"]''' time is of the essence. Players are sorted via the [[ELO]] system and the best racers win in-game prizes.
==== Floats ====
All [[:Category:First_rank_aircraft|era I]] [[:Category:Hydroplanes|boat- and hydro-planes]] of War Thunder gather in this mode to try and conquer capture zones on the water.
==== Rapid fire! ====
Lightly armoured [[:Category:Anti-aircraft_vehicles|anti-air vehicles]] duels each other here without the interference of their bigger brothers. For balancing reasons Era V & the Kugelblitz are not participating.
==== PvE ====
Exclusive for the Victory Day a special mission was available for play in War Thunder's event browser. "Victory Hour" was a scripted Berlin map wherein a four men tank platoon (the players) were on to repel a German counterattack and then press forwards to capture the Reichstag. In style it was similar to the singleplayer missions available for aviation, albeit earning more [[:Category:Currency_and_research_points|Silver Lions and Research Points]] and having the earlier in [[March_to_Victory!|"March to Victory!"]] introduced spawn point system for special vehicles (here: [[IS-2 (1944)|IS-2 mod.44]]).
==== War in Mid Air ====
In this event, teams are split between attackers and defenders. The task of the attacking ‘aircraft’ team is to destroy the armoured vehicles that are positioned inside the city and subsequently the anti-air units as well. 
The task of the defending anti-aircraft vehicles is to stop the attack from happening and hold the city. Tickets for the attacking team will reduce up to the point when all the city ground vehicles have been destroyed. If the aviation team succeeds in its task, the ticket bleed stops and the task will switch to destroying the remaining anti-air vehicles.
===='100' Team Deathmatch====
The '100' event features in both Air and Ground Force battles and is currently exclusive to [[Arcade Battles|Arcade mode]]. In Air Battles, the event is played on the [[Khalkhin_Gol|Khalkhin Gol]] map, in Ground Battles the [[Poland (Ground Forces)|Poland]] map is used.
Teams battle it out to be the first team to reach 100 destroyed enemies vehicles and win. The event has unlimited respawns.
==== Tank Football ====
Special event for ground forces. It features a modified M551 Sheridan and the [[Football Field]] map. This game mode appeared for the first time in [[wt:en/news/5624-event-a-fiery-ball-football-competition-for-tanks-update-en|"A fiery ball" event]]. The objective is to have scored more goals than the enemy team within the time limit. If either team reaches a three-goal advantage in 3v3 matches (or five in 5v5) over the other, the match will end instantly regardless of remaining time. The match features 2 regular 5 minute halves in each game. In case of a draw, players will get 2 additional periods of 1.5 minutes each. Only game time is taken into account (as in five a side or mini football). If the results after the two additional periods is still a draw - victory will not be awarded to either team.

----

=== [[April Fool's Day|April Fools (1st April) Events]]===
Every year on the 1st April, War Thunder has held special one time only events. From Giant Japanese Snails and Flying Ponies to Russian Mechs and Inflatable tanks, players could be faced with absolutely anything on this day!

Past Events:

* 2012 - Star Thunder
* 2013 - [[Little Ponies in the Sky]]
* 2014 - [[GAIJILLA]]
* 2015 - [[March to Victory!]] & [[Unrealistic Battles]]
* 2016 - [[Sailing fleet in War Thunder!]]
* 2017 - [[Rank IX|Rank IX]]
* 2018 - [[Silent Thunder]] & [[wt:en/news/5426-event-hats-off-to-you-en|Hats off to You!]]
* 2019 - [[Earth Thunder: We are not their playthings!|Earth Thunder]]
* 2020 - [[Space Thunder]]
* 2021 - [[TailSpin]] & [[Warfare 2077]]

----

=== [[World_War|World War Mode]] ===
A game mode involving battles on a global map. Conflict will occur in the format of "operations", which include dozens of individual battles.
The game mode differs significantly for the commander, officers and ordinary members of a squadron. Commanders and officers are able to choose which operations their squadrons will participate in, move forces in real time on the operational map and initiate battles.

In the World War game, RB game mode will be used with the marker mechanics of the AB.

== Singleplayer ==

=== Single Missions ===
Each mission unlocked by fulfilling criteria similar to achievements. Short missions usually with a gameplay twist and a short narrative.
=== Dynamic Campaign ===
Via selecting settings a historic campaign can be played were vehicles and missions are given by the game. After each sortie, the available missions change and the previous mission's impacts the military campaign on the strategic map.
=== Historical Campaign ===
Available only after purchasing in the store. Currently, the Pacific Campaign for the US or Japan is playable.
=== User Missions ===
Community created sorties. Visit [http://live.warthunder.com/feed/missions/ live.warthunder].
=== Mission Editor ===
Available in the lower left corner of the test flight window once the vehicle in question is bought. Allows for creating missions with set parameters and style like Dynamic Campaign.
=== Test drive/flight/sail ===
For testing various configurations of the vehicle, in different weather settings as well as with the possibility to chose the quantity of ammunition on-board (tanks/ships).

[[Category:Game mechanics]]

KPV (14.5 mm)

2021-12-20T07:45:08Z

U118268877: /* General info */

[[File:Weapon_KPVT_(14.5_mm).png|thumb|450px|The 14.5 mm KPVT mounted on the [[IS-7]].]]

== Description ==

A gigantic gun bordering on a machine cannon, the 14.5 mm KPVT is one of the heaviest pintle-mounted machine guns in the game. It has enough damage to fight both heavily armoured aircraft, as well as light cold war tanks.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===

'''Ground vehicles:'''

* {{Specs-Link|ussr_btr_152a}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_is_7}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_268}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_279}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_su_122_54}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_t_10m}}

'''Naval vessels:'''

* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_191m}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k_hydrofoils}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_1204}}

== General info ==
This machinegun is to closer to an autocannon rather than a machinegun. It has a decent fire rate for it's 14.5mm calibre.

=== Available ammunition ===
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''

=== Comparison with analogues ===


* [[MG 151 (15 mm)|MG 151]]
* [[MG M38(t) (15 mm)|MG M38(t)]]

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decent rate of fire for its calibre
* High muzzle velocity (1000 m/s)
* Unlockable API-T belt has 45 mm of penetration at close range, can take on lightly armoured vehicles and even some tanks from the side or rear

'''Cons:'''

* Best belt are tracer rounds, will give your location away
* Penetration drastically drops after 100 meters

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon 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 weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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>.''

== 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 article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

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

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

{{USSR anti-aircraft guns}}
{{Tank machine guns}}
{{Naval machine guns}}

[[Category:Tank machine guns]]
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Naval machine guns]]

KPV (14.5 mm)

2021-12-20T07:44:11Z

U118268877: /* General info */

[[File:Weapon_KPVT_(14.5_mm).png|thumb|450px|The 14.5 mm KPVT mounted on the [[IS-7]].]]

== Description ==

A gigantic gun bordering on a machine cannon, the 14.5 mm KPVT is one of the heaviest pintle-mounted machine guns in the game. It has enough damage to fight both heavily armoured aircraft, as well as light cold war tanks.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===

'''Ground vehicles:'''

* {{Specs-Link|ussr_btr_152a}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_is_7}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_268}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_279}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_su_122_54}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_t_10m}}

'''Naval vessels:'''

* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_191m}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k_hydrofoils}}
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_1204}}

== General info ==
This is machinegun closer to an autocannon rather than a machinegun. It has a decent fire rate for it's 14.5mm calibre.

=== Available ammunition ===
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''

=== Comparison with analogues ===


* [[MG 151 (15 mm)|MG 151]]
* [[MG M38(t) (15 mm)|MG M38(t)]]

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decent rate of fire for its calibre
* High muzzle velocity (1000 m/s)
* Unlockable API-T belt has 45 mm of penetration at close range, can take on lightly armoured vehicles and even some tanks from the side or rear

'''Cons:'''

* Best belt are tracer rounds, will give your location away
* Penetration drastically drops after 100 meters

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon 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 weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-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>.''

== 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 article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

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

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

{{USSR anti-aircraft guns}}
{{Tank machine guns}}
{{Naval machine guns}}

[[Category:Tank machine guns]]
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]
[[Category:Naval machine guns]]

Chi-Nu II

2021-12-15T04:19:58Z

U118268877: /* Description */

{{About
|about=premium Japanese medium tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=the regular version
|link=Chi-Nu
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=jp_type_3_chi_nu_75cm_type_5
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese medium tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced with the initial Japanese Ground Forces tree in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]], but was released once all the rank III Japanese tanks were available to the public in the Closed Beta Test. It costs 1,600 Golden Eagles. The Chi-Nu II is essentially the [[Chi-Nu|Chi-Nu]] body with the turret from the [[Chi-To|Chi-To]], giving the tank access to the high-power [[Type II Model II (75 mm)|Type II Model II 75 mm]].

The Chi-Nu II is a combination between two vehicles, the Type 3 Chi-Nu and the Type 4 Chi-To. It has the armour of the former, but the gun of the latter. Thus, while presenting itself as a more vulnerable body with only around 50 mm of armour, it has slightly better mobility than the Chi-To, a smaller profile, yet carries the same gun. Like the Chi-To, the Chi-Nu II should be played in a sniper-like format from a distance rather than up-close to the enemy and fighting them in close-quarters.

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

'''Armour type:'''

* Rolled homogeneous armour

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof
|-
| Hull || 50 mm (15°) ''Front plate'' 12 mm (76°) ''Front glacis'' 50 mm (20°) ''Joint plate'' 8.5 mm (65°) ''Lower glacis'' || 20 mm (15-30°) ''Top'' 25 mm ''Bottom'' || 20 mm (0-20°) ''Top'' 8.5 mm (63°) ''Bottom'' || 12 mm
|-
| Turret || 50 mm (16°) ''Turret front'' 50 mm (10°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 25 mm (9-10°) || 25 mm || 12 mm
|-
! Armour !! Sides !! Roof
|-
| Cupola || 50 mm || 12 mm
|-
|}
'''Notes:'''

* Suspension wheels are 15 mm thick while tracks are 20 mm thick.

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


{{tankMobility|abMinHp=372|rbMinHp=212}}

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

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

{{main|Type II Model II (75 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Type II Model II (75 mm)|75 mm Type II Model II]] || 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°/+15° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 15.7 || 21.7 || 26.4 || 29.2 || 31.1 || rowspan="2" | 7.67 || rowspan="2" | 6.79 || rowspan="2" | 6.25 || rowspan="2" | 5.90
|-
! ''Realistic''
| 9.8 || 11.5 || 14.0 || 15.5 || 16.5
|-
|}

==== Ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics
|-
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition
! rowspan="2" | Type of warhead
! colspan="6" | Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)
|-
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m
|-
| Type 1 APHE || APHE || 149 || 146 || 133 || 118 || 105 || 93
|-
| Type 4 Kou || APHE || 151 || 148 || 137 || 124 || 112 || 101
|-
| Type 90 HE || HE || 8 || 8 || 8 || 8 || 8 || 8
|-
|}
{| 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%
|-
| Type 1 APHE || APHE || 865 || 6.56 || 1.3 || 15 || 84.8 || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Type 4 Kou || APHE || 865 || 6.75 || 1.2 || 14 || 80.64 || 47° || 60° || 65°
|-
| Type 90 HE || HE || 830 || 6.17 || 0 || 0.1 || 490 || 79° || 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
! Visual discrepancy
|-
| '''48''' || 17 ''(+31)'' || 13 ''(+35)'' || 1 ''(+47)'' || No
|-
|}

Turret empty: 17 ''(+31)''

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

{{main|Type 97 (7.7 mm)}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | [[Type 97 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]]
|-
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal
|-
| Pintle || 1,000 (20) || 498 || -10°/+70° || ±60°
|-
| Hull || 3,000 (20) || 498 || -7°/+10° || ±19°
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The Chi-Nu II is one of the best bargains you can get for the price, it has a high penetrating Type 5 cannon at a lower BR of the regular tanks carrying it ([[Chi-To]], [[Chi-Ri II]]) in a tight package of the [[Chi-Nu]], this comes with a somewhat weaker engine (compared to the heavier Chi-To & Chi-Ri) but the pro's outweigh the con's.

One may consider the Chi-Nu II a glass cannon, and a great one at that, the armor isn't much to write home about, but it isn't paper thin either. It's a very well rounded medium tank in playstyle and can be compared and played like a [[Pz.IV F2#Usage in battle|Pz.IV F2]], it can destroy anything, but anything can destroy it. But unlike the Pz.IV, reload speeds are longer in exchange for a faster turret rotation.

Against the medium tanks, its simply getting the first shot off first as the 75 mm Type 5 cannon on the Chi-Nu could penetrate most through the front hull armour, with some levels of difficulty on the turret. Of course, for maximizing the Chi-Nu's own survival, attack from the sides and make sure the enemy is unaware of the Chi-Nu's presence.

The Chi-Nu II can meet heavy tanks, but will most likely be the 76 mm [[KV-1 (L-11)|KV-1]] [[KV-1S|series]] [[KV-1 (ZiS-5)|tanks]], which the 75 mm can easily punch through the front armour. The Chi-Nu II can still meet the British [[Churchill Mk VII]], which is impervious to the high-penetrating 75 mm from the front, so beware if caught in a frontal engagement.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful 75 mm cannon rivaling the [[T-34-85|T-34-85]], good penetration and very low shell drop-off
* Decent gun depression of -10°
* Good handling, same as Chi-Nu
* Fast and mobile
* Narrow chassis allows access through areas inaccessible by wider tanks

'''Cons:'''

* Chi-Nu's 50 mm armour is vulnerable to most incoming fire
* Most part of armour is only lightly sloped, even the turret
* Reload rate quite slow
* Angling front armour can expose weaker 35 mm side armour

== History ==

===Development===
The lackluster performance of Japanese tanks in World War II called for the development of newer medium tanks in the Imperial Japanese Army. The standard tank of the time was the [[Chi-Ha|Type 97 Chi-Ha]], which has its chassis used in many expedient models to provide a bigger gun for the Japanese inventory such as the [[Chi-Ha Kai|Chi-Ha Kai]], [[Chi-He|Type 1 Chi-He]], [[Ho-I|Type 2 Ho-I]], and [[Chi-Nu|Type 3 Chi-Nu]]. Two new sophisticated tanks were also in development, the [[Chi-To|Type 4 Chi-To]] and the [[Chi-Ri II|Type 5 Chi-Ri]], both fielding the powerful Type 5 75 mm gun. However, these two tanks still needed time to iron out some design bugs, time that the Japanese did not have while being stared down by the Allied powers. To get the Type 5 gun out to their forces as fast as possible, designers sought a way to get the gun onto a vehicle as fast as possible. The solution laid on the Type 3 Chi-Nu, regarded as one of Japan's best tank since its production start date in 1943.<ref name="SenshaManualChiNuII">Sun, Eun Ae. ''[WT] Type3 Chi-Nu II'' SENSHA. Blogger.com, 15 Jan. 2017. Web. 24 Jan. 2017. [http://sensha-manual.blogspot.com/2017/01/wt-type3-chi-nu-ii.html Website]</ref>

The Chi-To's prototype models had larger turrets that were different from the main production model. Instead of wasting these turrets, the Japanese decided to use them on the Chi-Nu body. In March 1945, a Chi-To prototype turret was attached onto Chi-Nu chassis #37. This upgraded Chi-Nu, along the line of the Chi-Ha's upgrade, was informally labeled the ''Chi-Nu Kai''. The design was tested on the Irago Firing Grounds on March 19th and proved itself very satisfactory in combat roles. The final design was to equip the Chi-Nu with production model Chi-To turret to increase production levels and it was to help improve Japan's armoured forces to stand up against the Allies' might. This Chi-Nu with the production Chi-To turret was known as '''Chi-Nu II'''.<ref name="SenshaManualChiNuII" />

===War's end===
Like most of the Japanese late-war tanks developed and retained in the home island for the "final defense", the modified Chi-Nu and its counterparts never saw battle against Allied armour. Japan surrendered in September 1945, effectively ending World War II. A few Chi-Nu IIs were made before the end, but they are most likely sent to the scrap yard along with most of the other Japanese equipment with their demilitarization.<ref name="SenshaManualChiNuII" />

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|aTqPFjW2K-o|'''The Shooting Range #177''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:32 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|oa26g25qqP4|'''Best medium tanks''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 2:33 - ''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/4428-development-type-3-chi-nu-ii-crouching-tiger-en/|[Devblog] Type 3 Chi-Nu II - Crouching Tiger]]
* [[wt:en/news/4468-a-new-japanese-premium-tank-the-chi-nu-ii-is-now-available-for-purchase-en/|[News] A new Japanese premium tank, the Chi-Nu II is now available for purchase]]

=== References ===
<references />

{{Japan medium tanks}}
{{Japan premium ground vehicles}}

F-4E Phantom II

2021-12-13T05:18:18Z

U118268877: /* Usage in battles */

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

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.97 "Viking Fury"]]. This twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric J79-GE-17 jets, each producing an incredible 8,010 kgf on maximum afterburner. This multi-role vehicle is among the top fighter jets in the game and a supremely capable ground attacker.

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


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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

{{main|M61 (20 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, chin-mounted (640 rpg)

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

=== 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|AIM-7E Sparrow|AIM-7E-2 Sparrow|AIM-9B Sidewinder|AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9J Sidewinder}}
{{main|AGM-12C Bullpup|AGM-62A Walleye I (505 kg)|AGM-65B}}
{{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-9B 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)
* 2 x AGM-12C Bullpup missiles
* 285 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
* 60 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles
* 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x 505 kg AGM-62A Walleye I bombs (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-9J 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-9J 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-9J 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-9J Sidewinder missiles (7,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==


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

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

In air realistic battles, it is recommended to take a balanced fuel load of 20 or 30 minutes, depending on how aggressive you fly. The most useful Air RB armament for the F-4E are the 4 AIM-9Js and 4 AIM-7Es. The best strategy is to accelerate to a speed of roughly 900-1100km/h and then zoom climb to altitude (5km or higher), where the pilot should accelerate to the highest speed possible. Lock on to targets with your radar and use your Sparrows to shoot down enemy aircraft when in range. Sparrows should ideally be launched above Mach 1 to take maximum advantage of their range and manoeuvrability. After using up all your sparrows, start using your AIM-9J's at targets below you. The missile will have much easier time following a target which is below it, simply due to gravity helping the missile keep its speed. It is important to note that because of its poor flight characteristics, the Phantom will struggle in one-on-one fights, making it vital to keep your teammates around. The Phantom should target enemies turnfighting its friendlies, as not only the enemy may be distracted and slow, but it provides you a chance to save your teammate, who in turn may down another enemy chasing you later in the match.

Dogfighting should be avoided as much as possible. The Phantom was designed around missiles, so they will naturally be your main way of getting kills, with the gun being a backup weapon for opportune targets. Try to avoid getting into dogfights with MiGs, since most of them will easily be able to outturn and out accelerate you.

;Notable Air RB enemies include:

* MiG-21MF and SMT, which will easily outturn all but the lightest fuel loads with full flaps on an F-4.
* MiG-21bis, which can use its amazing acceleration to catch you in a matter of seconds and evade missiles with flares.
* J35 Draken, which is faster than you by 100km/h and more at low altitudes, and will outmanoeuvre any other aircraft.
* Mirage, which is armed with two of the best infrared missiles in the game, the R.550 Magic, and a long-range radar-guided missile with similar performance to the AIM-7.
* FGR.2, which can out accelerate and outrun you, armed with 4 longer-ranged AIM-9Ds, while also having flares.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* AIM-9J and AIM-7E air-to-air missiles are among the best in the game
* Can carry up to eight missiles, with up to four AIM-9Js and four AIM-7Es
* Equipped with flares for evading enemy missiles
* A wide range of suspended armaments, suitable for any play-style
* Deadly frontal armament with high burst mass is practically guaranteed to critically damage an enemy aircraft if hit
* Makes use of a ballistic computer for assisting in the aim of cannons, rockets, and bombs

'''Cons:'''

* Easily and frequently rips wings, especially when doing negative G manoeuvres or rolls
* Limited ammunition in the frontally-mounted cannon
* Large target for aircraft and AA alike
* The weight of the aircraft makes it have a lower turn rate
* Two engines make for a large heat signature, making it harder to dodge missiles
* Rate of climb suffers immensely when carrying large amounts of ordnance

== History ==

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

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

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

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

== Media ==


;Skins

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

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

== See also ==


;Related development

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

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

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

== External links ==


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

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