War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

A2D-1

2023-10-18T01:52:06Z

U16908232: grammar

{{Specs-Card
|code=a2d
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_a2d.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} American strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy"]].

The {{PAGENAME}} was outfitted with the Allison XT40A turboprop engine, effectively doubling the horsepower over the [[AD-2|AD-2 ''Skyraider'']], however, installation of contra-rotating propellers was needed to harness all of that power. To accommodate this new thrust, the wing roots were decreased in their thickness while the tail section became larger and taller in order to stabilize the aircraft when under power. With the new engine situated, it was time to focus on the armament of the aircraft. Basic offensive 20 mm cannons were implemented, placing two in each wing with each gun being loaded with 400 rounds of ammunition, twice the firepower as on the Skyraider.

The Douglas {{PAGENAME}} did not have the same legacy as the A-1 Skyraider, however here in War Thunder new life has been given to this hybrid turbo-prop fighter allowing it to find a niche as a strike aircraft turned fighter and/or bomber, all depending on the ordnance outfitted by the pilot. Not to be underestimated, though having a bulky airframe, the {{PAGENAME}} has the speed and ordnance which can help in turning the tide of a battle. Often this aircraft will come up against jet aircraft, but its lack of speed can be made up in maneuverability and skill of the pilot in command.

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

With each engine reaching 2,517 horsepower, the A2D's top speed rivals early jets. The rate of climb is phenomenal and the short take off run speaks for a great acceleration. Every characteristic tells the tale of a great [[energy fighting]] machine. This strike aircraft is very much unlike its older cousin the [[AD-2]].

But the devil is in the detail. The wing loading is exceptional high >220 kg/m², sitting even above the [[P-47 (Family)|P-47 ''Thunderbolt'']]. It further does so in category of weight and size. Make no mistake, the Skyshark is a Sky whale and flies appropriately at times. Because of the weight, the elevator authority feels weak and one will kiss the ground more than once, before learning to fly with the momentum properly. Rapid pitch changes are not the Skyshark's forte, an abusable fact known to aces. Worse still is the jittery behavior while maneuvering or taking aim. Again the aircraft's mass will delay any inputs, especially noticeable in [[Simulator Battles|simulator mode]]. As a turboprop, the jets require a spool-up time when going from low to high power.

The acceleration is good, thanks to the powerful engines, allowing for a better sustained turn rate despite mediocre maneuverability. This allows the A2D to outshine many early jets in turn dogfights. Maintaining a Yo-Yo with 350 km/h IAS is possible and sadly necessary, any slower than this and the aircraft becomes less responsive. A rare case where lower speeds reduce overall controllability.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 8,534 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
|796||796|| rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} ||25.6||26.2||32.4||32.1|| rowspan="2" | 350
|-
! Upgraded
| 796 || 796 || 24.5 || 25.0 || 36.4 || 34.4
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} ||428|| 351 || 300 || ~9 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 460 || < 480 || < 460 || N/A
|-
|}

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


The {{PAGENAME}} has no protection for the pilot which makes it very vulnerable to AAA and other aircraft. The radar is also vulnerable to being hit. Belly landings can lead to the aircraft destroying itself beyond repair, but if done in a certain way now, due to damage model changes, the {{PAGENAME}} can indeed belly land.

The propeller driveshaft besides the engines is the most important part of maintaining thrust, as if it is damaged too much the engine condition will not matter and a loss of airspeed will occur. The A2D1 can still fly on one engine if the prop driveshaft and the one said engine is lightly damaged or undamaged. The {{PAGENAME}}'s fuel tank is quite prone to fires as it is a big target due to being in the fuselage. While this may seem bad, do not let this discourage you from executing boom-and-zoom tactics.

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

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

{{main|T31 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm T31 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

The T31 is a modification of the Hispano-Suiza system and an improvement from the AN-M2 cannon, mostly in weight though. The quadruple punch is a welcomed upgrade from the Skyraiders. However as the autocannons are mounted in the wings, the pilot must be cognizant of their range to the target and their convergence setting to ensure the ammunition hits the target and doesn't just fly on by.

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

{{main|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|AN-M66A2 (2,000 lb)|AN-M56 (4,000 lb)}}
{{main|HVAR|Mk.13-6 Case (2,216 lb)}}

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

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}

* Without load
* 22 x HVAR rockets
* 22 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (5,500 lb total)
* 12 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 3 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 1 x 4,000 lb AN-M56 bomb (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedoes
{{Navigation-End}}

Twenty-two total hardpoints allow the {{PAGENAME}} to carry an abundance of suspended ordnance much like the Skyraider. Choices of bombs, rockets and torpedoes open up the possibility of targets which can be engaged. Choices in bombs provide options with either 250 lb, 500 lb, 1,000 lb and 2,000 lb bombs. With these targets can range from mobile light trucks, anti-aircraft artillery, tanks, pillboxes and even bases. HVAR rockets provide flexibility to allow the {{PAGENAME}} to fire them from any angle (a restriction which bombs have) as the aircraft descends towards the target. The Mk.13-1 Case torpedoes are outfitted with a special frangible wooden drag ring and box stabilizer which allow for the torpedo to be dropped at high speeds and from higher altitudes than unmodified torpedoes making them a perfect option for the {{PAGENAME}} when taking on an anti-shipping role.

== Usage in battles ==

In [[Arcade Battles|Arcade]] and [[Realistic Battles]], the A2D-1 can climb with no extra armament to become top cover for the allied fighters, or alternatively escort bombers to their designation. It can also carry one of its most hard hitting armaments and destroy several ground targets or destroy two bases. Though in [[Simulator Battles]] the jittery controls and lack of control make it more akin to a [[B-57B]] fast jet bomber.

;Dogfights

With its outstanding acceleration and climb-rate the Skyshark can safely assault hostile ground forces and then decide to join the fray, by either assault climbing the closest hostile, relying on its acceleration to gain an energy advantage mid dogfight, or return to allied fighter pack to rejoin their climb. Going straight for the climb from the start will put the A2D at an immense energy advantage should the fight start.

Preferred combat styles are [[energy fighting]], due its aforementioned acceleration and climb-rate, but also [[BnZ|Boom and Zoom]] for the Skyshark is a heavy weight, note though it can easily reach its terminal velocity and loose all wings, coupled with the slow spool-up-time of the engine from low power, a provident engine and air-brake control is paramount. The G-Suit is a welcomed addition, but will often lead to ripped wings via g-forces in diving maneuvers.

Combat versus Jets differs amusingly little than versus propeller crafts. After easily gaining an altitude advantage, dive on the hostile and force it to break away (turn), hence losing speed and energy. Three things could happen now.

# the enemy jet dives - do not try follow too long, your terminal speed is lesser than most jets -> regain altitude,
# the enemy jet runs - hostile didn't lose too much speed, or assumes the A2D's speed and acceleration to be lesser. If it is the latter -> outpace and kill it,
# the enemy jet breaks more - hostile is either trying to force an overshoot or prepares for a dogfight, either way -> engage in maneuver combat.

Versus propeller fighters one should engage in turnfights, otherwise the Skyshark is most dominant against most WW2 fighters. Few Rank 4 fighters can challenge the A2D on equal terms, so stay sharp.

;Strafing

The A2D-1 can be a very valuable asset to teams looking to win by destroying ground troops or assaulting the airfield.
However, the Skyshark is so heavy weight and hence slugish that every strafing attempt is an inch away from a crash. The momentum change comes later than expected and is more akin to a medium bomber like the [[B-25J-20|B-25]]. One is not surprised the US Navy stuck with the older AD-2, as in the ground attacker role the Skyshark must play a slow game. Take time for every attack run and try to maintain a speed way above 300 km/h IAS with combat flaps. This is a very high velocity for strafing runs, however any less and the plane will not rise above the newly explosive laden ground...

=== Radars ===
{{main|AN/APS-19}}
The A2D-1 is equipped with an [[AN/APS-19]] search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in nose, inside the propeller hub.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-19]] - Target Detection Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Detection Range|The maximum possible range at which a target can be detected}}
! {{Annotation|Guaranteed Detection Range|The range, below which, detection of a target is practically guaranteed}}
! {{Annotation|Max Azimuth Scan Angle|How far to each side the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
! {{Annotation|Max Elevation Scan Angle|How far up and down the radar can scan (widest search mode)}}
|-
| 60,000 m (theoretical) || 7,200 m || ±67.5° || ±67.5°
|-
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-19]] - Target Tracking Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Tracking Range|The maximum range at which a target can be tracked}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum Tracking Range|The range below which targets cannot be tracked by the radar}}
! {{Annotation|Azimuth Tracking Angle|How far to each side the radar can track a target}}
! {{Annotation|Elevation Tracking Angle|How far up and down the radar can track a target}}
|-
| 1,500 m || 150 m || ±15° || ±15°
|-
|}

=== 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 || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Powerful turboprop dual engines
* Quad 20 mm cannon armament
* Possesses tracking and search Radar
* Impressive payload
* Premium bonuses
* Naval aircraft capable of carrier-landing

'''Cons:'''

* Quite sluggish
* Extremely large profile
* Time limit on radar
* Tracking Radar only works at ~1 km
* Extremely large profile for an attacker
* Tail of aircraft is fragile
* Extremely loud propulsion system allows for easy detection
* Faces jets like the F-86K and the MiG-21F-13 because of its higher BR in arcade

== History ==

The Douglas A-1 Skyraider was an impressive aircraft for a piston-driven propeller-powered aircraft which survived into the jet age, being used by the United States Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force and around nine other countries over its 40-year service. Like many aircraft which were successful, they went through many iterations and variants to keep them up to date with new requirements and technology as they came about. In an age where jet aircraft were beginning to overtake propeller-driven aircraft in all aspects of military service, the Bureau of Aeronautics which was the U.S. Navy's material-support organization was looking for a suitable option for an attack aircraft which would be more fuel-efficient than the upcoming jet fighters. To meet the Navy's requirement, Douglas Aircraft looked to their AD Skyraider airframe and considered modifying it to accept a more fuel economical turboprop engine.

In the early years following the war, jet engines underwent rapid development. This attracted the interest of the US Navy, which sought to arm itself with aircraft that were superior to that of potential opponents in speed, altitude, payload, and flight range.

As it turned out, jet engines were perfect for fighter aircraft but too "voracious" for strike aircraft, as they significantly reduced their range. The best engineering solution was to introduce the turboprop engine, which was a task the Douglas company undertook.

Initially, engineers simply wanted to replace the piston engine of the Skyraider attack aircraft with a turboprop engine. However, this led nowhere and the vehicle required significant modification. In the end, the engineers settled on a prototype with Allison Т-40А-2 turboprop engines and coaxial propellers.

The first flight of the XA2D-1 prototype, called the Skyshark, took place on May 26, 1950, but engine vibration nearly destroyed the aircraft and it was forced to land after only two minutes. By December 1950, the prototype had already completed over a dozen flights. However, a routine flight on December 19, 1950, ended in tragedy. Due to issues with the engine, the vehicle and pilot crashed. Nevertheless, testing continued and, despite the many technical problems that plagued the aircraft, the army ordered 10 pre-production models of the A2D-1. However, on August 5, 1954, another accident occurred when the main gearbox failed, and the aircraft crashed a short distance outside Los Angeles. This time, the pilot managed to escape the aircraft, but the project was closed and it was decided to dismantle any existing prototypes. Apparently, this decision was influenced by the fact that in the same year for the first time Douglas got another project in the air, this later became the famous A4D Skyhawk - a new generation of jets.

''- From [[wt:en/news/6210-development-douglas-a2d-1-skyshark-wyvern-to-the-max-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=a2d Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:A2D-1_WTWallpaper_001.jpg
File:A2D-1_WTWallpaper_002.jpg
File:A2D-1_WTWallpaper_003.jpg
File:A2D-1_WTWallpaper_004.jpg
File:A2D-1_WTWallpaper_005.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|DsUqjuBUWko|'''Is It Worth Your Money? War Thunder 1.89 A2D-1 Commentary''' - ''DEFYN''|Br0MqMHurKQ|'''Jaws With Wings - A2D-1 SkyShark - Ground Forces RB Gameplay''' - ''CyberDeath Gaming''|osh4KS9yodw|'''The Shooting Range #158''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:35 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|vhTZXYk6eao|'''Tank busters''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:43 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[AD Skyraider (Family)]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* [[Wyvern S4|Westland Wyvern S4]]
* [[P-47M-1-RE]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6210-development-douglas-a2d-1-skyshark-wyvern-to-the-max-en|[Devblog] Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark: Wyvern to the Max!]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/453543-douglas-a2d-1-skyshark/ <nowiki>[Data Sheet]</nowiki> Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark]
* [[wikipedia:Douglas_A2D_Skyshark|[Wikipedia] Douglas A2D Skyshark]]

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA strike aircraft}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

AIM-9H Sidewinder

2023-10-18T01:48:44Z

U16908232: a few grammar issues

{{About
| about = American air-to-air missile '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family)
}}
== Description ==

[[File:WeaponImage AIM-9D Sidewinder.png|thumb|left|420px|The AIM-9H Sidewinder missile (scale is approximate)]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an American [[Air-to-air_missiles#Infrared_homing_.28heat-seeking.29_missiles|infrared homing air-to-air missile]], it was introduced in [[Update "Danger Zone"]].

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|f_14a_early}}
* {{Specs-Link|f-4s}}

== General info ==

The AIM-9H is a further development of the AIM-9G, retaining all of the AIM-9Gs characteristics with a better tracking rate.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" | '''Missile characteristics'''
|-
|'''Mass'''|| 88 kg
|-
|'''Guidance'''|| IR
|-
|'''Aspect''' || Rear-aspect
|-
|'''Lock range'''|| 5.50 km
|-
|'''Launch range'''|| 18 km
|-
|'''Maximum speed'''|| 2.5 M
|-
|'''Maximum overload'''|| 18 G
|-
|'''Missile guidance time'''|| 60 secs
|-
|'''Explosive mass'''|| 3.53 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

=== Effective damage ===

The AIM-9H, like all of its competitors, uses a high-explosive warhead to shower the target in shrapnel.

Similarly to nearly every missile in the game, a direct hit from the missile will most likely destroy the target aircraft either through the explosion itself or the resulting damage and/or fire.

=== Comparison with analogues ===

The most similar thing to the AIM-9H is the AIM-9G, borrowing the same degrees of boresight and rocket motor, but the AIM-9H features a better track rate. Compared to the USAF Juliet model, it has a longer guidance time and motor burn time, but has a slightly lower G limit, making the Hotel inferior in dogfight scenarios but slightly more suited to ranged launches. It can be radar slaved, like the Juliet.

{| class="wikitable"
! Missile Characteristics !! AIM-9H !! AIM-9G !! AIM-9J
|-
| '''Mass''' || 88 kg || 88 kg || 76 kg
|-
| '''Guidance''' || IR || IR || IR
|-
| '''Aspect''' || Rear || Rear || Rear
|-
| '''Seeker Head''' || Uncaged || Uncaged || Uncaged (radar slavable)
|-
| '''Lock range (rear-aspect)''' || 5.5 km || 5.5 km || 5.5 km
|-
| '''Launch range''' || 18 km || 18 km || 18 km
|-
| '''Maximum speed''' || 2.5 M || 2.5 M || 2.5 M
|-
| '''Maximum overload''' || 18 G || 18 G || 20 G
|-
| '''Missile guidance time''' || 60 s || 60 s || 40 s
|-
| '''Explosive Mass''' || 3.53 kg TNTeq || 3.53 kg TNTeq || 7.62 kg TNTeq
|-
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The AIM-9H is most effective against unaware or occupied enemy aircraft from about 2.4 km or less (1.5 miles) from the rear or side aspects, able to tackle many opponents who are even attempting to evade the missile.

Depending on the encountered aircraft, the AIM-9H can occasionally lock an enemy aircraft from head-on, allowing a skilled player to launch said missile from the front.

Most players will be expecting an AIM-7 from your aircraft, so an AIM-9 would sufficiently confuse the enemy and net you a good hit.

Using the AIM-9H is situational however, as a misjudged shot could either result in a miss, or worse, a friendly fire incident. Good judgement and timing will net you many rewards, but the IR seeker will not differentiate between friend or foe when it matters most.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Long lasting rocket motor allowing for shots beyond 3 km
* Large seeker ring making off boresight shots more effective
* No G limit when launching the missile so you can launch the missile when turning at an high angle of attack
* Front-aspect locks are occasionally possible

'''Cons:'''

* Small explosive warhead
* IR Seeker sometimes tracks friendlies

== History ==

{{main|AIM-9G_Sidewinder#History|l1=History of the AIM-9G Sidewinder}}

The [[AIM-9G Sidewinder|AIM-9G]] variant of the Sidewinder was thought by some engineers at China Lake to be the pinnacle of Sidewinder designs. Compared to the preceding [[AIM-9D Sidewinder|AIM-9D]], the AIM-9G introduced the "Sidewinder Expanded Acquisition Mode" (SEAM) that allowed the Sidewinder to be slaved to the aircraft's radar or perform a circular scan of around 25 degrees. Though some engineers thought the AIM-9G was perfect, others engineers involved with the Sidewinder project since its [[AIM-9B|inception]] like William McLean (originator of the Sidewinder weapon) and Walter LaBerge (Sidewinder's missile engineer) believed that the AIM-9G's reliability could be further enhanced.<ref name="Westrum_ChinaLakeAIM9_2ndGen">Westrum 2013, p.187</ref>

In December 1965, McLean and LaBerge (who is at the time employed by Philco-Ford) got together to consider options of improving the missile's reliability. One proposal was to convert all remaining missile electronic components to solid-state gradually. While the US Air Force was open to this gradual replacement of electronics into solid-state, the proposal to the US Navy by engineer Walt Freitag was instead a complete the transition to solid-state all at once.<ref name="Westrum_ChinaLakeAIM9_2ndGen" /> The tracking rate was improved from 12 degrees/second into 20 degrees/second to complement the missile's more powerful actuators. The new missile, designated the '''AIM-9H''', was introduced into the US navy service in 1972 at the tail end of the Vietnam War, though sources are mixed on whether they were used in combat before the US withdrawal in 1973. A total of 7,700 AIM-9H units would be produced between 1972-1974 by Philco-Ford and Raytheon.<ref name="Designation_Sidewinder">Parsch 2008</ref>

Projects after the Vietnam War to continue improving the AIM-9s led to using the AIM-9H as the basis of the improvements. China Lake started the program as the ''AIM-9H Product Improvement Package (PIP)''. The United States Air Force, also seeking a missile improvement from their [[AIM-9E Sidewinder|AIM-9E]] and [[AIM-9J Sidewinder|AIM-9J]] models of the Sidewinder, became involved with the US Navy's AIM-9H PIP under direction the Pentagon. The variety of improvements input by both service branches led to the missile that would be designated as the [[AIM-9L Sidewinder|AIM-9L]].<ref name="Westrum_ChinaLakeAIM9L">Westrum 2013, p.191</ref>

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

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[AIM-9 Sidewinder (Family)]]

== External links ==


=== References ===

;Citations
<references />

;Bibliography

* Parsch, Andreas. 2008. "AIM-9." Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles. Last modified July 09, 2008. [http://www.designation-systems.info/dusrm/m-9.html Website] ([https://web.archive.org/web/20220107172850/http://www.designation-systems.info/dusrm/m-9.html Archive])
* Westrum, Ron. 2013. ''Sidewinder; Creative Missile Development at China Lake''. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.

{{Missiles}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]