War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

PBM-5A "Mariner"

2024-10-22T11:59:59Z

U173465928: Added more descriptions on flight performanec, payload, armaments and also the pros and cons

{{Specs-Card
|code=pbm_5a
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Seek & Destroy"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season XVI, "Skilled Marksman"]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
The flight performance on this vehicle ( like every single PBM) is rather poor, with a really bad top speed, acceleration, climb rate, manouverability and speed limit, its almost a sitting duck on air battles, its only redeming quality is in terms of defensive armament, payload and insanely durable airframe. Turning and diving should be avoided, due to the amount of energy bleed, terrible dive performance, climb rate, compression and wing rip speed and also climbing is '''ESSENTIAL''' for the survival of the plane, even if the plane has a really bad climb rate. Even with its better engines, they dont make much diference on an airframe that big.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed<br>(km/h at 3,963 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 320 || 309 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 34.3 || 35.8 || 5.3 || 5.3 || rowspan="2" | 1,100
|-
! Upgraded
| 371 || 344 || 31.8 || 33.0 || 9.0 || 6.9
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 405  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 405 || 405 || 320 || ~__ || ~__
|-
|}

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

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

The PBM-5A "Mariner" is not very survivable. The PBM-5A is very slow,and cannot climb well, making it vulnerable to any sort of enemy fighter, or even other bombers. To increase the chance of survival and making it tothe target, the PBM must side climb to the sides of the map, while doing some 5 degrees climbing when the plane is about 300kmh, even if it is slow and might take a while. If done so, the majority of the anemy team will be below, and by the time the vehicle gets to the bases, its altitude will be about 6000m depending on the map, making it almost untouchable and free to drop all the payload on the bases and also the airfield if possible.

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}The PBM does not have any kind of offensive armament, making it only able to deal damage with its multiple turrets, which means that any kind of engagements with an enemy plane should me avoided.

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="11%" | 1 !! width="11%" | 2 !! width="11%" | 3 !! width="11%" | 4
| rowspan="7" width="30%" | 
|-
! [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|100 lb AN-M30A1]] bombs
| || 6 || 6 ||
|-
! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
| || 4 || 4 ||
|-
! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
| || 4 || 4 ||
|-
! [[AN-Mk 1 (1,600 lb)|1,600 lb AN-Mk 1]] bombs
| 1 || 4 || 4 || 1
|-
! [[Mk.13-6 (2,216 lb)|2,216 lb Mk.13-6]] torpedoes
| 1 || || || 1
|-
! [[Type A Mark I mine|Type A Mark I]] mines
| || 4 || 4 ||
|-
|}
{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}

* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 8 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 8 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (8,000 lb total)
* 8 x 1,600 lb AN-Mk 1 bombs (12,800 lb total)
* 2 x 1,600 lb AN-Mk 1 bombs (3,200 lb total)
* 2 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 torpedoes
* 8 x Type A Mark I mines
{{Navigation-End}}
Note that equipping [[Mk.13-6 (2,216 lb)|Mk.13-6 torpedoes]] will block landing gear, and needs to be deployed or jettisoned in order to allow the landing gear to unfold. The best payload to outfit this plane are the Type A Mark I mines, because at its battle rating of 3.7, a singular bomb can take out a base, which means that its possible to wipe out 3 bases and an airfield with a single run (Its a big IF). With its amazing payload, a singular pbm is a force to be reckoned with if left alone close to the bases.

Note: Be aware that if the PBM is not on level flight, the bombs might spawn on the engine room, destroying it with the bomb.

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

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, tail turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (420 rpg)

Even with the large amount of defensive turrets, its really difficult to defend the plane from most fighters below, which is completely vulnerable, so staying at altitude and keeping enemies on the tail is the only way to effectively defend it.

== Usage in battles ==

'''Realistic Battles:'''

There are two ways on which the plane can be used effectively, being that a '''REALLY''' shallow side climb to get to atleast 5000m, but preferably 6000m to avoid contact with the enemy, and by the time the plane gets to the bases, the enemy team will probably be at a really low altitude, making it almost impossible to cathc the pbm, and then dropping the payload on to the bases and the airfield. This strategy is the best in the long run, because the more time you live = the more RP and SL you get, nad paired with the multiple bases and a kill or two, it is an efficient way to grind all the way to rank 4 USA.

The second way of using the vehicle is to do a shallow dive towards the bases, getting it up to 400kmh, and try to get as fast as possible to drop the payload (Which is not recommended, because the chance of fighters engaging it is tremendously big, making the PBM vulnerable and defenseless) and fly out, being a faster but more unreliable way of making RP and SL.

'''Simulator Battles'''

The PBM is a Monster in simulator battles, because it allows you to kill multiple bases without the need to rearm, being its only downside the quirky way it manouvers and flies and also by how easy it is to spot. Climb to altitude and unleash havoc on the enemy team.

=== 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<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can land on either land or water
* Gigantic payloads, removing almost the entire need to rearm
* Lots of defensive turrets
* Extremely survivable at tha Battle Rating
* Effective vehicle for grinding

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely bad flight performance
* Huge target and if not on a good altitude food for enemy fighters
* No offensive armaments
* Belly is vulnerable to enemy fighters
* Any kind of damage ruins its already bad flight performance
* If not on level flight when droppping bombs, they might spawn on the engine room, killing the engine and also despawning the bomb.

*

== 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 ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/8990-development-battle-pass-vehicles-pbm-5a-mariner-en|[Devblog] Battle Pass Vehicles: PBM-5A Mariner]]

{{AirManufacturer Martin}}
{{USA bombers}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

F8F-1

2024-10-20T20:30:02Z

U173465928: Fixed br from 5.0 to 4.7

{{About
|about= American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other variants
|link= F8F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f8f1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f8f1.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American naval fighter {{Battle-rating|4.0(AB), 4.7(RB) nad 6.0(SB)=4.0(AB), 4.7(RB) nad 6.0(SB)}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.33]].

The F8F-1 is an all-purpose light fighter-bomber, and excels as such. Although it may seemed incredibly outgunned with only four M2 Brownings, the Bearcat can be a more than decent fighter in the right hands. The plane was developed to achieve two things: the best possible climb rate and the ability to land on escort carriers.

The in-game F8F-1 retains many advantages of the real-life counterpart. The F8F has very good acceleration and climb rate, thanks to its powerful engine. Because of that, it can quickly gain an altitude advantage over its opponents. Thanks to its high top speed, good wing endurance, and good energy retention capabilities, the F8F is perfectly suited to energy fighting. A Bearcat pilot should avoid low-speed dogfights, instead opt for a diving attack from above.The Bearcat is also a very hardy aircraft able to sustain several hits from enemy cannon and machine gun rounds before being decommissioned. The phrase "Grumman Ironworks" comes into play on the Bearcats just like their previous works; The F3F, The F4F ''Wild Cat'', and the F6F ''Hellcat''. Therefore you shouldn't be too wary of 13-15 mm. 20 mm Hispanos and 30 mm Rhein Borsig series guns are your biggest threats in terms of damage.

The main issue with the F8F-1 is its armament. With only four 12.7 mm M2 machine guns, the F8F-1 is lacking especially when compared to the succeeding F8F-1B that has four 20 mm M3 autocannons. With a relatively low fire rate and low damage, pilots must make their shots count. Unlike most other planes equipped with the M2 Brownings, the Bearcat can utilize M20 API-T rounds. These rounds excel at setting targets aflame. Precise aiming is key, specifically targeting the enemy aircraft's engine or pilot. Aiming for the fuselage is less effective as unlike the P-47D, which has eight M2s which can chew through aircraft fuselages by hurling twice as many bullets down range. Meanwhile the measly 4 x M2s Bearcat will pepper the hull and simply be absorbed. And unlike other Browning armed airplanes, it has mediocre ammo load of only 1250 rounds.

Make use of the secondary payloads as well. The Bearcat can make use of the Tiny Tim rockets as well as a large array of HVAR rockets and bombs. Tiny Tims are especially useful against heavy ground targets and tanks.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max speed<br>(km/h at 4,268 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 672 || 647 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.1 || 20.8 || 19.6 || 19.6 || rowspan="2" | 220
|-
! Upgraded
| 752 || 708 || 18.0 || 19.0 || 33.3 || 25.2
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 616 || 585 || 427 || ~10 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 465 || < 466 || < 600 || > 460
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 995 m ||2,299 hp||2,384 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,090 m ||1,852 hp||1,918 hp
|-
|}

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


* 8.5 mm Steel - Under cowling engine armour plate
* 8.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit protection plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Pilots seat and headrest
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield

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

* The "holy trinity" of flight performance upgrades: Compressor, Engine, and Engine injection. All three combined increase climb rate by 10 m/s (~2,000 feet/min)
* Armament upgrades are worth considering due to lacking armament, bad stock belts and mediocre ammo count
* G-suit is very useful, given the plane is most manoeuvrable at medium to high speeds

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


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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 + 325 rpg each wing = 1,250 total)

The M2 Browning machine gun by this rank is a very familiar machine gun to most American players. The usage of the M20 API-T rounds in the belts available makes the {{PAGENAME}} able to dish out similar damages to that of other Rank III-IV fighters with the M2 Browning armaments.

However, the mounting of the armaments on the {{PAGENAME}} has some downsides. The {{PAGENAME}} only comes with four machine gun totals, two per wing, compared to the usual six machine guns in American fighters. Not only that, the {{PAGENAME}} guns come with less rounds per gun in the wing. This means the {{PAGENAME}} overall loses out in firepower and firing time available with the click of the trigger.

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="13%" | 1 !! width="13%" | 2 !! width="13%" | 3
| rowspan="6" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2 Browning]] machine guns (340 rpg)
| 2 || || 2
|-
! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
| 1 || || 1
|-
! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[HVAR]] rockets
| 2 || || 2
|-
! [[Tiny Tim]] rockets
| 1 || || 1
|-
|}

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

* Without load
* 4 x HVAR rockets
* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns (340 rpg = 1,360 total)
{{Navigation-End}}

In modes outside of Arcade Battles, the F8F-1 releases some suspended armaments in pairs rather than singular. The Tiny Tim rockets are both fired at the same time, so the pilot will only have one chance to hit the target. In configurations with multiple bombs, the wing-mounted bombs drop off first before the fuselage-mounted bomb.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:FighterImage_F8F1.jpg|thumbnail|left|A Bearcat dives towards a formation of [[Kikka]] fighter-bombers.]]
This aircraft is best when used as an energy fighter; however, unlike other American planes, it doesn't fulfil the Boom-and-Zoom role very well because of lacking armament and rudder lock-up above 720 km/h.

Originally designed to achieve best possible climb rate, this aircraft sacrifices almost everything else, including armament, supercharger, fuel load and radiator. However, as it was also made to be able to use escort carriers, it is also small and durable.

This aircraft has great climb rate in Air Realistic Battles (spaded and with minimum fuel) as well as great acceleration; these two traits should be used accordingly for the plane's best performance. At the beginning of the match, climb into the battlefield, and attack the opponents with the highest energy. If there is an enemy above you, disengage using your great acceleration. Do not be afraid to attack lower enemies, as this plane's optimal altitude is below 1,000 m. It is also quite fast in a straight line, especially on low altitudes.

The bad low speed manoeuvrability isn't really an issue given the plane's acceleration.

=== 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<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

* Although the name "Ovencat" may not sound encouragingly, MEC lets pilot completely forget about the overheating problem. Set the prop pitch to 100%, Mixer to ~95%. Change supercharger gear around 1,100 m. Manage radiators according to the temperatures.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great climb rate
* Great acceleration
* Good top speed, especially at low altitudes
* Great turn rate at medium to high speeds
* Good roll rate at higher speeds
* G-suit modification
* Fast weapon reload (AB)
* Great energy retention in the vertical
* Can take a punch
* Can utilize M20 API-T belts, which can set everything on fire with only a couple of bullets
* Has access to gunpods
* Has carrier hook which makes it useful on Pacific maps
* It doesn't see jets as often as the F8F-1B

'''Cons:'''

* Sluggish low speed handling (roll rate) and turning
* Loses a lot of energy when turning
* Bad high altitude performance above 5,000 m
* Rudder compresses hardly when speeding above 720 km/h
* Engine overheats on 100% when using auto controls
* Limited supply of ADI ('''A'''nti-'''D'''etonant '''I'''njection - mixture of alcohol and water to boost performance for WEP)
* Extremely poor weapons when compared to Fw-190, J2M, Spitfire, and Yak variants, among others
* Limited ammo count

== History ==

The first idea for the creation of the Grumman F8F Bearcat was pitched after the Battle of Midway. Many pilots who took part in it remarked that one of the most important parts of naval air warfare was an aircraft's rate of climb. This of course meant that an increase in power was necessary. In 1943 the design work on the new aircraft began. The outline called for a fighter-interceptor, capable of operating even from small escort carriers. While the engine – the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial – was the same model used on the earlier [[F6F-5|F6F Hellcat]], the new fighter would be lighter which also meant an increase in speed and climb rate. The concession was limiting the range of the new aircraft. The F8F would also feature a bubble canopy for better all around visibility. The first prototype, the XF8F-1, first took to the skies on the 21st August 1944. Further tests proved the aircraft's reliability and ruggedness, and the F8F was accepted into mass production. The first serial models rolled off the assembly line in February 1945 and were delivered to VF-19 fighter squadron, which began operating flights with the Bearcats in May 1945.

The new fighter, was, however, too late for any combat in World War II. After the war the situation of this propeller aircraft got even more complicated thanks to the introduction of naval jet aircraft. Even though the F8F was one of the fastest propeller-driven aircraft of its time, it was clear that the jet age was dawning. The F8F was replaced in US Navy and USMC service by the F9F Panther and the [[F2H-2|F2H Banshee]] jet aircraft. Some Bearcats saw combat service with the French in French Indochina in 1951, when they were used in the CAS role against the Viet Minh troops. Thailand also received a shipment of Bearcats which were then operated by the Thai Air Force. The F8F found a new life – thanks to its speed and acceleration - it was and still is widely used as a racing aircraft. One of the most famous racing Bearcats is the Rare Bear – a specially modified F8F, which holds many propeller aircraft speed and climb records.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f8f1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Other F8F aircraft

* [[F8F-1B]]
* [[F8F-1B (France)]]

== External links ==


* [http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/F8F/F8F-1_Standard_Aircraft_Characteristics.pdf Standard Aircraft Characteristics of the F8F-1]

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