War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

P-47D-22-RE

2023-10-24T18:44:00Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-47 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-47d_22_re
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was one of the last variants in the P-47D family to have a razorback airframe. The D-22-RE and D-23-RA were essentially the same aircraft and both utilized the all-important water injection system. The D-22 received an impressive 3.9 metre (13 foot) propeller which had only 15 cm (6 in) clearance from the ground. The new propeller also increased the climb rate significantly. The D-22 also has the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-63, essentially the R-2800-21 but with water injection installed at the factory. It differs from the -59 in having a less efficient ignition system. The main difference between the D-22-RE and D-23-RA was the specific propeller used. D-22-REs had the Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 24E50-65 propeller whereas the D-23-RA had a Curtiss Electric propeller.

Introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]], the '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a fairly decent fighter and ground attacker. The main difference between the D-22 and many of the late Thunderbolts is the razorback design behind the cockpit canopy. This design greatly increased stability at higher speeds but has reduced cockpit visibility. The Thunderbolt is much like the "Jug" nickname it was given, it was one of the heaviest single-engine fighters of the war and it shows. Its climb rate is extremely lacklustre and has a poor sustained turn rate. The Thunderbolt can only turn tight for a few turns until it loses its energy, so players should turn only in dire situations. For players planning to use the Thunderbolt as a ground attacker, there are a decent amount of options to choose from. Although it is relatively limited compared to the later Thunderbolts, the D-22 can still carry a mix of bombs and rockets as well as bomb-only loadouts.

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


In Arcade battles, the P-47 can be pushed to its limits. Climb rate, turn rate, and responsiveness are all dramatically increased. Still, tactics used in RB also apply very well in Arcade- this fighter is great for practising Boom & Zoom in Arcade due to the impressive climb rate in this mode. However, the skill will not be built nearly as well in this mode, as rolling scissors and "skidding" manoeuvres will not really be needed.

Overall, the P-47 is a very pleasurable plane to fly for a quick jaunt in arcade battles.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,144 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
| 665 || 654 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.2 || 27.1 || 6.5 || 6.5 || rowspan="2" | 600
|-
! Upgraded
| 719 || 695 || 23.8 || 25.0 || 14.6 || 10.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 498 || 469 || 320 || ~13 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 402 || < 420 || < 470 || > 335
|-
|}

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


The pilot and fuel tanks have decent armour protection from the front, but the engine is vulnerable from the front. The pilot has no armour protection from the rear, leaving him vulnerable.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - windshield
* 9.5 mm Steel - Below windshield
* 9.5 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of fuel tanks and pilot
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 8 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (425 rpg = 3,400 total)

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="9%" | 1 !! width="9%" | 2 !! width="9%" | 3 !! width="9%" | 4 !! width="9%" | 5
| rowspan="6" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[AN-M57 (250 lb)|250 lb AN-M57]] bombs
| 1 || || 1 || || 1
|-
! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
| 1 || || 1 || || 1
|-
! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
| 1 || || || || 1
|-
! [[M8]] rockets
| || 3 || || 3 ||
|-
| colspan="6" | Maximum permissible loadout weight: 1,340 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 520 kg
|-
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
* Without load
* 6 x M8 rockets
* 3 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (750 lb total)
* 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
{{Navigation-End}}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air Realistic'''

The P-47 has a relatively lacklustre climb rate, so it must side-climb or constantly be in an energy disadvantage. While climbing, you can use MEC in order to maximize the performance of the aircraft. You put both radiators at 10%, mixture at 80% and propeller pitch at 80% as well. By side-climbing, you give yourself more time to climb and enemies will not attack you, allowing you to climb uninterrupted. You do not stop climbing at a certain altitude, but rather once you're above or at the altitude of all the enemy fighters so you can have a distinct energy advantage. Turn back in and start accelerating. Now you must chose your targets. Try and chose the target that is directly threatening you the most (the closest enemy or the enemy at the highest energy state) Once you chose a target, start a shallow dive (not a steep one as a shallow dive will more efficiently turn altitude into speed). If the enemy notices you and starts diving to the deck, do not follow them as it is a waste of energy and time. Similarly, if the enemy tries to engage in a dogfight with you, do not accept the bait but keep flying straight and climb back up with the speed you gained in the dive and chose another target to boom and zoom. Rinse and repeat until you've defeated the enemy.

If an enemy gets on your tail, do not dive straight to the deck as that is a matter of power to weight rather than the sheer mass of a plane. Instead, start a shallower climb. Due to the straight line energy retention of the P-47, you will keep speed much better than a lighter fighter. Once they get bored and peel off, or you gain enough distance (around 3.5-4 km) turn back to them and start chasing them. You can afford to spray and the high velocity and volume of fire makes it easier to hit and scare an enemy even at long ranges.

If an enemy dives on you and is gaining on you, attempt to gain as much speed before maneuvering as the P-47 keeps controllability (even becoming more manoeuvrable) at higher speeds where most other enemies begin to lock up. use the excellent roll of the P-47 to evade shots and either force an overshoot or begin outrunning the enemy.

;Simulator/EC

In air Simulator mode, the P-47D-22 RE does not feel as struggling as in RB since simulator is more about situational awareness rather than who climbs the highest in 2 minutes. Its sufficient speed, robust airframe, punching .50 cals and multiple additional options of bombs make it an excellent multi-role aircraft. However, comparing to the later Jugs with all-clear bubble canopy, the razorback P-47 has worse visibility. The front have quite some frames around the gunsight, but they are thin which is a good news. The sides are overall unaffected. The rear view, however, is greatly obstructed by the Razorback, preventing the pilot from seeing what's on the tail which can be fatal sometimes. The early P-47 has the same heavy weight and large size but the engine is not as powerful as the later models, so it will feel more sluggish at lower speeds.

The P-47 can perform ground attack, bomber intercepting and traditional BnZ fighting. Sim is different from realistic, so discard the habit of bringing the least fuel. Bring at least 30 minutes of fuel, although it decreases the plane's performance a bit, it prevents constant refueling which saves time for patrolling and fighting.

For takeoff, while your P-47 accelerates down the runway, dip the nose parallel to the ground to decrease drag. You can use no flaps at all until the speed is above 200 km/h since heavier planes generally need more speed to lift off. This is especially more true if your Jug is carrying a full bombload. As you are fast enough, deploy combat/takeoff flaps, and gently pull the stick back, the P-47 will get airborne easily. Then, retract landing gears, and flaps once you are above ~220 km/h unloaded, or ~260 km/h with bombs. Be careful when manoeuvring with a full bombload, an aircraft this heavy will lose quite some altitude when rolling so watch your altitude if you just took off and are still near the ground.

For ground pounding, use the bombs to take out pillboxes and tanks, and the MG for trucks, AAA, and howitzers. Be around 750 m above the ground so you have enough room to dive at the target and gather enough momentum for the bombs, making them land nearer to where you aimed at. Try to drop as close to the target as possible but do not crash. An ideal dive speed before releasing payload is around 500 km/h. When the gunsight slices through and above the target, drop the 1,000 lbs. When the target is just above the center of the gunsight and fills up around half of it, release the 500 lbs. The 8 MGs are perfect for killing trucks, AA guns and artilleries as they have plenty of ammo and good damage. However, always watch your surroundings, especially your high 6 for any incoming enemies. A steady display of killfeeds onto the opponents' screens will sure alert some of them to come after you.

Due to the rather inadequate climb rate of the P-47D-22 RE, it may be a good option to hunt down low-altitude ground pounders rather than climbing to a bomber's altitude, especially if your airfield is close to the frontline leaving you little room or time to climb. Wander around friendly ground units like tank/truck columns, AAA/howitzer positions and bunkers, they are very likely to attract enemy attackers. Remain at an altitude of ~1200 m until you see a target. You can start diving at it straight away, or if you can get the timing correctly, dive right when the strike aircraft finishes a pass and is climbing up for the next pass, this is when it is the slowest and most unresponsive. Also because of the positions (prey is almost perpendicular in front of the attacker) the target's large cross section of the entire top will be presented to the guns. For a diving P-47, that is pretty much setting oneself up as an easy, large and motionless target. Lead carefully and put a solid burst into it, usually it will get crippled if not destroyed straight away.

As for dogfighting, because almost all aerial battles in Sim occur below 3,000 m, the P-47 can easily climb to this altitude and gather up quite some speed before engaging a battle. The tactic is similar to everyday RB tactics, that is to utilise your speed, powerful guns, and altitude if you have any. If, unfortunately, you find yourself being chased at your 6 and you don't know how to do any defensive manoeuvres, do a large, smooth turn towards the nearest friendly airfield to avoid bleeding too much speed. Then shallow-dive towards your airfield. The P-47 can quite easily outrun opponents like the A6M or Bf-109 E, but struggles to outrun Bf-109 F/G, FW-190 A or another P-47. Another way of disengaging is to do a sudden split-S to dodge under the chaser. Average Sim players will now try and see where you went, if not immediately losing track of you. You can then run for your airfield or shallow climb for another attack. In the heat of an intense fight, do not pull too much/too sudden, the P-47 may enter flat spins. Pull gently, around ~80% to the stick's limit is generally enough.

;Enemies worth noting

* [[Me 264]]: This giant is one of the few bombers who get air spawns in Sim, so it usually flies higher than many would think. On top of this, the Me 264 is armed with large calibre MG and cannons all over it, therefore tailing a 264 is basically suicide unless all of their gunners are knocked out. Treat the 264 almost like a B-29 or B-17 as they are very similar in both design and defensive capabilities. It is best to head-on the 264 if possible to easily knock out the pilots due to its glazed nose while also taking minimal damage. However the bomber lacks a ventral turret on its belly, making it easy to deal damage from below, but be wary of the downwards facing rear 20 mm cannon near the tail. The safest way to attack is from a higher altitude, dive at an oblique angle and focus fire on the wings and nose. Never engage if the P-47 has no altitude advantage.

* [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]], [[Ki-45 (Family)|Ki-45]], [[A-26 (Family)|A-26]]: As mentioned before, those twin engine aircraft are a big threat since their lack of manoeuvrability comparing to single engine fighters are minimised in Sim. They are usually armed with heavy guns & cannons in the nose, so an accurate burst will tear any plane apart, including the P-47. The P-47 manoeuvres rather sluggishly and the plane might get out-turned from even those heavy fighters, so engage them with either altitude or speed advantage to avoid being targeted. If they are not manoeuvring aggressively, aim for their wings or engines. If the fight is intense and the {{PAGENAME}} pilot cannot smooth the aim, just burst anywhere as long as the guns hit them, the 12.7 mm bullets will damage their flight models quite a bit.
* [[Yak-2 KABB]]: Do not think that the {{PAGENAME}} can confidently outmanoeuvre this plane just because it is twin-engined. The Yak-2 has an amazing turn rate for a heavy fighter, thus the {{PAGENAME}} must avoid turning with it, if not dogfighting with it in general. It bears a pair of ShVAK cannons that can easily damage vital parts like engine or cooling systems. It has green camo, greatly resembling an Me 410 but with an H-tail like a Bf 110's.
* [[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 or if the {{PAGENAME}} has a bomb ready for use. 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. Armour-piercing belt is recommended since their high penetration can tear through the ZSD's armour with ease and knock out its crew members.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 1 gear || Auto controlled
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great bomber destroyer against a lone bomber
* Excellent high altitude performance
* If taken care of, can easily fly with one wing
* Muscle car with wings, excellent at Boom and Zoom tactics
* 8 M2 Browning machine guns are accurate at a longer range than most cannons at its BR
* High speed, even while stock
* Very durable which semi-compensates with its lacklustre turn rate
* Plenty of ammo
* Can easily escape enemies with its high speed for its rank
* Great multirole aircraft, can carry various bombs and rockets, acting as an interceptor or ground-attack aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Frontal armour can easily be penetrated by 20 mm rounds
* Can easily snap a wing when even the slightest gunfire hits it
* Poor stall characteristics
* Mediocre climb performance (side climbing recommended)
* Slow and hard to manoeuvre at low altitudes
* Larger than average fighter
* Poor overall performance when mounting payloads
* After attacking ground targets, the P-47 lacks the altitude to Boom & Zoom enemy fighters
* Big engine easily hit during a head-on attack
* Worse cockpit visibility than in the other bubble canopy P-47s
* No armour protection for pilot from behind

== 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=p-47d_22_re Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="P-47D-22-RE Devblog Images" heights="150">
File:P-47D-22-RE and Thunderbolt Mk.1 WTWallpaper.jpg|American P-47D-22-RE (left) & British Thunderbolt Mk.1 (right)
File:P-47D-22-RE WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:P-47D-22-RE WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|w9LbiTJlR1o|'''Spade Review, P-47 D-22 RE. The First Razorback Thunderbolt!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|vFwTYd-5htY|'''Bad Mean Killing Machine! P-47D-22 RE Razorback! - USA - Review!''' - ''Jengar''}}

== 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/6844-development-new-p-47-thunderbolt-variants-en|[Devblog] New P-47 Thunderbolt Variants]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497251-p-47d-22/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[wikipedia:Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt|[Wikipedia] Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]
* [http://www.airvectors.net/avp47.html#m5 <nowiki>[Air Vectors]</nowiki> The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - P-47D / P-47G / XP-47K / XP-47L]

{{AirManufacturer Republic}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-47D-22-RE

2023-10-24T18:42:14Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-47 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-47d_22_re
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was one of the last variants in the P-47D family to have a razorback airframe. The D-22-RE and D-23-RA were essentially the same aircraft and both utilized the all-important water injection system. The D-22 received an impressive 3.9 metre (13 foot) propeller which had only 15 cm (6 in) clearance from the ground. The new propeller also increased the climb rate significantly. The D-22 also has the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-63, essentially the R-2800-21 but with water injection installed at the factory. It differs from the -59 in having a less efficient ignition system. The main difference between the D-22-RE and D-23-RA was the specific propeller used. D-22-REs had the Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 24E50-65 propeller whereas the D-23-RA had a Curtiss Electric propeller.

Introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]], the '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a fairly decent fighter and ground attacker. The main difference between the D-22 and many of the late Thunderbolts is the razorback design behind the cockpit canopy. This design greatly increased stability at higher speeds but has reduced cockpit visibility. The Thunderbolt is much like the "Jug" nickname it was given, it was one of the heaviest single-engine fighters of the war and it shows. Its climb rate is extremely lacklustre and has a poor sustained turn rate. The Thunderbolt can turn tight for a few turns until it loses its energy, so players should turn only in dire situations. For players planning to use the Thunderbolt as a ground attacker, there are a decent amount of options to choose from. Although it is relatively limited compared to the later Thunderbolts, the D-22 can still carry a mix of bombs and rockets as well as bomb-only loadouts.

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


In Arcade battles, the P-47 can be pushed to its limits. Climb rate, turn rate, and responsiveness are all dramatically increased. Still, tactics used in RB also apply very well in Arcade- this fighter is great for practising Boom & Zoom in Arcade due to the impressive climb rate in this mode. However, the skill will not be built nearly as well in this mode, as rolling scissors and "skidding" manoeuvres will not really be needed.

Overall, the P-47 is a very pleasurable plane to fly for a quick jaunt in arcade battles.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,144 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
| 665 || 654 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.2 || 27.1 || 6.5 || 6.5 || rowspan="2" | 600
|-
! Upgraded
| 719 || 695 || 23.8 || 25.0 || 14.6 || 10.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 498 || 469 || 320 || ~13 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 402 || < 420 || < 470 || > 335
|-
|}

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


The pilot and fuel tanks have decent armour protection from the front, but the engine is vulnerable from the front. The pilot has no armour protection from the rear, leaving him vulnerable.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - windshield
* 9.5 mm Steel - Below windshield
* 9.5 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of fuel tanks and pilot
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 8 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (425 rpg = 3,400 total)

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="9%" | 1 !! width="9%" | 2 !! width="9%" | 3 !! width="9%" | 4 !! width="9%" | 5
| rowspan="6" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[AN-M57 (250 lb)|250 lb AN-M57]] bombs
| 1 || || 1 || || 1
|-
! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
| 1 || || 1 || || 1
|-
! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
| 1 || || || || 1
|-
! [[M8]] rockets
| || 3 || || 3 ||
|-
| colspan="6" | Maximum permissible loadout weight: 1,340 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 520 kg
|-
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
* Without load
* 6 x M8 rockets
* 3 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (750 lb total)
* 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
{{Navigation-End}}

== Usage in battles ==

'''Air Realistic'''

The P-47 has a relatively lacklustre climb rate, so it must side-climb or constantly be in an energy disadvantage. While climbing, you can use MEC in order to maximize the performance of the aircraft. You put both radiators at 10%, mixture at 80% and propeller pitch at 80% as well. By side-climbing, you give yourself more time to climb and enemies will not attack you, allowing you to climb uninterrupted. You do not stop climbing at a certain altitude, but rather once you're above or at the altitude of all the enemy fighters so you can have a distinct energy advantage. Turn back in and start accelerating. Now you must chose your targets. Try and chose the target that is directly threatening you the most (the closest enemy or the enemy at the highest energy state) Once you chose a target, start a shallow dive (not a steep one as a shallow dive will more efficiently turn altitude into speed). If the enemy notices you and starts diving to the deck, do not follow them as it is a waste of energy and time. Similarly, if the enemy tries to engage in a dogfight with you, do not accept the bait but keep flying straight and climb back up with the speed you gained in the dive and chose another target to boom and zoom. Rinse and repeat until you've defeated the enemy.

If an enemy gets on your tail, do not dive straight to the deck as that is a matter of power to weight rather than the sheer mass of a plane. Instead, start a shallower climb. Due to the straight line energy retention of the P-47, you will keep speed much better than a lighter fighter. Once they get bored and peel off, or you gain enough distance (around 3.5-4 km) turn back to them and start chasing them. You can afford to spray and the high velocity and volume of fire makes it easier to hit and scare an enemy even at long ranges.

If an enemy dives on you and is gaining on you, attempt to gain as much speed before maneuvering as the P-47 keeps controllability (even becoming more manoeuvrable) at higher speeds where most other enemies begin to lock up. use the excellent roll of the P-47 to evade shots and either force an overshoot or begin outrunning the enemy.

;Simulator/EC

In air Simulator mode, the P-47D-22 RE does not feel as struggling as in RB since simulator is more about situational awareness rather than who climbs the highest in 2 minutes. Its sufficient speed, robust airframe, punching .50 cals and multiple additional options of bombs make it an excellent multi-role aircraft. However, comparing to the later Jugs with all-clear bubble canopy, the razorback P-47 has worse visibility. The front have quite some frames around the gunsight, but they are thin which is a good news. The sides are overall unaffected. The rear view, however, is greatly obstructed by the Razorback, preventing the pilot from seeing what's on the tail which can be fatal sometimes. The early P-47 has the same heavy weight and large size but the engine is not as powerful as the later models, so it will feel more sluggish at lower speeds.

The P-47 can perform ground attack, bomber intercepting and traditional BnZ fighting. Sim is different from realistic, so discard the habit of bringing the least fuel. Bring at least 30 minutes of fuel, although it decreases the plane's performance a bit, it prevents constant refueling which saves time for patrolling and fighting.

For takeoff, while your P-47 accelerates down the runway, dip the nose parallel to the ground to decrease drag. You can use no flaps at all until the speed is above 200 km/h since heavier planes generally need more speed to lift off. This is especially more true if your Jug is carrying a full bombload. As you are fast enough, deploy combat/takeoff flaps, and gently pull the stick back, the P-47 will get airborne easily. Then, retract landing gears, and flaps once you are above ~220 km/h unloaded, or ~260 km/h with bombs. Be careful when manoeuvring with a full bombload, an aircraft this heavy will lose quite some altitude when rolling so watch your altitude if you just took off and are still near the ground.

For ground pounding, use the bombs to take out pillboxes and tanks, and the MG for trucks, AAA, and howitzers. Be around 750 m above the ground so you have enough room to dive at the target and gather enough momentum for the bombs, making them land nearer to where you aimed at. Try to drop as close to the target as possible but do not crash. An ideal dive speed before releasing payload is around 500 km/h. When the gunsight slices through and above the target, drop the 1,000 lbs. When the target is just above the center of the gunsight and fills up around half of it, release the 500 lbs. The 8 MGs are perfect for killing trucks, AA guns and artilleries as they have plenty of ammo and good damage. However, always watch your surroundings, especially your high 6 for any incoming enemies. A steady display of killfeeds onto the opponents' screens will sure alert some of them to come after you.

Due to the rather inadequate climb rate of the P-47D-22 RE, it may be a good option to hunt down low-altitude ground pounders rather than climbing to a bomber's altitude, especially if your airfield is close to the frontline leaving you little room or time to climb. Wander around friendly ground units like tank/truck columns, AAA/howitzer positions and bunkers, they are very likely to attract enemy attackers. Remain at an altitude of ~1200 m until you see a target. You can start diving at it straight away, or if you can get the timing correctly, dive right when the strike aircraft finishes a pass and is climbing up for the next pass, this is when it is the slowest and most unresponsive. Also because of the positions (prey is almost perpendicular in front of the attacker) the target's large cross section of the entire top will be presented to the guns. For a diving P-47, that is pretty much setting oneself up as an easy, large and motionless target. Lead carefully and put a solid burst into it, usually it will get crippled if not destroyed straight away.

As for dogfighting, because almost all aerial battles in Sim occur below 3,000 m, the P-47 can easily climb to this altitude and gather up quite some speed before engaging a battle. The tactic is similar to everyday RB tactics, that is to utilise your speed, powerful guns, and altitude if you have any. If, unfortunately, you find yourself being chased at your 6 and you don't know how to do any defensive manoeuvres, do a large, smooth turn towards the nearest friendly airfield to avoid bleeding too much speed. Then shallow-dive towards your airfield. The P-47 can quite easily outrun opponents like the A6M or Bf-109 E, but struggles to outrun Bf-109 F/G, FW-190 A or another P-47. Another way of disengaging is to do a sudden split-S to dodge under the chaser. Average Sim players will now try and see where you went, if not immediately losing track of you. You can then run for your airfield or shallow climb for another attack. In the heat of an intense fight, do not pull too much/too sudden, the P-47 may enter flat spins. Pull gently, around ~80% to the stick's limit is generally enough.

;Enemies worth noting

* [[Me 264]]: This giant is one of the few bombers who get air spawns in Sim, so it usually flies higher than many would think. On top of this, the Me 264 is armed with large calibre MG and cannons all over it, therefore tailing a 264 is basically suicide unless all of their gunners are knocked out. Treat the 264 almost like a B-29 or B-17 as they are very similar in both design and defensive capabilities. It is best to head-on the 264 if possible to easily knock out the pilots due to its glazed nose while also taking minimal damage. However the bomber lacks a ventral turret on its belly, making it easy to deal damage from below, but be wary of the downwards facing rear 20 mm cannon near the tail. The safest way to attack is from a higher altitude, dive at an oblique angle and focus fire on the wings and nose. Never engage if the P-47 has no altitude advantage.

* [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]], [[Ki-45 (Family)|Ki-45]], [[A-26 (Family)|A-26]]: As mentioned before, those twin engine aircraft are a big threat since their lack of manoeuvrability comparing to single engine fighters are minimised in Sim. They are usually armed with heavy guns & cannons in the nose, so an accurate burst will tear any plane apart, including the P-47. The P-47 manoeuvres rather sluggishly and the plane might get out-turned from even those heavy fighters, so engage them with either altitude or speed advantage to avoid being targeted. If they are not manoeuvring aggressively, aim for their wings or engines. If the fight is intense and the {{PAGENAME}} pilot cannot smooth the aim, just burst anywhere as long as the guns hit them, the 12.7 mm bullets will damage their flight models quite a bit.
* [[Yak-2 KABB]]: Do not think that the {{PAGENAME}} can confidently outmanoeuvre this plane just because it is twin-engined. The Yak-2 has an amazing turn rate for a heavy fighter, thus the {{PAGENAME}} must avoid turning with it, if not dogfighting with it in general. It bears a pair of ShVAK cannons that can easily damage vital parts like engine or cooling systems. It has green camo, greatly resembling an Me 410 but with an H-tail like a Bf 110's.
* [[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 or if the {{PAGENAME}} has a bomb ready for use. 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. Armour-piercing belt is recommended since their high penetration can tear through the ZSD's armour with ease and knock out its crew members.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 1 gear || Auto controlled
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great bomber destroyer against a lone bomber
* Excellent high altitude performance
* If taken care of, can easily fly with one wing
* Muscle car with wings, excellent at Boom and Zoom tactics
* 8 M2 Browning machine guns are accurate at a longer range than most cannons at its BR
* High speed, even while stock
* Very durable which semi-compensates with its lacklustre turn rate
* Plenty of ammo
* Can easily escape enemies with its high speed for its rank
* Great multirole aircraft, can carry various bombs and rockets, acting as an interceptor or ground-attack aircraft

'''Cons:'''

* Frontal armour can easily be penetrated by 20 mm rounds
* Can easily snap a wing when even the slightest gunfire hits it
* Poor stall characteristics
* Mediocre climb performance (side climbing recommended)
* Slow and hard to manoeuvre at low altitudes
* Larger than average fighter
* Poor overall performance when mounting payloads
* After attacking ground targets, the P-47 lacks the altitude to Boom & Zoom enemy fighters
* Big engine easily hit during a head-on attack
* Worse cockpit visibility than in the other bubble canopy P-47s
* No armour protection for pilot from behind

== 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=p-47d_22_re Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="P-47D-22-RE Devblog Images" heights="150">
File:P-47D-22-RE and Thunderbolt Mk.1 WTWallpaper.jpg|American P-47D-22-RE (left) & British Thunderbolt Mk.1 (right)
File:P-47D-22-RE WTWallpaper 001.jpg|
File:P-47D-22-RE WTWallpaper 002.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|w9LbiTJlR1o|'''Spade Review, P-47 D-22 RE. The First Razorback Thunderbolt!''' - ''Joseph 2000''|vFwTYd-5htY|'''Bad Mean Killing Machine! P-47D-22 RE Razorback! - USA - Review!''' - ''Jengar''}}

== 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/6844-development-new-p-47-thunderbolt-variants-en|[Devblog] New P-47 Thunderbolt Variants]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497251-p-47d-22/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [[wikipedia:Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt|[Wikipedia] Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]
* [http://www.airvectors.net/avp47.html#m5 <nowiki>[Air Vectors]</nowiki> The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt - P-47D / P-47G / XP-47K / XP-47L]

{{AirManufacturer Republic}}
{{USA fighters}}

F4U-4

2023-10-24T18:34:35Z

U27109353:

{{About
|about= American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other versions
|link= F4U (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f4u-4
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f4u-4.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American naval fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.71 "New E.R.A."]].

The F4U-4 is excellent at Boom & Zoom fighting. Its high energy-retention and acceleration make it the true pinnacle of the Corsairs. Although you don't get an air spawn, the climb rate of the F4U-4 makes up for that. When engaging an enemy, try and maintain an altitude advantage while keeping your speed up; speed is life, altitude is life insurance. When you gain an altitude advantage, dive on your opponent and fire. The engine lacks fuel injection, so experiencing negative G forces is likely to temporarily shut down the engine. The six .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns, while not as destructive as the quad 20 mm cannons of the [[F4U-4B]] or the eight .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns on the [[P-47 (Family)|P-47]], will destroy any lighter aircraft with ease, with plenty of ammunition that allows spraying (with firing discipline) and still being dangerous in the later stages of the match.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 682 || 662 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.0 || 21.8 || 14.3 || 14.3 || rowspan="2" | 200
|-
! Upgraded
| 742 || 711 || 19.0 || 20.0 || 24.1 || 18.5
|-
|}

==== 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 885  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 388 || 300 || 252 || ~11 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 450 || < 220 || < 500 || > 450
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of pilot.
* 3 mm Steel plates on top of fuel tank and in front of cockpit.
* 12.7 mm and 8 mm Steel plates behind pilot.

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

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

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

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (375 rpg outer + 400 rpg centre + 400 rpg inner = 2,350 total)

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


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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"
|-
! !! width="4%" | 1 !! width="4%" | 2 !! width="4%" | 3 !! width="4%" | 4 !! width="4%" | 5 !! width="4%" | 6 !! width="4%" | 7 !! width="4%" | 8 !! width="4%" | 9 !! width="4%" | 10
| rowspan="7" width="30%" | <div class="ttx-image">[[File:Hardpoints_{{PAGENAME}}.png]]</div>
|-
! [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|100 lb AN-M30A1]] bombs
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || || || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
! [[AN-M57 (250 lb)|250 lb AN-M57]] bombs
| || || || 1 || || || 1 || || ||
|-
! [[AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|500 lb AN-M64A1]] bombs
| || || || || 1 || 1 || || || ||
|-
! [[AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|1,000 lb AN-M65A1]] bombs
| || || || || 1 || 1 || || || ||
|-
! [[HVAR]] rockets
| 1 || 1 || 1 || 1 || || || 1 || 1 || 1 || 1
|-
| colspan="11" | Maximum permissible loadout weight: 1,400 kg
|-
|}

{{Navigation-Start|Default weapon presets}}
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
* Without load
* 8 x HVAR rockets
* 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (800 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
{{Navigation-End}}

== Usage in battles ==

Being true for the entire Corsair series the most distinctive features of this plane is its huge R-2800-P&W 18 Cylinder Radial engine and the inverted gull wing.

One advantage of the inverted gull wing:

:The wing is impossible to rip in a dive as long as you don't pull a turn greater than 11 G's, which is almost impossible because the aircraft does suffer from compression above 800 km/h.

One disadvantage of the aircraft is its high-speed dive characteristics;

:During the dive the aircraft tends to yaw severely to the right making you roll, possibly making the shot you need miss.

The worst enemies for the F4U are the Ki-84, N1K1, A7M's, and some late mark Zeros. Their extreme turning ability would make any of the F4U-4's attempt at turn fighting worthless. In the worst case scenario when these aircraft managed to get an energy advantage over the F4U-4, escape from the encounter with a dive and try to lose the aircraft through the assistance of allied anti-air fire from friendlies or the airfield.

In Simulator battles, the F4U-4 is exceptionally good at dogfighting due to its forgiving flight characteristics and excellent visibility. The six M2 Brownings are also easy to aim and can be sprayed for quite some time. Due to its stable nature, you can out-turn pretty much any opposing aircraft if it comes to it, though boom-and-zoom tactics are what you should be sticking to. Enemies especially worth noting are most Soviet and Japanese fighters. Soviet fighters can keep up with you in a dogfight quite well and the Japanese' turn rate is something to watch out for. On the other hand, however, both Soviet and Japanese fighters get set on fire quite easily, and once you get a good burst in, you have (in most cases) secured the kill.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast at all altitudes (3rd supercharger gear isn't needed until over 6,500 m altitude). Once it reaches max speed, only the Yak-3 (VK-107), Yak-3U, La-9, and Do 335 B-2, can catch it at sea level. This means diving away and extending is a reliable escape tactic
* Respectable armament of six .50 cal machine guns with late war belts
* Powerful engine, which allows for excellent energy retention
* Decent secondary weapons for destroying ground targets
* Excellent roll rate and good elevator authority at all speeds
* While turn-fighting is almost never "plan A" in this plane, turn performance is quite good above 400 km/h
* Longer WEP duration than previous corsairs (approximately 12 minutes total)
* Landing gear can be deployed at most speeds without breaking, which is immensely helpful when attempting to land at higher speeds (often necessary when damaged)
* Improved flight performance in all aspects over F4U-1s

'''Cons:'''

* Armament insufficient for high-speed snapshots, require more time on target than planes with cannons.
* Engine prone to overheating after prolonged usage of WEP (RB), though this can be mitigated with manual engine control
* Turn-fighting heavy aircraft at low speeds is not advised, as the engine isn't strong enough to compensate for the speed lost in prolonged turnfights
* Rudder becomes less responsive in high speed dives
* Supercharger setup leaves the plane weakest between 1,000 and 2,000 m and 6,000 and 7,000 m — at these altitudes, the previous supercharger gear is no longer able to maintain manifold pressure (plane begins to lose power and WEP does not increase power), yet the power draw from the engine to run the next supercharger gear is too much to make it worthwhile to switch until more altitude is gained
* Bleeds speed very quickly in vertical manoeuvres
* Supercharger setup allows for plane to be fast at high altitudes, but limited power-to-weight ratio on 3rd gear makes climbing or accelerating difficult above 7,500 m; this forces pilots to spend more time extending away from enemy planes before re-engaging

== History ==

{{main|F4U (Family)|l1=History of the F4U Corsair}}

The F4U-4 was based on the -1A Corsair. In order to improve and modernize the Corsair, so it would be able to fight the new Japanese planes in the Pacific, a number of changes were made. One of the major changes was the engine. The Pratt and Whitney R-2800-8W engine was replaced by the more powerful R-2800-18W engine. This -18W engine boosted the speed of the Corsair by up to 46.3 km/h (25 kn, 28.76 mph). When injected with an alcohol/water mixture, the performance could be boosted even further. In order for the propeller to be able to handle the more powerful engine, the propeller had to be changed from 3 blades to 4 blades. Modifications to the fuselage were required, including the addition of a scoop to the lower engine cowling. In addition, the cockpit was completely redesigned.

The armament of the F4U-4-4 corsair was six .50 in machine guns, up to 4,000 lbs of bombs and/or eight 5 in rockets. There were multiple variants of the F4U-4. There was the F4U-4B, which had only slight modifications for the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. They were never actually delivered to the Royal Navy, as the US kept them instead.The F4U-4C was another variant, which had four 20 mm cannons instead of six .50 in machine guns. There were also two night fighter variants, the F4U-4E and the F4U-4N. The -4E had an APS-4 search radar on the starboard wing tip, while the -4N had an APS-6 search radar instead. Both night fighter versions replaced the six .50 in machine guns with four 20 mm cannons. There was also F4U-4K, an experimental drone variant, and the F4U-4P, a photo reconnaissance variant.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f4u-4 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|LW_BVvR7CIg|'''The Shooting Range #122''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:50 discusses the fate of the F4U Corsair after WW2.}}

== See also ==


* [[F4U (Family)|F4U Family]]
* [[F4U-4B]]
* [[F4U-1A]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4960-development-f4u-corsair-sky-pirates-are-back-en|[Devblog] F4U Corsair: Sky pirates are back!]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/378367-f4u-4/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

=== References ===

;Bibliography

* "[https://www.jdsf4u.be/f4u-4-vought-corsair F4U-4 Vought Corsair]", ''F4U Corsair - The Bent Wing Bird plane site'', Retrieved on 28 March 2020.
* "[https://www.jdsf4u.be/type-of-plane-f4u Types of Plane F4U - Variants]", ''F4U Corsair- The Bent Wing Bird plane site'', Retrieved on 28 March 2020.

{{AirManufacturer Vought}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-51A

2023-10-05T04:33:59Z

U27109353: No longer applicable, apparently

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51a_tl
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_p-51a_tl.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was a special vehicle offered during the [[wt:en/news/3480--en|2015 Thunder League]] as a reward for completing five Air challenges. The P-51A comes with a high-powered engine and with four 12.7 mm Browning machine guns.

A faster, but lesser armed successor to the [[P-51]], best used as air-superiority fighter utilizing [[BnZ]] tactics. The [[A-36]] is the up-gunned attacker variant featuring ground ordnance.

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

"The Need for Speed" is a worthy credo for all [[P-51 (Family)|Mustangs]]. This initial iteration boasts a significant speed advantage over all [[:Category:Second rank aircraft|Rank II]] aircraft, but sacrifices are obvious. On the upside, the good maximum velocity greatly benefits the energy retention coming out of dives and for staying out of trouble.

This version features the Allison V-1710-81 Engine with improved performance at altitude at a small cost to horsepower output on the ground. However it is also, by a small margin, the lightest variant and more aerodynamic, off-setting this loss.

Manoeuvrability is nothing to write home about (except roll-rate), especially without speed to burn. The control surfaces lock up at high speeds which makes the Mustang a comparatively agile fighter when initiating combat, but this is quickly lost. Fortunately the combat flaps have a very high speed tolerance and greatly benefit it in dogfights. Overall the P-51 likes to bleed speed in manoeuvres and the lost energy cannot be easily regained. For another downside is the sluggish acceleration which further causes a low rate of climb. Managing both disadvantage is the Ace's true skill for this elite [[Boom & Run|Boom and Run]] fighter. However this is for an altitude range up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft). High altitude performance suffers which in combat, due the slow climb rate, is rarely reached anyway.

Thus all engagements, may they be ''Boom & Zoom'' or ''Boom & Run'' style, should be performed below said altitudes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,170 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
| 627 || 612 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.2 || 22.0 || 11.3 || 11.3 || rowspan="2" | 370
|-
! Upgraded
| 712 || 668 || 19.1 || 20.0 || 26.0 || 15.7
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 652 || 520 || 279 || ~12 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 550 || < 230 || < 550 || > 360
|-
|}

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

While the Mustang looks quite defensive on first glance, it is a deceptive one. The fuel tanks are wing-mounted and prone to fires (the D-series has got an inline one). The very small engine cowl plate could just as well be absent. Both issues combined leave many pilots a gliding and/or burning example of why to avoid bomber's defensive fire. The P-51's prime form of defence is speed. As a ''Boom & Run'' fighter, avoiding air-drag inducing bullet holes by not getting hit is a far preferable option anyway. Whilst setting up another attack (a.k.a. retreating from combat) the very generous backseat armour will absorb any stray shots. In general the pilot's survivability is great.

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg inner + 280 outer = 1,260 total)

In terms of weapons, there aren't many to speak of. Nearly all US fighters from this point on feature at least six M2 Brownings. Thus the burst mass is quite light. A detriment for quick attack passes. Use the tracer belt or the omnipurpose belts, as they contain the most incendiary bullets. For Realistic and Simulator battles the ammo count is quite miniscule, controlled bursts are in order.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|H.E. M31 (300 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 300 lb H.E. M31 bombs (600 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==


The start of each battle can be quite similar, thus in general proceed as follows: WEP and climb until you are higher than most enemy aircraft. Then proceed to destroy fighters. Do NOT turn fight with any aircraft except for bombers, though the latter is an ill-advised target with the lack of heavy firepower. If someone is on your tail, proceed in a shallow dive. The plane<nowiki>'</nowiki>s exceptional top speed should allow it to outrun almost everything. Note that while this Mustang variant features improved high altitude ability, it is still not comparable to true altitude fighters like the [[MiG-3 (Family)|MiG-3]].

In Arcade Battles the option for in-air reloads may tempt the pilot to spray & pray and dump all the ammunition. However, a more deliberate and aimed approach is often more succesful. Waiting outside a furball or dogfight for the right moment to intercept is key. Due to the lack of climb rate and firepower bombers should not be sought out. In general the P-51 plays akin to the [[He 100 D-1|He-100]].

In Realistic Battles the combat role is a tricky game. Lacking climb rate and good high altitude performance the Mustang pilot needs to wait for the combat to come down to about 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Climbing should be done away from the expected combat zone (a.k.a. side-climbing) . At this point initial combat should be Boom & Run, utilizing the superior top speed to avoid combat while the enemy is focused on other team mates. Once the hostiles have dropped to a lower altitude Boom & Zooming can be engaged in. With only four HMGs and 1260 rounds, ammo can run sparse after three kills. Keep to 30 min of fuel minimum and returning to base will be a rare occurrence. Overall this is a support fighter, as in the current climbing meta engagements against higher flying interceptor-fighters are often deadly, as the Mustang then lacks the critical ability to choose the time of engagement.

Simulator Battles is where the P-51A truly shines. Flying at top speed with military rated power (100%) keeps the engine cool and enemies usually far away at one<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tail. Most of all combat happens slightly below the Mustang's preferred altitude and the cockpit view is great, albeit with limited rearward view. Only the lack of acceleration in prolonged dogfights is a trap that even experienced pilots still fall into. An emergency dive to top speed will however fix this, if the pilot remembered to keep some altitude. And one should, for the greatest advantage is the ability to disengage any unfavourable battle and like with many things, the early Mustangs do not disappoint.

=== 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 Auto control available || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Auto control available || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely fast in level flight or in a dive
* Gets access to the late-war .50 cal belts
* Little lock-up at high speeds
* Hard to rip wings

'''Cons:'''

* Not very manoeuvrable
* Only four Browning HMGs
* Fast engine overheating

== History ==


=== Development ===
The US Army placed an order for 1,200 P-51A Mustangs (designated as NA-99 by North American) in August 1942. The P-51A was the highest performing fighter aircraft of the US Army Air Force (USAAF) at the time, when below 22,000 feet. The P-51A Mustang was an improved version of the P-51 Mustang.

=== Design ===
The P-51A was powered by the Allison V-1710-81 engine, rated at 1,200 hp. The V-1710-81 had increased power when compared to the V-1710-39 which was used by the earlier P-51. A 3-bladed Curtiss 10 feet 6 inch propeller. This gave the P-51A a top speed of 390 mph at 22,000 feet and a service ceiling of 31,500 feet.

Unlike the A-36 Apache variant of the Mustang, the P-51A was designed purely as a fighter rather than as a ground attack aircraft. As such, no dive brakes were fitted. Two under-wing pylons were mounted with the capability of carrying bombs or drop tanks. The maximum weight of the P-51A was an increased 10,600 lbs, while the average load was 8,600 lbs.

On internal fuel only, the P-51A had a range of 750 miles at 300 mph. With two 125 gallon drop tanks mounted the range was increased to 2,000 miles (while at reduced power).

=== Testing and Production ===
The P-51A first flew in February 1943, with deliveries beginning in March of the same year. They were delivered with olive drab paint on the upper portions and grey paint on the underside.

Because of the introduction of Merlin-powered Mustangs, the order of 1,200 P-51A was cancelled after only 310 were completed. Of the 310 P-51As, 50 were given to the RAF as the Mustang Mk II and 35 were converted to the F-6B unarmed reconnaissance variant. The combat variants spanned from the P-51A-1-NA to the P-51A-10-NA. The serials were 43-6003 through 43-6312.

'''Service'''

The P-51A was used heavily in the China/Burma/India theater (CBI), seeing service until 1945 - long after improved variants had entered service.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=p-51a_tl 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 ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/287346-north-american-p-51a-1-tl/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{USA fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

F-84 (Family)

2023-04-08T10:57:23Z

U27109353:

==Description==
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft.

;F-84 nomenclature

* F-84 variants A thru E and G were straight-wing versions of the jet referred to as Thunderjet.
* F-84 and RF-84 variant F was a swept-wing version referred to as Thunderstreak and Thunderflash. While only supposed to be a slight modification from the earlier variants, major modifications to the airframe were needed to make room for the larger Wright J65 turbojet.
* XF-84 variant H was an experimental turboprop version of the F-84F referred to as Thunderscreech.

==Vehicles==
===Rank V===
Thunderjets

* [[F-84B-26]]
* [[F-84G-21-RE]]
* ␗[[F-84G-21-RE (China)]]
* ▄[[F-84G-21-RE (Italy)]]
* ▄[[F-84G-26-RE (France)]]
* ␗[[F-84G-31-RE (China)]]
Thunderstreaks

* [[F-84F]]
* ▀[[F-84F (Germany)]]
* ▄[[F-84F (Italy)]]
* ▄[[F-84F (France)]]
* [[F-84F (IAF)]]
* [[F-84F (Israel)]]

[[Category:Family pages]]

F-84 (Family)

2023-04-08T10:56:55Z

U27109353:

==Description==
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft.

;F-84 nomenclature

* F-84 variants A thru E and G were straight-wing versions of the jet referred to as Thunderjet.
* F-84 and RF-84 variant F was a swept-wing version referred to as Thunderstreak and Thunderflash. While only supposed to be a slight modification from the earlier variants, major modifications to the airframe were needed to make room for the larger Wright J65 turbojet.
* XF-84 variant H was an experimental turbo-prop version of the F-84F referred to as Thunderscreech.

==Vehicles==
===Rank V===
Thunderjets

* [[F-84B-26]]
* [[F-84G-21-RE]]
* ␗[[F-84G-21-RE (China)]]
* ▄[[F-84G-21-RE (Italy)]]
* ▄[[F-84G-26-RE (France)]]
* ␗[[F-84G-31-RE (China)]]
Thunderstreaks

* [[F-84F]]
* ▀[[F-84F (Germany)]]
* ▄[[F-84F (Italy)]]
* ▄[[F-84F (France)]]
* [[F-84F (IAF)]]
* [[F-84F (Israel)]]

[[Category:Family pages]]

F6F-5N

2023-03-22T16:02:35Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American naval fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the French version
| link-1 = F6F-5N (France)
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = F6F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f6f-5n
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f6f-5n.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American naval fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]].

The F6F-5N (N stands for Night fighter variant) is the late variant of the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. Despite being a somewhat less agile and fast variant, this F6F is distinctly capable thanks to the combination of cannons, heavy machine guns, and the addition of a search radar while keeping the ability to provide ground and sea support with highly menacing payloads. It can defend itself admirably against no matter what; in skilful hands of course. An efficient jack-of-all-trades!

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

The main drawback of this fighter is the powerful but often overloaded engine. This means that after all the weight added with the twin 20 mm cannons, radar, and payload, the plane becomes much slower compared to the previous F6F-5 in US service. This may be an indication to avoid engaging in air supremacy battles with other more dedicated air superiority fighters. Instead, these variants excel at ground strike and interception, leaving the pure fighter role to other more fast and agile fighters.

Once spaded, the F6F-5N feels similar to the F6F-5, but all of the main flight characteristics are slightly reduced, such as the top speed, rate of climb, and turn rate. When equipping payloads is a good idea to avoid extended combat, this is due to the fact the plane gets even slower and less manoeuvrable. American pilots should consider learning (MEC) manual engine controls to boost flight performance. Its details are explained [[#Manual Engine Control|below]]!

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,730 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
| 602 || 582 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.2 || 23.1 || 8.1 || 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 239
|-
! Upgraded
| 661 || 629 || 19.8 || 21.0 || 16.7 || 11.8
|-
|}

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

{| 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 803  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 487 || 458 || 310 || ~12 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 432 || < 420 || < 420 || > 420
|-
|}

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

[[File:F6F_Pilot_Protection.png|thumb|right|300px|A page from the F63/F6F pilots manual detailing protective angles against enemy weapons.]]

* 3 mm steel - below the engine and above cooling system
* 6.35 mm steel - behind the pilot
* 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

The F6F-5N is a considerably robust and armoured aircraft, a usual trait of American-made fighters. This armour will enable pilots to survive several hits if they end up tailed by some more agile enemy aircraft; like the Japanese [[Ki-61-II Otsu Kai]] or the [[Bf 109 G-2/trop]]. Nonetheless, avoid being targeted and attacked!

The F6F-5N can take a lot of hits and the armour will be there to provide an important defence to the pilot against 7.62 mm up to some long-range 20 mm HE shells. But the airframe and the wide wing spars will start to weaken after heavy enemy damage, thus also compromising the flight performance and ultimately leading to the breakdown of the aircraft itself.

American pilots can take advantage of the adequate armoured glass, the armour around the nose, and the engine for head-on attacks or low bombing runs. To increase survivability, pilots should attempt to engage frontally the more agile enemies. There is the majority of the armour, along with all the heavy machine guns and powerful cannons. Contrary to holding from behind, where the average top speed and turn rate won't provide the F6F-5N with any major advantage.

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

A slow F6F is a certainly doomed F6F. Attempt to go for some flight performance modules and then some weaponry modules. This will help to keep research while not suffering from a below-average aircraft. The additional payload can bring more research points, depending on the pilot's favourite role and gamemode with the aircraft.

Payload modules unlock the following:

* ITC mk.III: One torpedo
* FRC mk.2: Six HVAR rockets
* LFRC mk.12: Two Tiny Tims
* FLBC mk.1: Two 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
In the offensive department, the F6F-5N is devastating!

There are a plethora of choices on armaments that truly bring a lot of power to the US pilots. The 20 mm cannons and 12.7 mm machine guns are capable of devastating, if not destroying, light and medium tanks, even from the sides. This is accompanying the already lethal available explosive payloads.
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|AN/M2 (20 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, wing-mounted (231 rpg = 462 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

The familiar American M2 Browning provides quick-firing, adequate damage, and high penetration capacities. Not many aircraft can withstand a prolonged burst from these machine guns. However, they lack the fast, decisive punch of a large-calibre cannon. This could lead to the F6F-5N often staying in combat more than it should; something detrimental to its survival.

*The Ground targets belt is notably good to bypass the enemy's armour plates and also good for head-ons attacks. Works for some medium tanks, armoured cars and light tanks. (Side or top armour)

*The Tracers belt is handy to burst your enemies into flames. Mainly, the light and nimble planes with poor durability.

In this variant, the F6F-5N also receives two new powerful 20 mm AN/M2 cannons.

The 20 mm AN/M2 cannons will dramatically increase the firepower and lethality of the F6F. Their penetration and decent fire rate enable pilots to utilize them proactively during air combats. The good ammo count also extends their time on combat if the pilot has trigger discipline. The penetration of these cannons allows the F6F-5N to perform in a strike fighter role against soft-skinned ground vehicles. Various tanks on rank IV don't have enough top-turret protection for stopping this cannon.

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

{{main|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|Tiny Tim|Mk.13-6 Case (2,216 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 6 x HVAR rockets
* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedo

== Usage in battles ==

Once a good understanding of the abilities and inabilities of the F6F-5N is gained, players can use this plane on all game modes without major trouble.

The F6F-5N was a versatile fighter during World War II and it proves this with both the capabilities of the airframe along with the varied ordnance it can carry. The powerful weapons that the F6F-5N has on-board can make short work of enemy aircraft and some ground targets, and the sizeable amount of suspended weapons allows the aircraft to be used in support roles when attacking critical ground targets. In addition, employment of the radar can make the F6F-5N a deadly fighter in night combat or in adverse weather condition

=== Realistic battles ===
'''Air battles'''

The principle of playing with the F6F-5N is to keep your speed, always. This F6F-5N has a powerful engine and a relatively heavy airframe, which allows it to perform well in diving and manoeuvring attacks. Against aircraft that are less manoeuvrable or are unable to maintain speed during combat the F6F-5N can easily take them out. When fighting lighter and more nimble enemies, it pays to be cautious and not commit into a fight without having superior energy to escape if it becomes necessary. The F6F-5N can also meet opponents way faster than him; some planes reaching up to 700 km/h while the F6F stays around the 629 km/h at level flight.

It is here when the ''Manual Engine Controls'' provide the pilot with a meaningful increase in performance. That leads to utilizing the altitude to survive, as this plane is heavy and won't perform excellently on low-level dogfights with tight turns. The way of the F6F is to go low, do the work then climb back to the safer territory; achievable because of the powerful supercharged engine.

'''Ground battles'''

The F6F is a well-fitted strike/night fighter. Nonetheless, the rather small battlefields on tank battles can become a big safety concern. If situational awareness is lost, pilots are likely to be engaged by surprise. To avoid this, American pilots should consider the following roles:

'''Air defence/Interception'''

There will usually be some enemy air force incoming to the combat zone; fighters, strike fighters, or even bombers. With an anticipated climb and the highly useful radar, the F6F-5N can take the control of the battle. Avoid any additional payload because now the relevant job is to defend ground forces and pester enemy aviation. Once in the air, check the immediate surroundings (check six first) also with the help of the radar, then proceed to gain altitude. This altitude is key to counter any faster or more agile enemy arriving to combat.

Once a target has been spotted, pilots must remember this might not be the only enemy plane arriving. Planning must be made to perform dive attacks against them and retreat again to altitude. The Hellcat loves these dives, so pilots can confidently approach to their preys, let the guns roar, then leave.

The Hellcat can't be shot down if it can't be seen. Consider using a combination of machine guns' stealth belt to range and lead the shots. Once the stealth fire reaches the target (hit marks), rapidly fire the cannons. This is useful because it helps to engage a plane without the noticeable tracers and generally provides a fast elimination because of the powerful cannons. Oftentimes, the enemy will react too late. A recommended convergence for this role is 600-300 m. This is of course, always to pilot's discretion.

'''Ground strike'''

A more closer-to-action role; it will use the payloads available to annihilate enemy armoured forces. This role is very dependent on allied aerial superiority, so pay attention to the air before spawning heavily loaded.

The Hellcat will be in great danger during these attacks. It will fly below the coming enemy aircraft, so time is key. Drop the bombs first since they are the heaviest yet deadliest ordnance. Then resort to your rockets, heavy machine-guns and cannons if necessary. The combination of 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets proves to be more than suitable for the task. Pilots can also go for the Tiny Tim rockets when powerful and directed firepower is needed. Pilots can freely choose individual payloads situationally and performance-wise.

Once the ordnance has been dropped, pilots are highly advised to return to base for rearming. Staying around patrolling the air is not the duty; this is because the Hellcat will often meet a lot of powerful enemies that outmatch it on speed and turn-time. Only those highly skilled and confident pilots can attempt to stay around dogfighting their way out.

Equipping ground target belt on both the cannons and machine-guns allows the Hellcat to destroy even more armour, resembling a true attack aircraft. A recommended convergence to attack with the mounted guns is 600-800 m because it provides sufficient distance to fire safely.

The Tiny Tims can even be used to finish off an enemy base that has very little health remaining.

'''Naval battles'''

The F6F is an extremely capable naval fighter. The immense naval maps really suit him well. The armament of the Hellcat allows engaging many ships or boats. Larger ships as destroyers or cruisers will have a hard time seeing how this almost unstoppable plane dives straight to them; knowing the danger of torpedoes, bombs or the formidable Tiny Tim rockets.

Returning to base for more payload is a possibility, but on some large maps, it might be wiser to remain nearby allied shipping into a fighter role.

Similarly to ground battles, the F6F can turn into an interception and naval striking role.

'''Naval strike'''

An utmost task is to destroy enemy ships. The F6F-5N just like the earlier F6F-5 is packed with lots of payloads option. The HVAR rockets and the Tiny Tim rockets are notably useful for long-distance salvoes; this is beneficial if the pilot does not want to risk the aircraft. The F6F-5N can carry a single Mk.13/44 torpedo which will prove deadly against any naval enemy. Using it effectively requires planning ahead of time, as simply charging straight at a ship will likely end up in a lost aircraft. Working around terrain such as islands and hills to sneak in close and dropping the torpedo at the latest possible time can result in a sunken ship and a living aircraft.

All the payloads the F6F-5N can carry are able to be used against naval targets, but they can place the aircraft into dangerous situations when attacking ships.

With the bombs, the pilot can perform several naval tactics for bombing:

* Skip bombing
* Toss bombing
* Glide bombing
* Dive bombing

'''Skip Bombing/Top-mast bombing'''

This is the lowest flying to the sea. Pilots are advised to fly as low and fast as possible, in a tactic is known as sea-skimming. Pilots must maintain top speed all the time (Remember MEC). This speed will be crucial to later allow the bomb to bounce like a rock in the water. Once a target is spotted, the pilot must find a good attack angle, where the Hellcat can close in, bounce the bombs and then retreat in a safe direction. Is equally important the bomb fuzing. Set a time around 4-6s.

This tactic is highly useful when the map's geography provides natural or solid cover. Using mountains, valleys or even allied ships to cover your harmful intentions.

'''Toss bombing'''

Here the Hellcat will fly higher from the target ship (600-900 m). The intention is not to fly over it but obtain enough speed before reaching it so when closing at high speed, the Hellcat will pitch the plane's nose in the sky, releasing the bombs during this manoeuvre and back in the opposite direction.

The bombs will follow a parabolic trajectory and drop near or in the target.

'''Glide bombing'''

This is a high altitude (2,000-3,500 m) approach in which the Hellcat will dive for its target in a not very steep attacking angle (shouldn't be more than 45° angle). This tactic offers more controls since it is not needed to pull up as hard when compared to a full 90° dive-bombing. Time the drop, the moving of the ship and keep in mind the desired exit altitude. During this shallow dive, the plane must gather enough speed to exit the danger zone immediately.

The Hellcat can withstand some outstanding 800 km/h, so do not exceed that limit.

'''Dive bombing'''

This is another high altitude approach in which you will need to enter the target's ship airspace, endure any anti-aircraft fire and perform a 90-75° pitch down aiming to the trajectory of the targeted ship. Due to the lack of any air brakes, this tactic is dangerous. Pilots should time their drop and exit the dive before it becomes too late for the F6F. This tactic offers the advantage of being one of the most precise bombings, especially against battleships. But is one of the riskier since it also exposes you to anti-aircraft fire during the dive.

Pilots are encouraged to practice these bombings and to choose wisely during different combat situations.

{{Notice
|Coordinate aerial attacks with allied aircraft; many ships possess dozens of AA guns aiming right at you!
}}

'''Air defence/Interception'''

Here the use of radar is remarkably important. Just like in real life, it helps the pilot with navigation and enemy early detection. Use it to anticipate targets and intercept them before they reach allied ships. On encounter mode and enduring confrontation, this is highly regarded due to the immensity of airspace and the vulnerable formation of cargo ships. Be the guarding eye for those merchant ships!

Pilots should fly really high; away from ships' computerized artillery predictors and flak fire. Speed and altitude are the first means of defence, so if attacked at such altitudes, pilots can choose to go into steep dive towards allied vessels or an allied base. Otherwise, they can rely on air manoeuvres. A good understanding of the enemy aircraft is beneficial to understand what to do.

===Arcade battles===
Here the Hellcat will only feel more powerful and faster but beware, the enemy planes too. The flight characteristics are well suited for smart dogfights and baiting. Firing with the guns become even more precise and lethal. Quite a lot of entertainment.

'''Air battles'''

The F6F can produce havoc on ground strike modes with the constant reload of bombs and rockets. They are useful to interdict enemy forces advancing to airfields. The 1,000 lb bombs have a devastating effect on ships and hardened structures, and especially on vehicles which are clustered in a compact area. Use your superior payloads to destroy them with ease while your team fights for the airfield. The agility of the aircraft makes it ideal to outfit rockets, which can be dropped if not needed.

The larger Tiny Tim rockets will pack a huge punch against heavily armoured vehicles or static defenses (such as heavy tanks or pillboxes) and ships. On ground strike/frontline mode, make those a priority target to help the team. HVAR rockets work best when reserved for lighter armoured vehicles some hardened concrete structures and bombers.

Oppositely, the Hellcat can be played without bombs and really high in the sky. Baiting enemies into a vertical stall then diving for them.

'''Naval battles'''

The Hellcat can serve both as a low-level fighter bomber and a high altitude fighter. With the bombsight allowing the F6F to predict the bomb drop, pilots can use that to top-attack big ships from really high altitudes (3-4 km). Diving then climbing back, the constant bombing will eventually land a fatal blow to enemy shipping.

Low-level fly is also effective while torpedoing or rocketing enemy shipping. Keep in mind the dangerous anti-air defences and the enemy fighter planes.

===Radars===
{{main|AN/APS-6}}
[[File:F6F 5N Cockpit Manual.png|thumb|right|320px|A page from the F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual showing the differences found in the F6F-5N cockpit, with the radio altimeter indicator and radar scope being pointed out.]]The F6F-5N is equipped with an [[AN/APS-6]] search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in a pod under the right wing tip.

During the night, the radar becomes an invaluable tool to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft. It is best to position the aircraft where targets can be detected from the side or rear aspect which allows the F6F-5N to follow them and shoot them down. Take note of the limited range of the radar and that targets may only be visible up to a few kilometers away. A helpful range setting for the radar is the 9.25 km (5.75 mi) scan distance, as further options can make it difficult to properly find and chase down targets. When moving in closer, switching to the 1.85 km (1.15 mi) scan distance can make it easier to stay on a target from behind as well as transition to the radar track mode.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-6]] - 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 || ±60° || ±60°
|-
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-6]] - 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}}
|-
| 1,000 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 || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 3 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

It is highly rewarding to learn and constantly apply MEC during Simulator and Realistic battles. The main instruments beneficial for the F6F are: propeller pitch, radiators, and superchargers.

*The propeller pitch will enable the F6F to reach higher top speeds. This is vital during pursuits or diving away; something in which the F6F is great at. They also provide increased thrust/lift and less speed when needed; for example during vertical slow speed dogfights

*The radiators lets the F6F cool down the engine and components during hot weather maps. While if closed, they reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the top speed. Watch out, prolonged closing of the radiators leads to overheating and ultimately, to engine damage.

*Superchargers are an important piece of the MEC (even more for American planes), they will let the F6F reach superior high altitudes with a decent amount of speed even when fully loaded. They should only be used while climbing not during low altitude flights. Stage 1 is activated by default, stage 2 should be activated around 3-4 km of altitude. Stage 3 should be activated above 5-6 km of altitude. The hotter the temperature, the sooner this should be activated. If cold, it should be activated later at these altitudes. Pilots should maintain their eyes out to confirm their input affects performance positively and not negatively.

Once in combat, some pilots can choose whether to keep controlling everything manually and multitask, or they can set things back to automatic mode. Having manual control of the engine while on battle allows controlling the plane for the exact needs and desired pilot's tactics. While on auto mode, the pilot can focus efficiently only on the work outside the cabin without additional workload.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great variety of weapons for any map and mode; aerial combat, ground attack and maps with naval ships
* Decent manoeuvrability
* Has a search and tracking radar with an excellent range
* Capable of operating from an aircraft carrier
* Competent high-altitude performance (3 Stage supercharger)
* High durability and efficient armour protection for the engine and the pilot

'''Cons:'''

* Poor climb rate
* All manoeuvrability is drastically decreased by payloads
* Not as energy-efficient in a climb as other American aircraft (such as the P-47)
* Overall worse fighter performance than F6F-5; playstyle varies
* Hopelessly outmatched on speed by enemy planes on the same BR, as the [[Bf 109 (Family)]]
* Turn rate is significantly higher than enemies it faces

== History ==

[[File:F6F-5N- Historical photo.jpg|thumb|USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighters prepare to take off for strikes against targets in Manila Bay. The two leading planes are F6F-5N night fighters, with wing-mounted radar.|230x230px]]
The F6F-5N was a modification of the standard F6F-5 for use as a night fighter. This variant became available on the final phase of World war II (1944-1945). The United States' Marines and US NAVY used these variants along the F6F-5 in the Pacific Theater on a wide variety of roles such as air interception, ground strike and night patrolling.

{{Notice |The F6F-5N was the highest produced US night fighter during WWII; exactly, 1,600 built}}

'''Technical specifications'''

The F6F-5N was a modification of the standard F6F-5 for use as a night fighter. These aircraft were fitted with additional equipment in the form of a radio altimeter and radar. The Westinghouse AN/APS-6 radar was installed on the starboard wing of the F6F-5N, with units being completed in middle and late 1944. The APS-6 served as a method to search and destroy hostile aircraft in conditions with zero visibility, with data being displayed in a standard B-scope view of the target azimuth on the x-axis and target range on the y-axis. Aside from target search and tracking, the APS-6 could also be used in a navigation role by tracking a radar emitter or beacon with a search range of up to 100 miles.<ref name="ibiblio" />

Due to the simplifications from the earlier AN/APS-4 radar, the APS-6 was small enough to be installed in single-engine aircraft which allowed for independent action among night fighters. Another feature of the F6F-5N was the Type GR-1 automatic pilot, which gave pilots the ability to maintain a stable flight attitude with minimal input.

Just as with the F6F-5, the -5N used the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W and had provisions to used a mixed armament of 2 x 20 mm M2 cannons and 4 x .50 cal Browning machine guns. The F6F-5N is noted as being one of the better American night fighters during World War II and was chosen to be a night fighter over other aircraft such as the F4U Corsair.<ref name="ibiblio" />

'''World War II Service'''
[[File:F6F-5N Historical photo 3.jpg|thumb|300x300px|U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F6F-5N ''Hellcats'' of Marine Night Fighting Squadron 541 (VMF(N)-541) take off from Peleliu, in 1944.]]
The F6F-5N performed as an improved version of the F6F-5. It was widely used on defensive patrols over bases within the range of Japanese bombers and during night patrols guarding the Pacific's shipping routes.

One of the undeniably uses of the F6F-5N was by the Marine Night Fighting Squadron 541 (VMF(N)-541) also known as the Bat-eye Squadron.

This squadron performed dozens of missions and night patrols over the whole Pacific; notably during the Philippines campaign. It was during the beginning of the campaign (October 1944) where they flew the 602 miles from their base on Peleliu in the Palau Islands. Their first mission provided cover for U.S. Navy PT-boats operating in the Surigao Strait.

The called presence of the Marines F6F-5N fighters was to provide necessary support against the weakened but still-resisting Japanese forces. One of their first tasks was to provide airstrikes over the Leyte Gulf during the climactic Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over these times, the foul weather and tropical storms complicated the air wars but even through that, Japanese bombers performed bombings damaging the ongoing operations. The Japanese night fighter, Nakajima Ki-43 ''Hayabusa'' known as "Oscar" by the Americans, also proved to be a serious threat. This was because it turned to be too fast for the available Army's P-61 ''Black Widow'' night fighters. Swift one-way dives by Japanese fighters performing Kamikaze attacks were also a concern.

Around November, the general MacArthur ordered a switch. The F6F-5N of the Bat-eye squadron were to be transferred to Leyte where their high top-speed and good high-altitude performance was needed. It was here where the Marines saw combat against many enemies, both from Japanese Navy and Army air forces, even facing head-to-head versus the "Zero" themselves; Japanese forces commanded by the Vice Admiral, Shigeru Fukudome.

The ''Hellcats'' proved to be extremely effective due to many experiences at Peleliu. Around December, the Bat-eye squadron of Hellcats was busy performing dawn and even daylight patrols, ensuring safety to ships under their care. Achieving 12 air victories on a single day, (12 Dec) during the Battle of Ormoc Bay.

Lieutenant Paul Martinelli recollects:
{{Quote
|During our brief deployment to the Philippines, we were constantly tasked with protecting our troops and ships. Early on the morning of December 12th, we took off in total darkness in what we figured would be another routine patrol. The division was led by Captain Thomson and during the early part of the patrol, one of our pilots developed engine trouble and returned to base." "That left three of us, and a few minutes later we were informed by radio that Japanese bombers were approaching the convoy of our Naval re-supply ships which were located off the southwest coast of Leyte. They were very vulnerable because the ships had only minimal anti-aircraft protection. We dropped our external fuel tanks and proceeded to the area. We quickly spotted the formation which consisted of about fifteen planes and they were below us, in the process of diving down on our ships. At that time, we heard our controller vector our other division toward the action.

As soon as we saw the Jap planes, our 3-ship formation formed up into single file so each pilot could concentrate on a bogey to attack. We plowed into them and some were either in the process of pulling out of their dives or had their noses down in the midst of their bomb runs. I had already charged my six .50 cal guns and switched on my gun sight, illuminating it on the small, flat, extra thick protective glass that was situated directly in front of my cockpit Plexiglas. All of the enemy aircraft appeared to be single-engine types (either Zeros or Vals).

I focused on the nearest enemy plane which was a Zero. He had spotted me and made an effort to turn sharp to evade my rapid closure. Using water injection, I overtook him before he could execute any effective evasive moves. I was easily able to turn inside of the Zero gradually narrowing the angle to where I thought I had him. I kept fire one." was already at a low altitude over the water. Strangely, when he got down to about 1,500 feet, he suddenly performed a slow barrel roll to the left. Such a manoeuvre would reduce his speed, allowing me to move closer to the range of my guns. Seconds later, he did another roll and by this time, I was close enough to fire a burst. I hit him before he had completed his roll and my rounds probably struck the pilot because his plane, now down to about 500 feet, did a descending roll to the left and plunged into the water. I made a low pass and saw no debris or fire.
}}

By the end of December 1944, the Army considered Leyte was efficiently in its control, thus the campaign to recapture the Philippines shifted into a second phase. At this time, VMF(N)-541 was released to return on 11 January 1945 to Peleliu.

Despite numerous adverse conditions and setbacks, such as foul weather, precarious airfields and many long-serving hours in days and night; two years after its Philippine operations, the Hellcat squadron received the Army's Distinguished Unit Citation, the only Marine aviation unit to be so honoured during the war:

{{Quote|The Marine Night Fighter Squadron 541 is cited for extraordinary performance of duty in action against the enemy at Leyte, Philippine Islands, from 3 to 15 December 1944. During a critical period in the fight for the control of the Philippine Islands, the pilots and ground crews of this unit signally distinguished themselves by the intrepidity and unyielding determination with which they overcame exceptionally adverse weather conditions and operational difficulties engendered by lack of facilities and incomplete radar directional coverage.

Their superb airmanship and daring resourcefulness displayed in outstanding night patrol and interception work, which forestalled destruction of airfield facilities, and in the completeness of cover provided for numerous vital convoys and Patrol Torpedo boat patrols, effectively thwarted enemy attempts to prevent consolidation and further expansion of the foothold gained by United States forces in the Philippines.

Achieving a record unparalleled at that time, the unit, composed of but 15 aircraft and 22 pilots, flew 136 sorties totalling 298.6 combat hours, destroyed 18 enemy aircraft in aerial combat without unit loss or damage, and on numerous occasions pitted consummate skill and accuracy against overwhelming numerically superior enemy strength. The extraordinary performance of the air and ground personnel of the Marine Fighter Squadron 541 in overcoming the greatest of aerial hazards and maintenance difficulties reflects the highest credit on themselves and the military service of the United States.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR Dwight D. Eisenhower Chief of Staff}}
[[File:Hellcat-Historical photo 2.jpg|thumb|300x300px|A Grumman F6F-5N ''Hellcat'' night fighter assigned to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA), in 1944/45.]]

'''Post-war use'''

As the United States started to focus on Jet fighter technologies. The Hellcats in the US navy service outlasted pretty much entirely as the night-fighter variant; most of the other Hellcats variants became target tugs or controlled drones loaded with explosives. The Hellcat F6F-5N variant survived this decommissioning because it proved to be superior on flight performance to the newer F8F-2N night fighter. The F6F-5N was also sold to France.

Consequently, the F6F-5N remained in US service up to the Korean war in 1950, where it got replaced by the F4U-5N to fill the night fighter role. {{clear}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f6f-5n Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:F6F_FN_and_Tiny_Tim.png|An underside view of a {{PAGENAME}} carrying two [[Tiny Tim]] rockets. These rockets had to be released before igniting so to clear the propeller arc
File:F6F_FN_firing_Tiny_Tim.png|A view of a {{PAGENAME}} firing off a [[Tiny Tim]] rocket at an enemy target
File:Tiny_Tim_shackle.png|A side view of the shackle connection of the [[Tiny Tim]] rocket to the external pylon of the {{PAGENAME}}
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|2dJ4_1cOfus|'''This World War 2 Aircraft Had Targeting Radar - F6F-5N Night Fighter''' - ''PhlyDaily''|-FQH-w6lMHs|'''F6F 5N - HOW TO RUSH - Guide and tutorial''' - ''Green Fury''|UwJa-dIeeHI|'''WWII's F6F HellCat''' - ''Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum''}}

== See also ==


'''Shared operational history during World War II'''

* [[F6F-5]]
* [[F4U-4]]
* [[F4U-4B]]

'''Similar variants of this aircraft'''

* [[F6F-5 (France)|▄F6F-5]]
* [[F6F-5]]
* [[Hellcat Mk II (Great Britain)|▄Hellcat Mk II]]

'''Related development'''

* [[F4F (Family)|F4F]]

* [[F8F-1]]
* [[F8F-1B]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/341959-f6f-5n-hellcat/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [https://aviationshoppe.com/manuals/grumman_f6f_flight_manual/f6f.html AviationShoppe - Grumman F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual]

=== References ===

;Citations
<references>
<ref name="ibiblio">"The AN/APS-6 Aircraft Radar" in ''Westinghouse in World War 2: Radio and X-ray Divsions,'' Westinghouse Electric & Mfg.Co., Inc, 1946.</ref>
</references>

;Bibliography

* Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume II: 1946-2006, Norman Polmar, 2007
* And A Few Marines - Marines in the Liberation of the Philippines, PCN 19000314300, Captain John C. Chapin, USMCR (Ret), 2002

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

F6F-5N

2023-03-22T16:00:14Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American naval fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the French version
| link-1 = F6F-5N (France)
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = F6F (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=f6f-5n
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_f6f-5n.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American naval fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai"]].

The F6F-5N (N stands for Night fighter variant) is the late variant of the Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. Despite being a somewhat less agile and fast variant, this F6F is distinctly capable thanks to the combination of cannons, heavy machine guns, and the addition of a search radar while keeping the ability to provide ground and sea support with highly menacing payloads. It can defend itself admirably against no matter what; in skilful hands of course. An efficient jack-of-all-trades!

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

The main drawback of this fighter is the powerful but often overloaded engine. This means that after all the weight added with the twin 20 mm cannons, radar, and payload, the plane becomes much slower compared to the previous F6F-5 in US service. This may be an indication to avoid engaging in air supremacy battles with other more dedicated air superiority fighters. Instead, these variants excel at ground strike and interception, leaving the pure fighter role to other more fast and agile fighters.

Once spaded, the F6F-5N feels similar to the F6F-5, but all of the main flight characteristics are slightly reduced, such as the top speed, rate of climb, and turn rate. When equipping payloads is a good idea to avoid extended combat, this is due to the fact the plane gets even slower and less manoeuvrable. American pilots should consider learning (MEC) manual engine controls to boost flight performance. Its details are explained [[#Manual Engine Control|below]]!

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,730 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
| 602 || 582 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.2 || 23.1 || 8.1 || 8.1 || rowspan="2" | 239
|-
! Upgraded
| 661 || 629 || 19.8 || 21.0 || 16.7 || 11.8
|-
|}

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

{| 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 !! + !! -
|-
| 803  || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 487 || 458 || 310 || ~12 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 432 || < 420 || < 420 || > 420
|-
|}

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

[[File:F6F_Pilot_Protection.png|thumb|right|300px|A page from the F63/F6F pilots manual detailing protective angles against enemy weapons.]]

* 3 mm steel - below the engine and above cooling system
* 6.35 mm steel - behind the pilot
* 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen

The F6F-5N is a considerably robust and armoured aircraft, a usual trait of American-made fighters. This armour will enable pilots to survive several hits if they end up tailed by some more agile enemy aircraft; like the Japanese [[Ki-61-II Otsu Kai]] or the [[Bf 109 G-2/trop]]. Nonetheless, avoid being targeted and attacked!

The F6F-5N can take a lot of hits and the armour will be there to provide an important defence to the pilot against 7.62 mm up to some long-range 20 mm HE shells. But the airframe and the wide wing spars will start to weaken after heavy enemy damage, thus also compromising the flight performance and ultimately leading to the breakdown of the aircraft itself.

American pilots can take advantage of the adequate armoured glass, the armour around the nose, and the engine for head-on attacks or low bombing runs. To increase survivability, pilots should attempt to engage frontally the more agile enemies. There is the majority of the armour, along with all the heavy machine guns and powerful cannons. Contrary to holding from behind, where the average top speed and turn rate won't provide the F6F-5N with any major advantage.

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

A slow F6F is a certainly doomed F6F. Attempt to go for some flight performance modules and then some weaponry modules. This will help to keep research while not suffering from a below-average aircraft. The additional payload can bring more research points, depending on the pilot's favourite role and gamemode with the aircraft.

Payload modules unlock the following:

* ITC mk.III: One torpedo
* FRC mk.2: Six HVAR rockets
* LFRC mk.12: Two Tiny Tims
* FLBC mk.1: Two 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
In the offensive department, the F6F-5N is devastating!

There are a plethora of choices on armaments that truly bring a lot of power to the US pilots. The 20 mm cannons and 12.7 mm machine guns are capable of devastating, if not destroying, light and medium tanks, even from the sides. This is accompanying the already lethal available explosive payloads.
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}

{{main|AN/M2 (20 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, wing-mounted (231 rpg = 462 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

The familiar American M2 Browning provides quick-firing, adequate damage, and high penetration capacities. Not many aircraft can withstand a prolonged burst from these machine guns. However, they lack the fast, decisive punch of a large-calibre cannon. This could lead to the F6F-5N often staying in combat more than it should; something detrimental to its survival.

*The Ground targets belt is notably good to bypass the enemy's armour plates and also good for head-ons attacks. Works for some medium tanks, armoured cars and light tanks. (Side or top armour)

*The Tracers belt is handy to burst your enemies into flames. Mainly, the light and nimble planes with poor durability.

In this variant, the F6F-5N also receives two new powerful 20 mm AN/M2 cannons.

The 20 mm AN/M2 cannons will dramatically increase the firepower and lethality of the F6F. Their penetration and decent fire rate enable pilots to utilize them proactively during air combats. The good ammo count also extends their time on combat if the pilot has trigger discipline. The penetration of these cannons allows the F6F-5N to perform in a strike fighter role against soft-skinned ground vehicles. Various tanks on rank IV don't have enough top-turret protection for stopping this cannon.

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

{{main|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|Tiny Tim|Mk.13-6 Case (2,216 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 6 x HVAR rockets
* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedo

== Usage in battles ==

Once a good understanding of the abilities and inabilities of the F6F-5N is gained, players can use this plane on all game modes without major trouble.

The F6F-5N was a versatile fighter during World War II and it proves this with both the capabilities of the airframe along with the varied ordnance it can carry. The powerful weapons that the F6F-5N has on-board can make short work of enemy aircraft and some ground targets, and the sizeable amount of suspended weapons allows the aircraft to be used in support roles when attacking critical ground targets. In addition, employment of the radar can make the F6F-5N a deadly fighter in night combat or in adverse weather condition

=== Realistic battles ===
'''Air battles'''

The principle of playing with the F6F-5N is to keep your speed, always. This F6F-5N has a powerful engine and a relatively heavy airframe, which allows it to perform well in diving and manoeuvring attacks. Against aircraft that are less manoeuvrable or are unable to maintain speed during combat the F6F-5N can easily take them out. When fighting lighter and more nimble enemies, it pays to be cautious and not commit into a fight without having superior energy to escape if it becomes necessary. The F6F-5N can also meet opponents way faster than him; some planes reaching up to 700 km/h while the F6F stays around the 629 km/h at level flight.

It is here when the ''Manual Engine Controls'' provide the pilot with a meaningful increase in performance. That leads to utilizing the altitude to survive, as this plane is heavy and won't perform excellently on low-level dogfights with tight turns. The way of the F6F is to go low, do the work then climb back to the safer territory; achievable because of the powerful supercharged engine.

'''Ground battles'''

The F6F is a well-fitted strike/night fighter. Nonetheless, the rather small battlefields on tank battles can become a big safety concern. If situational awareness is lost, pilots are likely to be engaged by surprise. To avoid this, American pilots should consider the following roles:

'''Air defence/Interception'''

There will usually be some enemy air force incoming to the combat zone; fighters, strike fighters, or even bombers. With an anticipated climb and the highly useful radar, the F6F-5N can take the control of the battle. Avoid any additional payload because now the relevant job is to defend ground forces and pester enemy aviation. Once in the air, check the immediate surroundings (check six first) also with the help of the radar, then proceed to gain altitude. This altitude is key to counter any faster or more agile enemy arriving to combat.

Once a target has been spotted, pilots must remember this might not be the only enemy plane arriving. Planning must be made to perform dive attacks against them and retreat again to altitude. The Hellcat loves these dives, so pilots can confidently approach to their preys, let the guns roar, then leave.

The Hellcat can't be shot down if it can't be seen. Consider using a combination of machine guns' stealth belt to range and lead the shots. Once the stealth fire reaches the target (hit marks), rapidly fire the cannons. This is useful because it helps to engage a plane without the noticeable tracers and generally provides a fast elimination because of the powerful cannons. Oftentimes, the enemy will react too late. A recommended convergence for this role is 600-300 m. This is of course, always to pilot's discretion.

'''Ground strike'''

A more closer-to-action role; it will use the payloads available to annihilate enemy armoured forces. This role is very dependent on allied aerial superiority, so pay attention to the air before spawning heavily loaded.

The Hellcat will be in great danger during these attacks. It will fly below the coming enemy aircraft, so time is key. Drop the bombs first since they are the heaviest yet deadliest ordnance. Then resort to your rockets, heavy machine-guns and cannons if necessary. The combination of 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x HVAR rockets proves to be more than suitable for the task. Pilots can also go for the Tiny Tim rockets when powerful and directed firepower is needed. Pilots can freely choose individual payloads situationally and performance-wise.

Once the ordnance has been dropped, pilots are highly advised to return to base for rearming. Staying around patrolling the air is not the duty; this is because the Hellcat will often meet a lot of powerful enemies that outmatch it on speed and turn-time. Only those highly skilled and confident pilots can attempt to stay around dogfighting their way out.

Equipping ground target belt on both the cannons and machine-guns allows the Hellcat to destroy even more armour, resembling a true attack aircraft. A recommended convergence to attack with the mounted guns is 600-800 m because it provides sufficient distance to fire safely.

The Tiny Tims can even be used to finish off an enemy base that has very little health remaining.

'''Naval battles'''

The F6F is an extremely capable naval fighter. The immense naval maps really suit him well. The armament of the Hellcat allows engaging many ships or boats. Larger ships as destroyers or cruisers will have a hard time seeing how this almost unstoppable plane dives straight to them; knowing the danger of torpedoes, bombs or the formidable Tiny Tim rockets.

Returning to base for more payload is a possibility, but on some large maps, it might be wiser to remain nearby allied shipping into a fighter role.

Similarly to ground battles, the F6F can turn into an interception and naval striking role.

'''Naval strike'''

An utmost task is to destroy enemy ships. The F6F-5N just like the earlier F6F-5 is packed with lots of payloads option. The HVAR rockets and the Tiny Tim rockets are notably useful for long-distance salvoes; this is beneficial if the pilot does not want to risk the aircraft. The F6F-5N can carry a single Mk.13/44 torpedo which will prove deadly against any naval enemy. Using it effectively requires planning ahead of time, as simply charging straight at a ship will likely end up in a lost aircraft. Working around terrain such as islands and hills to sneak in close and dropping the torpedo at the latest possible time can result in a sunken ship and a living aircraft.

All the payloads the F6F-5N can carry are able to be used against naval targets, but they can place the aircraft into dangerous situations when attacking ships.

With the bombs, the pilot can perform several naval tactics for bombing:

* Skip bombing
* Toss bombing
* Glide bombing
* Dive bombing

'''Skip Bombing/Top-mast bombing'''

This is the lowest flying to the sea. Pilots are advised to fly as low and fast as possible, in a tactic is known as sea-skimming. Pilots must maintain top speed all the time (Remember MEC). This speed will be crucial to later allow the bomb to bounce like a rock in the water. Once a target is spotted, the pilot must find a good attack angle, where the Hellcat can close in, bounce the bombs and then retreat in a safe direction. Is equally important the bomb fuzing. Set a time around 4-6s.

This tactic is highly useful when the map's geography provides natural or solid cover. Using mountains, valleys or even allied ships to cover your harmful intentions.

'''Toss bombing'''

Here the Hellcat will fly higher from the target ship (600-900 m). The intention is not to fly over it but obtain enough speed before reaching it so when closing at high speed, the Hellcat will pitch the plane's nose in the sky, releasing the bombs during this manoeuvre and back in the opposite direction.

The bombs will follow a parabolic trajectory and drop near or in the target.

'''Glide bombing'''

This is a high altitude (2,000-3,500 m) approach in which the Hellcat will dive for its target in a not very steep attacking angle (shouldn't be more than 45° angle). This tactic offers more controls since it is not needed to pull up as hard when compared to a full 90° dive-bombing. Time the drop, the moving of the ship and keep in mind the desired exit altitude. During this shallow dive, the plane must gather enough speed to exit the danger zone immediately.

The Hellcat can withstand some outstanding 800 km/h, so do not exceed that limit.

'''Dive bombing'''

This is another high altitude approach in which you will need to enter the target's ship airspace, endure any anti-aircraft fire and perform a 90-75° pitch down aiming to the trajectory of the targeted ship. Due to the lack of any air brakes, this tactic is dangerous. Pilots should time their drop and exit the dive before it becomes too late for the F6F. This tactic offers the advantage of being one of the most precise bombings, especially against battleships. But is one of the riskier since it also exposes you to anti-aircraft fire during the dive.

Pilots are encouraged to practice these bombings and to choose wisely during different combat situations.

{{Notice
|Coordinate aerial attacks with allied aircraft; many ships possess dozens of AA guns aiming right at you!
}}

'''Air defence/Interception'''

Here the use of radar is remarkably important. Just like in real life, it helps the pilot with navigation and enemy early detection. Use it to anticipate targets and intercept them before they reach allied ships. On encounter mode and enduring confrontation, this is highly regarded due to the immensity of airspace and the vulnerable formation of cargo ships. Be the guarding eye for those merchant ships!

Pilots should fly really high; away from ships' computerized artillery predictors and flak fire. Speed and altitude are the first means of defence, so if attacked at such altitudes, pilots can choose to go into steep dive towards allied vessels or an allied base. Otherwise, they can rely on air manoeuvres. A good understanding of the enemy aircraft is beneficial to understand what to do.

===Arcade battles===
Here the Hellcat will only feel more powerful and faster but beware, the enemy planes too. The flight characteristics are well suited for smart dogfights and baiting. Firing with the guns become even more precise and lethal. Quite a lot of entertainment.

'''Air battles'''

The F6F can produce havoc on ground strike modes with the constant reload of bombs and rockets. They are useful to interdict enemy forces advancing to airfields. The 1,000 lb bombs have a devastating effect on ships and hardened structures, and especially on vehicles which are clustered in a compact area. Use your superior payloads to destroy them with ease while your team fights for the airfield. The agility of the aircraft makes it ideal to outfit rockets, which can be dropped if not needed.

The larger Tiny Tim rockets will pack a huge punch against heavily armoured vehicles or static defenses (such as heavy tanks or pillboxes) and ships. On ground strike/frontline mode, make those a priority target to help the team. HVAR rockets work best when reserved for lighter armoured vehicles some hardened concrete structures and bombers.

Oppositely, the Hellcat can be played without bombs and really high in the sky. Baiting enemies into a vertical stall then diving for them.

'''Naval battles'''

The Hellcat can serve both as a low-level fighter bomber and a high altitude fighter. With the bombsight allowing the F6F to predict the bomb drop, pilots can use that to top-attack big ships from really high altitudes (3-4 km). Diving then climbing back, the constant bombing will eventually land a fatal blow to enemy shipping.

Low-level fly is also effective while torpedoing or rocketing enemy shipping. Keep in mind the dangerous anti-air defences and the enemy fighter planes.

===Radars===
{{main|AN/APS-6}}
[[File:F6F 5N Cockpit Manual.png|thumb|right|320px|A page from the F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual showing the differences found in the F6F-5N cockpit, with the radio altimeter indicator and radar scope being pointed out.]]The F6F-5N is equipped with an [[AN/APS-6]] search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in a pod under the right wing tip.

During the night, the radar becomes an invaluable tool to seek out and destroy enemy aircraft. It is best to position the aircraft where targets can be detected from the side or rear aspect which allows the F6F-5N to follow them and shoot them down. Take note of the limited range of the radar and that targets may only be visible up to a few kilometers away. A helpful range setting for the radar is the 9.25 km (5.75 mi) scan distance, as further options can make it difficult to properly find and chase down targets. When moving in closer, switching to the 1.85 km (1.15 mi) scan distance can make it easier to stay on a target from behind as well as transition to the radar track mode.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-6]] - 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 || ±60° || ±60°
|-
! colspan="4" | [[AN/APS-6]] - 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}}
|-
| 1,000 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 || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 3 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

It is highly rewarding to learn and constantly apply MEC during Simulator and Realistic battles. The main instruments beneficial for the F6F are: propeller pitch, radiators, and superchargers.

*The propeller pitch will enable the F6F to reach higher top speeds. This is vital during pursuits or diving away; something in which the F6F is great at. They also provide increased thrust/lift and less speed when needed; for example during vertical slow speed dogfights

*The radiators lets the F6F cool down the engine and components during hot weather maps. While if closed, they reduce aerodynamic drag and increase the top speed. Watch out, prolonged closing of the radiators leads to overheating and ultimately, to engine damage.

*Superchargers are an important piece of the MEC (even more for American planes), they will let the F6F reach superior high altitudes with a decent amount of speed even when fully loaded. They should only be used while climbing not during low altitude flights. Stage 1 is activated by default, stage 2 should be activated around 3-4 km of altitude. Stage 3 should be activated above 5-6 km of altitude. The hotter the temperature, the sooner this should be activated. If cold, it should be activated later at these altitudes. Pilots should maintain their eyes out to confirm their input affects performance positively and not negatively.

Once in combat, some pilots can choose whether to keep controlling everything manually and multitask, or they can set things back to automatic mode. Having manual control of the engine while on battle allows controlling the plane for the exact needs and desired pilot's tactics. While on auto mode, the pilot can focus efficiently only on the work outside the cabin without additional workload.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great variety of weapons for any map and mode; aerial combat, ground attack and maps with naval ships
* Decent manoeuvrability
* Has a search and tracking radar with an excellent range
* Capable of operating from an aircraft carrier
* Competent high-altitude performance (3 Stage supercharger)
* High durability and efficient armour protection for the engine and the pilot

'''Cons:'''

* Poor climb rate
* All manoeuvrability is drastically decreased by payloads
* Not as energy-efficient in a climb as other American aircraft (such as the P-47)
* Overall worse fighter performance than F6F-5; playstyle varies
* Hopelessly outmatched on speed by enemy planes on the same BR, as the [[Bf 109 (Family)]]
* Turn rate is significantly higher than enemies it faces

== History ==

[[File:F6F-5N- Historical photo.jpg|thumb|USS Ticonderoga (CV-14). Grumman F6F "Hellcat" fighters prepare to take off for strikes against targets in Manila Bay. The two leading planes are F6F-5N night fighters, with wing-mounted radar.|230x230px]]
The F6F-5N was a modification of the standard F6F-5 for use as a night fighter. This variant became available on the final phase of World war II (1944-1945). The United States' Marines and US NAVY used these variants along the F6F-5 in the Pacific Theater on a wide variety of roles such as air interception, ground strike and night patrolling.

{{Notice |The F6F-5N was the highest produced US night fighter during WWII; exactly, 1,600 built}}

'''Technical specifications'''

The F6F-5N was a modification of the standard F6F-5 for use as a night fighter. These aircraft were fitted with additional equipment in the form of a radio altimeter and radar. The Westinghouse AN/APS-6 radar was installed on the starboard wing of the F6F-5N, with units being completed in middle and late 1944. The APS-6 served as a method to search and destroy hostile aircraft in conditions with zero visibility, with data being displayed in a standard B-scope view of the target azimuth on the x-axis and target range on the y-axis. Aside from target search and tracking, the APS-6 could also be used in a navigation role by tracking a radar emitter or beacon with a search range of up to 100 miles.<ref name="ibiblio" />

Due to the simplifications from the earlier AN/APS-4 radar, the APS-6 was small enough to be installed in single-engine aircraft which allowed for independent action among night fighters. Another feature of the F6F-5N was the Type GR-1 automatic pilot, which gave pilots the ability to maintain a stable flight attitude with minimal input.

Just as with the F6F-5, the -5N used the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W and had provisions to used a mixed armament of 2 x 20 mm M2 cannons and 4 x .50 cal Browning machine guns. The F6F-5N is noted as being one of the better American night fighters during World War II and was chosen to be a night fighter over other aircraft such as the F4U Corsair.<ref name="ibiblio" />

'''World War II Service'''
[[File:F6F-5N Historical photo 3.jpg|thumb|300x300px|U.S. Marine Corps Grumman F6F-5N ''Hellcats'' of Marine Night Fighting Squadron 541 (VMF(N)-541) take off from Peleliu, in 1944.]]
The F6F-5N performed as an improved version of the F6F-5. It was widely used on defensive patrols over bases within the range of Japanese bombers and during night patrols guarding the Pacific's shipping routes.

One of the undeniably uses of the F6F-5N was by the Marine Night Fighting Squadron 541 (VMF(N)-541) also known as the Bat-eye Squadron.

This squadron performed dozens of missions and night patrols over the whole Pacific; notably during the Philippines campaign. It was during the beginning of the campaign (Oct, 1944) where they had flown the 602 miles from their base on Peleliu in the Palau Islands. Their first mission provided cover for U.S. Navy PT-boats operating in the Surigao Strait.

The called presence of the Marines F6F-5N fighters was to provide necessary support against the weakened but still-resisting Japanese forces. One of their first tasks was to provide airstrikes over the Leyte Gulf during the climactic Battle of Leyte Gulf. Over these times, the foul weather and tropical storms complicated the air wars but even through that, Japanese bombers performed bombings damaging the ongoing operations. The Japanese night fighter, Nakajima Ki-43 ''Hayabusa'' known as "Oscar" by the Americans, also proved to be a serious threat. This was because it turned to be too fast for the available Army's P-61 ''Black Widow'' night fighters. Swift one-way dives by Japanese fighters performing Kamikaze attacks were also a concern.

Around November, the general MacArthur ordered a switch. The F6F-5N of the Bat-eye squadron were to be transferred to Leyte where their high top-speed and good high-altitude performance was needed. It was here where the Marines saw combat against many enemies, both from Japanese Navy and Army air forces, even facing head-to-head versus the "Zero" themselves; Japanese forces commanded by the Vice Admiral, Shigeru Fukudome.

The ''Hellcats'' proved to be extremely effective due to many experiences at Peleliu. Around December, the Bat-eye squadron of Hellcats was busy performing dawn and even daylight patrols, ensuring safety to ships under their care. Achieving 12 air victories on a single day, (12 Dec) during the Battle of Ormoc Bay.

Lieutenant Paul Martinelli recollects:
{{Quote
|During our brief deployment to the Philippines, we were constantly tasked with protecting our troops and ships. Early on the morning of December 12th, we took off in total darkness in what we figured would be another routine patrol. The division was led by Captain Thomson and during the early part of the patrol, one of our pilots developed engine trouble and returned to base." "That left three of us, and a few minutes later we were informed by radio that Japanese bombers were approaching the convoy of our Naval re-supply ships which were located off the southwest coast of Leyte. They were very vulnerable because the ships had only minimal anti-aircraft protection. We dropped our external fuel tanks and proceeded to the area. We quickly spotted the formation which consisted of about fifteen planes and they were below us, in the process of diving down on our ships. At that time, we heard our controller vector our other division toward the action.

As soon as we saw the Jap planes, our 3-ship formation formed up into single file so each pilot could concentrate on a bogey to attack. We plowed into them and some were either in the process of pulling out of their dives or had their noses down in the midst of their bomb runs. I had already charged my six .50 cal guns and switched on my gun sight, illuminating it on the small, flat, extra thick protective glass that was situated directly in front of my cockpit Plexiglas. All of the enemy aircraft appeared to be single-engine types (either Zeros or Vals).

I focused on the nearest enemy plane which was a Zero. He had spotted me and made an effort to turn sharp to evade my rapid closure. Using water injection, I overtook him before he could execute any effective evasive moves. I was easily able to turn inside of the Zero gradually narrowing the angle to where I thought I had him. I kept fire one." was already at a low altitude over the water. Strangely, when he got down to about 1,500 feet, he suddenly performed a slow barrel roll to the left. Such a manoeuvre would reduce his speed, allowing me to move closer to the range of my guns. Seconds later, he did another roll and by this time, I was close enough to fire a burst. I hit him before he had completed his roll and my rounds probably struck the pilot because his plane, now down to about 500 feet, did a descending roll to the left and plunged into the water. I made a low pass and saw no debris or fire.
}}

By the end of December 1944, the Army considered Leyte was efficiently in its control, thus the campaign to recapture the Philippines shifted into a second phase. At this time, VMF(N)-541 was released to return on 11 January 1945 to Peleliu.

Despite numerous adverse conditions and setbacks, such as foul weather, precarious airfields and many long-serving hours in days and night; two years after its Philippine operations, the Hellcat squadron received the Army's Distinguished Unit Citation, the only Marine aviation unit to be so honoured during the war:

{{Quote|The Marine Night Fighter Squadron 541 is cited for extraordinary performance of duty in action against the enemy at Leyte, Philippine Islands, from 3 to 15 December 1944. During a critical period in the fight for the control of the Philippine Islands, the pilots and ground crews of this unit signally distinguished themselves by the intrepidity and unyielding determination with which they overcame exceptionally adverse weather conditions and operational difficulties engendered by lack of facilities and incomplete radar directional coverage.

Their superb airmanship and daring resourcefulness displayed in outstanding night patrol and interception work, which forestalled destruction of airfield facilities, and in the completeness of cover provided for numerous vital convoys and Patrol Torpedo boat patrols, effectively thwarted enemy attempts to prevent consolidation and further expansion of the foothold gained by United States forces in the Philippines.

Achieving a record unparalleled at that time, the unit, composed of but 15 aircraft and 22 pilots, flew 136 sorties totalling 298.6 combat hours, destroyed 18 enemy aircraft in aerial combat without unit loss or damage, and on numerous occasions pitted consummate skill and accuracy against overwhelming numerically superior enemy strength. The extraordinary performance of the air and ground personnel of the Marine Fighter Squadron 541 in overcoming the greatest of aerial hazards and maintenance difficulties reflects the highest credit on themselves and the military service of the United States.

BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR Dwight D. Eisenhower Chief of Staff}}
[[File:Hellcat-Historical photo 2.jpg|thumb|300x300px|A Grumman F6F-5N ''Hellcat'' night fighter assigned to the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA), in 1944/45.]]

'''Post-war use'''

As the United States started to focus on Jet fighter technologies. The Hellcats in the US navy service outlasted pretty much entirely as the night-fighter variant; most of the other Hellcats variants became target tugs or controlled drones loaded with explosives. The Hellcat F6F-5N variant survived this decommissioning because it proved to be superior on flight performance to the newer F8F-2N night fighter. The F6F-5N was also sold to France.

Consequently, the F6F-5N remained in US service up to the Korean war in 1950, where it got replaced by the F4U-5N to fill the night fighter role. {{clear}}

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=f6f-5n Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:F6F_FN_and_Tiny_Tim.png|An underside view of a {{PAGENAME}} carrying two [[Tiny Tim]] rockets. These rockets had to be released before igniting so to clear the propeller arc
File:F6F_FN_firing_Tiny_Tim.png|A view of a {{PAGENAME}} firing off a [[Tiny Tim]] rocket at an enemy target
File:Tiny_Tim_shackle.png|A side view of the shackle connection of the [[Tiny Tim]] rocket to the external pylon of the {{PAGENAME}}
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|2dJ4_1cOfus|'''This World War 2 Aircraft Had Targeting Radar - F6F-5N Night Fighter''' - ''PhlyDaily''|-FQH-w6lMHs|'''F6F 5N - HOW TO RUSH - Guide and tutorial''' - ''Green Fury''|UwJa-dIeeHI|'''WWII's F6F HellCat''' - ''Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum''}}

== See also ==


'''Shared operational history during World War II'''

* [[F6F-5]]
* [[F4U-4]]
* [[F4U-4B]]

'''Similar variants of this aircraft'''

* [[F6F-5 (France)|▄F6F-5]]
* [[F6F-5]]
* [[Hellcat Mk II (Great Britain)|▄Hellcat Mk II]]

'''Related development'''

* [[F4F (Family)|F4F]]

* [[F8F-1]]
* [[F8F-1B]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/341959-f6f-5n-hellcat/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [https://aviationshoppe.com/manuals/grumman_f6f_flight_manual/f6f.html AviationShoppe - Grumman F6F Hellcat Pilot's Manual]

=== References ===

;Citations
<references>
<ref name="ibiblio">"The AN/APS-6 Aircraft Radar" in ''Westinghouse in World War 2: Radio and X-ray Divsions,'' Westinghouse Electric & Mfg.Co., Inc, 1946.</ref>
</references>

;Bibliography

* Aircraft Carriers: A History of Carrier Aviation and Its Influence on World Events, Volume II: 1946-2006, Norman Polmar, 2007
* And A Few Marines - Marines in the Liberation of the Philippines, PCN 19000314300, Captain John C. Chapin, USMCR (Ret), 2002

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

P-51C-11-NT (Japan)

2021-08-12T04:14:55Z

U27109353: /* P-51C-11-NT "Evalina" */

{{About
| about = Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-11-nt_japan
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Japanese fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Red Skies"]].

The plane was nicknamed "Evalina" after the girlfriend of its pilot 1st Lt. Oliver E. Strawbridge.

This plane got captured by the Japanese after an emergency landing on the 16th of January, 1945. She was left in her original scheme with Hinomarus painted over the American stars before she was sent over back to Japan. There she would be thoroughly evaluated, examined & mock battled with by the Japanese Army until just before the end of the war.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude, it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high-speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modelled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed, however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 676 || 676 || 433 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (280 rpg outer + 350 rpg inner = 1,260 total)

While the Evalina only has 4 x 12.7 mm's, she does get late-war belts for ammo choice, giving her relatively more consistency and firepower over the American [[P-51C-10]] with early war belts.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close-range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-11 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* No suspended ordnance
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 "Mustang"}}
===Introduction===
Starting early 1943, the Japanese had a new foe to fight in the skies, the P-51 Mustang. While Japan saw early successes, it still would prove that the P-51 is a very dangerous foe. The threat would become worse with the introduction of the Merlin-engined P-51B/C and P-51D.

As Japanese casualties started counting up because of this monster of a plane, it became a more pressing issue to get the plane evaluated and look for any flaws in its designs to even out the odds.

While Japan had some models to examine, they were all damaged beyond repair and/or were burnt-out wrecks. But this lack of research material would change eventually.

===P-51C-11-NT "Evalina"===
====Japanese Capture====
[[File:P-51C-11 'Evalina' and Pilot.jpg|1st Lt. Strawbridge and his Evalina|thumb|250px]]
Built in Dallas, Texas, as c/n 111-28949, registered 44-10816 was allocated to First Lt. Oliver E. Strawbridge of the 26th FS, 51st FG, 14th AF, who named the aircraft "Evalina" after his at the time girlfriend.

One day the plane was commandeered by Second Lt. Sam McMillan, Evalina was hit by Japanese flak fire and an emergency landing was made in a ricefield near the Japanese-held Suchin airfield in the Hubei Province, China on 16 January 1945.

Sam was taken as a POW and would be part of the POW group known as "The Diddled Dozen" that were separated from all other prisoners and taken back to the Japanese homeland.<ref>[http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camplists/hokkaido/sapporo/pow_pic_2.html "The Diddled Dozen" - Jim Mockford - extracted from the memoir called "Quig" by Donald Quigley]</ref><ref>[http://www.cbi-theater.com/dozen/dozen.html "The Diddled Dozen" - James M. Taylor]</ref>

The Japanese on the other hand would finally have a Mustang given on a golden platter. Any damage to the aircraft was quickly repaired, painted Hinomarus over the American stars and left the rest of Evalina in her original scheme.

{{Notice|While sources are scarce, the plane was in good condition on Japanese images, and if a belly landing happened, it would break the propeller and damage the belly intake; making it barely repairable for the Japanese.}}

====Japanese Evaluation====
[[File:P-51C-11 'Evalina' in capture 2.jpg|2 Japanese pilots in front of Evalina|thumb|250px]]
Once the Japanese got their hands on the Evalina, she would be sent as soon as possible back to Japan at the Japanese Army Air Inspection Center in Fussa (now Yokota Air Base) piloted by air ace Major Yasuhiko Kuroe.

Upon arrival, Kuroe would evaluate and comment on the Mustang in Fussa, stating:
{{Quote|I was astonished with its performance. Turn characteristics were splendid, almost the same as the [[Ki-84 (Family)|Ki-84]] in a horizontal turn. The radio transmitter was excellent, the armament and other miscellaneous equipment was very good, particularly when compared with their Japanese equivalents, and moreover it had a radio direction-finder.

Its dash speed was inferior to that of our imported [[Fw 190 A-5 (Japan)|Fw 190 A-5]], but diving speed and stability during the dive were excellent. After fuel consumption tests we estimated it would be able to fly over the Japanese homeland from Iwo Jima. Some time later this came true.}}{{Break}}

[[File:P-51C-11 'Evalina' in capture 1.jpg|Japanese pilots examining the P-51C-11 Evalina|left|thumb|300px]]
After its initial evaluations at the Air Inspection Center, Evalina was sent to the Akeno Army Flying School for further evaluation and mock combat against Japanese fighters such as the [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]], [[Ki-61 (Family)|Ki-61]] and [[Ki-84 (Family)|Ki-84]].

In mid-April 1945, Maj. Kuroe was placed in charge of a "{{Annotation|flying circus|An air group composed of captured Allied aircraft}}". The group toured Japanese fighter units to train pilots how to fight the opponent's aircraft.

One of the pilots who benefited from this was a 1st Lieutenant from the 18th Sentai, Masatsugu Sumita, who recalled that he learned "how to take his aircraft out of the P-51's axis when being chased...".{{Break}}

At the time, the 18th Sentai was issued with the new [[Ki-100]], one of the few Japanese planes that matched the Mustang's general performances, albeit with inferior equipment. Kuroe claimed:

{{Quote|I had such confidence with this P-51 that I feared no Japanese fighters.}}

The Japanese impression of the Mustang was that it was an excellent all-around aircraft with no major fault and excellent equipment. The absence of oil leaks was surprising to most, as all Japanese engines leaked to some extent. Several pilots were invited to fly the fighter. Among them was Yohei Hinoki, one of the first to shoot down a Mustang in November 1943:

{{Quote|Major General Imagawa asked me to master the P-51 and then demonstrate it to other fellow pilots. I did not have a great deal of confidence in my ability to fly such an advanced aircraft with my disabled leg, but I made up my mind to do my best.

I flew to Omasa airfield and finally got a look at the P-51. I could see the superiority of its equipment, and its shiny fuselage with the open red mouth of a dragon. I saw several red dots on the side of the cockpit, probably recording Japanese aircraft the pilot had shot down. With the radiator under the fuselage, it looked very sleek and deadly.

It reminded me of the day I had first seen the P-51 in the sky above Burma on 25 November 1943. Major Kuroe, who brought the P-51 back from China, told me how easy the P-51 was to fly. Getting in, I was very impressed by the roomy seat and I did not have any trouble with my artificial leg on the rudder pedal. For me there were several new things about the aircraft. First of all there was the bulletproof glass, with a better degree of transparency than the thin Japanese glass; secondly, the seat was surrounded by a thick steel plate which I had never seen in a fighter before; there was an automatic shutter for the radiator, and an oxygen system which was new to me. Overall, it was better equipped than any Japanese airplane I had ever seen.}}

After all of the intensive evaluations, mock-fights and transfers, Evalina finally gave in and her generator burnt out. As Japan at this state in the war had way more pressing issues and couldn't find any replacement parts, she would be bulldozed into a lake to never be seen again.

Although the Evalina would be the only P-51C the Japanese got their hands on, there are accounts of where the Japanese got their hands on at least 3 P-51Ds with even scarcer information as they were captured barely weeks before the end of the war.

===Aftermath===
Both Oliver E. Strawbridge and Sam McMillan survived the war and lived to old age. However, Strawbridge never ended up marrying Evalina.
====Yasuhiko Kuroe====
Yasuhiko Kuroe ended up being officially credited with 30 destroyed aircraft, 3 of which were B-29s, he played a vital role in evaluating and testing the [[Ki-102 otsu|Ki-102]], [[Ki-84 (Family)|Ki-106]], [[Ki-109]] and [[Ki-200]] all intended to shoot down B-29s.

After the war, he returned to his hometown and picked up on agriculture as all of Japan's military would be dismantled. While starting a new life as a farmer, he ended up running on food shortage and got into some shady business and poor life choices and got into debt.

He moved to Tokyo and managed to join the JASDF (Japanese Air Self Defense Force). As an experienced pilot in both propellor- and jet-driven planes he got back into the Air Force and returned to his balanced life. He was sent abroad to study in the Royal Air Force in Britain for a year and returned to Japan eventually climbing up to the rank of Major General.

One day in 1965 Maj.Gen. Kuroe went fishing off the Echizen coast, Fukui Prefecture during bad weather and eventually drowned in the high waves. He was buried on December 7 of that year.



== Media ==

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

== See also ==


;Other Japanese-captured US planes
* [[F4U-1A (Japan)]]
* [[B-17E (Japan)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{Japan fighters}}
{{Japan premium aircraft}}

PV-2D

2021-06-19T12:41:41Z

U27109353: /* Usage in battles */

{{About
| about = premium gift American bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = standard version
| link = B-34
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=pv_2d
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|market=PV-2D Harpoon (USA)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.67 "Assault"]], during the [[wt:en/news/4648-special-war-thunder-chronicles-en/|2017 World War Two: Chronicle]] event, unlocked after obtaining 6 Chronicle Awards. It was later obtainable at the end of the [[wt:en/news/6421-special-operation-shipyard-exchanging-materials-en|2019 Operation "Shipyard"]] by buying a "Shipyard" trophy.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,267 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
| 448 || 435 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.2 || 30.1 || 8.9 || 8.9 || rowspan="2" | 549
|-
! Upgraded
| 513 || 478 || 26.9 || 28.0 || 16.2 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 326 || 309 || 222 || ~5 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 260 || < 290 || < 320 || > 337
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,615 m || 1,600 hp || 1,984 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,023 m || 1,450 hp || 1,798 hp
|-
|}

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


* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate cockpit, in front of the pilot
* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate cockpit, behind the pilot
* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate cockpit, behind radio operator/navigator
* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate - tail section and ventral gunner protection
* 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate - dorsal gunner protective plate
* Fuel tanks at wing roots to middle of wing

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

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

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

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

* 8 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, chin-mounted (250 rpg = 2,000 total)

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

{{main|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}
{{main|HVAR|Tiny Tim|Mk.13-1 Case (1,927 lb)|Type A Mark I mine|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 6 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 8 x HVAR rockets
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 1,927 lb Mk.13-1 Case torpedo
* 1 x 1,927 lb Mk.13-1 Case torpedo
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x Type A Mark I mines
* 8 x HVAR rockets + 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns (340 rpg = 1,360 total)

Note: Gunpods are fired separately from nose armaments if fired via '''"Additional guns"''' keybinds.

=== 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, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, ventral turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==

The PV-2D Harpoon is a bomber and should be played as such. Its gigantic and versatile payload options allow for enough power against ground/naval targets and bases. The eight nose-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns deal excellent damage, and can be used offensively with the dorsal turret able to point forward. Though the gunners provide ample top and bottom protection, the tail of the vehicle is a blind spot to the two turret gunners and thus a tailing pursuant would be a priority threat.

It is also viable for bomber hunting due to the bomber spawn and its offensive armaments. Engaging unsuspecting fighters is also good, provided that you utilise BnZing and extend away. If your nose guns are out, consider using your dorsal for emergency shooting. Without an arrestor hook, you must land on carriers with some risk. Approach low and slow, use your flaps to slow down more and land on the deck without deploying your gear. Your plane won't break, the fuselage and engines will eat the brunt of impact. Same applies to landing on ground, you can do a soft belly landing without dying.

If you do engage, try to drag the enemy to ground level. Dragging hostiles down is great for your team to pick off, and you can force pursuers to your tail by diving down. Dogfighting is not encouraged, but it can turn on a dime occasionally.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

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

[[ZSD63]]: Though it is hard to identify specific SPAA vehicles on the ground from the air (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 causally putting a short burst in the {{PAGENAME}}'s flight path. Don't even get close to it unless it is occupied with another friendly or if the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with a bomb that it can use. One identifying feature 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. Armour-piercing belt is recommended since their high penetration can tear through the ZSD's armour with ease and knock out its crews.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very deadly offensive armament with plenty of ammunition
* Effective defensive armament with good coverage over rear section of aircraft
* The dorsal turret can swivel 360 degrees and even fire at targets off the nose of the plane
* Defensive armament has lots of ammo
* Good acceleration overall
* Acceptable climb rate
* Good energy retention in turns due to heavy weight(But do not turn too much, else you bleed all your energy)
* Large and versatile payload options

'''Cons:'''

* Huge airframe: prone to damage
* Big tail section is prone to attacks, usually crippling tail control
* Belly is a blindspot for gunners
* Cannot sustain multiple turns, energy will bleed despite nice energy retention
* Mediocre manoeuvrability
* Cannot fly on one engine: you cannot sustain flight with just one

== History ==

===Ventura===
After the success of the Lockheed Hudson, Lockheed sought to introduce another bomber named the ''Ventura'' based off their Model 18 Lodestar transport aircraft. Though similar to the Hudson, the Ventura was a lot bigger. The Royal Air Force adopted the plane under the Ventura name, and the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) adopted it as the [[B-34|B-34 Lexington]]. Though the Ventura was faster and could hold twice as many bombs than the Hudson, the Royal Air Force did not like the plane very much and replaced them with Mosquitoes, the surplus Venturas sent to Coastal Command. America's usage of the B-34 Lexington was complicated with a feud in air power between the USAAF and the US Navy (USN). The USAAF had a monopoly on manufacturing and command of land-based bombers, leading to naval activities such as anti-submarine duties with bombers shouldered by the USAAF rather than the USN, forcing the usage of float planes like the [[PBY-5_Catalina|Catalina]] in the Navy's role. It wasn't until a compromise with the [[B-29A-BN|B-29 Superfortress]] in a naval manufacturing factory that the Army finally gave the Navy the aircraft and jurisdiction to act in their roles.

===Naval adoption===
The Lockheed Ventura bomber, an aircraft the USN had an eye for, was converted for their usage. The adapted Venturas were adopted under the designation ''PV-1 Ventura'' for the navy, with special equipment for patrol bombing, increased fuel storage along with a decrease in forward defensive armaments, and the addition of search radar. The first PV-1s arrived in December 1942, then entered naval service in February 1943.

The PV-1 was an adequate bomber but provided some weaknesses needed addressing, most notably in that the increased fuel weight made it difficult to take-off without problems. The Ventura design was modified with an increased wing area in order to improve take-off and load-carrying capability. This allowed the aircraft to carry not only up to 4,000 lb of bombs but even rockets under the wings. The redesigned aircraft was accepted by the USN as the '''PV-2 Harpoon'''. More than 500 Harpoons were built in the course of the war, with several variants. The original PV-2 had five forward armaments whereas the '''PV-2D''' updated it with eight forward guns. The ''PV-2C'' and ''PV-2T'' models were models built for training.

===Combat usage===
The PV-1 was operated by three squadrons in the Pacific Theatre and flew bombing strikes against Japan. The PV-1 usually accompanied [[B-24D-25-CO|B-24s]] due to having a more sophisticated radar system. A few were also given to the Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF(N)-531 at the Solomon Islands.

The PV-2's design had a shaky start, issues with the wings wrinkling came off as dangerously problematic. Another redesign was needed, delaying the introduction into the Navy until early 1945, with the ones already delivered converted for training purposes as the ''PV-2C''. When the Harpoons were finally shipped, it went as the ''PV-2D'' model, and these aircraft designs proved reliable and popular with the crews that used them.

After the war, the Venturas and its variants were eventually declared obsolete. A number were scrapped, some were given away to foreign nations during and after the war. A number of the aircraft still survive today in both airworthy and display-only conditions.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicle=pv_2d Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|rVvmp7zEmes|'''The Shooting Range #93''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:43 discusses the PV-2D.|O5RGUpnL_Vw|'''PV-2D Harpoon - Today Is Payday''' - ''Napalmratte''|fn80tkyCyho|'''Premium Review: PV-2D Harpoon [Hard Hitting]''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


;Related development
* [[B-34]]
* [[Hudson Mk V (Great Britain)]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/4657-development-ww2-chronicles-vehicles-the-pv-2-harpoon-en|[Devblog] WW2 Chronicles vehicles: The PV-2 Harpoon]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/361709-pv-2d/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Lockheed}}
{{USA bombers}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

P-51C-10

2021-05-18T03:45:11Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-10-nt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332nd Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "Razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 675 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (280 rpg outer + 350 rpg inner = 1,260 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of ~300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 Mustang}}

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was successfully tested on a P-51 Mustang in late 1942, resulting in production of P-51B Mustangs fitted with the Packard V-1650, a license-produced Merlin. North American Aviation's (NAA) plant in Inglewood, California was maxing out production of the P-51B so a new plant was opened up in Dallas, Texas, in order to increase production. The Mustangs produced in the Dallas plant were designated as the P-51C even though they were identical in all other regards to the P-51B. It was decided during the P-51B and C production run that the aircraft would no longer leave the factory with an olive drab paint, but would instead leave in the unpainted metal finish.

Deliveries of the P-51C to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began in August 1943, much later than those of the P-51B due to the Dallas plant having been in the process of construction when the P-51B entered production at Inglewood. A total of 1,750 P-51C Mustangs were built by NAA during the war.

P-51B and C Mustangs began arriving in Europe in August and October of 1943, equipping fifteen fighter groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England as well as the 15th Air Force in Italy. P-51C Mustangs, along with their P-51B brethren, were used by the USAAF 8th Air Force to escort B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on daylight raids across the English Channel; the long range of the P-51B/C Mustang made it ideal for that type of mission. The 9th Air Force used them in the fighter-bomber role. In addition to European operations, P-51C Mustangs were used in the China Burma India Theater (CBI). Even by the end of the war many of the P-51s still in service with the USAAF were of the P-51B and C models, not having been fully replaced by the P-51D and K models but instead only supplemented.

In addition to serving with the USAAF, 636 P-51B and C Mustangs were used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war, where they were designated as the Mustang Mk.III. P-51C Mustangs were also used by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) during the Second World War.

=== P-51C Variants ===
'''Combat Variants: 1,750 built'''

* '''P-51C-1-NT''' - Original production model with V-1650-3 engine; 350 built.
* '''P-51C-3-NT''' - Added an 85 gallon fuel tank behind the pilot's seat; unknown number converted from P-51C-1-NT.
* '''P-51C-5-NT''' - Used the more powerful V-1650-7 engine; 450 built.
* '''P-51C-10-NT''' - 823 built.
* '''P-51C-11-NT''' - 127 built.

'''Non Combat Variants'''

* '''F-6C-NT''' - Reconnaissance conversion with added cameras, armament retained; 20 converted from P-51C-10-NT.
* '''TP-51C''' - Two-seat trainer conversion; 5 converted during WW2, 1 converted in 2000's.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

'''Other variants in-game'''

* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-51C-10

2021-05-18T03:43:08Z

U27109353: /* History */

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-10-nt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332nd Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "Razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 675 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (280 rpg outer + 350 rpg inner = 1,260 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of ~300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 Mustang}}

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was successfully tested on a P-51 Mustang in late 1942, resulting in production of P-51B Mustangs fitted with the Packard V-1650, a license-produced Merlin. North American Aviation's (NAA) plant in Inglewood, California was maxing out production of the P-51B so a new plant was opened up in Dallas, Texas, in order to increase production. The Mustangs produced in the Dallas plant were designated as the P-51C even though they were identical in all other regards to the P-51B. It was decided during the P-51B and C production run that the aircraft would no longer leave the factory with an olive drab paint, but would instead leave in the unpainted metal finish.

Deliveries of the P-51C to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began in August 1943, much later than those of the P-51B due to the Dallas plant having been in the process of construction when the P-51B entered production at Inglewood. A total of 1,750 P-51C Mustangs were built by NAA during the war.

P-51B and C Mustangs began arriving in Europe in August and October of 1943, equipping fifteen fighter groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England as well as the 15th Air Force in Italy. P-51C Mustangs, along with their P-51B brethren, were used by the USAAF 8th Air Force to escort B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on daylight raids across the English Channel; the long range of the P-51B/C Mustang made it ideal for that type of mission. The 9th Air Force used them in the fighter-bomber role. In addition to European operations, P-51C Mustangs were used in the China Burma India Theater (CBI). Even by the end of the war many of the P-51s still in service with the USAAF were of the P-51B and C models, not having been fully replaced by the P-51D and K models but instead only supplemented.

In addition to serving with the USAAF, 636 P-51B and C Mustangs were also used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war, where they were designated as the Mustang Mk III. P-51C Mustangs were also used by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) during the Second World War.

=== P-51C Variants ===
'''Combat Variants: 1,750 built'''

* '''P-51C-1-NT''' - Original production model with V-1650-3 engine; 350 built.
* '''P-51C-3-NT''' - Added an 85 gallon fuel tank behind the pilot's seat; unknown number converted from P-51C-1-NT.
* '''P-51C-5-NT''' - Used the more powerful V-1650-7 engine; 450 built.
* '''P-51C-10-NT''' - 823 built.
* '''P-51C-11-NT''' - 127 built.

'''Non Combat Variants'''

* '''F-6C-NT''' - Reconnaissance conversion with added cameras, armament retained; 20 converted from P-51C-10-NT.
* '''TP-51C''' - Two-seat trainer conversion; 5 converted during WW2, 1 converted in 2000's.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

'''Other variants in-game'''

* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

F2G-1

2021-04-24T08:57:03Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=f2g-1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' "Super Corsair" is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "New Power"]] as a reward for [[Battle Pass: Season I]]. The Super Corsair was a development made by Goodyear, a licensed manufacturer of the Vought F4U Corsair. The Super Corsair was intended by Goodyear as a low altitude fighter.<ref name=":0">https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1394</ref> Powered by the Pratt & Whitney 28 cylinder R-4360 Wasp Major engine, nicknamed the "Corncob," the Super Corsair made 3,000 hp. By the time the Super Corsairs was ready for production the [[F8F-1|Grumman F8F "Bearcat"]] was already being built and had similar performance. Partially due to this, only 10 Super Corsairs were ever completed, 5 of which were the F2G-1 land variant found in game.<ref name=":0" />

== 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
| 675 || 654 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.7 || 14.9 || 14.9 || rowspan="2" | 180
|-
! Upgraded
| 739 || 706 || 20.7 || 21.0 || 27.0 || 20.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 382 || 293 || 248 || ~10 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 540 || < 250 || < 450 || > 460
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm bulletproof glass - Windscreen
* 12.7 mm steel - Pilot's headrest
* 8 mm steel - Pilot's seat
* 3 mm steel in front of the pilot

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

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

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

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,800 total)

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

{{main|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|Tiny Tim}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 8 x HVAR rockets
* 2 x Tiny Tim rockets

== Usage in battles ==

The Super Corsair is sandwiched between two extremes. On one end, a fully downtiered F2G will encounter Bf 109 K-4s, Ta 152s, Yak-3Us, and Yak-9UTs. Against all of these, the F2G will enjoy considerable advantages in low altitude acceleration and speed, in exchange for somewhat reduced manoeuvrability due to engine weight. Against these enemies, Boom and Run tactics are preferred: the late war .50 cals are excellent at "marking" targets for this purpose, due to their damage and accuracy at range: even if the enemy avoids taking a lethal burst, they will most likely suffer damage to cooling, engine, or controls that makes them easier to destroy on a second pass. However, you will need to watch your ammunition supply more closely than in earlier models of the Corsair, as the F2G only carries 1,800 rounds, compared to the 2,400 of the F4U-4, or even the 2,350 of the -1A and -1D. It's generally best to open fire within 500 m of the target or less (less if firing from 6 o'clock), although in head-on engagements, it is wiser to open fire from 1.5 km - 1 km, then use a combination of roll and slight pitch to evade incoming fire.

On the other end, a fully uptiered F2G will be faced with F-84Bs, Sea Hawks, and even the J29A. Against jets, any attempts to outperform them in straight lines, be they flat runs or shallow climbs/dives, will result in failure. Instead, you should take advantage of the F2G's superior low speed acceleration and handling. Be quick and decisive in punishing jet players who attempt to turn with you, as a manoeuvring Super Corsair tends to quickly grab attention from other enemies. However, express caution when attempting to engage Vampires/J28s and J21Rs. Both of these fighters have comparable manoeuvrability to you, while still boasting solid top speed and horizontal energy retention. However, their acceleration is still very lacking, so it is still possible to successfully counter them in a manoeuvring fight, just much more dangerous. Try to fight under 4km (2.5 miles), as your engine's high altitude performance is nothing to write home about.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}
It is recommended to set 85% prop pitch at the start of the match to counteract overheating. You can also set your oil radiator to 100%, as this barely induces drag.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great initial climb rate and acceleration for a propeller plane
* Six .50 cal machine guns can easily deal with any aircraft in its sights
* Very strong landing gear can survive speeds of over 700 km/h and be used as an airbrake
* Impressive roll rate at all speeds
* Good low altitude top speed for a propeller plane
* Can use WEP without overheating for much longer than either of the F8F variants
* Access to the destructive Tiny Tim rockets for ground attack
* High-rank premium vehicle that can help research other vehicles and gain Silver Lions
* Can out-turn a majority of early jets it faces, with some exceptions such as the Meteor, Yak-15, and SK60B

'''Cons:'''

* Weak engine performance above 5 km altitude
* Often uptiered to face aircraft such as MiG-9s, Su-11, J28B, A21RB, SK60B
* Like other Corsairs, the F2G-1s flaps rip at low speeds
* Flaps cannot be extended above around 360km/h IAS
* Reduced ammunition load compared to the earlier Corsairs
* Rudder can become erratic and unresponsive at low airspeeds
* Compresses at higher speeds, which are necessary to catch most opponents
* Odd stall behaviour
* Tends to tip over during landing if the speed is too high

== History ==


{{Notice
|The F2G Corsair is often referred to as "Super Corsair", though that was never an official designation.
}}

=== Genesis ===
Pratt & Whitney fitted an F4U-1 Corsair (Bu.No. 02460) - donated to them by the Navy - with their R-4360-4 Wasp Major engine in March 1943. The P&W R-4360-4 Wasp Major engine put out approximately 50% more power than the original P&W R-2800-1 Double Wasp used in other Corsairs; the 28-cylinder R-4360-4 was able to produce 3,000 horsepower. The F4U-1 fitted with the R-4360-4 was designated as F4U-1WM, and it was proven as a success after testing. As such, development of a production Corsair fitted with the R-4360 was given to Goodyear on 22 March 1944, when the Navy ordered 418 F2G-1 Corsairs and 10 F2G-2 Corsairs (a navalized variant with carrier capability).

=== Development ===
[[File:XF2G-1 Bu.No. 14692 NH 87959.jpeg|thumb|XF2G-1 Bu.No. 14692 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 21 July 1945.]]
Seven prototypes were built and designated as XF2G-1, being modified production FG-1 Corsairs (a Goodyear-produced, fixed wing "de-navalized" version of the Corsair). The first XF2G-1 (Bu.No. 13471) was fitted with the R-4360 engine but retained many characteristics of the standard Corsair, including the canopy and cockpit, though the engine cowling was extended and an air scoop was added on top of the fuselage right behind the engine cowling. It began ground testing on 31 May 1944, and first flew on 26 August of the same year. The second XF2G-1 (Bu.No. 13472) was used to test new aspects including oil coolers and propellers, which would be used on later XF2G-1s.

The remaining five prototypes (Bu.Nos. 14691 through 14695) were modified much more extensively. They featured a new bubble canopy and a reduced spine, in order to provide better visibility to the pilot. Additionally, the cockpit was redesigned; it received a floor and new controls quite similar to those used on the Vought F4U-4 version of the Corsair. The XF2G-1 retained the six .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns of the FG-1 as well as the same ordnance carrying capability, but they were modified to allow the carrying of external, jettisonable fuel tanks for extended range.

Bu.No. 14691 used the engine taken from the first prototype, Bu.No. 13471, and it first flew on 15 October 1944. Bu.No. 14692 added wing-mounted fuel tanks and improved vertical control surfaces. Bu.No. 14693 was fitted with the R-4630-4W version of the R-4630 engine, which introduced water-ethanol injection for increased power, but the -4W version of the engine was not fitted to any other version of the F2G. The final XF2G-1, Bu.No. 14695, had its first flight on 4 December 1944. Both 14692 and 14695 were lost in separate accidents on December 12th 1945: 14692 lost hydraulics inflight which led to its undercarriage extending to a position in which a safe landing could not be made, so its pilot bailed out; while 14695 suffered a similar hydraulics failure but in its case the pilot was able to make a safe belly landing. However, on recovering the stricken aircraft, the crane used to salvage it failed and collapsed on top of the aircraft, effectively destroying it.

On 27 November 1944, the XF2G-1 was given to the U.S. Navy for testing. Some issues arose during testing, particularly that the engine torque of the engine would cause the aircraft to turn hard to the left in a carrier wave off (when increasing the throttle in the case that the landing had to be aborted). In the case of a wave off and the throttle being applied, the rudder was not able to prevent the nose swinging to the left. To prevent this effect, the rudder was heightened by twelve inches and an auxiliary rudder was installed beneath it which would automatically turn 12.5 degrees to the right when the landing gear was extended, in order to counteract the torque of the engine.

=== Production ===
The first production F2G-1 (Bu.No. 88454) was delivered to the Navy on 15 July 1945, but the contract for production had been cut down to only five F2G-1 and five F2G-2 two months earlier in May. Production therefore ended in August 1945 after only 5 F2G-1 (Bu.Nos. 88454 through 88458) and and 5 F2G-2 (Bu.Nos. 88459 through 88463) had been produced, for a total of eighteen F2G aircraft built of all variants, including the F4U-1WM. The Navy continued testing of the F2G series after production cancellation but dropped the F2G completely soon after.

Production of the F2G had been cancelled due in part to disappointing test results. The F2G-1 had an impressive climb rate of 4,400 feet per minute, but its top speed of 430 mph (692 km/h) was rather disappointing, and it also had some stability issues. Overall, its performance wasn't a large enough improvement over other aircraft in production, particularly the F4U-4 and F8F-1 Bearcat, which is why the production orders for the F2G were cancelled.

[[File:F2G-1 Bu.No. 88458 Race 57.jpg|thumb|F2G-1 Bu.No. 88458 "Race 57", 2005 AirVenture at Oshkosh, Wisconsin]]

=== Post-War Use - Racing ===
The F2G was much more successful post-war, many of the aircraft having served well as air racing aircraft, the most famous of which being the fifth production F2G-1 (Bu.No. 88458) known as "Race 57", famous for its bright red color scheme. Bu.No. 88463, the last F2G-2 produced, was also a racing aircraft known as "Race 74" and painted dark blue. Race 74 was destroyed in a crash in 2012 that also killed the pilot, Bob Odegaard. Only two F2G aircraft survive as of January 2021, which are the aforementioned Bu.No. 88458 "Race 57" and Bu.No. 88454, both F2G-1s.

=== List of F2G Aircraft ===
'''F4U-1WM'''

* Bu.No. 02460

'''XF2G-1'''

*[[File:NH 87958.jpeg|thumb|XF2G-1 Bu.No. 14692 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 21 July 1945.]]
*Bu.No. 13471- engine test airframe and first flying prototype. Engine donated to 14691 after completion of trials.
* Bu.No. 13472 - scrapped April 30th 1946
* Bu.No. 14691 - scrapped June 30th 1947
* Bu.No. 14692 - destroyed in crash December 12th 1946, pilot bailed out with landing gear stuck in configuration unsafe for landing.
* Bu.No. 14693 - Sold to Cook Cleland in 1947 as NX5590N. "Race 94" at 1947, 1948 and 1949 National Air Races. Flown by Dick Becker at 1947 Thompson Trophy, 2nd place. Flown by Cook Cleland at 1948 Thompson Trophy, retired due to engine failure. Flown by Cook Cleland at 1949 Thompson Trophy, 1st place. Restored by Bob Odegaard in 2007 - destroyed in fatal accident in 2012.
* Bu.No. 14694 - Sold to Ron Puckett in 1947 as NX91092. "Race 18" in 1947 & 1949 National Air Races. Retired at 1947 Thompson Trophy due to engine failure. 2nd place at 1949 Thompson Trophy. Aircraft scrapped some time after 1949 National Air Races.
* Bu.No. 14695 - damaged in crash December 12th 1946, destroyed in subsequent recovery accident

'''F2G-1'''

* Bu.No. 88454 - N/A - Display, Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington
* Bu.No. 88455 - scrapped August 31st 1946
* Bu.No. 88456 - scrapped May 31st 1947
* Bu.No. 88457 - Sold to Cook Cleland in 1947 as NX5588N. "Race 84" at 1947 National Air Races. Destroyed in fatal accident at 1947 Thompson Trophy while flown by Tony Janazzo.
* Bu.No. 88458 - scrapped in January of 1948, parts sold as spares to Cook Cleland. Rebuilt using the data plate of 88457, taking up the identity of N5588N. "Race 57" at 1949 National Air Races - flown by Ben McKillen at 1949 Thompson Trophy, 3rd place Restored by Bob Odegaard in 1999 - Airworthy, Louise M. Thaden Airfield, Bentonville, Arkansas (owned by Steuart Walton)

'''F2G-2'''

* Bu.No. 88459 - scrapped January 1948
* Bu.No. 88460 - scrapped May 31st 1948
* Bu.No. 88461 - scrapped January 1948
* Bu.No. 88462 - scrapped May 31st 1947
* Bu.No. 88463 - Sold to Cook Cleland in 1947 as NX5577. "Race 74" at the 1947, 1948 and 1949 National Air Races. Flown by Cook Cleland at 1947 Thompson Trophy, 1st place. Flown by Dick Becker at 1948 Thompson Trophy, retired due to engine failure. Flown by Dick Becker at 1949 Thompson Trophy, withdrawn due to engine failure. Aircraft scraped some time after 1949 National Air Races.
* Bu.No. 88464 - aircraft not completed by Goodyear, probably scrapped while still incomplete on the production line.
* Bu.No. 88465 - aircraft not completed by Goodyear, probably scrapped while still incomplete on the production line.
* Bu.No. 88466 - bounced on landing and broke in two, NAS Alameda, February 6th 1949.
* Bu.No. 88467 - aircraft noted marked as C51. Aircraft fate unknown.
* Bu.No.88468 - aircraft not completed by Goodyear, probably scrapped while still incomplete on the production line.

'''Note:''' There was an aircraft named Super Corsair and later "Race #1" , which despite the name was not an F2G. It was an F4U-1D fitted with the R-4360 engine, clipped wings, and a modified cockpit.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=f2g-1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:F2G-1 Super Corsair Devblog Image 001.jpg|F2G-1 devblog image
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|3uvrDYtS8n0|'''3000 Horsepower At 6.7! Pure POWER!: F2G-1''' - ''Spit_flyer''|yUWsBOqzBJk|'''F2G-1 Supercorsair - Unfinished Business''' - ''Napalmratte''|PAUjLLiKLC4|'''Good Potential, but...- F2G-1 Gameplay''' - ''DEFYN''}}

== 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 ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/504128-f2g-1/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [https://www.air-and-space.com/Goodyear%20F2G.htm Air and Space - Corsairs with Four-Bank Radials]

=== References ===
<references />

;Bibliography

* Air Racers - The Planes - In Focus - F2G Super Corsairs - Part 3: Corncob Corsair Racing Roots. (n.d.). Retrieved January 09, 2021, from http://www.pylon1.org/articles/publish/article_24.shtml
* F2G Super Corsairs - Part 2: "Kamikaze Killer". (n.d.). Retrieved January 09, 2021, from http://www.pylon1.org/articles/publish/printer_23.shtml
* Goodyear F2G super Corsair. (n.d.). Retrieved January 09, 2021, from https://www.jdsf4u.be/goodyear-f2-g-super-corsair
* Goodyear XF2G-1 Corsair. (n.d.). Retrieved January 09, 2021, from https://www.jdsf4u.be/kopie-van-goodyear-f2-g-super-corsa
* http://www.airrace.com/1947%20NAR%20.html
* http://www.airrace.com/1948%20NAR.htm
* http://www.airrace.com/1949%20NAR%20.htm

{{AirManufacturer Goodyear}}
{{USA fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

P-51C-10

2021-04-20T13:04:04Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-10-nt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332nd Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "Razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 675 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of 300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 Mustang}}

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was successfully tested on a P-51 Mustang in late 1942, resulting in production of P-51B Mustangs fitted with the Packard V-1650, a license-produced Merlin. North American Aviation’s (NAA) plant in Inglewood California was maxing out production of the P-51B so a new plant was opened up in Dallas, Texas, in order to increase production. The Mustangs produced in the Dallas plant were designated as the P-51C even though they were identical in all other regards to the P-51B. It was decided during the P-51B and C production run that the aircraft would no longer leave the factory with an olive drab paint, but would instead leave in the unpainted metal finish.

Deliveries of the P-51C to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began in August 1943, much later than those of the P-51B due to the Dallas plant having been in the process of construction when the P-51B entered production at Inglewood. A total of 1,750 P-51C Mustangs were built by NAA during the war.

P-51B and C Mustangs began arriving in Europe in August and October of 1943, equipping fifteen fighter groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England as well as the 12th and 15th Air Forces in Italy. P-51C Mustangs, along with their P-51B brethren, were used by the USAAF 8th Air Force to escort B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on daylight raids across the English Channel; the long range of the P-51B/C Mustang made it ideal for that type of mission. The 9th Air Force used them in the fighter-bomber role. In addition to European operations, P-51C Mustangs were used in the China Burma India Theater (CBI). Even by the end of the war many of the P-51s still in service with the USAAF were of the P-51B and C models, not having been fully replaced by the P-51D and K models but instead only supplemented.

In addition to serving with the USAAF, 636 P-51B and C Mustangs were also used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war, where they were designated as the Mustang Mk III. P-51C Mustangs were also used by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) during the Second World War.

=== P-51C Variants ===
'''Combat Variants: 1,750 built'''

* '''P-51C-1-NT''' - Original production model with V-1650-3 engine; 350 built.
* '''P-51C-3-NT''' - Added an 85 gallon fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat; unknown number converted from P-51C-1-NT.
* '''P-51C-5-NT''' - Used the more powerful V-1650-7 engine; 450 built.
* '''P-51C-10-NT''' - 823 built.
* '''P-51C-11-NT''' - 127 built.

'''Non Combat Variants'''

* '''F-6C-NT''' - Reconnaissance conversion with added cameras, armament retained; 20 converted from P-51C-10-NT.
* '''TP-51C''' - Two-seat trainer conversion; 5 converted during WW2, 1 converted in 2000’s.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

'''Other variants in-game'''

* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

He 111 H-6

2021-04-06T23:45:39Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = German bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = He 111 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=he-111h-6
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

A medium bomber which is surprisingly versatile as it can carry over 30 small bombs or up to 2 x 1,000 kg and a 250 kg, which are capable of destroying a base. It can also carry a Fritz X guided bomb. This plane rips easily and should not be used to dive bomb as previous German bombers have. Its gunners are underpowered and should not be trusted to defend against fighters. It is best to avoid contact with fighters, as while fast firing, the guns are very inaccurate.

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

Being a bomber, it has a poor turn time. It has 2 good engines making it possible to reach your target. The aircraft doesn't like dives or speeds greater than 500 km/h. In conclusion: don't turn, dive, climb too much, just go in a straight line.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,700 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
| 411 || 397 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 33.0 || 33.7 || 2.0 || 2.0 || rowspan="2" | 510
|-
! Upgraded
| 454 || 430 || 31.1 || 32.0 || 8.0 || 4.6
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 402 || 379 || 260 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 310 || < 300 || < 270 || > 331
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,600 m || 2,120 hp || 2,497 hp
|-
|}

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


* 5 mm Steel plate under nose gunner
* 10 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 8 mm Steel plate in front of the dorsal gunner
* 6 mm Steel plate under ventral gunner
* 8-8.5 mm Steel plates around beam gunner

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

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

{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)|SC1000L2 (1,000 kg)|PC 1400 X (1,400 kg)|F5W}}

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

* 32 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (1,600 kg total)
* 8 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bombs + 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (2,250 kg total)
* 2 x F5W torpedoes
* 1 x 1,400 kg PC 1400 X bomb (1,400 kg total)

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

{{main|MG 15 (7.92 mm)|MG 17 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, forward ventral turret (375 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, rearward ventral turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, tail turret (1,000 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


The second of the He 111 series in the German aviation tree, the He 111 H-6 compares to its predecessor, the [[He 111 H-3]], with new Jumo 211F engines which gives a substantial improvement in horsepower. Another improvement is in defensive armament in ammo load and positions. The overall aircraft now holds a total 6,375 rounds of available rounds for all seven machine guns, with the majority of the machine guns holding more rounds per load. Defensive gun arcs are improved with the addition of a tail turret to ward off trailing enemies.

* In simulator battles, the He 111 H-6 is a great plane to learn bombers from. It has a relatively flexible and heavy bomb load for a medium bomber, the cockpit is clear with glass, and it is a very easy and forgiving plane to handle. Its downside is the insufficient cooling of oil temperature. Although its pair of propellers do not contrarotate like the P-38, they still generate very little sideways torque when taking off which makes takeoff really easy to learn. While you accelerate on the runway, dip your nose down to be parallel with the ground once the airspeed goes over ~170 km/h, and extend combat and takeoff flaps only until you are over 200 km/h. This way you can gain more speed before lifting off.
* Bombing tactic is the same as in RB. Check the mini-map for the location of the bases. It is generally not a must to climb, which is unlike RB, but when you are bombing airfields you must be higher than ~2500 m to avoid the AAA fire. The He 111 H-6 is still very responsive with wounds, missing flaps or damaged engine.
* Landing is also beginner-friendly. Although the He 111 is quite heavy, it handles way better than other bombers such as the Do 217 especially at lower speeds. The rudder is effective at correcting course and aligning with the airstrip properly. As the runway fills up to one third of the windsceen, cut throttle to drop speed to ~240 km/h, and deploy combat/takeoff flaps. Push the stick a little back to counter the lifting of the nose. Right before touchdown the airspeed should be around 190 km/h, with landing flaps extended and landing gears down. If the landing flaps create too much lift that makes you glide over too much of the airstrip, use takeoff flaps instead, and switch to landing flaps once you touched down. You can then brake until the plane reaches a full stop and not worry about a propeller strike, given that you fully deflect elevators upward.

Using the 1,400 kg Fritz X bomb could allow for the delivery of a single heavy payload onto a target with precision, with the cost of only allowing the He 111 H-6 to carry only one bomb for this purpose.

One thing that will be noticed upon equipping the Fritz X is the change in the bombing sights. Instead of a simple cross-hair for the bombing, two additional markings will be present in both cross-hairs of third-person view and the bombsight. Through the third-person view, the typically dotted cross-hair have a smaller vertical-dashed circle inside the cross-hair. Through the bomb-sight, it has transformed into a simple white cross-hair interrupting lines on all axis. These two additions indicate the borders that the Fritz X bomb can be guided into, indicating that the target only needs to be inside these inner boundaries to be able to attack the target.

Delivering the Fritz X is just like any other bomb release, fly over the target, align the cross-hair, and then drop the payload. However, unlike regular bombing, the player does not need to strictly have the target kept in the centre of the cross-hair to have the chance of hitting the target. Once the target is led to be inside the inner boundaries of the cross-hair increments, the bomb can be released and further guided into the target.

To guide the Fritz X after release, the default keys to control the guidance are [ALT] + W,S,A,D. To indicate this function is working, a white text on the bottom left of the corner should pop up reading "Vertical/Horizontal Guidance" following the percentage that the sight is deviating from the centre. With these controls, keep the cross-hair right onto the target as the bomb drops, which will eventually fall right into the target which is marked.

Contrary to some beliefs, the release of the Fritz X does not leave the plane completely vulnerable as the player has to focus on guiding the bomb. One could leave the bombsight, manoeuvre the plane however they like, then return to the bombsight that is still locked onto the original release location and continue guiding the bomb onto the target. Guidance can even be done while in third-person view, pilot view, and even gunner view, with varying degrees of success in being able to track the bomb towards the target. As such, there is a level of freedom the player still has when flying the He 111 H-6 after dropping the Fritz X to before its detonation onto the target, use these moments to quickly create some breather room for fine adjustments of the bomb on its way down.

====Counter-tactics====

The He 111 H-6 is a particularly large plane with weak defensive armaments consisting of only 7.92 mm machine guns. However, the machine guns cover decent arcs on the front and rear, plus have huge ammo reserves to be able to walk tracers into fighters that are not flying evasively. The best way to take one of these bombers down is to aim for the large elliptical wings that make up most of the surface area. Breaking one of these wings off with cannon fire will do quick work. Another way is to target the engines as the He 111 only has two and the loss of one will ensure it can't get very far for a fighter to line up an attack to finish it off.

* In simulator, fighter pilots may often find themselves flying lower than bombers like the He 111 H-6. This is a good news, as the He 111 has weak defensive guns facing downwards. An interceptor can fly lower than and overall parallel to a He 111, with a distance of around 600 m, and as soon as you are about to overtake the Heinkel, turn sharply towards it and shoot at its underbelly from the side. Another tactic to utilise is to perform head-on attacks. This especially useful agains AI controled Heinkels as they barely manoeuvre when being hit. New simulator pilots should never tail directly behind a He 111 H-6, as there will be a miximum of 3x 7.92 mm MG facing towards you, their fast rate of fire can cripple a single engine fighter in seconds.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Has the most versatile payload of all He 111 models, with a nice total payload of 2,250 kg with 2 x SC1000L2s and 1 x SC250JA bombs
* Quite easy to fly
* Very good turn rate for a bomber
* Resilient to small calibre machine gun fire
* Decent defensive armament, and with trained gunners can prevent enemy fighters from ripping it apart
* Can equip the "Fritz X" manually guided bomb
* Team effort with a group of He 111 H-6s can destroy a lot of moving naval targets such as destroyers and carriers

'''Cons:'''

* Defensive armament is practically useless against tougher foes
* Tail control is easily damaged
* Incredibly low climb rate when stock (RB)
* Cockpit is a weak spot
* Enemy 20 mm cannon rounds will rip it to shreds
* Some payload options will be mounted externally, which slows the bomber down
* Torpedo plane camouflage requires you to destroy 200 enemy ships
* Easy target for SPAA players when flying low

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
The Heinkel He 111 was a German monoplane medium bomber (also torpedo bomber and attack bomber). The Hе 111 H-6 quickly became one of the most widely used variants of the Heinkel bomber. It saw action on all European fronts. Popular with aircrews, easy to fly and with excellent manoeuvrability, the bomber was widely used in a large number of roles.

In early 1942, the Luftwaffe planned to replace the He 111 with the new He 177 A heavy bomber and the Ju 288 medium bomber, but a large number of problems with the new designs meant that the He 111 remained in production despite becoming increasingly obsolete. The aircraft was easy to mass-produce, required comparatively little expense and was easy to maintain. It remained quite adequate on the Eastern Front, where anti-bomber opposition was relatively weak, even though the Heinkel's short range did not allow it to reach strategic targets deep in the Soviet rear.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=germany&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=bomber&vehicle=he-111h-6 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:He 111 H-6 Dropping SC250 Bombs.png|He 111 H-6 dropping bombs
File:He 111 H-6 In Flight.png|He 111 H-6 in level flight
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Related development
* [[He 111 (Family)]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Tupolev [[SB 2M (Family)|SB]]
* Martin [[Martin 167-A3|167]] Maryland
* Mitsubishi [[Ki-21-Ia|Ki-21]]
* Martin [[B-10B|B-10]]
* Martin [[Martin 139WC|139WC]]
* Fiat [[BR.20 DR|BR.20]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Heinkel_He_111|[Wikipedia] Heinkel He 111]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/504135-heinkel-he-111h-6/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Heinkel}}
{{Germany bombers}}

He 111 H-6

2021-04-06T23:44:37Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = German bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = He 111 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=he-111h-6
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

A medium bomber which is surprisingly versatile as it can carry over 30 small bombs or up to 2 x 1,000 kg and a 250 kg, which are capable of destroying a base. It can also carry a Fritz X guided bomb. This plane rips easily and should not be used to dive bomb as previous German bombers have. Its gunners are underpowered and should not be trusted to defend against fighters. It is best to avoid contact with fighters, while fast firing, the guns are very inaccurate.

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

Being a bomber, it has a poor turn time. It has 2 good engines making it possible to reach your target. The aircraft doesn't like dives or speeds greater than 500 km/h. In conclusion: don't turn, dive, climb too much, just go in a straight line.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,700 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
| 411 || 397 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 33.0 || 33.7 || 2.0 || 2.0 || rowspan="2" | 510
|-
! Upgraded
| 454 || 430 || 31.1 || 32.0 || 8.0 || 4.6
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 402 || 379 || 260 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 310 || < 300 || < 270 || > 331
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,600 m || 2,120 hp || 2,497 hp
|-
|}

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


* 5 mm Steel plate under nose gunner
* 10 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 8 mm Steel plate in front of the dorsal gunner
* 6 mm Steel plate under ventral gunner
* 8-8.5 mm Steel plates around beam gunner

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

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

{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)|SC1000L2 (1,000 kg)|PC 1400 X (1,400 kg)|F5W}}

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

* 32 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (1,600 kg total)
* 8 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bombs (2,000 kg total)
* 2 x 1,000 kg SC1000L2 bombs + 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (2,250 kg total)
* 2 x F5W torpedoes
* 1 x 1,400 kg PC 1400 X bomb (1,400 kg total)

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

{{main|MG 15 (7.92 mm)|MG 17 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, forward ventral turret (375 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, rearward ventral turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, tail turret (1,000 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


The second of the He 111 series in the German aviation tree, the He 111 H-6 compares to its predecessor, the [[He 111 H-3]], with new Jumo 211F engines which gives a substantial improvement in horsepower. Another improvement is in defensive armament in ammo load and positions. The overall aircraft now holds a total 6,375 rounds of available rounds for all seven machine guns, with the majority of the machine guns holding more rounds per load. Defensive gun arcs are improved with the addition of a tail turret to ward off trailing enemies.

* In simulator battles, the He 111 H-6 is a great plane to learn bombers from. It has a relatively flexible and heavy bomb load for a medium bomber, the cockpit is clear with glass, and it is a very easy and forgiving plane to handle. Its downside is the insufficient cooling of oil temperature. Although its pair of propellers do not contrarotate like the P-38, they still generate very little sideways torque when taking off which makes takeoff really easy to learn. While you accelerate on the runway, dip your nose down to be parallel with the ground once the airspeed goes over ~170 km/h, and extend combat and takeoff flaps only until you are over 200 km/h. This way you can gain more speed before lifting off.
* Bombing tactic is the same as in RB. Check the mini-map for the location of the bases. It is generally not a must to climb, which is unlike RB, but when you are bombing airfields you must be higher than ~2500 m to avoid the AAA fire. The He 111 H-6 is still very responsive with wounds, missing flaps or damaged engine.
* Landing is also beginner-friendly. Although the He 111 is quite heavy, it handles way better than other bombers such as the Do 217 especially at lower speeds. The rudder is effective at correcting course and aligning with the airstrip properly. As the runway fills up to one third of the windsceen, cut throttle to drop speed to ~240 km/h, and deploy combat/takeoff flaps. Push the stick a little back to counter the lifting of the nose. Right before touchdown the airspeed should be around 190 km/h, with landing flaps extended and landing gears down. If the landing flaps create too much lift that makes you glide over too much of the airstrip, use takeoff flaps instead, and switch to landing flaps once you touched down. You can then brake until the plane reaches a full stop and not worry about a propeller strike, given that you fully deflect elevators upward.

Using the 1,400 kg Fritz X bomb could allow for the delivery of a single heavy payload onto a target with precision, with the cost of only allowing the He 111 H-6 to carry only one bomb for this purpose.

One thing that will be noticed upon equipping the Fritz X is the change in the bombing sights. Instead of a simple cross-hair for the bombing, two additional markings will be present in both cross-hairs of third-person view and the bombsight. Through the third-person view, the typically dotted cross-hair have a smaller vertical-dashed circle inside the cross-hair. Through the bomb-sight, it has transformed into a simple white cross-hair interrupting lines on all axis. These two additions indicate the borders that the Fritz X bomb can be guided into, indicating that the target only needs to be inside these inner boundaries to be able to attack the target.

Delivering the Fritz X is just like any other bomb release, fly over the target, align the cross-hair, and then drop the payload. However, unlike regular bombing, the player does not need to strictly have the target kept in the centre of the cross-hair to have the chance of hitting the target. Once the target is led to be inside the inner boundaries of the cross-hair increments, the bomb can be released and further guided into the target.

To guide the Fritz X after release, the default keys to control the guidance are [ALT] + W,S,A,D. To indicate this function is working, a white text on the bottom left of the corner should pop up reading "Vertical/Horizontal Guidance" following the percentage that the sight is deviating from the centre. With these controls, keep the cross-hair right onto the target as the bomb drops, which will eventually fall right into the target which is marked.

Contrary to some beliefs, the release of the Fritz X does not leave the plane completely vulnerable as the player has to focus on guiding the bomb. One could leave the bombsight, manoeuvre the plane however they like, then return to the bombsight that is still locked onto the original release location and continue guiding the bomb onto the target. Guidance can even be done while in third-person view, pilot view, and even gunner view, with varying degrees of success in being able to track the bomb towards the target. As such, there is a level of freedom the player still has when flying the He 111 H-6 after dropping the Fritz X to before its detonation onto the target, use these moments to quickly create some breather room for fine adjustments of the bomb on its way down.

====Counter-tactics====

The He 111 H-6 is a particularly large plane with weak defensive armaments consisting of only 7.92 mm machine guns. However, the machine guns cover decent arcs on the front and rear, plus have huge ammo reserves to be able to walk tracers into fighters that are not flying evasively. The best way to take one of these bombers down is to aim for the large elliptical wings that make up most of the surface area. Breaking one of these wings off with cannon fire will do quick work. Another way is to target the engines as the He 111 only has two and the loss of one will ensure it can't get very far for a fighter to line up an attack to finish it off.

* In simulator, fighter pilots may often find themselves flying lower than bombers like the He 111 H-6. This is a good news, as the He 111 has weak defensive guns facing downwards. An interceptor can fly lower than and overall parallel to a He 111, with a distance of around 600 m, and as soon as you are about to overtake the Heinkel, turn sharply towards it and shoot at its underbelly from the side. Another tactic to utilise is to perform head-on attacks. This especially useful agains AI controled Heinkels as they barely manoeuvre when being hit. New simulator pilots should never tail directly behind a He 111 H-6, as there will be a miximum of 3x 7.92 mm MG facing towards you, their fast rate of fire can cripple a single engine fighter in seconds.

=== 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 Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Has the most versatile payload of all He 111 models, with a nice total payload of 2,250 kg with 2 x SC1000L2s and 1 x SC250JA bombs
* Quite easy to fly
* Very good turn rate for a bomber
* Resilient to small calibre machine gun fire
* Decent defensive armament, and with trained gunners can prevent enemy fighters from ripping it apart
* Can equip the "Fritz X" manually guided bomb
* Team effort with a group of He 111 H-6s can destroy a lot of moving naval targets such as destroyers and carriers

'''Cons:'''

* Defensive armament is practically useless against tougher foes
* Tail control is easily damaged
* Incredibly low climb rate when stock (RB)
* Cockpit is a weak spot
* Enemy 20 mm cannon rounds will rip it to shreds
* Some payload options will be mounted externally, which slows the bomber down
* Torpedo plane camouflage requires you to destroy 200 enemy ships
* Easy target for SPAA players when flying low

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
The Heinkel He 111 was a German monoplane medium bomber (also torpedo bomber and attack bomber). The Hе 111 H-6 quickly became one of the most widely used variants of the Heinkel bomber. It saw action on all European fronts. Popular with aircrews, easy to fly and with excellent manoeuvrability, the bomber was widely used in a large number of roles.

In early 1942, the Luftwaffe planned to replace the He 111 with the new He 177 A heavy bomber and the Ju 288 medium bomber, but a large number of problems with the new designs meant that the He 111 remained in production despite becoming increasingly obsolete. The aircraft was easy to mass-produce, required comparatively little expense and was easy to maintain. It remained quite adequate on the Eastern Front, where anti-bomber opposition was relatively weak, even though the Heinkel's short range did not allow it to reach strategic targets deep in the Soviet rear.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=germany&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=bomber&vehicle=he-111h-6 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:He 111 H-6 Dropping SC250 Bombs.png|He 111 H-6 dropping bombs
File:He 111 H-6 In Flight.png|He 111 H-6 in level flight
</gallery>

== See also ==


;Related development
* [[He 111 (Family)]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Tupolev [[SB 2M (Family)|SB]]
* Martin [[Martin 167-A3|167]] Maryland
* Mitsubishi [[Ki-21-Ia|Ki-21]]
* Martin [[B-10B|B-10]]
* Martin [[Martin 139WC|139WC]]
* Fiat [[BR.20 DR|BR.20]]

== External links ==


* [[wikipedia:Heinkel_He_111|[Wikipedia] Heinkel He 111]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/504135-heinkel-he-111h-6/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Heinkel}}
{{Germany bombers}}

Yak-2 KABB

2021-03-14T07:53:19Z

U27109353: /* History */

{{Specs-Card
|code=yak_2_kabb
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Russian attacker {{Battle-rating}}. This aircraft was introduced in [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]].

The Soviet Yak-2 was initially built to be a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. Originally known as Ya-22, the aircraft was redesignated to Yak-2 later in 1941. Like many aircraft making the transition into the Great War (or World War II) it was constructed of wood, duralumin, steel framing and fabric skin. Early prototypes exhibited issues with the engine cooling system, brakes and the fuel system which resulted in the crash of one of the prototypes. Pressed into service, the Yak-2 saw early action as Germany made their rush into the Soviet Union.

Conversion options of the Yak-2 resulted in an unusual setup, but a functioning multi-use aircraft. The {{PAGENAME}} (Russian: ''kombineerovannaya artillereeysko-bombardirovochnaya batareya Mozharovskovo i Venevidova''; English: ''combined gun/bomb battery designed by Mozharovskiy and Venevidov'') eliminated the need of the radio/gunner and replaced that compartment with the capability to carry four 100 kg bombs. To aid the pilot in bombing targets, the nose of the aircraft was reconfigured to be an all glazed nose, allowing the pilot fantastic visibility out the front of the aircraft. A ventral pack was mounted directly below the cockpit containing two 20 mm autocannons and two 7.62 mm machine guns which do not require the pilot to adjust for convergence when shooting as they are directly in-line with the fuselage.

The {{PAGENAME}} finds itself in an excellent position as a rank I aircraft as either a fighter/bomber interceptor or as a ground attacker. Early in matches if the {{PAGENAME}} can attain a superior altitude over other fighters and bombers, then it can utilise the Boom & Zoom technique to attack fighters and bombers below it or to engage or outrun enemy fighters which manage to get up to the same altitude. As a low-level attacker, this aircraft does a great job of getting to targets where it can strategically bomb vehicles and anti-aircraft guns and when the bombs run out, the 20 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns can be turned on them to also inflict damage and destruction.

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


The {{PAGENAME}} has great manoeuvrability, especially when it comes to low altitude flying, though, it also performs well at mid-altitudes too. It can be used as a great low-altitude ground-attack heavy fighter which can focus its four bombs and cannon/machine gun combination on light vehicles and anti-aircraft instalments. The turn rate is very good, which allows the {{PAGENAME}} to compete easily with some fighters can outperform other heavy fighters such as those from the Potez 630 family.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,800 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 492 || 480 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.3 || 20.6 || 9.2 || 9.2 || rowspan="2" | 450
|-
! Upgraded
| 548 || 520 || 17.9 || 19.8 || 21.0 || 12.8
|-
|}
[[File:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 003.png|450px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' taking out a [[Pyörremyrsky]].]]
====Details====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || ✓ || X || X 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 280 || ~19 || ~11
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 360 || < 360 || < 400 || > 340
|-
|}

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


* 8 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)

For an attacker aircraft, the {{PAGENAME}} is in a unique situation that it is not outfitted with various armour plates and bulletproof glass as one might expect, however, this aircraft has only one armour plate and that is the 8 mm steel plate located behind the pilot's seat. This steel plate helps protect the pilot from largely machine gun fire from the rear quadrant, but that is about it. Since this version of the Yak-2 was modified from the original version and very few were built, what would typically be later additions never made it to the aircraft. As such, the plexiglass cockpit windows all around the pilot including the entire front face are just standard plexiglass and this makes it very dangerous when manoeuvring into a head-on attack. Such attacks should be avoided as not only is the pilot vulnerable to being knocked out, but both engines are unprotected and could take damage and typically any damage taken from a head-on attack results in critical damage or total failure of the hit component (though the aircraft can fly on one engine, it cannot continue if the pilot is knocked out).

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

== Armaments ==
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
=== Offensive armament ===
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
[[File:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 004.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' gaining altitude after a ground attack.]]

{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, chin-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, chin-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is unique compared to many other fighters and attackers found in War Thunder in that its machine guns and autocannons are mounted in a ventral turret just below the cockpit. All guns are forward-facing which allow for the pilot to fire at any distance without having to worry about calculating for convergence, just for the bullet drop of the ammunition. If all four guns are fired at the same time, the ShVAK cannons will run out of ammunition first, which can be a problem when attacking an enemy aircraft as they are the harder-hitting weapons. The machine guns by themselves can take down another fighter, however it either takes well-placed shots for a pilot snipe or critical damage to the coolers or engine, otherwise, the enemy aircraft will typically just soak up the machine gun rounds.

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

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

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

* Without load
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (400 kg total)

If the {{PAGENAME}} is to solely be used as a fighter/bomber interceptor, select the option "Without load" as the 400 kg of bombs will hinder the performance of the aircraft in its ability to manoeuvre effectively. When going for the ground-attack role, selecting the 4 x 100 kg bombs will allow the {{PAGENAME}} to attack lighter ground targets such as trucks, anti-aircraft artillery and light tanks. This load of bombs is less effective when it comes to bombing bases, instead, it should be relegated for one-off targets which are typically scattered around the map. If the bombs don't take out all of the targets, it is easy to turn the attacker around and eliminate the rest of the targets with the autocannons and machine guns.

== Usage in battles ==


In Ground RB, the Yak-2 can act as an excellent fighter, as it excels in low-altitude combat. You can also exploit the 4 x FAB-100s on board to hit light targets like TDs and SPAAs. The Yak-2 is highly manoeuvrable and fast at the low altitudes of dogfights in the game mode and the twin ShVAK cannons will shred enemy airframes, although take care on expelling too much ammunition as you can only carry 150 rounds per cannon. Do not attempt heavy dives as the controls easily lock up, and the cockpit has no forward-facing protection, so head-on attacks are very risky. Despite its size and use as an attacker, no defensive armament exists on the aircraft.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 003.jpg|450px|thumb|right|Cockpit view has superb visibility for pilots who fly in simulator battles.]]
'''Pros:'''

* Multi-role - fighter/ground attacker
* Very manoeuvrable at low altitudes, excellent for higher altitude Boom & Zoom
* Powerful armament it consists of 2 ShVAKs Cannons and 2 ShKAS machine guns ventral mounted (no need to adjust for convergence)
* Armament is more than adequate to destroy enemy aircraft
* Good speed it allows it to be used as both a fighter and bomber interceptor
* Can actually be used as a heavy fighter
* Decent rate of climb

'''Cons:'''

* Payload option is only 4 x 100 kg bomb, limited to only destroying light targets
* No defensive armaments
* Although the manoeuvrability is redeeming, important to keep up its speed
* The cockpit doesn't have armoured plexiglass, head-on attacks are very dangerous
* Engines are easily damaged/water-cooled
* Controls stiffen in high-speed dives
* Rudder controlled manoeuvres difficult due to the small surface area on the vertical stabilizers

== History ==

[[File:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 001.png|450px|thumb|right|]]

The Yak-2 KABB was a ground attack version of the Yak-2 light bomber (not available in game) designed by George Mozharovsky and Ivan Venevidov (MV), who were two renowned designers of aircraft armament. They specialized in developing and building many variants of reloading systems, targeting sights, weapon suspensions systems, bomb deployment mounts and the "MV" series of aircraft gun turrets. In late 1940, Mozharovsky and Venevidov invented a new type of gun mount for attack aircraft called the "комбинированной артиллерийско-бомбардировочной батареей" (Russian for "Combined artillery-bomb battery") or KABB for short which was mounted to the ventral side of the aircraft. The premise behind this gun mount was it utilized two 20-mm ShVAK cannons and two ShKAS machine guns and the cannons could be pivoted mechanically from horizontal to downside of a maximum of 30 degrees. The cannons pivoted electrically while they were connected to the K-8T gun sight which pivoted mechanically tracking with the cannons, automatically adjusting as the cannons moved. The cannons could be fixed at an intermediate position between the 0 and 30-degree range. This system allowed the pilot to maintain horizontal flight and set up for his bombing run while suppressing the target with cannon fire at the same time. Hence the name for "combined artillery-bomb battery."

Installation of the KABB-MV system into the Yak-2 required significant modifications to the main fuselage and cockpit. The nose of the aircraft was removed along with part of the side panels to allow for the installation of plexiglass, significantly improving the visual field of the pilot. Bomber controls were also relocated into the pilot's cockpit due to the navigator/bomber/gunner position being removed. Because of the installation of the fixed and movable frames of the KABB system and addition of ammunition cartridge boxes, the floor of the navigator's cabin was removed.

Tests of this new system in March to April 1941 produced favourable results, with recommendations to attach this new system to single and double-engined aircraft, but the German invasion in June 1941 halted all prototype work to focus on the enemy threat.

== Media ==


;Skins
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=ussr&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=assault&vehicle=yak_2_kabb Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
Image:Yak-2 KABB an trn 26 002.png|
Image:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 001.jpg|
Image:Yak-2 KABB jonigustavo 002.jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|PLv_jl9DbZI|'''Yak-2 KABB - New Favourite Plane''' - ''Gamer Khan''|ukF_iSI9oqI|'''Update 1.75 - Yak-2 KAAB''' - ''TheEuropeanCanadian''|ILCez16Gi0E|'''Realistic: Yak-2 KABB (Soviet Beauty)''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Yakovlev [[Yak-4]]

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Breguet [[Br.693AB2|693]]
* Messerschmitt [[Bf_110_C-7|Bf 110]]
* Kawasaki [[Ki-45_ko|Ki-45]]
* Potez [[Potez_630|630]] and [[Potez_631|631]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/392573-yak-2-kabb/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
* [http://massimotessitori.altervista.org/sovietwarplanes/pages/yak-2-4/kabb-mv.htm Yak-2 with KABB-MV]
* [http://авиару.рф/aviamuseum/aviatsiya/sssr/shturmoviki/shturmovik-yak-2-kabb/ Штурмовик Як-2 КАББ (Shturmovyk Yak-2 KABB)]
* [https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,10038.0/wap2.html Mozharovski MV Kombain (Shturmovik) aircraft]

{{AirManufacturer Yakovlev}}
{{USSR attackers}}

A-26B-10

2021-03-08T15:20:35Z

U27109353: /* History */

{{About
|about=American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other variants
|link=A-26 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=a-26b_10
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.71 "New E.R.A."]].

The A-26 ''Invader'' is an excellent ground attack aircraft, boasting 6 nose-mounted M2 Browning .50 cal machine guns, as well as a potential payload of up to 4,000 lbs worth of bombs (4 x 1,000 lbs). The Invader also sports two dual-M2 Browning machine gun turrets, remote controlled by a gunner located in the rear section of the aircraft, that flawlessly track aircraft transitioning in the vertical.

In addition, later upgrades of this particular A-26 model grant the user the ability to use a nose-mounted M4 37 mm cannon, at the expense of two of the .50 cals.

The Invader's strengths over many similar dual-engine aircraft is a surprising punch that it packs, especially when the 37 mm cannon is equipped, which can possibly turn the attacker into a fearsome, yet cumbersome blitzer due to its incredible speed.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 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
| 554 || 541 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 31.1 || 32.0 || 9.9 || 9.8 || rowspan="2" | 1,000
|-
! Upgraded
| 596 || 576 || 29.1 || 30.0 || 14.2 || 12.0
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 507 || 482 || 351 || ~7 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 370 || < 375 || < 460 || > 350
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,310 m || 2,000 hp || No WEP
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,572 m || 1,600 hp || No WEP
|-
|}

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


* 12.7 mm Steel - Nose plate
* 8 mm Steel - Under engine armour plate (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore/aft nacelle fuel protection plates x 2 (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Cockpit tub
* 9 mm Steel - Pilot/Co-pilot's seat backs
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner aft armour plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner lower armour plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Aircraft tail armour plate
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot

With this array of armour, the A-26B-10 is well-protected from any glancing rounds from machine guns.

As mentioned earlier, the A-26B-10 has the option to mount a 37 mm cannon in the nose. That in combination with its speed and additional four .50 cals in the nose will punish any opponent foolish enough to head on this aircraft. In addition, the rear of the aircraft is well defended by the two remote-controlled .50 cal turrets.

Thus, to fight an A-26, the best method of attack is to perform a Boom & Zoom run and aim for the engines. As fast as the A-26 is, it loses a fair deal of speed if one of the engines is out of action and, (if your aim is good enough), you may even snipe the gunner, leaving a massive blind spot from the rear of the Invader. If you find yourself in front of this plane, and there are no alternatives, aim for the cockpit only! This is as a result of the A-26 having both a pilot and a co-pilot, meaning if one is knocked out, the other can still take command of the plane. Nonetheless, the best possible angle to attack an Invader is from the sides, where the gunner cannot traverse the turrets.

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

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

{{main|M4 (37 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* A choice between three presets:
** 6 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 2,400 total)
** 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg) + 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
** 2 x 37 mm M4 cannons, nose-mounted (30 rpg = 60 total)

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
* 12 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 10 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (5,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)

=== 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, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==


Though the A-26B-10 Invader will suffer in combat versus more nimble single-engine fighters, it still has some tricks it can employ to eke out a victory in the skies. Due to all the offensive weaponry being mounted in the nose of the plane, it creates a rather dense cone of fire, similar to that of most heavy fighters. This enables the Invader to nearly guarantee either to destroy or critically damage any fighter greedy enough to head you on, even if they are armed with cannons. The A-26B-10 is a very resilient aircraft, similar to other dual-engine aircraft like the [[Beaufighter Mk 21]]. Because of this, the pilot of the Invader can allow his opponent to land some hits in exchange for coming in view of either the A-26's forward facing armaments, or of its two rear-facing turrets. Though M2 Brownings lack the stopping power of cannons such as the 23 mm NS-23 cannon, they are still capable of inflicting immense damage to enemy aircraft, lighting up fuel tanks and disabling key components like control surfaces. This can buy the pilot some breathing room, by forcing enemy fighters to return to base after coming under fire from the Invader's guns.

While the A-26 Invader is fast for its battle rating, it will still be intercepted by almost any late models of aircraft such as the Bf 109 "Gustav" series, the [[Bf 109 K-4]], almost any later model of the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190]], including the Focke-Wulf [[Ta 152 C-3|Ta 152]] series. Any of the above-mentioned German aircraft will tear you apart due to all of them sporting the "Minengeschoß" shells.

Due to its versatility the A-26 can play a variety of play styles and once you learn its strengths and weaknesses it is very easy and fun to use:

'''In air battles'''

Despite being an attacker designed to perform tactical attacks and close air support, the A-26 is good at air battles and not just ground battles. It can perform a large amount of essential roles such as a bomber or an attacker.

'''Low altitude bomber'''

This play style is the easiest to execute even when stock, so it is recommended for players who are new to the plane.

Before you spawn in make sure to load the 10 x 500lb bombs loadout. Fly towards the enemy bases in a shallow dive, the A-26 is capable of cruising at 500 km/h so you won't need to wait much before you will reach the enemy bases. Check the map. If there are 3 bases, drop 5 bombs (half of your load). If there are 2 or 4 bases, drop 10 bombs (your full bombload).

'''Attacker'''

This role can be played both from the start of the battle or after you finished your role as a low altitude bomber. Before the battle, make sure to load all 6 x .50 calibre [[M2 Browning (12.7 mm)|M2]] machine guns since they are more effective overall then the [[M4 (37 mm)|37 mm]] cannons. In this role, the bomb loadout does not matter much since it is quite hard and inefficient to bomb ground targets. The only targets worth bombing are light and regular pillboxes, and these can also be destroyed with your main weaponry. After spawning, fly to the ground targets and start firing. If you didn't manage to destroy your target in your first pass, try firing at them with your turrets, if that still didn't destroy your target, move on or return for a second pass.

'''In ground battles'''

In ground battles the A-26 gets a chance to do what it was designed to do - provide close air support for troops on the ground. it is recommended to use the 4 x 1,000lb bombs loadout since the 1,000lb bombs provide twice the TNT equivalent and almost twice the destruction radius of the 500lb bombs making them much easier to use. You can also load the [[M4 (37 mm)|37 mm]] with ground targets belt and strafe enemy tanks.

'''Defensive flying'''

Once someone gets behind your tail you are probably not going to out-manoeuvre them, so your only options are to either shoot them down, scare them away or out-run them.

Once they are about 1.6 km away from you start shooting with your defensive turrets, use zoom to aim better and make sure to make slight manoeuvres to dodge their bullets. If they cannot get closer you win, but if they are faster and you couldn't kill them, once they are closer than 800 metres pull hard and try to make them overshoot, after they overshoot try to open as much distance as possible between you and them in order to trap them in the ideal shooting range (1.6-0.8 km). Repeat this until they either get shot down or pull off.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

Against the Russians, any of the La-7s or La-9s can and will be able to catch you. In addition, aircraft such as the [[Yak-9P]] or [[Yak-9UT]], which wield both [[ShVAK (20 mm)|20 mm]] and either a [[NS-37 (37 mm)|37 mm]] or [[NS-45 (45 mm)|45 mm]] will tear your plane to bits. While the Russians do not have cannons armed with the same round types as a German fighter does, the multitude of cannons they wield can make short work of you.

The British can also give you a run for your money. The most common adversary that could give you an issue is the [[Wyvern S4|Wyvern]], due to its blistering speed and four 20 mm [[Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)|Hispano Mk.V]] cannons. In addition, a Tempest could also make quick work of you due to the same reasoning in firepower. While it is unlikely you will see any of the Griffon Spitfires, earlier models can still inflict a heavy amount of damage to your air frame.

One SPAA to worry about in Ground Realistic Battles is the Chinese [[ZSD63]]. Though it is hard to identify specific SPAA vehicles on the ground (especially when they are shooting tracers at the plane), if a ZSD63 can be identified, avoid it at all costs and '''do not''' attempt head-ons with it, ever. It can easily snap a wing off by causally putting a short burst in the {{PAGENAME}}'s flight path. Don't even get close to it unless it is occupied with another friendly or if the {{PAGENAME}} is equipped with a bomb that it can use. 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. Armour-piercing belt is recommended since their high penetration can tear through the ZSD's armour with ease and knock out its crews.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Separate || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Respectable forward-facing armament
* Impressive secondary armament when compared to its counterparts
* Highly durable
* Fast
* Decent energy retention
* Two remote-controlled turrets
* Respectable climb rate for an attacker
* Can mount up to 2 cannons for either air targets or ground targets
* Pilot and co-pilot: if one is knocked out, the other can take command

'''Cons:'''

* Not very maneuverable
* As fast as it is, it is slower when compared to single-engine fighters
* Poor roll and rudder performance
* Large silhouette
* Fairly high repair cost
* Only one gunner, if he is knocked out both of the turrets stop working
* Usually explodes soon after catching fire.

== History ==

In the mid 1930s, Douglas Aircraft analysed contemporaries like the Do 17 and Blenheim, making them gamble on a fast, versatile, and manoeuvrable bomber. The resulting world leading DB-7, A-20 attacker/bomber paid off in immediate orders from France and England if not initially from USA. A great start, the pace of aircraft innovation only accelerated and Douglas knew its world leading design would soon be outdated. Work began on a new design.

Master engineer Edward Heinemann reassembled a team of Robert Donovan and Ted R. Smith from the A-20 program. Most important was aerodynamicist Apollo M.O. Smith who chose the innovative NACA 65-215 laminar flow airfoil that promised better top speed. Laminar Flow was still a radical technology at the time, the yet unproven Mustang Mk 1 was the only production aircraft using the technology. To make this high speed wing also fly slowly for safe landing, a double-slotted flaps system was created, the first production aircraft to use what is now common in all modern jet liners. The wing also had a relatively high aspect ratio for long range performance.

Design features from the breakthrough A-20 design were carried into the A-26. It is easy to spot the family resemblance of the nose gear, high wing, straight fuselage, and dihedral wing and tail. The easily replaceable nose unit, either a solid nose unit or the glass bombardier's unit, was also carried over, the latter used a Norden M-9 bombsight. The engines were also upgraded to the much more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp fourteen-cylinder, double-row, radial air-cooled engines. Armaments were now standardized as the Colt-Browning AN/M2 .50 cal machine guns offensively mounted in all versions' noses. All models had space in the wings for ammo belts feeding up to four dual gun pods mounted underneath the wing. Versatility was a key point and many other armament options were made, including large cannons and wing-mounted bombs and rockets. A-26's could even carry two torpedoes, however there is no evidence it was ever used operationally. Another key feature was the General Electric remote control turret top and bottom of the attacker, both controlled by a single crewman using a periscope sighting system (a year ahead of a similar system created by the Germans).

The ХА-26 prototype made its first flight on July 10, 1942. Mass production began in September 1943. Parallel production lines started in Douglas, Long Beach (code DL) making the solid nose A-26B, and Douglas, Tulsa making the bombardier nose A-26C (but both could be easily swapped in less than an hour). A total of 2,503 were built.

While praised by the pilots at home, its first trial by fire in May 1944 over New Guinea was less enthusiastic mainly due to limited downward view and other issues soured the Pacific crews. Less than 4 months later, missions in Europe received a completely different response where as a low altitude level bomber it excelled at its operation and easily countered defending Luftwaffe with strong defenses or high speed. Over this time, upgrades to the design came about, including a new canopy that improved pilot view with the A-26B-30-DL and А-26C-30-DT, and integrating six .50 machine guns into the wings starting with the А-26B-50-DL and А-26C-55-DT.

After WW2 ended only the A-26 was kept in active service, its performance securing its usefulness, but the designation changed to B-26 (causing confusion with the name of the retired B-26 Marauder). When the Korean war started in 1950 the underappreciated attacker suddenly became vital again, heavily employed in day and night attacks against North Korean forces. Conflict did not end with Korea, so the B-26 was now needed elsewhere, but quirk of political nuance forced the name back to the original A-26 so they could be sold to Thailand.

In short, with continuing conflicts and numerous upgrades the A-26 was actively used decades after it first flew, with the last known military mission in 1977.

It was not done with "combat" missions then; however, being actively used to fight wildfires that ravaged parts of the US, Canada, and Australia, immortalized by the 1989 film "Always".

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=assault&vehicle=a-26b_10 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|E1IDVFUqzrI|'''The Shooting Range #83''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 10:27 discusses the Douglas A-26 Invader.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Douglas [[A-20G-25|A-20]] Havoc

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Bristol [[Brigand B 1|Brigand]]
* Junkers [[Ju 288 C|Ju 288]]
* North American [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] Mitchell
* Tupolev [[Tu-2 (Family)|Tu-2]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/3230--en|[Vehicle Profile] Douglas A-26C]]
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/378374-a-26b-10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA attackers}}

P-51C-10

2021-02-17T19:45:23Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-10-nt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332d Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 675 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of 300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 Mustang}}

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was successfully tested on a P-51 Mustang in late 1942, resulting in production of P-51B Mustangs fitted with the Packard V-1650, a license-produced Merlin. North American Aviation’s (NAA) plant in Inglewood California was maxing out production of the P-51B so a new plant was opened up in Dallas, Texas, in order to increase production. The Mustangs produced in the Dallas plant were designated as the P-51C even though they were identical in all other regards to the P-51B. It was decided during the P-51B and C production run that the aircraft would no longer leave the factory with an olive drab paint, but would instead leave in the unpainted metal finish.

Deliveries of the P-51C to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began in August 1943, much later than those of the P-51B due to the Dallas plant having been in the process of construction when the P-51B entered production at Inglewood. A total of 1,750 P-51C Mustangs were built by NAA during the war.

P-51B and C Mustangs began arriving in Europe in August and October of 1943, equipping fifteen fighter groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England as well as the 15th Air Force in Italy. P-51C Mustangs, along with their P-51B brethren, were used by the USAAF 8th Air Force to escort B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on daylight raids across the English Channel; the long range of the P-51B/C Mustang made it ideal for that type of mission. The 9th Air Force used them in the fighter-bomber role. In addition to European operations, P-51C Mustangs were used in the China Burma India Theater (CBI). Even by the end of the war many of the P-51s still in service with the USAAF were of the P-51B and C models, not having been fully replaced by the P-51D and K models but instead only supplemented.

In addition to serving with the USAAF, 636 P-51B and C Mustangs were also used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war, where they were designated as the Mustang Mk III. P-51C Mustangs were also used by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) during the Second World War.

=== P-51C Variants ===
'''Combat Variants: 1,750 built'''

* '''P-51C-1-NT''' - Original production model with V-1650-3 engine; 350 built.
* '''P-51C-3-NT''' - Added an 85 gallon fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat; unknown number converted from P-51C-1-NT.
* '''P-51C-5-NT''' - Used the more powerful V-1650-7 engine; 450 built.
* '''P-51C-10-NT''' - 823 built.
* '''P-51C-11-NT''' - 127 built.

'''Non Combat Variants'''

* '''F-6C-NT''' - Reconnaissance conversion with added cameras, armament retained; 20 converted from P-51C-10-NT.
* '''TP-51C''' - Two-seat trainer conversion; 5 converted during WW2, 1 converted in 2000’s.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

'''Other variants in-game'''

* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-51C-10

2021-02-17T19:29:36Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51c-10-nt
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332d Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

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

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 675 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

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


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

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

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of 300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

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

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but while doing that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attacks from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable
* Roll rate, while not terrible, is not sufficient enough to shake enemy planes off or force overshoots

== History ==

{{main|P-51 (Family)|l1=History of the P-51 Mustang}}

The Rolls-Royce Merlin engine was successfully tested on a P-51 Mustang in late 1942, resulting in production of P-51B Mustangs fitted with the Packard V-1650, a license-produced Merlin. North American Aviation’s (NAA) plant in Inglewood California was maxing out production of the P-51B so a new plant was opened up in Dallas, Texas, in order to increase production. The Mustangs produced in the Dallas plant were designated as the P-51C even though they were identical in all other regards to the P-51B. It was decided during the P-51B and C production run that the aircraft would no longer leave the factory with an olive drab paint, but would instead leave in the unpainted metal finish.

Deliveries of the P-51C to the US Army Air Force (USAAF) began in August 1943, much later than that of the P-51B due to the Dallas plant having been in the process of construction when the P-51B entered production at Inglewood. A total of 1,750 P-51C Mustangs were built by NAA during the war.

P-51B and C Mustangs began arriving in Europe in August and October of 1943, equipping fifteen fighter groups of the 8th and 9th Air Forces in England as well as the 15th Air Force in Italy. P-51C Mustangs, along with their P-51B brethren, were used by the USAAF 8th Air Force to escort B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on daylight raids across the English Channel; the long range of the P-51B/C Mustang made it ideal for that type of mission. The 9th Air Force used them in the fighter-bomber role. In addition to European operations, P-51C Mustangs were used in the China Burma India Theater (CBI). Even by the end of the war many of the P-51s still in service with the USAAF were of the P-51B and C models, not having been fully replaced by the P-51D and K models but instead only supplemented.

In addition to serving with the USAAF, 636 P-51B and C Mustangs were also used by the British Royal Air Force (RAF) during the war, where they were designated as the Mustang Mk III. P-51C Mustangs were also used by the Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) during the Second World War.

=== P-51C Variants ===
'''Combat Variants: 1,750 built'''

* '''P-51C-1-NT''' - Original production model with V-1650-3 engine; 350 built.
* '''P-51C-3-NT''' - Added an 85 gallon fuel tank behind the pilot’s seat; unknown number converted from P-51C-1-NT.
* '''P-51C-5-NT''' - Used the more powerful V-1650-7 engine; 450 built.
* '''P-51C-10-NT''' - 823 built.
* '''P-51C-11-NT''' - 127 built.

'''Non Combat Variants'''

* '''F-6C-NT''' - Reconnaissance conversion with added cameras, armament retained; 20 converted from P-51C-10-NT.
* '''TP-51C''' - Two-seat trainer conversion; 5 converted during WW2, 1 converted in 2000’s.

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

'''Other variants in-game'''

* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-61C-1

2021-01-06T19:01:09Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_p-61c_1.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The Northrop {{PAGENAME}} Black Widow is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter designed as the USAAF's first dedicated night-fighter and aircraft outfitted with radar. Though a large aircraft with a crew of three (pilot, turret gunner and radio/radar operator/gunner), the Black Widow utilised its speed, radar, and weapons advantages to dispatch enemy aircraft in the dead of night.

The {{PAGENAME}} is powered by dual Pratt & Whitney R-2800-73 double wasp engines, the same engines which powered the Republic P-47N Thunderbolt. The one difference between the Thunderbolt's -57C and the -73s built explicitly for the P-61 was each had a General Electric CH-5-A3 turbocharger installed. The modified engines allowed the {{PAGENAME}} to fly at all altitudes effectively. While outfitted with powerful engines, turning the aircraft causes loss of energy, and such manoeuvres should be limited as places the aircraft in vulnerable situations.
[[File:P-61c-1 bomberpilot1784 001.png|300px|thumb|left|Three-quarter view of a '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in standard all-black night-fighter paint scheme.]]

One of the roles of the {{PAGENAME}} is to operate as a bomber interceptor. During these operations, if detected, the heavy fighter is likely to encounter defensive fire. To increase survivability and protection of the crew, the Black Widow utilizes various bulletproof glass and armour protective plates throughout the fighter. The gunner who operates the remote turret has the option to utilise armour plates, which fold out of the way when not in use. The crew member sitting in the aft of the aircraft has the least amount of armour protection but is the least likely to be shot at unless being attacked from the rear.

The armament configuration of the {{PAGENAME}} is unique compared to most fighters which either utilise nose-mounted or wing-mounted guns. The Black Widow incorporates two weapon systems, the first consisting of four 20 mm AN/M2 autocannons mounted in the belly of the aircraft with 200 RPG, or 800 rounds total. Convergence is not a factor when utilising these guns. The aircraft also incorporates a dorsal turret outfitted with four 50 calibre machine guns (2,120 rounds or 530 RPG), which can be remotely operated by the gunner or the radio/radar operator. The turret has 360-degree mobility and can fire at elevations up to 90-degrees. The turret cannot depress lower than horizontal or else it would risk firing into the wings, cockpit, tail booms or tail section. The dorsal turret is utilised for both offensive and defensive uses.

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

[[File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 002.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' opening up with its four 20 mm autocannons.]]
The P-61 climbs very well compared to twin-engine fighters from other countries. The engines overheat very slowly even when stock, while never really overheating at all when fully upgraded if using MEC or just being careful with the control of the engines. The turn rate is very slow, but to be expected from a twin-engined heavy fighter with a turret. The air brakes are very efficient, helping you slow down quickly in dives or when landing.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 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
| 656 || 643 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || rowspan="2" | 457
|-
! Upgraded
| 732 || 692 || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16.0
|-
|}

;Takeoff and landing speeds (critical for Simulator battles)- all speeds in km/h

* AB: '''173''' RB/SB: '''163''' - VR (aircraft rotate speed) - The speed at which the aircraft's control stick can safely be pulled back for takeoff, causing liftoff without risk of a tailstrike on the runway.

* AB: '''126''' RB/SB: '''120''' - VS0 - Landing speed with full flaps (depending on the aircraft, this could be landing flaps or take-off flaps).

* AB: '''148''' RB/SB: '''145''' - VS1 - Landing speed ''without'' flaps (clean). Knowing this speed is useful when the flaps are damaged or missing to prevent spins or tail strikes upon landing.

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A view of the '''{{PAGENAME}}''' Black Widow's wing. Note the air brakes, "fences" are fully extended on the upper and lower surface of the wings. Also, note the long spoiler extended on the upper surface of the wing replaced ailerons due to increased efficiency at high speeds. The P-61 was the only aircraft in US inventory during WWII which utilised spoilers.]]
{| 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}} || 340 || 340 || 280 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 530 || < 420 || < 450 || > 337
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 8,000 m || 2,200 hp || 2,783 hp
|-
|}

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


* 12.7 mm Steel - Nose armour plating (behind radar unit)
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot and gunner armoured windscreens
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner front armour (folds out of the way when not in use)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Lower gun plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Gun turret ammo protection plates
* 12.7 mm Steel - Turret protection plate

With such beefy engines on the {{PAGENAME}} it stood to reason that armour protection would be necessary to help protect the pilot and the gunner during a conflict against a potential bomber or attacker aircraft which may have defensive gunner positions. Since the main source of incoming bullets would most likely come towards the front of the {{PAGENAME}} from defensive positions, it was reasonable to protect both the pilot and the gunner position, while the radio/radar operator received most of their protection from the gun turret and radio/radar equipment as there is no protection provided from the rear plane of the aircraft.

The pilot is afforded protection through the bulletproof canopy windscreen which is 60 mm thick and a 12.7 mm steel plate located directly behind the radar unit in the nose. These two items will aid to protect the pilot in the event a bomber or attacker's defensive gunners fire on an attacking {{PAGENAME}}, however, note that these protections will wane in their ability if the pilot of the Black Widow decides to take another aircraft head-on, especially if that aircraft is sporting 20 or 30 mm autocannons.

The {{PAGENAME}}'s gunner sits directly behind the pilot, however, his station is slightly elevated giving him an unobstructed view of the front and side of the aircraft, allowing him great visibility to be able to aim and fire the machine gun turret. Since the gunner station is elevated, the gunner is exposed to incoming fire which the pilot's protective plate and armoured windscreen will not cover. To remediate this there are two 12.7 mm steel plates which the gunner can swing in front of him for protection or out of the way when not in use.

The rest of the armour protection for this aircraft are several steel plates which protect the critical components and the ammunition of the turret. Since the turret is mechanical in operation (remotely by the gunner or radio/radar operator), it is important that critical components are protected to ensure continued usage, as when the remote components fail, the turret is useless. Protecting the ammunition storage is also important not only to have it available for usage, setting the ammunition on fire or off in the storage container could cause catastrophic results to the aircraft and crew in the event they start firing.

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

The P-61C-1 is a thoroughbred Boom & Zoom aircraft. However, when the plane is first unlocked the flight performance will be very lacklustre to support this tactic. As such, the initial priority should be to improve the aircraft, by researching the upgrades that improve flight performance the most, namely '''Compressor''', '''Engine''' and '''Engine injection'''. When the flight performance has reached a satisfactory level to allow for effective Boom & Zoom tactics, the priority should be switched towards researching the '''New 20 mm cannons''' upgrade in order to improve the accuracy of the cannons. After this is done, either finish upgrading the flight performance or focus on the turret upgrade. The bomb racks should be left to research last, as they are not critical to the P-61's main role as a fighter.

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

[[File:P-61_upperturret_cone_of_fire.jpg|350px|thumb|right|The cones of fire for the upper machine gun turret on the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]
{{main|AN/M2 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, belly-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is armed with 4 x 20 mm AN/M2 autocannons which are mounted in the belly of the fuselage just below the cockpit. Each cannon is outfitted with 200 rounds which may not seem like very much, but for those who are conservative by maintaining trigger control (short bursts), the ammunition will go a long way. Having the guns clustered along the lower fuselage allows for both in-close and longer-ranged shots without the necessity of having to calculate for convergence, the only factor will be bullet-drop over a distance which comes with practice. The cannons are very effective when used against any aerial vehicle encountered as they have no problem disabling engines and destroying wings or puncturing fuel tanks.

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

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is typically used as a night or strike fighter which is used to sneak up on unwary targets and destroy them with the four forward-facing 20 mm autocannons, however, there is an opportunity to mix it up as a multi-role aircraft and outfit the plane with bombs. There are four external hardpoint pylons in which either 500 lb or 1,000 lb bombs can be loaded for a total of either 2,000 or 4,000 lbs of bombs. With payloads like this, the {{PAGENAME}} can rival the [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] bombers in their payload deliveries. Unfortunately, for a strike fighter, the {{PAGENAME}}'s flight performance and manoeuvrability suffer when adding the extra 2,000 or 4,000 lbs of weight and can be a challenge to fly when attacked, however after the bombs have been released on their target, the {{PAGENAME}} can get back to its heavy-fighter role.

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (560 rpg outer + 500 rpg inner = 2,120 total)

It is interesting to note that later fighters started to reduce or eliminate the ability to carry defensive weapons in order to help save on weight and crew needed to staff the aircraft, however, it was deemed necessary that the {{PAGENAME}} should have a defensive turret. Utilising state-of-the-art technology, four .50 calibre machine guns were mounted on a dorsal turret which could be remotely controlled by either the gunner (sitting behind the pilot) or the radio/radar operator located in a separate compartment at the rear of the fuselage. The four machine guns in the dorsal turret had virtually a full 360° rotation field with an elevation straight up. Effectively the only dead zones for this turret were the upper propeller arcs and the vertical stabilizers to the rear. When enemy aircraft attempt to sit on the rear of the aircraft, the pilot will need to pitch the aircraft up and to one side or the other to allow the gunner the best possible chance of bearing the turret down on the enemy fighter.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:P-61c-1 knightskeemo 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Heavy vs heavy.]]
The below tactics are recommended for all game modes:

'''How to offensively engage an enemy aircraft:''' Climb to high altitude and keep on a straight heading once you have seen the enemy. Overshoot the enemy plane, then perform a 180-degree turn. Make sure you stay on his tail and gradually descend. It is recommended to do something similar to a shallow descent, where you can keep speed and height to your advantage in case the enemy aircraft changes course and altitude. Do not perform a dive which requires you to dive straight down since you will rip the wings off and crash. Once you are within firing range, fire a short salvo from your cannons. A couple of bursts from the Black Widow are sufficient to easily rip an enemy plane to shreds.

'''How to perform defensive fighting:''' When you are being engaged by an enemy fighter, make sure you keep descending. '''Very Important''': Do not allow enemy aircraft to get lower than your elevator on the tail boom. You have no defensive armament to cover the belly or full-rear of the plane; these are your weakest defended parts.

*Tactic one: Descend slowly. Put the plane in a steep dive that does not exceed your structural limit. However, it must be steep enough to provide the turret gunner full visibility of the enemy plane. The four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning machine guns]] will take care of the enemy plane.

*Tactic Two: Put the plane in a steep climb and make sure you set the throttle to at least 70%. Jump into the gunner turret and operate it. This will be the most accurate and fastest way of shooting down the hostile plane. When you operate the turret, make sure you try and perform defensive manoeuvres when operating it i.e. sharp turns, rapidly decreasing in height as well as gaining height and changing the speed of the plane in an irrational way. This will give you a higher chance of survival against the enemy.

*Tactic Three: Fly the plane almost touching the ground, this way the enemy can't get under your gunners. Use rudder yaw to fly side to side while shooting back at your pursuer. With a few hits you can heavily damage if not take out the enemy following you, or at least make them break off from your six and hopfully one of your allies can come and help you. If the enemy is not very fast in a straight line (eg: Japanese fighters, etc) you can fly straight and use your better top speed to kite the enemy.

===Radars===
{{main|AI Mk. X}}
[[File:P-61_-_Nose_Radar.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A front view of an '''{{PAGENAME}}''' [[AI Mk. X]] radar.]]
The P-61C-1 is equipped with an [[AI Mk. X]] search radar, located in the nose of the aircraft. The radar utilised a 29 in (74 cm) parabolic dish which it rotated at 360 rpm when set to ranges below 100 miles, however, it is slowed down to 100 rpm when set to the 100 miles setting. The scopes could be set to one of four ranges, 1, 10, 20 or 100 miles (1.6, 16, 32 or 160 km). The parabolic dish could be adjusted to different altitude settings which included 0° to 0°, -5° to +5°, +5° to +20°, and +20° to +50°. One of the benefits to the multiple choices in range and altitude settings of the radar was that it provided partial immunity to chaff and other radar interference or countermeasures deployed by the enemy.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[AI Mk. X]] - 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)}}
|-
| 14,000 m || 8,500 m || ±75° || -20°/+40°
|-
|}
[[File:P-61_cockpit_pilots_radar_indicator.png|250px|thumb|right|A view of a '''{{PAGENAME}}''' pilot's instrument panel with a BC-1152-A pilots indicator portion of the [[AI Mk. X]] radar. (''The BC-1152-A is the square box with the rectangular window just above the control yoke'')]]

=== 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 ===

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 002.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' night-fighter as seen at night, virtually invisible.]]
'''Pros:'''

* The offensive armament is mounted under the belly of the plane, this provides excellent accuracy
* Powerful offensive armament with 4 x [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with a total amount of 800 rounds
* Powerful defensive armament with 4 x [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in a rotating turret, a total of 2,120 rounds
* Defensive armament is able to be used offensively by the gunner, also remotely controlled
* Defensive turret can elevate to a full 90 degrees, can provide a Schräge Musik-like surprise of its own to enemy bombers, providing the P-61 is below the bomber and in the enemy bomber gunners' dead zones
* Very stable climb rate
* Engines are able to cool down very fast
* Able to perform sharp movements at low and high speed
* Excellent bomber hunter
* Very strong and rugged airframe; is able to fly with wing tips missing
* Can keep a lot of momentum from a gradual dive
* Can carry 4 x 1,000 lb bombs: enough to fully destroy one base or four light pillboxes
* Air brakes installed, allows you to slow down faster for a bomb run or landing
* Powerful engines when upgraded giving great acceleration
* Can fly on one engine
* Fairly good roll rate at high speeds thanks to spoilers
* Very little adverse yaw effect thanks to spoilers (SB)
* Has access to a target detection radar, with much better range than German radars found around this battle rating
* Low stalling speed, enabling it to land on carriers

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The fearsome '''{{PAGENAME}}''' bearing down on an opponent.]]
'''Cons:'''

* Slow acceleration when not upgraded and requires a long airstrip to take off due to weight
* Uncompetitive roll rate at slow speeds
* Bad turn rate (utilise Immelmann turns, chandelles or normal loops)
* Due to size, slow to gain speed in a dive, however, can exceed structural limits if not careful. Per the pilot's manual while in a dive:
** Between 0 - 10,000 ft do not exceed 415 mph IAS
** Between 10,000 - 20,000 ft do not exceed 375 mph IAS
** Between 20,000 - 30,000 ft do not exceed 305 mph IAS
* Bottom of aircraft is unprotected (utilise climbs and/or dives that does not exceed the structural limits of the plane, along with manually controlling the gunner to protect the bottom of the aircraft, though not completely)
* Large body airframe, not meant for turn-fighting (Boom & Zoom or Boom & Run)
* Dorsal turret might hit friendlies when active under AI control during furballs or when you're behind friendlies chasing an enemy

== History ==

P-61C is the final production version of the P-61 family with the production primarily in 1945. The most notable changes are the turbocharger fitted under each engine and the redesigned larger propeller system. With the turbocharger made by General Electric, the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine could output 2,800 hp each. Alongside the larger propeller, P-61C could perform much better at higher altitude. The 4 hardpoints under the wings for external fuel tanks and bombs from the P-61B variants were also kept, allowing the P-61C to not only perform as a night fighter, but also as a night intruder. Airbrakes were also added so P-61C would not overshoot its intended targets.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=p-61c_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:P-61 rearview.jpg|Rear view of the '''P-61''''s aerodynamic airframe.
File:P-61c-1 zippitydoodah 001.jpg
File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 001.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Qyr_aw3YTe8|'''The Shooting Range #2''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 02:59 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|rpp-GqXiaKg|'''The Shooting Range #214''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:41 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|B_KJXo2w0IQ|'''P-61 BLACK WIDOW: America's Night-Interceptor''' - ''jimi daen''|_iGQOR9Dtyg|'''BLACK WIDOW - The P-61C-1 RB Gameplay''' - ''MikeGoesBoom''|fL0pyZ5VZSM|'''War Thunder Arcade- P-61C-1 Black Widow''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


* [[P-61A-1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/869|[Devblog] P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]]
* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow][[File:Pdf_fileicon.png|.pdf document|link=]] - By Headquarters Army Air Forces - Office of Flying Safety, 1944
* [https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/p-61-pilots-manual.6789/ Northrop P-61 Black Widow Pilot's Flight Operations Instructions][[File:Pdf_fileicon.png|.pdf document|link=]] - Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-61C Airplane, July 1945, ISBN:[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=isbn:9781411689008 978-1-4116-8900-8]

{{AirManufacturer Northrop}}
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

P-61C-1

2021-01-06T18:59:28Z

U27109353:

{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_p-61c_1.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The Northrop {{PAGENAME}} Black Widow is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter designed as the USAAF's first dedicated night-fighter and aircraft outfitted with radar. Though a large aircraft with a crew of three (pilot, turret gunner and radio/radar operator/gunner), the Black Widow utilised its speed, radar, and weapons advantages to dispatch enemy aircraft in the dead of night.

The {{PAGENAME}} is powered by dual Pratt & Whitney R-2800-73 double wasp engines, the same engines which powered the Republic P-47N Thunderbolt. The one difference between the Thunderbolt's -57C and the -73s built explicitly for the P-61 was each had a General Electric CH-5-A3 turbocharger installed. The modified engines allowed the {{PAGENAME}} to fly at all altitudes effectively. While outfitted with powerful engines, turning the aircraft causes loss of energy, and such manoeuvres should be limited as places the aircraft in vulnerable situations.
[[File:P-61c-1 bomberpilot1784 001.png|300px|thumb|left|Three-quarter view of a '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in standard all-black night-fighter paint scheme.]]

One of the roles of the {{PAGENAME}} is to operate as a bomber interceptor. During these operations, if detected, the heavy fighter is likely to encounter defensive fire. To increase survivability and protection of the crew, the Black Widow utilizes various bulletproof glass and armour protective plates throughout the fighter. The gunner who operates the remote turret has the option to utilise armour plates, which fold out of the way when not in use. The crew member sitting in the aft of the aircraft has the least amount of armour protection but is the least likely to be shot at unless being attacked from the rear.

The armament configuration of the {{PAGENAME}} is unique compared to most fighters which either utilise nose-mounted or wing-mounted guns. The Black Widow incorporates two weapon systems, the first consisting of four 20 mm AN/M2 autocannons mounted in the belly of the aircraft with a total of 800 rounds of ammunition (200 RPG). Convergence is not a factor when utilising these guns. The aircraft also incorporates a dorsal turret outfitted with four 50 calibre machine guns (2,120 rounds or 530 RPG), which can be remotely operated by the gunner or the radio/radar operator. The turret has 360-degree mobility and can fire at elevations up to 90-degrees. The turret cannot depress lower than horizontal or else it would risk firing into the wings, cockpit, tail booms or tail section. The dorsal turret is utilised for both offensive and defensive uses.

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

[[File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 002.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' opening up with its four 20 mm autocannons.]]
The P-61 climbs very well compared to twin-engine fighters from other countries. The engines overheat very slowly even when stock, while never really overheating at all when fully upgraded if using MEC or just being careful with the control of the engines. The turn rate is very slow, but to be expected from a twin-engined heavy fighter with a turret. The air brakes are very efficient, helping you slow down quickly in dives or when landing.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 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
| 656 || 643 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || rowspan="2" | 457
|-
! Upgraded
| 732 || 692 || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16.0
|-
|}

;Takeoff and landing speeds (critical for Simulator battles)- all speeds in km/h

* AB: '''173''' RB/SB: '''163''' - VR (aircraft rotate speed) - The speed at which the aircraft's control stick can safely be pulled back for takeoff, causing liftoff without risk of a tailstrike on the runway.

* AB: '''126''' RB/SB: '''120''' - VS0 - Landing speed with full flaps (depending on the aircraft, this could be landing flaps or take-off flaps).

* AB: '''148''' RB/SB: '''145''' - VS1 - Landing speed ''without'' flaps (clean). Knowing this speed is useful when the flaps are damaged or missing to prevent spins or tail strikes upon landing.

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|400px|thumb|right|A view of the '''{{PAGENAME}}''' Black Widow's wing. Note the air brakes, "fences" are fully extended on the upper and lower surface of the wings. Also, note the long spoiler extended on the upper surface of the wing replaced ailerons due to increased efficiency at high speeds. The P-61 was the only aircraft in US inventory during WWII which utilised spoilers.]]
{| 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}} || 340 || 340 || 280 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 530 || < 420 || < 450 || > 337
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 8,000 m || 2,200 hp || 2,783 hp
|-
|}

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


* 12.7 mm Steel - Nose armour plating (behind radar unit)
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot and gunner armoured windscreens
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner front armour (folds out of the way when not in use)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Lower gun plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Gun turret ammo protection plates
* 12.7 mm Steel - Turret protection plate

With such beefy engines on the {{PAGENAME}} it stood to reason that armour protection would be necessary to help protect the pilot and the gunner during a conflict against a potential bomber or attacker aircraft which may have defensive gunner positions. Since the main source of incoming bullets would most likely come towards the front of the {{PAGENAME}} from defensive positions, it was reasonable to protect both the pilot and the gunner position, while the radio/radar operator received most of their protection from the gun turret and radio/radar equipment as there is no protection provided from the rear plane of the aircraft.

The pilot is afforded protection through the bulletproof canopy windscreen which is 60 mm thick and a 12.7 mm steel plate located directly behind the radar unit in the nose. These two items will aid to protect the pilot in the event a bomber or attacker's defensive gunners fire on an attacking {{PAGENAME}}, however, note that these protections will wane in their ability if the pilot of the Black Widow decides to take another aircraft head-on, especially if that aircraft is sporting 20 or 30 mm autocannons.

The {{PAGENAME}}'s gunner sits directly behind the pilot, however, his station is slightly elevated giving him an unobstructed view of the front and side of the aircraft, allowing him great visibility to be able to aim and fire the machine gun turret. Since the gunner station is elevated, the gunner is exposed to incoming fire which the pilot's protective plate and armoured windscreen will not cover. To remediate this there are two 12.7 mm steel plates which the gunner can swing in front of him for protection or out of the way when not in use.

The rest of the armour protection for this aircraft are several steel plates which protect the critical components and the ammunition of the turret. Since the turret is mechanical in operation (remotely by the gunner or radio/radar operator), it is important that critical components are protected to ensure continued usage, as when the remote components fail, the turret is useless. Protecting the ammunition storage is also important not only to have it available for usage, setting the ammunition on fire or off in the storage container could cause catastrophic results to the aircraft and crew in the event they start firing.

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

The P-61C-1 is a thoroughbred Boom & Zoom aircraft. However, when the plane is first unlocked the flight performance will be very lacklustre to support this tactic. As such, the initial priority should be to improve the aircraft, by researching the upgrades that improve flight performance the most, namely '''Compressor''', '''Engine''' and '''Engine injection'''. When the flight performance has reached a satisfactory level to allow for effective Boom & Zoom tactics, the priority should be switched towards researching the '''New 20 mm cannons''' upgrade in order to improve the accuracy of the cannons. After this is done, either finish upgrading the flight performance or focus on the turret upgrade. The bomb racks should be left to research last, as they are not critical to the P-61's main role as a fighter.

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

[[File:P-61_upperturret_cone_of_fire.jpg|350px|thumb|right|The cones of fire for the upper machine gun turret on the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]
{{main|AN/M2 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, belly-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is armed with 4 x 20 mm AN/M2 autocannons which are mounted in the belly of the fuselage just below the cockpit. Each cannon is outfitted with 200 rounds which may not seem like very much, but for those who are conservative by maintaining trigger control (short bursts), the ammunition will go a long way. Having the guns clustered along the lower fuselage allows for both in-close and longer-ranged shots without the necessity of having to calculate for convergence, the only factor will be bullet-drop over a distance which comes with practice. The cannons are very effective when used against any aerial vehicle encountered as they have no problem disabling engines and destroying wings or puncturing fuel tanks.

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

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is typically used as a night or strike fighter which is used to sneak up on unwary targets and destroy them with the four forward-facing 20 mm autocannons, however, there is an opportunity to mix it up as a multi-role aircraft and outfit the plane with bombs. There are four external hardpoint pylons in which either 500 lb or 1,000 lb bombs can be loaded for a total of either 2,000 or 4,000 lbs of bombs. With payloads like this, the {{PAGENAME}} can rival the [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] bombers in their payload deliveries. Unfortunately, for a strike fighter, the {{PAGENAME}}'s flight performance and manoeuvrability suffer when adding the extra 2,000 or 4,000 lbs of weight and can be a challenge to fly when attacked, however after the bombs have been released on their target, the {{PAGENAME}} can get back to its heavy-fighter role.

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

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (560 rpg outer + 500 rpg inner = 2,120 total)

It is interesting to note that later fighters started to reduce or eliminate the ability to carry defensive weapons in order to help save on weight and crew needed to staff the aircraft, however, it was deemed necessary that the {{PAGENAME}} should have a defensive turret. Utilising state-of-the-art technology, four .50 calibre machine guns were mounted on a dorsal turret which could be remotely controlled by either the gunner (sitting behind the pilot) or the radio/radar operator located in a separate compartment at the rear of the fuselage. The four machine guns in the dorsal turret had virtually a full 360° rotation field with an elevation straight up. Effectively the only dead zones for this turret were the upper propeller arcs and the vertical stabilizers to the rear. When enemy aircraft attempt to sit on the rear of the aircraft, the pilot will need to pitch the aircraft up and to one side or the other to allow the gunner the best possible chance of bearing the turret down on the enemy fighter.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:P-61c-1 knightskeemo 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Heavy vs heavy.]]
The below tactics are recommended for all game modes:

'''How to offensively engage an enemy aircraft:''' Climb to high altitude and keep on a straight heading once you have seen the enemy. Overshoot the enemy plane, then perform a 180-degree turn. Make sure you stay on his tail and gradually descend. It is recommended to do something similar to a shallow descent, where you can keep speed and height to your advantage in case the enemy aircraft changes course and altitude. Do not perform a dive which requires you to dive straight down since you will rip the wings off and crash. Once you are within firing range, fire a short salvo from your cannons. A couple of bursts from the Black Widow are sufficient to easily rip an enemy plane to shreds.

'''How to perform defensive fighting:''' When you are being engaged by an enemy fighter, make sure you keep descending. '''Very Important''': Do not allow enemy aircraft to get lower than your elevator on the tail boom. You have no defensive armament to cover the belly or full-rear of the plane; these are your weakest defended parts.

*Tactic one: Descend slowly. Put the plane in a steep dive that does not exceed your structural limit. However, it must be steep enough to provide the turret gunner full visibility of the enemy plane. The four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning machine guns]] will take care of the enemy plane.

*Tactic Two: Put the plane in a steep climb and make sure you set the throttle to at least 70%. Jump into the gunner turret and operate it. This will be the most accurate and fastest way of shooting down the hostile plane. When you operate the turret, make sure you try and perform defensive manoeuvres when operating it i.e. sharp turns, rapidly decreasing in height as well as gaining height and changing the speed of the plane in an irrational way. This will give you a higher chance of survival against the enemy.

*Tactic Three: Fly the plane almost touching the ground, this way the enemy can't get under your gunners. Use rudder yaw to fly side to side while shooting back at your pursuer. With a few hits you can heavily damage if not take out the enemy following you, or at least make them break off from your six and hopfully one of your allies can come and help you. If the enemy is not very fast in a straight line (eg: Japanese fighters, etc) you can fly straight and use your better top speed to kite the enemy.

===Radars===
{{main|AI Mk. X}}
[[File:P-61_-_Nose_Radar.jpg|250px|thumb|right|A front view of an '''{{PAGENAME}}''' [[AI Mk. X]] radar.]]
The P-61C-1 is equipped with an [[AI Mk. X]] search radar, located in the nose of the aircraft. The radar utilised a 29 in (74 cm) parabolic dish which it rotated at 360 rpm when set to ranges below 100 miles, however, it is slowed down to 100 rpm when set to the 100 miles setting. The scopes could be set to one of four ranges, 1, 10, 20 or 100 miles (1.6, 16, 32 or 160 km). The parabolic dish could be adjusted to different altitude settings which included 0° to 0°, -5° to +5°, +5° to +20°, and +20° to +50°. One of the benefits to the multiple choices in range and altitude settings of the radar was that it provided partial immunity to chaff and other radar interference or countermeasures deployed by the enemy.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | [[AI Mk. X]] - 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)}}
|-
| 14,000 m || 8,500 m || ±75° || -20°/+40°
|-
|}
[[File:P-61_cockpit_pilots_radar_indicator.png|250px|thumb|right|A view of a '''{{PAGENAME}}''' pilot's instrument panel with a BC-1152-A pilots indicator portion of the [[AI Mk. X]] radar. (''The BC-1152-A is the square box with the rectangular window just above the control yoke'')]]

=== 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 ===

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 002.jpg|300px|thumb|right|A '''{{PAGENAME}}''' night-fighter as seen at night, virtually invisible.]]
'''Pros:'''

* The offensive armament is mounted under the belly of the plane, this provides excellent accuracy
* Powerful offensive armament with 4 x [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with a total amount of 800 rounds
* Powerful defensive armament with 4 x [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in a rotating turret, a total of 2,120 rounds
* Defensive armament is able to be used offensively by the gunner, also remotely controlled
* Defensive turret can elevate to a full 90 degrees, can provide a Schräge Musik-like surprise of its own to enemy bombers, providing the P-61 is below the bomber and in the enemy bomber gunners' dead zones
* Very stable climb rate
* Engines are able to cool down very fast
* Able to perform sharp movements at low and high speed
* Excellent bomber hunter
* Very strong and rugged airframe; is able to fly with wing tips missing
* Can keep a lot of momentum from a gradual dive
* Can carry 4 x 1,000 lb bombs: enough to fully destroy one base or four light pillboxes
* Air brakes installed, allows you to slow down faster for a bomb run or landing
* Powerful engines when upgraded giving great acceleration
* Can fly on one engine
* Fairly good roll rate at high speeds thanks to spoilers
* Very little adverse yaw effect thanks to spoilers (SB)
* Has access to a target detection radar, with much better range than German radars found around this battle rating
* Low stalling speed, enabling it to land on carriers

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|The fearsome '''{{PAGENAME}}''' bearing down on an opponent.]]
'''Cons:'''

* Slow acceleration when not upgraded and requires a long airstrip to take off due to weight
* Uncompetitive roll rate at slow speeds
* Bad turn rate (utilise Immelmann turns, chandelles or normal loops)
* Due to size, slow to gain speed in a dive, however, can exceed structural limits if not careful. Per the pilot's manual while in a dive:
** Between 0 - 10,000 ft do not exceed 415 mph IAS
** Between 10,000 - 20,000 ft do not exceed 375 mph IAS
** Between 20,000 - 30,000 ft do not exceed 305 mph IAS
* Bottom of aircraft is unprotected (utilise climbs and/or dives that does not exceed the structural limits of the plane, along with manually controlling the gunner to protect the bottom of the aircraft, though not completely)
* Large body airframe, not meant for turn-fighting (Boom & Zoom or Boom & Run)
* Dorsal turret might hit friendlies when active under AI control during furballs or when you're behind friendlies chasing an enemy

== History ==

P-61C is the final production version of the P-61 family with the production primarily in 1945. The most notable changes are the turbocharger fitted under each engine and the redesigned larger propeller system. With the turbocharger made by General Electric, the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine could output 2,800 hp each. Alongside the larger propeller, P-61C could perform much better at higher altitude. The 4 hardpoints under the wings for external fuel tanks and bombs from the P-61B variants were also kept, allowing the P-61C to not only perform as a night fighter, but also as a night intruder. Airbrakes were also added so P-61C would not overshoot its intended targets.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=p-61c_1 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Images
<gallery mode="packed" heights="200">
File:P-61 rearview.jpg|Rear view of the '''P-61''''s aerodynamic airframe.
File:P-61c-1 zippitydoodah 001.jpg
File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 001.jpg
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Qyr_aw3YTe8|'''The Shooting Range #2''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 02:59 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|rpp-GqXiaKg|'''The Shooting Range #214''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:41 discusses the {{PAGENAME}}.|B_KJXo2w0IQ|'''P-61 BLACK WIDOW: America's Night-Interceptor''' - ''jimi daen''|_iGQOR9Dtyg|'''BLACK WIDOW - The P-61C-1 RB Gameplay''' - ''MikeGoesBoom''|fL0pyZ5VZSM|'''War Thunder Arcade- P-61C-1 Black Widow''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


* [[P-61A-1]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/devblog/current/869|[Devblog] P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]]
* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow][[File:Pdf_fileicon.png|.pdf document|link=]] - By Headquarters Army Air Forces - Office of Flying Safety, 1944
* [https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/threads/p-61-pilots-manual.6789/ Northrop P-61 Black Widow Pilot's Flight Operations Instructions][[File:Pdf_fileicon.png|.pdf document|link=]] - Pilot's Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model P-61C Airplane, July 1945, ISBN:[https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=isbn:9781411689008 978-1-4116-8900-8]

{{AirManufacturer Northrop}}
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

P-38J-15

2020-12-21T22:47:06Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-38j
|cockpit=cockpit_p-38j.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the premium version
| link-1 = Bong's P-38J-15
| usage-2 = other variants
| link-2 = P-38 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm".

The P-38J is a sleekly designed, two-engine monoplane made by Lockheed. This plane has a top speed of 431 mph (694 km/h) and a VNE of 460 mph (740 km/h). Its main armament consists of 1 x AN/M2 20 mm cannon and 4 x 12.7 mm [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning machine guns]]. With upgrades, the Lightning can function as a multi-role fighter with bazooka rockets or bombs to help lead your team to victory, both in the air and on the ground.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,921 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 669 || 651 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.6 || 23.4 || 15.9 || 15.9 || 332
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,921 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 721 || 693 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.4 || 21.5 || 24.3 || 19.6 || 332
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
|{{Specs|1=destruction|2=body}}||{{Specs|1=destruction|2=gear}} || 620 || ~9 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 380 || < 460 || < 500 || > 420
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 7,500 m || 1,290 hp || 1,416 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 6.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit plating
* 6.5 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
* 9.8 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|AN/M2 (20 mm)|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|M8}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 6 x M8 rockets

== Usage in battles ==

When playing the P-38J, climb to a high altitude, search for the enemy, and then pick an enemy you feel confident in engaging.

Once these steps have been ticked-off, assuming you are above the enemy target, put the Lightning into a gradual descent. This allows you to maintain a speed advantage. As you are descending, make small course corrections, so you don't give the element of surprise away by shooting too soon, overshooting or being within view.
When you are about 1-2 seconds away from your target, line your sights up and fire a short burst with your cannon and machine guns. Your target should now be heavily damaged or shot down. If you fail to damage your target, climb back up above using your energy advantage and repeat or move on.

'''Ground Battles''' 
Using the Lightning in ground forces (RB) is very effective once you have unlocked the appropriate modules. '''FMBC Mk.1''' allows you to equip 2 x 500 lb bombs, which are mounted under your wings. To help get the bombs on target, put the plane into a steep dive. As you near the ground, drop the bombs then pull up. Make sure you either pull up with altitude to spare or have a timed fuse to avoid crashing or blowing yourself up. The M10 Bazooka module allows you to equip your P-38J with 2 triple Bazooka launchers. These are attached to the lower nose panel and are very accurate. These are ideal for destroying tanks and bunkers.

Once the enemy ground units have been destroyed or you run out of external ordnance, you can use the Lightning to help maintain air superiority. This will help you secure that much-wanted victory.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil
! Water
! Type
|-
| Controllable || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Controllable Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| IV
| G-suit
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent speed
* Incredible energy retention let's you have multiple approaches on a helpless target
* Excellent acceleration
* Excellent climb rate
* Very powerful armament, great for bomber hunting
* Nose mounted armament allows it to have the great and fearsome head-on capability
* Multiple armament presets; allows it to function as a ground attack and/or air superiority fighter
* Good roll and turn time
* Good overall visibility in simulator matches
* Great air superiority aircraft.

'''Cons:'''

* Fuel tanks catch on fire easily
* Low initial roll rate
* Unable to dive to put fires out without breaking wings
* Easy to rip wings in dives; no airbrakes installed unlike the [[P-38L-5-LO|P-38L]]
* Easy to black-out if your crew's G-Tolerance and Stamina are low
* Low cannon ammunition amount compared to other planes at the rank.

== History ==

===Development===
The concept of the plane was made in February 1937 when the US Army Air Corps made a requirement for a plane that had twin-engine and can act as a high-altitude interceptor that can hold a large amount of armament and ammunition. The term "interceptor" was used for the aircraft by the requirement authors, 1st Lt Benjamin S. Kelsey and Gordon P. Saville, to bypass the Air Corps' strict requirements on aircraft designs at the time. The specifications laid by this new requirements also called for a maximum speed of 360 mph (580 km/h) and able to climb to 20,000 ft altitude in six minutes, making it the toughest specifications at the time. Design proposals were made for the specifications, one of which would become the [[P-39N-0|Bell P-39 Airacobra]], but it was the Lockheed design team headed by Hall Hibbard and Clarence "Kelly" Johnson that made the final product. They made many designs with a twin-engine configuration. The prototypes made for the design used a twin-boom design to hold all the components of the aircraft. Various armaments were tested on the aircraft, from different machine gun combinations and autocannons. It was finally settled to four x M2 .50 cal machine guns and one Hispano 20 mm autocannon. The aircraft armament configurations, all at the nose of the aircraft, was very unusual for American aircraft design, as most of their designs and those of their foreign contemporaries had the armament mounted on the wings angled forward. Because of this mounting, the aircraft is able to fire at a longer distance accurately than wing-mounts.

===P-38J===
The '''P-38J''' model of the series was introduced into service in August 1943. Its distinctive form is the movement of the turbo-supercharger intercooler system from the leading edges of the wings to in between the oil coolers of the engine to protect them from combat damages. Thus, the J models of P-38s have a distinctive "chin" in the engine design. The empty spaces on the wing now made room for fuel tanks for an additional 55 gallons of fuel when installed. Other improvements in the P-38J's was a hydraulically boosted ailerons and flat bullet-proof windscreens. 2970 P-38J's were built during its production period.

===Combat usage===
The P-38 performed very well in the Pacific and European theatres during World War II. They were used in roles such as bomber and transport escorts, performing reconnaissance, Combat Air Patrols, ground attack, Search and Rescue and other important and critical roles.

===Survivors===
Unfortunately, it is estimated that only five P-38J's survive to this day. Only two of them are still airworthy.

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

=== Notable pilots ===
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Richard_Bong_portrait.jpg|thumb|none|250px|link=User:U64962917#Bong,_Richard_I.|Major [[User:U64962917#Bong, Richard I.|Richard Bong]]'s infamous fighter with the ''Marge'' nose-art was a {{PAGENAME}}. Bong became the top U.S. ace of W.W. II after 40 confirmed victories (and a possible 8 more).]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Robin_Olds_portrait.jpg|thumb|none|350px|link=User:U64962917#Olds,_Robin|United States ace pilot [[User:U64962917#Olds, Robin|Robin Olds]], the only pilot to become an ace in a '''P-38''' and '''P-51''' during World War II.]] </li>
</ul></div>

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Bristol [[Beaufighter Mk VIc|Beaufighter]]
* de Havilland [[Mosquito (Family)|Mosquito]]
* Kawasaki [[Ki-96]]
* Mitsubishi [[Ki-83]]
* Nakajima [[J5N1|J5N]]
* Northrop [[P-61C-1|P-61]] Black Widow
* Westland [[Whirlwind Mk I| Whirlwind]]
* Petlyakov [[Pe-3 (e)|Pe-3]]
* Savoia-Marchetti [[SM.92]]

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Lockheed}}
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

FFAR Mighty Mouse

2020-10-09T00:23:36Z

U27109353:

[[File:2.75_inch_FFAR_sideview.png|thumbnail|right|x100px|]]

== Description ==

The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' or Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket is a 2.75 inches (70 mm) diameter unguided rocket utilised by military aircraft. This rocket was primarily developed for interceptor aircraft which would utilise them for shooting down enemy bombers which proved difficult to shoot down with guns and cannons at the speeds at which they were travelling. While initially developed for air-to-air combat, the FFAR was found to be very effective when utilised in air-to-surface operations.

Unlike traditional missiles with fixed fins, the FFAR's fins were in a folded position when loaded in a launch tube. Upon the missile being launched and departed the launch tube, the folding fins would flip out into place to help stabilise the spin-rate of the rocket. While a single rocket could by itself bring down a bomber, due to it being unguided, accuracy was not on the side of the attacking pilot. To compensate for the inaccuracy of the rockets, they were usually launched in volleys to increase chances of hitting the target.

By the late 1950s, rockets had largely been removed from air-to-air service and were being fitted to helicopters for an air-to-ground role. For helicopters, a volley of rockets was found to be just as effective as a cannon, however, the rockets were lighter and did not cause recoil that the cannons produced.

The FFAR was given the nickname ''Mighty Mouse'' after the famous cartoon character of the time which featured a mouse with superpowers and the ability to fly and was known to sing a famous line "Here I come to save the day!" when he flew into action.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|F3H}}{{Specs-Link|f3h-2}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-4}}{{Specs-Link|f-4c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-4ej}}
{{Navigation-Line|F11F}}{{Specs-Link|f11f_1_late}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-89}}{{Specs-Link|f-89d}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-100}}{{Specs-Link|f-100d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-100d_france}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-104}}{{Specs-Link|f-104c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-104s}}
{{Navigation-Line|FJ-4}}{{Specs-Link|fj_4b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fj_4b_agm_12b}}
{{Navigation-Line|G.91}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ps}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_r1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_r4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_r4_german}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ys}}
{{Navigation-Line|T-2}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|douglas_ad_4}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|a_4b}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attack helicopters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|A-129}}{{Specs-Link|a_129_a}}
{{Navigation-Line|AH-1}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s_early}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s_late}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1s}}
{{Navigation-Line|EC-665}}{{Specs-Link|tiger_uht}}
{{Navigation-Line|H-34}}{{Specs-Link|h_34}}

{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Utility helicopters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|BO 105}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105cb2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105pah1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105pah1_a1}}
{{Navigation-Line|SA.341}}{{Specs-Link|sa_341f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sa_342m}}
{{Navigation-Line|UH-1}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b_japan}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}

{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the rocket.''
[[File:UH-1B_mightymouse.jpg|350px|thumb|right|A side view of a [[UH-1B]] with a side mounted ''{{PAGENAME}}'' rocket launcher.]]

=== Effective damage ===

The {{PAGENAME}} is a straight forward unguided high-explosive rocket which can be configured for either a contact fuse, timed fuse or an automatic detonation fuse once the rocket propellent has run out. If the rocket explodes within close proximity of a target aircraft or vehicle, it will still cause splash damage and still potentially disable or destroy the target.

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of rockets that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==

Due to the size and inaccurate nature of the {{PAGENAME}}, this rocket is best used against slower moving targets like bombers, hovering helicopters, aircraft parked on a runway and other lightly armoured targets. When attacking bombers, it may be necessary to fire off the entire volley of rockets in one shot to increase the chance of hitting the target. For aircraft parked on the runway, helicopters or other lightly armoured targets it may only be necessary to fire off several rockets to ensure a hit, but not the entire volley. Several rocket attacks may be required due to the inaccurate nature of these rockets.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:Mighty_Mouse_Cartoon_Image.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' was nicknamed after the fictional cartoon character Mighty Mouse.]]

'''Pros:'''
* Enough explosive value to take out a bomber
* Lightweight

'''Cons:'''
* Extremely inaccurate, best to fire off multiples
* Requires using many to increase chances of hitting a target
* Like firing a shotgun, some may hit a target

== 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 ==

{{Youtube-gallery|yP7Oxx8AY2c|Mk 4 Mighty Mouse FFAR (Documentary)}}

== 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 weapon;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

* [http://bulletpicker.com/pdf/TM%209-1950,%20Rockets%20(1958).pdf TM9-1950 - Rockets, Department of the US Army, 1958, p. 74]

{{Rockets}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]

P-51C-10

2020-09-08T23:56:36Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card|code=p-51c-10-nt}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Raining Fire"]].

The P-51C and the essentially identical P-51B were the first production P-51 Mustang models equipped with the famous British Merlin engine, license-produced in the United States as the Packard V-1650. While not quite as famous as the later P-51D series with their bubble canopies, these "razorback" Mustangs were produced in large numbers and served Allied forces well. The vehicle represented in War Thunder is by default painted in the livery of the 332d Fighter Group, a distinguished all-African-American unit known as the "Red Tails".

The P-51C-10 handles similarly to comparable Merlin-engined Mustangs like the [[P-51D-5]] and [[P-51D-20-NA]] and is actually slightly better than them in some respects. Its main weaknesses lie in its armament: four wing-mounted M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts leave some to be desired and the suspended ordnance is nothing special. It is still a competitive aircraft overall and offers a good learning opportunity for later USAF propeller fighters. Succeeding the P-51C is the [[P-47D-22 RE]] "razorback" Thunderbolt, which trades general flight performance for better durability, more engine power at extreme altitudes, and most importantly, massively increased firepower.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

Unlike its Rank II predecessors, the [[P-51]] and [[A-36]], this plane performs well not only at low altitudes but also above 3,000 metres because of the new Merlin engine and two-stage supercharger instead of one-stage in the Allison powered models. Level speed is exceptionally good at all altitudes compared to the opposition at similar battle ratings. In Realistic Battles, it can reach 610 km/h at sea level and 705 km/h at 7,300 metres of altitude. Acceleration is also above average in level flight. The climb rate is good, especially when compared to the other American planes, and is noticeably better than the P-51D-5 and P-51D-20. At low altitude it is slightly above 20 m/s and the plane can reach 6,000 m alt in about 7 minutes. Diving performance is great as usual, its elevator and other control surfaces do not lock up even at 700-800 km/h IAS and can pull 9G at that speed. Medium and high speed manoeuvrability is good enough to keep up with the Bf 109 G and similar fighters for a while, and the sustained turn rate has been improved over previous Mustangs. Horizontal energy retention is very good, vertical energy retention is good, but manoeuvring energy retention is somewhat below average (but only in RB because of how the instructor controls the plane). Low speed manoeuvrability is still mediocre. The main issue is its rudder, which can lock up above 300 km/h IAS, albeit not to the extent of the P-51D models since the "razorback" fuselage provides better directional stability. The roll rate is not exceptional, veering into poor territory at low speeds.

If using Manual Engine Controls, it is worth mentioning that the Meredith effect is modeled on Mustangs. The cooling system is designed to generate a slight thrust that partially compensates for the aerodynamic drag caused by the radiators. This means that opening up the radiators even to high percentages only causes small effects on energy retention and top speed while keeping the engine nice and cool on WEP settings. This is definitely convenient considering that many contemporary opponents like the [[Bf 109 F-4]] will cook their engines if they run WEP for more than brief periods of time and tend to have draggy radiators.

When flying with full realistic controls, the plane requires some trimming, positive for the elevator (+ 5-7) and rudder or ailerons to the right (but only below 600 km/h IAS) if you want to keep the plane straight in the level flight, when turning the plane tends to roll to the right side. Stall characteristics are very good, with the fuel set to 30 minutes it stalls out only when the elevator deflection reaches 90%. It does have a high stalling speed however, at 175 km/h without flaps and 155 km/h with flaps.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,300 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 685 || 666 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.6 || 12.9 || 12.9 || rowspan="2" | 300
|-
! Upgraded
| 734 || 708 || 20.5 || 21.0 || 20.2 || 16.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 675 || 460 || 275 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 500 || < 300 || < 550 || > 400
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


The survivability is similar to most other prop fighters. The engine is located in the nose, and the fuel tanks are located behind the pilot's seat and in the wing roots. There is significant armour protection for the pilot, but the pilot is still vulnerable from the top, bottom, and sides. The fuel tanks are also vulnerable, as is the cooling system.

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 11.11 mm Steel - Behind pilot's seat
* 6.35 mm Steel - Behind engine, in front of oil cooling system and pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel - In front of upper engine
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)

As mentioned earlier, the P-51C-10's armament is not its strong suit. Four mid-war M2 Brownings do not provide much burst mass and the most reliable way of dispatching enemy aircraft is to set them on fire. For this purpose, the Universal belt has a good content of M8 AP-I rounds. While they do not have tracers like the M20 API-T rounds and have a lower fire chance than the M23 Incendiary rounds enjoyed by the P-51D Mustangs, they will still do good work against more fragile aircraft like [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109s]]. Tougher targets like [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190s]] can shrug off quite a few incoming rounds. Attackers, twin-engined fighters, and bombers with defensive armament tend to be durable and are also challenging to approach and destroy. Focus on knocking out defensive gunners and igniting engines for best results, though these targets are more easily dealt with by friendly [[P-61C-1|P-61 Black Widows]] and [[P-63 (Family)|P-63 Kingcobras]]. The ammunition supply of 300 rounds per gun is good, allowing for some spray-and-pray.

Since the guns are mounted in the wings, gun convergence should be considered. Anywhere between 400-600 metres should work well, but note that more distant convergence settings will make close range shooting more difficult, especially considering the low volume of fire.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

The P-51C-10 has the same suspended ordnance as the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], minus the infamous gunpods. The only loadout worth taking is the twin 500 lb bombs. They drop as a pair and have enough power to take out a target or two if dropped with some precision, though they are certainly less impressive than the twin 1,000 lb bombs carried by later Mustangs with their reinforced hardpoints. Do not engage other fighters while carrying bombs, as they are mounted on the wings and contribute significant amounts of drag, weight, and inertia.

== Usage in battles ==


'''SB'''

The P-51C-10 has outstanding performance compared to other planes that can meet in the same bracket (Enduring Confrontation 3, BR 3.7-4.7), level speed is higher at all altitudes than anything that it can face, so it can easily escape from anything when it finds itself in a trouble, climb rate is also very good and allows it to quickly get to the 3,000-5,000 m alt. This plane like all other Mustangs does not overheat when the radiator is set to 90-100%, it also does not slow down the plane, so it can always cruise with enabled WEP which is not limited, always engage other planes with humongous speed advantage and make use of very good mid and high-speed manoeuvrability. Sustained climb rate is worse than that of the [[Bf 109 F-4]] or [[Bf 109 G-2|G-2]] by 2-4 m/s, escaping from them by climbing away should be avoided, but still allows the plane to get pretty quick to 3,000-5,000 m alt, also the zoom climb is very good.

One issue that the plane has is quite disappointing armament, sometimes it takes some time to shoot down the enemy fighters and it is even worse against bombers and attackers with higher durability, but attacking with a speed advantage and surprising the enemy should solve it.

The other issue is unsatisfactory turn rate at low speed, engaging other fighters in dogfight should be avoided (instantaneous turn rate is actually good when the plane has lots of energy to spare), especially the Bf 109 F-4, [[G.55 sottoserie 0|G.55]] or Yaks and anything that can turn better than them, the speed advantage should be used instead to beat them.

Because of these points, the preferable tactics for this plane should be Boom and Zoom and other manoeuvres that do not purely depend on turn rate and more on the plane's speed. Dogfighting can work to some extent and against some planes like the [[Fw 190 (Family)|Fw 190 A]] (which does not really stand a chance against the razorback Mustang) but to that the player will be forced to sacrifice speed advantage and make the plane vulnerable to attack from slower planes with far better turn rates.

The plane when it is upgraded can also used as a starter plane in the higher bracket (Enduring Confrontation 4, BR 5.0-6.3) where it should not have any issues with beating tier 4 German, Japanese and Italian fighters, most of them that can be meet there have very similar performance and the P-51C is even better than the D-5 version in some ways.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FSBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
| FSBC mk.5
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
|
| FMBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Outstanding Boom & Zoom capability
* Great performance at altitude
* Very fast at all altitudes, especially in a shallow dive
* Very agile at high speeds due to laminar flow wings
* Decent cockpit visibility
* Large fuel capacity (1 hour 45 minutes maximum flight time)
* Fantastic top speed and acceleration
* Very good sustained climb rate

'''Cons:'''

* Only four 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns with mid-war belts which don't do much damage
* High stall speed and mediocre low speed manoeuvrability
* Not so great at ground pounding, only a few loadout options
* Not very durable

== 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 ==

'''Other variants in-game'''
* [[P-51 (Family)]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/497252-p-51-c10/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-51A

2020-07-26T22:40:23Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51a_tl
|cockpit=cockpit_p-51a_tl.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was a special vehicle offered during the 2015 Thunder League as a reward for completing five Air challenges. The P-51A TL comes with a high-powered engine and with four 12.7 mm Browning machine guns.

A faster, but lesser armed successor to the [[P-51]], best used as air-superiority fighter utilizing [[BnZ]] tactics. The [[A-36]] is the up-gunned attacker variant featuring ground ordnance.
== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

"The Need for Speed" is a worthy credo for all [[P-51 (Family)|Mustangs]]. This initial iteration boasts a significant speed advantage over all [[:Category:Second rank aircraft|Rank II]] aircraft, but sacrifices are obvious. On the upside, the good maximum velocity greatly benefits the energy retention coming out of dives and for staying out of trouble.

This version features the Allison V-1710-81 Engine with improved performance at altitude at a small cost to horsepower output on the ground. However it is also, by a small margin, the lightest variant and more aerodynamic, off-setting this loss.

Manoeuvrability is nothing to write home about (except roll-rate), especially without speed to burn. The control surfaces lock up at high speeds which makes the Mustang a comparatively agile fighter when initiating combat, but this is quickly lost. Fortunately the combat flaps have a very high speed tolerance and greatly benefit it in dogfights. Overall the P-51 likes to bleed speed in manoeuvres and the lost energy cannot be easily regained. For another downside is the sluggish acceleration which further causes a low rate of climb. Managing both disadvantage is the Ace's true skill for this elite [[Boom & Run|Boom and Run]] fighter. However this is for an altitude range up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft). High altitude performance suffers which in combat, due the slow climb rate, is rarely reached anyway.

Thus all engagements, may they be ''Boom & Zoom'' or ''Boom & Run'' style, should be performed below said altitudes.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,170 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
| 627 || 612 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.2 || 22.0 || 11.3 || 11.3 || rowspan="2" | 370
|-
! Upgraded
| 712 || 668 || 19.1 || 20.0 || 26.0 || 15.7
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 652 || 450 || 279 || ~12 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 550 || < 230 || < 550 || > 360
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

While the Mustang looks quite defensive on first glance, it is a deceptive one. The fuel tanks are wing-mounted and prone to fires (the D-series has got an inline one). The very small engine cowl plate could just as well be absent. Both issues combined leave many pilots a gliding and/or burning example of why to avoid bomber's defensive fire. The P-51's prime form of defence is speed. As a ''Boom & Run'' fighter, avoiding air-drag inducing bullet holes by not getting hit is a far preferable option anyway. Whilst setting up another attack (a.k.a. retreating from combat) the very generous backseat armour will absorb any stray shots. In general the pilot's survivability is great.
== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
* 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg inner + 280 outer = 1,260 total)
In terms of weapons, there aren't many to speak of. Nearly all US fighters from this point on feature at least six M2 Brownings. Thus the burst mass is quite light. A detriment for quick attack passes. Use the tracer belt or the omnipurpose belts, as they contain the most incendiary bullets. For Realistic and Simulator battles the ammo count is quite miniscule, controlled bursts are in order.
== Usage in battles ==


The start of each battle can be quite similar, thus in general proceed as follows: WEP and climb until you are higher than most enemy aircraft. Then proceed to destroy fighters. Do NOT turn fight with any aircraft except for bombers, though the latter is an ill-advised target with the lack of heavy firepower. If someone is on your tail, proceed in a shallow dive. The plane<nowiki>'</nowiki>s exceptional top speed should allow it to outrun almost everything. Note that while this Mustang variant features improved high altitude ability, it is still not comparable to true altitude fighters like the [[MiG-3 (Family)|MiG-3]].

In Arcade Battles the option for in-air reloads may tempt the pilot to spray & pray and dump all the ammunition. However, a more deliberate and aimed approach is often more succesful. Waiting outside a furball or dogfight for the right moment to intercept is key. Due to the lack of climb rate and firepower bombers should not be sought out. In general the P-51 plays akin to the [[He 100 D-1|He-100]].

In Realistic Battles the combat role is a tricky game. Lacking climb rate and good high altitude performance the Mustang pilot needs to wait for the combat to come down to about 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Climbing should be done away from the expected combat zone (a.k.a. side-climbing) . At this point initial combat should be Boom & Run, utilizing the superior top speed to avoid combat while the enemy is focused on other team mates. Once the hostiles have dropped to a lower altitude Boom & Zooming can be engaged in. With only four HMGs and 1260 rounds, ammo can run sparse after three kills. Keep to 30 min of fuel minimum and returning to base will be a rare occurrence. Overall this is a support fighter, as in the current climbing meta engagements against higher flying interceptor-fighters are often deadly, as the Mustang then lacks the critical ability to choose the time of engagement.

Simulator Battles is where the P-51A truly shines. Flying at top speed with military rated power (100%) keeps the engine cool and enemies usually far away at one<nowiki>'</nowiki>s tail. Most of all combat happens slightly below the Mustang's preferred altitude and the cockpit view is great, albeit with limited rearward view. Only the lack of acceleration in prolonged dogfights is a trap that even experienced pilots still fall into. An emergency dive to top speed will however fix this, if the pilot remembered to keep some altitude. And one should, for the greatest advantage is the ability to disengage any unfavourable battle and like with many things, the early Mustangs do not disappoint.

=== 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 Auto control available || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Auto control available || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
|
|-
! colspan="5" |This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely fast in level flight or in a dive
* Gets access to the late-war .50 cal belts
* Awesome looking skin: Lightning strips and red (magenta) make it go faster
* Little lockup at highspeeds
* Hard to wingrip

'''Cons:'''

* Not very manoeuvrable
* Only four Browning HMGs
* Fast engine overheating
* No payload options

== 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 ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

A-20G-25

2020-07-07T01:38:07Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card|code=a-20g}}
{{About
| about = American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = DB-7 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test as the ''A-20G-30'' before being remodelled and renamed in Update 1.47 "Big Guns" as the ''A-20G-25''.

The A-20 is classified as an attacker, which carries both good and bad traits when compared to "real" bombers. The main advantage is its strong offensive armament (comparable to that of many U.S fighters), which allows it to engage other aircraft or to strafe soft ground targets. Additionally, it carries an excellent defensive armament, with 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns mounted in a dorsal turret, and a single 12.7 mm machine gun in a hatch below the tail. However, in-game attackers are treated differently than bombers, spawning at a lower altitude and in Realistic Mode, they do not benefit from a bomb-sight.

Due to its lack of manoeuvrability, turn fighting or energy fighting enemy aircraft is extremely ill-advised, since the A-20G isn't capable of out-turning anything (even heavy fighters), and its energy retention is very poor. If one must engage an enemy fighter, either make sure to have a significant energy advantage in order to use boom-and-zoom tactics or try to provoke them into a head-on pass since not much can compete with the A-20G's armament. If an enemy plane avoids a head-on engagement, it is likely better to avoid turning, and use the speed of this plane to either get to help or to allow your gunners to engage the fighters. Often, the best defensive tactic is to stay at very low altitude to force the enemy into the dorsal turret's coverage area and hope it can deal with it, as the A-20G is hopeless in any kind of combat manoeuvring otherwise.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 491 || 476 || 7,224 || 35.6 || 36.2 || 6.1 || 7.7 || 604
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 532 || 510 || 7,224 || 32.6 || 34.0 || 15.5 || 10.1 || 604
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 633 || 450 || ??? || ~9 || ~?3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 260 || < 320 || < 320 || > 200
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 467 m || 2,700 hp || 3,200 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 2,906 m || 2,500 hp || 3,022 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
* 8 mm Steel - Fore cockpit side armour plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
* 12.7 mm Steel - Dorsal gunner's fore and aft armour plating
* 12.7 mm Steel - Ventral gunner's belly armour plating
* 12.7 mm Steel - Ventral gunner's rear armour plating

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:A-26G-25_Psithurism_001.png|450px|thumb|right|Bombing run on two destroyers in the Green Mountains Gulf]]
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, chin-mounted (350 rpg = 700 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|M8|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* 12 x M8 rockets
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, ventral turret (400 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

The A-20G-25 possesses a fairly standard loadout of 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns like many regular fighters in the U.S tech tree. However, unlike the fighters, the machine guns on the A-20 are mounted solely in the nose. This allows for a much more focused cone of fire at range since convergence is not a significant factor, meaning that the A-20G will have an easier time hitting targets, but hardened ground targets like light and medium tanks will be easier to kill due to the fact that bullets are not converging from an angle, increasing penetration.

In general, either stealth or universal belts are recommendable for most situations. While the ground targets belt does make it feasible to kill medium tanks with the 12.7 mm machine guns, the angles required for dealing damage are so specific, you end up putting a fairly unmanoeuvrable plane at risk of crashing.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiators
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
|
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great armament consisting of 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns that are all mounted in the nose
* Defensive armament
* Decent acceleration and speed
* Decent protection
* Can take a lot of damage from similarly tiered planes before going down
* Powerful payload

'''Cons:'''

* Poor turn rate
* Poor climb rate
* Large target
* Poor energy retention
* Bazooka rocket positioning makes direct hits difficult
* Despite having largely superior flight characteristics compared to other bombers, it will still get outperformed by any fighter in a dogfight
* Performing a barrel roll in level flight, will fuel starve your engines
* Pulling negative G's will starve the engines in realistic battle mode

== History ==

In 1936 a design team from Douglas Aircraft set out to create a light bomber. The design would be based around a high mounted wing and tricycle landing gear. It was to be powered by a pair of 450 hp Pratt & Whitney engines. It was known as the Douglas Model 7A. The projected was shelved with design work nearly halfway completed. Based on information from the Spanish Civil War, the U.S. Army put out a specification for a new aeroplane. The requirements was a cruising speed of 200 mph and a range of 1200 miles. It was to also consist of a 1,200 lb bomb load. Douglas then revised the design to meet these requirements. It was known as the Douglas Model 7B.

A French purchasing commission touring U.S. aircraft companies was informed of the new design. They received permission from the U.S. government to spectate the performance trials. The commission was impressed with the aeroplane and received further permission to participate in the flight test. The French placed an order for 100 aircraft and was quickly increased to 270. They also requested changes to the aircraft's design including better range, payload, additional armour, and french specific equipment. This new design was designated DB-7. France was defeated before a majority of the aircraft could be delivered. The remaining aircraft order was diverted to the British and was designated the Boston.

The U.S. Army Air Corps ordered the aircraft in June of 1939. The army requested several changes. The primary change was new engines with superchargers. The aircraft was designated A-20. The original order was for 63 aircraft, with 60 aircraft delivered. The follow on order was for the A-20A without the superchargers, 140 ordered. The A-20G was the first solid nose A-20. Originally armed with 4 x 20 mm cannons, they were later changed for the M2 Browning. This was also the first A-20 with a powered turret. A total of 2,850 A-20Gs were built.

The US, France, Britain, and Russia all made extensive use of the A-20. Used in France and Russia as low-level attackers, the A-20 was considered overpowered, easy to fly, and easy to care for, even by inexperienced and lightly trained crews. The A-20 saw combat in all theatres of World War II. This aircraft filled many roles including Bomber, Fighter, Recon, Attacker, and Night Fighter.

=== In-game description ===

"The Douglas A-20 Havoc / DB-7 Boston was a family of twin-engine aircraft which included attack aircraft, light bomber and night fighter variants, and which served with US, British, Soviet and other air forces during WWII. Allied air forces designated the bomber variants Boston and the night fighter variants Havoc. The US Army Air Force accepted the aircraft known as the A-20 Havoc.

The first production variants ordered by the RAF were the DB-7B, designated Boston Mk III; the same designation was given to the DB-73, previously ordered by France. These aircraft, mainly used as light bombers, were equipped with the same engines as the DB-7A and had larger fuel tanks which increased their range, a weak spot on the Boston Mk I / Mk II which the British wished to address.

A total of 780 Boston Mk III were ordered by Great Britain. However, a few were lost during transport and a large number were then sent to the Soviet Union."

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|cxkPq8ICn3Y|'''The Shooting Range #25''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:42 discusses the A-20.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Douglas [[A-26 (Family)|A-26]] Invader

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Bristol [[Beaufighter (Family)|Beaufighter]]
* Messerschmitt [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]]
* Northrop [[P-61C-1|P-61]] Black Widow
* Petlyakov [[Pe-2 (Family)|Pe-2]]

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA attackers}}

A-20G-25

2020-07-07T01:28:48Z

U27109353: /* In-game description */

{{Specs-Card|code=a-20g}}
{{About
| about = American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = DB-7 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test as the ''A-20G-30'' before being remodelled and renamed in Update 1.47 "Big Guns" to the ''A-20G-25''.

The A-20 is classified as an attacker, which carries both good and bad traits when compared to "real" bombers. The main advantage is its strong offensive armament (comparable to that of many U.S fighters), which allows it to engage other aircraft or to strafe soft ground targets. Additionally, it carries an excellent defensive armament, with 2 x 12.7 mm machine guns mounted in a dorsal turret, and a single 12.7 mm machine gun in a hatch below the tail. However, in-game attackers are treated differently than bombers, spawning at a lower altitude and in Realistic Mode, they do not benefit from a bomb-sight.

Due to its lack of manoeuvrability, turn fighting or energy fighting enemy aircraft is extremely ill-advised, since the A-20G isn't capable of out-turning anything (even heavy fighters), and its energy retention is very poor. If one must engage an enemy fighter, either make sure to have a significant energy advantage in order to use boom-and-zoom tactics or try to provoke them into a head-on pass since not much can compete with the A-20G's armament. If an enemy plane avoids a head-on engagement, it is likely better to avoid turning, and use the speed of this plane to either get to help or to allow your gunners to engage the fighters. Often, the best defensive tactic is to stay at very low altitude to force the enemy into the dorsal turret's coverage area and hope it can deal with it, as the A-20G is hopeless in any kind of combat manoeuvring otherwise.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 491 || 476 || 7,224 || 35.6 || 36.2 || 6.1 || 7.7 || 604
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 532 || 510 || 7,224 || 32.6 || 34.0 || 15.5 || 10.1 || 604
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 633 || 450 || ??? || ~9 || ~?3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 260 || < 320 || < 320 || > 200
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 467 m || 2,700 hp || 3,200 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 2,906 m || 2,500 hp || 3,022 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate
* 8 mm Steel - Fore cockpit side armour plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Pilot's seat
* 12.7 mm Steel - Dorsal gunner's fore and aft armour plating
* 12.7 mm Steel - Ventral gunner's belly armour plating
* 12.7 mm Steel - Ventral gunner's rear armour plating

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:A-26G-25_Psithurism_001.png|450px|thumb|right|Bombing run on two destroyers in the Green Mountains Gulf]]
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, chin-mounted (350 rpg = 700 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|M8|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* 12 x M8 rockets
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, ventral turret (400 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

The A-20G-25 possesses a fairly standard loadout of 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns like many regular fighters in the U.S tech tree. However, unlike the fighters, the machine guns on the A-20 are mounted solely in the nose. This allows for a much more focused cone of fire at range since convergence is not a significant factor, meaning that the A-20G will have an easier time hitting targets, but hardened ground targets like light and medium tanks will be easier to kill due to the fact that bullets are not converging from an angle, increasing penetration.

In general, either stealth or universal belts are recommendable for most situations. While the ground targets belt does make it feasible to kill medium tanks with the 12.7 mm machine guns, the angles required for dealing damage are so specific, you end up putting a fairly unmanoeuvrable plane at risk of crashing.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiators
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
|
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great armament consisting of 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns that are all mounted in the nose
* Defensive armament
* Decent acceleration and speed
* Decent protection
* Can take a lot of damage from similarly tiered planes before going down
* Powerful payload

'''Cons:'''

* Poor turn rate
* Poor climb rate
* Large target
* Poor energy retention
* Bazooka rocket positioning makes direct hits difficult
* Despite having largely superior flight characteristics compared to other bombers, it will still get outperformed by any fighter in a dogfight
* Performing a barrel roll in level flight, will fuel starve your engines
* Pulling negative G's will starve the engines in realistic battle mode

== History ==

In 1936 a design team from Douglas Aircraft set out to create a light bomber. The design would be based around a high mounted wing and tricycle landing gear. It was to be powered by a pair of 450 hp Pratt & Whitney engines. It was known as the Douglas Model 7A. The projected was shelved with design work nearly halfway completed. Based on information from the Spanish Civil War, the U.S. Army put out a specification for a new aeroplane. The requirements was a cruising speed of 200 mph and a range of 1200 miles. It was to also consist of a 1,200 lb bomb load. Douglas then revised the design to meet these requirements. It was known as the Douglas Model 7B.

A French purchasing commission touring U.S. aircraft companies was informed of the new design. They received permission from the U.S. government to spectate the performance trials. The commission was impressed with the aeroplane and received further permission to participate in the flight test. The French placed an order for 100 aircraft and was quickly increased to 270. They also requested changes to the aircraft's design including better range, payload, additional armour, and french specific equipment. This new design was designated DB-7. France was defeated before a majority of the aircraft could be delivered. The remaining aircraft order was diverted to the British and was designated the Boston.

The U.S. Army Air Corps ordered the aircraft in June of 1939. The army requested several changes. The primary change was new engines with superchargers. The aircraft was designated A-20. The original order was for 63 aircraft, with 60 aircraft delivered. The follow on order was for the A-20A without the superchargers, 140 ordered. The A-20G was the first solid nose A-20. Originally armed with 4 x 20 mm cannons, they were later changed for the M2 Browning. This was also the first A-20 with a powered turret. A total of 2,850 A-20Gs were built.

The US, France, Britain, and Russia all made extensive use of the A-20. Used in France and Russia as low-level attackers, the A-20 was considered overpowered, easy to fly, and easy to care for, even by inexperienced and lightly trained crews. The A-20 saw combat in all theatres of World War II. This aircraft filled many roles including Bomber, Fighter, Recon, Attacker, and Night Fighter.

=== In-game description ===

"The Douglas A-20 Havoc / DB-7 Boston was a family of twin-engine aircraft which included attack aircraft, light bomber and night fighter variants, and which served with US, British, Soviet and other air forces during WWII. Allied air forces designated the bomber variants Boston and the night fighter variants Havoc. The US Army Air Force accepted the aircraft known as the A-20 Havoc.

The first production variants ordered by the RAF were the DB-7B, designated Boston Mk III; the same designation was given to the DB-73, previously ordered by France. These aircraft, mainly used as light bombers, were equipped with the same engines as the DB-7A and had larger fuel tanks which increased their range, a weak spot on the Boston Mk I / Mk II which the British wished to address.

A total of 780 Boston Mk III were ordered by Great Britain. However, a few were lost during transport and a large number were then sent to the Soviet Union."

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|cxkPq8ICn3Y|'''The Shooting Range #25''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 00:42 discusses the A-20.}}

== See also ==


;Related development

* Douglas [[A-26 (Family)|A-26]] Invader

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Bristol [[Beaufighter (Family)|Beaufighter]]
* Messerschmitt [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]]
* Northrop [[P-61C-1|P-61]] Black Widow
* Petlyakov [[Pe-2 (Family)|Pe-2]]

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA attackers}}

Fw 190 A-8

2020-07-05T12:18:27Z

U27109353: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card|code=fw-190a-8}}
{{About
| about = German fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = Fw 190 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,500 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 622 || 601 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 24.2 || 25.3 || 10.2 || 10.2 || 450
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,500 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 687 || 652 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.4 || 22.8 || 19.5 || 14.1 || 450
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 900 || ~12 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 420 || < 240 || < 550 || > 280
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 700 m || 1,498 hp || 1,874 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,300 m || 1,301 hp || 1,628 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 6 mm Steel - Fore cowl ring
* 10 mm Steel - Cowl ring
* 6 mm Steel - Under engine armour
* 8 mm Steel - Under cockpit/fuel tank armour plate
* 5 mm Steel - Rear fuel tank armour
* 8 mm Steel - Pilot's seat armour
* 6 mm Steel - Pilot's seat armour
* 12 mm Steel - Headrest armour
* 57 mm Bulletproof glass

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 131 (13 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, wing-mounted (140 rpg outer + 250 rpg inner = 780 total)
* 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|Wfr.Gr.21}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x Wfr.Gr.21 rockets

== Usage in battles ==

The Fw 190 A-8 possesses far below average speed, acceleration, and climb ability for its rank. It does, however, have great high-speed control and a wicked armament that will shred any fighter almost instantly. It is recommended that you climb to the side and let your teammates engage first so you can put your excellent BnZ ability to work. If you spot a bandit co-alt, a head-on attack followed by an evasive manoeuvre and then extending away to repeat the process is a recommended tactic. If a bandit has superior energy and is pressing an attack against you, try to drag them to friendlies, but don't sacrifice too much energy to do so. If you are skilled enough, another tactic would be to initiate a scissors manoeuvre; either rolling or flat, and then break away when he goes to yo-yo to control his overshoot. The scissors is a highly effective manoeuvre in the 190 A-8. If you are ballsy enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, you could be greatly rewarded. In summary, climb to the side, BnZ like a champ, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use your rate of roll to free yourself when cornered.

The Fw 190 A-8 sits at a high battle rating, close to the [[Spitfire LF Mk IX]] and [[La-7B-20]], both of which are vastly superior planes overall. It frequently faces [[Tempest (Family)|Tempests]], [[Fw 190 A-5]], [[Bf 109 (Family)|Bf 109 G variants]], [[Spitfire (Family)|Griffon Spitfires]] and [[F4U-1C]]'s. Unfortunately, the A-8 is by and large worse than all of these planes, but it still possesses some unique advantages and if piloted correctly is going to give anyone trouble. However, these advantages are quite predictable and easily countered by an attentive opponent.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 13 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 13 mm MGs
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
| R6 modification
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Amazing roll rate, as to be expected of the Fw 190 line
* Great energy retention
* Gets an interceptor airspawn
* Massive pool of cannon ammunition
* Well armoured frontal profile
* Powerful MG 151/20 with access to '''''Minengeschoß''''' dense belts
* MG FF/M's found on previous Fw 190 variants replaced with MG 151/20

'''Cons:'''

* Poor pitch/turn rate without combat flap angle makes dog fighting very risky, but not impossible
* Elevator response and pitch rate very slow at low-medium speeds
* Outboard wing 20 mm cannon loaded with 140 round belts, while inboard/wing root mounted cannon fed from 250 round belts
* Manoeuvrability at speeds below 350 km/h
* Generally outclassed by other Fw 190 when engaging in turn fights
* Mediocre climb rate for its battle rating and as Fw 190's go
* Slow turn rate, can even be outturned by a B-25

== 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 ==

{{Youtube-gallery|vtCKzvbLfNg|'''The Shooting Range #18''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 03:03 discusses the Fw 190A.}}

== See also ==


* [[Fw 190 A-8 (USA)]], the premium American version.
* [[NC.900]], the gift French version.

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Focke-Wulf}}
{{Germany fighters}}

Fw 190 A-8 (USA)

2020-07-05T12:17:45Z

U27109353: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=fw-190a-8_usa
|cockpit=cockpit_fw-190a-8_usa.jpg
}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Fw 190 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_Fw_190_A-8_USA.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} premium American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,500 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
|617||600|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||24.5||25.0||7.8||10.0||450
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,500 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
|689||652|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||21.2||22.8||23.4||14.1||450
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} ||N/A|| ~19 || ~19
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 420 || < 510 || < 510 || > 280
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,500 m || 1,677 hp || 1,971 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,900 m || 1,478 hp || 1,804 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 6 mm Steel - Fore cowl ring
* 10 mm Steel - Cowl ring
* 6 mm Steel - Under engine armour
* 8 mm Steel - Under cockpit/fuel tank armour plate
* 5 mm Steel - Rear fuel tank armour
* 8 mm Steel - Pilot's chair armour
* 6 mm Steel - Pilot's chair armour
* 12 mm Steel - Headrest armour
* 57 mm Bulletproof glass

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 131 (13 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, wing-mounted (250 + 140 rpg each wing = 780 total)
* 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

== Usage in battles ==

The Fw-190 A-8 possesses far below average speed, acceleration, and climb ability for its rank. It does, however, have great high-speed control and a wicked armament that will shred any fighter almost instantly. It is recommended that you climb to the side and let your teammates engage first so you can put your excellent BnZ ability to work. If you spot a bandit co-alt, a head-on attack followed by an evasive manoeuvre and then extending away to repeat the processes is a recommended tactic. If a bandit has superior E and is pressing an attack against you, try to drag them to friendlies, but don't sacrifice too much E to do so. If you are skilled enough, another tactic would be to initiate a scissors; either rolling or flat, and then break away when he goes to yo-yo to control his overshoot. The scissors is a highly effective manoeuvre in the 190 A-8. If you are ballsy enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, you could be greatly rewarded. In summary, climb to the side, Boom & Zoom like a champ, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use your rate of roll to free yourself when cornered.

==== Specific enemies worth noting ====
The premium Fw 190 A-8 sits at a high battle rating, close to the Spitfire LF Mk. IX and La-7B-20, both of which are vastly superior planes overall. It frequently faces Tempests, Fw 190 A-5, Bf 109 G-10 variants, Griffon Spitfires and F4U-1C's. Unfortunately, the A-8 is by large worse than all of these planes, but it still possesses some unique advantages and if piloted correctly is really going to give anyone trouble. However, these advantages are quite predictable and easily nullified by an attentive opponent.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" |Combined|| rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="1" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 13 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 13 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
|-
! colspan="5" |This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Very strong 4 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons
* Great roll rate
* Great energy retention
* Heavy armament
* Plenty of ammo
* Well armoured from the front

'''Cons:'''
* Large, slow turn rate combined with no combat flaps greatly reduces dogfight efficiency
* Elevator has low responsibility & effect on low-medium speeds
* Manoeuvrability at low speeds is bad
* Bad climb rate for a 190

== History ==


On January 1, 1945, an Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 681497) flown by Corporal Walter Wagner from 4./JG 4 landed at the allied-held field at St Trond, Belgium, after having been hit by flak and being forced to make an emergency landing during Operation Bodenplatte. From here it was transferred to the 404th Fighter Group, USAAF.<ref name="Wikimedia description">US Army Air Forces. File:Fw 190 A-8.Jpg. Wikimedia Commons. 1 Apr. 2010, Accessed: [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fw_190_A-8.jpg Website]</ref><ref name="WingsPalette">Ivanov, Grigory. "Focke-Wulf Fw.190A/S Wurger - USA." Wings Palette. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2019.[http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/451/3/0#2 Website]</ref> It was later repainted.

== Media ==

[[File:Fw_190_A-8(WNr681497).jpg|350px|thumb|none|Captured German Fw 190, still in its original paint, repaired and evaluated by the US military. (''Note the removed guns'')]]

==References==
<references />

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

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

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Focke-Wulf}}
{{USA fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

Rasmussen's P-36A

2020-06-20T12:25:35Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36a_rasmussen
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36a_rasmussen.jpg
|store=6951
}}
{{About
| about = gift American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the regular version
| link-1 = P-36A
| usage-2 = other variants
| link-2 = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk is a unique American low tier aircraft in War Thunder. Although it does not appear in the American tech tree, it can be purchased through a DLC pack on Steam. The plane is modelled after the one that Philip M. Rasmussen flew on the island of Oahu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name="MilFac" /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn't long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilot's rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="MilFac" />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name="AviHis" /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name="MilFac" /> For all of this aircraft's positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


Rasmussen's P-36A is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name="MilFac" /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name="JoeB" />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 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
| 482 || 468 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.9 || 18.4 || 7.0 || 7.0 || rowspan="2" | 168
|-
! Upgraded
| 527 || 504 || 17.1 || 17.3 || 15.3 || 10.6
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 520 || 520 || 232 || ~9 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,229 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm steel - behind the pilot
* All fuel tanks in the fuselage

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The P-36A's only sources of protection for the pilot are the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for an effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. The P-36 lacks self-sealing fuel tanks, so if any of the three are punctured (one directly behind the pilot and two below the pilot's feet) they will leak fuel and if accompanied by fire, will rapidly degrade the aircraft structure to failure and destruction.<ref name="JoeB" /> There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

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

For the P-36A, the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun is quite weak in comparison to the level of performance this aircraft is capable of. Later Hawks rectified this situation by adding two or four machines guns. For this aircraft, both machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc. The disadvantage to this is that the machine guns are limited in firing rate due to being synchronized with the rotating propeller; however, with these guns nose-mounted, there is little need to adjust for convergence. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6" |T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7" |T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Rasmussen's P-36A is essentially identical to the [[P-36A]], so, energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having two machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

In mixed battles, use your machine guns to kill open-topped SPAAs. The MGs are weak against closed topped tanks but open-topped tanks are much easier targets. Because of the low stall speed, you can strafe ground targets for a longer period of time.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Not controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High climb rate, especially with war emergency power applied
* Impressive roll and turn rate, highly efficient Immelman and split-S manoeuvres
* Strong rudder, excels in wing-over and hammerhead stall manoeuvres
* Slow stall speed (about 55 mph or 88.5 kph)

'''Cons:'''

* Armament is inadequate against bombers and other aircraft with rear-facing gunners
* Standard Army Air Corps armament for the time, same as the [[P-26A-34 M2]] Peashooter
* Lack of adequate armour renders engine, fuel tanks, oil coolers and virtually defenceless
* Huge blind spot behind the pilot's seat (critical for simulator players)

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name="MilFac" /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name="AviHis" />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name="MilFac" /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name="JoeB" />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name="JoeB" />

This specific aircraft was piloted by Philip M. Rasmussen during the attack on Pearl Harbour. He and three other pilots amidst the burning wreckage of other fighter and bomber aircraft on the tarmac, raced into battle to engage Japanese fighters and bombers. Rasmussen is documented to have shot down an [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero before being forced to land due to extensive damage by his aircraft suffered during the Pearl Harbour battle.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|zYqpwof85qo|''War Thunder - Best Low Tier Premium Plane to buy - Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk'' - '''Krebs'''|kqfs59v-aOY|''War Thunder [Multi-View] - Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''|kNKYu7cGCxI|'''War Thunder RB Gameplay - Rasmussen P-36A Hawk''' - '''Jugi'''}}

== See also ==


* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations

* Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
* Bloch M.B.150
* [[IAR-81C]]
* Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
* Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
* Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Joebaugher.com website (1999) [[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A]].</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [[https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).]]</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007) [[http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]].</ref>
</references>

== External links ==


* Militaryfactory.com website [[https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk)]]
* Aviationhistory.com website [[http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]]
* Joebaugher.com website [[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A]]

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

Rasmussen's P-36A

2020-06-19T15:40:24Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36a_rasmussen
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36a_rasmussen.jpg
|store=6951
}}
{{About
| about = gift American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the regular version
| link-1 = P-36A
| usage-2 = other variants
| link-2 = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk is a unique American low tier aircraft in War Thunder. Although it does not appear in the American tech tree, it can be purchased through a DLC pack on Steam. The plane is modelled after the one that Philip M. Rasmussen flew on the island of Oahu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941.

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name="MilFac" /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn't long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilot's rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however, the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="MilFac" />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name="AviHis" /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name="MilFac" /> For all of this aircraft's positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


Rasmussen's P-36A is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name="MilFac" /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name="JoeB" />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 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
| 482 || 468 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.9 || 18.4 || 7.0 || 7.0 || rowspan="2" | 168
|-
! Upgraded
| 527 || 504 || 17.1 || 17.3 || 15.3 || 10.6
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 520 || 520 || 232 || ~9 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,229 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm steel - behind the pilot
* All fuel tanks in the fuselage

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The P-36A's only sources of protection for the pilot are the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for an effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. The P-36 lacks self-sealing fuel tanks, so if any of the three are punctured (one directly behind the pilot and two below the pilot's feet) they will leak fuel and if accompanied by fire, will rapidly degrade the aircraft structure to failure and destruction.<ref name="JoeB" /> There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

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

For the P-36A, the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun is quite weak in comparison to the level of performance this aircraft is capable of. Later Hawks rectified this situation by adding two or four machines guns. For this aircraft, both machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc. The disadvantage to this is that the machine guns are limited in firing rate due to being synchronized with the rotating propeller; however, with these guns nose-mounted, there is little need to adjust for convergence. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6" |T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7" |T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

== Usage in battles ==


Rasmussen's P-36A is essentially identical to the [[P-36A]], so, energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having two machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

In mixed battles, use your machine guns to kill open-topped SPAAs. The MGs are weak against closed topped tanks but open-topped tanks are much easier targets. Because of the low stall speed, you can strafe ground targets for a longer period of time.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Not controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Not controllable 1 gear || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High climb rate, especially with war emergency power applied
* Impressive roll and turn rate, highly efficient Immelman and split-S manoeuvres
* Strong rudder, excels in wing-over and hammerhead stall manoeuvres
* Slow stall speed (about 55 mph or 88.5 kph)

'''Cons:'''

* Armament is inadequate against bombers and other aircraft with rear-facing gunners
* Standard Army Air Corps armament for the time, same as the [[P-26A-34 M2]] Peashooter
* Lack of adequate armour renders engine, fuel tanks, oil coolers and virtually defenceless
* Huge blind spot behind the pilot's seat (critical for simulator players)

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name="MilFac" /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name="AviHis" />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name="MilFac" /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name="JoeB" />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name="JoeB" />

This specific aircraft was piloted by Philip M. Rasmussen during the attack on Pearl Harbour. He and three other pilots amidst the burning wreckage of other fighter and bomber aircraft on the tarmac, raced into battle to engage Japanese fighters and bombers. Rasmussen is documented to have shot down an [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero before being forced to land due to extensive damage by his aircraft suffered during the Pearl Harbour battle.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|zYqpwof85qo|''War Thunder - Best Low Tier Premium Plane to buy - Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk'' - '''Krebs'''|kqfs59v-aOY|''War Thunder [Multi-View] - Rasmussen's P-36A Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''|kNKYu7cGCxI|'''War Thunder RB Gameplay - Rasmussen P-36A Hawk''' - '''Jugi'''}}

== See also ==


* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations

* Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
* Bloch M.B.150
* [[IAR-81C]]
* Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
* Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
* Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Joebaugher.com website (1999) [[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A]].</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [[https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).]]</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007) [[http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]].</ref>
</references>

== External links ==


* Militaryfactory.com website [[https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk)]]
* Aviationhistory.com website [[http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]]
* Joebaugher.com website [[http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A]]

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-36G

2020-06-17T22:20:09Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
| code = p-36g
| cockpit = cockpit_p-36g.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.35]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 (or just H-75) and Mohawk). The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name=MilFac /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 452 km/h (281 mph) and reaching an altitude of 3,000 m (10,000 ft). It wasn't long before the original 900 hp Wright XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=AviHis /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=MilFac />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name=AviHis /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name=MilFac /> For all of this aircraft's positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name=MilFac /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name=JoeB />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

The {{PAGENAME}} utilises the upgraded Pratt & Whitney R-1820-95 radial engine, an upgrade over the [[P-36A]] and [[P-36C]] Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17, however with the extra two machine guns and associated ammunition, the G model is comparable to the C model in comparison to flight characteristics. Maintaining centre of gravity in the {{PAGENAME}} is critical and to do that the nose-mounted machine guns do not eject their spent ammunition cartridges, but instead, collect them in internal fuselage compartments so as to not drastically change the weight after firing off the rounds, whereas unlike the P-36C, the G model does eject its spent cartridges from the wing guns. As with the [[P-36C]], the trade-off for more guns vs. no increase in manoeuvrability is well worth it.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 477 || 461 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.7 || 18.2 || 7 || 7 || 183
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 527 || 501 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 16.7 || 17.0 || 15.5 || 10.6 || 183
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~11 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 420 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 2,133 m || 1,000 hp || 1,200 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,571 m || 900 hp || 1,080 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 9.5 mm armoured pilot seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}'s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
* 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)

Armament weaknesses found in the [[P-36A]] and [[P-36C]] were addressed when outfitting the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, as the armament though increasingly better with each model upgrade, was still found lacking. While the engine cowling was already crowded and no more machine guns could be centrally mounted which required wing modifications to install two more 7.62 mm machine guns, for a total of two in each wing. For this aircraft, two machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc while the other four are mounted two in each wing. Due to the wing-mounted machine guns, convergence is a factor to deal with with the optimal range being 100 - 200 m, anything beyond this will still work, however, the bullets significantly start losing their punch. The increase in armament increased the damage output ability of the fighter, making it well worth the additional weight. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

;Option 1 Configuration (optimal 200 - 400 m convergence)
* 12.7 mm = Ground target rounds
* 7.62 mm = Stealth round
* The use of ground target rounds gives you access to hard-hitting ammunition rounds with tracers to help guide in the rounds, however, the 7.62 mm should be set up with stealth rounds as providing a good mix of armour-piercing and incendiary rounds without the tell-tale tracers. Without the tell-tale show of tracers flying by, the pilot of the aircraft may assume a weakly armed aircraft is on their tail with intermittent tracers from the 12.7 mm machine gun. This can be a huge advantage for the attacking aircraft by sneaking in a large amount of lead and incendiaries while still having the ability to walk in the shots with the tracers (especially helpful in realistic and simulator battles where the aiming helper is not available for use).

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Belt Type
! 1st Round
! 2nd Round
! 3rd Round
! 4th Round
! 5th Round
|-
| Default || T || Ball || I || AP ||
|-
| Universal || AP || AP || AP || T || I
|-
| Ground targets || T || AP || AP || AP ||
|-
| Tracers || T || T || T || AP ||
|-
| Stealth || AP || I || AP || ||
|-
! colspan="6"|T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni-purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendiary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armour-piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Belt Type
! 1st Round
! 2nd Round
! 3rd Round
! 4th Round
! 5th Round
! 6th Round
|-
| Default || T || Ball || Ball || Ball || AP || I
|-
| Universal || T || AP || I || || ||
|-
| Tracers || AP || T || T || T || T ||
|-
| Stealth || AP || AP || AP || I || I ||
|-
! colspan="7"|T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni-purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendiary bullet''; AP = ''Armour-piercing bullet''
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} Hawk is one of the best fighter aircraft at Rank I as it combines energy retention, manoeuvrability and decent firepower. Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce, however, structurally the aircraft is sound and has been known to survive aerial collisions which allowed it to continue fighting on where other aircraft would have been shedding parts right and left. The {{PAGENAME}} is beefed up with six machine guns, though it may not have the notoriety of the [[I-16 (Family)|I-16]] and the [[LaGG-3 (Family)|LaGG-3]], it is more than capable of challenging them on a more than even footing.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Not controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Excellent climb speed
* Excellent dive speed
* Better-than-average turn-radius
* Good energy retention for Boom & Zoom manoeuvres
* Two more machine guns (six total) for increased firepower over the [[P-36C]]

'''Cons:'''
* Lack of turbocharger relegates this fighter to lower altitudes
* No suspended armament options
* Less-than-average roll rate at high speeds
* Very little armour protection
* Poor in a head-on, engine and pilot exposed

== History ==

The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name=MilFac /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=AviHis /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name=AviHis />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name=MilFac /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name=JoeB />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name=JoeB />

=== In-game description ===
Not long before the Germans occupied Norway, the Norwegian government put in another order with the Curtiss company. In January 1940, a contract was signed for 36 Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters.

The new model differed from the Curtiss Hawk 75A-6s in its improved weaponry and its 9-cylinder single-row air-cooled Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone engine with a maximum output of 1,200 hp.

The Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 possessed two large-caliber 12.7 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns in the fuselage with 200 rounds each and four 7.62 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine guns mounted on the wing panels with 500 rounds each. Bomb racks were installed on the underside wing panels.

This model was equipped with a fixed loop radio compass, the antenna of which was installed above the fuselage spine fairing behind the pilot's cockpit in a characteristic teardrop fairing.

The order was fully completed by the end of 1940, but all the planes of this model remained overseas due to the occupation of Norway. The exiled Norwegian government received only 6 Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters and used them as training planes to prepare fighter pilots for the Norwegian Army Air Service in so-called Little Norway at Toronto, Canada until mid-1943.

The remaining Curtiss Hawk 75A-8s were integrated into the USAAF with the designation P-36G.

By this time, the Curtiss Hawk 75A was no longer of high value as a fighter, and the other P-36s in the USAAF were powered by different engines. Because of these issues, the P-36Gs were transferred to Peru in 1943 as part of the lend-lease program.

The Latin-American country's formerly Norwegian Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters served peacefully until 1954.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|dHiWxG9r-k8|''War Thunder: P-36G Hawk'' - '''MagzTV'''|XjRhE-Y2R-o|''War Thunder: The Grind - Spading the P-36G Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''|G3cXlOGKXyc|''War Thunder Realistic: P-36G Hawk [Little Beast!]'' - '''Jengar'''}}

== See also ==

* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variants]]

;Analogues of other nations
* Polikarpov [[I-180S]]
* Bloch M.B.150
* [[IAR-81C]]
* Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
* Nakajima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
* Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-36C

2020-06-17T22:19:31Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36c
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36c.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_P-36CHawk.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name=MilFac></ref> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn’t long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=AviHis></ref> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=MilFac></ref>

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name=AviHis></ref> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name=MilFac></ref> For all of this aircraft’s positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name=MilFac></ref> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name=JoeB></ref>, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down. The [[P-36A]] and {{PAGENAME}} utilise the same engine, however with the extra two machine guns and associated ammunition, the C model lags slightly behind the A with flight characteristics, but not noticeable enough for the upgrading pilot to realize while manoeuvring the aircraft. The trade-off for more guns vs. slightly hampered flight model is well worth it.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 480 || 464 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.7 || 18.1 || 7.1 || 7.1 || 183
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 524 || 501 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 16.8 || 17.0 || 15.2 || 10.6 || 183
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~11 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,219 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 9.5 mm armoured pilot seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}’s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg)
* 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Armament weaknesses found in the [[P-36A]] were addressed when outfitting the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, as the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun was found lacking. While the engine cowling was already crowded and no more machine guns could be centrally mounted which required wing modifications to install two more 7.62 machine guns, one in each wing. For this aircraft, two machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc while the other two are mounted one in each wing. Due to the wing-mounted machine guns, convergence is a factor to deal with with the optimal range being 100 - 200 m, anything beyond this will still work, however, the bullets significantly start losing their punch. The increase in armament increased the damage output ability of the fighter, however, the next generation P-36, the [[P-36G]] increased the deadliness of the fighter by adding two more wing-mounted machine guns for a total of six guns. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

;Option 1 Configuration (optimal 200 - 400 m convergence)
*12.7 mm = Ground target rounds
*7.62 mm = Stealth round
* The use of ground target rounds gives you access to hard-hitting ammunition rounds with tracers to help guide in the rounds, however, the 7.62 mm should be set up with stealth rounds as providing a good mix of armour-piercing and incendiary rounds without the tell-tale tracers. Without the tell-tale show of tracers flying by, the pilot of the aircraft may assume a weakly armed aircraft is on their tail with intermittent tracers from the 12.7 mm machine gun. This can be a huge advantage for the attacking aircraft by sneaking in a large amount of lead and incendiaries while still having the ability to walk in the shots with the tracers (especially helpful in realistic and simulator battles where the aiming helper is not available for use).

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6"|T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7"|T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

This aircraft does not have the option to select any additional suspended armaments nor does it have any defensive weapons to counter any attackers.

== Usage in battles ==

Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having four machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="1" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Excellent climb speed
* Excellent dive speed
* Better-than-average turn-radius
* Good energy retention for Boom & Zoom manoeuvres
* Two more machine guns (four total) for increased firepower over the [[P-36A]]

'''Cons:'''
* Less effective weapons compared to contemporary aircraft
* No suspended armament options
* Less-than-average roll rate at high speeds
* Very little armour protection
* Poor in a head-on, engine and pilot exposed

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name=MilFac></ref> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=AviHis></ref> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name=AviHis></ref>

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name=MilFac></ref> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name=JoeB></ref>

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name=JoeB></ref>

=== In-game description ===
The P-36A's "teething problems" were so serious that its introduction was halted in several squadrons and flights with the new fighters were limited. Many of the planes were left grounded and waiting for the modernization they needed.

The Curtiss company had to fix the situation quickly. The measures they took resulted in the creation of the new P-36C model with a strengthened airframe and improved exhaust system.

They also made modifications to the powerplant – the new model was powered by the air-cooled Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp engine with a maximum output of 1,200 hp.

The P-36A's firepower was inferior to that of European fighters of the time, such as the Spitfire and Bf.109D, so its armament was enhanced. Two more 7.62 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine guns with 500 rounds each were mounted on the wing panels, supplementing the two synchronized machine guns the plane already possessed.

These Brownings were equipped with special containers mounted under the wing for the collection of spent shell casings. This was done to prevent changes to the plane's center of gravity as its ammunition was used.

In spite of its increased flight weight of 2,630 kg, the new engine increased the plane's maximum speed, which reached the round number of 500 km/h at a height of 3,000 m.

A total of 30 P-36C planes were produced.

By the time Japan attacked the USA, most P-36 planes still in service were being used as training vehicles. However, they were still present in fighter squadrons in distant regions such as Alaska, the Panama Canal Zone and Hawaii. It was these planes that had to go into battle against the attacking enemy.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, there were 45 P-36As in Hawaii, 44 of which were part of the three squadrons and command division of the 15th PG. Ten of the Hawks were destroyed or damaged in attacks on airfields. After the first wave from the Japanese, four standby P-36s from the 46th Pursuit Squadron were able to take off and chase the retreating group of 11 B5N2 torpedo bombers and A6M fighters. In the resulting battle, they shot down two Japanese planes, making these the first USAAC conquests in the Pacific War. On the same day, P-36s made another 14 combat flights in search of Japanese aircraft carriers.

The American Hawks ended their combat operations there. P-36 planes were quickly removed from active service and given to training subdivisions, which used them until mid-1943.

== Media ==

;Skins
*[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23p36c Skins and camouflages for the P-36C from live.warthunder]
;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|58jMcWoTkew|''War Thunder Talisman Series - P-36C Hawk/Hardy Hawk'' - '''Hairyfeet'''|u6vkPdnQb0A|''War Thunder Arcade: P-36C Hawk'' - '''Jengar'''|eYI4vEqLfeE|''War Thunder: The Grind - Spading the P-36C Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''}}

== See also ==

* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations
*Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
*Bloch M.B.150
*[[IAR-81C]]
*Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
*Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
*Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-36A

2020-06-17T22:18:55Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36a
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36a.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the premium version
| link-1 = Rasmussen's P-36A
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name="MilFac" /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn’t long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="MilFac" />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name="AviHis" /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name="MilFac" /> For all of this aircraft’s positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as “Sussu” or Finnish for “Sweetheart” as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both takeoff and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name="MilFac" /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name="JoeB" />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 482 || 468 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.9 || 18.4 || 7 || 7 || 168
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 527 || 504 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.1 || 17.3 || 15.3 || 10.6 || 168
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 681 || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~9 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,219 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm steel behind the pilot

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}’s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. The P-36 lacks self-sealing fuel tanks, so if any of the three are punctured (one directly behind the pilot and two below the pilot’s feet) they will leak fuel and if accompanied by fire, will rapidly degrade the aircraft structure to failure and destruction.<ref name="JoeB" /> There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

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

For the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun is quite weak in comparison to the level of performance this aircraft is capable of. Later Hawks rectified this situation by adding two or four machines guns. For this aircraft, both machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc. The disadvantage to this is that the machine guns are limited in firing rate due to being synchronized with the rotating propeller; however, with these guns nose-mounted, there is little need to adjust for convergence. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6" |T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7" |T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

This aircraft does not have the option to select any additional suspended armaments nor does it have any defensive weapons to counter any attackers.

== Usage in battles ==

Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having two machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="1" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High climb rate, especially with war emergency power applied
* Impressive roll and turn rate, highly efficient Immelman and split-S manoeuvres
* Strong rudder, excels in wing-over and hammerhead stall manoeuvres
* Slow stall speed (about 55 mph or 88.5 kph)

'''Cons:'''

* Armament is inadequate against bombers and other aircraft with rear-facing gunners
* Standard Army Air Corps armament for the time, same as the [[P-26A-34 M2]] Peashooter
* Lack of adequate armour renders engine, fuel tanks, oil coolers and virtually defenceless

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name="MilFac" /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name="AviHis" />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name="MilFac" /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky’s ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name="JoeB" />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name="JoeB" />

=== In-game description ===
A single-seat cantilever monoplane fighter with an all-metal construction, closed cockpit and retractable landing gear with a tail wheel. Designed by Don R. Berlin at the Curtiss Wright Corporation design bureau.The plane's prototype (Model 75B) completed its maiden flight in mid-April 1935.

On the whole, test pilots gave the new plane positive reviews: they noted its ease of control and good maneuverability. The plane was also stable in flight and responded well to its pilot, reacting precisely to every movement of the stick.

Pleased with the results of the flight tests, the United States Army Air Corps signed a contract with the Curtiss company on 7 June, commissioning the immediate production of a series of 210 P-36A planes. This was the largest fighter order any American company had received since the end of World War I.

The plane was powered by the twin-row 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp air-cooled radial engine with a maximum output of 1,050 hp.

The plane's armament was standard for American fighters of the time – one 7.62 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine gun with 600 rounds and one 12.7 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine gun with 200 rounds.

The planes began to join USAAC combat units in April 1938. The first fighters joined the 55th, 77th and 79th Pursuit Squadrons, which made up the 20th Pursuit Group at the Barksdale Field airbase. As soon as the new plane went into active service, a number of problems became visible, in particular the design's weak structural integrity and incomplete exhaust system. Nonetheless, the military continued to gradually switch to P-36A fighters in the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field (17th, 27th and 94th PS), the 8th Pursuit Group at Langley Field (33rd, 35th and 36th PS) and the 16th Pursuit Group in the Panama Canal Zone (24th, 29th and 43rd PS).

A total of 180 P-36A planes were produced.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|onmk88dnDbg|P-36A Hawk - Learn to Turn - '''tx141TX'''|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.}}

== See also ==


* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations

*Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
*Bloch M.B.150
*[[IAR-81C]]
*Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
*Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
*Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

A-36

2020-06-16T21:50:26Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51_a-36
|cockpit=cockpit_p-51_a-36.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]].

North American Aviation Company was busy during 1942 building and shipping Mustang Mk.I fighters to England to be incorporated into the Royal Air Force to fight alongside the Curtiss [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]] Tomahawks. Unfortunately for England, lend-lease funds ran out and 93 unshipped Mustang IA/P-51s went to the U.S. Army Air Forces. North American did not want to stop production of the P-51s and pressured the USAAF for a fighter contract. Unfortunately for the fiscal year 1942, no government funds were available for new fighter aircraft, however when observed that attack aircraft funds were available, North American reconfigured the Mustang into a dive bomber, outfitting it with heavier wings, bomb racks and dive brakes. With this dive bomber/attack variant approved for manufacturing, NAA ramped up production and cranked out 500 A-36A aircraft.

The {{PAGENAME}} was outfitted with the Allison V-1710-87 inline water-cooled engine which was a failure for high altitude flying, however for lower altitude dive-bombing, this engine performed quite well. High enough speeds could be developed in a dive to rip the wings, so dive brakes were implemented to regulate the dive speed to around 390 mph (630 kph). Maintaining speed in a dive ensures enough energy is available to zoom climb back up to altitude or to get away from any enemy fighters which may have attempted to intercept you. Depending on the map, if there are a significant amount of ground targets (anti-aircraft batteries, trucks, light tanks...etc…) the dive bomber can convert to a strafing aircraft once the bombs are released. With six 12.7 mm machine guns, softer ground targets are no match and will be easy pickings.

The {{PAGENAME}} has a configuration which few other aircraft (U.S. or otherwise) can be outfitted with and that is two DGP-1 gun pods, with one being mounted under each wing. Each gun pod contains two more 12.7 mm M2 Browning machines guns with 340 RPG, bringing up the total machine gun count to 10 12.7 mm M2 machine guns with 2,700 rounds per load. En mass, these machine guns can produce devastating results both in the air and on the ground. While only two guns are mounted in the fuselage cowling, the other four (or eight if gun pods are equipped) are mounted in the wings and require the pilot to set convergence for best results. For those pilots which like to snipe from a distance, 500 – 650 m convergence may work best while those pilots who like to fight close quarters, a convergence of 250 – 350 m can be extremely devastating when all 10 guns bear down on the target.

As an early war multi-role aircraft, the {{PAGENAME}} can fit the play-style of just about any pilot and can be reconfigured to accommodate different maps and missions. Whether ground-pounding or dismantling aircraft with 10 guns at a time, the Apache (or Mustang as pilots typically referred to it as) will help pilots to hone their skills and prepare for the rest of the [[P-51 (Family)|Mustang]] series available to play in War Thunder. Don’t be surprised when heading towards an enemy aircraft that they immediately take evasive manoeuvres to get away from the {{PAGENAME}} as they fully understand what could be in store for them if they stick around.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

[[File:A-36 billythekid 001.png|300px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' doing what it does best.]]
The A-36's performance varies a lot depending on the external armaments carried. It's very sluggish with the 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Brownings in gunpods, and the more kg of bombs it carries the worse the performance gets. Without anything on the wings it has a great acceleration, decent turn time and can withstand from 11 to -5 G.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,760 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
| 556 || 542 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.4 || 24.2 || 9.7 || 9.7 || rowspan="2" | 400
|-
! Upgraded
| 621 || 589 || 21.3 || 22.3 || 17.4 || 13.1
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 652 || 450 || 279 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 550 || < 230 || < 550 || > 360
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 762 m || 1,325 hp || 1,500 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


;Protective plates and glass

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
* 11.11 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel plate in front of the engine
* 6.35 mm Steel plate between engine and pilot

The {{PAGENAME}}’s armour configuration does a decent job of protecting the pilot, especially in frontal or head-on attacks. From behind the pilot’s seat backs up to an 11.11 mm steel plate, however from the front, the canopy windscreen contains 38 mm bulletproof glass. There is also a 6.35 mm steel plate both in front of the engine and behind it between the engine and the cockpit. To get to the pilot, bullets from the front will need to pass through the first plate, the engine and then the second plate. The chances are the engine will be disabled before the pilot is knocked out in a head-on attack. The front-most steel plate will help to protect the engine from smaller calibre machine gun fire, however, it does not fare so well once you start going against +20 mm rounds which have a greater punch.

Keep up speed and manoeuvrability which will make it difficult for any enemy fighter to get a bead on you and the different steel plates should do their job in protecting the fighter from stray bullets. The {{PAGENAME}} when outfitted with gun pods can become an absolute terror especially during head-on attacks, however, don’t think that just because of the armour in the aircraft, you are fine. Remember when performing head-on or diving attacks on bombers fire off rounds and then manoeuvre as bullets headed your way in which you fly into will have a greater impact, it is imperative to move out of their way rather than take a chance and hope that a 6.35 mm steel plate will fully protect the engine or the pilot.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:A-36 laggovich 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in search of a new target of opportunity.]]
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, chin-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is outfitted with six 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, the good thing about this is that they are all the same type of gun and will all have the same amount of bullet-drop, making it easier to predict where the rounds will end up, the unfortunate thing is that two are mounted in the nose while two others are mounted in each wing. The unfortunate part of this is that the pilot now has to consider setting the convergence range to help make the shots more effective. Setting them too close or too far from the range the pilot typically shoots from will most likely guarantee some rounds will miss due to the over/under correction. A good middle range to configure for will be 400 m as this doesn’t require the pilot to follow too close behind, but the bullets still have a bit of punch, however for those pilots which take the fight in closer, a convergence of 200-300 m will concentrate all the rounds into a tight sphere with a solid kick usually dismantling critical components from the aircraft under target.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (340 rpg = 1,360 total)

Though not what one would typically consider a dive bomber, the {{PAGENAME}} does make a really effective attack aircraft outfitted with 100, 250 or 500 lb bombs. Whereas larger attackers and bombers are typically slow and clumsy when it comes to aiming for a target, the Apache is the opposite and actually a pioneer for later fast, small, single-pilot aircraft to take on this role. The Apache is relatively comfortable at flying at 12,000 ft (3,660 m) or at tree-top level, however, it does excel when it comes to dive-bombing. Though the larger the bombs it carries, the less manoeuvrability it has, that doesn’t matter when it comes to diving on the target, here the only critical issue is not building up too much speed as the wing load can only take so much before the wings snap off. Typically the best method is to approach the target in a dive at about 70° and starting from about 10,000 – 12,000 ft ( 3,040 – 3,660 m), deploy dive brakes and line up for the target. When between 2,000 – 4,000 ft (610 – 1,220 m) release bombs, retract dive brakes, full throttle and pull up in a zoom climb.

The smaller 100 and 250 lb bombs are good for lightly armoured targets such as anti-aircraft cannons, trucks and light tanks. The 500 lb bombs should be reserved for more heavily armoured targets such as pillboxes, medium and heavy tanks or even many targets clustered close together. Though bases could be bombed, these bombs are relatively ineffective, however in a pinch, if all of the other smaller targets have been destroyed, feel free to drop bombs on bases to help rack up some points for ordnance dropped.

For those pilots who don’t have the patience for bombing runs and just want to tear up the playing field with machine guns, the DGP-1 gun pods will be the suspended weapon of choice. Extending the aircraft’s already six .50 calibre machine guns to 10 is enough do some serious damage both in the air and on the ground. The pilot will need to set the convergence to a comfortable distance which suites their needs, however, for those which like to get in close to other aircraft, setting convergence from 200-300 m will allow the ten guns to focus their rounds typically blowing off a wing, the aircraft in half or just pelting the critical components into failure. For those which will use the gun pods for ground-attack, having the convergence a bit farther out, say 500 – 600 m will allow for manoeuvring around the terrain and position for success rather than having to be right on top of the target before you can get a clean shot. The gun pods also allow the pilot to switch up tactics mid-match to air attack or ground attack and even switch back depending on target availability.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:A-36 carrera4s 001.jpg|500px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' taking advantage of the soft underside of an He 111 bomber.]]
The A-36 is quite a unique aircraft for its rank. It is a sleek looking fighter-bomber and should be used as such. It has good speed for its rank and designation, decent armament and a good selection of payloads; the A-36's role varies depending on the game mode you play.

'''Air Arcade''' and '''Air Realistic''' - In air battles, you can target ground forces with your .50 cals, equip bombs and take out medium or heavy tanks. One thing to remember while ground-pounding, enemy aircraft will see you as a tempting target which might cause you to prematurely release your ordnance and then fight as a fighter instead. For a slight performance drop, you can equip the gun pods, which makes this plane absolutely formidable against any aircraft, especially during head-on attacks. Fighters and bombers alike will take heavy damage if not fully destroyed by the ten .50 calibre machine guns. Generally, it is best to focus on enemy aircraft in Air Arcade, while leaving the ground attack to more dedicated aircraft.

'''Ground Realistic''' - Ground RB allows you to really let the A-36 shine. It performs very well in the fighter-bomber role. If you equip bombs, you can quickly dive into battle, bomb a target and then begin engaging enemy aircraft. If you instead equip the gun pods, you should also equip the ground targets belt. The high amount of AP ammunition allows you to penetrate most German and Japanese vehicles through the roof, while the belt still retains high levels of effectiveness against aircraft, allowing you to be a true multi-role fighter bomber. The gun pods also allow you to hunt heavily armoured aircraft like the IL2.

'''Tip: taking off in Simulator Battles''' 
Sea-level maximum speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: just above sea level (minimum safe altitude: 5m/16ft), 100% throttle, elevator trim: 4% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true airspeed of 523 kph/325 mph/282 kt. Maximum true speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: 1,760 m/5,775 ft, 100% throttle, elevator trim: 5% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true airspeed of 536 kph/333 mph/289 kt.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| DGP-1
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FSBC mk.5
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
|
| FMBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:A-36 zero zero zeven 001.jpg |500px|thumb|right|Well placed shots are enough to snap a bomber's wing.]]
'''Pros:'''

* Decent armament for its rank
* Fast bomb reload unlike typical fighters in Arcade
* Highly agile for an attacker
* Two of the 6 x M2 12.7 mm machine guns are mounted under the fuselage, increasing accuracy
* Superior firepower than most other planes in rank
* Very good energy retention for an attacker
* Good performance at low altitude
* Very good dive speed
* Has air brakes
* Attacker spawn point, can be used to certain advantage
* It's a modified version the P-51 making it a decent fighter with the addition of two 12.7 mm machine guns in the bottom of the nose
* Can opt to equip 2 x DGP-1 gunpods, adding further 4 x 12.7 mm M2's to it's armament, giving the A-36 a very high burst-mass compared to its contemporaries

'''Cons:'''

* Fuselage mounted M2's are hooked up to a synchronizer, lowering their effective rate of fire (prevents them from shredding the propeller)
* Carrying payload slows you down
* Is not a dedicated attacker unlike the A-20G-25
* Will be easily out turned by fighters of other nations
* Does not have access to rockets or bombs over 500 lb, making it difficult to use against heavily armoured targets

== History ==


The [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], also referred to as Mustang, was a ground attack variant of the [[P-51|P-51 Mustang]]. In 1942, the [[Mustang Mk IA (Great Britain)|Mustang I]] began to see service with the Royal Air Force and saw its first combat. It performed well, and North American Aviation wanted to get a contract to produce it for the USAAF, but there was no funding for fighter contracts in 1942. Instead, they decided to market it as an attack aircraft, as there were contracts available. They modified the Mustang to make it a dive-bomber, and designated it the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]]. Bomb racks and dive brakes were added, and the wings were strengthened.

The A-36 Apache first saw service in North Africa, and after several issues were noticed, pilots began to learn the proper dive-bombing technique. Once it was used properly by experienced pilots, the A-36 became known as a very reliable and consistent aircraft. The A-36 was also used extensively in the Sicily Campaign. They were used to take out enemy gun positions and strong points as the Allied armies advanced. A-36's not only performed well in ground attack, but also in dogfights. The A-36 scored 84 aerial victories. As the fighting in Italy got fiercer, the A-36 began to face alarming casualties. This was in part because of missions that placed them against deadly ground fire, and the Germans would run cables across hilltops in order to snag A-36's out of the air.

By June 1944, the A-36 was replaced in Europe by more effective models, such as the [[P-47D-25|P-47 Thunderbolt]] and [[P-40E-1|P-40 Warhawks]]. The A-36 also served in the China-India-Burma theater, at a great disadvantage. It performed long range missions of reconnaissance, dive bombing, attack, and fighter missions. Its main opponent was the Japanese Nakajima [[Ki-43-I|Ki-43]], which outclassed the A-36 completely. It was gradually phased out of service since 1944, with some being used as training aircraft. Although it was only produced in small numbers (around 500) and served only for a short time, the A-36 made significant contributions to the American war effort. Notably, it was the first P-51 Mustang variant to enter combat with the USAAF.

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

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

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA attackers}}

A-36

2020-06-16T21:34:16Z

U27109353: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51_a-36
|cockpit=cockpit_p-51_a-36.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]].

North American Aviation Company was busy during 1942 building and shipping Mustang Mk.I fighters to England to be incorporated into the Royal Air Force to fight alongside the Curtiss [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]] Tomahawks. Unfortunately for England, lend-lease funds ran out and 93 unshipped Mustang IA/P-51s went to the U.S. Army Air Forces. North American did not want to stop production of the P-51s and pressured the USAAF for a fighter contract. Unfortunately for the fiscal year 1942, no government funds were available for new fighter aircraft, however when observed that attack aircraft funds were available, North American reconfigured the Mustang into a dive bomber, outfitting it with heavier wings, bomb racks and dive brakes. With this dive bomber/attack variant approved for manufacturing, NAA ramped up production and cranked out 500 A-36A aircraft.

The {{PAGENAME}} was outfitted with the Allison V-1710-87 inline water-cooled engine which was a failure for high altitude flying, however for lower altitude dive-bombing, this engine performed quite well. High enough speeds could be developed in a dive to rip the wings, so dive brakes were implemented to regulate the dive speed to around 390 mph (630 kph). Maintaining speed in a dive ensures enough energy is available to zoom climb back up to altitude or to get away from any enemy fighters which may have attempted to intercept you. Depending on the map, if there are a significant amount of ground targets (anti-aircraft batteries, trucks, light tanks...etc…) the dive bomber can convert to a strafing aircraft once the bombs are released. With six 12.7 mm machine guns, softer ground targets are no match and will be easy pickings.

The {{PAGENAME}} has a configuration which few other aircraft (U.S. or otherwise) can be outfitted with and that is two DGP-1 gun pods, with one being mounted under each wing. Each gun pod contains two more 12.7 mm M2 Browning machines guns with 340 RPG, bringing up the total machine gun count to 10 12.7 mm M2 machine guns with 2,700 rounds per load. En mass, these machine guns can produce devastating results both in the air and on the ground. While only two guns are mounted in the fuselage cowling, the other four (or eight if gun pods are equipped) are mounted in the wings and require the pilot to set convergence for best results. For those pilots which like to snipe from a distance, 500 – 650 m convergence may work best while those pilots who like to fight close quarters, a convergence of 250 – 350 m can be extremely devastating when all 10 guns bear down on the target.

As an early war multi-role aircraft, the {{PAGENAME}} can fit the play-style of just about any pilot and can be reconfigured to accommodate different maps and missions. Whether ground-pounding or dismantling aircraft with 10 guns at a time, the Apache (or Mustang as pilots typically referred to it as) will help pilots to hone their skills and prepare for the rest of the [[P-51 (Family)|Mustang]] series available to play in War Thunder. Don’t be surprised when heading towards an enemy aircraft that they immediately take evasive manoeuvres to get away from the {{PAGENAME}} as they fully understand what could be in store for them if they stick around.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

[[File:A-36 billythekid 001.png|300px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' doing what it does best.]]
The A-36's performance varies a lot depending on the external armaments carried. It's very sluggish with the 4 x 12.7 mm M2 Brownings in gunpods, and the more kg of bombs it carries the worse the performance gets. Without anything on the wings it has a great acceleration, decent turn time and can withstand from 11 to -5 G.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,760 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
| 556 || 542 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.4 || 24.2 || 9.7 || 9.7 || rowspan="2" | 400
|-
! Upgraded
| 621 || 589 || 21.3 || 22.3 || 17.4 || 13.1
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 652 || 450 || 279 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 550 || < 230 || < 550 || > 360
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 762 m || 1,325 hp || 1,500 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


;Protective plates and glass

* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
* 11.11 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel plate in front of the engine
* 6.35 mm Steel plate between engine and pilot

The {{PAGENAME}}’s armour configuration does a decent job of protecting the pilot, especially in frontal or head-on attacks. From behind the pilot’s seat backs up to an 11.11 mm steel plate, however from the front, the canopy windscreen contains 38 mm bulletproof glass. There is also a 6.35 mm steel plate both in front of the engine and behind it between the engine and the cockpit. To get to the pilot, bullets from the front will need to pass through the first plate, the engine and then the second plate. The chances are the engine will be disabled before the pilot is knocked out in a head-on attack. The front-most steel plate will help to protect the engine from smaller calibre machine gun fire, however, it does not fare so well once you start going against +20 mm rounds which have a greater punch.

Keep up speed and manoeuvrability which will make it difficult for any enemy fighter to get a bead on you and the different steel plates should do their job in protecting the fighter from stray bullets. The {{PAGENAME}} when outfitted with gun pods can become an absolute terror especially during head-on attacks, however, don’t think that just because of the armour in the aircraft, you are fine. Remember when performing head-on or diving attacks on bombers fire off rounds and then manoeuvre as bullets headed your way in which you fly into will have a greater impact, it is imperative to move out of their way rather than take a chance and hope that a 6.35 mm steel plate will fully protect the engine or the pilot.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:A-36 laggovich 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in search of a new target of opportunity.]]
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, chin-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is outfitted with six 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, the good thing about this is that they are all the same type of gun and will all have the same amount of bullet-drop, making it easier to predict where the rounds will end up, the unfortunate thing is that two are mounted in the nose while two others are mounted in each wing. The unfortunate part of this is that the pilot now has to consider setting the convergence range to help make the shots more effective. Setting them too close or too far from the range the pilot typically shoots from will most likely guarantee some rounds will miss due to the over/under correction. A good middle range to configure for will be 400 m as this doesn’t require the pilot to follow too close behind, but the bullets still have a bit of punch, however for those pilots which take the fight in closer, a convergence of 200-300 m will concentrate all the rounds into a tight sphere with a solid kick usually dismantling critical components from the aircraft under target.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (340 rpg = 1,360 total)

Though not what one would typically consider a dive bomber, the {{PAGENAME}} does make a really effective attack aircraft outfitted with 100, 250 or 500 lb bombs. Whereas larger attackers and bombers are typically slow and clumsy when it comes to aiming for a target, the Apache is the opposite and actually a pioneer for later fast, small, single-pilot aircraft to take on this role. The Apache is relatively comfortable at flying at 12,000 ft (3,660 m) or at tree-top level, however, it does excel when it comes to dive-bombing. Though the larger the bombs it carries, the less manoeuvrability it has, that doesn’t matter when it comes to diving on the target, here the only critical issue is not building up too much speed as the wing load can only take so much before the wings snap off. Typically the best method is to approach the target in a dive at about 70° and starting from about 10,000 – 12,000 ft ( 3,040 – 3,660 m), deploy dive brakes and line up for the target. When between 2,000 – 4,000 ft (610 – 1,220 m) release bombs, retract dive brakes, full throttle and pull up in a zoom climb.

The smaller 100 and 250 lb bombs are good for lightly armoured targets such as anti-aircraft cannons, trucks and light tanks. The 500 lb bombs should be reserved for more heavily armoured targets such as pillboxes, medium and heavy tanks or even many targets clustered close together. Though bases could be bombed, these bombs are relatively ineffective, however in a pinch, if all of the other smaller targets have been destroyed, feel free to drop bombs on bases to help rack up some points for ordnance dropped.

For those pilots who don’t have the patience for bombing runs and just want to tear up the playing field with machine guns, the DGP-1 gun pods will be the suspended weapon of choice. Extending the aircraft’s already six .50 calibre machine guns to 10 is enough do some serious damage both in the air and on the ground. The pilot will need to set the convergence to a comfortable distance which suites their needs, however, for those which like to get in close to other aircraft, setting convergence from 200-300 m will allow the ten guns to focus their rounds typically blowing off a wing, the aircraft in half or just pelting the critical components into failure. For those which will use the gun pods for ground-attack, having the convergence a bit farther out, say 500 – 600 m will allow for manoeuvring around the terrain and position for success rather than having to be right on top of the target before you can get a clean shot. The gun pods also allow the pilot to switch up tactics mid-match to air attack or ground attack and even switch back depending on target availability.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:A-36 carrera4s 001.jpg|500px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' taking advantage of the soft underside of an He 111 bomber.]]
The A-36 is quite a unique aircraft for its rank. It is a sleek looking fighter-bomber and should be used as such. It has good speed for its rank and designation, decent armament and a good selection of payloads; the A-36's role varies depending on the game mode you play.

'''Air Arcade''' and '''Air Realistic''' - In air battles, you can target ground forces with your .50 cals, equip bombs and take out medium or heavy tanks. One thing to remember while ground-pounding, enemy aircraft will see you as a tempting target which might cause you to prematurely release your ordnance and then fight as a fighter instead. For a slight performance drop, you can equip the gun pods, which makes this plane absolutely formidable against any aircraft, especially during head-on attacks. Fighters and bombers alike will take heavy damage if not fully destroyed by the ten .50 calibre machine guns. Generally, it is best to focus on enemy aircraft in Air Arcade, while leaving the ground attack to more dedicated aircraft.

'''Ground Realistic''' - Ground RB allows you to really let the A-36 shine. It performs very well in the fighter-bomber role. If you equip bombs, you can quickly dive into battle, bomb a target and then begin engaging enemy aircraft. If you instead equip the gun pods, you should also equip the ground targets belt. The high amount of AP ammunition allows you to penetrate most German and Japanese vehicles through the roof, while the belt still retains high levels of effectiveness against aircraft, allowing you to be a true multi-role fighter bomber. The gun pods also allow you to hunt heavily armoured aircraft like the IL2.

'''Tip: taking off in Simulator Battles''' 
Sea-level maximum speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: just above sea level (minimum safe altitude: 5m/16ft), 100% throttle, elevator trim: 4% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true airspeed of 523 kph/325 mph/282 kt. Maximum true speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: 1,760 m/5,775 ft, 100% throttle, elevator trim: 5% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true airspeed of 536 kph/333 mph/289 kt.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| DGP-1
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FSBC mk.5
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
|
| FMBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:A-36 zero zero zeven 001.jpg |500px|thumb|right|Well placed shots are enough to snap a bomber's wing.]]
'''Pros:'''

* Decent armament for its rank
* Fast bomb reload unlike typical fighters in Arcade
* Highly agile for an attacker
* Two of the 6 x M2 12.7 mm machine guns are mounted under the fuselage, increasing accuracy
* Superior firepower than most other planes in rank
* Very good energy retention for an attacker
* Good performance at low altitude
* Very good dive speed
* Has air brakes
* Attacker spawn point, can be used to certain advantage
* It's a modified version the P-51 making it a decent fighter with the addition of two 12.7 mm machine guns in the bottom of the nose
* Can opt to equip 2 x DGP-1 gunpods, adding further 4 x 12.7 mm M2's to it's armament, giving the A-36 a very high burst-mass compared to its contemporaries

'''Cons:'''

* Fuselage mounted M2's are hooked up to a synchronizer, lowering their effective rate of fire (prevents them from shredding the propeller)
* Carrying payload slows you down
* Is not a dedicated attacker unlike the A-20G-25
* Will be easily out turned by fighters of other nations
* Does not have access to rockets or bombs over 500 lb, making it difficult to use against heavily armoured targets

== History ==


The [[A-36|A-36 Apache]], also referred to as Mustang, was a ground attack variant of the [[P-51|P-51 Mustang]]. In 1942, the [[Mustang Mk IA (Great Britain)|Mustang I]] began to see service with the Royal Air Force and saw its first combat. It performed well, and North American Aviation wanted to get a contract to produce it for the USAAF, but there was no funding for fighter contracts in 1942. Instead, they decided to market it as an attack aircraft, as there were contracts available. They modified the Mustang to make it a dive-bomber, and designated it the [[A-36|A-36 Apache]]. Bomb racks and dive brakes were added, and the wings were strengthened.

The A-36 Apache first saw service in North Africa, and after several issues were noticed, pilots began to learn the proper dive-bombing technique. Once it was used properly by experienced pilots, the A-36 became known as a very reliable and consistent aircraft. The A-36 was also used extensively in the Sicily Campaign. They were used to take out enemy gun positions and strong points as the Allied armies advanced. A-36's not only performed well in ground attack, but also in dogfights. The A-36 scored 84 aerial victories. As the fighting in Italy got fiercer, the A-36 began to face alarming casualties. This was in part because of missions that placed them against deadly ground fire, and the Germans would run cables across hilltops in order to snag A-36's out of the air.

By June 1944, the A-36 was replaced in Europe by more effective models, such as the [[P-47D-25|P-47 Thunderbolt]] and [[P-40E-1|P-40 Warhawks]]. The A-36 also served in the China-India-Burma theater, at a great disadvantage. It performed long range missions of reconnaissance, dive bombing, attack, and fighter missions. Its main opponent was the Japanese Nakajima [[Ki-43-I|Ki-43]], which outclassed the A-36 completely. It was gradually phased out of service since 1944, with some being used as training aircraft. Although it was only produced in small numbers (around 500) and served only for a short time, the A-36 made significant contributions to the American war effort. Notably, it was the first P-51 Mustang variant that saw combat with the USAAF.

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

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

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA attackers}}

P-36A

2020-06-16T20:29:04Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36a
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36a.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the premium version
| link-1 = Rasmussen's P-36A
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name="MilFac" /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn’t long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however, the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="MilFac" />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name="AviHis" /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name="MilFac" /> For all of this aircraft’s positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as “Sussu” or Finnish for “Sweetheart” as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both takeoff and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name="MilFac" /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name="JoeB" />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 482 || 468 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.9 || 18.4 || 7 || 7 || 168
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 527 || 504 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.1 || 17.3 || 15.3 || 10.6 || 168
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 681 || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~9 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,219 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm steel behind the pilot

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}’s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. The P-36 lacks self-sealing fuel tanks, so if any of the three are punctured (one directly behind the pilot and two below the pilot’s feet) they will leak fuel and if accompanied by fire, will rapidly degrade the aircraft structure to failure and destruction.<ref name="JoeB" /> There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

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

For the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun is quite weak in comparison to the level of performance this aircraft is capable of. Later Hawks rectified this situation by adding two or four machines guns. For this aircraft, both machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc. The disadvantage to this is that the machine guns are limited in firing rate due to being synchronized with the rotating propeller; however, with these guns nose-mounted, there is little need to adjust for convergence. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6" |T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7" |T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

This aircraft does not have the option to select any additional suspended armaments nor does it have any defensive weapons to counter any attackers.

== Usage in battles ==

Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having two machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="1" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High climb rate, especially with war emergency power applied
* Impressive roll and turn rate, highly efficient Immelman and split-S manoeuvres
* Strong rudder, excels in wing-over and hammerhead stall manoeuvres
* Slow stall speed (about 55 mph or 88.5 kph)

'''Cons:'''

* Armament is inadequate against bombers and other aircraft with rear-facing gunners
* Standard Army Air Corps armament for the time, same as the [[P-26A-34 M2]] Peashooter
* Lack of adequate armour renders engine, fuel tanks, oil coolers and virtually defenceless

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name="MilFac" /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name="JoeB" /><ref name="AviHis" /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name="AviHis" />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name="MilFac" /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky’s ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name="JoeB" />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name="JoeB" />

=== In-game description ===
A single-seat cantilever monoplane fighter with an all-metal construction, closed cockpit and retractable landing gear with a tail wheel. Designed by Don R. Berlin at the Curtiss Wright Corporation design bureau.The plane's prototype (Model 75B) completed its maiden flight in mid-April 1935.

On the whole, test pilots gave the new plane positive reviews: they noted its ease of control and good maneuverability. The plane was also stable in flight and responded well to its pilot, reacting precisely to every movement of the stick.

Pleased with the results of the flight tests, the United States Army Air Corps signed a contract with the Curtiss company on 7 June, commissioning the immediate production of a series of 210 P-36A planes. This was the largest fighter order any American company had received since the end of World War I.

The plane was powered by the twin-row 14-cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp air-cooled radial engine with a maximum output of 1,050 hp.

The plane's armament was standard for American fighters of the time – one 7.62 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine gun with 600 rounds and one 12.7 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine gun with 200 rounds.

The planes began to join USAAC combat units in April 1938. The first fighters joined the 55th, 77th and 79th Pursuit Squadrons, which made up the 20th Pursuit Group at the Barksdale Field airbase. As soon as the new plane went into active service, a number of problems became visible, in particular the design's weak structural integrity and incomplete exhaust system. Nonetheless, the military continued to gradually switch to P-36A fighters in the 1st Pursuit Group at Selfridge Field (17th, 27th and 94th PS), the 8th Pursuit Group at Langley Field (33rd, 35th and 36th PS) and the 16th Pursuit Group in the Panama Canal Zone (24th, 29th and 43rd PS).

A total of 180 P-36A planes were produced.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|onmk88dnDbg|P-36A Hawk - Learn to Turn - '''tx141TX'''|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.}}

== See also ==


* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations

*Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
*Bloch M.B.150
*[[IAR-81C]]
*Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
*Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
*Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-36C

2020-06-16T20:28:14Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-36c
|cockpit=cockpit_p-36c.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_P-36CHawk.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 – or just H-75 and Mohawk. The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name=MilFac></ref> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 281 mph (452 km/h) and reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m). It wasn’t long before the original 900 hp Write XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=AviHis></ref> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however, the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=MilFac></ref>

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name=AviHis></ref> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name=MilFac></ref> For all of this aircraft’s positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name=MilFac></ref> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name=JoeB></ref>, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down. The [[P-36A]] and {{PAGENAME}} utilise the same engine, however with the extra two machine guns and associated ammunition, the C model lags slightly behind the A with flight characteristics, but not noticeable enough for the upgrading pilot to realize while manoeuvring the aircraft. The trade-off for more guns vs. slightly hampered flight model is well worth it.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 480 || 464 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.7 || 18.1 || 7.1 || 7.1 || 183
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 524 || 501 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 16.8 || 17.0 || 15.2 || 10.6 || 183
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~11 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,981 m || 1,050 hp || 1,219 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 9.5 mm armoured pilot seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}’s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg)
* 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Armament weaknesses found in the [[P-36A]] were addressed when outfitting the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, as the armament of a single 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine gun was found lacking. While the engine cowling was already crowded and no more machine guns could be centrally mounted which required wing modifications to install two more 7.62 machine guns, one in each wing. For this aircraft, two machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc while the other two are mounted one in each wing. Due to the wing-mounted machine guns, convergence is a factor to deal with with the optimal range being 100 - 200 m, anything beyond this will still work, however, the bullets significantly start losing their punch. The increase in armament increased the damage output ability of the fighter, however, the next generation P-36, the [[P-36G]] increased the deadliness of the fighter by adding two more wing-mounted machine guns for a total of six guns. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

;Option 1 Configuration (optimal 200 - 400 m convergence)
*12.7 mm = Ground target rounds
*7.62 mm = Stealth round
* The use of ground target rounds gives you access to hard-hitting ammunition rounds with tracers to help guide in the rounds, however, the 7.62 mm should be set up with stealth rounds as providing a good mix of armour-piercing and incendiary rounds without the tell-tale tracers. Without the tell-tale show of tracers flying by, the pilot of the aircraft may assume a weakly armed aircraft is on their tail with intermittent tracers from the 12.7 mm machine gun. This can be a huge advantage for the attacking aircraft by sneaking in a large amount of lead and incendiaries while still having the ability to walk in the shots with the tracers (especially helpful in realistic and simulator battles where the aiming helper is not available for use).

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| I
| AP
|
|-
| Universal
| AP
| AP
| AP
| T
| I
|-
| Ground targets
| T
| AP
| AP
| AP
|
|-
| Tracers
| T
| T
| T
| AP
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| I
| AP
|
|
|-
! colspan="6"|T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Belt Type
! colspan="1" | 1st Round
! colspan="1" | 2nd Round
! colspan="1" | 3rd Round
! colspan="1" | 4th Round
! colspan="1" | 5th Round
! colspan="1" | 6th Round
|-
| Default
| T
| Ball
| Ball
| Ball
| AP
| I
|-
| Universal
| T
| AP
| I
|
|
|
|-
| Tracers
| AP
| T
| T
| T
| T
|
|-
|Stealth
| AP
| AP
| AP
| I
| I
|
|-
! colspan="7"|T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendary bullet''; AP = ''Armor piercing bullet''
|}

This aircraft does not have the option to select any additional suspended armaments nor does it have any defensive weapons to counter any attackers.

== Usage in battles ==

Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce. The weakness of only having four machine guns will require the pilot to get in close (50 – 200 m) to make the most of their shots as anywhere past 150 m, bullet penetration drops off considerably.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="1" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Excellent climb speed
* Excellent dive speed
* Better-than-average turn-radius
* Good energy retention for Boom & Zoom manoeuvres
* Two more machine guns (four total) for increased firepower over the [[P-36A]]

'''Cons:'''
* Less effective weapons compared to contemporary aircraft
* No suspended armament options
* Less-than-average roll rate at high speeds
* Very little armour protection
* Poor in a head-on, engine and pilot exposed

== History ==


The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name=MilFac></ref> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name=JoeB></ref><ref name=AviHis></ref> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name=AviHis></ref>

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name=MilFac></ref> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name=JoeB></ref>

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name=JoeB></ref>

=== In-game description ===
The P-36A's "teething problems" were so serious that its introduction was halted in several squadrons and flights with the new fighters were limited. Many of the planes were left grounded and waiting for the modernization they needed.

The Curtiss company had to fix the situation quickly. The measures they took resulted in the creation of the new P-36C model with a strengthened airframe and improved exhaust system.

They also made modifications to the powerplant – the new model was powered by the air-cooled Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp engine with a maximum output of 1,200 hp.

The P-36A's firepower was inferior to that of European fighters of the time, such as the Spitfire and Bf.109D, so its armament was enhanced. Two more 7.62 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine guns with 500 rounds each were mounted on the wing panels, supplementing the two synchronized machine guns the plane already possessed.

These Brownings were equipped with special containers mounted under the wing for the collection of spent shell casings. This was done to prevent changes to the plane's center of gravity as its ammunition was used.

In spite of its increased flight weight of 2,630 kg, the new engine increased the plane's maximum speed, which reached the round number of 500 km/h at a height of 3,000 m.

A total of 30 P-36C planes were produced.

By the time Japan attacked the USA, most P-36 planes still in service were being used as training vehicles. However, they were still present in fighter squadrons in distant regions such as Alaska, the Panama Canal Zone and Hawaii. It was these planes that had to go into battle against the attacking enemy.

When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, there were 45 P-36As in Hawaii, 44 of which were part of the three squadrons and command division of the 15th PG. Ten of the Hawks were destroyed or damaged in attacks on airfields. After the first wave from the Japanese, four standby P-36s from the 46th Pursuit Squadron were able to take off and chase the retreating group of 11 B5N2 torpedo bombers and A6M fighters. In the resulting battle, they shot down two Japanese planes, making these the first USAAC conquests in the Pacific War. On the same day, P-36s made another 14 combat flights in search of Japanese aircraft carriers.

The American Hawks ended their combat operations there. P-36 planes were quickly removed from active service and given to training subdivisions, which used them until mid-1943.

== Media ==

;Skins
*[http://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=%23p36c Skins and camouflages for the P-36C from live.warthunder]
;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|58jMcWoTkew|''War Thunder Talisman Series - P-36C Hawk/Hardy Hawk'' - '''Hairyfeet'''|u6vkPdnQb0A|''War Thunder Arcade: P-36C Hawk'' - '''Jengar'''|eYI4vEqLfeE|''War Thunder: The Grind - Spading the P-36C Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''}}

== See also ==

* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variations]]

;Analogues of other nations
*Polyikarpov [[I-180S]]
*Bloch M.B.150
*[[IAR-81C]]
*Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
*Nakijima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
*Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

P-36G

2020-06-16T20:26:03Z

U27109353: /* Description */

{{Specs-Card
| code = p-36g
| cockpit = cockpit_p-36g.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-36 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.35]].

In the early 1930s, the Curtiss-Wright Corporation began a private venture to build a fighter aircraft which was a revolutionary departure from earlier cloth-covered biplanes of World War I. This project aircraft under development was named the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 (later it would be known by P-36 Hawk, Hawk-75 (or just H-75) and Mohawk). The P-36 was an all-metal monoplane (although the control surfaces were fabric-covered) with a 900 hp radial engine, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear.<ref name=MilFac /> Even though this aircraft touted some of the state-of-the-art development in aircraft design, several aspects remained lacking, such as the original two machine guns firing through the propeller arc, a 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm and other critical components such as the absence of armour in the cockpit and self-sealing fuel tanks.

By May 1935 the first prototype flew and attained speeds of 452 km/h (281 mph) and reaching an altitude of 3,000 m (10,000 ft). It wasn't long before the original 900 hp Wright XR-1670-5 radial engine was replaced with an upgrade Wright XR-1820-39 Cyclone at 950 hp and several modifications to the body of the aircraft was completed like the addition of scalloped rear windows which significantly improved the pilots rear view (although the hump on the back of the aircraft still blocked a significant portion of the view).<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=AviHis /> This version of the aircraft was designated as Model 75B while oddly enough the earlier version with the 1670-5 was listed as a Model 75D.

In early competitions against the [[User:U5724584#P-35A|Seversky P-35A]] the underpowered and more expensive P-35A was seen as the winner in the U.S. government's eyes, however, the United States Army Air Command (USAAC) went ahead and placed an order for three Y1P-36 prototypes as a backup contingency fighter. When delivered, the Y1P-36 (Model 75E) had been outfitted with the 900 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-13 Twin Wasp engine. Due to this version of the aircraft performing so well, an order for 210 P-36-A fighters was placed.<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=MilFac />

The P-36 was known as an outstanding turning aircraft due to its extremely low wing loading and had a beefy power-to-weight ratio of 0.186 hp/lb that placed this aircraft as one of the best climbing aircraft of the time.<ref name=AviHis /> One drawback noted was that the P-36 was not outfitted with a supercharger which hampered its ability to operate at high altitudes, requiring it to stay under 10,000 ft in altitude.<ref name=MilFac /> For all of this aircraft's positive attributes and unfortunate shortcomings, it performed well mostly for other nations such as Finland where the Hawk was known as "Sussu" or Finnish for "Sweetheart" as between 58 Finnish pilots flying the Hawk, they scored 190.3 aerial victories. The P-36 was the proving ground and stepping stone to the later great fighter, the [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]].

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===

The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively easy fighter aircraft to fly and requires only a relatively short space to both take-off and land. During World War II the P-36 was ferried over to Pearl Harbor aboard an aircraft carrier from which they took off and then landed at the Army Air Corps base.<ref name=MilFac /> In the game, due to the very low stall speed, the P-36 can land on an aircraft carrier to a complete stop and take off again. Due to the fantastically low wing loading rate of 23.9 lb/ft2<ref name=JoeB />, this fighter is an excellent turning aircraft and accompanied by a strong rudder can spiral climb easily, especially during WEP cycles. This aircraft has the advantage of being both a turn fighter and a Boom & Zoom fighter, depending on the situation, type of aircraft which are flying against and mission type. The P-36 will out-turn many fighters of its rank and can prove difficult to follow if attempting to shoot it down.

The {{PAGENAME}} utilises the upgraded Pratt & Whitney R-1820-95 radial engine, an upgrade over the [[P-36A]] and [[P-36C]] Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17, however with the extra two machine guns and associated ammunition, the G model is comparable to the C model in comparison to flight characteristics. Maintaining centre of gravity in the {{PAGENAME}} is critical and to do that the nose-mounted machine guns do not eject their spent ammunition cartridges, but instead, collect them in internal fuselage compartments so as to not drastically change the weight after firing off the rounds, whereas unlike the P-36C, the G model does eject its spent cartridges from the wing guns. As with the [[P-36C]], the trade-off for more guns vs. no increase in manoeuvrability is well worth it.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 477 || 461 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 17.7 || 18.2 || 7 || 7 || 183
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,048 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 527 || 501 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 16.7 || 17.0 || 15.5 || 10.6 || 183
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 520 || ~11 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 420 || < 380 || < 420 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 2,133 m || 1,000 hp || 1,200 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,571 m || 900 hp || 1,080 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 9.5 mm armoured pilot seat
* Self-sealing fuel tanks

As with many early pre-war fighters, not much emphasis was put on the survivability of the aircraft. The best course of action was for the pilot to not let anyone get behind them. The {{PAGENAME}}'s only sources of protection for the pilot is the engine block and the 9.5 mm (angled at 24° for effective thickness of 13 mm), that being said, depending on the engine block to save the pilot may do so at the expense of the engine, thus requiring the pilot to glide back to base if possible or bailout. There are also two unprotected oil coolers if which are punctured, the aircraft will leak oil until depleted eventually causing the engine to seize up.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (200 rpg = 400 total)
* 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)

Armament weaknesses found in the [[P-36A]] and [[P-36C]] were addressed when outfitting the {{PAGENAME}} fighter, as the armament though increasingly better with each model upgrade, was still found lacking. While the engine cowling was already crowded and no more machine guns could be centrally mounted which required wing modifications to install two more 7.62 mm machine guns, for a total of two in each wing. For this aircraft, two machine guns are mounted in the engine cowl and fire through the propeller arc while the other four are mounted two in each wing. Due to the wing-mounted machine guns, convergence is a factor to deal with with the optimal range being 100 - 200 m, anything beyond this will still work, however, the bullets significantly start losing their punch. The increase in armament increased the damage output ability of the fighter, making it well worth the additional weight. Options in ammunition will allow the pilot to select the type best suited for their mission whether it be as an interceptor, ground target hunter or a stealthy pouncer.

;Option 1 Configuration (optimal 200 - 400 m convergence)
* 12.7 mm = Ground target rounds
* 7.62 mm = Stealth round
* The use of ground target rounds gives you access to hard-hitting ammunition rounds with tracers to help guide in the rounds, however, the 7.62 mm should be set up with stealth rounds as providing a good mix of armour-piercing and incendiary rounds without the tell-tale tracers. Without the tell-tale show of tracers flying by, the pilot of the aircraft may assume a weakly armed aircraft is on their tail with intermittent tracers from the 12.7 mm machine gun. This can be a huge advantage for the attacking aircraft by sneaking in a large amount of lead and incendiaries while still having the ability to walk in the shots with the tracers (especially helpful in realistic and simulator battles where the aiming helper is not available for use).

==== 12.7 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Belt Type
! 1st Round
! 2nd Round
! 3rd Round
! 4th Round
! 5th Round
|-
| Default || T || Ball || I || AP ||
|-
| Universal || AP || AP || AP || T || I
|-
| Ground targets || T || AP || AP || AP ||
|-
| Tracers || T || T || T || AP ||
|-
| Stealth || AP || I || AP || ||
|-
! colspan="6"|T = M1 ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = M2 ''Omni-purpose bullet''; I = M1 ''Incendiary bullet''; AP = M2 ''Armour-piercing bullet''
|}

==== 7.62 mm ammunition ====
{| class="wikitable"
! Belt Type
! 1st Round
! 2nd Round
! 3rd Round
! 4th Round
! 5th Round
! 6th Round
|-
| Default || T || Ball || Ball || Ball || AP || I
|-
| Universal || T || AP || I || || ||
|-
| Tracers || AP || T || T || T || T ||
|-
| Stealth || AP || AP || AP || I || I ||
|-
! colspan="7"|T = ''Tracer bullet''; Ball = ''Omni-purpose bullet''; I = ''Incendiary bullet''; AP = ''Armour-piercing bullet''
|}

== Usage in battles ==

The {{PAGENAME}} Hawk is one of the best fighter aircraft at Rank I as it combines energy retention, manoeuvrability and decent firepower. Energy retention lends this fighter to be a great zoomer, dropping in for a shot and then speeding back up to regain the energy advantage. With this aircraft having such a low stall speed; it makes a great fighter to practice Rope-a-dope energy depletion manoeuvres. This requires the P-36 pilot to bait another fighter into following them in a climb, as the attacker attempts to get guns on, the P-36 pilot can start to spiral climb which will cause the attacking aircraft to pull a tighter circle haemorrhaging their energy. If done correctly, the attacking fighter will stall out and be completely helpless as they begin to fall back to the ground allowing the P-36 to roll over or Split-S and take out the stalled fighter below.

Most fighters are typically only good at one thing whether its turning, speed or weapon systems, however, the P-36 is good at two, speeding and turning. This fighter has the ability to not only zoom attack but can also turn fight competitively with most other aircraft. There are few aircraft (notably the A6M Zero fighters of the Imperial Japanese Navy) which may outshine while turning, however, when utilizing flaps and rudder while turning, the P-36 can manoeuvre into some tight turns and allow guns to get on target.

Even with all of its power and mobility, the P-36 is a relatively fragile aircraft. Without much armour on the aircraft, many of its critical systems are exposed and it will not take much even from lower calibre machine guns to cause fuel fires, oil leaks and the engine shutdowns, not to mention a knocked out pilot. Situational awareness is critical to potentially know not only where the targets are, but also the enemy aircraft which are manoeuvring into position and ready to pounce, however, structurally the aircraft is sound and has been known to survive aerial collisions which allowed it to continue fighting on where other aircraft would have been shedding parts right and left. The {{PAGENAME}} is beefed up with six machine guns, though it may not have the notoriety of the [[I-16 (Family)|I-16]] and the [[LaGG-3 (Family)|LaGG-3]], it is more than capable of challenging them on a more than even footing.

=== Manual Engine Control ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
|-
! Oil !! Water !! Type
|-
| Not controllable || Controllable Not auto controlled || Not controllable Not auto controlled || Controllable Not auto controlled || Combined || Controllable 2 gears || Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 7 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Excellent climb speed
* Excellent dive speed
* Better-than-average turn-radius
* Good energy retention for Boom & Zoom manoeuvres
* Two more machine guns (six total) for increased firepower over the [[P-36C]]

'''Cons:'''
* Lack of turbocharger relegates this fighter to lower altitudes
* No suspended armament options
* Less-than-average roll rate at high speeds
* Very little armour protection
* Poor in a head-on, engine and pilot exposed

== History ==

The P-36 Hawk began its life at Curtiss Aeroplane Company as a design in the early 1930s. A private venture by Curtiss, the project was headed up by Donovan A. Berlin, a former Northrop aircraft company engineer who was the principal designer and incorporated design portions of early Northrop designs.<ref name=MilFac /> The P-36, at this time known as the X-17Y, was a stretch from the biplane years by utilizing an all-metal low-wing monoplane with fabric-covered control surfaces. This aircraft also featured retractable landing gear, which utilized a design put forward by Boeing Aircraft Company and required royalties to be paid to Boeing for every aircraft in which this landing gear was installed.<ref name=JoeB /><ref name=AviHis /> Initial weapon load-outs included the standard 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, both of which were mounted in the forward fuselage deck and fired through openings in the cowling, synchronized to fire through the propeller arc.<ref name=AviHis />

The initial flight took place in 1935 and when it was presented at a competition the next year, the competitor aircraft (Seversky SEV-2XP/P-35) was heavily damaged in transit. While Seversky took their aircraft back to perform repairs and modifications, Curtiss took the opportunity during this time to make some modifications of their own, and namely replacing the Wright XR-1670-5 twin-row air-cooled radial engine with the upgraded Write XR-1820-39 Cyclone radial.<ref name=MilFac /> With the Seversky aircraft repaired, the competition was back on. Even though the Seversky aircraft underperformed and was more expensive than Curtis X-17Y, it was selected and an order of 77 aircraft were put in for, however later the Material Division of the USAAC contacted Curtis and put in an order for three examples as they were becoming nervous about Seversky's ability to deliver their aircraft on time. Curtiss worked on modifying the P-36 by again upgrading the motor and working on the cockpit, especially increasing the amount of area behind the cockpit where the pilot could see. During the 1937 competition, test pilots who piloted the P-36 all commented that the aircraft responded to pilot input favourable and at all speeds and even noted that it handled well on the ground while taxiing. With such a reaction from the test pilots, the USAAC put in an order for 210 P-36A fighters, which at that time was the largest single US military aircraft order since World War I.<ref name=JoeB />

As the P-36 fighters began to roll off the assembly line, they were shipped to US squadrons, however, problems developed with the aircraft which left them grounded while waiting repairs. The P-36 continued to have problems, however, four P-36A fighters stationed at Wheeler Air Field in Hawaii were able to get airborne and attach a flight of Nakajima B5N1 torpedo bombers, claiming two shot down and gaining the first US fighter aircraft "kills" of the Pacific War. Despite this action, the P-36 fighters were withdrawn from combat outfits and sent to training units for new pilots to train on. While the P-36 did not see much action with the U.S., it did see combat action while flown by other nations such as France and Finland where they put the little fighter to the test and were highly successful with it. 10 P-36A training fighters were transferred in 1942 to Brazil where they remained in service until 1954.<ref name=JoeB />

=== In-game description ===
Not long before the Germans occupied Norway, the Norwegian government put in another order with the Curtiss company. In January 1940, a contract was signed for 36 Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters.

The new model differed from the Curtiss Hawk 75A-6s in its improved weaponry and its 9-cylinder single-row air-cooled Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone engine with a maximum output of 1,200 hp.

The Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 possessed two large-caliber 12.7 mm synchronized Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns in the fuselage with 200 rounds each and four 7.62 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.3 machine guns mounted on the wing panels with 500 rounds each. Bomb racks were installed on the underside wing panels.

This model was equipped with a fixed loop radio compass, the antenna of which was installed above the fuselage spine fairing behind the pilot's cockpit in a characteristic teardrop fairing.

The order was fully completed by the end of 1940, but all the planes of this model remained overseas due to the occupation of Norway. The exiled Norwegian government received only 6 Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters and used them as training planes to prepare fighter pilots for the Norwegian Army Air Service in so-called Little Norway at Toronto, Canada until mid-1943.

The remaining Curtiss Hawk 75A-8s were integrated into the USAAF with the designation P-36G.

By this time, the Curtiss Hawk 75A was no longer of high value as a fighter, and the other P-36s in the USAAF were powered by different engines. Because of these issues, the P-36Gs were transferred to Peru in 1943 as part of the lend-lease program.

The Latin-American country's formerly Norwegian Curtiss Hawk 75A-8 fighters served peacefully until 1954.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|91duRbIoCPM|'''The Shooting Range #91''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:02 discusses the P-36.|dHiWxG9r-k8|''War Thunder: P-36G Hawk'' - '''MagzTV'''|XjRhE-Y2R-o|''War Thunder: The Grind - Spading the P-36G Hawk'' - '''The Digital Time Traveller'''|G3cXlOGKXyc|''War Thunder Realistic: P-36G Hawk [Little Beast!]'' - '''Jengar'''}}

== See also ==

* [[P-36 (Family)|Curtiss P-36 and H-75 variants]]

;Analogues of other nations
* Polikarpov [[I-180S]]
* Bloch M.B.150
* [[IAR-81C]]
* Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]] Zero
* Nakajima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]
* Reggiane [[Re.2000 serie 1|Re.2000]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
<references>
<ref name="JoeB">Baugher, Joe (1999)</ref>
<ref name="MilFac">Militaryfactory.com website (2019)</ref>
<ref name="AviHis">Aviationhistory.com website (2007)</ref>
</references>

=== Biblography ===
* Aviationhistory.com website. [http://www.aviation-history.com/curtiss/p36.htm The Curtiss P-36 Hawk]. ''The Aviation History Online Mueseum website'', On-line 12 June 2007. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_fighters/p36_1.html Curtiss P-36A Curtiss P-36A]. ''Joebauer.com website", On-line 12 June 1999. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
* Militaryfactory.com website (2019) [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=155 Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75 / Mohawk).] ''Militaryfactory.com website'', On-line 10 May 2019. Retrieved 24 August 2019.

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Curtiss}}
{{USA fighters}}

A-26B-10

2020-06-09T12:40:53Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card|code=a-26b_10}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=A-26 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.71 "New E.R.A"]].

The A-26 ''Invader'' is an excellent ground attack aircraft, boasting 6 nose-mounted M2 Browning .50 cal machine guns, as well as a potential payload of up to 4,000 lbs worth of bombs (4 x 1,000 lbs). The Invader also sports two dual-M2 Browning machine gun turrets, remote controlled by a gunner located in the rear section of the aircraft, that flawlessly track aircraft transitioning in the vertical.

In addition, later upgrades of this particular A-26 model grant the user the ability to use a nose-mounted M4 37 mm cannon, at the expense of two of the .50 cals.

The Invader's strengths over many similar dual-engine aircraft is a surprising punch that it packs, especially when the 37 mm cannon is equipped, which can possibly turn the attacker into a fearsome, yet cumbersome blitzer due to its incredible speed.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 555 || 541 || 8,000 || 31.1 || 32.0 || 9.9 || 9.8 || 1,000
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| ? || ? || 8,000 || ??.? || ??.? || ?.? || ?.? || 1,000
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || 527 || ~?? || ~?
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 370 || < 375 || < 460 || > 350
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,310 m || 2,000 hp || No WEP
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,572 m || 1,600 hp || No WEP
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 12.7 mm Steel - Nose plate
* 8 mm Steel - Under engine armor plate (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore/aft nacelle fuel protection plates x 2 (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armor plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Cockpit tub
* 9 mm Steel - Pilot/Co-pilot's seat backs
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner aft armor plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner lower armor plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Aircraft tail armor plate
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot

With this array of armour, the A-26B-10 is well-protected from any glancing rounds from machine guns.

As mentioned earlier, the A-26B-10 has the option to mount a 37 mm cannon in the nose. That in combination with its speed and additional four .50 Cals in the nose will punish any opponent foolish enough to head on this aircraft. In addition, the rear of the aircraft is well defended by the two remote-controlled .50 Cal turrets.

Thus, to fight an A-26, the best method of attack is to perform a Boom & Zoom run and aim for the engines. As fast as the A-26 is, it loses a fair deal of speed if one of the engines is out of action and, (if your aim is good enough), you may even snipe the gunner, leaving a massive blind spot from the rear of the Invader. If you find yourself in front of this plane, and there are no alternatives, aim for the cockpit only! This is as a result of the A-26 having both a pilot and a co-pilot, meaning if one is knocked out, the other can still take command of the plane. Nonetheless, the best possible angle to attack an Invader is from the sides, where the gunner cannot traverse the turrets.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|M4 (37 mm)}}

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 2,400 total)
or
* 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
or
* 2 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg = 60 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}

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

* 16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
* 12 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 10 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (5,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==


Though the A-26B-10 Invader will suffer in combat versus more nimble single-engine fighters, it still has some tricks it can employ to eek out a victory in the skies. Due to all the offensive weaponry being mounted in the nose of the plane, it creates a rather dense cone of fire, similar to that of most heavy fighters. This enables the Invader to nearly guarantee either to destroy or critically damage any fighter greedy enough to head you on, even if they are armed with cannons. The A-26B-10 is a very resilient aircraft, similar to other dual-engine aircraft like the [[Beaufighter Mk 21]]. Because of this, the pilot of the Invader can allow his opponent to land some hits in exchange for coming in view of either the A-26's forward facing armaments, or of its two rear-facing turrets. Though M2 Brownings lack the stopping power of cannons such as the 23 mm NS-23 cannon, they are still capable of inflicting immense damage to enemy aircraft, lighting up fuel tanks and disabling key components like control surfaces. This can buy the pilot some breathing room, by forcing enemy fighters to return to base after coming under fire from the Invader's guns.

While the A-26 Invader is fast for its battle rating of 5.0, it will still be intercepted by almost any late models of aircraft such as the Bf 109 "Gustav" series, the [[Bf 109 K-4|Bf 109 K-4]], almost any later model of the Fw-190, including the Focke-Wulf Ta-152 series. Any of the above-mentioned German aircraft will tear you apart due to all of them sporting the "Minengeschoß" shells.

Against the Russians, any of the La-7s or La-9s can and will be able to catch you. In addition, aircraft such as the [[Yak-9P]] or [[Yak-9UT]], which wield both 20 mm and either a 37 mm or 45 mm will tear your plane to bits. While the Russians do not have cannons armed with the same round types as a German fighter does, the multitude of cannons they wield can make short work of you.

The British can also give you a run for your money. The most common adversary that could give you an issue is the Wyvern, due to its blistering speed and four 20 mm Hispano Mk. V cannons. In addition, a Tempest could also make quick work of you due to the same reasoning in firepower. While it is unlikely you will see any of the Griffon Spitfires, earlier models can still inflict a heavy amount of damage to your air frame. Your biggest problem is the result of the British "Air Target" rounds for the Hispano cannon, which is entirely "Stealth" ammunition.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan = "1"| Tier
!colspan = "2"| Flight performance
!colspan = "1"| Survivability
!colspan = "3"| Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| M4/4-50
| SBC Mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Offensive 37 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| New 37 mm Cannons
| MBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Respectable forward-facing armament
* Impressive secondary armament when compared to its counterparts
* Highly durable
* Fast
* Decent energy retention
* Two remote-controlled turrets
* Respectable climb rate for an attacker
* Can mount a cannon for either air targets or ground targets
* Pilot and co-pilot: if one is knocked out, the other can take command

'''Cons'''
* Not very maneuverable
* As fast as it is, it is slower when compared to single-engine fighters
* Large silhouette
* Fairly high repair cost
* Only one gunner. If he is unconscious, the rear of the aircraft is highly exposed

== 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 big, 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

;Skins
[https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=attacker&vehicle=a-26b-10 War Thunder Live - User created A-26B-10 camouflage]
;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|E1IDVFUqzrI|'''The Shooting Range #83''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 10:27 discusses the Douglas A-26 Invader.}}

== See also ==

;Related development
* Douglas [[A-20G-25|A-20]] Havoc

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
* Bristol [[Brigand B 1|Brigand]]
* Junkers [[Ju 288 C|Ju 288]]
* North American [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] Mitchell
* Tupolev [[Tu-2 (Family)|Tu-2]]

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA attackers}}

P-47D-28

2020-06-09T12:35:43Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-47d-28
|cockpit=cockpit_p-47d-28.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = American strike fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = P-47 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American strike fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in Update 1.33.

The Thunderbolt was originally designed for high altitude bomber escort role, but due to a limited range, it was not very successful on the European theatre of operations where it couldn't escort the bombers all the way to their target. The newer P-51B/C and later P-51D fitted with a Merlin engine turned out to be a much better long range, high altitude escort fighter, and the P-47 was relegated to other duties. Due to the Thunderbolt's large size and strong construction, the aircraft was well suited for carrying large amounts of air-to-ground ordnance and was often used in ground attack role against small targets that level bombers could not reliably hit, such as bridges.

In War Thunder, much like in real life, all Thunderbolt variants have tremendous potential as a high altitude fighter, but can also be used very effectively as ground attack aircraft, thanks to their impressive payload capacity. When fighting against enemy aircraft, boom and zoom tactics are a must, never try to dogfight with the 'Jug'. When diving on a target, if you don't secure the kill, don't try to turn and finish him, use the speed you built in the dive and climb up, circle around and do it all again. Don't be afraid to go head-on; you have a radial engine and eight x fifty-calibre machine guns.

Except for having a different propeller, and (as of patch 1.77) 70" HG of boost, there are very few differences between the [[P-47D-25|P-47D-'''25''']] and D-28. The D-25 uses a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 13 ft. 7/8 in. diameter propeller, while the D-28 uses a Curtiss Electric "sleeved" propeller with 13 ft diameter. Despite a popular misconception that the D-28 uses a "paddle-blade" propeller whereas the D-25 doesn't, both were in fact called "paddle-blade" propellers and offered virtually identical performance. The origin of this misconception is that the early Thunderbolt variants used a smaller Curtiss Electric propeller with only 12 ft. 2 in. diameter, which proved insufficient for the R-2800 engine's power output. Larger propellers were needed to transform more engine power into thrust, giving the Thunderbolt a boost in climb rate and acceleration. These propellers were used starting from the Thunderbolt D-series manufacturing block 22 (P-47D-22) and the main distinction between these propellers was simply that aircraft manufactured on Republic's Evansville plant received the new Curtiss Electric propellers, while the Long Island manufacturing facility used Hamilton Standard propellers.

Compared to the D-25, the D-28 variant offers the M10 Bazookas as an additional armament option, although it's better to use the HVAR rockets as it is far more destructive than the bazookas.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,114 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 660 || 653 || 12,500 || 26.6 || 27.2 || 5.4 || 7.2 || 700
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,114 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 733 || 695 || 12,500 || 23.4 || 25.0 || 18.0 || 10.6 || 700
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 885 || 450 || 520 || ~14 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 380 || < 452 || < 450 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 7,350 m ||2,390 hp||2,727 hp
|-

|}

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

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Suspended armaments}}

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

* 8 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (425 rpg = 3400 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|M8}}

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

* 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (2,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (2,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
* 6 x M8 rockets
* 6 x M8 rockets + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

Always maintain speed. The P-47 handles like a dream at about 350-400 mph (563-643 km/h), but once it gets to >220 mph it handles as a pig dipped in mud. One great thing about the handling at high speed, though, is that the P-47 responds quickly at high speeds, and this allows some impressive defensive scissoring without losing wings at terminal velocity. The high-wing loading is an issue, though, as the Jug will lose most of its energy in a blackout turn. This does endow the Jug with one key feature- it is a rock-solid gun platform.

Unfortunately, zoom-climbing and dive acceleration are not the "Jug's" forte. The BF-109 has a superior dive acceleration, and the Fw 190 can zoom-climb far faster. Still, the energy retention of the P-47 is great, along with the fact that it flies far faster than both the Würger and Messerschmitt. The P-47 is NOT A TURN-FIGHTER. Although it is possible to out-turn a heavy fighter like the BF-110 C or Do 217, it is not recommended- the acceleration is mediocre, and once a P-47 is a sitting duck, it will be swarmed like flies to fruit in a compost pile. Acrobatic pilots will not be impressed by the P-47 as well, because it performs Immelmans very sluggishly and the roll rate is not magnificent as well.

Durability, as mentioned above, is pretty good. As in WW2 itself, the P-47 was renowned for its rugged construction. In War Thunder, the biggest weak point of the P-47 is its engine and wings. The wings can break fairly easily in manoeuvres at speeds around ~ 675.9 kph or so. They also tend to break after a well-placed cannon burst (from planes like the FW-190, A6M2/3). The engine though is also fairly susceptible to catching fire while chasing a bomber, but this is not due to its durability but to its size. Speaking of fire, the P-47D will be heavily damaged by the time it pulls itself out of a fire. One should immediately try to limp home if set aflame.

Performance of the P-47 at altitude is very good, but once you go above about 9,000 meters (~30,000 feet, its critical altitude), any energy lost will have to be regained by diving and losing altitude. Even though the D-28 now gets 70" boost (which is significantly more than the D-25), it still will have some troubles accelerating and climbing. Keep in mind that this boost is only achieved on WEP, although on military power it still has 65" of boost.

When used skillfully, the tracer rounds can be used to "derp", because of the high calibre (for a machine gun) and fire rate, tracers can be absolutely terrifying to anyone attacked by them. However, due to the "scare" effect and low takedown capabilities, the tracers have limited practical use.
=====Modes=====
'''Arcade''': In Arcade, the P-47 can make the most of its capability. In Arcade, engine overheating is not a problem and the "Jug" can get an air start. Keep WEP on automatic, and climb as high as possible. Watch out for Spitfires, Focke-Wulfs, and Bf 109s, which have the capability to climb as high and as quickly as the P-47. Once a height of around 4,000 - 5,000 m is reached (bomber level), go for the bombers. If rockets are equipped, expend them against the bombers. Then initiate the tactics seen in "Shredding Planes". You CAN stay at altitude and prey on any high-flying prey. Beware, the Fw 190 will be your competitor as well.

'''Realistic''': In realistic, one has to be much more careful with how he/she uses the P-47. On takeoff, climb to as high as possible before an engine overheat. If Radiator is installed overheating will still be a problem, but not nearly as bad a one as a stock P-47 will be. If overheating does occur, pull the throttle to around 80% and do a slow climb away from the enemy. Once high enough, attack high-altitude marauders or use BnZ. In high-speed dives (BnZ), make sure not to make "blackout" turns, because the "Jug" will rip its wings, even though it has fantastic durability. Keep in mind the fact that the plane will respond more sluggishly in Realistic- one should not try to be an acrobat.

'''Simulator''': The "Jug" is one of the best planes available for SB. Not only is the only fighter with a full-blown "bubble canopy" to provide a great view, but it also has full high-calibre machine gun armament, which is invaluable for beginners. The machine guns are very forgiving due to easy adjustment, high rate of fire, and large ammunition capacity. Take advantage of the high durability, as well. Other than that the physics of the "Jug" are identical to RB.

In RB and SB one has to be precise with the ordnance. It is recommended to use the P-47 almost like a dive bomber to have the best accuracy possible.

=====Armament tips=====
'''''Offensive guns''''' 
The 8 Browning M2 Machine Guns pack a great punch when used correctly. Long bursts are the forte of the guns, not conservative bursts that one would normally use on a cannon-armed fighter (Fw 190). One should also make the most of the low calibre by using stealth (the tracers are a waste, as the machine guns do not require as much firing accuracy as cannon- you can spray those M2s!), or belts such as Ground Targets, as wing spars were nerfed in Patch 1.69, as well as AP being buffed. Fire from about .8-1.2 km at max. The M2s are very accurate and have a minimal drop, so long range harassing fire can be quite effective. However, depending on one's pilot aiming skills and his/her own, it may be better to fire from around .3-.5 km. Firing closer to the target is also very advantageous in Boom & Zoom because the high dive speed and inability low turn rate (if the opponent manoeuvers)- one does not want to lose a kill by firing from too far behind and then diving past his/her prey because one's opponent simply turned. The high burst mass output (4.44 kg, compared to the 5.17 kg of the Beaufighter) combined with the high ammunition capacity and accurate and straight-firing M2s make the P-47 one of the deadliest opponents in the 3.7-4.7 BR range.

The ammunition capacity is pretty good, but do not expect it to last for too long (they are MGs, after all). Therefore, do not just aim for the body of any plane. Try to aim for the wings and possibly tail. These are weak points that can result in relatively quick kills. The MGs can rip control surfaces off of any foe quickly, and are extremely effective against the wings of opponents.

'''''Payloads''''' 
The P-47 is one of the most famous WWII ground attack planes- no wonder it was named the "Jug"! In War Thunder, the load it can carry is frightfully large- 3 large bombs (2 1000 lb, 1 500 lb) and a max of 10 HVAR rockets. Indeed, the P-47 is better equipped than an [[A-20G-25|A-20]], which is still largely used even in BR 3-4 battles. Thus, a P-47 can be vital to a Ground-Strike mission. Its speed, combined with climb rate and durability make it a great attacker on its own.

Like mentioned above, the P-47 Thunderbolt's 8 M2 Brownings make pretty effective strafing weapons if used properly. When equipped with Ground-Attack ammunition, they can effectively take out most "Soft" targets, (light pillboxes, etc.).

The D-28 has two different rocket types to choose from: Bazookas and High-Velocity-Attack-Rockets. The latter is simply far superior to the former, as currently, the Bazookas do not have their HEAT warhead modelled.

In full maximum payload, the Jug is difficult to take off in or to handle. With three bombs + ten rockets dive bombing attacks are nigh impossible to manage from low altitudes, especially if one intends to keep the second bomb drop (2 x 1,000 lb). For combined forces, it is therefore suggested to only equip 2 x 1,000+ 10 x HVAR and ignore the 500 lb for superior speed and handling.

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

Planes that the P-47 will face will be between the 3.7 and 5.7 BR range. Depending on what planes one equips, one can expect planes like the [[Fw 190 A-1]] to the [[Fw 190 A-4]], [[Bf 109 F-1]] to the [[Bf 109 F-4|F-4]].

====Counter-tactics====

Try to climb above the Jug. It does not climb well enough to remain on par with most planes, as it is very heavy. The Jug is bad at vertical manoeuvres so you can try using those (be careful, as he can still prop-hang you). The Jug is also not very good at low-to-medium speed manoeuvres, although, again, BE CAREFUL. The Jug is surprisingly manoeuvrable for such a large plane, especially when its flaps are extended.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not ontrollable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FRC mk.2
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
| IV
| G-Suit
| Engine Injection
| Cover
|
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

* Climb rate and acceleration is a big issue for the stock P-47D. Focus on ''Compressor'', ''Engine'', ''Wing repairs'' and ''Engine Injection'' first. During this performance focused grind, you can additionally research ''Offensive 12.7 mm '' and the various payload modules to unlock the higher tiers for the better performance upgrades.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great at diving and Boom & Zoom
* Impressive firepower
* Impressive payloads
* Great engine performance above 6,000 m
* Fantastic gun platform- the 2 "quartets" of M2s are extremely accurate and in many cases as powerful as cannon
* Great high-speed handling
* Fantastic top speed in level flight
* Fantastic ground attack capability
* Good scissoring capability
* Great durability
* Great cockpit visibility
* Cools rapidly and can WEP for a long duration of time without overheating
* Has 20 Mins of ADI
* Currently running 70" of boost, almost as high as P-47M, P-47N

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible turning radius at low altitude
* Mediocre climb performance (but fully spaded you can reach 20m/s at 15*)
* Engine prone to being set on fire
* Poor low-speed handling
* Large target
* Engine can overheat quickly if you constantly use WEP
* Machine guns are mounted very far apart

== History ==

Developed by Republic Aviation, the main role of the P-47 Thunderbolt was as a bomber escort, at high altitude the 'Jug' could contend with the latest from the Luftwaffe. The design was to also include much better protection for the pilot by having increased armour around the cockpit; however, this increased its weight substantially. It was the first American fighter to receive more than the standard 6 x .50 calibre M2 Browning machine guns, with a total of 8 all together, making it the most powerful Allied aircraft in terms of firepower at the time. Thanks to its rugged design, the Thunderbolt was able to take a considerable beating, more so than other allied aircraft and with its sturdy airframe and large engine. The 'Jug' quickly took on the role of ground attack, able to arm itself with 2,500 lbs of bombs and rockets. All in all, the Thunderbolt was one of the most successful allied aircraft during the war, even with the introduction of the faster and more nimble P-51 Mustang, later modifications of the Thunderbolt would go on to see action in the later part of the Pacific Campaign against the Imperial Japanese Navy.

A total of 750 D-28 model P-47s were built. The aircraft is very similar to the [[P-47D-25]] except for one primary difference. This model introduced the Curtiss Electric 13ft paddle-blade propeller. The addition of this larger propeller helped cure the P-47's issues of low altitude climbing by converting more power from the enormous R-2800 engine into thrust.

=== In-game description ===
"Republic P-47D-28 Thunderbolt single-engine army heavy escort fighter/fighter-bomber

A single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear. It was designed in the design bureau of the Republic Aviation Corporation under the direction of Alexander Kartveli, a Russian immigrant of Georgian origin. The first flight of the XP-47B prototype took place in May 1941. Full-scale production began in March 1942.

Beginning in September 1942, fighters of the P-47D variant began to leave the factory floor. They featured 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21 eighteen-cylinder, air-cooled engines, with a water mixture injected into the cylinders under augmented rating conditions and with an improved turbosupercharger.

The armament of all batches of P-47Ds included eight 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns (425 rounds each) located in the wing panels.

Bombs of up to 500 lb could be suspended from the ventral pylon of the earlier P-47Ds. Extra wing pylons designed for two 1,000 lb bombs were fitted on subsequent batches of P-47Ds. The plane's maximum bomb capacity could reach 2,500 lb (1,130 kg). The wing-mounted bomb racks were ""wet"", meaning that they were connected to the fuel lines and that external fuel tanks could be suspended from them.

Beginning with the P-47D-20 batch, the Thunderbolts had a higher tail skid to reduce aerodynamic resistance during takeoff, plus a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp engine whose rated power was 2,000 hp but which could reach 2,300 hp in short-term emergency conditions. The aerodynamic configuration of the underwing pylons was improved. This P-47D batch was the first to lack any paint. Due to absolute supremacy of the Allies' aircraft in the air, camouflage patterns were considered unnecessary, as they impaired aircraft performance characteristics.

Beginning with the P-47D-25 batch, the Thunderbolts obtained a new drop-shaped cockpit canopy with no framing, which significantly improved visibility to the upper side of the plane's rear. However, the reduced height of the fuselage spine fairing behind the pilot's cockpit slightly impaired the aircraft's longitudinal stability, so Thunderbolts were equipped with a small dorsal fin fairing beginning with the P-47D-27 batch.

The D-27 batch was soon followed by the D-28 batch, which became one of the most widely produced. 750 aircraft were manufactured at the factory in Farmingdale, and 1,028 in Evansville. D-28-RA aircraft built in Evansville and adapted to fly under the conditions of the Pacific theatre of war had their Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 24E50 propellers replaced with a different type of propeller, the Curtiss-Electric C54E50-A114, which had a smaller diameter. The shape of the propeller's spinner was also changed. Due to the new propeller, the aircraft was lengthened by 100 mm, and its maximum height with its tail up was increased by 20 mm. A number of changes were introduced into the hydraulic system, and the plane's radio equipment was improved, with an advanced radio compass installed. The two outermost machine guns were often removed in the field to improve the fighter's manoeuvrability characteristics. This happened quite often and was beneficial in most cases.

Aircraft of the D-28-RA batch built in Evansville were used in the Pacific quite sparingly, due to the lack of airfields with runways of appropriate length. The Thunderbolts became deeply involved in the Pacific only after the appearance of the N version, which was specially designed for the Pacific theatre of war."

== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as 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 ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

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

{{AirManufacturer Republic}}
{{USA fighters}}

F-100D

2020-02-04T14:58:10Z

U27109353: /* Suspended armament */

{{Specs-Card
|code=f-100d
|cockpit=380321/1306449
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left|]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.85 "Supersonic"]] and was one of the first three jets to feature guided air-to-air missiles, the other two being the [[MiG-19PT]] and the [[Javelin F.(A.W.) Mk.9]].

The dog-fighting days of WW II were over and while there was air-to-air combat during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, it was nowhere the level of previous wars. Jets were becoming faster, electronics and avionics were making them more manoeuvrable and the fighters were able to carry extremely large amounts of ordnance. The {{PAGENAME}} was no exception to this as it was designed to be a ground attacker first and a fighter/interceptor as a secondary role. Visible changes to the shape of the fighter compared to earlier [[F-80A-5|F-80s]], [[F-84 (Family)|F-84s]] and [[F9F-2|F9Fs]] as the {{PAGENAME}} sported a more sleek and aerodynamic shape to it.

One noticeable difference is the deviation from the straight-wing aircraft, early on in development the {{PAGENAME}} was known as the ''45-Sabre'' (officially later it was dubbed ''Super Sabre'') due to its wings being swept back at a 45° angle. The fighter's elevators were also swept back to help increase the aerodynamics of the aircraft. Engine exhaust nozzle control, upgraded avionics and early computer systems worked together to make this the first US fighter which was able to fly faster than the speed of sound in level flight. Compared to earlier jet fighters, the {{PAGENAME}} may feel more like a race car as it has a great climb rate, accelerates well in a straight line and during a dive while maintaining a decent roll rate. Slats in the wings help with the already horrible turn time, especially when the fighter is loaded down with ordnance, as such, turning should be left to a minimum.

[[File:F-100 duckmcmallardson001.png|350px|thumb|left|Literally looking down the barrels of an oncoming '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]

Weapon loadout options allow the pilot to tailor the aircraft to their playstyle or even mix it up depending on the map they are flying. This fighter excels as a ground attack bomber utilizing up to 6,000 lbs of bombs, [[AGM-12B Bullpup|Bullpup]] rockets, [[FFAR Mighty Mouse|Mighty Mouse]] rockets or several combinations of the three. Whether you are into dropping and running or firing and forgetting, there are ordnance choices will fit the pilot's style. For those pilots who want to hunt fighters and bombers, The four nose mount 20 mm cannons and choice of [[AIM-9B]] Sidewinder air-to-air missiles will fit the bill. Centre-mounted cannons mean that convergence is not a factor and allows the pilot to set up for head-on attacks and being more successful against other fighters which may have to factor in convergence. The Sidewinders are also an intimidation factor as pilots with one on their tail must immediately focus on outmanoeuvring the missile, providing you with the opportunity to manoeuvre in and line up the kill-shot with your cannons if the missile does not make contact. The speed of the {{PAGENAME}} can come in handy when attacking bomber aircraft as Boom & Zoom tactics will help you avoid any defensive weapons allowing you to wreak havoc during an attacking dive.

If handled correctly, the {{PAGENAME}} can be a wrecking ball of destruction both in ground attacks and as an aircraft interceptor. Ordnance options are available for all play-styles and can be a tide-turner in a decisive match.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===


The F-100 during its initial development was outfitted with the then de-rated Pratt & Whitney XJ57-P-7 engine and was still able to achieve faster than the speed of sound. By the time the {{PAGENAME}} rolled off of the production line they were outfitted with the more powerful Pratt & Whitney J57P-21. It is this engine which turns the fighter into a hot rod. The {{PAGENAME}} is much like a ground-based dragster in that it has acceleration, it has a high top speed and is a horrible turner.

The {{PAGENAME}} is aerodynamically fit with its sleek body and swept-back wings which coupled with its J57P-21 is a fantastic climber which continues to accelerate even without WEP engaged. This fighter will continue to accelerate in a flat run to the point of going over Mach 1 and even more quickly hits top speeds when in a dive. Climbing, diving and rolling are excellent capabilities of this fighter, however, this comes with having speed on your side as when flying slower, it has a more challenging time to manoeuvre without being a relatively easy target for others. The {{PAGENAME}} is not the greatest of turners even with leading-edge wing slats to help, manoeuvres like the Immelmann and Split-S are the most optimal when changing directions without attempting energy-bleeding manoeuvres like turning (unless that is what you are intending to do to cause an overshoot of someone following you).

[[File:F-100 fulzy nyan001.png|350px|thumb|right|Bird's eye view of a '''{{PAGENAME}}''' after unloading on ground targets.]]

Flying at speeds close to Mach 1 or past can pose a challenge for pilots utilising the 3rd-person view as a condensation cloud forms around the aircraft and obscures your view (not an issue for those flying simulator-style from in the cockpit). While this can make targeting enemy aircraft a challenge, it just takes a little more work to line up the shot either with the cannons or air-to-air missiles.

Typically aircraft which pound ground targets fly slow to ensure they hit their targets with guns, rockets or bombs, however, the {{PAGENAME}} becomes difficult to get out of harms way when flying slow, so it requires the pilot to learn how to bomb and fire rockets at targets at higher speeds than what they may be used to with earlier aircraft. Terms like drop & run or fire & forget come into play as the {{PAGENAME}} descends towards a ground target at a good clip, dropping its bombs or firing its rockets and then boogieing out of the area to ensure the ground anti-aircraft fire nor any trailing fighters gain a targeting solution on you. Some pilots like to watch and make sure their ordnance hits the target, however, this can cost you your jet when someone takes advantage of your inattentiveness and gets the drop on you. Speed in and speed out is the key with the {{PAGENAME}}.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 1,445 || 1,438 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 40.6 || 41.5 || 61.4 || 54.6 || rowspan="2" | 1,400
|-
! Upgraded
| 1,478 || 1,458 || 39.5 || 40.0 || 94.6 || 79.2
|-
|}

====Details====
[[File:F-100 rheinberg001.png|500px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' at cruzing altitude on the watch for potential enemy fighters.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || ✓ 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! 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|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || 620 || 620 || 435 || ~11 || ~4.5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 640 || < 540 || < 610 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="3" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Pratt & Whitney J57P21 || 1
| colspan="3" | 9,551 kg || colspan="3" | 352 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 50m fuel
|-
| 900 kg || colspan="2" | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet
| 10,618 kg || 10,968 kg || 11,669 kg || 12,719 kg || 13,069 kg || 16,689 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 15m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 50m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 3,786 kgf || 5,810 kgf
| 0.55 || 0.53 || 0.50 || 0.46 || 0.44 || 0.35
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 4,254 kgf (1,200 km/h) || 7,978 kgf (1,200 km/h)
| 0.75 || 0.73 || 0.68 || 0.63 || 0.61 || 0.48
|-
|}

===Survivability and armour===


For post-war fighter jets wanted to take advantage of the newer jet technology and maximize both speed and ordnance carried. To keep up speed and maximize ordnance, something had to give and that came with pilot survivability. The idea is to be faster than the enemy which would make it really difficult for them to get a targeting solution on you. Though the {{PAGENAME}} does have protection for the pilot, it isn’t much and leaves the rest of the critical components virtually unprotected with armour. For the pilot, the back of the seat and headrest maintains a continuous piece of steel at 12.7 mm thick and the windscreen is rated at 64 mm bulletproof windscreen. Typically this type of protection is meant more for protection from defensive turret attacks from bombers rather than gun attacks from other aircraft.

The {{PAGENAME}} is a relatively sturdy aircraft and can take a beating before critical components begin to fail. While the engine and the pilot are important to protect as much as possible (without the engine you don’t go and without the pilot…you don’t go…) the wings are another critical component which you must protect as hits to the wings can make flying very difficult or send you to the respawn point. If being tailed by another aircraft try to speed away because if you try to pull up, turn to the side or pull-down, you risk expositing increased surface area of the skin, giving the enemy pilot more to shoot at and a greater opportunity of taking out a wing. If possible, increase speed and sway back and forth, even some very shallow elevator dips up and down maybe enough to throw off the sighting of the enemy pilot and spray his bullets all around you without exposing very much surface area of the jet, however, if there is a missile launch, take evasive action to avoid the missile and worry about the guns later.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|M39A1 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm M39A1 cannons 200 RPG (800 rounds total)

Early fighter aircraft utilized the wings of aircraft to mount machine guns and cannons, which was very effective especially aircraft like the P-47 which could outfit four guns in each wing for a total of eight. The downside is that for these guns to be effective, they had to have a convergence set to a specific distance, bullet hits before that distance and after became less effective, the pilots needed to make sure to hit the sweet spot. For the {{PAGENAME}}, convergence is non-existent as all four of its M39A 20 mm cannons are mounted on the underside of the fuselage, effectively able to decimate targets at extremely close range or snipe targets which maybe even 700 - 800 m, if not farther away, effectively almost any range (below 1000 m) is a sweet-spot for this fighter.

The cannons are air-cooled and rarely overheat, typically with the 200 round limit for each gun, the pilot should want to make each shot count and not just hold down the firing trigger and spray away. Another bonus to having all four cannons being the same type and calibre is that the bullets will have the same drop rate, so after getting used to how they work, it is much easier to estimate where to target moving vehicles to ensure a connection with the bullets. With the four cannons grouping so tightly, only a few rounds are needed to blow off an enemy aircraft's wing, eliminate a critical component (engine, compressor, fuel tank, pilot...etc...) and even take out ground units to include up to light armoured vehicles.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|LDGP Mk 82 (500 lb)|M117 cone 45 (750 lb)|LDGP Mk 83 (1,000 lb)}}
{{main|FFAR Mighty Mouse|AGM-12B Bullpup|AIM-9B|AIM-9E}}
[[File:F-100 wp gaming001.jpg|500px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' peeling away from the flight revealing the suspended ordnance it is carrying.]]
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can carry the following suspended ordnance:

* 6 x 500 lb LDGP Mk.82 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 10 x 500 lb LDGP Mk.82 bombs (5,000 lb total)
* 8 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (6,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk.83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 76 x FFAR Mighty Mouse unguided rockets
* 4 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs + 14 FFAR Mighty Mouse unguided rockets
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup rockets
* 2 x AGM-12B Bullpup rockets + 4 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
* 4 x AIM-9E Sidewinder air-to-air missiles

The {{PAGENAME}} is no stranger to ground attack and can be effectively outfitted with just about anything (the LDGP Mk series kitchen sinks were not yet available) necessary to destroy ground targets both large and small. While bombers could deliver a massive amount of ordnance, they typically flew slow and high and were not always as precise as hoped for, therefore the USAF designated some of their fighter aircraft to also excel as low altitude precision bombers.

The J57P21 engine was necessary for this aircraft to both get it to fighter altitude and also to carry a massive amount of ordnance. A fully researched version of the {{PAGENAME}} can carry an assortment of low-drag general-purpose bombs ranging from 500 lb, 750 lb and 1,000 lbs. Total maximum bomb weight is 6,000 lbs, the same amount carried by a single [[B-17E]] bomber, but the {{PAGENAME}} can heft this amount at almost 1,000 kph faster and at a lower more accurate altitude. Of course, the bomb size will be determined by which type of target will be in the crosshairs. For smaller targets the 500 and 750 lb bombs will work best, but if base bombing, the 1,000 lb bombs will give you the most bang for the buck. The only time to use the LDGP Mk.83 bomb against vehicles is when there is a significant number en masse.

Not all targets will require the usage of bombs or on some maps, you may be fortunate enough to have several bombers working on ground targets, or ground targets may be spread out, this is where rockets begin to shine. The AGM-12B Bullpup is essentially a 250 lb bomb attached to a rocket motor and is spin-stabilized. The Bullpup can be quite precise as long as the pilot can maintain visual of the target as he will need to guide the Bullpup in, any break from the target (due to manoeuvring or avoiding incoming enemies) can cause the rocket to go awry and miss the target. If needed the {{PAGENAME}} must throttle back and deploy the speed brake to ensure the Bullpup hits the target before manoeuvring away.

On the other hand, usage of the smaller [[FFAR Mighty Mouse]] unguided rockets can do a good amount of damage against ground and aerial targets, the one drawback – they are unguided. This means that once they are fired, they continue at their trajectory until they either hit something or run out of fuel and crash into the ground. The main counterpoint for the {{PAGENAME}} is the amount of these Mighty Mouse rockets it can carry, a total of 76. Rockets work best when they are fired in groups as this significantly increases chances that one or more rockets will hit their target. When going against aircraft it can induce a fear factor and cause the enemy pilot to take evasive manoeuvres to avoid an incoming salvo of rockets making them a much easier target to line up and reduce to small bits with the cannons.

Of all the ordnance available, only one is set up to aid the fighter in air-to-air combat and that is the [[AIM-9B]] and [[AIM-9E]] Sidewinder missiles. So popular was this missile during the Vietnam War, several fighter commanders ordered their F-4Ds be field modified to accept the AIM-9B to avoid having to use the less reliable Sparrow missile. The Sidewinder has an excellent reputation for locking onto an enemy and chasing it down, but don’t assume the missile will do all of the work. There will be times when the enemy pilot may be able to outmanoeuvre the missile and it is at this point where the attacking pilot will need to be ready to jump in and take the shot with cannons while the enemy fighter has spent all of its energy and advantages just to avoid the missile and are a relatively sitting duck in the sky.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:F-100 tio pilin001.png|350px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' caught in the cross-hairs of a MiG fighter.]]

The F-100 truly shines when in an up-tier situation. Unlike the F4 Phantom II or the MiG-21, the F-100 is equipped with leading-edge slats. This gives it a much higher angle of attack at low speeds, allowing the F-100 to out-turn both the F4 and the MiG-21. However, at lower battle ratings, the F-100D is best at [[Boom & Zoom]] tactics. When fighting at a lower battle rating, the F-100 has some bad flying characteristics at low speeds which includes flying like a rock with wings. At high speeds, the F-100 is a breeze to fly because of its all-flying tail and boosted controls. It has a massive angle of attack, so once you get on someone's tail, there's pretty much no escape. Best way to use the F-100D is to start climbing. 5,000 meters is usually a good altitude to climb to. Since you can out-climb most subsonic aircraft in the game, Boom & Zoom tactics should be used. Climb high, make a pass, then climb away. Be extremely careful to not bleed energy and don't turn when subsonic planes are around, they will be able to outmanoeuvre the F-100D.

Against the F-100's biggest foe, the MiG-19, turning isn't a bad idea if you keep your energy up. You bleed a lot of speed in a turn, so extreme pulls aren't recommended. The MiG-19 will rip easily at high speeds, something the F-100 doesn't have a problem with. However, the MiG-19 accelerates faster than the F-100D at all speeds and altitudes so it can slip away easily. In the best-case scenario, bait the MiG-19 for a teammate, as the MiG-19 can't do much against two F-100s.

Overall to get this bus to perform, it must be at high speeds. Keep your energy up.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="3" |Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair||Compressor
|
| ||M64||LAU-3A
|-
| II
| New Boosters||
| Airframe
| Offensive 20 mm||M64/2||AGM-12B Bullpup
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
| ||M117||AIM-9B
|-
| IV
| G-suit||
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons||M65|| AIM-9E
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent guns that have both high muzzle velocity, rate of fire, plenty of ammo (200 RPG), and pack a good punch with high-explosive shells.
* Can carry a wide array of suspended armaments of bombs, rockets and missiles.
* Its air to air missiles(AIM-9B and E) have a longer reach than the missiles on the MiG-19PT
* Fast and out-accelerates both MiG-15 and MiG-17's

'''Cons:'''

* Thoroughly unmanoeuvrable at slow speeds, and does absolutely not lend itself to traditional turning dogfights
* Suffers from severe lockup past the Mach 1 mark
* Bleeds a lot of energy when trying to turn around at high speed
* While fast, it still accelerates a lot slower than [[MiG-19PT]]

== History ==

By the mid-50s, jet aircraft had become robust machines which had obtained sufficient combat experience for the next step into a fundamentally new age: the era of supersonic speed. Supersonic fighters were developed by both of the main opposing nations of the Cold War. In parallel with the development of the MIG-19 in the USSR, American aircraft designers were putting the finishing touches on their own design for a supersonic fighter. The F-100 Super Sabre entered serial production somewhat later than its Soviet counterpart, but it needed just as many improvements and upgrades.

The F-100’s main problems were its high failure rate and the shortcomings of its control systems. In addition, a fighter-bomber version was also being developed based on the Super Sabre: the F-100D, which featured an increased vertical and horizontal fin area and expanded capabilities with regard to suspended weaponry. In the end, it was the D version that became the most widespread modification of the single-seat Super Sabre thanks to its improved control and excellent combat abilities as either a fighter-bomber or pure fighter. In terms of suspended weaponry, the F-100D was able to carry over twenty extremely varied weapon load-outs, from traditional high-explosive bombs and rockets to air-to-air rockets and nuclear bombs.

''- From [https://warthunder.com/en/news/5929-development-f-100d-super-sabre-the-new-era-en Devblog]''

== Media ==

===Videos===
{{Youtube-gallery|r4iaAbCImj0|'''F-100D Super Sabre [CloudMaker!]''' - Jengar|udBJeO9aMbg|'''How To Grind The F100 In War Thunder''' - TheLoganatorz|fjqlRenNUAs|'''F-100 Super Sabre - Tips and Gameplay''' - WhooptieDo}}

===Images===
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_001.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_002.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_003.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_004.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_005.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_006.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:F_100d_wallpaper_007.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
</ul></div>

== See also ==


;Related development

* North American [[F-86 (Family)|F-86]] Sabre
* North American [[FJ-4B|FJ-4]] Fury

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Dassault [[Super_Mystere_B2|Super Mystere]]
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-19PT|MiG-19]]

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5929-development-f-100d-super-sabre-the-new-era-en|[Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> F-100D Super Sabre: The New Era]]

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA jet aircrafts}}

A-36

2020-02-04T14:50:23Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-51_a-36
|cockpit=334207/1109946
}}
{{About
| about = American attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}
== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.51 "Cold Steel"]].

North American Aviation Company was busy during 1942 building and shipping Mustang Mk.I fighters to England to be incorporated into the Royal Air Force to fight alongside the Curtiss [[P-40 (Family)|P-40]] Tomahawks. Unfortunately for England, lend-lease funds ran out and 93 unshipped Mustang IA/P-51s went to the U.S. Army Air Forces. North American did not want to stop production of the P-51s and pressured the USAAF for a fighter contract. Unfortunately for the fiscal year 1942, no government funds were available for new fighter aircraft, however when observed that attack aircraft funds were available, North American reconfigured the Mustang into a dive bomber, outfitting it with heavier wings, bomb racks and dive brakes. With this dive bomber/attack variant approved for manufacturing, NAA ramped up production and cranked out 500 A-36A aircraft.

The {{PAGENAME}} was outfitted with the Allison V-1710-87 inline water-cooled engine which was a failure for high altitude flying, however for lower altitude dive-bombing, this engine performed quite well. High enough speeds could be developed in a dive to rip the wings, so dive brakes were implemented to regulate the dive speed to around 390 mph (630 kph). Maintaining speed in a dive ensures enough energy is available to zoom climb back up to altitude or to get away from any enemy fighters which may have attempted to intercept you. Depending on the map, if there are a significant amount of ground targets (anti-aircraft batteries, trucks, light tanks...etc…) the dive bomber can convert to a strafing aircraft once the bombs are released. With six 12.7 mm machine guns, softer ground targets are no match and will be easy pickings.

The {{PAGENAME}} has a configuration which few other aircraft (U.S. or otherwise) can be outfitted with and that is two DGP-1 gun pods, with one being mounted under each wing. Each gun pod contains two more 12.7 mm M2 Browning machines guns with 340 RPG, bringing up the total machine gun count to 10 12.7 mm M2 machine guns with 2,700 rounds per load. En mass, these machine guns can produce devastating results both in the air and on the ground. While only two guns are mounted in the fuselage cowling, the other four (or eight if gun pods are equipped) are mounted in the wings and require the pilot to set convergence for best results. For those pilots which like to snipe from a distance, 500 – 650 m convergence may work best while those pilots who like to fight close quarters, a convergence of 250 – 350 m can be extremely devastating when all 10 guns bear down on the target.

As an early war multi-role aircraft, the {{PAGENAME}} can fit the play-style of just about any pilot and can be reconfigured to accommodate different maps and missions. Whether ground-pounding or dismantling aircraft with 10 guns at a time, the Apache (or Mustang as pilots typically referred to it as), this aircraft will help pilots to hone their skills and prepare for the rest of the [[P-51 (Family)|Mustang]] series available to play in War Thunder. Don’t be surprised when heading towards an enemy aircraft that they immediately take evasive manoeuvres to get away from the {{PAGENAME}} as they fully understand what could be in store for them if they stick around.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
[[File:A-36 billythekid 001.png|500px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' doing what it does best.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,760 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 556 || 542 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.4 || 24.2 || 9.7 || 9.7 || 400
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 1,760 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 621 || 589 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.3 || 22.3 || 17.4 || 13.1 || 400
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 652 || ~11 || ~5
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 550 || < 230 || < 550 || > 360
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 762 m || 1,325 hp || 1,500 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

;Protective plates and glass
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilot
* 11.11 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 6.35 mm Steel plate in front of the engine
* 6.35 mm Steel plate between engine and pilot

The {{PAGENAME}}’s armour configuration does a decent job of protecting the pilot, especially in frontal or head-on attacks. From behind the pilot’s seat backs up to an 11.11 mm steel plate, however from the front, the canopy windscreen contains 38 mm bulletproof glass. There is also a 6.35 mm steel plate both in front of the engine and behind it between the engine and the cockpit. To get to the pilot, bullets from the front will need to pass through the first plate, the engine and then the second plate. The chances are the engine will be disabled before the pilot is knocked out in a head-on attack. The front-most steel plate will help to protect the engine from smaller calibre machine gun fire, however, it does not fare so well once you start going against +20 mm rounds which have a greater punch.

Keep up speed and manoeuvrability which will make it difficult for any enemy fighter to get a bead on you and the different steel plates should do their job in protecting the fighter from stray bullets. The {{PAGENAME}} when outfitted with gun pods can become an absolute terror especially during head-on attacks, however, don’t think that just because of the armour in the aircraft, you are fine. Remember when performing head-on or diving attacks on bombers fire off rounds and then manoeuvre as bullets headed your way in which you fly into will have a greater impact, it is imperative to move out of their way rather than take a chance and hope that a 6.35 mm steel plate will fully protect the engine or the pilot.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:A-36 laggovich 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in search of a new target of opportunity.]]
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, chin-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (350 rpg = 1,400 total)

The {{PAGENAME}} is outfitted with six 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, the good thing about this is that they are all the same type of gun and will all have the same amount of bullet-drop, making it easier to predict where the rounds will end up, the unfortunate thing is that two are mounted in the nose while two others are mounted in each wing. The unfortunate part of this is that the pilot now has to consider setting the convergence range to help make the shots more effective. Setting them too close or too far from the range the pilot typically shoots from will most likely guarantee some rounds will miss due to the over/under correction. A good middle range to configure for will be 400 m as this doesn’t require the pilot to follow too close behind, but the bullets still have a bit of punch, however for those pilots which take the fight in closer, a convergence of 200-300 m will concentrate all the rounds into a tight sphere with a solid kick usually dismantling critical components from the aircraft under target.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)
* 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (340 rpg = 1,360 total)

Though not what one would typically consider a dive bomber, the {{PAGENAME}} does make a really effective attack aircraft outfitted with 100, 250 or 500 lb bombs. Whereas larger attackers and bombers are typically slow and clumsy when it comes to aiming for a target, the Apache is the opposite and actually a pioneer for later fast, small, single-pilot aircraft to take on this role. The Apache is relatively comfortable at flying at 12,000 ft (3,660 m) or at tree-top level, however, it does excel when it comes to dive-bombing. Though the larger the bombs it carries, the less manoeuvrability it has, that doesn’t matter when it comes to diving on the target, here the only critical issue is not building up too much speed as the wing load can only take so much before the wings snap off. Typically the best method is to approach the target in a dive at about 70° and starting from about 10,000 – 12,000 ft ( 3,040 – 3,660 m), deploy dive brakes and line up for the target. When between 2,000 – 4,000 ft (610 – 1,220 m) release bombs, retract dive brakes, full throttle and pull up in a zoom climb.

The smaller 100 and 250 lb bombs are good for lightly armoured targets such as anti-aircraft cannons, trucks and light tanks. The 500 lb bombs should be reserved for more heavily armoured targets such as pillboxes, medium and heavy tanks or even many targets clustered close together. Though bases could be bombed, these bombs are relatively ineffective, however in a pinch, if all of the other smaller targets have been destroyed, feel free to drop bombs on bases to help rack up some points for ordnance dropped.

For those pilots who don’t have the patience for bombing runs and just want to tear up the playing field with machine guns, the DGP-1 gun pods will be the suspended weapon of choice. Extending the aircraft’s already six .50 calibre machine guns to 10 is enough do some serious damage both in the air and on the ground. The pilot will need to set the convergence to a comfortable distance which suites their needs, however, for those which like to get in close to other aircraft, setting convergence from 200-300 m will allow the ten guns to focus their rounds typically blowing off a wing, the aircraft in half or just pelting the critical components into failure. For those which will use the gun pods for ground-attack, having the convergence a bit farther out, say 500 – 600 m will allow for manoeuvring around the terrain and position for success rather than having to be right on top of the target before you can get a clean shot. The gun pods also allow the pilot to switch up tactics mid-match to air attack or ground attack and even switch back depending on target availability.

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:A-36 carrera4s 001.jpg|500px|thumb|right|An '''{{PAGENAME}}''' taking advantage of the soft underside of an He 111 bomber.]]
The A-36 is quite a unique aircraft for its rank. It is a sleek looking fighter-bomber and should be used as such. It has good speed for its rank and designation, decent armament and a good selection of payloads; the A-36's role varies depending on the game mode you play.

'''Air Arcade''' and '''Air Realistic''' - In air battles, you can target ground forces with your .50 cals, equip bombs and take out medium or heavy tanks or you can specialise as a fighter. For a slight performance drop, you can equip the gun pods, which makes this plane absolutely formidable against any aircraft, especially during head-on attacks. Fighters and bombers alike will take heavy damage if not fully destroyed by the ten .50 calibre machine guns. Generally, it is best to focus on enemy aircraft in Air Arcade, while leaving the ground attack to more dedicated aircraft.

'''Ground Realistic''' - Ground RB allows you to really let the A-36 shine. It performs very well in the fighter-bomber role. If you equip bombs, you can quickly dive into battle, bomb a target and then begin engaging enemy aircraft. If you instead equip the gun pods, you should also equip the ground targets belt. The high amount of AP ammunition allows you to penetrate most German and Japanese vehicles through the roof, while the belt still retains high levels of effectiveness against aircraft, allowing you to be a true multi-role fighter bomber. The gun pods also allow you to hunt heavily armoured aircraft like the IL2.

'''Tip: taking off in Simulator Battles''' 
Sea-level maximum speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: just above sea level (minimum safe altitude: 5m/16ft), 100% throttle, elevator trim: 4% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true air speed of 523 kph/325 mph/282 kt. Maximum true speed (Auto engine control, no secondary weapons): Altitude: 1,760 m/5,775 ft, 100% throttle, elevator trim: 5% up, aileron trim: 1% left, rudder trim: 0%, you should get a true air speed of 536 kph/333 mph/289 kt.

=== 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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable 1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| DGP-1
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FSBC mk.5
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
|
| FMBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:A-36 zero zero zeven 001.jpg |500px|thumb|right|Well placed shots are enough to snap a bomber's wing.]]
'''Pros:'''

* Decent armament for its rank
* Fast bomb reload unlike typical fighters in Arcade
* Highly agile for an attacker
* Two of the 6 x M2 12.7 mm machine guns are mounted under the fuselage, increasing accuracy
* Superior firepower than most other planes in rank
* Very good energy retention for an attacker
* Good performance at low altitude
* Very good dive speed
* Has air brakes
* Attacker spawn point, can be used to certain advantage
* It's a modified version the P-51 making it a decent fighter with the addition of two 12.7 mm machine guns in the bottom of the nose
* Can opt to equip 2 x DGP-1 gunpods, adding further 4 x 12.7 mm M2's to it's armament, giving the A-36 a very high burst-mass compared to its contemporaries

'''Cons:'''

* Fuselage mounted M2's are hooked up to a synchronizer, lowering their effective rate of fire (prevents them from shredding the propeller)
* Carrying payload slows you down
* Is not a dedicated attacker unlike the A-20G-25
* Will be easily out turned by fighters of other nations
* Does not have access to rockets or bombs over 500 lb, making it difficult to use against heavily armoured targets

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

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

{{AirManufacturer NAA}}
{{USA attackers}}

A-26B-10

2020-02-04T14:47:10Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card|code=a-26b_10}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=A-26 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.71 "New E.R.A"]].

The A-26 ''Invader'' is an excellent ground attack aircraft, boasting 6 nose-mounted M2 Browning .50 cal machine guns, as well as a potential payload of up to 4,000 lbs worth of bombs (4 x 1,000 lbs). The Invader also sports two dual-M2 Browning machine gun turrets, remote controlled by a gunner located in the rear section of the aircraft that flawlessly track aircraft transitioning in the vertical.

In addition, later upgrades of this particular A-26 model grant the user the ability to use a nose-mounted M4 37 mm cannon, at the expense of two of the .50 cals.

The Invader's strengths over many similar dual-engine aircraft is a surprising punch that it packs, especially when the 37 mm cannon is equipped, which can possibly turn the attacker into a fearsome, yet cumbersome blitzer due to its incredible speed.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 555 || 541 || 8,000 || 31.1 || 32.0 || 9.9 || 9.8 || 1,000
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| ? || ? || 8,000 || ??.? || ??.? || ?.? || ?.? || 1,000
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || 527 || ~?? || ~?
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 370 || < 375 || < 460 || > 350
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,310 m || 2,000 hp || No WEP
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 4,572 m || 1,600 hp || No WEP
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 12.7 mm Steel - Nose plate
* 8 mm Steel - Under engine armor plate (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore/aft nacelle fuel protection plates x 2 (each nacelle)
* 12.7 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armor plate
* 9.5 mm Steel - Cockpit tub
* 9 mm Steel - Pilot/Co-pilot's seat backs
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner aft armor plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Gunner lower armor plate
* 12.7 mm Steel - Aircraft tail armor plate
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot

With this array of armour, the A-26B-10 is well-protected from any glancing rounds from machine guns.

As mentioned earlier, the A-26B-10 has the option to mount a 37 mm cannon in the nose. That in combination with its speed and additional four .50 Cals in the nose will punish any opponent foolish enough to head on this aircraft. In addition, the rear of the aircraft is well defended by the two remote-controlled .50 Cal turrets.

Thus, to fight an A-26, the best method of attack is to perform a Boom & Zoom run and aim for the engines. As fast as the A-26 is, it loses a fair deal of speed if one of the engines is out of action and, (if your aim is good enough), you may even snipe the gunner, leaving a massive blind spot from the rear of the Invader. If you find yourself in front of this plane, and there are no alternatives, aim for the cockpit only! This is as a result of the A-26 having both a pilot and a co-pilot, meaning if one is knocked out, the other can still take command of the plane. Nonetheless, the best possible angle to attack an Invader is from the sides, where the gunner cannot traverse the turrets.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|M4 (37 mm)}}

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 2,400 total)
or
* 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
or
* 2 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg = 60 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M57 (250 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)}}

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

* 16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
* 12 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (3,000 lb total)
* 10 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (5,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==


Though the A-26B-10 Invader will suffer in combat versus more nimble single-engine fighters, it still has some tricks it can employ to eek out a victory in the skies. Due to all the offensive weaponry being mounted in the nose of the plane, it creates a rather dense cone of fire, similar to that of most heavy fighters. This enables the Invader to nearly guarantee either to destroy or critically damage any fighter greedy enough to head you on, even if they are armed with cannons. The A-26B-10 is a very resilient aircraft, similar to other dual-engine aircraft like the [[Beaufighter Mk 21]]. Because of this, the pilot of the Invader can allow his opponent to land some hits in exchange for coming in view of either the A-26's forward facing armaments, or of its two rear-facing turrets. Though M2 Brownings lack the stopping power of cannons such as the 23 mm NS-23 cannon, they are still capable of inflicting immense damage to enemy aircraft, lighting up fuel tanks and disabling key components like control surfaces. This can buy the pilot some breathing room, by forcing enemy fighters to return to base after coming under fire from the Invader's guns.

While the A-26 Invader is fast for its battle rating of 5.0, it will still be intercepted by almost any late models of aircraft such as the Bf 109 "Gustav" series, the [[Bf 109 K-4|Bf 109 K-4]], almost any later model of the Fw-190, including the Focke-Wulf Ta-152 series. Any of the above-mentioned German aircraft will tear you apart due to all of them sporting the "Minengeschoß" shells.

Against the Russians, any of the La-7s or La-9s can and will be able to catch you. In addition, aircraft such as the [[Yak-9P]] or [[Yak-9UT]], which wield both 20 mm and either a 37 mm or 45 mm will tear your plane to bits. While the Russians do not have cannons armed with the same round types as a German fighter does, the multitude of cannons they wield can make short work of you.

The British can also give you a run for your money. The most common adversary that could give you an issue is the Wyvern, due to its blistering speed and four 20 mm Hispano Mk. V cannons. In addition, a Tempest could also make quick work of you due to the same reasoning in firepower. While it is unlikely you will see any of the Griffon Spitfires, earlier models can still inflict a heavy amount of damage to your air frame. Your biggest problem is the result of the British "Air Target" rounds for the Hispano cannon, which is entirely "Stealth" ammunition.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
!colspan = "1"| Tier
!colspan = "2"| Flight performance
!colspan = "1"| Survivability
!colspan = "3"| Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| M4/4-50
| SBC Mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Offensive 37 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| New 37 mm Cannons
| MBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''
* Respectable forward-facing armament
* Impressive secondary armament when compared to its counterparts
* Highly durable
* Fast
* Decent energy retention
* Two remote-controlled turrets
* Respectable climb rate for an attacker
* Can mount a cannon for either air targets or ground targets
* Pilot and co-pilot: if one is knocked out, the other can take command

'''Cons'''
* Not very maneuverable
* As fast as it is, it is slower when compared to single-engine fighters
* Large silhouette
* Fairly high repair cost
* Only one gunner. If he is unconscious, the rear of the aircraft is highly exposed

== 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 big, 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

[https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=attacker&vehicle=a-26b-10 War Thunder Live - User created A-26B-10 camouflage]

== See also ==

;Related development
* Douglas [[A-20G-25|A-20]] Havoc

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
* Bristol [[Brigand B 1|Brigand]]
* Junkers [[Ju 288 C|Ju 288]]
* North American [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] Mitchell
* Tupolev [[Tu-2 (Family)|Tu-2]]

== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''

{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
{{USA attackers}}

P-47D-28

2020-02-03T14:47:44Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-47d-28
|cockpit=334569/1111205
}}
{{About
| about = American strike fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = P-47 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American strike fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in Update 1.33.

The Thunderbolt was originally designed for high altitude bomber escort role, but due to a limited range, it was not very successful on the European theatre of operations where it couldn't escort the bombers all the way to their target. The newer P-51B/C and later P-51D fitted with a Merlin engine turned out to be a much better long range, high altitude escort fighter, and the P-47 was relegated to other duties. Due to the Thunderbolt's large size and strong construction, the aircraft was well suited for carrying large amounts of air-to-ground ordnance and was often used in ground attack role against small targets that level bombers could not reliably hit, such as bridges.

In War Thunder, much like in real life, all Thunderbolt variants have tremendous potential as a high altitude fighter, but can also be used very effectively as ground attack aircraft, thanks to their impressive payload capacity. When fighting against enemy aircraft, boom and zoom tactics are a must, never try to dogfight with the 'Jug'. When diving on a target, if you don't secure the kill, don't try to turn and finish him, use the speed you built in the dive and climb up, circle around and do it all again. Don't be afraid to go head-on; you have a radial engine and eight x fifty-calibre machine guns.

Except for having a different propeller, and (as of patch 1.77) 70" HG of boost, there are very few differences between the [[P-47D-25|P-47D-'''25''']] and D-28. The D-25 uses a Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 13 ft. 7/8 in. diameter propeller, while the D-28 uses a Curtiss Electric "sleeved" propeller with 13 ft diameter. Despite a popular misconception that the D-28 uses a "paddle-blade" propeller whereas the D-25 doesn't, both were actually called "paddle-blade" propellers and offered virtually identical performance. The origin of this misconception is that the early Thunderbolt variants used a smaller Curtiss Electric propeller with only 12 ft. 2 in. diameter, which proved insufficient for the R-2800 engine's power output. Larger propellers were needed to transform more engine power into thrust, giving the Thunderbolt a boost in climb rate and acceleration. These propellers were used starting from the Thunderbolt D-series manufacturing block 22 (P-47D-22) and the main distinction between these propellers was simply that aircraft manufactured on Republic's Evansville plant received the new Curtiss Electric propellers, while the Long Island manufacturing facility used Hamilton Standard propellers.

Compared to the D-25, the D-28 variant offers the M10 Bazookas as an additional armament option, although it's better to use the HVAR rockets as it is far more destructive than the bazookas.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,114 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 660 || 653 || 12,500 || 26.6 || 27.2 || 5.4 || 7.2 || 700
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 9,114 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 733 || 695 || 12,500 || 23.4 || 25.0 || 18.0 || 10.6 || 700
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 885 || 450 || 520 || ~14 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 380 || < 452 || < 450 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 7,350 m ||2,390 hp||2,727 hp
|-

|}

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

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Suspended armaments}}

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

* 8 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (425 rpg = 3400 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|HVAR|M8}}

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

* 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (2,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (2,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,500 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
* 6 x M8 rockets
* 6 x M8 rockets + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

Always maintain speed. The P-47 handles like a dream at about 350-400 mph (563-643 km/h), but once it gets to >220 mph it handles as a pig dipped in mud. One great thing about the handling at high speed, though, is that the P-47 responds quickly at high speeds, and this allows some impressive defensive scissoring without losing wings at terminal velocity. The high-wing loading is an issue, though, as the Jug will lose most of its energy in a blackout turn. This does endow the Jug with one key feature- it is a rock-solid gun platform.

Unfortunately, zoom-climbing and dive acceleration are not the "Jug's" forte. The BF-109 has a superior dive acceleration, and the Fw 190 can zoom-climb far faster. Still, the energy retention of the P-47 is great, along with the fact that it flies far faster than both the Würger and Messerschmitt. The P-47 is NOT A TURN-FIGHTER. Although it is possible to out-turn a heavy fighter like the BF-110 C or Do 217, it is not recommended- the acceleration is mediocre, and once a P-47 is a sitting duck, it will be swarmed like flies to fruit in a compost pile. Acrobatic pilots will not be impressed by the P-47 as well, because it performs Immelmans very sluggishly and the roll rate is not magnificent as well.

Durability, as mentioned above, is pretty good. As in WW2 itself, the P-47 was renowned for its rugged construction. In War Thunder, the biggest weak point of the P-47 is its engine and wings. The wings can break fairly easily in manoeuvres at speeds around ~ 675.9 kph or so. They also tend to break after a well-placed cannon burst (from planes like the FW-190, A6M2/3). The engine though is also fairly susceptible to catching fire while chasing a bomber, but this is not due to its durability but to its size. Speaking of fire, the P-47D will be heavily damaged by the time it pulls itself out of a fire. One should immediately try to limp home if set aflame.

Performance of the P-47 at altitude is very good, but once you go above about 9,000 meters (~30,000 feet, its critical altitude), any energy lost will have to be regained by diving and losing altitude. Even though the D-28 now gets 70" boost (which is significantly more than the D-25), it still will have some troubles accelerating and climbing. Keep in mind that this boost is only achieved on WEP, although on military power it still has 65" of boost.

When used skillfully, the tracer rounds can be used to "derp", because of the high calibre (for a machine gun) and fire rate, tracers can be absolutely terrifying to anyone attacked by them. However, due to the "scare" effect and low takedown capabilities, the tracers have limited practical use.
=====Modes=====
'''Arcade''': In Arcade, the P-47 can make the most of its capability. In Arcade, engine overheating is not a problem and the "Jug" can get an air start. Keep WEP on automatic, and climb as high as possible. Watch out for Spitfires, Focke-Wulfs, and Bf 109s, which have the capability to climb as high and as quickly as the P-47. Once a height of around 4,000 - 5,000 m is reached (bomber level), go for the bombers. If rockets are equipped, expend them against the bombers. Then initiate the tactics seen in "Shredding Planes". You CAN stay at altitude and prey on any high-flying prey. Beware, the Fw 190 will be your competitor as well.

'''Realistic''': In realistic, one has to be much more careful with how he/she uses the P-47. On takeoff, climb to as high as possible before an engine overheat. If Radiator is installed overheating will still be a problem, but not nearly as bad a one as a stock P-47 will be. If overheating does occur, pull the throttle to around 80% and do a slow climb away from the enemy. Once high enough, attack high-altitude marauders or use BnZ. In high-speed dives (BnZ), make sure not to make "blackout" turns, because the "Jug" will rip its wings, even though it has fantastic durability. Keep in mind the fact that the plane will respond more sluggishly in Realistic- one should not try to be an acrobat.

'''Simulator''': The "Jug" is one of the best planes available for SB. Not only is the only fighter with a full-blown "bubble canopy" to provide a great view, but it also has full high-calibre machine gun armament, which is invaluable for beginners. The machine guns are very forgiving due to easy adjustment, high rate of fire, and large ammunition capacity. Take advantage of the high durability, as well. Other than that the physics of the "Jug" are identical to RB.

In RB and SB one has to be precise with the ordnance. It is recommended to use the P-47 almost like a dive bomber to have the best accuracy possible.

=====Armament tips=====
'''''Offensive guns''''' 
The 8 Browning M2 Machine Guns pack a great punch when used correctly. Long bursts are the forte of the guns, not conservative bursts that one would normally use on a cannon-armed fighter (Fw 190). One should also make the most of the low calibre by using stealth (the tracers are a waste, as the machine guns do not require as much firing accuracy as cannon- you can spray those M2s!), or belts such as Ground Targets, as wing spars were nerfed in Patch 1.69, as well as AP being buffed. Fire from about .8-1.2 km at max. The M2s are very accurate and have a minimal drop, so long range harassing fire can be quite effective. However, depending on one's pilot aiming skills and his/her own, it may be better to fire from around .3-.5 km. Firing closer to the target is also very advantageous in Boom & Zoom because the high dive speed and inability low turn rate (if the opponent manoeuvers)- one does not want to lose a kill by firing from too far behind and then diving past his/her prey because one's opponent simply turned. The high burst mass output (4.44 kg, compared to the 5.17 kg of the Beaufighter) combined with the high ammunition capacity and accurate and straight-firing M2s make the P-47 one of the deadliest opponents in the 3.7-4.7 BR range.

The ammunition capacity is pretty good, but do not expect it to last for too long (they are MGs, after all). Therefore, do not just aim for the body of any plane. Try to aim for the wings and possibly tail. These are weak points that can result in relatively quick kills. The MGs can rip control surfaces off of any foe quickly, and are extremely effective against the wings of opponents.

'''''Payloads''''' 
The P-47 is one of the most famous WWII ground attack planes- no wonder it was named the "Jug"! In War Thunder, the load it can carry is frightfully large- 3 large bombs (2 1000 lb, 1 500 lb) and a max of 10 HVAR rockets. Indeed, the P-47 is better equipped than an [[A-20G-25|A-20]], which is still largely used even in BR 3-4 battles. Thus, a P-47 can be vital to a Ground-Strike mission. Its speed, combined with climb rate and durability make it a great attacker on its own.

Like mentioned above, the P-47 Thunderbolt's 8 M2 Brownings make pretty effective strafing weapons if used properly. When equipped with Ground-Attack ammunition, they can effectively take out most "Soft" targets, (light pillboxes, etc.).

The D-28 has two different rocket types to choose from: Bazookas and High-Velocity-Attack-Rockets. The latter is simply far superior to the former, as currently, the Bazookas do not have their HEAT warhead modelled.

In full maximum payload, the Jug is difficult to take off in or to handle. With three bombs + ten rockets dive bombing attacks are nigh impossible to manage from low altitudes, especially if one intends to keep the second bomb drop (2 x 1,000 lb). For combined forces, it is therefore suggested to only equip 2 x 1,000+ 10 x HVAR and ignore the 500 lb for superior speed and handling.

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

Planes that the P-47 will face will be between the 3.7 and 5.7 BR range. Depending on what planes one equips, one can expect planes like the [[Fw 190 A-1]] to the [[Fw 190 A-4]], [[Bf 109 F-1]] to the [[Bf 109 F-4|F-4]].

====Counter-tactics====

Try to climb above the Jug. It does not climb well enough to remain on par with most planes, as it is very heavy. The Jug is bad at vertical manoeuvres so you can try using those (be careful, as he can still prop-hang you). The Jug is also not very good at low-to-medium speed manoeuvres, although, again, BE CAREFUL. The Jug is surprisingly manoeuvrable for such a large plane, especially when its flaps are extended.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not ontrollable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FRC mk.2
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
| Rocket Launcher M10
|-
| IV
| G-Suit
| Engine Injection
| Cover
|
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

* Climb rate and acceleration is a big issue for the stock P-47D. Focus on ''Compressor'', ''Engine'', ''Wing repairs'' and ''Engine Injection'' first. During this performance focused grind, you can additionally research ''Offensive 12.7 mm '' and the various payload modules to unlock the higher tiers for the better performance upgrades.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Great at diving and Boom & Zoom
* Impressive firepower
* Impressive payloads
* Great engine performance above 6,000 m
* Fantastic gun platform- the 2 "quartets" of M2s are extremely accurate and in many cases as powerful as cannon
* Great high-speed handling
* Fantastic top speed in level flight
* Fantastic ground attack capability
* Good scissoring capability
* Great durability
* Great cockpit visibility
* Cools rapidly and can WEP for a long duration of time without overheating
* Has 20 Mins of ADI
* Currently running 70" of boost, almost as high as P-47M, P-47N

'''Cons:'''

* Terrible turning radius at low altitude
* Mediocre climb performance (but fully spaded you can reach 20m/s at 15*)
* Engine prone to being set on fire
* Poor low-speed handling
* Large target
* Engine can overheat quickly if you constantly use WEP
* Machine guns are mounted very far apart

== History ==

Developed by Republic Aviation, the main role of the P-47 Thunderbolt was as a bomber escort, at high altitude the 'Jug' could contend with the latest from the Luftwaffe. The design was to also include much better protection for the pilot by having increased armour around the cockpit; however, this increased its weight substantially. It was the first American fighter to receive more than the standard 6 x .50 calibre M2 Browning machine guns, with a total of 8 all together, making it the most powerful Allied aircraft in terms of firepower at the time. Thanks to its rugged design, the Thunderbolt was able to take a considerable beating, more so than other allied aircraft and with its sturdy airframe and large engine. The 'Jug' quickly took on the role of ground attack, able to arm itself with 2,500 lbs of bombs and rockets. All in all, the Thunderbolt was one of the most successful allied aircraft during the war, even with the introduction of the faster and more nimble P-51 Mustang, later modifications of the Thunderbolt would go on to see action in the later part of the Pacific Campaign against the Imperial Japanese Navy.

A total of 750 D-28 model P-47s were built. The aircraft is very similar to the [[P-47D-25]] except for one primary difference. This model introduced the Curtiss Electric 13ft paddle-blade propeller. The addition of this larger propeller helped cure the P-47's issues of low altitude climbing by converting more power from the enormous R-2800 engine into thrust.

=== In-game description ===
"Republic P-47D-28 Thunderbolt single-engine army heavy escort fighter/fighter-bomber

A single-seat, all-metal monoplane with an enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear. It was designed in the design bureau of the Republic Aviation Corporation under the direction of Alexander Kartveli, a Russian immigrant of Georgian origin. The first flight of the XP-47B prototype took place in May 1941. Full-scale production began in March 1942.

Beginning in September 1942, fighters of the P-47D variant began to leave the factory floor. They featured 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-21 eighteen-cylinder, air-cooled engines, with a water mixture injected into the cylinders under augmented rating conditions and with an improved turbosupercharger.

The armament of all batches of P-47Ds included eight 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns (425 rounds each) located in the wing panels.

Bombs of up to 500 lb could be suspended from the ventral pylon of the earlier P-47Ds. Extra wing pylons designed for two 1,000 lb bombs were fitted on subsequent batches of P-47Ds. The plane's maximum bomb capacity could reach 2,500 lb (1,130 kg). The wing-mounted bomb racks were ""wet"", meaning that they were connected to the fuel lines and that external fuel tanks could be suspended from them.

Beginning with the P-47D-20 batch, the Thunderbolts had a higher tail skid to reduce aerodynamic resistance during takeoff, plus a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 Double Wasp engine whose rated power was 2,000 hp but which could reach 2,300 hp in short-term emergency conditions. The aerodynamic configuration of the underwing pylons was improved. This P-47D batch was the first to lack any paint. Due to absolute supremacy of the Allies' aircraft in the air, camouflage patterns were considered unnecessary, as they impaired aircraft performance characteristics.

Beginning with the P-47D-25 batch, the Thunderbolts obtained a new drop-shaped cockpit canopy with no framing, which significantly improved visibility to the upper side of the plane's rear. However, the reduced height of the fuselage spine fairing behind the pilot's cockpit slightly impaired the aircraft's longitudinal stability, so Thunderbolts were equipped with a small dorsal fin fairing beginning with the P-47D-27 batch.

The D-27 batch was soon followed by the D-28 batch, which became one of the most widely produced. 750 aircraft were manufactured at the factory in Farmingdale, and 1,028 in Evansville. D-28-RA aircraft built in Evansville and adapted to fly under the conditions of the Pacific theatre of war had their Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 24E50 propellers replaced with a different type of propeller, the Curtiss-Electric C54E50-A114, which had a smaller diameter. The shape of the propeller's spinner was also changed. Due to the new propeller, the aircraft was lengthened by 100 mm, and its maximum height with its tail up was increased by 20 mm. A number of changes were introduced into the hydraulic system, and the plane's radio equipment was improved, with an advanced radio compass installed. The two outermost machine guns were often removed in the field to improve the fighter's manoeuvrability characteristics. This happened quite often and was beneficial in most cases.

Aircraft of the D-28-RA batch built in Evansville were used in the Pacific quite sparingly, due to the lack of airfields with runways of appropriate length. The Thunderbolts became deeply involved in the Pacific only after the appearance of the N version, which was specially designed for the Pacific theatre of war."

== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as 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 ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''

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

{{AirManufacturer Republic}}
{{USA fighters}}

F-82E

2019-12-10T06:43:13Z

U27109353: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=f-82e
|cockpit=359937/1222192
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = P-51 (Family)
}}

== Description ==


[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. This fighter was introduced in [[Update 1.39]].

Perhaps the most distinctive feature about the F-82E "Twin Mustang" is that it literally looks like two P-51 conjoined together into a plane.

This means the F-82E Twin Mustang has nearly two of everything, two fuselages, two engines, two tails, and two pilots. The last of which makes the Twin Mustang more survivable than most other aircraft as each can work independently if the other is incapacitated.

Built with the intent of long-range escort for the B-29 Superfortress bombers, the fuel capacity in the Twin Mustang is also much higher than its contemporaries.

Unlike the preceding American planes, the Twin Mustang no longer features wing-mounted armament but instead are now centre-mounted between the fuselages, so gun convergence is no longer a big issue.

The F-82E works best as a high-altitude bomber-killer or escort plane. While its respectable payload of bombs, machine guns, and rockets make it an effective ground attacker, it is very vulnerable in that role unless the enemy's fighters have all been neutralized.

The F-82E's main assets are its destructive firepower (with the gun pod) combined with massive ammo count, its good climbing speed and its amazing escape speed. Using the tracer bullets and shooting continuously it is possible to adjust aim effectively from more than 1.5 km away. In head-ons, this means your opponent will usually be destroyed or crippled well before he gets his own target indicator. With bombers, it means one serious burst from 0.7-1.0 km will deliver a critical, and a full-second burst from less than 0.7 km should cut any bomber into several pieces.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,126 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 713 || 696 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 28.3 || 28.7 || 15.3 || 15.3 || 450
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,126 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 770 || 742 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 25.8 || 27.0 || 26.4 || 18.7 || 450
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 812 || 450 || 520 || ~8 || ~8
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 450 || < 400 || < 500 || > 240
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,000 m || 3,200 hp || 4,499 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windshield
* 6.35 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armour plate, pilot and co-pilot
* 8 mm Steel - Armor plate, pilot and co-pilot's seats
* 11 mm Steel - Armor plate headrests, pilot and co-pilot
* 19.05mm Steel - Engine protective plate

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|Browning M3 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 6 x 12.7 mm Browning M3 machine guns, center-mounted (400 rpg = 2,400 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|AN-M66A2 (2,000 lb)|HVAR|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 1000 lbs AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2000 lbs AN-M66A2 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 10 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
* 8 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, center-mounted (400 rpg = 3,200 total)

== Usage in battles ==

Start play by climbing above 5,000 m while always maintaining a speed above 290 kph. If this brings you in range of enemy fighters before you have achieved a height advantage simply turn away and let them seek other targets. Once you have achieved 5,000 m altitude with airspeed above 300 kph you are virtually invulnerable since you will always have the option of running away with or without diving. You can seek and destroy bombers. Any fighter foolish enough to go after you should be dealt with head-on starting from more than 1.2 km away to ensure time to adjust and kill with your machine guns. If this is not an option or if you are being engaged by a pair of fighters, or if your initial pass fails to kill, keep running. Very few planes have the ability to follow you and your frame is sturdy enough to withstand the occasional long-distance hit.

As a rule, never let your airspeed drop below 300 kph; do not go near ground level if there is more than one enemy fighter in the vicinity unless your airspeed is above 500 kph, and never engage in furballs.

When used as a heavy fighter, keep in mind the brutally low handling capability of the F-82. Always avoid "furballs" and stay above your opponents. The climb rate makes the F-82 a capable bomber-killer. As a bomber killer, the aiming problems that many pilots face against smaller, more agile fighters evaporate. It is recommended to utilize the 8 x M2 Gun pod, due to the extremely high damage output. However, more experienced players may do away with this option, as it does hamper the handling of the craft.

Due to its high speed, it is very dangerous when used in a boom and run strategy (energy retention and a very high top speed in level flight mean it can be literally untouchable for a lot of single-engine fighters). In this case, it's very important to watch one's speed and to throttle back in dives or it can lose its wings due to high speed. For achieving the maximum straight-line speed at sea level, one should have the engine mixture set to 72%.

Remember, do not attempt to engage smaller and nimbler fighters, as most of the times you will overshoot and completely miss due to the poor handling.

Always use the tracer bullets with your six or fourteen 12.7 mm machine guns. Not only are the tracers very effective incendiaries, but they also give you the ability to see exactly where you are shooting up to 2 km away. This is invaluable in destroying bombers from far enough away to avoid their tail gunners, and in achieving incredible accuracy in head-ons well before your enemy gets a target indicator on you.

Boom and Zoom is not an ideal strategy with the F-82. At about 650 kph you will experience extreme control stiffening. The F-82 excels in the destruction of bombers and other aircraft in head-ons.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="3" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
| FMBC mk.1
|
|-
| II
| New Boosters
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
| FLBC mk.1
| NAGP mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| New 12 mm MGs
| FLBC mk.3
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit
| Engine Injection
| Cover
|
| FRC mk.5
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Variety of payload options
* Good fast-firing armament (M3 Browning MGs) with a high ammo capacity
* Above average climb rate
* Fast once upgraded(can outrun pretty much every fighter in level flight)
* Excellent in head-ons (which should rather be avoided due to large profile of F-82)
* M20 API-T ammunition option
* When equipped with a gun pod the F-82 is a flying flamethrower
* Brutal acceleration in dive
* Centre-mounted armament both primary and gun pod, allowing for devastating accuracy
* Pilot and co-pilot seated offset from the centre of the aircraft, making them harder to reliably hit
* Sturdy airframe

'''Cons:'''

* Poor handling
* Difficult to aim(it gets a bit better with booster upgrade)
* Elevator prone to failure when damaged
* With the gun pod installed, the continuous fire will slow the plane down significantly
* Prone to control stiffening in a dive

== History ==


Designed to provide the US forces with long-range escort capabilities over the Pacific, the F-82 bore the appearance of desperate measures taken to use surplus P-51 parts. In reality, the F-82 was purposely designed as such in order to provide a fighter plane that had fresh pilots ready to engage, despite the tedious nature of long distance flights. Each fuselage carried a pilot and a co-pilot/navigator which reduced individual fatigue over long missions.

The F-82 started development in 1944, with significant deliveries done in early 1946. Although too late for the war, the fighter still saw extensive use by Air Defense Command as an escort fighter and a night fighter. 14 F-82's were converted to winterized interceptors for use over Alaska. It also saw significant use in the Korean War with Japanese based (US planes deployed from Japan) F-82s among the first aircraft to operate over Korea. In fact, the first three North Korean aircraft shot down by US forces were done so by the Twin Mustang.

=== In-game description ===
"In late 1943, North American aviation designers proposed a design project: a new long-range fighter designated the P-82 (NA-120). One two-seat machine was to be created from two P-51D aircraft. The fuselage, one wing (left or right) and the vertical empennage were taken from the production fighter. The fuselages were connected with a new central wing section and a rectangular tailplane. The result was a strong and rigid frame without a central nacelle.

The aircraft was launched into full-scale production in 1944. Several variants were based on it, including the P-82G (NA-150) night interceptor fighter, which started full-scale production in 1946.

The power unit of the P-82G consisted of two Allison V-1710-143 and V-1710-145 (to the left and to the right, respectively) twelve-cylinder, V-type, liquid-cooled engines producing a maximum power of 1,930 hp. The engines were equipped with flame arresters in their exhaust pipes.

An SCR-720C radar was housed in a large container fastened under the center wing section. The radar antenna was installed in a radar-transparent nosecone which protruded ahead of the propeller arc.

The plane's armament consisted of six 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns, with 400 rounds each, housed in the center wing section. It was possible to suspend two fuel tanks, two 1,000 lb (454 kg) bombs, or four guide rails for unguided HVAR missiles under the wing panels.

The left cockpit was occupied by the pilot, and the right one by the radar operator. The operator did not have a second control system, so an automatic pilot was installed on the aircraft to reduce the in-flight load on the pilot.

The night interceptor was fitted with extra radio electronic equipment: a blind instrument landing system, a radio altimeter, an AN/APS-13 rear attack warning radar, and an AN/APN-19 identification friend or foe transponder.

In June 1948, the US military aircraft designation system was changed. Accordingly, the P-82G was now designated the F-82G. 14 F-82G fighters were converted to a special F-82H Arctic version, to be operated in Alaska.

Production of the F-82G was discontinued in 1949, with 59 aircraft built in total. They became the last piston-engined fighters built in the USA.

F-82G night fighters participated in the Korean War. On 27 June 1950, the crew of an F-82G from the 68th Fighter Squadron (68 FS) shot down a North Korean plane. It was the first air victory in the Korean War and the first victory of the newly formed USAF."

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

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

{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

A-26C-45DT

2019-12-08T06:03:14Z

U27109353:

{{Specs-Card|code=a-26c-45-dt}}
{{About
| about = American bomber '''{{Specs|name}}'''
| usage = other uses
| link = A-26 (Family)
}}

== Description ==


[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. This bomber has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. It has since been modified to be a PlayStation 4 exclusive vehicle obtained by buying a pack.

With speed, manoeuvrability and large hitting power, the A-26 should not be taken lightly. Although players may find the battle rating too high, this isn't the case- in fact, it may be about right. The plane has a cruise speed which all the piston engine bombers dream of and is currently unmatched in the game. Reaching a maximum speed of 568.8 kph the ''Invader'' is faster than the comparable Tu-2 by a significant 202 kph. This speed allows the A-26 to strike targets deep in enemy territory and early on better than any other aircraft (excluding the jet aircraft). It also has a 4,000 lb payload with a variety of load-out options, making it very versatile in its role, allowing it to attack many different targets with great efficiency. To add to this, it has 8 x Browning M2 .50 cal machine guns to attack soft targets and the unfortunate jet if you have the chance. Unlike the ''Mosquito'', the A-26 has defensive gunner turrets and decent ones at that. With two twin M2 machine gun remote turrets it allows for the very accurate and deadly fire.

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 536 || 523 || 8,000 || 29.3 || 30.3 || 7.8 || 7.8 || 700
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,573 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
| 607 || 569 || 8,000 || 27.0 || 28.0 || 19.7 || 11.4 || 700
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 718 || 257 || 420 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 392 || < 375 || < 480 || > 280
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 457 m || 4,000 hp || 4,740 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,114 m || 3,200 hp || 3,792 hp
|-

|}

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

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 6 × 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,800 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|AN-M66A2 (2,000 lb)|HVAR}}

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

* 14 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
* 20 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 10 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (5,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (4,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==


Use the A-26 to deliver fast '''tactic based''' strikes. In the first minutes of the game plan your route and decide on your key targets, the basics you want to include are:

* Focus on large amounts of Heavy/ medium targets
* Stay away from the main dogfights
* Follow paths that don't cross the normal enemy climb routes
* Utilize terrain as cover where ever possible

The best targets to choose are the "heavy" or "medium" targets at the far sides of the map or away from the main routes taken by the enemy. This is because they have a distinctive effect on the battle but also give large rewards post-game allowing for quick research/ progression with the advantage of you being to strike more targets before the fighters arrive. On your approach you want to the air spawn to gain speed in a dive then stay low. By staying low you take advantage of the spotting system at you become harder to spot and gain a marker (because if you do, your 60% dead). It also allows you to be masked by the terrain.

The payloads allow for attacks against many targets with great efficiency. Each bomb load has it's preferred target type to create the most damage which is noted as follows:

* 8 x 500 lb- Best for attacking medium to heavy ground targets, destroy the easier, stationary, pillboxes where possible over tanks
* 4 x 1,000 lb- Best for anti-shipping, specifically cruisers and battleships (Carriers are too armoured* and destroyers or Cargo ships would be overkill)
* 2 x 2,000 lb- Best for carriers and bombing points.

The stock payload is 20 x 100 lb bombs. To make use of these, drop 2-3 bombs at a time on a medium armoured target however move onto the higher payloads when possible. A tip for bombing in the A-26 is to release half a second before the crosshairs move over the target. This is to compensate for the bomb doors opening then the bombs being released. However, you can also use these to hit soft targets if you so want to.

* Carriers can be knocked out however accuracy is needed. Firstly take note of there the island is (the tower) while from a safe distance. Then maneuver in to a path that will be adjacent to the carrier and with the island facing you. Release two 1,000 lb bombs into the island and it should kill the carrier.

===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 || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm MGs
| SBC mk.I
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| FRC mk.5
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| MBC mk.1
|-
| IV
|
|
|
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Currently the fastest twin piston-engine bomber/attacker in the game
* Excellent rate of climb for a plane its size
* Wing mounted .50 cal machine guns allow for strafing of soft ground targets
* Capable of outrunning some enemy aircraft at sea level
* Payload efficient (max 4,000 lbs) to deal with most objectives

'''Cons:'''

* Gunner vulnerable to getting knocked out
* The wing mounted guns make it hard to hit anything outside your convergence zone
* Can meet jet-powered aircraft in-game
* Difficult to manoeuvre at high speeds
* Low service ceiling makes high altitude bombing discouraging
* Weak rudder control

== History ==


Douglas A-26C-45-DT Invader is a twin-engine medium bomber/ground-attack aircraft. An all-metal monoplane with a retractable landing gear system including a nose wheel. The crew consisted of three people. The plane was designed in the design bureau of Douglas Aircraft Company under the direction of Edward Heinemann and Robert Donovan. The ХА-26 prototype made its first flight on July 10, 1942. Mass production began in September 1943.

The А-26С variant was a medium bomber with a glazed navigator's cockpit in the nose section. The navigator's cockpit had a Norden M-9 bombsight for medium-altitude precision bombing.

А-26С bombers were equipped with two 2000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 Double Wasp fourteen-cylinder, double-row, radial air-cooled engines. The aircraft's armament consisted of two fixed 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns in the forward fuselage and two remote-controlled turret mounts housing twin 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns with 500 rounds each. The turrets were located above and below the fuselage. The upper turret was able to turn 360 degrees and, if needed, fire forward. The А-26С could carry up to 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs loaded inside. The maximum bomb capacity of the aircraft was 5,000 lb (2,271 kg).

The А-26 was criticized by its operational pilots for poor visibility from the pilot's cockpit, and so, beginning with the А-26C-30-DT series, it obtained a new pilot's cockpit canopy.

Beginning with the А-26C-45-DT series, the aircraft had Pratt & Whitney R-2800-79 engines with a methanol-water injection system, six wing-mounted 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns, and enlarged fuel tanks. Also, the plane could have unguided rockets suspended under its wings.

The А-26's first combat mission took place in May 1944 over New Guinea. In September 1944, the aircraft entered service with the USAAF units in Great Britain, and in January 1945, in Italy. Beginning in July 1945, А-26 aircraft were used in action in China and on the Japanese Ryukyu Islands.

Europe became the main theatre of war for the А-26. With a flight speed comparable to that of the German interceptors and with its strong defensive armament, the А-26 could operate without any fighter cover. Its powerful engines and good wing flap system made it exceptionally manoeuvrable. The А-26 Invader was certainly the most advanced bomber in its class by the end of the war.

A total of 1,091 A-26C bombers were factory-built, including five in Long Beach, California, and 1,086 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. All of the aircraft that rolled off the production line at Long Beach had the code DL, while the machines made at Tulsa were designated DT.

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

== See also ==

;Related development
* Douglas [[A-20G-25|A-20]] Havoc

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
* Bristol [[Brigand B 1|Brigand]]
* Junkers [[Ju 288 C|Ju 288]]
* North American [[B-25 (Family)|B-25]] Mitchell
* Tupolev [[Tu-2 (Family)|Tu-2]]

== External links ==

* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/3230/current/ [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> Douglas A-26C]
* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/13672-a-26c-45-invader-official-thread/ [Forum<nowiki>]</nowiki> A-26C-45 Invader - Official Thread]

{{USA bombers}}

F-86F-2

2019-12-07T20:10:13Z

U27109353: /* Usage in battles */

{{Specs-Card
|code=f-86f-2
|cockpit=380317/1306428
}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=F-86 (Family)
}}

== Description ==


[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.35]].

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
|1,095||1,089|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||24.7||25.9||38.8||35.9||750
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
|-
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
! AB
! RB
|-
|1,115||1,106|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||23.6||24.0||56.5||46.7||750
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! +
! -
|-
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || 620 || ~12 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 850 || < 600 || < 650 || > 250
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

* 6.35 mm steel - in front of cockpit
* 12.7 mm steel - behind pilot
* 38 mm steel - armoured windscreen
* 20 mm steel pilot's headrest

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|FMC T-160 (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm FMC T-160 cannons, nose-mounted (115 rpg = 460 total)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M65A1 Fin M129 (1,000 lb)|HVAR}}

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

* Without payload
* 16 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
* 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (2,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

In RB, speed is life on this plane. First thing that should be done after takeoff is gaining at least 800-900 kph IAS in level flight and zoom climbing to around 2 km(or we can fight even at the deck, all depends on situation). Maintaining speed at 800 kph is very important. BnZ is main tactic, don't engage in vertical with MiG-15bis. Sabre easily outdive MiG-15bis(Sabre have higher top speed, which means MiG-15bis won't be able to catch Sabre in level flight/dive). Avoid flying slow and turnfighting.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
|Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
|
|FRC mk.2
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
|New 20 mm cannons
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
|
|FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

=== Pros and Cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Very fast roll rate
* Very accurate high-velocity cannons with little recoil
* Excels overall at high-speed manoeuvres, good for snapshots
* Good rate of turn in the horizontal
* Good zooming ability
* Energy retention superior to MiG-15
* Superior acceleration from high speeds to top speed than MiG-15
* Heavy bombs available if desired

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely high rate of fire demand strict trigger discipline
* Stock guns quickly jam when the trigger is held down
* Poor acceleration from low speeds compared to MiG-15
* Poor rate of climb
* Wings easier to rip when boosters equipped
* air-brake less effective than some opponents

== History ==

The F-86F-2 was the designation given to 10 aircraft (4 F-86E and 6 F-86F) modified to carry the M39 Revolver cannon in October 1952. They were fitted with larger and strengthened gun bays to make them able to receive the new cannons. They were tested at Edwards AFB and the Air Proving Ground at Eglin AFB. Eight of these aircraft were then shipped to Japan (two were lost during testing due to the compressors ingesting excessive propellant gases from the cannons). Seven of these aircraft were then deployed to Kimpo Airfield as "Project GunVal" for a 16-week combat field trial in early 1953.

The F-86F-2 is the official designation for F-86E and F aircraft that were retrofitted with strengthened and enlarged gun bays to carry the new T-160 cannon developed from the captured Mauser MG 213, a German autocannon which never saw service. The aircraft were flight tested at Edwards and Eglin Air Force Bases. The aircraft were then relocated to Kimpo Airfield for tests in actual combat. Two aircraft were lost after the engine ingested excessive amounts of exhaust gases from the cannons.

The F-86 is considered one of the best fighter jets of the Korean War. It is the most-produced Western fighter, with almost 10,000 aircraft produced by the US, Australia, Canada (as the re-engined CL-13), Italy, and Japan.

The F-86 was developed by North American Aviation, the creator of the venerable P-51 Mustang. The XP-86 prototype was created to meet the USAF requirement for a high-altitude escort fighter. It was derived from the Navy's FJ-1 Fury, a transitional fighter jet that borrowed the wings, tail surfaces and canopy from the P-51D. The XP-86 was under threat of cancellation because the XP-80 and XP-84 had similar performance characteristics and were farther ahead in development. However, North American designers made a radical change to the design and replaced the straight wing with a swept wing, which was shown by seized German research to greatly reduce drag and increase performance at high speed. The resulting performance boost was so significant that the swept-wing prototype of the XP-86 was supposedly able break the sound barrier in a dive a few days before Chuck Yeager made his official attempt.

The F-86F-2 is the designation for four F-86E and six F-86F aircraft that were retrofitted to carry four 20mm T-160 (later designated M39) revolver cannons. The cannon was derived from the Mauser MG 213, a prototype aircraft cannon developed by the Germans at the end of World War II, which also served as a basis for the British ADEN and French DEFA cannons. The aircraft were deployed to Kimpo Airfield for trials in combat in 1953. Despite losing two aircraft after compressor stalls from ingesting too many exhaust gases from the new cannons, the M-39 cannon became the standard armament for the F-86H, a fighter-bomber variant with a more powerful engine.

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

== See also ==

;Related development
* Canadair [[F-86 (Family)|Sabre]] (those Sabres manufactured with the designator "CL")
* North American [[F-86 (Family)|F-86A/F]]
* North American [[F-86K (France)|F-86D]] Sabre
* North American [[F-100D|F-100]] Super Sabre
* North American [[FJ-4B|FJ-4]] Fury

;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Dassault [[Super Mystere B2|Super Mystère]]
* Grumman [[F9F-8|F-9]] Cougar
* Hawker [[Hunter F.1|Hunter]]
* Lavochkin [[La-15]]
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-15]]
* Mikoyan-Gurevich [[MiG-17]]
* Saab [[J29D|J29]] Tunnan

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

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

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

FFAR Mighty Mouse

2019-06-08T18:22:45Z

U27109353:

{{DISPLAYTITLE:FFAR Mighty Mouse}}
<div class="ttx">
<div class="ttx-image">[[File:2.75_inch_FFAR_sideview.png]]
<div class="ttx-table">
<div class="ttx-table-line ttx-table-head">2.75 inch FFAR Might Mouse</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">Unguided RocketType</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">USA [[File:CountryIcon USA.png|link=]]Country of origin</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line ttx-table-head">Production History</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">Naval Ordnance Test Station China LakeDesigner</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">1948Designed</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line ttx-table-head">Specifications</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">18.5 lb (8.4 kg)Missile mass</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">4 ft (1.2 m)Length (normal)</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">2.75 in (70 mm)Diameter (normal)</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">TNTExplosive warhead</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">6 lb (2.7 kg)Explosive mass</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line ttx-table-head">Other Information</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">6,500 yd (6,000 m)Maximum firing range
</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">1,022.7 mph (457 m/s)Speed</div>
<div class="ttx-table-line">NoneGuidance System</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

== Description ==

The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' or Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket is a 2.75 inches (70 mm) diameter unguided rocket utilised by military aircraft. This rocket was primarily developed for interceptor aircraft which would utilise them for shooting down enemy bombers which proved difficult to shoot down with guns and cannons at the speeds at which they were travelling. While initially developed for air-to-air combat, the FFAR was found to be very effective when utilised in air-to-surface operations.

Unlike traditional missiles with fixed fins, the FFAR's fins were in a folded position when loaded in a launch tube. Upon the missile being launched and departed the launch tube, the folding fins would flip out into place to help stabilise the spin-rate of the rocket. While a single rocket could by itself bring down a bomber, due to it being unguided, accuracy was not on the side of the attacking pilot. To compensate for the inaccuracy of the rockets, they were usually launched in volleys to increase chances of hitting the target.

By the late 1950s, rockets had largely been removed from air-to-air service and were being fitted to helicopters for an air-to-ground role. For helicopters, a volley of rockets was found to be just as effective as a cannon, however, the rockets were lighter and did not cause recoil that the cannons produced.

The FFAR was given the nickname ''Mighty Mouse'' after the famous cartoon character of the time which featured a mouse with superpowers and the ability to fly and was known to sing a famous line "Here I come to save the day!" when he flew into action.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===

{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with this weapon}}
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|F-100}}{{Specs-Link|f-100d}}
{{Navigation-Line|G.91}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ps}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_r1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_r4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fiat_g91_ys}}
{{Navigation-Line|FJ-4B}}{{Specs-Link|fj_4b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|fj_4b_agm_12b}}
{{Navigation-Line|T-2}}{{Specs-Link|t2}}
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|douglas_ad_4}}
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Helicopters'''}}
{{Navigation-Line|AH-1}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|ah_1z}}
{{Navigation-Line|BO 105}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105cb2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105pah1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|bo_105pah1_a1}}
{{Navigation-Line|SA.}}{{Specs-Link|sa_341f}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sa_342m}}
{{Navigation-Line|UH-1}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1c_xm_30}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|uh_1d}}
{{Navigation-End}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the bomb.''
[[File:UH-1B_mightymouse.jpg|350px|thumb|right|A side view of an [[UH-1B]] with a side mounted ''{{PAGENAME}}''' rocket launcher.]]
=== Effective damage ===

The {{PAGENAME}} is a straight forward unguided high-explosive rocket which can be configured for either a contact fuze, timed fuze or an automatic detonation fuze once the rocket propellent has run out. If the rocket explodes within close proximity of a target aircraft or vehicle, it will still cause splash damage and still potentially disable or destroy the target.

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of bombs that have firepower equal to these type of weapons.''

== Usage in battles ==

Due to the size and inaccurate nature of the {{PAGENAME}}, this rocket is best used against slower moving targets like bombers, hovering helicopters, aircraft parked on a runway and other lightly armoured targets. When attacking bombers, it may be necessary to fire off the entire volley of rockets in one shot to increase the chance of hitting the target. For aircraft parked on the runway, helicopters or other lightly armoured targets it may only be necessary to fire off several rockets to ensure a hit, but not the entire volley. Several rocket attacks may be required due to the inaccurate nature of these rockets.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:Mighty_Mouse_Cartoon_Image.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' was nicknamed after the fictional cartoon character Mighty Mouse.]]

'''Pros:'''
* Enough explosive value to take out a bomber
* Lightweight

'''Cons:'''
* Extremely inaccurate, best to fire off multiples
* Requires using many to increase chances of hitting a target
* Like firing a shotgun, some may hit a target

== History ==
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of this weapon. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article.''

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|yP7Oxx8AY2c|Mk 4 Mighty Mouse FFAR (Documentary)}}

== 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 weapon;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

== External links ==

* [http://bulletpicker.com/pdf/TM%209-1950,%20Rockets%20(1958).pdf TM9-1950 - Rockets, Department of the US Army, 1958, p. 74]

{{Rockets}}

[[Category:Suspended armaments]]