War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

B-25J-1

2019-11-17T20:03:29Z

U41251312: /* Carrier Landing Technique */ added why we need to fire forward-facing guns

{{Specs-Card|code=b_25j_1}}
{{About
| about = American medium bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = B-25 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

Design of the B-25 was the result of years of work and failed bids to win contracts with the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Initially designed to meet requirements for a payload of 1,200 lb (540 kg), a range of 1,200 mi (1,900 km) and flying at speeds faster than 200 mph (320 kph), prototypes were built, tested and refined. Although the original XB-21 and NA-40 never materialized into a production aircraft, requirements from the USAAC came out in March of 1939 for a medium bomber carrying a payload of 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) over 1,200 mi (1,900 km) at speeds around 300 mph (480 kph), North American modified their design of NA-40 and developed the NA-62 which went into prototype testing as the YB-25 and then ordered into production as the B-25.

The B-25 turned out to be the archetype of the medium bomber, carrying upwards of 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of bombs and could fly at speeds up to 340 mph (547 kph). This twin-engine bomber was fast, it could carry a large payload for its size and had several defensive turrets and gunner stations at which it could defend itself from almost any angle. To increase its versatility, several models had forward-facing fixed machine guns fitted into the nose and the cheeks of the aircraft. Later models opted to removed the glazed nose and bombardier/nose-gunner station and outfit more machine guns and even a 75 mm autocannon for strafing ground targets and especially ships. This medium bomber at times acted more like a heavy attacker opting for low-level flights which would skim treetops and the ocean to sneak up on unwary targets. It was not uncommon for B-25s to fly just above the mast/smokestack height of enemy ships when attacking.

As later models moved from the dedicated bomber position and morphed into more of an attacker role, bomb payloads were reduced to allow for more armour around the cockpit and more offensive weapons and ammunition to fill the attacker mode it took on, especially under the command of U.S. Marine Corps squadrons. With more than 10,000 B-25 aircraft variants built, they saw action in all theatres of war and were even subject to part of the lend-lease program which China and the USSR benefitted from. So versatile was this aircraft that a flight of them were specifically outfitted and their crews trained to take off from an aircraft carrier and bomb mainland Japan in a daring raid. Impressive for an aircraft not meant to take off from an aircraft carrier.

The B-25 is a fantastic bomber, attacker or both and will suit many different pilots and their different approaches to the battlefields found in War Thunder. The tail gunner has been known to set many fighters alight with their dual .50 calibre machine guns and help to prolong the life of this bomber to allow the pilot to make it to their target whether it is to bomb it or strafe it.

== 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 3,049 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
|-
| 420 || 407 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.4 || 33.8 || 5.4 || 5.3 || 750
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,049 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
|-
| 472 || 444 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.7 || 31.0 || 10.6 || 7.7 || 750
|-
|}
[[File:B-25j-1 hugotroop 001.jpg|350px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' releasing its bombs over a target.]]
==== 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}} || 340 || ~6 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 300 || < 270 || < 350 || > 330
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 524 m || 1,500 hp || 1,669 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,700 m || 1,350 hp || 1,502 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm Steel plates throughout the cockpit
* 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 8 mm Steel plate under nose gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plate behind the dorsal gunner
* 6.35 mm Steel plate behind beam gunners
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the tail gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plates in front of the tail gunner

Rugged, sturdy, though, the B-25 is all of those things. Featuring crew armour protection that outclasses the [[B-17G-60-VE|B-17 ''Flying Fortress'']] in a handier, smaller design, the Mitchell is a though nut to crack and even harder to devoid of crew. Calibres above 20 mm are a must for a quick kill, otherwise the B-25 will repay in kind. For going all defence is good, but all offence, too? It is called overkill, of the pursuit fighter.

The two Wright R-2600 air-cooled radial engines are themself hard to destroy and with dropped payload the Mitchell will just keep flying on a single damaged one. Denying underarmed fighters the ability to lethally cripple it. Yet this aurcraft has got one downside: Fuel tanks. While present in all planes, the armour, crew and bomb bay take up all the fuselage. Leaving only space in the wings. A common cause of crash is hence a fire and thus a structural failure of the wingspar.
== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[File:B-25j-1 jonigustavo 001.jpg|400px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' unloading on ground targets with its five forward-facing machine guns (not including the single machine gun controlled by the nose gunner/bombardier).]]

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, cheek-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 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 ordnance:
[[File:B-25j-1 an trn 26 001.jpg|400px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' diving on a ground target.]]

* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 10 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose turret (300 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (250 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)

== Usage in battles ==

[[File:B-25j-1 hc dwain 001.jpg|400px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' tangling with a Japanese fighter over enemy territory.]]

In Realistic battles (and Arcade to an extent), it is highly recommended against exclusively bombing strategic bases and in general to not bomb from high altitudes. It was rarely used this way in combat, and it makes it very easy for enemy fighters to approach and attack you from your defenceless belly. Also, the bomber's maximum payload of 3 x 1,000 lb of bombs is not enough to destroy an enemy base in Realistic battles, which is useless in regards to decreasing ticket count and, most importantly, does not help your team. Thus, leave base bombing to the British heavy bombers you will likely also encounter on your team, whose payloads vastly outclass yours, and instead - if you wish to help your team as much as possible - use your five nose-mounted Browning machine guns on ground targets. Ground target strafing is not only infinitely more exciting than base bombing, but it can also lower the enemy's ticket count drastically, therefore helping your team win. Fly at low altitudes and attack light pillboxes and soft targets with your guns. If you fail to destroy a target, then pitch up and use your turrets to finish it off. Save your bombs for targets your guns cannot kill, such as heavy tanks and heavy pillboxes; the bombsight is very helpful in doing this (something which the dedicated strafing variants such as the [[PBJ-1J]] lack). Make sure to use a fuse timer, 3 seconds should be enough when bombing at treetop level with 1,000 lb bombs.

When strafing, be sure to watch your minimap at all times for any incoming enemies so you can adequately prepare for an attack. When being attacked, fly away from the assailant and try to get them on your tail, and manually open fire with your defensive guns, making sure to watch your tracers and adjust the direction of fire, so they hit the target. Remember that turret guns will jam if fired for a long duration, requiring them to be reloaded, which usually takes almost twenty seconds, during which an attacker will most certainly kill you. If the reticle starts blinking, the guns are very close to jamming, so immediately stop firing and wait for the weapons to cool down. Many experienced players will attempt to utilise the dead zones on your belly and the arcs beyond your twin rudders in their attack. If you find an enemy doing this to you, then switch back to flight view and manoeuvre so that they are in the firing arcs of your guns again and try as much as possible to keep them out of your dead zones and, mostly, make their attack as difficult as possible. The attacker will then either eventually lose patience and try for a head-on, or you will get a successful snipe on their aircraft. It is also very advantageous to use the keyboard controls for pitch, roll, and yaw in the gunner view as it will allow you to make small manoeuvres while still concentrating on defending yourself, letting you, for example, dodge fire or roll/pitch/yaw and shoot someone in your dead zones. Also, use ''Universal'' belts for your turrets as they will do the most damage to enemies and cause devastating fires.

[[File:B-25j-1 billythekid 001.png|400px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' showing how deadly the tail gunner can be.]]

If you lose tail control for whatever reason, then immediately turn back to the airfield and use combat flaps to keep your nose up. Make a landing by alternating between takeoff and combat flaps and, if needed, landing flaps. Make sure that your speed does not go too low; if you start nosing down with takeoff flaps then do not use landing flaps (unless in an emergency) as you'll lose speed and potentially crash. Instead, engage WEP and wait for your nose to rise. There is no set method for doing this and it takes lots of practice, but making these daring landings is very rewarding. If you lose an engine, '''do not''' engage flaps as you will lose speed, end up in a stall and will die, fly straight and slowly make your way back to base, using WEP if needed. If using manual engine controls, close the radiator of the dead engine, feather it, and open the radiator of the working engine to allow you to use WEP all the way back to the airfield without overheating.

=== Carrier Landing Technique ===
Approach at 150 km/h (92 mph/80 kt), flaps set to landing. Keep applying about 60% thrust, or as necessary to maintain 150 km/h. Touchdown at the beginning of the carrier runway, slightly to the left to avoid the island. Apply hard braking, immediately retract flaps, and if necessary fire forward-facing guns to utilize the recoil to stop faster.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
| Protective vest
| Offensive 12 mm
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| MBC-25
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-25
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can take a beating
* Strong defensive guns
* Versatile bomb load
* Decent speed for a bomber
* A multi-use aircraft
* Forward facing gunner automatically starts firing approx 1,000 m from the target, use as a range finder
* Has forward-facing 50 cal. MGs which are very useful for strafing

'''Cons:'''

* Manoeuvres stiffly
* Stiff elevators
* Difficult to pull out of a dive
* Often the B-25 will catch on fire
* No downward-facing defensive armament
* If tail control is damaged, return to base and land utilizing flaps and engine throttling
* Relatively low payload compared to a heavy bomber
* Forward facing gunner will automatically fire at approx 1,000 m, alerting your target
* Low energy retention; any attacks that require manoeuvring will cost speed and altitude

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
North American B-25J-1 Mitchell twin-engine medium bomber/ground-attack aircraft

The B-25J (NA-108) was the most largely produced Mitchell variant. The first aircraft of this type left the factory floor in December 1943, and the variant drove the B-25C and B-25D completely out of production by March of the next year.

B-25J bombers had two 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-29 fourteen-cylinder, double-row, radial air-cooled engines with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 23E50 three-bladed automatic metal propellers.

One feature of this variant was that it could be used both as a bomber and as a ground-attack aircraft.

When used as a bomber, the B-25J-1's armament was: one fixed front machine gun (with 400 rounds) and one mobile machine gun (with 300 rounds) mounted on the navigator's cockpit in the forward fuselage; four front machine guns, with 400 rounds each, mounted in pairs on both sides of the lower fuselage section, near the pilot's cockpit; a Bendix A-9 upper turret housing twin machine guns, with 400 rounds each; a twin Bell M-7 rear mount, with 600 rounds each; and two machine guns, with 600 rounds each, in the fuselage blisters on the starboard and port sides. All gun emplacements had 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns. The total number of machine guns was 12.

Thus, the B-25J was practically as good in its armament as heavy bombers like the B-17 or the B-24, except for coverage from below.

To use the B-25J-1 as a ground-attack aircraft, the nose section with the navigator/bombardier's cockpit could be easily removed and replaced by a solid unglazed nose with a battery of eight 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns, with 400 rounds each. Thus the number of front machine guns was increased to 12, and the total number of guns to 18.

The B-25J-1's maximum bomb capacity was 4,000 lb (1,815 kg). Starting with the 151st machine, one bomb rack, meant to suspend a 2,000 lb (908 kg) bomb, was removed from production B-25J-1 bombers, since it was almost never used in combat units and did nothing but take up a lot of space in the bomb bay.

The aircraft usually carried three 1,000 lb (454 kg) or two 1,600 lb (726 kg) bombs. Different combinations of bombs of smaller sizes were also used. 10 kg parachute bombs were used, as well. The B-25J could carry a Mk.13 torpedo weighing 907 kg. In addition, removable bomb racks for bombs up to 250 kg could be mounted under the wing panels.

When used as a bomber, the aircraft had a crew of six people: two pilots, a navigator/bombardier/gunner, a turret gunner/engineer, a radio operator/waist gunner, and a tail gunner. When used as a ground-attack aircraft, the crew consisted of five people, excluding the navigator/bombardier.

Both pilot seats were equipped with an armoured backrest. One armour plate was located behind the instrument panel, and the second was under the cockpit windshield. Two armour sheets were fixed outside to the sides. Armour protection was provided for all gunners.

== Media ==


;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|7qCr6W00F8k|'''B-25J-1 [Versatility Reborn!]''' - ''Jengar''|oLzkjIqEF9Q|'''B-25J-1 Mitchell - Hard Target''' - ''tx141TX''}}

== See also ==


;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* de Haviland [[Mosquito (Family)|Mosquito]]
* Douglas [[DB-7 (Family)|DB-7]] and its many derivatives (such as [[A-20G-25|A-20G]])
* Douglas [[A-26 (Family)|A-26 ''Invader'']]
* Tupolev [[Tu-2 (Family)|Tu-2]]

;Other B-25 variants in-game

* [[B-25J-20]] - Very little difference between the J-1 and J-20, an additional nose-mounted machine gun, slight armour difference.
* [[B-25J-30_(China)|B-25J-30]] (Chinese lend-lease) - Virtually same as J-20 variant.
* [[B-25J-30_(USSR)|B-25J-30]] (Soviet lend-lease) - Same as Chinese lend-lease version with the exception it utilises Soviet bombs.
* [[PBJ-1H]] - U.S. Marine variant - 75 mm autocannon and eight nose-mounted machine guns, lower service ceiling, reduced bomb load compared to J-1, J-20 and J-30 variants, increased armour around the cockpit.
* [[PBJ-1J]] - U.S. Marine variant - Identical to PBJ-1H in-flight characteristics and bomb loadout, no 75 mm cannon, a total of 12 nose-mounted machine guns.

== External links ==


* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/22479-b-25j-mitchell-official-thread/ [Forums] B-25J Mitchell, Official Thread]

{{USA bombers}}

B-57A

2019-11-14T12:15:46Z

U41251312: Described use of Maximum Mach Operating number

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
!Maximum Mach
|-
! +
! -
!(MMO)
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|0.82
|-
|}
At lower temperatures (normally in high altitudes) use Maximum Mach Operating (MMO) instead of Indicated Airspeed (IAS)
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

P-61C-1

2019-11-14T12:13:28Z

U41251312: Reverted VR, VS0 and VS1, and explained their use in takeoff and landing in Flight Performance

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|cockpit=334571/1111209
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}

== 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 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The P-61C-1 is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter. It is designed to deliver as much damage as possible, and therefore makes a great ground attack aircraft and bomber-hunter.

It has four cannons placed are under the belly of the aircraft with an additional four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in the upper turret. The cannons combined with the gunner and turret are able to make quick work of any plane which stands in your way. The machine gun turret can be used, defensively and offensively by the gunner. It is excellent in bomber hunting and it excels when used with boom and zoom tactics. However, it does not have a decisive defensive armament which can provide essential protection from the low rear or belly attacks. It also is unable to turn fight, as it is extremely large, slow and loses any advantages it has easily.

Turret defensive angles are limited, it can not aim any lower than the elevator. If an enemy plane is lower than the elevator, you will need to put the plane into a steep climb or dive. It also offers very weak crew protection from head-on attacks.

[[File:P-61c-1 bomberpilot1784 001.png|400px|thumb|left|Three-quarter view of an '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in standard all-black night-fighter paint scheme.]]

The P-61C-1 has four [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with 800 rounds in total (200 rpg). It also has a turret with four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns it has 2120 rounds in total (530 rpg).

Its armament is exceptionally powerful for its battle rating, being essentially slightly faster firing [[Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)|Hispano Mk.II]]s. Additionally, its firepower is exclusively mounted on the fuselage, making it very accurate for long-range shooting. However, note that unless the new 20 mm cannons upgrade is researched, they are somewhat inaccurate (especially in a head-on pass). However, this is nowhere near as visible as on planes where the cannons are wing-mounted, like the [[F4U-1C]]. Like with all other AN/M2 cannons, it is recommended to use either the Default or Stealth belts due to their higher composition of HEF-I shells.

The most notable aspect of the P-61C-1's armament is that the 4 x 12.7 mm machine gun turret is mounted on the roof of the aircraft and is capable rotating a full 360 degrees on the horizontal axis and almost 90 degrees upwards. Not only does this give the plane an effective defensive armament if an enemy plane is above the P-61, but it also makes the gunner able to actively fire at the same target as the pilot, or fire at planes that the pilot cannot get an immediate gun solution on. Keep in mind, however, that the turret cannot aim downwards at all, leaving the belly of the aircraft all the way up to wing level unprotected. Its utility is best shown in situations where you are hunting high altitude bombers. Instead of struggling to climb up to the bomber's attitude and keeping up the speed, you could be flying 1 - 1.2 km below the bomber, catch up with it, then manually aim the turret which has 360 degrees of coverage to snipe the plane down with 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns. This is even more effective towards bombers which have blind spots in the belly.

== 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:P-61c-1 argiegrit 002.jpg|450px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' opening up with its four 20 mm autocannons.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="11" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 656 || 643 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || 457
|170
|126
|148
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 732 || 692 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16 || 457
|163
|120
|145
|-
|}

VR is the rotate speed (the speed at which the airplane's control stick can be safely pulled for takeoff and the airplane will rise without having the risk of a tailstrike)

VS0 is the landing speed with full landing flaps

VS1 is the landing speed without flaps (useful when flaps are damaged or completely gone, to avoid tailstrikes upon landing and spins)

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|500px|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"
|-
! 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}} || 340 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

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


* 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 wain 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.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[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 ===

{{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 ===

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 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|450px|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.

===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
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

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.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 002.jpg|450px|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
* 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|450px|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
* 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 ==

In 1940, the British Purchasing Commission wanted a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor to shoot down ''Luftwaffe'' bombers when they raided British cities. This called for a high-endurance heavy fighter with Aerial Interception (AI) radars and specified gun armament mounted in a 360 degrees gun turret. The requirements were sent to many aircraft manufacturers, one of them being Jack Northrop. The USAAC accepted his proposal, resulting in one of the most deadly and large fighters in World War Two. The prototype YP-61, had a long fuselage gondola in between two engine nacelles. The tail was a new radical twin-boom design. Full span flaps were fitted on the wings and it had two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials, producing 2,000 horsepower each. The plane was mounted on a tricycle landing gear and had a three-man crew: a radar operator, gunner, and pilot. Armament includes four Browning 12.7 mm heavy machine guns mounted in a four-gun powered turret. The original design also had a ventral turret, but that was replaced by Hispano Mk.II cannons. Some versions also had air brakes so the pilot would not overshoot the target.

== Media ==


;Images
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 frontview.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 rearview.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 cockpit.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 radiooperator.jpg‎|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61c-1 zippitydoodah 001.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 001.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
</ul></div>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|B_KJXo2w0IQ|P-61 Black Widow - America's Night-Interceptor|_iGQOR9Dtyg|'''BLACK WIDOW - The P-61C-1 RB Gameplay''' - ''MikeGoesBoom''|fL0pyZ5VZSM|'''War Thunder Arcade- P-61C-1 Black Widow''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/869 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]

== External links ==


* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow - By Headquarters AAF - 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 - USAAF, July 1945]

{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

P-61C-1

2019-11-14T12:10:22Z

U41251312: Undo revision 34928 by U64962917 (talk)

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|cockpit=334571/1111209
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}

== 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 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The P-61C-1 is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter. It is designed to deliver as much damage as possible, and therefore makes a great ground attack aircraft and bomber-hunter.

It has four cannons placed are under the belly of the aircraft with an additional four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in the upper turret. The cannons combined with the gunner and turret are able to make quick work of any plane which stands in your way. The machine gun turret can be used, defensively and offensively by the gunner. It is excellent in bomber hunting and it excels when used with boom and zoom tactics. However, it does not have a decisive defensive armament which can provide essential protection from the low rear or belly attacks. It also is unable to turn fight, as it is extremely large, slow and loses any advantages it has easily.

Turret defensive angles are limited, it can not aim any lower than the elevator. If an enemy plane is lower than the elevator, you will need to put the plane into a steep climb or dive. It also offers very weak crew protection from head-on attacks.

[[File:P-61c-1 bomberpilot1784 001.png|400px|thumb|left|Three-quarter view of an '''{{PAGENAME}}''' in standard all-black night-fighter paint scheme.]]

The P-61C-1 has four [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with 800 rounds in total (200 rpg). It also has a turret with four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns it has 2120 rounds in total (530 rpg).

Its armament is exceptionally powerful for its battle rating, being essentially slightly faster firing [[Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)|Hispano Mk.II]]s. Additionally, its firepower is exclusively mounted on the fuselage, making it very accurate for long-range shooting. However, note that unless the new 20 mm cannons upgrade is researched, they are somewhat inaccurate (especially in a head-on pass). However, this is nowhere near as visible as on planes where the cannons are wing-mounted, like the [[F4U-1C]]. Like with all other AN/M2 cannons, it is recommended to use either the Default or Stealth belts due to their higher composition of HEF-I shells.

The most notable aspect of the P-61C-1's armament is that the 4 x 12.7 mm machine gun turret is mounted on the roof of the aircraft and is capable rotating a full 360 degrees on the horizontal axis and almost 90 degrees upwards. Not only does this give the plane an effective defensive armament if an enemy plane is above the P-61, but it also makes the gunner able to actively fire at the same target as the pilot, or fire at planes that the pilot cannot get an immediate gun solution on. Keep in mind, however, that the turret cannot aim downwards at all, leaving the belly of the aircraft all the way up to wing level unprotected. Its utility is best shown in situations where you are hunting high altitude bombers. Instead of struggling to climb up to the bomber's attitude and keeping up the speed, you could be flying 1 - 1.2 km below the bomber, catch up with it, then manually aim the turret which has 360 degrees of coverage to snipe the plane down with 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns. This is even more effective towards bombers which have blind spots in the belly.

== 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:P-61c-1 argiegrit 002.jpg|450px|thumb|right|'''{{PAGENAME}}''' opening up with its four 20 mm autocannons.]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="11" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 656 || 643 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || 457
|170
|126
|148
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 732 || 692 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16 || 457
|163
|120
|145
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|500px|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"
|-
! 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}} || 340 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

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


* 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 wain 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.

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[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 ===

{{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 ===

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 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|450px|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.

===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
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

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.

=== Pros and cons ===

[[File:P-61c-1 iscari 002.jpg|450px|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
* 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|450px|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
* 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 ==

In 1940, the British Purchasing Commission wanted a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor to shoot down ''Luftwaffe'' bombers when they raided British cities. This called for a high-endurance heavy fighter with Aerial Interception (AI) radars and specified gun armament mounted in a 360 degrees gun turret. The requirements were sent to many aircraft manufacturers, one of them being Jack Northrop. The USAAC accepted his proposal, resulting in one of the most deadly and large fighters in World War Two. The prototype YP-61, had a long fuselage gondola in between two engine nacelles. The tail was a new radical twin-boom design. Full span flaps were fitted on the wings and it had two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials, producing 2,000 horsepower each. The plane was mounted on a tricycle landing gear and had a three-man crew: a radar operator, gunner, and pilot. Armament includes four Browning 12.7 mm heavy machine guns mounted in a four-gun powered turret. The original design also had a ventral turret, but that was replaced by Hispano Mk.II cannons. Some versions also had air brakes so the pilot would not overshoot the target.

== Media ==

;Images
<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 frontview.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 rearview.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 cockpit.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 radiooperator.jpg‎|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61c-1 zippitydoodah 001.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61c-1 argiegrit 001.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
</ul></div>
;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|B_KJXo2w0IQ|P-61 Black Widow - America's Night-Interceptor|_iGQOR9Dtyg|'''BLACK WIDOW - The P-61C-1 RB Gameplay''' - ''MikeGoesBoom''|fL0pyZ5VZSM|'''War Thunder Arcade- P-61C-1 Black Widow''' - ''Jengar''}}

== See also ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/869 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]

== External links ==


* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow - By Headquarters AAF - 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 - USAAF, July 1945]

{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

B-57A

2019-11-14T12:09:52Z

U41251312: Maximum Mach is not equal to maximum speed, in high altitudes the maximum Mach number is used, disregarding the Indicated Airspeed.

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
!Maximum Mach
|-
! +
! -
!(VMMO)
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|0.82
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

B-57A

2019-11-14T12:09:08Z

U41251312: Undo revision 37134 by U41251312 (talk)

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

B-57A

2019-11-14T12:08:30Z

U41251312: Undo revision 35896 by U28580205 (talk)

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
!Maximum Mach
|-
! +
! -
!(VMMO)
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|0.82
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

B-57A

2019-11-04T03:10:47Z

U41251312: Added VMMO

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
!Maximum Mach
|-
! +
! -
!(VMMO)
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|0.82
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

P-61C-1

2019-10-25T07:45:45Z

U41251312: Added to pros

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|cockpit=334571/1111209
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}

== 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 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The P-61C-1 is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter. It is designed to deliver as much damage as possible, and therefore makes a great ground attack aircraft and bomber-hunter.

It has four cannons placed are under the belly of the aircraft with an additional four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in the upper turret. The cannons combined with the gunner and turret are able to make quick work of any plane which stands in your way. The machine gun turret can be used, defensively and offensively by the gunner. It is excellent in bomber hunting and it excels when used with boom and zoom tactics. However, it does not have a decisive defensive armament which can provide essential protection from the low rear or belly attacks. It also is unable to turn fight, as it is extremely large, slow and loses any advantages it has easily.

Turret defensive angles are limited, it can not aim any lower than the elevator. If an enemy plane is lower than the elevator, you will need to put the plane into a steep climb or dive. It also offers very weak crew protection from head-on attacks.

The P-61C-1 has four [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with 800 rounds in total (200 rpg). It also has a turret with four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns it has 2120 rounds in total (530 rpg).

Its armament is exceptionally powerful for its battle rating, being essentially slightly faster firing [[Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)|Hispano Mk.II]]s. Additionally, its firepower is exclusively mounted on the fuselage, making it very accurate for long range shooting. However, note that unless the new 20 mm cannons upgrade is researched, they are somewhat inaccurate (especially in a head-on pass). However, this is nowhere near as visible as on planes where the cannons are wing mounted, like the [[F4U-1C]]. Like with all other AN/M2 cannons, it is recommended to use either the Default or Stealth belts due to their higher composition of HEF-I shells.

The most notable aspect of the P-61C-1's armament is that the 4 x 12.7 mm machine gun turret is mounted on the roof of the aircraft and is capable rotating a full 360 degrees on the horizontal axis and almost 90 degrees upwards. Not only does this give the plane an effective defensive armament if an enemy plane is above the P-61, but it also makes the gunner able to actively fire at the same target as the pilot, or fire at planes that the pilot cannot get an immediate gun solution on. Keep in mind, however, that the turret cannot aim downwards at all, leaving the belly of the aircraft all the way up to wing level unprotected. Its utility is best shown in situations where you are hunting high altitude bombers. Instead of struggling to climb up to the bomber's attitude and keeping up the speed, you could be flying 1 - 1.2 km below the bomber, catch up with it, then manually aim the turret which has 360 degrees of coverage to snipe the plane down with 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns. This is even more effective towards bombers which have blind spots in the belly.

== 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="11" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 656 || 643 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || 457
|170
|126
|148
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 732 || 692 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16 || 457
|163
|120
|145
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|500px|thumb|right|A view of the P-61 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"
|-
! 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}} || 340 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

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


* 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

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[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 four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted on the sides of the fuselage. Each are armed with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all guns will fire together until empty.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{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)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (560 rpg outer + 500 rpg inner = 2,120 total)

== Usage in battles ==

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.

===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
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

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.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''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
* 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

'''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
* 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 ==

In 1940, the British Purchasing Commission wanted a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor to shoot down ''Luftwaffe'' bombers when they raided British cities. This called for a high-endurance heavy fighter with Aerial Interception (AI) radars and specified gun armament mounted in a 360 degrees gun turret. The requirements were sent to many aircraft manufacturers, one of them being Jack Northrop. The USAAC accepted his proposal, resulting in one of the most deadly and large fighters in World War Two. The prototype YP-61, had a long fuselage gondola in between two engine nacelles. The tail was a new radical twin-boom design. Full span flaps were fitted on the wings and it had two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials, producing 2,000 horsepower each. The plane was mounted on a tricycle landing gear and had a three-man crew: a radar operator, gunner, and pilot. Armament includes four Browning 12.7 mm heavy machine guns mounted in a four-gun powered turret. The original design also had a ventral turret, but that was replaced by Hispano Mk.II cannons. Some versions also had air brakes so the pilot would not overshoot the target.

== Media ==

<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 frontview.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Front view of the deadly '''P-61''' twin-engine fighter.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 rearview.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|Rear view of the '''P-61''''s aerodynamic airframe.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 cockpit.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Detailed view of the two-seat cockpit of the '''P-61'''.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 radiooperator.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|A close-up view of the radio operator position on the '''P-61'''.]] </li>
</ul></div>

{{Youtube-gallery|B_KJXo2w0IQ|P-61 Black Widow - America's Night-Interceptor}}

== See also ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/869 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]

== External links ==


* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow - By Headquarters AAF - 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 - USAAF, July 1945]

{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

P-61C-1

2019-10-25T07:35:52Z

U41251312: Added stalling speeds

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-61c_1
|cockpit=334571/1111209
}}
{{About
| about = American twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the premium version
| link = P-61A-1
}}

== 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 1.57 "Battle March"]].

The P-61C-1 is a heavy twin-engine strike fighter. It is designed to deliver as much damage as possible, and therefore makes a great ground attack aircraft and bomber-hunter.

It has four cannons placed are under the belly of the aircraft with an additional four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns in the upper turret. The cannons combined with the gunner and turret are able to make quick work of any plane which stands in your way. The machine gun turret can be used, defensively and offensively by the gunner. It is excellent in bomber hunting and it excels when used with boom and zoom tactics. However, it does not have a decisive defensive armament which can provide essential protection from the low rear or belly attacks. It also is unable to turn fight, as it is extremely large, slow and loses any advantages it has easily.

Turret defensive angles are limited, it can not aim any lower than the elevator. If an enemy plane is lower than the elevator, you will need to put the plane into a steep climb or dive. It also offers very weak crew protection from head-on attacks.

The P-61C-1 has four [[AN/M2 (20 mm)|AN/M2]] cannons with 800 rounds in total (200 rpg). It also has a turret with four [[Browning M2 (12.7 mm)|Browning]] machine guns it has 2120 rounds in total (530 rpg).

Its armament is exceptionally powerful for its battle rating, being essentially slightly faster firing [[Hispano Mk.II (20 mm)|Hispano Mk.II]]s. Additionally, its firepower is exclusively mounted on the fuselage, making it very accurate for long range shooting. However, note that unless the new 20 mm cannons upgrade is researched, they are somewhat inaccurate (especially in a head-on pass). However, this is nowhere near as visible as on planes where the cannons are wing mounted, like the [[F4U-1C]]. Like with all other AN/M2 cannons, it is recommended to use either the Default or Stealth belts due to their higher composition of HEF-I shells.

The most notable aspect of the P-61C-1's armament is that the 4 x 12.7 mm machine gun turret is mounted on the roof of the aircraft and is capable rotating a full 360 degrees on the horizontal axis and almost 90 degrees upwards. Not only does this give the plane an effective defensive armament if an enemy plane is above the P-61, but it also makes the gunner able to actively fire at the same target as the pilot, or fire at planes that the pilot cannot get an immediate gun solution on. Keep in mind, however, that the turret cannot aim downwards at all, leaving the belly of the aircraft all the way up to wing level unprotected. Its utility is best shown in situations where you are hunting high altitude bombers. Instead of struggling to climb up to the bomber's attitude and keeping up the speed, you could be flying 1 - 1.2 km below the bomber, catch up with it, then manually aim the turret which has 360 degrees of coverage to snipe the plane down with 4 x 12.7 mm machine guns. This is even more effective towards bombers which have blind spots in the belly.

== 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="11" | Characteristics
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Stock''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 656 || 643 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.3 || 27.5 || 12.2 || 12.2 || 457
|170
|126
|148
|-
! colspan="11" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 7,100 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (meters/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (meters)
! rowspan="2" |VR
(km/h)

(flaps T/O)
! rowspan="2" |VS0
(km/h)
! rowspan="2" |VS1
(km/h)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
| 732 || 692 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 23.8 || 25.0 || 21.3 || 16 || 457
|163
|120
|145
|-
|}

==== Details ====
[[File:P-61_airbrakes_and_spoilers_extended.jpg|500px|thumb|right|A view of the P-61 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"
|-
! 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}} || 340 || ~7 || ~3
|-
|}

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


* 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

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

[[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 four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted on the sides of the fuselage. Each are armed with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all guns will fire together until empty.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{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)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (560 rpg outer + 500 rpg inner = 2,120 total)

== Usage in battles ==

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.

===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
|-
|}

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
| FLBC mk.1
|-
|}

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.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''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
* 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

'''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
* 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 ==

In 1940, the British Purchasing Commission wanted a high-altitude, high-speed interceptor to shoot down ''Luftwaffe'' bombers when they raided British cities. This called for a high-endurance heavy fighter with Aerial Interception (AI) radars and specified gun armament mounted in a 360 degrees gun turret. The requirements were sent to many aircraft manufacturers, one of them being Jack Northrop. The USAAC accepted his proposal, resulting in one of the most deadly and large fighters in World War Two. The prototype YP-61, had a long fuselage gondola in between two engine nacelles. The tail was a new radical twin-boom design. Full span flaps were fitted on the wings and it had two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radials, producing 2,000 horsepower each. The plane was mounted on a tricycle landing gear and had a three-man crew: a radar operator, gunner, and pilot. Armament includes four Browning 12.7 mm heavy machine guns mounted in a four-gun powered turret. The original design also had a ventral turret, but that was replaced by Hispano Mk.II cannons. Some versions also had air brakes so the pilot would not overshoot the target.

== Media ==

<div><ul>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 frontview.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Front view of the deadly '''P-61''' twin-engine fighter.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 rearview.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|Rear view of the '''P-61''''s aerodynamic airframe.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 cockpit.jpg|thumb|none|250px|Detailed view of the two-seat cockpit of the '''P-61'''.]] </li>
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:P-61 radiooperator.jpg ‎|thumb|none|250px|A close-up view of the radio operator position on the '''P-61'''.]] </li>
</ul></div>

{{Youtube-gallery|B_KJXo2w0IQ|P-61 Black Widow - America's Night-Interceptor}}

== See also ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/869 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> P-61: The American "Flying Tank"]

== External links ==


* [https://ia801208.us.archive.org/33/items/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP61/PilotTrainingManualForTheBlackWidowP-61.pdf Pilot Training Manual for the P-61 Black Widow - By Headquarters AAF - 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 - USAAF, July 1945]

{{USA twin-engine fighters}}

B-25J-1

2019-10-25T06:47:43Z

U41251312: Added carrier landing technique

{{Specs-Card|code=b_25j_1}}
{{About
| about = American medium bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = B-25 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

Simply put, the archetype of the medium bomber is the B-25. It has versatile payloads (4 x 500 lb or 3 x 1,000 lb). It is faster than heavy bombers which can achieve over 340 mph in a dive to attack ground targets and as a bonus has offensive armament that allows it to fulfil the role of an air superiority bomber. Defensive gun placements include turrets & gunner stations. The B-25J sports heavy armament to include seven 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns. Also, this aircraft is durable, however, if the aircraft happens to sustain a direct hit to the fuel tank, there is a good chance of a fire followed by an explosion.

When flown properly, the B-25 Mitchell is among the best medium bombers in the game, with one of the most potent defensive armaments at its tier. If you enjoy strafing ground targets with the B-25, then consider researching the [[PBJ-1H]] with 8 forward facing .50 cal Browning M2 machine guns and a 75 mm cannon or the [[PBJ-1J]] sporting an impressive 12 forward facing Browning M2 machine guns, both of which are Marine versions of the B-25 airframe and possess all the facets that make the B-25 Mitchell such a legendary aircraft.

== 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 3,049 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
|-
| 420 || 407 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.4 || 33.8 || 5.4 || 5.3 || 750
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,049 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
|-
| 472 || 444 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.7 || 31.0 || 10.6 || 7.7 || 750
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 340 || ~6 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 300 || < 270 || < 350 || > 330
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 524 m || 1,500 hp || 1,669 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,700 m || 1,350 hp || 1,502 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm Steel plates throughout the cockpit
* 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 8 mm Steel plate under nose gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plate behind the dorsal gunner
* 6.35 mm Steel plate behind beam gunners
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the tail gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plates in front of the tail gunner

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, cheek-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 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 ordnance:

* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 10 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose turret (300 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (250 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)

== Usage in battles ==

In Realistic battles (and Arcade to an extent), it is highly recommended against exclusively bombing strategic bases and in general to not bomb from high altitudes. It was rarely used this way in combat, and it makes it very easy for enemy fighters to approach and attack you from your defenceless belly. Also, the bomber's maximum payload of 3 x 1,000 lb of bombs is not enough to destroy an enemy base in Realistic battles, which is useless in regards to decreasing ticket count and, most importantly, does not help your team. Thus, leave base bombing to the British heavy bombers you will likely also encounter on your team, whose payloads vastly outclass yours, and instead - if you wish to help your team as much as possible - use your five nose-mounted Browning machine guns on ground targets. Ground target strafing is not only infinitely more exciting than base bombing, but it can also lower the enemy's ticket count drastically, therefore helping your team win. Fly at low altitudes and attack light pillboxes and soft targets with your guns. If you fail to destroy a target, then pitch up and use your turrets to finish it off. Save your bombs for targets your guns cannot kill, such as heavy tanks and heavy pillboxes; the bombsight is very helpful in doing this (something which the dedicated strafing variants such as the [[PBJ-1J]] lack). Make sure to use a fuse timer, 3 seconds should be enough when bombing at treetop level with 1,000 lb bombs.

When strafing, be sure to watch your minimap at all times for any incoming enemies so you can adequately prepare for an attack. When being attacked, fly away from the assailant and try to get them on your tail, and manually open fire with your defensive guns, making sure to watch your tracers and adjust the direction of fire, so they hit the target. Remember that turret guns will jam if fired for a long duration, requiring them to be reloaded, which usually takes almost twenty seconds, during which an attacker will most certainly kill you. If the reticle starts blinking, the guns are very close to jamming, so immediately stop firing and wait for the weapons to cool down. Many experienced players will attempt to utilise the dead zones on your belly and the arcs beyond your twin rudders in their attack. If you find an enemy doing this to you, then switch back to flight view and manoeuvre so that they are in the firing arcs of your guns again and try as much as possible to keep them out of your dead zones and, mostly, make their attack as difficult as possible. The attacker will then either eventually lose patience and try for a head-on, or you will get a successful snipe on their aircraft. It is also very advantageous to use the keyboard controls for pitch, roll, and yaw in the gunner view as it will allow you to make small manoeuvres while still concentrating on defending yourself, letting you, for example, dodge fire or roll/pitch/yaw and shoot someone in your dead zones. Also, use ''Universal'' belts for your turrets as they will do the most damage to enemies and cause devastating fires.

If you lose tail control for whatever reason, then immediately turn back to the airfield and use combat flaps to keep your nose up. Make a landing by alternating between takeoff and combat flaps and, if needed, landing flaps. Make sure that your speed does not go too low; if you start nosing down with takeoff flaps then do not use landing flaps (unless in an emergency) as you'll lose speed and potentially crash. Instead, engage WEP and wait for your nose to rise. There is no set method for doing this and it takes lots of practice, but making these daring landings is very rewarding. If you lose an engine, '''do not''' engage flaps as you will lose speed, end up in a stall and will die, fly straight and slowly make your way back to base, using WEP if needed. If using manual engine controls, close the radiator of the dead engine, feather it, and open the radiator of the working engine to allow you to use WEP all the way back to the airfield without overheating.

== Carrier Landing Technique ==
Approach at 80 knots (150 kph), flaps set to landing. Keep applying about 60% thrust, or as necessary to maintain 80 knots. Touchdown at the beginning of the carrier runway, slightly to the left to avoid the island. Apply hard braking, immediately retract flaps, and if necessary fire forward facing guns.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
| Protective vest
| Offensive 12 mm
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| MBC-25
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-25
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can take a beating
* Strong defensive guns
* Versatile bomb load
* Decent speed for a bomber
* A multi-use aircraft
* Forward facing gunner automatically starts firing approx 1,000 m from the target, use as a range finder
* Has forward facing 50 cal. MGs which are very useful for strafing

'''Cons:'''

* Manoeuvres stiffly
* Stiff elevators
* Difficult to pull out of a dive
* Often the B-25 will catch on fire
* No downward-facing defensive armament
* If tail control is damaged, return to base and land utilizing flaps and engine throttling
* Relatively low payload compared to a heavy bomber
* Forward facing gunner will automatically fire at approx 1,000 m, alerting your target
* Low energy retention; any attacks that require manoeuvring will cost speed and altitude

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
North American B-25J-1 Mitchell twin-engine medium bomber/ground-attack aircraft

The B-25J (NA-108) was the most largely produced Mitchell variant. The first aircraft of this type left the factory floor in December 1943, and the variant drove the B-25C and B-25D completely out of production by March of the next year.

B-25J bombers had two 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-29 fourteen-cylinder, double-row, radial air-cooled engines with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 23E50 three-bladed automatic metal propellers.

One feature of this variant was that it could be used both as a bomber and as a ground-attack aircraft.

When used as a bomber, the B-25J-1's armament was: one fixed front machine gun (with 400 rounds) and one mobile machine gun (with 300 rounds) mounted on the navigator's cockpit in the forward fuselage; four front machine guns, with 400 rounds each, mounted in pairs on both sides of the lower fuselage section, near the pilot's cockpit; a Bendix A-9 upper turret housing twin machine guns, with 400 rounds each; a twin Bell M-7 rear mount, with 600 rounds each; and two machine guns, with 600 rounds each, in the fuselage blisters on the starboard and port sides. All gun emplacements had 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns. The total number of machine guns was 12.

Thus, the B-25J was practically as good in its armament as heavy bombers like the B-17 or the B-24, except for coverage from below.

To use the B-25J-1 as a ground-attack aircraft, the nose section with the navigator/bombardier's cockpit could be easily removed and replaced by a solid unglazed nose with a battery of eight 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns, with 400 rounds each. Thus the number of front machine guns was increased to 12, and the total number of guns to 18.

The B-25J-1's maximum bomb capacity was 4,000 lb (1,815 kg). Starting with the 151st machine, one bomb rack, meant to suspend a 2,000 lb (908 kg) bomb, was removed from production B-25J-1 bombers, since it was almost never used in combat units and did nothing but take up a lot of space in the bomb bay.

The aircraft usually carried three 1,000 lb (454 kg) or two 1,600 lb (726 kg) bombs. Different combinations of bombs of smaller sizes were also used. 10 kg parachute bombs were used, as well. The B-25J could carry a Mk.13 torpedo weighing 907 kg. In addition, removable bomb racks for bombs up to 250 kg could be mounted under the wing panels.

When used as a bomber, the aircraft had a crew of six people: two pilots, a navigator/bombardier/gunner, a turret gunner/engineer, a radio operator/waist gunner, and a tail gunner. When used as a ground-attack aircraft, the crew consisted of five people, excluding the navigator/bombardier.

Both pilot seats were equipped with an armored backrest. One armor plate was located behind the instrument panel, and the second was under the cockpit windshield. Two armor sheets were fixed outside to the sides. Armor protection was provided for all gunners.

== 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 ==


* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/22479-b-25j-mitchell-official-thread/ [Forums] B-25J Mitchell, Official Thread]

{{USA bombers}}

PBY-5A Catalina

2019-10-25T06:11:20Z

U41251312: Added Pros

{{Specs-Card|code=pby-5a}}
{{About
| about = American bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the Russian version
| link-1 = PBY-5a Catalina (USSR)
| usage-2 = other versions
| link-2 = PBY-5 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{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 2,135 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
|-
| 259 || 249 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 31.0 || 31.9 || 2.6 || 2.6 || 364
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 2,135 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
|-
| 310 || 282 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.1 || 30.0 || 8.7 || 5.1 || 364
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps
! Take-off flaps
! Landing flaps
! Air brakes
! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || 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}} || 520 || ~2 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 220 || < 220 || < 230 || > 312
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,886 m || 1,050 hp || 1,491 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===

'''Armour plates'''

* 9.5 mm steel pilot seats
* 6.35 mm steel behind tail gunner
* 6.35 mm and 4.7 mm steel plates inside the structural pylon

'''Critical component protection'''

* 2 self-sealing fuel tanks in the wings

== Armaments ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|Mk.13/44|Mk.13}}

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

* 16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x Mk.13 torpedoes
* 2 x Mk.13/44 torpedoes

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (478 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

Although the PBY-5a Catalina is slow and clunky, it offers a heavy payload that is sure to be a game changer if used properly. It also has a very good defensive armament for its tier, which can occasionally be a saviour against an enemy fighter.

The plane is quite unmanouevrable, and its wings are very weak, being able to snap just by turning just a little too tight at higher speeds in a Realistic Battle. Unlike its predecessor, this version has landing gear, allowing it to land on airfields as well as in water, allowing it to repair and respawn at airfields in Realistic Mode without belly landing, and enabling it to capture bases in Airfield Domination mode in Arcade Battles.

=== 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 Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Not controllable Not auto controlled || 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="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 7 mm
| MBC-5
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
| LTC-5
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Improved torpedo
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-5
|-
|}

* The bomb load upgrades allow an increase in total bomb load, from 1,600 lb through 2,000 lb to 4,000 lb so they are a priority, especially since the bigger bombs also allow for destroying ships or tanks.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good bomb load
* Good defensive weaponry.
* Can land on airfields compared to other flying boats.
* Can land on water.
* Can capture points (in Naval)

'''Cons:'''

* Very slow, not a plane for the impatient.
* Humble engine power and bad rate of climb.
* Poor energy retention.
* Susceptible to ripping wings.
* Poor downward facing armament.

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
There were two firms competing for the naval patrol bomber supply contract: Consolidated and Douglas. Although both prototypes met the U. S. Navy demands, on June 29, 1935 the contract was awarded to Consolidated due to lower production costs (the firm projected the cost of one aircraft to be $90,000, while their colleagues from Douglas quoted $110,000).

Manufacturing orders for PBY-2 and PBY-3 were concluded before the delivery of the first production aircraft from the previous series (accordingly, PBY-1 and PBY-2). However, when the order for PBY-4 was signed toward the end of 1937, which consisted of just 33 boat planes (this was the smallest of the PBY series), by the time production began the model was already considered outdated and likely to be the last of the series (when PBY-5 was commissioned, development of the next series of hydroplanes set to replace PBY was already underway).

That's exactly what would have happened if the Germans hadn't attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, thus greatly increasing the demand for patrol aircraft.

The last three models in the PBY-4 series had a series of distinguishing features, many of which were kept and implemented in PBY-5. In 1939, the last PBY-4 built, BuNo 1245 was converted into an amphibian through the introduction of retractable undercarriage. The amphibian version of PBY-5 was redesignated PBY-5A, and looked promising enough to compel the U. S. Navy to modify their original order for 200 PBY-5 units so that 33 of those aircraft were executed as PBY-5A. This was followed by other supply agreements for additional 186 units of PBY-5A. Other countries followed suit, changing a portion of the ordered PBY-5 units to PBY-5A.

The PBY was used as a bomber and torpedo carrier, and was often utilized in night operations, as well as on patrol, rescue and transportation missions.

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

== See also ==


* [[PBY-5 Catalina]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/13677-pby-5-catalina-official-thread/& [Forum<nowiki>]</nowiki> PBY-5 Catalina, Official Thread]

{{USA bombers}}

PBY-5 Catalina

2019-10-25T06:10:46Z

U41251312: Added Pros

{{Specs-Card|code=pby-5}}
{{About
| about = American bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = PBY-5 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{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 2,135 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
|-
| 260 || 252 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.0 || 29.8 || 2.3 || 2.3 || 535
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 2,135 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
|-
| 320 || 288 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 27.1 || 28.0 || 9.2 || 4.8 || 535
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps
! Take-off flaps
! Landing flaps
! Air brakes
! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || 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}} || 520 || ~2 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 220 || < 220 || < 230 || > 312
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,886 m || 1,050 hp || 1,491 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm steel pilot seats
* 6.35 mm steel behind tail gunner
* 6.35 mm and 4.7 mm steel plates inside the structural pylon
* Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
* 2 self-sealing fuel tanks in the wings

== Armaments ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M30A1 (100 lb)|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|Mk.13/44|Mk.13/44}}

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

* 16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)
* 2 x Mk.13 torpedoes
* 2 x Mk.13/44 torpedoes

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (478 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
* 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

Although technically a medium bomber, the PBY-5's strategies are much like that of heavy bombers in higher tiers such as the B-17. It is best to fly high, as flying low will make you an easy target for fighters and AA. The best tactic for fending off enemy fighters is to use the rudders to direct one of the side gunners towards the attacking plane. It is also smart to use the guns manually in this situation, as the AI is often very inaccurate and will refuse to fire beyond a certain distance. In the worst case scenarios, a dive can be used to greatly increase the plane's speed to get to attack a ground target before a pursuing enemy fighter shoots it down.

The plane is quite unmanageable, and its wings are very weak, being able to snap just by turning just a little too tight at higher speeds in a Realistic Battle. Its lack of landing gear means that extra caution should be taken when landing, as it must land on its belly to rearm in a Realistic Battle.

Although the PBY-5 Catalina is slow and clunky, it offers a heavy payload that is sure to be a game changer if used properly. One of the bomber's biggest cons is its lack of landing gear, although it can still belly land onto airstrips. It also has a very good defensive armament for its tier, which can occasionally be a saviour against an enemy fighter.

The armament on the PBY-5 Catalina is what makes up for its clunky movement. The plane is capable of carrying a heavy payload of bombs or torpedos and has defensive gunners on all sides. The two side gunners have .50 calibre machine guns,making it more than capable of destroying enemy aircraft that stay within their range.

=== 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 Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Controllable Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Separate || 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
|
| Turret 7 mm
| MBC-5
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
| LTC-5
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
| Improved torpedo
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-5
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Good payload
* Good rear defensive armament with a high coverage angle
* Durable
* Can capture points (in Naval)

'''Cons:'''

* Very bad at climbing
* Slow top speed
* No wheels for landing on hard surfaces (hydroplane only)

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
There were two firms competing for the naval patrol bomber supply contract: Consolidated and Douglas. Although both prototypes met the U. S. Navy demands, on June 29, 1935 the contract was awarded to Consolidated due to lower production costs (the firm projected the cost of one aircraft to be $90,000, while their colleagues from Douglas quoted $110,000).

Manufacturing orders for PBY-2 and PBY-3 were concluded before the delivery of the first production aircraft from the previous series (accordingly, PBY-1 and PBY-2). However, when the order for PBY-4 was signed toward the end of 1937, which consisted of just 33 boat planes (this was the smallest of the PBY series), by the time production began the model was already considered outdated and likely to be the last of the series (when PBY-5 was commissioned, development of the next series of hydroplanes set to replace PBY was already underway).

That's exactly what would have happened if the Germans hadn't attacked Poland on September 1, 1939, thus greatly increasing the demand for patrol aircraft. Great Britain immediately ordered 106 units of PBY-5 (dubbed Catalina I), while the USA ordered 200 units of PBY-5 (which were later officially named Catalina as well). Other countries to place orders for PBY-5 included Australia, Canada, Holland and France.

The main difference between the PBY-5 and its predecessors included a higher-powered Pratt & Whitney R-1830-82 engine (operating at 1200 hp), a redesigned tail unit, and waist gun blisters instead of flat windows.

The PBY was used as a bomber and torpedo carrier, and was often utilized in night operations, as well as on patrol, rescue and transportation missions.

PBY Catalina was the most massive of the hydroplanes. Out of 3300 planes spanning all modifications, more than 100 are operational to this day, redesigned for civil purposes.

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

== See also ==


* [[PBY-5a Catalina]]

== 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 bombers}}

Do 217 E-2

2019-10-25T06:09:51Z

U41251312: Corrected External links from See Also

{{Specs-Card|code=do_217e_2}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Do 217 (Family)
}}

== Description ==


[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium bomber {{Battle-rating}}. This medium bomber was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

The Dornier Do 217 E-2 is a versatile twin-engined heavy bomber, capable of undertaking level bombing or dive bombing missions, or even strafing or attacking other aircraft with its fixed forward-firing 20 mm cannon.

== 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 5,100 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
|-
|463||448|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||40.2||41.1||3.8||4.8||850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,100 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
|-
| ? || ? || {{Specs|ceiling}} || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? ||850
|-
|}

====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}} ||370|| ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 360 || < 360 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,000 m || 2,920 hp || 3,046 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 8.5 mm steel - pilot's seat
* 8.5 mm steel - around the dorsal gunner
* 8.5 mm steel - aft of ventral gunner
* 5 mm steel - below ventral gunner

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|MG 151/20 (20 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, chin-mounted (250 rpg)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)|SC500K (500 kg)|SC1000L2 (1,000 kg)}}

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

* 4 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs
* 28 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs
* 8 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs
* 2 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs + 2 x 500 kg SC500K bombs
* 4 x 500 kg SC500K bombs
* 2 x 1000 kg SC1000L2 bombs
* 4 x 1000 kg SC1000L2 bombs

=== Defensive armament ===

{{main|MG 131 (13 mm)|MG 15 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, rear dorsal turret (500 rpg)
* 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, ventral turret (1,000 rpg)
* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, front dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, nose-turret (500 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


One of the best bombers in the game, the Do 217 E-2 is capable of reaching over 700 km/h in a dive, making it extremely difficult to intercept when dive bombing from altitude. It has a good climb rate as well, allowing it to reach safer altitudes more easily than other lumbering heavy bombers. Unfortunately, the Do 217 has a rather poor roll rate, which makes it difficult to manoeuvre, especially when fully loaded.

It is capable of carrying four of the excellent German 1,000 kg bombs, which are more powerful than the equivalent bombs of other nations. While other nations may be able to carry more bombs, they usually carry a larger number of smaller bombs, which is less efficient against bases and airfields. As an added bonus, the Do 217 E-2 is also armed with a fixed forward-firing MG 151/20 cannon. This allows it to surprise fighters attempting to head-on the bomber or even to act as a makeshift bomber interceptor since it spawns at the same altitude as other bombers in modes with air spawns.

The defensive armament is the only true letdown of the Do 217. The dorsal MG 131 turret is well-placed to cover the top of the bomber from most attacks, although it is not as effective as the American .50 cal. There are a lot of blind spots not covered by the defensive machine guns, most of which are the relatively ineffective 7.92 mm MG 15 anyway.

===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" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="3" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 7 mm
| Turret 13 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
|
| ITC PVC I
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
| New 13 mm MGs (turret)
| ITC PVC II
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
|
| ETC 2000/XII
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High speed, especially in a dive
* Frame can withstand high speeds
* Excellent bomb load (4 x 1,000 kg)
* Horizontal and dive bombing sights
* 20 mm offensive cannon
* Tail-dragging landing gear (good for high-speed landings)

'''Cons:'''

* Low manoeuvrability (especially roll rate at high speeds)
* Very weak stock bombload
* Poor defensive armament

== History ==


The Do 217 was designed to meet the requirement of the ''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'' (Air Ministry) for a heavy night bomber or a float-equipped anti-shipping dive bomber. Dornier experimented with the Do 17 with an enlarged fuselage, more powerful engine and almost twice the bomb load of the original Do-17. Dive brakes were fitted under the wings with Daimler-Benz DB601B engines. This design proved underpowered and manoeuvrable. Instability was a problem, this was soon fixed by installing Handley Page Leading edge slats. The final version used Jumo 211A engines instead of the DB601 and the proposed DB603. Different tail sections were tested out on this version of the Do 217. The final design entered service as the Do 217 E-2. With BMW 801A 14 cylinder radial air-cooled engines. This version of the Do 217 did not have tail mounted dive-brakes. The engine unit was interchangeable with Jumo 211 engines as part of the "Power Egg" concept. The Do 217 normally carries a crew of four: bomb-aimer/observer/forward gunner, dorsal gunner/radio operator, ventral gunner/flight engineer, and a pilot. The dive brake in the original version was removed.

=== In-game description ===
"Dornier Do 217 E-2 medium twin-engine bomber

An all-metal cantilever monoplane with a twin-fin tail and a retractable landing gear system with a tail wheel. The bomber was created in the design bureau of the Dornier Flugzeugwerke company under the direction of Claude Dornier.

In 1937, the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) put forward an initiative to create a new, improved variant of the Do 17Z bomber. The new machine would have an increased bomb capacity and a larger fuel supply and would be able to drop bombs when diving.

The aircraft was at first developed as an upgrade of the Do 17Z design, but such novel ideas were introduced during the redesign that the result was a fundamentally new design with practically nothing in common with its predecessor. The Do 217 V1 prototype was test-flown in August 1938. Full-scale production of the Do 217 E-1, the first production version, was launched in late 1940.

The power unit of the Do 217 E-2 aircraft consisted of two BMW 801 ML fourteen-cylinder, radial air-cooled engines with a takeoff power of 1,580 hp.

In comparison with the Do 17Z, the Do 217 E-2's defensive armament was significantly improved. The planes were equipped with an upper DL 131 electric turret containing a 13 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131 belt-fed machine gun with 500 rounds. The turret had 360-degree horizontal rotation, with its vertical guidance angle ranging from 0 to 85 degrees.

In addition to the DL 131 turret, the aircraft's defensive armament included one 15 mm (or 20 mm) Mauser MG 151/15 cannon with 250 rounds in a nose-mounted fixed turret (designed for firing at surface targets) and one 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 15 machine gun (with 750 rounds) in a nose-mounted mobile turret. A large-calibre 13 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131 machine gun was installed in a lower lens turret, and each of the two cockpit side blisters had one 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 15 machine gun.

The Do 217 E-2 could be fitted with an R23 field modification kit, consisting of two fixed twin 7.92 mm Mauser MG 81Z machine guns, with 350 rounds each, in the tail section of the fuselage. The pilot fired from them using a RF2C periscope and a PV1B sight, but the fire from this turret had more of a psychological than a real effect.

The aircraft could carry up to 4,000 kg of bombs, with 2,517 kg suspended in the internal bomb bay. The standard bomb capacity included four 500 kg or eight 250 kg bombs. Other combat load variations were also possible; for example, two LMA aerial non-contact sea mines or one LTF5b torpedo.

A combined total of 185 Do 217 E-2s were built."

== 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 ==

* [[wikipedia:Dornier_Do_217|''Dornier Do-217 series on Wikipedia'']]
{{Germany bombers}}

B-25J-20

2019-10-25T05:59:27Z

U41251312: Carrier landing qualities described

{{Specs-Card|code=b_25j_20}}
{{About
| about = American bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = B-25 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

== 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 3,049 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
|-
| 420 || 407 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.4 || 33.8 || 5.4 || 5.3 || 750
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,049 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
|-
| 472 || 444 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.7 || 31.0 || 10.6 || 7.7 || 750
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 340 || ~6 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 300 || < 270 || < 350 || > 330
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 524 m || 1,500 hp || 1,669 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,700 m || 1,350 hp || 1,502 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 10 mm steel - front, sides & rear of the cockpit
* 10 mm steel - the rim of pilot seats
* 8 mm steel - below nose gunner
* 8 mm steel - pilot seats
* 9.5 mm - bulkhead after of dorsal turret
* 6.35 mm steel - aft of waist gunners
* 9.5 mm steel - tail turret

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, cheek-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 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 ordnance:

* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 10 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose turret (300 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (250 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)

== Usage in battles ==

The airframe makes this plane a particularly difficult target to bring down, however, there are four main blindspots to be considered: Level with the leading edges of the wings, the complete underside, and each side in the rear presented by the twin tail. These are the easiest areas to kill an opposing B-25. With a max speed of 444 km/h (275 mph) under ideal conditions and a max airframe speed of 580 km/h (360 mph), the B-25 is relatively fast for a bomber, but while climbing, can go no faster than 280 km/h (175 mph) with optimal pitch. The twin engines make for good acceleration and allow the plane to get to an airfield to land, given you are at altitude and can maintain airspeed.

This plane makes a great strategic bomber, but its wings make for nice large targets. The best way to ward off enemy fighters is to bank in toward them, giving your top gunner a chance to damage them before they can cause any real damage. Always try to fly at treetop level to cover the blind spot on the underside, or fly with bombers that have belly gunners, so you are fully covered. Also try to fly with friendly fighters, as they will prove invaluable to your survival. If you wind up with an enemy fighter or attacker on your tail, reduce engine power and adjust trim so you retain level flight, but give all rear facing gunners the ability to damage your opponent. ''Never fly in a straight line while fending off attackers!!''

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
| Protective vest
| Offensive 12 mm
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| MBC-25
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-25
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Very effective front facing armament of 6 x 12.7 mm machine guns allows for engaging enemy bombers at the start of the match, or incoming fighters
* Durable airframe
* Heavy defensive armament on both left and rights sides and especially on the rear
* Can provide initial cover for other bombers until fighters reach their altitude
* Can be used as both a tactical and strategic bomber
* Able to land on a carrier

'''Cons:'''

* The belly of the aircraft is a massive blind spot in the aircraft's defence
* Slow
* Poor climb rate and energy retention
* For the most part, the offensive armament will only be useful in attacking enemy bombers, ground targets, or engaging fighters head-on, as the plane is too unmanoeuvrable for any real dogfighting of any kind
* Steel construction makes this plane particularly heavy, and a small payload limits this plane's ability to be used as a tactical or strategic bomber
* The Elevator can be shot off by an enemy plane easily. This can cause it to become uncontrollable in certain situations. However, it can still be controlled by operating flaps or adjusting engine power

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
North American B-25J-20 Mitchell twin-engine medium bomber/ground-attack aircraft

As its mass production progressed, the B-25J was continually improved, but in most cases this concerned the aircraft's equipment or armament and not its airframe or power unit. Aircraft of the B-25J-5 series had new multi-purpose N-3C gunsights (everywhere but on the waist turrets) and a newly introduced alcohol windshield washing system for the pilot's cockpit. Also, blast reducers were installed on the barrel muzzles of the upper and waist machine guns.

Aircraft of the B-25J-10 series were equipped with external bomb racks under the wings. The heaters at the waist gun positions were found to be inefficient and were no longer installed.

Replacement of the sights was completed with the B-25J-15 bombers; now, the waist turrets were also equipped with the new N-8A optical sights. In addition, a backup iron sight was installed for the pilots. All machines of these series were produced with one fixed machine gun in the bombardier's cockpit.

Aircraft of the B-25J-20 series had a second fixed 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine gun, with 400 rounds of ammunition, mounted in the bombardier's cockpit. An additional armor plate was provided in the floor under the bombardier's seat. The cap glazing of the upper turret was reinforced. The mobile 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine gun in the front cockpit was shifted upward slightly so that the ammunition box of the second fixed machine gun would not interfere with its operation.

An emergency brake system was also installed. Beginning with machine No. 44-29340, Holley 1685RB carburettors were fitted on the bomber's engines.

A Norden M-9 bombsight was mounted on the aircraft built for the USAAF, and a simpler Wimperis D-8 on the machines to be exported. In the USSR, locally produced OPB-1 (daylight version) and NKPB-7 (night version) bombsights were mounted on В-25s.

In addition, В-25 aircraft in the Soviet Union were equipped with an inert (exhaust) gas fire suppression system for the fuel tanks.

B-25J aircraft were not only supplied to the USAAF. 314 machines were delivered to the British RAF, where they were operated under the designation of Mitchell Mk.III. It was under the Lend-Lease Agreement that these bombers were also supplied to the USSR, Canada, Australia, and China. After the war, В-25Js were supplied to France, the Netherlands, Peru, Venezuela, and Indonesia.

== 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 ==

* [[wikipedia:Doolittle_Raid|Doolittle Raid on Wikipedia]]

{{USA bombers}}

B-25J-1

2019-10-25T05:58:21Z

U41251312:

{{Specs-Card|code=b_25j_1}}
{{About
| about = American medium bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = other versions
| link = B-25 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

Simply put, the archetype of the medium bomber is the B-25. It has versatile payloads (4 x 500 lb or 3 x 1,000 lb). It is faster than heavy bombers which can achieve over 340 mph in a dive to attack ground targets and as a bonus has offensive armament that allows it to fulfil the role of an air superiority bomber. Defensive gun placements include turrets & gunner stations. The B-25J sports heavy armament to include seven 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns. Also, this aircraft is durable, however, if the aircraft happens to sustain a direct hit to the fuel tank, there is a good chance of a fire followed by an explosion.

When flown properly, the B-25 Mitchell is among the best medium bombers in the game, with one of the most potent defensive armaments at its tier. If you enjoy strafing ground targets with the B-25, then consider researching the [[PBJ-1H]] with 8 forward facing .50 cal Browning M2 machine guns and a 75 mm cannon or the [[PBJ-1J]] sporting an impressive 12 forward facing Browning M2 machine guns, both of which are Marine versions of the B-25 airframe and possess all the facets that make the B-25 Mitchell such a legendary aircraft.

== 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 3,049 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
|-
| 420 || 407 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.4 || 33.8 || 5.4 || 5.3 || 750
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 3,049 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
|-
| 472 || 444 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.7 || 31.0 || 10.6 || 7.7 || 750
|-
|}

==== 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}} || 340 || ~6 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 300 || < 270 || < 350 || > 330
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 524 m || 1,500 hp || 1,669 hp
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 2
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,700 m || 1,350 hp || 1,502 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 9.5 mm Steel plates throughout the cockpit
* 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
* 8 mm Steel plate under nose gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plate behind the dorsal gunner
* 6.35 mm Steel plate behind beam gunners
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the tail gunner
* 9.5 mm Steel plates in front of the tail gunner

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg)
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, cheek-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 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 ordnance:

* 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,200 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 8 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,800 lb total)
* 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb + 10 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 3 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (3,000 lb total)

=== Defensive armament ===

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose turret (300 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
* 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (250 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)

== Usage in battles ==

In Realistic battles (and Arcade to an extent), it is highly recommended against exclusively bombing strategic bases and in general to not bomb from high altitudes. It was rarely used this way in combat, and it makes it very easy for enemy fighters to approach and attack you from your defenceless belly. Also, the bomber's maximum payload of 3 x 1,000 lb of bombs is not enough to destroy an enemy base in Realistic battles, which is useless in regards to decreasing ticket count and, most importantly, does not help your team. Thus, leave base bombing to the British heavy bombers you will likely also encounter on your team, whose payloads vastly outclass yours, and instead - if you wish to help your team as much as possible - use your five nose-mounted Browning machine guns on ground targets. Ground target strafing is not only infinitely more exciting than base bombing, but it can also lower the enemy's ticket count drastically, therefore helping your team win. Fly at low altitudes and attack light pillboxes and soft targets with your guns. If you fail to destroy a target, then pitch up and use your turrets to finish it off. Save your bombs for targets your guns cannot kill, such as heavy tanks and heavy pillboxes; the bombsight is very helpful in doing this (something which the dedicated strafing variants such as the [[PBJ-1J]] lack). Make sure to use a fuse timer, 3 seconds should be enough when bombing at treetop level with 1,000 lb bombs.

When strafing, be sure to watch your minimap at all times for any incoming enemies so you can adequately prepare for an attack. When being attacked, fly away from the assailant and try to get them on your tail, and manually open fire with your defensive guns, making sure to watch your tracers and adjust the direction of fire, so they hit the target. Remember that turret guns will jam if fired for a long duration, requiring them to be reloaded, which usually takes almost twenty seconds, during which an attacker will most certainly kill you. If the reticle starts blinking, the guns are very close to jamming, so immediately stop firing and wait for the weapons to cool down. Many experienced players will attempt to utilise the dead zones on your belly and the arcs beyond your twin rudders in their attack. If you find an enemy doing this to you, then switch back to flight view and manoeuvre so that they are in the firing arcs of your guns again and try as much as possible to keep them out of your dead zones and, mostly, make their attack as difficult as possible. The attacker will then either eventually lose patience and try for a head-on, or you will get a successful snipe on their aircraft. It is also very advantageous to use the keyboard controls for pitch, roll, and yaw in the gunner view as it will allow you to make small manoeuvres while still concentrating on defending yourself, letting you, for example, dodge fire or roll/pitch/yaw and shoot someone in your dead zones. Also, use ''Universal'' belts for your turrets as they will do the most damage to enemies and cause devastating fires.

If you lose tail control for whatever reason, then immediately turn back to the airfield and use combat flaps to keep your nose up. Make a landing by alternating between takeoff and combat flaps and, if needed, landing flaps. Make sure that your speed does not go too low; if you start nosing down with takeoff flaps then do not use landing flaps (unless in an emergency) as you'll lose speed and potentially crash. Instead, engage WEP and wait for your nose to rise. There is no set method for doing this and it takes lots of practice, but making these daring landings is very rewarding. If you lose an engine, '''do not''' engage flaps as you will lose speed, end up in a stall and will die, fly straight and slowly make your way back to base, using WEP if needed. If using manual engine controls, close the radiator of the dead engine, feather it, and open the radiator of the working engine to allow you to use WEP all the way back to the airfield without overheating.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
| Protective vest
| Offensive 12 mm
| SBC-25
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
| MBC-25
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 12 mm
|
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)
| LBC-25
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Can take a beating
* Strong defensive guns
* Versatile bomb load
* Decent speed for a bomber
* A multi-use aircraft
* Forward facing gunner automatically starts firing approx 1,000 m from the target, use as a range finder
* Has forward facing 50 cal. MGs which are very useful for strafing
* Able to land on a carrier

'''Cons:'''

* Manoeuvres stiffly
* Stiff elevators
* Difficult to pull out of a dive
* Often the B-25 will catch on fire
* No downward-facing defensive armament
* If tail control is damaged, return to base and land utilizing flaps and engine throttling
* Relatively low payload compared to a heavy bomber
* Forward facing gunner will automatically fire at approx 1,000 m, alerting your target
* Low energy retention; any attacks that require manoeuvring will cost speed and altitude

== 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).''

=== In-game description ===
North American B-25J-1 Mitchell twin-engine medium bomber/ground-attack aircraft

The B-25J (NA-108) was the most largely produced Mitchell variant. The first aircraft of this type left the factory floor in December 1943, and the variant drove the B-25C and B-25D completely out of production by March of the next year.

B-25J bombers had two 1,700 hp Wright R-2600-29 fourteen-cylinder, double-row, radial air-cooled engines with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 23E50 three-bladed automatic metal propellers.

One feature of this variant was that it could be used both as a bomber and as a ground-attack aircraft.

When used as a bomber, the B-25J-1's armament was: one fixed front machine gun (with 400 rounds) and one mobile machine gun (with 300 rounds) mounted on the navigator's cockpit in the forward fuselage; four front machine guns, with 400 rounds each, mounted in pairs on both sides of the lower fuselage section, near the pilot's cockpit; a Bendix A-9 upper turret housing twin machine guns, with 400 rounds each; a twin Bell M-7 rear mount, with 600 rounds each; and two machine guns, with 600 rounds each, in the fuselage blisters on the starboard and port sides. All gun emplacements had 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns. The total number of machine guns was 12.

Thus, the B-25J was practically as good in its armament as heavy bombers like the B-17 or the B-24, except for coverage from below.

To use the B-25J-1 as a ground-attack aircraft, the nose section with the navigator/bombardier's cockpit could be easily removed and replaced by a solid unglazed nose with a battery of eight 12.7 mm Colt-Browning ANM2.5 machine guns, with 400 rounds each. Thus the number of front machine guns was increased to 12, and the total number of guns to 18.

The B-25J-1's maximum bomb capacity was 4,000 lb (1,815 kg). Starting with the 151st machine, one bomb rack, meant to suspend a 2,000 lb (908 kg) bomb, was removed from production B-25J-1 bombers, since it was almost never used in combat units and did nothing but take up a lot of space in the bomb bay.

The aircraft usually carried three 1,000 lb (454 kg) or two 1,600 lb (726 kg) bombs. Different combinations of bombs of smaller sizes were also used. 10 kg parachute bombs were used, as well. The B-25J could carry a Mk.13 torpedo weighing 907 kg. In addition, removable bomb racks for bombs up to 250 kg could be mounted under the wing panels.

When used as a bomber, the aircraft had a crew of six people: two pilots, a navigator/bombardier/gunner, a turret gunner/engineer, a radio operator/waist gunner, and a tail gunner. When used as a ground-attack aircraft, the crew consisted of five people, excluding the navigator/bombardier.

Both pilot seats were equipped with an armored backrest. One armor plate was located behind the instrument panel, and the second was under the cockpit windshield. Two armor sheets were fixed outside to the sides. Armor protection was provided for all gunners.

== 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 ==


* [http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/22479-b-25j-mitchell-official-thread/ [Forums] B-25J Mitchell, Official Thread]
* [[wikipedia:Doolittle_Raid|Doolittle Raid on Wikipedia]]

{{USA bombers}}

B-57A

2019-10-25T05:09:50Z

U41251312: Added to Pros

{{Specs-Card
|code=b-57
|cockpit=380311/1306416
}}
{{About
|about=American jet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Canberra (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American jet bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.43]].

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it´s not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

== 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 - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 926 || 903 || 13,716 || 59.2 || 59.9 || 24.5 || 23.1 || 850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level)
! 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
|-
| 960 || 946 || 13,716 || 57.2 || 58.0 || 39.3 || 32.0 || 850
|-
|}

====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
|-
! +
! -
|-
| 990 || 450 || 320 || ~3 || ~2
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 561 || < 523 || < 510 || No radiator
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 0 m || 3265 kgf || No WEP
|-

|}

=== 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 ==
=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Bombs}}

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

* 9 x 500 lbs AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb bombs)
* 6 x 1,000 lbs AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb bombs)

== Usage in battles ==

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive.
You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are lovely base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB, for a AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB I recommend flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battle, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don´t be afraid of using a chat window, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are alone bomber in your team (or something went wrong), count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs(With the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it´s recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practising can show you how to do it. To maximize exp and lion income attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
TIP: To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 500 -400 meters (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2500-3000 meters, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

# Enemy is Boom & Zoom on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
# Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only Mig-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don´t try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
# Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be a bait, let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course in big enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don´t let him catch you.
# The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don´t restrain, if you don´t have ground-unit superiority.
# When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on it.

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair||Compressor
|
| EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
|-
| II
| ||
| Airframe
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair||Engine
|
|
|-
| IV
| G-Suit||
| Cover
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Fast for its battle rating
* Decent acceleration
* Maneuvers well
* Powerful air brakes
* Climbs well even with a full payload
* High-speed limit allows for a speedy retreat
* Complete and detailed cockpit (very useful in SB)

'''Cons:'''

* Unarmed (no offensive/defensive weapons)
* Medium payload
* Wing can be easily destroyed in dives
* Aircraft overheats at low altitudes
* Expensive to repair in comparison to many silver lions it can generate

== History ==


In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

== 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 ==


* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/649 [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-57A Canberra]

{{USA jet aircrafts}}

Do 217 E-2

2019-10-25T05:00:37Z

U41251312: See also

{{Specs-Card|code=do_217e_2}}
{{About
|about=aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=other uses
|link=Do 217 (Family)
}}

== Description ==


[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German medium bomber {{Battle-rating}}. This medium bomber was introduced in [[Update 1.29]].

The Dornier Do 217 E-2 is a versatile twin-engined heavy bomber, capable of undertaking level bombing or dive bombing missions, or even strafing or attacking other aircraft with its fixed forward-firing 20 mm cannon.

== 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 5,100 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
|-
|463||448|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||40.2||41.1||3.8||4.8||850
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,100 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
|-
| ? || ? || {{Specs|ceiling}} || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? ||850
|-
|}

====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}} ||370|| ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
|-
! Ailerons (km/h)
! Rudder (km/h)
! Elevators (km/h)
! Radiator (km/h)
|-
| < 290 || < 360 || < 360 || > 250
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 1,000 m || 2,920 hp || 3,046 hp
|-

|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 8.5 mm steel - pilot's seat
* 8.5 mm steel - around the dorsal gunner
* 8.5 mm steel - aft of ventral gunner
* 5 mm steel - below ventral gunner

== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===

{{main|MG 151/20 (20 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, chin-mounted (250 rpg)

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)|SC500K (500 kg)|SC1000L2 (1,000 kg)}}

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

* 4 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs
* 28 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs
* 8 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs
* 2 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs + 2 x 500 kg SC500K bombs
* 4 x 500 kg SC500K bombs
* 2 x 1000 kg SC1000L2 bombs
* 4 x 1000 kg SC1000L2 bombs

=== Defensive armament ===

{{main|MG 131 (13 mm)|MG 15 (7.92 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, rear dorsal turret (500 rpg)
* 1 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun, ventral turret (1,000 rpg)
* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, front dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
* 1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 machine gun, nose-turret (500 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


One of the best bombers in the game, the Do 217 E-2 is capable of reaching over 700 km/h in a dive, making it extremely difficult to intercept when dive bombing from altitude. It has a good climb rate as well, allowing it to reach safer altitudes more easily than other lumbering heavy bombers. Unfortunately, the Do 217 has a rather poor roll rate, which makes it difficult to manoeuvre, especially when fully loaded.

It is capable of carrying four of the excellent German 1,000 kg bombs, which are more powerful than the equivalent bombs of other nations. While other nations may be able to carry more bombs, they usually carry a larger number of smaller bombs, which is less efficient against bases and airfields. As an added bonus, the Do 217 E-2 is also armed with a fixed forward-firing MG 151/20 cannon. This allows it to surprise fighters attempting to head-on the bomber or even to act as a makeshift bomber interceptor since it spawns at the same altitude as other bombers in modes with air spawns.

The defensive armament is the only true letdown of the Do 217. The dorsal MG 131 turret is well-placed to cover the top of the bomber from most attacks, although it is not as effective as the American .50 cal. There are a lot of blind spots not covered by the defensive machine guns, most of which are the relatively ineffective 7.92 mm MG 15 anyway.

===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" | Not controllable
|-
|}

===Modules===
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="1" | Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! colspan="3" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage Repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 7 mm
| Turret 13 mm
|
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
|
| ITC PVC I
|-
| III
| Wings Repair
| Engine
|
| Offensive 20 mm
| New 13 mm MGs (turret)
| ITC PVC II
|-
| IV
|
| Engine Injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons
|
| ETC 2000/XII
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* High speed, especially in a dive
* Frame can withstand high speeds
* Excellent bomb load (4 x 1,000 kg)
* Horizontal and dive bombing sights
* 20 mm offensive cannon
* Tail-dragging landing gear (good for high-speed landings)

'''Cons:'''

* Low manoeuvrability (especially roll rate at high speeds)
* Very weak stock bombload
* Poor defensive armament

== History ==


The Do 217 was designed to meet the requirement of the ''Reichsluftfahrtministerium'' (Air Ministry) for a heavy night bomber or a float-equipped anti-shipping dive bomber. Dornier experimented with the Do 17 with an enlarged fuselage, more powerful engine and almost twice the bomb load of the original Do-17. Dive brakes were fitted under the wings with Daimler-Benz DB601B engines. This design proved underpowered and manoeuvrable. Instability was a problem, this was soon fixed by installing Handley Page Leading edge slats. The final version used Jumo 211A engines instead of the DB601 and the proposed DB603. Different tail sections were tested out on this version of the Do 217. The final design entered service as the Do 217 E-2. With BMW 801A 14 cylinder radial air-cooled engines. This version of the Do 217 did not have tail mounted dive-brakes. The engine unit was interchangeable with Jumo 211 engines as part of the "Power Egg" concept. The Do 217 normally carries a crew of four: bomb-aimer/observer/forward gunner, dorsal gunner/radio operator, ventral gunner/flight engineer, and a pilot. The dive brake in the original version was removed.

=== In-game description ===
"Dornier Do 217 E-2 medium twin-engine bomber

An all-metal cantilever monoplane with a twin-fin tail and a retractable landing gear system with a tail wheel. The bomber was created in the design bureau of the Dornier Flugzeugwerke company under the direction of Claude Dornier.

In 1937, the German Ministry of Aviation (Reichsluftfahrtministerium) put forward an initiative to create a new, improved variant of the Do 17Z bomber. The new machine would have an increased bomb capacity and a larger fuel supply and would be able to drop bombs when diving.

The aircraft was at first developed as an upgrade of the Do 17Z design, but such novel ideas were introduced during the redesign that the result was a fundamentally new design with practically nothing in common with its predecessor. The Do 217 V1 prototype was test-flown in August 1938. Full-scale production of the Do 217 E-1, the first production version, was launched in late 1940.

The power unit of the Do 217 E-2 aircraft consisted of two BMW 801 ML fourteen-cylinder, radial air-cooled engines with a takeoff power of 1,580 hp.

In comparison with the Do 17Z, the Do 217 E-2's defensive armament was significantly improved. The planes were equipped with an upper DL 131 electric turret containing a 13 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131 belt-fed machine gun with 500 rounds. The turret had 360-degree horizontal rotation, with its vertical guidance angle ranging from 0 to 85 degrees.

In addition to the DL 131 turret, the aircraft's defensive armament included one 15 mm (or 20 mm) Mauser MG 151/15 cannon with 250 rounds in a nose-mounted fixed turret (designed for firing at surface targets) and one 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 15 machine gun (with 750 rounds) in a nose-mounted mobile turret. A large-calibre 13 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 131 machine gun was installed in a lower lens turret, and each of the two cockpit side blisters had one 7.92 mm Rheinmetall-Borsig MG 15 machine gun.

The Do 217 E-2 could be fitted with an R23 field modification kit, consisting of two fixed twin 7.92 mm Mauser MG 81Z machine guns, with 350 rounds each, in the tail section of the fuselage. The pilot fired from them using a RF2C periscope and a PV1B sight, but the fire from this turret had more of a psychological than a real effect.

The aircraft could carry up to 4,000 kg of bombs, with 2,517 kg suspended in the internal bomb bay. The standard bomb capacity included four 500 kg or eight 250 kg bombs. Other combat load variations were also possible; for example, two LMA aerial non-contact sea mines or one LTF5b torpedo.

A combined total of 185 Do 217 E-2s were built."

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

== See also ==

* [[wikipedia:Dornier_Do_217|Dornier Do-217 series on Wikipedia]]

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

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

{{Germany bombers}}