War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Ki-84 hei

2022-01-21T03:05:42Z

U51647687: /* Pros and cons */

{{About
|about= Japanese fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage= other versions
|link= Ki-84 (Family)
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=ki_84_hei
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

The Hei Hayate has identical flight performance to the preceding Ko and Otsu versions - same good turn rate, climb rate, and compression. As with the other two, use your excellent vertical energy retention and good manoeuvrability to your advantage. You can outturn all Allied aircraft except the Merlin Spitfires and the P-59 using combat flaps. You still retain the reasonable roll rate and abysmal rudder of the other Hayates.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 669 || 650 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.2 || 20.8 || 14.1 || 14.1 || rowspan="2" | 421
|-
! Upgraded
| 718 || 692 || 19.1 || 19.4 || 22.6 || 17.9
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 470 || 431 || 280 || ~13 || ~10
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 400 || < 480 || < 430 || > 324
|-
|}

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


* 70 mm sloped (66°) bulletproof glass in the windshield
* 13 mm steel plate behind the pilot seat
* 6 mm steel headrest

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

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

{{main|Ho-155 (30 mm)|Ho-5 (20 mm)}}

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

* 2 x 30 mm Ho-155 cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
* 2 x 20 mm Ho-5 cannons, nose-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)

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

{{main|Army Type 94 GPHE (50 kg)|Army Type 92 GPHE (250 kg)}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 50 kg Army Type 94 GPHE bombs (100 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg Army Type 92 GPHE bombs (500 kg total)

== Usage in battles ==


The Hei Hayate is the same great Hayate but with 2 x 30 mm cannons instead of 2 x 20 mm. Although this might not seem too important, one hit from a 30 mm high explosive shell will easily send your enemies to their doom. This solves the problem of the lacklustre 20 mms. When up-tiered to jets, focus on taking out propeller-powered aircraft. Climb high, and gradually work your way down. Once all the props are down, look for furballs and/or ground-pounding jets. Swoop down on these people and destroy them. When jumped by a jet, there are a few things you can do such as pulling evasive manoeuvres and wearing the enemy's energy down. Call out for your jet teammates to help you out. When there is one more person running away, unless they are a bomber (which are typically easy to catch) or a prop fighter, will not be much for you to do. Just go to the airfield, repair, and "J"-out. Equip ground target rounds and bombs and try to wear down the tickets. Remember not to die. Survival is more important than ever in the Hei Hayate - your astounding repair cost means that you need to take down at least ''three'' air targets before breaking even with this aircraft's repair cost!

'''Simulator Battles'''

* In Simulator, the Ki-84 is overall a decent plane to fly. It enjoys lovely visibility towards the rear, sides, above, and over the nose, giving the pilot great situational awareness. It has nice handling, good climb rate, great speed and acceleration. Armament wise, the cannons have destructive damage and enough fire rate to put quite a few projectiles into the target in one pass. However the Ki-84's disadvantages are the poor rudder efficiency at high speeds, the rather slow roll rate, and the compass at the front-right of the gunsight that can obstruct your view. This aircraft can be used in BnZ fighting, turn fighting, intercepting (to some extent) and some ground pounding.
* Before taking off, bring at least 30 minutes of fuel for longer patrol time. Set the convergence to around 250 m since your weapons have low velocity, therefore needing more precise aim at longer range. While your Ki-84 roars down the runway, you will notice that it shifts severely to the left, thus you must put rudder input to the right to taxi straight. As with other Ki series aircraft, only elevator trim is available, so when the stick is at its deadzone, the Ki-84 will roll and yaw to the left side. Therefore you always need to pull the stick a little to the right which can get a bit annoying. Usually, trim for around -1% when cruising around 470 km/h, around -5% when diving around 600 km/h, and when fighting at around 400 km/h no negative trim is needed. When carrying the 2x 250kg bombload, no negative trim is needed as well. Landing characteristics are forgiving: cut throttle to make sure you are not above 350 km/h before touchdown. Deploy combat then takeoff flaps to further decelerate in preparation for extending landing gears. Extend at around 260 km/h, control your descend rate throughout. Right before touchdown, deploy landing flaps. The gears are quite sturdy. You can break until the plane reaches full stop and not worry about propeller strike.
* For dogfighting, it is always safer to enter with an altitude advantage. Most dogfights in Sim happen around or below 3,000 m so the Ki-84 can easily climb up to that altitude. Once at an advantageous height, boom & zoom the enemies. The Ki-84 can easily accelerate to more than 550 km/h in a dive which is decently fast but requires more precise manoeuvres to get the correct lead, since the faster you go the smaller the shooting window is. Important note: when fighting above 550 km/h, you want to be more precise in the roll and pitch axis, since at this speed the rudder locks up severely, preventing you from making aim adjustments which negatively impacts the lead. You must pretend that your rudder doesn't exist and fully rely on the ailerons and elevators to lead. A successful pass will usually cripple, if not destroying the enemy. Aside from BnZ, the Ki-84 is also excellent at turn fighting - with the appropriate opponent, of course. Except a few dedicated turn fighters, the Ki-84 can out-turn and get on most opponents' tail with combat / takeoff flaps deployed, and can sustain its turning ability throughout the fight. The Ki-84's stable handling allows you to pull some tight manoeuvres, so don't worry too much about flat spins. If you become a prey, try some defensive manoeuvres like barrel rolls or disengage by diving steeply towards a nearby friendly airfield. Note that the Ki-84's roll rate is very average so avoid manoeuvres like scissors.
* When performing the "destroy enemy surveillance aircraft/attackers/bombers" task, it is crucial to constantly evade the turrets. If it is a bomber/attacker with decent defensive firepower or robust protection, then you might want to disengage after some attempts if you don't want to die. Pay special attention to any plane equipped with M2 Browning MG, they can critically damage the Ki-84 especially on the engine, fuel tanks, and pilot which can always lead to a later crash. Before attacking try to get an altitude advantage and perform deflection shots. To maximise the damage it is better to aim for their wings and engines, as the fuselage usually soaks up quite some bullets. Only fire when the bomber passes in front of your guns. This short window is enough to cripple or even destroy a twin-engine aircraft thanks to the upgraded 30mm cannons, but it might require more passes to destroy robust targets such as B-29. However sometimes it only takes one bullet to set the target aflame. DO NOT follow behind a bomber's 6 unless you are sure that its tail gunners are unconscious. Chasing behind a bomber makes yourself pretty much stationary for the tail gunners, and you will be showered with bullets.
* For ground pounding, the best loadout is the 2 x 250 kg bombs. With an extra 500 kg of weight attached outside, the Ki-84 handles much clumsier during take offs, especially on the roll axis. Longer distance is needed before lifting off. It is quite easy to drop bombs accurately with a Ki-84 because this aircraft is able to quickly accelerate above 550 km/h in a dive, the bombs will travel an almost straight line towards the target, therefore you can aim the gunsight directly at the target and expect the bombs to land very close. After bombs away, immediately pull up. The 4 Ho-5's perform well in killing trucks, AA guns and artilleries as they are quite accurate, but do not waste cannon shells on these targets unless you must. Constantly watch your surrounding, especially your high 6 for any incoming enemies.

'''Enemies worth noting:'''

* [[Me 264]]: The Me 264 is armed with large calibre MG and cannons all over it, therefore tailing a 264 is basically suicide unless all of their gunners are knocked out. You can treat the 264 almost like a B-29 or B-17 as they are very similar in both design and defensive capabilities. It is best to head-on the 264 if you can as you can easily knock out the pilots due to its glazed nose while also taking minimal damage. However the bomber lacks a ventral turret on its belly, making it easy to deal damage from below, but be wary of the downwards facing rear 20 mm cannon near the tail. The safest way to attack is from a higher altitude, dive at an oblique angle and focus fire on the wings and nose. Never engage if you have no altitude advantage. Looking somewhat similar to a B-17, an Me 264 has huge back-swept wings with 2 engines on each, and a H-tail which differentiates it from a B-17/B-29.
* [[Yak-3 (Family)|Yak-3]]: this is a capable dogfighter or BnZ fighter that can be a huge threat. Although its firepower is not deadly, it can still critically damage a Ki-84. It is able to fly or dive at similar speeds, and can even engage a turn fight with a Ki-84 that is using takeoff flaps. The Yak-3 has a straight dorsal line housing an inline engine, a bubble canopy with a huge cooling intake sticking out the belly, and its symbolic, triangular wings.
* [[A6M (Family)|A6M]], [[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfire]], etc: If you see these turn fighters on your tail try outrunning them by diving at around -40 degrees. The Ki-84 still remains responsive handling at 600 km/h, but its speed retention is not the best, meaning it will start to lose speed quickly and the enemy might catch up. If you are near a friendly airfield, great. If not, then hope for the best and run towards the friendly side. A Spitfire also has an uncurved dorsal outline and large, elliptical wings. A Zero has a radial engine that's usually painted black, rounded wingtips and stabiliser tips followed by a pointy tail.
* [[Ju 288 C]]: this is a very common bomber in air RB. Their tactics generally fall into two styles: shallow dive bombing and conventional climbing. For the ones that shallow dive towards a bomb base at the start of the match, think twice before engaging. The Ju 288 is very fast for a bomber, being able to reach >500 km/h in a shallow dive which makes it quite hard for an attacker to BnZ it, as it will be slow to catch up to it, giving it long enough time to shoot back. The Ki-84 locks up past 550 km/h, plus the small ammo capacity of its 30 mm cannons, it is best to leave it for heavy-punching teammates. As for the Ju 288 that climb, do not engage if you have no altitude advantage. It has numerous guns with great downward coverage, posing a big threat to the fragile Ki-84.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Equipped with a very powerful array of weapons
* Respectable speed for a prop plane
* Decent high altitude performance
* Effective top speed and energy retention allowing for the effective use of "boom and zoom" tactics
* Capable turner: maintains a high degree of manoeuvrability at almost all speeds
* Solid energy retention
* High muzzle velocity from both cannons
* 30 mm cannons are very effective against air targets
* Engine cools down fairly quickly when overheated
* Thanks to its lack of canopy frames, a clear all-round canopy view especially over the nose gives it a huge advantage in simulator.
* Center of mass is behind main landing gears, allowing it to break continuously until it stops. Does not need to worry about propeller strike

'''Cons:'''

* 30 mm cannons are mounted in the wings, resulting in significant convergence and makes them harder to aim
* 30 mm cannons fire fairly slowly, which isn't ideal for dogfighting
* Poor ballistics from the 20 mm cannons at this rank
* Elevator locks up at high speeds preventing optimal usage of its great energy retention
* Severe lock-up of the rudder above 500 km/h renders dive bombing or high speed boom and zoom less effective
* Can and will face early jet fighters (eg He-162), which negate your speed advantage
* Useless when the engine's shot
* Airframe is highly susceptible to battle damage, especially of the incendiary type
* Very high repair cost in RB

== History ==


The IJAAF approached Nakajima in 1942 to upgrade it's Ki 43 fighter. They realised the need for a more solidly armoured, faster, and heavier armed fighter. Addressing the common complaints with the Ki 43 which were low speed, lack of armour, and measly armament, the designers at Nakajima unleashed the Ki 84 - Japan's fastest propeller-driven fighter. Using the firm's own Homare, the Ki 84 was easily able to keep up and dogfight with the P-51 and P-47. The Hayate was produced in three modifications which happened to be the same aircraft with different armament options. These three are available to fly in-game.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=ki_84_hei Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|4v3fxupuZPA|'''Last piston fighters''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 4:09 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''}}

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

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

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/111031-nakajima-ki-84-i-ko/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Nakajima}}
{{Japan fighters}}

XP-50

2021-11-10T15:41:15Z

U51647687: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=xp-50
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|cockpit=cockpit_xp-50.jpg
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} American twin-engine fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

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

The XP-50 has great climb rate and acceleration, although it does tend to lock up at high speeds. It can easily maintain a 20-25 degree climb. Your engines will also commonly overheat, but they cool off relatively quickly. Low-speed manoeuvrability is excellent, especially when you have your flaps deployed.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,700 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 662 || 646 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.8 || 20.4 || 17.2 || 17.1 || rowspan="2" | 444
|-
! Upgraded
| 698 || 680 || 18.2 || 19.0 || 23.0 || 20.0
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 465 || 436 || 290 || ~11 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 350 || < 400 || < 400 || > 300
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 5,520 m || 2,200 hp || 2,398 hp
|-
|}

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


* 9.5 mm steel - bulkhead in front of the cockpit
* 9.5 mm steel - behind the pilot
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 below the pilot, 1 fuel tank behind pilot)

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

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

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

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

* 2 x 20 mm AN/M2 cannons, nose-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

== Usage in battles ==

Its excellent climb rate and acceleration make this plane great for energy fighting. It won't be hard to get altitude advantage upon the majority of your opponents, which this plane can out-climb.

Use your climb rate to be the highest plane of the battle, unfortunately, this aircraft does not have WEP, as so, it is best to climb at a 20-25 degree angle to get to altitude. Your priority targets are the highest enemies where you can pick and choose and work your way down to lower aircraft as needed.

If you notice you were out-climbed, don't hesitate to roll away and climb more as a dive is a risky trade with this plane. If an enemy climbs to catch you, make a 90° climb at full power and when they start to stall, try to boom & zoom them. Use your acceleration and/or climb rate if someone gets on your six to lose them. If you do lose energy, do not worry. You turn extremely well at low speeds with your flaps out and will out turn most things you fight.

Make sure to have a disciplined and accurate fire, since you will quickly chew through the ammunition. While you may only have 120 rounds total of the cannon rounds, it doesn't take a lot of hits to knock out enemy aircraft. Your guns are extremely accurate and they are nose mounted. Gun convergence can safely be set to 800 meters, however, accuracy is best when close in, around 200-300 m. It is recommended to take ''Air Targets'' ammo for the cannons and Universal ammo for the machine guns to maximize the damage output for air to air engagements.

When attacking bombers, try your best to stay away from the rear as that is a very dangerous spot for your aircraft to attack from. The engines can easily be damaged by gunners if the shots are aimed properly so try your best to attack from the top or bottom or even peel off if needed. This aircraft has poor fire extinguishing and flying with one engine can be dangerous.

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

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent climb rate
* Great acceleration
* Good manoeuvrability
* Powerful weaponry, thanks to the two AN/M2 cannons
* Good cockpit visibility
* The engine quickly cools down if you idle the power
* Good dive speed

'''Cons:'''

* Only 120 cannon shells and, once gone, only two .50 MGs
* No WEP available in RB/SB
* Manoeuvrability not as responsive during long steep dives (control surface compression)
* Fragile airframe
* No secondary armament

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
Grumman XP-50 twin-engine army fighter prototype

Practically at the same time the XF5F-1 Skyrocket carrier-based fighter was being created, Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation designers worked on the development of a promising interceptor, based on the XF5F-1, for the United States Army Air Corps. The prototype was given a company designation of Model G-46 and an army designation of ХР-50.

The USAAC issued an order for production of the new aircraft on November 25, 1939. Although the ХР-50 was similar to the XF5F-1 externally, a number of significant changes were introduced into the original layout. Unlike its carrier-based predecessor, the ХР-50 was not a low-wing but a mid-wing monoplane, the fuselage was significantly lengthened, the shape of the pilot's cockpit canopy was changed, and the tailplane span was reduced.

The plane was powered by two Wright XR-1820-67/79 Cyclone nine-cylinder, air-cooled engines, with a left- and right-handed reduction gear, producing a takeoff power of 1,200 hp. Due to the new engines installed, the shape of the nacelles and engine cowlings was changed.

The aircraft's armament included two 20 mm Hispano-Suiza AN-M2 cannons, with 60 rounds each, and two 12.7 mm Colt-Browning AN-M2.5 machine guns, with 500 rounds each, mounted in the forward fuselage. In addition, the aircraft could carry two 100 lb (45 kg) bombs under its wing panels.

Instead of the XF5F-1's tail wheel, the ХР-50 had a nose landing gear. The plane's fuel tanks were self-sealing, and the pilot was protected just as he was in the Navy version, i. e. with the help of an armored front bulkhead, an armored backrest, and an armored floor.

The XP-50 (Ser No. 40-3057) prototype got off the ground for the first time on 18 February 1941, with Robert Hall, a Grumman test pilot, at the controls. The test flights showed that the ХР-50 had a better controllability than the XF5F-1. In addition, the turbosupercharged engines ensured the ХР-50's much better characteristics at medium and high altitudes.

On 14 May 1941, during the 15th test flight of the ХР-50 prototype, the turbosupercharger of one of the engines was destroyed, the cause undetermined, and the turbine blades flying in all directions severed the line running to the hydraulic nose landing gear extension system.

Pilot Robert Hall successfully bailed out of the damaged vehicle. After the first prototype was lost, all work on the ХР-50 was discontinued.

== Media ==


;Skins

* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=xp-50 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]

== See also ==


;Related development

* [[XF5F]]

;Similar airframe

* [[Ro.57 Quadriarma]]

== External links ==


* [https://forum.warthunder.ru/index.php?/topic/120438-pasport-xp-50/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance (Russian Forum)]

{{AirManufacturer Grumman}}
{{USA twin-engine fighters}}
{{USA premium aircraft}}

Yak-15P

2021-11-07T21:59:08Z

U51647687: Fixed a couple minor issues

{{About
|about=Soviet jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
|usage=the early version
|link=Yak-15
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=yak-15_early
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.31]].

The Yak-15P is arguably one of the most underestimated planes in the game. Although its stat card reveals what would be considered "sub-par" performance and armament, the Yak-15P is both a unique and deadly fighter. Unlike its propeller-driven counterparts, this first generation jet aircraft wields the ability to hold on to energy in a straight line, whereas prop aircraft will slowly lose speed. Holding speed coupled with its excellent rate of turn allows the Yak-15P to defend itself against both propeller and jet-powered fighters, which is what it will typically face in all game modes.

The Yak-15P's major faults include a low top speed, poor acceleration, little armor protection, and small ammunition pool which collectively make this aircraft harder to use than even other first generation jet aircraft such as the [[He 162 A-2]], the [[Meteor F Mk 3]], and the [[F-80A-5]]. Although it is driven by a jet engine, it is important to recognize the faults and oddities within this aircraft series as they are not representative of the traditional "jet fighter" at all. The Yak-15P is most easily viewed as a late-war [[Yak-3]] powered by a jet engine and with a different armament. The only difference between the Yak-15P and its predecessor the Yak-15 is the armament - the Yak-15P only has a single 23 mm instead of 2.

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


{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 719 || 699 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 19.1 || 20.1 || 19.7 || 19.2 || rowspan="2" | 366
|-
! Upgraded
| 792 || 755 || 18.3 || 18.5 || 26.5 || 23.0
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="6" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
|-
| X || X || ✓ || X || X || X 
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 320 || ~12 || ~9
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 380 || < 420 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

==== Engine performance ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
|-
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
! colspan="2" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
|-
| colspan="2" | Klimov RD-10 || 1
| colspan="2" | 2,017 kg || colspan="3" | 177 kg/m2
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff Weight
|-
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 32m fuel
|-
| 760 kg || colspan="2" | Axial-flow turbojet
| 2,195 kg || 2,397 kg || 2,581 kg || 2,618 kg || 2,742 kg
|-
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
! colspan="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
|-
! Condition || 100% || WEP
! 9m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 32m fuel || MTOW
|-
| ''Stationary'' || 910 kgf || N/A
| 0.41 || 0.38 || 0.35 || 0.35 || 0.33
|-
| ''Optimal'' || 910 kgf (0 km/h) || N/A
| 0.41 || 0.38 || 0.35 || 0.35 || 0.33
|-
|}

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


* 8.5 mm Steel - armour plate behind the pilot seat

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

Obtaining the "Offensive 23 mm" modification is the best choice as it allows for more flexibility in armament. Next, try to obtain the "compressor" and "engine" upgrades as they both increase engine thrust which is essential in escaping from a dogfight turned sour. Finally, obtain the rest of the performance upgrades as they will all collectively increase top speed, turn time, and rate of climb.

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

{{main|NS-23K (23 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 23 mm NS-23K cannon, nose-mounted (60 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


In Realistic battles, climbing with this aircraft at the start of a match is not always the best course of action, considering how poor the Yak-15P's rate of climb is. Instead of the traditional and slow angled climb, the Yak-15P is best used in a "zoom climb" where once enough energy has been built up at a low altitude the Yak-15P pilot will pitch up, thus gaining altitude quickly. This way, if attacked during the first few minutes of the match, the Yak-15P still wields some energy whereas had the Yak-15P been slowly climbing, it would have had to face another aircraft's guns. To shake an enemy, especially a prop driven enemy, dive low to the ground to ensure your assailant's speed only decreases. This dive is called a "speed trap" and is effective when followed by either a "hammerhead" attack or a continuation of the escape. This tactic of utilising the Yak-15P's ability to hold on to energy in a straight line is negated when facing other jet aircraft who wield the same ability; however, this is where the Yak-15P's dogfighting abilities come into play. Because it is so similar to the Yak-3, the Yak-15P retains some of its manoeuvrability characteristics, namely its turn time. This facet often proves an indispensable one as other first-generation jets will not be able to maintain a tight enough turn circle.

However, the Yak-15P is '''severely''' hampered in its damage output due to its reliance on a single 23 mm NS-23K cannon, with 60 shells total. Expending this pool in seconds is possible. The Yak-15P shares this downfall with aircraft like the [[Ki-200]], and the [[Me_163_B|Me 163]]. Firing in small, accurate bursts negates this and is the most efficient way of destroying enemies. The 23 mm shells these cannons fire are extremely deadly when they hit and often rip enemies apart.

To use the guns most effectively, be close to your target. The reason for this is twofold: First, the limited ammo means you want your shots to count. Being close to your target will give your cannons the highest chance of hitting. The second reason is that of the ballistics of the 23 mm shells - their muzzle velocity is not very high, meaning you have to lead your targets by quite a bit. If you are closer to your mark, you won't have to lead them by quite as much, although still more than most other cannons.

With some practice, it is possible to consistently get about two fighter kills with one load of ammunition in realistic battles. Using the Air Targets belt is the most effective. However, attacking bombers is best left to other planes with more firepower, since the Yak-15P does not have the firepower or ammunition to kill heavy bombers without sustaining massive damage reliably. Heavy fighters such as the [[F7F-1]] may also take longer to destroy than other opponents.

In Arcade battles, the Yak-15P is capable of breaking up a "furball" due to its impressive turn time. The turn time coupled with its hard-hitting cannon makes any Yak-15P pilot an indispensable asset to any Arcade team.

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Excellent turn time
* Good armament
* Outstanding roll rate
* Fairly responsive at higher speeds
* Great visibility in cockpit, good for spotting

'''Cons:'''

* Slow for a jet fighter
* Extremely low ammunition count
* Poor rate of climb
* Poor acceleration
* Lacks bulletproof glass
* Inability to carry suspended armament
* Low wing rip speed for a jet fighter

== History ==


=== In-game description ===
An all-metal, single-seat fighter equipped with a turbojet engine.

Its development started at the end of World War II, when the Soviet Union captured numerous German components, including Junkers Jumo-004 jet engines. This engine was studied in the USSR, and the Klimov OKB created a domestic counterpart under the designation RD-10. In turn, the Yakovlev OKB used the design to produce a jet fighter based on the latest version of the well-liked Yak-3.

The designers decided in favor of the pod-and-boom layout. A turbojet engine with 900 kg thrust was mounted instead of the old VK-107A piston engine. The engine was inclined so that the jet stream exited underneath the fuselage and wing. The rest of the airframe was left almost unchanged, except for an additional heat shield, made of refractory steel, located in the exhaust section. The aircraft's armament included two Nudelman-Suranov NS-23KM cannons with 60 rounds each. The cannons were housed in the forward fuselage above the engine. The new Yakovlev fighter was originally called the Yak-Jumo but later obtained the designation Yak-15.

The first flight of the Yak-15 was on April 24, 1946, and the plane was launched into full-scale production in the autumn of the same year. Production Yak-15 planes had a different engine, the RD-10, manufactured in the USSR. The service life of the earliest engines was officially claimed to be 25 hours, but in reality it was 17 hours at best. Nevertheless, the Yak-15 was very easy to pilot, and its steering was similar to that of the Yak-3, which had been the basis of its development. As a result, it was decided that although the Yak-15 did not meet the requirements of the Air Force for a modern combat fighter, it was perfectly suitable as a transition from prop to jet aircraft.

In addition to its engine's limited service life, the Yak-15 had a number of distinctive disadvantages. The most commonly encountered defects during its operation included hydraulic fluid leaks (through the sealing rings of the landing gear shock struts), the rupturing of rudder control cable threads, and the deterioration of tail wheel springs (probably caused by overheating). But the Yak-15's main disadvantage was its very short flight range.

Nevertheless, the significance of the Yak-15 in the history of Soviet aviation should not be underestimated. Hundreds of pilots underwent training on planes of this type, and it was the Yak-15 that became the first Soviet jet aircraft officially accepted for service in the Air Force as well as the first jet fighter that enabled military pilots to master advanced aerobatics.

Production of the Yak-15 was discontinued in 1947. In all, 280 planes were constructed.

== 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://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/320875-yakovlev-yak-15/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]

{{AirManufacturer Yakovlev}}
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

IL-2 M-82

2021-10-12T07:50:24Z

U51647687: /* Pros and cons */

{{Specs-Card
|code=il_2_m82
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
|market = items_IL-2 M-82 (USSR)
}}

== Description ==

The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium gift rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet strike aircraft {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update "Starfighters"]] as a reward for World War Mode [[Season 3: Road to the West]]. This unique IL-2 variant is fitted with a Shvetsov M-82 engine rather than the standard Mikulin AM-38, and also benefits from having a rear gunner. Its poor flight performance and low top speed make it lacklustre in an air-to-air role, but its effective weapons and great secondary payload options make it a highly effective ground attacker in both air and mixed battles.

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

The IL-2 M-82 has characteristics relatively in-line with those found on other variants of the IL-2 family. It has a very slow top speed, meaning that almost every fighter at its BR can catch up to it. It also has a slow climb rate, especially in RB. On the plus side, the ''Sturmovik'' actually has a very good turn rate and can even out-turn some fighters when flown correctly. However, this should not be used excessively as the aircraft has horrible energy retention and will lose speed ferociously in extended turns.

The Shvetsov M-82IR engine found on this IL-2 variant produces almost 2,000 hp at takeoff, much more than its original AM-38 powerplant. This gives the IL-2 M-82 a slight performance advantage over other IL-2 variants at low altitudes, where its engine performs the best. However, this engine will quickly suffocate at high altitudes as it was not designed for high-altitude performance.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 2,500 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 382 || 374 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 24.0 || 25.1 || 4.2 || 4.2 || rowspan="2" | 400
|-
! Upgraded
| 414 || 397 || 21.9 || 22.9 || 10.3 || 7.1
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || 270 || ~13 || ~13
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 320 || < 320 || < 370 || > 341
|-
|}

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


* 4 mm steel around fuel tank and oil cooling system
* 6 mm steel behind engine
* 6 mm steel underneath bottom oil cooling system
* 6 mm steel beside fuel tank
* 6 mm steel beside and on top of pilot
* 8 mm steel in front of and below gunner
* 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
* 64 mm bulletproof glass between pilot and gunner
* Self-sealing fuel tanks, with neutral gas pressurization system (1 underneath pilot and 1 in front of pilot)

(Note: the gunner is rear-facing)

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

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

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

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

* 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, wing-mounted (210 rpg = 420 total)
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

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

{{main|AO-25M-1 (25 kg)|FAB-50sv (50 kg)|FAB-100sv (100 kg)|FAB-250sv (250 kg)}}
{{main|RS-82|RBS-82|RS-132|RBS-132}}

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

* Without load
* 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs (300 kg total)
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (200 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (400 kg total)
* 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
* 8 x RS-82 rockets
* 8 x RBS-82 rockets
* 8 x RS-132 rockets
* 8 x RBS-132 rockets
* 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (300 kg total)
* 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (300 kg total)
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (200 kg total)
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (200 kg total)
* 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (300 kg total)
* 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (300 kg total)
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (200 kg total)
* 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (200 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 8 x RS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 8 x RBS-132 rockets (400 kg total)

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

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

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

* 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (280 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==


The IL-2 M-82's effective frontal armament and excellent loadout options make it an excellent ground attacker in both Air and Mixed battles. Its lacking flight characteristics and slow top speed make it unsuitable for air-to-air engagements, as it will be quickly shredded by enemy fighters.

The IL-2 M-82 differs from earlier IL-2 variants by having the Shvetsov M-82 engine in place of the standard Mikulin AM-38 engine. This new engine provides greater power, giving the IL-2 a slight performance boost, but lacks armour protection, unlike the other IL-2 variants. As a result, greater care must be taken to avoid soaking up too much ground fire, as any stray flak could easily damage the aircraft's engine or set it on fire.

However, this aircraft also benefits from having a rear gunner, equipped with a 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun. This weapon is highly effective and can easily set enemy aircraft on fire with several bursts. However, it lacks the punching power of heavier cannons, meaning that more hits will be necessary to deal the same damage.

'''Usage in Air Arcade Battles:'''

In Air AB, the IL-2 M-82 can be very well utilised as a ground attacker. Its RS-82 rockets are well-suited for destroying soft targets while the larger RS/RBS-132 rockets and bombs (100+ kg) can be used against harder targets like pillboxes and tanks. In particular, the 2 x 250 kg FAB-250 loadout is very effective against hard targets, and will often destroy medium/heavy tanks or light pillboxes with even a near miss - a direct hit guarantees a kill. This aircraft also benefits from an excellent initial turn rate in AB, giving it some air-to-air capability. However, its poor energy retention prevents it from performing well in a dogfight, so it is recommended to only engage enemies that are already distracted or dogfighting. As well, the IL-2 M-82 inherits the strong fuselage of prior IL-2 variants, meaning that it is quite capable of soaking up enemy fire. However, the wings, tail, control surfaces and engine are all rather vulnerable, so it is not recommended to engage too many bogies at once.

'''Usage in Air Realistic and Mixed Battles:'''

In Air RB, the IL-2 struggles with its manoeuvrability. As a result, it will fare much worse in any air-to-air situation. If being pursued by enemy fighters, perform evasive manoeuvres and bait them onto the aircraft's six, where the tail gunner will be able to fight back. As well, never engage fighters with a higher energy level, as they will be able to force the IL-2 into a energy/turn fight where the plane's speed will bleed rapidly.

The IL-2 does very well in air RB as it can use its payload options to its full potential. Diving attacks are ideal for engaging harder targets as it makes it easier to aim bombs and rockets - however, be aware of airspeed, as the IL-2's control surfaces tend to lock up at speeds above 550 km/h.

In mixed battles, the IL-2 M-82 can be used effectively as a CAS aircraft with its large payload options. The RS and RBS 132 rockets are effective against armoured targets, though it is worth noting that the RBS-132 rockets have no explosive splash, meaning that only direct hits will do damage. The smaller RS-82 and RBS-82 rockets can also be effective, though they have far less punching power. The 20 mm ShVAK cannons can be used against soft targets, but are inadequate against harder targets due to their low max penetration of 26mm when using Armoured vehicles Belts. A great strategy for mixed is to dive on an enemy tank, fire rockets/bombs/guns at a high angle, then pull out and disengage, followed by a second bombing run.

'''Countertactics:'''

In Air RB, a team of IL-2s can easily win a game if left alone, so ensure to destroy them quickly. An effective option for dealing with the IL-2 is to dive on them while they are engaging ground targets - a 600 km/h dive at a 20-30 degree angle allows for plenty of time on target without giving the tail gunner much time to engage. As well, the IL-2's tail gunner has very limited lateral (left-right) range, so engaging the aircraft from the side will also be effective.

The Il-2 has a sturdy airframe, meaning that it can tank hits very well. This means that any machine guns will take a while to destroy it. However, the aircraft's wings and tail are quite flimsy, and kills can often be achieved by destroying the aircraft's tail control.

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

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* Expansive payload options including rockets and bombs up to 250 kg
* Adequate frontal armament, 2 x 20 mm ShVAKs with big ammo reserves (210 rpg) as well as a pair of machine guns
* Heavily armoured cabin with 4-8 mm of steel, allowing it to soak up light AA fire with ease
* Has a tail gunner, unlike previous Il-2 variants
* Premium benefits, helps speed up research

'''Cons:'''

* Poor top speed of just 400 km/h in level flight
* Poor energy retention due to heavy weight, leading to an inability to keep up in a prolonged dogfight
* Bad climb rate and overall flight characteristics
* No capability to carry large ordnance (i.e. bombs 500kg+), unlike its German counterpart, the Ju-87 Stuka
* Engine is unarmoured and prone to taking damage in extended engagements.

== History ==


In early July of 1941, due to the rapid advance of German troops into central Russia, there was a threat of a reduction in the supply of IL-2 AM-38 aircraft engines. Anticipating possible issues, Sergey Ilyushin suggested adapting the Sturmovik engine to the more common M-82 engine to the Soviet military aviation authorities. In a very short time, the aircraft engineers in the Ilyushin design bureau built a prototype attacker aircraft for testing with the new engine. The prototype also featured a much anticipated defensive turret with a position for an air gunner, the need for which became evident after the first IL-2 sorties in WWII. Unlike the production version, the IL-2 with the M-82 engine did not have engine compartment protection - the armored capsule was shortened and ended with an armored plate between the pilot and the engine. The new engine also required the installation of an updated propeller. The gunner's seat was positioned to the rear of the cockpit, where a blister turret with a 12.7mm UBT machine gun with armored glass was located. Tests of the new version of the attack aircraft demonstrated that such a design does not have critical problems despite its inferior speed to the regular IL-2. By the spring of 1942, a prototype with the M-82IR engine appeared, which was better suited for low altitudes, from which the attack aircraft was operating most of the time. Flight characteristics have been improved, but by that time the production of native AM-38 engines was normal and there was no need to modify the IL-2 with M-82 engines any more.

- ''From [[wt:en/news/6779-development-vehicles-of-world-war-il-2-m-82-and-m60-ambt-en|Devblog]]''

== Media ==


;Images
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150">
File:IL-2 (M-82).jpg|
File:IL-2 (M-82) special camo.jpg|Bicolor camouflage rewarded for collecting 5 World War Stars
File:IL-2 (M-82) Logo(1).jpg|
File:IL-2 (M-82) Logo(2).jpg|
File:IL-2 (M-82) Logo(3).jpg|
File:IL-2 (M-82)(1).jpg|
File:IL-2 (M-82)(2).jpg|
</gallery>

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|Tq7zctbs7t8|'''The Shooting Range #207''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:29 discusses the IL-2 M-82.}}

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/6779-development-vehicles-of-world-war-il-2-m-82-and-m60-ambt-en|[Development] Vehicles of World War: IL-2(M-82) and M60 AMBT]]

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

N.C.223.3

2020-11-26T12:01:37Z

U51647687: /* Pros and cons */ Added spawn at high altitude to pros

{{Specs-Card|code=nc_223_3}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} French bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.73 "Vive la France"]].

The N.C.223.3, as a derivative of the Farman F.220 plane model, looks strikingly similar to the [[F.222.2]] bomber, yet different as well. The biggest difference is the twin rudder on the tail that helps improve stability and yaw control. The plane's overall design was also made more aerodynamic as part of the improvement, the nose section is made a tad shorter, and the plane uses Hispano-Suiza 12Y-29 engines rather than the previous Gnome Rhone model. Defensive armaments were also improved with two Hispano cannons as the rear ventral and dorsal turret armament.

The N.C.223.3 is made distinctive with its push-pull engine configuration, stacking the engine on each side in tandem for the effect where the forward engine "pulls" the plane while the rear engine "pushes" the plane. This lowered the amount of engines having to protrude from the wing, while keeping the engine centreline so that one failed engine in a side will not prevent the other from providing a similar thrust force.

In the default camouflage scheme, the N.C.223.3 is coated in the French standard aircraft tri-color camouflage, which consisted of ''Vert'' (Green), ''Brun Mat'' (Matt brown), and ''Gris Bleu foncé'' (Dark blue gray). The underside of the aircraft was painted in ''Gris Bleu Clair'' (Light blue gray). The French roundel is present twice on the left side, one on the N.C.223.3 fuselage and one on top of the wing. Final note of appearance is the French national tri-colour markings on the tail plane and rudder.

== 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"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 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
|-
! Stock
| 383 || 369 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.8 || 30.4 || colspan="2" | 4.4 || rowspan="2" | 520
|-
! Upgraded
| 417 || 400 || 28.3 || 29.0 || 9.0 || 6.4
|-
|}

==== 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="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
|{{Specs|1=destruction|2=body}}||{{Specs|1=destruction|2=gear}} || 520 || ___ || 260 || ~4 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 250 || < 250 || < 300 || > 340
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Compressor
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
! Setting 1
| 3,400 m || 910 hp || 1,022 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* No armour
* Self-sealing fuel tanks (4 in each wing)

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

{{main|G.A. MMN. 50 (50 kg)|No.1 (100 kg)|No.1 (200 kg)}}

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

* 52 x 50 kg G.A. MMN. 50 bombs (2,600 kg total)
* 5 x 200 kg No.1 bombs + 7 x 100 kg No.1 bombs (1,700 kg total)
* 15 x 200 kg No.1 bombs + 12 x 100 kg No.1 bombs (4,200 kg total)

=== Defensive armament ===

{{main|Hispano 404 (20 mm)|MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, dorsal turret (240 rpg)
* 1 x 20 mm Hispano 404 cannon, ventral turret (240 rpg)
* 1 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)

== Usage in battles ==

Like its predecessor, the [[F.222.2]], the N.C.223.3 is a heavy hitting bomber with okay manoeuvrability at low altitude and low air speed, and can carry a staggering 52 x 50 kg bombs. Combined with its frequent presence in Ground Strike matches with only light vehicles, it will make short work of any (or even all) groups of armoured cars and AAA it crosses paths with. However, the ability to carry larger bomb loads later in its upgrade tree turns it into an exceptionally capable base killer, often time wiping out bases solo. As of update 1.97, 5 of the 200 kg No.1 bombs can destroy a base, so with the upgraded bombload you should be able to easily destroy 3 bases, and keep all 12 100kg No.1 Bombs for the enemy airfield, or to destroy the fourth base in some maps . However, it is still capable of turning entire columns of medium tanks to flaming scrap if escorted in higher level battles, with Hispano gun turrets available if an enemy tries to attack the plane.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Turret 7 mm
| 200 GPs
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 7 mm MGs (turret)
|
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| Turret 20 mm
| 200 GPs S5
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 20 mm cannons (turret)
|
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Strong defensive firepower
* Currently has the largest payload available from any other Rank I bomber, rivalling even Rank III and IV heavy bombers
* Engines away from the wing-fuselage
* Addition of takeoff flaps make taking off from an airfield easier than in the F.222
* Durable
* Has two pilots
* Somehow fast, despite its size
* Internal payload doesn't really affect its performance except for its rate of climb
* Can potentially win games by outright destroying the airfields when played in groups
* Large wings but are not littered with fuel tanks
* Default payload of 52 x 50 kg bombs makes short work of artillery, light tanks, armoured cars and trucks crucial to many games this bomber finds itself in
* Spawn at a very high altitude making it almost impossible for planes to get up to it before it dops the bombs

'''Cons:'''

* Low maneuverability at high speeds
* Massive target
* Poor acceleration
* Weak from the front
* 20 mm turrets don't carry a lot of ammo and have a very long reload
* No armour protection
* Roll rate starts stiffening at ~320 km/h
* Tail design creates blind spots for gunners
* You need to invest a large amount of crew points to be effective in the N.C.223.3, especially the gunners and reload time
* Being a Rank I, it has a 0.3 multiplier for SL rewards, so you will find yourself in a hard time earning SL with the N.C.223.3, despite it being able to earn a lot of it by base bombing

== History ==

Farman Aviation Works began working on the F.220 bomber design in 1925. This aircraft was based on a successful earlier design of the F.211 which was a parasol wing, four-engine monoplane utilizing tractor and pusher engines. While the F.211 never entered production, it served as a base for the F.220 to be designed and built from. The first successful flight of the F.220 happened on 26 May 1932.

The F.220 was a success in of itself, however, Farman made several modifications to improve the design which included a new vertical stabilizer, rebuilding the nose and ventral turret to fully enclose them and upgrading the old V-engines to new radial versions. After these modifications, the new version of the F.220 made its maiden flight in 1933.

In 1936, another variant, the F.222 first flew and this bomber incorporated retractable landing gear which reduced drag and was not available on earlier versions. A total of twenty-four aircraft of this version where produced and began service in Armee de I’Air in 1937 and was tasked with performing night bombings raids over Germany in May and June of 1940.

The F.222.2 bomber which is featured in the game had a redesigned nose and changed out the engines from Gnome-Rhône 14Kdrs engines to Gnome-Rhône 14N-11 engines.

The later F.223 which came after the F.222 saw significant changes, not only to name as it became NC.223 after Farman was absorbed into Société Nationale de Constructions Aéronautiques du Centre (SNCAC) which was the nationalization of both Farman Aviation Works and Hanriot in 1936. The aircraft’s tail section was reworked and went from a single vertical stabilizer to a twin-stabilizer setup and the fuselage was refined to be more aerodynamic. Another upgrade came in the form of changes to the ventral and dorsal turret weapons. The Mle 33 7.5 mm machine guns were replaced with the more powerful H.S. 404 20 mm autocannons.

On 7 June 1940, a variant (NC 223.4) of the French Naval Aviation was the first allied bomber to fly into Germany and bomb Berlin, the flight dropped eight 250 kg and 80 x 10 kg bombs on Germany’s capital. While the ordinance was not much, the psychological impact was the goal and the raid was reproduced three days later. NC 223 bombers continued to serve in bombing roles until June 1940 when they were transferred to North Africa to fulfill the role of transport aircraft.

The one in-game was a bomber version with different, weaker engines than the original NC. 223 (910 hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y-29 engines instead of the 1,100 hp engines on the NC. 223). 8 of them were built.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|N-EazLEFaFg|'''The Shooting Range #71''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:33 discusses the N.C.223.3.|J9nUjFDdk-E|'''The Shooting Range #131''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 05:23 discusses the N.C.223.3.}}

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

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

== External links ==


* [[wt:en/news/5095-development-nc-223-3-let-nobody-leave-unsatisfied-en|[Devblog] NC.223.3: let nobody leave unsatisfied!]]

{{AirManufacturer Farman}}
{{France bombers}}

P-63A-5 (USSR)

2020-11-26T08:22:36Z

U51647687: I described the engine's hitbox in the front and the ability to survive a fuel tank fire, also mentioned the ability to destroy ground targets

{{Specs-Card
|code=p-63a-5_ussr
|cockpit=cockpit_p-63a-5_ussr.jpg
}}
{{About
| about = premium Russian fighter '''{{Specs|name}}'''
| usage = other variants
| link = P-63 (Family)
}}

== Description ==

[[File:GarageImage_P-63A-5_USSR.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
{{Break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a premium rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. It costs 1,600 Golden Eagles.

The P-63A-5 Kingcobra is an evolved version of the P-39 Airacobra series cherished by Soviet pilots in WWII. Larger in all dimensions, the P-63 features a laminar-flow wing, 4-bladed propeller, stretched rear fuselage, and taller vertical stabilizer with a flat trailing edge. While it loses some of the Airacobra's elegant looks and low-speed manoeuvrability, it has superior performance overall. The Kingcobra offers a different playstyle from contemporary Soviet fighters and can be a major threat to all sorts of enemy aircraft in skilled hands.

== General info ==
=== Flight performance ===


The P-63A-5 is a pleasant aircraft to fly and has competitive performance for its rank. The top speed is impressive, exceeding almost all of its Soviet stablemates like the [[La-5FN]] or [[Yak-9T]]. The climb rate and acceleration are excellent at lower altitudes and will start to drop noticeably after about 3,000 m of altitude. From 4,000-5,000 m, these characteristics remains decent, fixing a notable flaw of the original P-39. Handling at high speeds is good, courtesy of the laminar flow wing; the rudder tends to compress above 600 km/h, but the roll and pitch remain responsive. On the other hand, low speed manoeuvrability is poor and it becomes much more sluggish under 300 km/h. The roll rate is excellent. Vertical and horizontal energy retention are both good.

The P-63 is sleek and streamlined, gaining speed quickly in a shallow dive. However, the engine is not very powerful compared to the weight of the plane, which causes issues with energy loss and acceleration when manoeuvring.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 6,850 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 617 || 596 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.0 || 22.7 || 16.1 || 16.1 || rowspan="2" | 289
|-
! Upgraded
| 670 || 640 || 20.3 || 21.0 || 24.1 || 19.6
|-
|}

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

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 393 || 393 || 262 || ~12 || ~6
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 410 || < 380 || < 410 || > 320
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
! WEP Engine power
|-
| 3,658 m || 1,250 hp || 1,400 hp
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===


* 15.87 mm Steel - Plates x 2, lower fore cockpit
* 19.05 mm Steel - Plate, upper fore cockpit
* 12.7 mm Steel - Plate behind pilot's seat
* 12.7 mm Steel - Plate protecting oil cooling system
* 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Windscreen

The Kingcobra provides quite a lot of protection for its pilot in both the front and back. Pilot snipes are a relatively rare occurrence as a result. However the rear placement of the engine poses some issues; it can block some fire from the rear, but this means that pursuing fighters can potentially damage or even knock out the engine. The engine also has a hitbox in the front, so if a round of a .50 machine gun or a 20mm cannon (which are common at these ranks) penetrates the front armor it will damage the engine. Another issue with the design is that the fuselage has essentially no room for fuel tanks, and they are placed in the outboard section of the wings as a result. The fuel tanks, though self-sealing, can be ignited by stray fire and will often spell doom for the Kingcobra.

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

{{main|M4 (37 mm)|M2 Browning (12.7 mm)}}

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

* 1 x 37 mm M4 cannon, nose-mounted (30 rpg)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (270 rpg = 540 total)
* 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)

The P-39 was essentially designed around the 37 mm M4 cannon, and the P-63 inherits this weapon. Unfortunately, it has a lot of unfavourable characteristics: the muzzle velocity and accuracy are poor, it tends to spark upon glancing shots, and it jams quickly. On the plus side, a single good hit can remove tails or wings. Unless the pilot is very familiar with the ballistics, it is best treated as a situational secondary weapon for harpooning large or heavily armoured targets and finishing off crippled aircraft. Unlike the original American version, the Soviet P-63 does not have access to belts containing AP rounds and it is useless against armoured targets as a result. On the plus side, since this is a premium aircraft, the painful stock grind can be avoided.

The four M2 Browning machine guns are much more reliable than the M4 cannon, but they still present some issues in usage. Two of them are located in the nose and the other two are located in the wings. The former have problems with convergence and the overall volume of fire is not very high. Those not used to the P-39s or P-63s may be frustrated when using them against manoeuvring targets, and it may take some time and practice to successfully land hits. They do have good ballistics and access to mid-war belts. The best belts for anti-aircraft usage are Universal and Stealth since they have a high proportion of M8 AP-I rounds, which are quite good at starting fires.

The different ballistics of the machine gun and cannon can pose an issue. A good option is to use a 400 m convergence and turn on vertical targeting, this makes it easier to lead the cannon and concentrates the otherwise sparse machine gun fire. However, this makes it difficult to attack enemies at longer distances, so experimenting with different settings is recommended.

The P-63A-5 has slightly more ammunition for the machine guns than the later variants of the P-63 and significantly more than the P-39s.

=== Suspended armament ===

{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)}}

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

* Without load
* 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)

Unlike the later Kingcobras, the P-63A-5 only has one hardpoint for bombs. The lone 500 lb bomb is not particularly destructive and is suitable for dealing with medium or light tanks. More heavily armoured vehicles may require almost a direct hit. That said, the bomb has relatively little effect on the P-63's flight performance and can be delivered accurately.

== Usage in battles ==


'''Air RB'''

The P-63A-5 has good all-round characteristics and lends itself to several possible strategies. However, try to make use of its strengths compared to other Soviet aircraft. The excellent climb rate allows the Kingcobra to reach high altitudes quickly and it has better performance at 4,000-5,000 m than the Yaks or Lavochkins. If using Manual Engine Control, open up the radiators fully when climbing to prevent overheating while using WEP. Once at high altitude, they can be closed more. From this vantage point, the pilot can examine the situation and act accordingly.

Going after bombers is a valid option provided that they are not at extreme altitudes; attack from underneath or the side and try not to sit on their tails. Open up with the machine guns early on, and once the distance is short enough for consistent hits to be scored, start using the cannon in short bursts. Optimally, the machine guns can knock out defensive gunners and start fires, while the cannon can rip off tails or wings. It is very gratifying to dismember a bomber with a well-placed cannon hit. Going head-on is a good strategy with some aircraft, such as the A6M2. The powerful 37mm can knock the enemy pilot out or destroy the wings, and a battery of 4 M2 Brownings will destroy the engine and light them on fire, while the sturdy plane's fuselage will survive a few hits. Even a fuel tank fire is not a death sentence, since most enemies when lighting you up will pull away, and if you take a minimum amount of fuel in battle, you will most likely survive the burning out of the whole tank and return to the airfield, or even kill the enemy that can come back to finish you off.

The P-63 also excels at diving attacks on attackers and fighters. The mild control compression and durable wings means that steep or extended dives that would be fatal for typical Soviet aircraft can be safely attempted. If the target evades, simply zoom climb back up and look for an opening to engage again. When committing to a dogfight, avoid turning for more than short periods of time. Although the P-63 turns well at high speed, such manoeuvres tend to bleed its energy and put a lot of stress on the pilot. If an engagement has cost a lot of speed, altitude, and ammunition, consider disengaging. The P-63 relies on being able to enter engagements with an energy advantage and using that to win; unlike the La-5FN and its monstrously powerful engine, it is not stellar at regaining that energy in the middle of fight. And during heated combat, avoid letting the P-63's speed drop below 300 km/h. If this happens, use combat flaps and try to regain speed as quickly as possible.

Despite its climb rate, it is not uncommon for the P-63 to see enemy fighters at comparable or higher altitudes. Besides the common Bf 109s, as a Soviet aircraft, the P-63 can encounter [[Spitfire Mk Vb|Spitfires]] and [[P-38G-1|P-38 Lightnings]]. The latter have interceptor spawns and great high-altitude performance, making them especially dangerous. It is unlikely that teammate backup will be available at these altitudes, so a safe strategy is to stay back and wait for these opponents to dive on other players. Then, attack them when they are zoom climbing or otherwise preoccupied. If the enemies go after the P-63 directly, try dragging the fight down towards teammates through dives or downward spirals.

Evasive manoeuvres and defensive flying are important skills to master in the P-63 since it cannot always rely on outrunning enemies, outturning them, or having teammates nearby. If the pursuer has a lower top speed than the P-63 and does not have ludicrously powerful cannons, extend away in a shallow dive and continuously make slight dodges upwards and downwards. Rolling scissors are effective to force overshoots against opponents with poor roll rates. As a last resort, combining roll, elevator, and rudder results in an unpredictable and rapid spiral while bleeding speed quickly. Avoid climbing spirals or stall climbs unless the pursuer has much less energy. As mentioned before, the P-63's power-to-weight ratio is not great, and the poor low speed handling does it no favours either.

As a whole, the P-63 is a great plane that can destroy pillboxes and light ground targets with it's 4 high caliber machine guns and a 500 lb bomb, destroy bombers with it's good climb rate and a 37mm cannon, outturn interceptors and energy fighters and outrun or outgun other fighters

'''Ground RB'''

The P-63A-5 is decidedly not a ground pounding aircraft but still has its uses in Ground RB for counter-CAS, similar to the Bf 109s. Its high performance, good protection, and powerful cannon are good for destroying attackers and bombers. When spawning in, take the 500 lb bomb; it does not affect performance much, and unlike most Soviet fighters, is large enough to be useful and can be delivered with great precision due to its centreline mounting. Gain some altitude and look for something to bomb. Prioritize ground targets that have weaker armour (e.g. light tanks, distracted SPAAs, certain tank destroyers) and will be easy to hit. Enter a fairly steep dive and drop it, then immediately zoom climb up and take a look at the battlefield. If enemy aircraft are present, climb some more and pursue them when a sufficient energy advantage is attained. If the skies are clear, the P-63 can either fly around the map and spot targets with the machine guns, return to base to reload the bomb, or side climb to get the drop on enemy aircraft when they spawn in.

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

=== Modules ===
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
! Weaponry
|-
| I
| Fuselage repair
| Radiator
|
| Offensive 12 mm
|-
| II
|
| Compressor
| Airframe
| New 12 mm MGs
|-
| III
| Wings repair
| Engine
|
| FMBC mk.1
|-
| IV
|
| Engine injection
| Cover
| New 37 mm cannons
|-
! colspan="5" | This is a premium vehicle: all modifications are unlocked on purchase
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Decently manoeuvrable, especially at high speeds
* Hard hitting 37 mm cannon
* Four M2 Brownings with mid-war belts
* Good climb rate and energy retention
* Decent performance at 4,000-5,000 m, not as constrained as other Soviet fighters
* Can carry a 500 lb bomb
* Premium bonuses, Silver Lion modifier is particularly good for its rank

'''Cons:'''

* Cannon has only 30 rounds
* Guns can be difficult to use
* Bleeds speed in hard turns
* Poor low speed handling
* Wing fuel tanks easily catch fire
* Unimpressive power-to-weight ratio

== History ==


The Bell P-39 Airacobra was an unusual fighter, having an engine mounted behind the cockpit with a driveshaft connecting it to the propeller at the front. This was intended to create a more favourable centre of gravity for manoeuvring and free up room for heavy nose-mounted armament. After initial testing of the XP-39 prototype, the turbocharger was removed from the design, leaving only a single-stage supercharger. Some sources claim that this decision was made since the US military did not need high altitude performance, while others claim that wind tunnel testing revealed that the turbocharger's benefits were not worth the penalties to aerodynamics. Regardless, this robbed the Airacobra of its high-altitude capabilities. For the British, who were interested in the P-39 for use as an interceptor, this was unacceptable. The US military was not impressed by the P-39 either, finding it difficult to handle, and only used the type until around 1942. However, the Soviet Union used the majority of its fighters for low-altitude engagements anyway and became an enthusiastic foreign user of the aircraft. Soviet pilots were more used to dealing with unusual handling characteristics, had clear guidelines about the P-39's operation found from exhaustive testing, and admired its heavy firepower, good protection, and comfortable ergonomics. It was the aircraft of choice for several aces like Alexander Pokryshkin and proved to be effective against the Luftwaffe on the Eastern Front.

Bell was well aware of the P-39's issues. From 1941 onwards, the company explored several potential derivatives even as it produced improved versions of the P-39. The XP-39E was intended to improve the high altitude performance and used new airfoils plus a more powerful engine. While it was faster than the basic Airacobra, the other performance characteristics suffered and it was shelved. The XP-63 was an enlarged design with laminar airfoil, four-bladed propeller, and a second stage for the supercharger. The resulting aircraft was much improved from the P-39, but the US military declined to order it in large numbers since the P-51 Mustang was deemed superior. The Soviet Union was interested, however, and some 2400 P-63 Kingcobras were delivered. Exhaustive testing was performed, with feedback being given to Bell. Officially, the P-63 saw little combat in Soviet service. They were supposed to be stationed in the Far East for combat with Japan. However, several unconfirmed reports from the Germans and Soviets claim that P-63 saw combat on the eastern front, and a memoir from a Soviet pilot claimed that a regiment was secretly converted from P-39s to P-63s.

The Kingcobra remained in Soviet service for several years after WWII. Besides being a solid aircraft, the tricycle undercarriage was considered good practice for jet fighters. Two Soviet P-63s are known to exist today and are on display at two museums in Moscow, Russia.

=== In-game description ===
Bell P-63A-1/A-5 (Model 33) Kingcobra Army Fighter

A single-seat, closed-canopy, all-metal monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear and a nose strut. The P-63 Kingcobra was developed as an improved version of the P-39 Airacobra and had a similar layout, with the engine located just behind the cockpit.

Work on the plane, originally designated the XP-39E, began in February 1941. The first prototype, designated XP-63, flew on December 7, 1942, and production of the P-63A-1 (Model 33) began in October 1943, along with the P-39.

The general layout of the P-39 Kingcobra was preserved, but the P-63 featured new, streamlined wings. In order to remedy the P-39's main weakness, a propensity to falling into a flat spin, the area of the vertical tail fin was increased and the aft section of the fuselage was lengthened.

The first production models were equipped with a V-12 liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-93 engine (1325 hp). The aircraft was armed with a Colt-Browning M4 37mm machine gun with 30 rounds and 2 synchronous Colt-Browning M2.5 12.7mm machine guns with 270 rounds per gun. An additional two M2.5s with 250 rounds each were placed in the wing compartments.

Aircraft of both series (except some A-1 planes) were fitted with a ventral pylon which could hold a fuel tank of 75 gallons (284 liters) or one 500-lb (227-kg) bomb.

The aircraft was continually tweaked from one production run to the next, improving its ability to support troops on the field. However, the differences between the A-1 and the A-5 were only slight. The most significant difference, though not a visible one, was the increase in armor from 40 kilograms to 81. 50 P-63A-1 and 20 P-63A-5 planes were produced.

The Red Army became the main consumers of the P-63A. Deliveries to the Soviet Union began in the summer of 1944, via Alaska and the Northwest Staging Route. The P-63A began to support Soviet anti-aircraft operations in the spring of 1945.

The Soviet version of the P-63A differed from the American in one important feature: the presence of a crank to start the engine. In addition, the Soviets equipped the plane with FAB-100 and FAB-250 bombs under the fuselage.

== Media ==

{{Youtube-gallery|vXxfEpltseI|'''The Shooting Range #44''' - ''Metal Beasts'' section at 00:30 discusses the P-63A-5.}}

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

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

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

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

{{AirManufacturer Bell}}
{{USSR fighters}}
{{USSR premium aircraft}}