War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

GAU-8/A (30 mm)

2024-07-18T15:01:34Z

U57055973: /* History */

== Description ==

The '''30 mm GAU-8/A''' is an American rotary autocannon.

=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===


* {{Specs-Link|a_10a_early}}
* {{Specs-Link|a_10a_late}}

== General info ==
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''

=== Available ammunition ===


* '''Default:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}
* '''Ground targets:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}
* '''Air targets:''' {{Annotation|HVAP-T|High-velocity armour-piercing tracer}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}
* '''Stealth:''' {{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HVAP|High-velocity armour-piercing}}{{-}}{{Annotation|HEI|High-explosive incendiary}}

{{:{{PAGENAME}}/Ammunition|HVAP-T, HEI, HVAP}}

=== Comparison with analogues ===
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''

== Usage in battles ==
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Extremely high rate of fire
* Decent armour penetration
* Effective against all types of vehicles (ground, air, or naval)

'''Cons:'''

* High rate of fire requires trigger discipline

== History ==

One of the most powerful aircraft cannons to ever take to the skies, the GAU-8/A Avenger developed specifically for use on [[A-10A]] Thunderbolt II better known as the "Warthog". The A-X program that produced the A-10 was first conceived in September of 1966 when the Air Force recognized a gap in their close air support capabilities for escort and fire suppression and created the A-X program office to develop the specifications for the new aircraft. The request for proposals came out on March 6th, 1967 and specified a 30 mm rotary cannon armament that the aircraft would be designed around. Intended for destroying Soviet armour, the 30 mm cannon received an RFP with specifications of a high muzzle velocity and a rate of fire of 4,000 rounds per minute. General Electric and Philco-Ford both submitted designs for the competition which General Electric won. The Avenger is only one part of a much larger gun assembly that includes a feed system, ammunition drum, and two independent hydraulic motors to power the gun. The complete assembly is officially designated the A/A 49E-6 Gun System and the A-10 is truly built around bringing this beast of a weapon to battle. Making up 16% of the Thunderbolt's unladen weight, the plane requires a special jack for stability when the Avenger is removed for maintenance.

The Avenger is mounted just slightly off-axis to port in order to prevent the recoil from hampering the accuracy of fire during an attack run. The GAU-8/A takes half a second to reach the top firing speed, fires depleted uranium armour-piercing shells for destroying tanks, and can be 80% accurate when firing at 40 foot diameter circle while flying at 4,000 feet. For protection, both the gun and ammo drum are protected by armour designed to detonate enemy shells before they damage the internal components.

== 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 article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''

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

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

{{USA aircraft cannons}}

[[Category:Aircraft cannons]]

F8U-2

2021-03-23T16:10:03Z

U57055973: Removed incorrect Takeoff length of 1,800+ meters. That is 300 meters more than a B-29.

{{Specs-Card
|code=f8u-2
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

''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" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude (metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb (metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run (metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 2,025 || 2,017 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 28.4 || 29.4 || 113.8 || 104.6 || rowspan="2" | ____
|-
! Upgraded
| ___ || ___ || __._ || __._ || __._ || __._
|-
|}

==== 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 
|-
|}

{| 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}} || 1070 || N/A || 583 || ~11 || ~7
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 1000 || < 590 || < 500 || N/A
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
{{Specs-Avia-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.''

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

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

{{main|Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 (20 mm)|FFAR Mighty Mouse}}

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

* A choice between two presets:
** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total)
** 4 x 20 mm Browning-Colt Mk12 Mod 3 cannons, nose-mounted (144 rpg = 576 total) + 32 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

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

{{main|AIM-9B Sidewinder|AIM-9D Sidewinder|Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles
* 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 8 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles + 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets
* 2 x AIM-9D Sidewinder missiles + 4 x Zuni Mk32 Mod 0 ATAP rockets

== Usage in battles ==


The F8U-2 performs the best when using tactics similar to the Hunter, which involves using your high-speed pointing and handling to break the enemy formation. However, be sure not to engage in a close combat when your speed is 900 km/h or above, since there is a great risk that your wing would break due to the overload.

The most dangerous enemies include:

* Any soviet aircraft that has an R-60: since it would be impossible to dodge the missile at high speed.
* MiG-17s: they can outmanoeuvre you in dogfights.

===Radars===


The F8U-2 is equipped with an AN/APQ-50 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in the nose of the aircraft.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="4" | AN/APQ-50 - 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)}}
|-
| 370,000 m (theoretical) || 40,000 m || ±50.0° || -8.15°/+4.15°
|-
! colspan="4" | AN/APQ-50 - Target Tracking Radar
|-
! {{Annotation|Maximum Tracking Range|The maximum range at which a target can be tracked}}
! {{Annotation|Minimum Tracking Range|The range below which targets cannot be tracked by the radar}}
! {{Annotation|Azimuth Tracking Angle|How far to each side the radar can track a target}}
! {{Annotation|Elevation Tracking Angle|How far up and down the radar can track a target}}
|-
| 92,500 m || 200 m || ±58.0° || ±58.0°
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===


'''Pros:'''

* Cannons could fire separately to save ammo
* Four AIM-9Ds, good when engaging enemies at about 3 km
* Excellent flight performance
* Excellent pointing at high speed
* Landing flaps provide a lot of lift thanks to the variable wing design
* Extendable rocket pod which fires 16 Mighty Mouses at once

'''Cons:'''

* Extremely fragile, can crash under 11G overload
* Cannot break the sound barrier at low altitude
* Incredibly likely to set on fire because of the fuel placement

== History ==

=== [[wt:en/news/7078-development-f8u-2-crusader-the-last-of-the-gunfighters-en|Devblog]] ===
In 1952, the American Naval command announced requirements for a new supersonic jet carrier-based fighter to protect carrier groups from enemy aircraft and achieve air superiority. Chance Vought Aircraft Inc., which already had considerable experience working with carrier-based aircraft, became one of the participants in the competition. Their candidate differed from the competition by a variable-incidence wing. The wing tilted upward by 5 degrees, which noticeably improved taking off and landings on short decks of aircraft carriers.

Just 20 months after receiving the contract, the first prototype was built for tests. The fighter successfully passed the initial tests, in the very first flight it easily broke the sound barrier, and in a modified form went to the navy for deck tests. The first prototype series was successfully tested on aircraft carriers in the spring of 1956, after which the F8U-1 Crusader entered service with the US Navy. Work on a promising jet fighter did not stop after the start of mass production. The modified aircraft with a new power plant, advanced navigation system, radar, FCS and improved armament received the designation F8U-2.

The Crusader has become a real legend and a symbol of US carrier-based aviation for its excellent flight characteristics, ease of operation, reliability and significant firepower. The fighter received the baptism of fire almost immediately after entering the service, and since then has been actively used in combat and training missions in many parts of the world, including intensive combat service in Vietnam. Even when more advanced aircraft entered service, the naval pilots were reluctant to say goodbye to the Crusaders. “When you're out of F-8's, you're out of fighters” they said.

== Media ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 01.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 02.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 03.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 04.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 05.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 06.jpg|
File:F8U-2 WTWallpaper 07.jpg|
</gallery>

== 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;''
* ''other literature.''

{{USA jet aircraft}}