Hornet Mk.I

2022-02-15T17:32:04Z

U60011082: /* Survivability and armour */

{{About
| about = British premium twin-engine fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| usage = the regular version
| link = Hornet Mk.III
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=hornet_mk1
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}

== Description ==

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

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

For pilots who loved the Mosquito, the Hornet is a dream come true.

As a descendant of the [https://wiki.warthunder.com/Mosquito_FB_Mk_VI Mosquito FB Mk VI], it maintains many similarities to its older brother, namely an all-wooden construction and the iconic de Havilland tail design. However, the Hornet somehow managed to improve on the already excellent Mosquito platform, increasing speed, manoeuvrability and armament while reducing overall aircraft proportions. From takeoff and into its flight, the Hornet is an overall smooth operator with brutal speed, reaching easily over 600km/h in level flight at 4km, insane climb rate, and excellent manoeuvrability for a twin-engined fighter. However, it's still a twin-engined fighter which means it can still be outmanoeuvred by most single-engined opponents which it faces. Being a predecessor to the regular tech-tree variant Hornet Mk.III, it's flight performance is slightly worse but barely noticable.

The consideration in buying this plane should rely on the experience already gathered with other twin-engined fighters, although when flying this plane is mastered, it's excellent at grinding out the British prop-ranks.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed (km/h at 5,791 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
| 716 || 696 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 26.4 || 27.5 || 19.1 || 19.1 || rowspan="2" | 500
|-
! Upgraded
| 804 || 756 || 24.0 || 25.0 || 34.3 || 25.2
|-
|}

==== Details ====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || 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}} || 370 || 356|| 287 || ~9 || ~4
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 420 || < 390 || < 450 || > 324
|-
|}

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


* 38 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen
* 12.7 mm steel plate in front of cockpit
* 12.7 mm steel plate behind pilot
* 2 x 3mm steel box behind the cockpit
* All fuel is stored in the wings
* All critical components are in the front of the aircraft, with only tail controls in the rear

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

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

{{main|Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)}}

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

* 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, chin-mounted (190 rpg = 760 total)

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

{{main|G.P. Mk.IV (500 lb)|M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I (1,000 lb)|AP Mk I|AP Mk II|RP-3}}

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

* Without load
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs (2,000 lb total)
* 8 x AP Mk I rockets
* 8 x AP Mk II rockets
* 8 x RP-3 rockets
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 4 x AP Mk I rockets (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 4 x AP Mk II rockets (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 4 x RP-3 rockets (1,000 lb total)
* 2 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 4 x AP Mk I rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 4 x AP Mk II rockets (2,000 lb total)
* 2 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bombs + 4 x RP-3 rockets (2,000 lb total)

== Usage in battles ==

Being a Twin-engine fighter, it handles rather poorly when compared to Single-engined fighters. It should not be expected to out-maneuvre enemies, therefore you should really rely on your speed and try to keep you energy advantage. It might be possible to lure enemies into various maneuvres where the excellent acceleration can be used to your advantage. If you have any experience from similar fighters like previously mentioned Hornet [https://wiki.warthunder.com/Hornet_Mk.III Mk.III] or any [https://wiki.warthunder.com/Mosquito_(Family) Morsquito], you can heavily use that to you advantage. Because the Hornet is an all-wooden construction, it's ripping speed and maximum wing overload is rather low compared to other fighters.

When engaging fighters, a BnZ-playstyle should be used. One shouldn't commit to turning with the engaged enemy, because almost every plane, even light bombers will outturn you. The 4x Hispano Mk.Vs mounted in the front of the plane with an ammo pool of 190 rounds per gun, provide excellent fire-power. The Hornet should be flown near friendlies because even when it can't get it's guns on target, the enemy planes need to evade the bullets, therefore being an easy target to get picked off by allied planes nearby.

Because of it's excellent climb-rate, the Hornet can also be used as a bomber-hunter. In his role, the main focus should lie on getting altitude to engage bombers from above, with far more speed than them. Do not try to spray your guns whilst being near the rear of the bomber, instead focus on one wing, then disengage after you've stricken the bomber.

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

=== Pros and cons ===

''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''

'''Pros:'''

* Excellent armament
* Very good rate of climb
* Very fast, especially at altitude
* Almost no locking-up of the control-surfaces
*

*

'''Cons:'''

* Poor roll- and turn-rate
* Wooden frame is vulnerable to fires and damage dealt from enemies
* Easily catches fire, the wings are full of fuel-tanks

*

== History ==

''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''

== Media ==

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

== See also ==

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

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

== External links ==

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

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

{{AirManufacturer deHavilland}}
{{Britain fighters}}
{{Britain premium aircraft}}

War Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]

Hornet Mk.I