B18A

This page is about the Swedish bomber B18A. For other versions, see B18 (Family). For the American bomber of similar designation, see B-18A.

B18A

▄Ju 88 A-4

B18A

▄Ju 88 A-4

Sweden

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.0	2.7	2.3

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Description

The B18A is a rank II Swedish bomber with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB), 2.7 (RB), and 2.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind".

Sweden had been using the Ju 86K (export version of the German Ju 86) or the B3C bomber as their main bomber. In 1938 a requirement was put forth to Swedish aircraft manufactures for a fast reconnaissance aircraft with a crew of three. SAAB was awarded the contract for the project and began to build the SAAB 18 alongside the smaller SAAB B17 bomber. At this point the B17 had the facilities priorities in construction, however, the B18 was modified from being just a reconnaissance aircraft to also being a medium bomber. The mid-project changes caused a significant delay in the production of the aircraft which didn’t roll out for duty until mid-1944.

Initially, the B18A aircraft was deemed underpowered with the two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engines, but would later be replaced by license-built Daimler-Benze DB 605 liquid-cooled engines. Later the B18B variant was modified to operate as a dive bomber/ground attack variant which could be outfitted with three 120 kg bombs or 12 m/51 rockets which could utilize both the internal bomb bay and hardpoints on under the wings. A single defensive positions utilised two 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine guns which had limited coverage the rear dorsal position of the aircraft. The pilot was in control of a single 13.2 mm m/39A machine gun.

The B18A was a multi-role aircraft which filled a need for the Swedish air forces, which continued on until 1959. This bomber can operate in two roles, either as a medium-altitude bomber working on destroying vehicles and anti-aircraft artillery targets or to bomb enemy bases. Flying at a higher altitude will help to avoid a majority of the fighter aircraft which tend to stay at the lower altitudes. The B18A can also be pressed into service in the lower altitudes and even on the deck. When outfitted with rockets, the B18A can dive-bomb ground targets to include tanks, bunkers, anti-aircraft artillery and naval ships.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 4 000 m465 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude9 100 m

Engine2 х SFA STWC3

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight9 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	445	430	9100	31.2	32.2	2.1	2.1	530
Upgraded	487	465		28.9	30.0	8.6	5.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	✓	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
735	320	490	440	290	~7	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 370	< 350	< 400	> 320

Survivability and armour

Crew3 people

Speed of destruction

Structural735 km/h

Gear320 km/h

Protective components found in the B18A.

• 10 mm steel - cockpit floor under pilot's seat
• 10 mm steel - pilot's seatback
• 10 mm steel - rear gunner protective plate
• 10 mm steel - cockpit floor under gunner's seat
• 10 mm steel - aft protective plate

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB482 → 613

RB825 → 1 050

SB1 188 → 1 512

Total cost of modifications6 930

6 760

Talisman cost530

Crew training3 000

Experts10 000

Aces125

Research Aces160 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

40 / 70 / 150 %

112 / 112 / 112 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 350 Cost: 340 65 Radiator Research: 350 Cost: 340 65 Airframe Research: 520 Cost: 510 95 Compressor Research: 520 Cost: 510 95 Wings repair Research: 430 Cost: 420 80 Engine Research: 430 Cost: 420 80 Cover Research: 750 Cost: 730 140 Engine injection Research: 750 Cost: 730 140		13_2_akan_m39_belt_pack Research: 350 Cost: 340 65 m/40(250) Research: 350 Cost: 340 65 13_2_akan_m39_turret_belt_pack Research: 520 Cost: 510 95 13_2_akan_m39_new_gun Research: 430 Cost: 420 80 m/41 Research: 430 Cost: 420 80 13_2_akan_m39_turret_new_gun Research: 750 Cost: 730 140

Armaments

Offensive armament

The B18A is armed with:

• 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39A machine gun, nose-mounted (300 rpg)

Suspended armament

The B18A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 18 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (900 kg total)
• 3 x 250 kg mb m/40 bombs (750 kg total)
• 3 x 250 kg mb m/40 bombs + 8 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (1,150 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg mb m/41 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg mb m/41 bombs + 8 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (1,400 kg total)

Defensive armament

The B18A is defended by:

• 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine gun, dorsal turret (300 rpg)
• 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine gun, ventral turret (300 rpg)

Usage in battles

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Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

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Pros:

Cons:

History

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Media

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

See also

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

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
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Swedish Aeroplane Company Ltd. (SAAB)
	Pre-SAAB: SA / ASJA
SA 'Jaktfalken'	J6B
SAAB 17	B17A · B17B · S17BS
SAAB 18	B18A · B18B · T18B · T18B (57)
SAAB 21	J21A-1 · J21A-2 · A21A-3 · J21RA · A21RB
SAAB 29 'Tunnan'	J29A · A29B · J29D · J29F
SAAB 32 'Lansen'	J32B · A32A · A32A Röd Adam
SAAB 35 'Draken'	J35A · J35D
SAAB 37 'Viggen'	JA37C · JA37D · JA37DI · JA37DI F21 · AJ37 · AJS37
SAAB 39 'Gripen'	JAS39A · JAS39C
SAAB 105	SK60B · SAAB-105G
License Production	B3C (Ju 86K)
Export	SAAB-105OE · J35XS · ▄JAS39C · ◔JAS39EBS HU C

Sweden bombers
B3	B3C
B17	B17A · B17B · S17BS
SAAB 18	B18A · B18B · T18B · T18B (57)
T 2	T 2
Finland	▄Ar 196 A-5 · ▄Ju 88 A-4