F-84G-21-RE

F-84G-21-RE

F-84B-26

F-86A-5

F-84G-21-RE

F-84B-26

F-86A-5

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	7.7	8.0

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:48 000

Purchase:270 000

This page is about the aircraft F-84G-21-RE. For other uses, see F-84 (Family).

Description

The F-84G-21-RE Thunderjet is a Rank V American jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.7 (AB/RB) and 8.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.77 "Advancing Storm".

Republic Aircraft Company’s jump into the jet fighter market was not as smooth as they would have liked. All aircraft companies have issues early on with their prototypes and early models, however, they tend to grow out of them rather quickly, unfortunately, this was not to happen for Republic with the F-84. Designing fighters around a jet engine was relatively new and prototypes were rushed before full testing could take place. While promising that the F-84 would best Lockheed’s P-80 Shooting Star, the F-84B, C, D and E variants, for the most part, fell short. The issue was not solely the problem of the jet, but also the engine it was required to use. Deficiencies noted included weak wings, twisting of wing-tip fuel tanks, structure warping, skin buckling and a severe shortage of engines and engine parts for overhauls when the aircraft was used more often than expected. Several times the entire fleet of F-84s were grounded until severe defects could be rectified.

Six years after the YP-84 rolled off the assembly line, Republic had many of the previous deficiencies fixed and rolled out the F-84G. Not only did the F-84G address all of the previous model’s issues, but it also came out with several ground-breaking features which included the first fighter aircraft with the ability to refuel mid-flight and the ability to carry a Mark 7 nuclear bomb. Issues with the wings resulted in thicker wings adding strength to reduce twisting especially at high speeds and the wing-tip fuel tanks were modified to make them more aerodynamically stable during manoeuvres. This aircraft served the United States Air Force into the mid-1960 before it was retired, however other nations such as France, Italy and Taiwan (Republic of China) continued to use the fighter past that point with Greece finally retiring their last three in 1991.

Even with the changes from earlier models, even in-game pilots will notice the quirkiness of the F-84G. Even with the more powerful Allison J35-A-29 jet engine, actual pilots of the Thunderjet nicknamed it “The World’s Fastest Tricycle” (a play on the newer tricycle landing gear configuration) or “The Lead Sled” due to its extremely long takeoff roll. Even though an upgrade from the F-84B, this aircraft has the same roll-out time, typically due to the heavier payloads afforded to this aircraft. Though, once at altitude and during attack runs, the F-84G is an incredibly stable platform and can be outfitted with a number of various suspended armaments along with its six 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns. Though each gun only has 300 rounds of ammunition, trigger control is necessary or else the pilot will be left with empty guns in short order. Considered a multi-role aircraft, the F-84G can be utilised as a fighter-interceptor, bomber interceptor and ground attack fighter. The F-84G can be laden with a variety of bombs ranging from 100 lbs all the way up to two 1,000 lb bombs. HVAR and Tiny Tim rockets are a viable option alone or mixed with bombs to expand the options of targets to be attacked depending on the map the pilot is flying in.

Like many jet fighters, flying slowly makes for an easy target and this is no exception for the F-84G. Speed is necessary to ensure manoeuvrability both to engage a target and to shake a tail. Though not the fastest fighter at this rank, the F-84G can hold its own and when pressed, the six centre lined M3 Browning machine guns can punch enough holes in an enemy fighter to bring it down and allow it to move onto the next target. Don’t expect this fighter when laden down with two 1,000 lbs bombs or two Tiny Tim and 24 HVAR rockets to excel in a dog-fight as it won’t with all that weight, however, after all that ordnance is released the F-84B can then mix it up, though it is preferable to maintain speed while performing Boom & Zoom manoeuvres allowing the fighter to get on target and then speed away to set up for the next shot.

While dealing with mixed reviews over its positive and negative aspects, the F-84 series aircraft paved the way for a later aircraft which magnified all of the positive qualities of the F-84, being a stable firing platform, loaded to the gills with assorted suspended armaments and a main gun which rained destruction on the enemy, this aircraft would later be know as the Fairchild-Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 0 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
976	971	12500	28.9	30.5	30.1	29.5	1500
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 0 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
?	?	12500	??.?	??.?	??.?	??.?	1500

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
1044.75	320	550	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 530	< 600	< 690	N/A

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
0 m	2300 kgf	No WEP

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
• 6.35 mm Steel plate in front of pilot.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest.
• 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F-84G-21-RE is armed with:

• 4 x 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine gun, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

Early fighters had many different configurations of machine guns and cannons mounted in the fuselage and in the wings, sometimes needing to be synced with the propeller to prevent its destruction. With the jet age developing, many factors of the past needed to be reconsidered with gun placement. With jet fighters flying faster and chasing faster targets, trying to find the sweet spot with gun convergence was extremely difficult, jet fighter pilots needed a little extra help with this. Besides implementing newer gun sites and early radar, jet fighter guns tended to be fuselage-mounted, thus eliminating the need to set the convergence and at any point between 0 m and 800 m the ammunition rounds would fly true without a convergence point.

For the F-84G, four of the 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns were mounted in the fuselage with the other two mounted in the wing roots. While they were not all centre mounted, the two in the wing roots were close enough that convergence did not need to be messed with. Two ammunition options provide the most bang-for-the-buck, firstly, the omni-purpose rounds are good all-around ammunition rounds which provide tracers and explosive/incendiary rounds which are effective against aircraft and up to light armoured vehicles. Hardened vehicles and bunkers should be left to bombs and rockets for their destruction. If as a pilot you are looking for the sneak attack, stealth rounds will allow you to get on target fire off rounds and not give away your position, giving you a few seconds to make a second attack if needed before the target realizes where you are coming from.

Suspended armament

The F-84G-21-RE can be outfitted with the following ordinance"

• Without load
• 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs
• 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs
• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
• 32 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs
• 24 x 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 298 mm Tiny Tim rockets

The F-84G is one of a small handful of aircraft in War Thunder which offers many different suspended armament options ranging from bombs and rockets depending on the target needing to be destroyed. Due to the more effective engine utilised in the F-84G, it could sport a larger number of suspended armaments compared to its older brother the F-84B, turning into a truly ground attack workhorse. In comparison, a fully-loaded single-seat F-84G-21-RE had approximately the same loadout capability as an early 7 crew B-25J bomber. The smaller bombs such as the AN-M30A1 and AN-M57 and HVAR rockets are useful against soft targets like anti-aircraft batteries, unarmored vehicles, ships and some light tanks. The heavier hitters like the AN-M61A1, AN-M65A1 and Tiny Tim rockets are effective (more like overkill) for the softer targets, but also work well with bunkers, heavier armoured tanks, larger ships and can also be utilised against bases.

Sometimes the suspended weapons you start out with doesn't work well later on in the match, therefore you can return to your base and exit the aircraft (default key = 'j') and select a different load-out unless you would like to fly strictly as a fighter where you can select "without load" and rely just on the six Browning M3 machine guns. The wide variety of ordnance options available for this aircraft make it an excellent clean-up ground attacker which can attack just about anything on the map with the right setup.

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair			Offensive 12 mm	FRC mk.7	FSBC mk.1
II		Compressor	Airframe			FSBC mk.5
III	Wings Repair	Engine		New 12 mm MGs	FRC mk.7a	FMBC mk.1
IV	G-Suit		Cover		LFRC mk.12	FLBC mk.1

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Center-line armament of six .50 cal machine guns with a great rate of fire
• Huge payload options, a fantastic ground attacker
• Good acceleration
• Excellent dive speed
• Sturdy wings, nearly unrippable

Cons:

• Turn rate is not very good, though better than the F-84B
• Manoeuvrability diminished with heavy payloads
• Middle road fighter, not the best or fastest, but capable
• Long takeoff roll out

History

In early 1944, Alexander Kartveli, the chief designer for the Republic Aviation Aircraft Company set out to work on a replacement for the piston-powered P-47 Thunderbolt which instead would be powered by a turbojet. All attempts at trying to use the P-47 frame to accommodate a turbojet failed and Kartveli resorted to designing a brand new aircraft around an axial compressor turbojet engine. Due to the nature of the engine taking up a large majority of the fuselage, fuel tanks were designed to be in the wings of the aircraft, however, the body was streamlined to make the smallest profile possible and retain all necessary critical components.

The USAAF in September 1944 released new requirements for a daytime fighter along with specific characteristics such as the top speed of 600 mph (966 kph), armament of six 21.7mm machine guns or four 15.2 mm machine guns along with housing a General Electric TG-180 axial turbojet also known as the Allison J35 series turbojet engine. Republic proposed their new aircraft and on paper proposed it would be superior to Lockheed’s P-80 Shooting Star. The USAAF noting Republic’s already proven experience with single-seat fighters proposed a contract without holding any competition. These initial order fighters were listed as YP-84As and P-84Bs.

These early test aircraft were put to wind tunnel testing and it was found that major flaws developed when subjected to high speeds, notably longitudinal instability in the aircraft’s frame and stabilizer skin buckling at high speeds. Also noted was issues with the weight of the aircraft and the problem with early turbojets not producing enough thrust for takeoff and climb outs (a problem which plagued the F-84B aircraft until more robust engines were outfitted). Early J35-GE-7 engines were replaced with J35-A-15 versions which helped with the thrust ratio, however wing-tip fuel tanks were added to the mix prior to proper testing and issues developed which at one point grounded the fleet of aircraft until modifications were made.

In 1947, the USAF changed the pursuit designation of the aircraft to fighter and thus the P-84 became the F-84. The YP-84A and the F-84B only differed when it came to the type of M3 machine guns they carried, as the F-84B had faster-firing machine guns than the YP-84A. Early successes of the F-84B were overshadowed by problem after problem including a speed restriction limiting flight to no more than Mach 0.8 as any faster and the aircraft experienced control reversal where the pilot would input normal commands with the control stick and the opposite manoeuvre would occur (for instance if the pilot pulled back on the control stick to make the aircraft climb, the aircraft would actually begin to dive and vice versa). Even with the speed restrictions, the entire fleet of F-84B fighters was grounded by 1948 due to parts shortages and structural failures. It was also at this time that the F-84C aircraft were also determined to be incapable of performing any of their mission parameters, however since the F-84D was already under production (with all of the B and C variants issues being resolved), the program continued. Funding was allocated to upgrade the B and C variants, however, both were finally withdrawn from active duty service by the end of 1952.

Testing of the F-84D determined that the wings needed to be covered with a thicker aluminium skin to strengthen them which was helpful because the engine was upgraded to the more powerful J35-A-17D. Here it was found that during high-G manoeuvres, the wingtip fuel tanks led to the structural failure of the wings due to twisting motions. A simple fix of adding a small triangular fin to the external portion of the fuel tank alleviated that problem. Despite the fixes introduced with the D variant, it too was withdrawn from active duty in 1952. The F-84E variant fighter saw modifications specifically with strengthened wings and a larger cockpit which was necessary to equip advanced avionics to include an A-1C gunsight which worked with an APG-30 radar. Folding rocket racks were also developed so that once the HVAR rockets were fired; the racks would fold flush with the wing increasing the aircraft’s overall aerodynamics. Unfortunately even with all of the modifications, failure of the aircraft hinged upon the Allison J35-A-17 engines which were only designed to be flown for 25 hours a month and would receive a complete overhaul after 100 hours of flight. Due to the number of sorties flown in the Korean War, engine overhauls were taking place more frequently and quickly exhausted all of the spare parts and new engines produced.

The final variant of F-84 introduced was the G variant which began service in 1951. Utilised for the next nine years, the F-84G had new innovations which became standard on future aircraft to include, a refuelling boom mounted on the left-wing for in-flight refuelling, instrument landing system to allow for landing during inclement weather, a J35-A-29 engine, an autopilot system and the first fighter with the ability to carry a single Mark 7 nuclear bomb. The F-84G was retired from US service in 1960, however, countries such as Portugal continued to use this fighter through 1974 and were flown out of Angola. The F-84 had a rocky start into the foray of turbine jet fighters, however, challenges and difficulties paved the way for the F-100 Super Sabre and the RF-101 Voodoo as their replacements.

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

• Burrows, W. E. (2013, August). It had the body of a fighter and a bomber's soul. Retrieved from https://www.airspacemag.com/military-aviation/thunderjet-307269/