Firebrand TF Mk IV

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RANK 5 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
firebrand_tf4.png
Firebrand TF Mk IV
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Description

GarageImage Firebrand TF Mk IV.jpg


The Firebrand TF Mk IV is a Rank II British strike fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB/RB) and 4.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.51 "Cold Steel".

The Firebrand can be considered as a British P-47. With extremely heavy armament as well as a respectable secondary load, the Firebrand is foremost a striker aircraft, then a fighter. Carrying 4 fast-firing and high-capacity Hispano Mk.5 cannons, the Firebrand Mk IV can rip through all aircraft at its BR and all "soft" ground targets with ease. The torpedo options allow anti-ship capabilities, and conventional bombs effectively destroy ground targets.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed
(km/h at 4,572 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
537 524 9,143 26.7 27.4 10.3 11.9 310
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 4,572 m)
Max altitude (meters) Turn time (seconds) Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run (meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
 ?  ? 9,143  ??.?  ??.?  ?.?  ?.? 310

Details

Features
Combat flap Take-off flap Landing flap Air brakes Arrestor gear
Limits
Wing-break speed
(km/h)
Gear limit
(km/h)
Combat flap
(km/h)
Max Static G
+ -
750 300 420 ~8 ~4
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 433 < 500 < 550 > 350
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
1,023 m 2,150 hp 2,448 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
3,880 m 1,975 hp 2,180 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 12.77 mm Steel - Armor plate, upper seat back and head rest
  • 42.8 mm Bulletproof glass - Armored windscreen

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: Hispano Mk.V (20 mm)

The Firebrand TF Mk IV is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

      Main article: Bombs, Rockets, Torpedoes

The Firebrand TF Mk IV can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

  • 1 x 18 inch Mark XV torpedo
  • 2 x 250 lb bombs (500 lb total)
  • 8 x RP-3 rockets + 2 x 250 lb bombs (500 lb total)
  • 2 x 500 lb bombs (1,000 lb total)
  • 1 x G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bomb + 2 x 500 lb bombs (2,000 lb total)
  • 1 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bomb + 2 x 500 lb bombs (2,000 lb total)
  • 1 x G.P. 1,000 lb Mk.I bomb (1,000 lb total)
  • 1 x M.C. 1,000 lb Mk.I bomb (1,000 lb total)
  • 8 x RP-3 rockets

Usage in the battles

In arcade battle, the Firebrand can actually excel. There are no speed limits or breakage and performance is exaggerated. Thus, the Firebrand can be used somewhat effectively as a fighter. Turning and handling are both still poor performers with this aircraft compared with realistic battle while climb rate is significantly increased.

Boom & Run is a good tactic in arcade battle. Due to terrible handling characteristics, simply diving and flying flat is a good defensive tactic.

As a striker, the Firebrand can be extremely effective as well. Diving at an insane speed at targets is a good tactic, as its wings cannot rip and the Firebrand possesses amazing top speed and dive acceleration. Make sure to pull up quite soon, however, as handling is very poor.

Due to unlimited ammunition, the cannons are remarkably effective in arcade battle.

When using the Firebrand as a striker, it is recommended to side climb at the beginning of the match. Perform a shallow dive until you reach the target, as speed will accumulate rapidly and the evasion of ground fire and enemy aircraft will be far easier. Plan ahead when striking your target - don't begin diving until you have approximated where the target may be once you reach it (say a destroyer or convoy), as turning to attack a target at high speed may rip the Firebrand's wings or slow you down significantly - resulting in easy prey for other fighters.

As a fighter, the Firebrand is more lackluster. It possesses very poor handling capabilities, and manoeuvring is very sluggish. Partially due to wing-loading and weight, the Firebrand does, surprisingly, have a small turn radius and turns quite quickly, similar to the Me-410. However, turning with the Firebrand is not recommended - turning will severely bleed energy, enough to make you an eventual sitting duck.

High altitude performance as well as zoom climbing is extremely poor due to the lack of engine injection or throttle. Roll rate is poor as well, and the Firebrand is a massive target, compared to smaller and nimbler fighters such as the Bf-109. However, energy retention as well as level-flight speed is excellent. Using Boom & Run is recommended when using the Firebrand as a fighter, and using the Firebrand as a bomber hunter is also a good idea.

Always avoid fur balls with superior turning fighters, which includes almost all single-engine fighters at 4.3-5.3. In general, tactics for the Firebrand also apply for the Me-410, and vice versa.

Unlike realistic battle, simulator battles requires use of the cockpit, and first-person view with the Firebrand is actually quite decent. It has quite a good view due to its decent bubble canopy. Unfortunately, due to the size of the cowling and wings, there are many blind spots around the plane.

Thus, the Firebrand offers good visibility for its battle rating level in simulator battles.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Not controllable Not controllable Not controllable Separate Not ontrollable Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage Repair Radiator FTV mk.IV HSBC mk.2
II Compressor Airframe HMBC mk.2
III Wings Repair Engine Offensive 20 mm HLBC mk.2
IV Engine Injection Cover New 20 mm Cannons HRC mk.8

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Unrivaled armament compared to planes of the 4.3-5.3 BR, Hispano Mk.V variant fires very fast compared to standard Mk.II
  • High Ammo capacity
  • "Air Targets" ammunition overwhelmingly effective - composed entirely of HEF
  • Small turn radius
  • Good durability
  • Decent level speed
  • Good secondary payload
  • Torpedo options

Cons:

  • Poor manoeuvrability and handling in general- roll rate, turn rate, etc. are very poor
  • Large target
  • Mediocre climb rate
  • Poor high-altitude performance
  • Controls unresponsive as speeds near 400 mph
  • Mediocre energy retention
  • Lacks any bomb load stock

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 big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read 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.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


Britain strike aircraft
Blackburn  Firebrand TF Mk IV · Firecrest
Bristol  Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Beaufighter Mk VIc · Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21
CAC  ▄Wirraway
Fairey  Firefly F Mk I · Firefly FR Mk V
de Havilland  Mosquito FB Mk VI · Mosquito FB Mk XVIII
Hawker  Hurricane Mk IV · Tempest Mk V (Vickers P)
Westland  Wyvern S4