B-57A

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Su-25K Pack
This page is about the American jet bomber B-57A. For other versions, see Canberra (Family).
b-57.png
GarageImage B-57A.jpg
360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/7/71/Cockpit_b-57.jpg
B-57A
AB RB SB
8.0 8.3 7.7
Research:105 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:300 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

The B-57A Canberra is a rank V American jet bomber with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB), 8.3 (RB), and 7.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.43.

The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it's not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Max speed
at 0 m946 km/h
Turn time58 s
Max altitude13 716 m
Engine2 х Wright J65-W-5
TypeJet
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight25 t

Note: In regards to the B-57A's maximum speed in Indicated Air Speed (IAS), at lower temperatures (normally in high altitudes) the Maximum Mach Operating (MMO) is used and is 0.82, or around 1,012 km/h.

When landing, the B-57A can dramatically reduce speed: you can be less than 2 km away from the airfield, and slow down to landing speed in seconds. This also means you can quickly return to the airfield and rearm compared to other jets at this BR, like the Me 163.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 926 903 13716 59.2 59.9 24.5 23.1 850
Upgraded 960 946 57.2 58.0 39.3 32.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
990 450 498 469 320 ~8 ~3
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 561 < 523 < 510 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Empty mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Wright J65-W-5 2 11,200 kg 201 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 15m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 50m fuel
1,260 kg Axial-flow turbojet 13,245 kg 13,905 kg 15,230 kg 17,214 kg 17,876 kg 24,947 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 15m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 50m fuel MTOW
Stationary 3,265 kgf N/A 0.49 0.47 0.43 0.38 0.37 0.26
Optimal 3,265 kgf
(0 km/h)
N/A 0.49 0.47 0.43 0.38 0.37 0.26

Survivability and armour

Crew3 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear450 km/h
  • No armour protection
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in central fuselage, 1 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 024 → 4 239 Sl icon.png
RB10 643 → 14 921 Sl icon.png
SB15 690 → 21 997 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications90 000 Rp icon.png
145 400 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training86 000 Sl icon.png
Experts300 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 700 Ge icon.png
Research Aces720 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
100 / 300 / 600 % Sl icon.png
196 / 196 / 196 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
6 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
6 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
360 Ge icon.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
9 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
32 000 Sl icon.png
650 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
9 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
9 900 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
320 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
EEMBC No.2 Mark 1
Research:
6 100 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 800 Sl icon.png
200 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)
Setup 19 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb
Setup 26 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bomb

The B-57A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • 9 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb total)
  • 6 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive. You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.

The 1,000 lbs are effective base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB. For AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB, it is recommended flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battles, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don't be afraid of using the in-game chat, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are a lone bomber in your team, count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs (with the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).

The 500 lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it's recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.

Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practicing can show you how to do it. To maximize XP and SL income, attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.

To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 400-500 m (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2,500-3,000 m, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.

To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:

  1. If an enemey Boom & Zooms on you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
  2. Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only MiG-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don't try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
  3. Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be bait for your team; let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course with enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don't let him catch you.
  4. The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don't restrain, if you dont have ground-unit superiority.
  5. When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on them.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Decent horizontal manoeuvrability
  • Effective air brakes
  • Climbs well
  • All bombs are held internally and therefore do not significantly impact performance
  • Complete and detailed cockpit (useful in SB)
  • Outruns all pre Korean war jets

Cons:

  • Unarmed; no offensive/defensive weapons of any kind whatsoever
  • Faces air-to-air missiles which are difficult to dodge
  • Only a medium bomb payload
  • Wings can easily fall off in high speed dives
  • Engines overheat at low altitudes
  • Expensive to repair in comparison to the silver lions it can generate
  • Not fast enough to outrun the majority of the opponents it faces
  • Bad energy retention; loses most of its speed in a single turn
  • Poor roll rate

History

In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.

The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development

External links


Glenn L. Martin Company
Attackers  AM-1
Bombers  B-10B · B-26B · PBM-1 · PBM-3
Jet bombers  B-57A* · B-57B*
Export  Martin 139WC · Martin 167-A3 · B-26C
  * These aircraft were license-built from The English Electric Company Limited who developed and built the British English Electric Canberra.

USA jet aircraft
  Fighters
F-4  F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II
F-5  F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A
F-8  F8U-2 · F-8E
F-80  F-80A-5 · F-80C-10
F-84  F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE
F-86  F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35
F-89  F-89B · F-89D
F-100  F-100D
F-104  F-104A · F-104C
F-14  F-14A Early · F-14B
F-15  F-15A
F-16  F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C
F9F  F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8
Other  P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1
  Strike Aircraft
FJ-4  FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232
A-4  A-4B · A-4E Early
A-6  A-6E TRAM
A-7  A-7D · A-7E · A-7K
AV-8  AV-8A · AV-8C
A-10  A-10A · A-10A Late
B-57  B-57A · B-57B
F-105  F-105D
F-111  F-111A