Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm)

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This page is about the British strike aircraft Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm). For other versions, see Beaufighter (Family).
Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm)
beaufighter_mk1_40mm.png
GarageImage Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm).jpg
Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm)
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Description

In the Summer of 1941, engineers were evaluating the use of a 40 mm cannon for aircraft use. Two designs were in consideration, the Vickers S and Rolls-Royce BH. To test these cannons, a Beaufighter Mk.I prototype was modified to have the cannons installed in place of its usual 20 mm autocannons. The results of the test went on to select the Vickers S 40 mm cannon for follow up development, which also saw use in the Hurricane Mk IV.

Introduced during Update "Direct Hit" as a reward for Battle Pass: Season V, "River Hunter", the Beaufighter Mk I presents strong firepower for use against air and ground targets. Although this Beaufighter does not carry any suspended ordnance, the 40 mm armed Beaufighter presents enough penetrating power to threaten the weaker armour on tanks. The large calibre explosive power would also allow the Beaufighter to decimate large fighters and bombers. That said, the availability of only large cannons and a single machine gun for self-defense means this plane would not do well against manoeuvrable small fighters.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 4 878 m504 km/h
Turn time27 s
Max altitude8 100 m
Engine2 х Bristol Hercules III
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight11 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 4,878 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 480 464 8100 28.3 29.5 4.8 4.8 420
Upgraded 530 504 25.7 27.0 12.2 8.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
676 242 354 242 216 ~8 ~4
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 330 < 390 < 410 > 310

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear242 km/h
  • 1 mm steel plates behind engines
  • 25 mm steel plate in the nose
  • 25 mm steel plate located in rear fuselage (in front of gunner's legs)
  • 38 mm bulletproof glass in frontal cockpit window
    • Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in each wing)

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB883 Sl icon.png
RB2 278 Sl icon.png
SB6 173 Sl icon.png
Crew training3 400 Sl icon.png
Experts23 000 Sl icon.png
Aces180 Ge icon.png
Research Aces380 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 50 / 140 / 300 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 118 / 118 / 118 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Mods engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Mods ammo.png
vickers_S_belt_pack
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
RollsRoyceBH_belt_pack
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
vickers_S_new_gun
Mods weapon.png
RollsRoyceBH_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 140 mm Vickers S cannon
Ammunition16 rounds
Fire rate100 shots/min
Weapon 240 mm Rolls-Royce Type BH cannon
Ammunition12 rounds
Fire rate200 shots/min

The Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) is armed with:

  • 1 x 40 mm Vickers S cannon, chin-mounted, left (16 rpg)
  • 1 x 40 mm Rolls-Royce Type BH cannon, chin-mounted, right (12 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft 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).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Not controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Controllable
Not auto controlled
Combined Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Devastating armament which heavily damages or destroys most planes with one successful hit
  • Gets an air spawn
  • Good top speed in a dive
  • Thanks to its ability to mount AP-T shells, it can be used for tank-busting
  • Using weapon selection, guns can be fired separately (better ammo conservation)

Cons:

  • Slow compared to planes it frequently faces
  • Struggles to intercept bombers due to poor climb rate
  • Lacks any defensive armament
  • Very small ammo pool

History

By 1941, 20 Beaufighters were reserved solely for testing. The 4th prototype, R2055, was modified by replacing its standard armament with 2 40 mm guns. The gun mounted on the port fuselage was a Rolls-Royce BH, and the starboard fuselage gun was a Vickers S. The trials involving R2055 eventually lead to the the development of an anti-tank Hawker Hurricane Mk IID, mounting 2 of the Vickers guns tested on the Beaufighter.[1]

Media

Skins

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


Bristol Aeroplane Company
Strike Aircraft  Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Beaufighter Mk VIc · Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21*
Bombers  Blenheim Mk IV · Beaufort Mk VIII* · Brigand B 1
  * License-produced in Australia by Department of Aircraft Production.

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

Britain premium aircraft
Fighters  Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II · ▄D.520
  ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA
  Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe
  Typhoon Mk Ib · MB.5
Twin-engine fighters  Hornet Mk.I · Whirlwind P.9
Jet fighters  Attacker FB.2 · Hunter FGA.9 · Lightning F.53 · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II
Strike aircraft  ▄Wirraway · Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Wyvern S4
  Harrier GR.1 · Strikemaster Mk.88
Bombers  ▄Avenger Mk II · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▄DB-7 · ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Hudson Mk V · Swordfish Mk II

  1. Moyes 1966, pp. 5, 11, 13