V-11
Contents
Description
The V-11 was one of the earliest attacker aircraft of NRAAF (Nationalist Air Force) before the 2nd Sino-Japanese War; the Vultee Aircraft Inc. designed an "airliner", V-1 for US domestic markets, however, the new regulations on airliners put a full stop to any further production of this airframe at only 25 aircraft. Meanwhile, the USAAF bought a few aircraft and converted them under the name YA-19, which proved to be inferior to its twin-engine competitors and only used in Panama. For countries that were in dire need of new attack aircraft, namely China; the Nationalist government bought 30 aircraft and planned to assemble most of them in China Proper at Zhejiang or Guangdong, although they were flown by mercenary pilots and having minor results during the early days of war to bombard Japanese-occupied infrastructures, due to the worsening of war and crashes after the retreat, they were soon decommissioned by 1940.
Introduced in Update "Hot Tracks" as one of the Vultee V-1 variants introduced to the Chinese tech tree, although V-11 has rather a large size at its tier and less than desired firepower, the aircraft can sometimes surprise enemy aircraft, sometimes even biplanes with its somewhat decent turning radius; while the bomb options can still ensure a kill against ground targets and serve as a good trainer aircraft for attackers.
General info
Flight performance
Despite its large size, the V-11 is decent at turning although it is outshone by the many biplanes it faces. The acceleration and climb of this aircraft is poor, and is usually an easy prey for any interested fighter. Don't expect to outrun any monoplane fighters or more powerful biplanes as the plane is somewhat underpowered, with poor cruising capabilities compared to the likes of a stock Ju 87 B-2. With the use of landing flaps, the plane can enter speeds as low as 120 km/h without stalling, which can be used to stall trap potential enemies.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,084 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 342 | 329 | 6800 | 22.9 | 23.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 300 |
| Upgraded | 379 | 360 | 21.1 | 22.0 | 7.9 | 6.2 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 620 | 320 | 330 | 280 | 280 | ~8 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 320 | < 260 | < 500 | > 250 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour plates
- Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 under pilot, 1 behind pilot, 2 in each wing)
- Modules are centrally located
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The V-11 is armed with:
- 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (600 rpg = 2,400 total)
Suspended armament
The V-11 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (500 lb total)
- 1 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb (500 lb total)
Defensive armament
The V-11 is defended by:
- 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg)
Usage in battles
Realistic Battles
As with all strike aircraft, the V-11 gets an attacker air spawn. This should be used to avoid any confrontations. The speed and climb of this plane is poor, keeping altitude is important in order to avoid enemy fighters. Wait for friendly fighters to arrive to the scene before deciding to engage ground targets. Bombs can be used to damage bases or to destroy light pillboxes.
You can also use this aircraft to catch out any unwary enemy fighters. The 4 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns are adequate to take down enemy aircraft. Only engage if you have an altitude advantage as fleeing in this slow aircraft may be difficult. Some fighters such as the Bf 109 B can be outmanoeuvred, using the combat flaps. However, it is recommended to try to preserve your speed unless the area is clear of any potential enemies.
Do not engage in head-ons or tail any aircraft with rear gunners, as your engine is already underpowered, meaning that any damage to the engine will really, really hurt. Use deflection shooting and avoid air-to-air combat if it can be helped.
The presence of one Browning .30 cal MG in the rear will help to ward off some would be attackers, but it is fairly weak without luck or proper aim. Fire in controlled bursts to prevent the gun from overheating and locking it in a cooling cycle, disabling your only rear defense for ~20 seconds. The gun lacks any gun depression over the rear, so if necessary nose up and to one side at a 10 degree angle to clear the gun from the tail and fuselage.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Not controllable Not auto controlled |
Not controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 1 gear |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Rather powerful bombload of one 500 lb bomb or two 250 lb bombs for the battle rating
- 4 x 7.62 mm MG is decent firepower for the battle rating, allowing it to effectively damage/destroy aircraft if needed
- Great over-the-nose visibility makes leading very easy in Simulator
- Engine does not overheat quickly
- Has a rear gunner with a 7.62 mm MG for self-defence
- Decent turn when combat flaps are used
Cons:
- Extremely poor speed for a monoplane, cannot even catch I-16s quickly
- Mediocre acceleration and climb rate
- Poor roll rate
- Very slow energy retention
- Is quite a big target
- Does not have any armour protection
- Does not have reflector gunsight, meaning you cannot move the pilot's head in Simulator or the reticle will not align
- Overall aircraft responds slowly to aiming adjustments, making it hard to put a solid burst into a manoeuvring target
- Bombload is quite poor for an aircraft of its size and role, the Hawk III carries the same payload while being a lightweight biplane
- Prone to wing overload
History
Although the Vultee V-11 wasn't the most renowned aircraft in the World War 2, the history of this aircraft can trace back onto an airliner, surprisingly, the Vultee V-1.
The ill-fated V-1 has only 25 of them built due to the strict regulations from the Bureau of Air Commerce on single-engine airliner, albeit its rather good handling; the aircraft was then converted into series of 2-seater attackers with variants such as a floatplane version. The USAAF bought a few of them, reinforced its airframe and used them for evaluation as the YA-19, which proved to be inferior to twin-engine attackers and thus these aircrafts were soon transferred to the Panama. In the mean time, V-11s that were based on the reinforced YA-19 were sold to 4 other countries: Brazil, Turkey, USSR and the Republic of China.
The newly reorganized Republic of China Air Force was in need for attackers in view to modernize the air force, an order of 30 V-11Gs was placed in 1935 and 29 of them would be assembled in China by the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company (中央杭州飛機製造廠 at Hangzhou, Zhejiang; currently PLAAF Jianqiao Airbase) or by Shiuchow Aircraft Manufacturing Factory (韶關飛機製造廠 at Shaoguan, Guangdong); these aircrafts were handed to the "International Regiment 國際中隊" during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War for operation and was first used to bomb the then occupied Japanese airfield at Bengbu, Shandong (山東蚌埠) in early February, 1938; later in the same month, the regiment bombed train stations and airfield occupied by the Japanese forces again; both attack runs have no recorded losses.
As the Japanese got the upper hand on the war, these aircrafts were then transferred to the rear and after a mountain crash of such type of aircraft, the V-11s and the later V-12s were soon downgraded as liaison aircrafts or trainers until late 1940 when all of them were dismantled.
Media
- Skins
- Videos
See also
External links
| Vultee Aircraft Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Export | P-66 · ▄A-35B · V-11 · V-12D |
| China twin-engine fighters and strike aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Twin-engine fighters | ␗Ki-45 hei/tei · ␗P-38L-1 |
| Strike aircraft | V-11 · V-12D · ␗IL-10 (1946) · Mosquito FB.Mk.26 |
