Vampire F.B.5

This page is about the British jet fighter Vampire F.B.5. For other versions, see Vampire (Family).

Vampire F.B.5

Tempest Mk II

Venom FB.4

Vampire F.B.5

Tempest Mk II

Venom FB.4

Britain

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	8.0	7.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:95 000

Purchase:270 000

Show in game

Description

The de Havilland Vampire began in 1941 as a very experimental aircraft, designed around de Havilland's newly developed turbojet engine, the Halford H.1 (later renamed the de Havilland Goblin). It emerged just as turbojets were becoming powerful enough to power single-engined aircraft, aided by the Vampire's unusual twin-boom design, which allowed a shorter tail pipe to be fitted and thus reduced power loss from the engine. The prototype first flew in September 1943, only 6 months after the Gloster Meteor, and production began in May 1944, although the first units would not enter service until 1946. The Vampire FB.5 was introduced in 1948, featuring armour around the engine, clipped wings, and hardpoints for bombs and rockets, allowing it to undertake the fighter-bomber role. It was the most produced variant of the Vampire, with over 1,000 units built.

Introduced in Update 1.33, the Vampire is a highly manoeuvrable but relatively slow jet, making it rather similar in style to the numerous Spitfires found earlier in the tree. While it is unlikely to outaccelerate or outrun any of its opponents, even in a dive, the excellent manoeuvrability can allow the Vampire to dodge and entrap opponents into a turnfight which it will inevitably win. Once in position, the nimble but stable platform and four powerful Hispano cannons make taking shots relatively simple. However, as with all jets, particular attention must be paid to ensure that the Vampire is not left low on energy and vulnerable to encroaching enemies once a turnfight is committed to.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 4 572 m855 km/h

Turn time24 s

Max altitude10 668 m

Enginede Havilland Goblin II

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

When using the Vampire, the first thing a pilot should know is that it is inferior in most aspects to its opposition, thus requiring constant vigilance and consciousness of weakness. The Vampire cannot reach the speeds a MiG-9 (l) or an F2H-2 can, it cannot accelerate as well as many of its counterparts and it is appalling in a dive against most of its opponents. So, essentially, the "Vamp" cannot climb well, it can't catch many jets in a straight line and it can't out-accelerate much of its opposition. However, the Vampire has one impressive advantage against its jet-powered opponents: it can turn incredibly well. In fact, a good analogy to flying the Vampire is fighting jets in propeller aircraft.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	817	792	10668	25.0	25.7	16.1	15.1	650
Upgraded	895	855		23.5	24.0	24.4	20.0

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	+	-
888	330	496	464	300	~10	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 550	< 600	< 600	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
de Havilland Goblin II		1	3,385 kg		190 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)				Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		11m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	39m fuel
705 kg	Centrifugal-flow turbojet		3,734 kg	4,014 kg	4,325 kg	4,605 kg	5,606 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	11m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	39m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	1,290 kgf	N/A	0.35	0.32	0.30	0.28	0.23
Optimal	1,290 kgf (0 km/h)	N/A	0.35	0.32	0.30	0.28	0.23

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural888 km/h

Gear330 km/h

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
• 12.7 mm Steel - Armour plate behind the pilot's head
• 3 mm Steel - Armour plate under the engine

The Vampire provides adequate protection to the pilot, as well as some armour under the engine. As with most jets, damage to the wings or fuselage greatly hampers flight performance, decreasing top speed and manoeuvrability. There are quite a few fuel tanks located in this plane's wings, so fuel fires may be common, especially when taking a high fuel loadout.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 236 → 4 608

RB8 907 → 12 683

SB11 966 → 17 039

Total cost of modifications80 000

129 300

Talisman cost2 000

Crew training78 000

Experts270 000

Aces1 500

Research Aces670 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 350 / 600 %

190 / 190 / 190 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 270 Airframe Research: 6 000 Cost: 9 700 300 Compressor Research: 6 000 Cost: 9 700 300 Wings repair Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 250 Engine Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 250 G-suit Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 250 Cover Research: 8 700 Cost: 14 000 440 EFS Research: 8 700 Cost: 14 000 440		hispano_belt_pack Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 270 500 LB Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 270 GLBC mk.3 Research: 6 000 Cost: 9 700 300 hispano_mk5_new_gun Research: 5 000 Cost: 8 100 250 GRC mk.8 Research: 8 700 Cost: 14 000 440

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon

Ammunition600 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The Vampire F.B.5 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, chin-mounted (150 rpg = 600 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (6)

Setup 12 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 22 x G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bomb
4 x RP-3 rockets
4 x RP-3 rockets

Setup 32 x 1000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bomb

Setup 44 x RP-3 rockets
4 x RP-3 rockets

Setup 52 x M.C. 500 lb Mk.I bomb

Setup 62 x M.C. 500 lb Mk.I bomb
4 x RP-3 rockets
4 x RP-3 rockets

The Vampire F.B.5 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 2 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs + 8 x RP-3 rockets (1,000 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.13 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 8 x RP-3 rockets

Usage in battles

The Vampire is well-known for its ability to turn on a dime, but its incredible manoeuvrability also means that it has poor manoeuvring energy retention. Climbing is important for this plane, as is careful airspeed maintenance. When in a battle situation, it is advisable to always stay above 400 km/h; any slower, and the Vampire will greatly struggle to evade enemy fire.

If the Vampire is able to keep its energy, it becomes one of the best dogfighters at this rank. It can outturn nearly every other jet of its tier, and has a powerful engine to boot. Thanks to its great manoeuvrability, it is often quite easy to line up a shot against the enemy. One common tactic is to try luring the enemy into a turnfight. The Vampire will almost always come out on top. However, never commit to a dogfight if there are multiple enemies nearby. Turning will cause the Vampire's airspeed to fall dramatically, at which point enemies can easily swoop in and destroy it.

It is valuable to note that the Vampire has a low top speed for a jet, at only ~880 km/h. It also tends to compress as higher speeds. The Vampire may have difficulty in chasing down a faster enemy. Also note that firing the main cannon armament causes a downward recoil.

For attacking ground targets, the Vampire can be equipped with either bombs or rockets.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful armament
• Great manoeuvrability
• Decent payload options
• Good cockpit visibility
• Good at gliding without engine power

Cons:

• Low top speed and acceleration
• Weapons create significant recoil
• Poor dive rate

History

Archive of the in-game description

The de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a single engine jet fighter which entered service with the RAF in 1946. Designed to Air Ministry specification F.6/41, the demand was for a fighter with a maximum speed in excess of 500 mph and a combat radius of at least 300 miles. The twin tail boom layout design allowed a short tailpipe from the powerplant, a de Havilland Goblin centrifugal turbojet. This limited the loss of thrust and reduced overall weight. Also of note in the design was the use of plywood and balsa wood in the construction of the cockpit section; de Havilland already had experience of using wood in the construction of high performance aircraft. Preliminary flight testing in September 1943 proved to be a success, with modifications made to the rudder to reduce drag and increase stability. The third prototype aircraft was also fitted with the planned standard armament of four 20mm Hispano cannon. In May 1944 an order for 120 aircraft was placed, and the first production Vampire F.Mk.I made its maiden flight in April 1945; the Vampire briefly held the record as the fastest British jet fighter with a top speed of 540 mph. No.247 Squadron was the first unit to be equipped with the Vampire in March 1946, shortly followed by No.54 and No.72 Squadrons to form the first Vampire Wing at RAF Chilbolton. In 1948 Vampires were employed by the 2nd Tactical Air Force based in Germany. A specially modified Vampire again hit the record books when it achieved a world altitude record of 59,446 feet. 1948 also saw the first testing of the FB.Mk.5. This was initially a modified Vampire F.3 with a strengthened and clipped wing, increased armour and greater ground clearance for the carrying of external ordnance. This fighter-bomber variant of the Vampire was capable of carrying up to 2000 lbs of bombs or 60 lb rockets, and went on to equip 40 squadrons within the RAF as well as being the first RAF jets to operate in the Far East. The Vampire FB.Mk.5 was used operationally in ground attack missions against insurgents in Malaya until it was replaced by the Venom in 1953. The FB.Mk.5 was also used as the basis for the Royal Navy's Sea Vampire F.Mk.20 which, fitted with an arrestor hook, long travel landing gear and larger wing flaps, entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in June 1949. A popular export fighter, just under 3300 Vampires were built - many under license overseas.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Vampire F.B.5 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #85 - Pages of History section at 08:59 discusses the Vampire FB 5.

Dogfights: Me 262 vs Vampire FB 5 - Azi

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

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance