PBJ-1H

PBJ-1H

PBJ-1J

P-61C-1

PBJ-1H

PBJ-1J

P-61C-1

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.0	3.7	4.3

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:13 000

Purchase:76 000

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Description

The PBJ-1H Mitchell is a Rank III American attacker with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB/RB) and 4.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.41.

The PBJ-1H is U.S. Navy variant of the B-25 which was operated by the U.S. Marine Corps as a ground attacker. This aircraft is a powerful ground strafing machine and due to the weapons package built in, it can be viewed as a gunship. With eight 12.7 mm machine guns and a 75 mm cannon, most light ground targets such as AAA positions and Artillery positions can be destroyed. The 75 mm T13E1 cannon is similar to the 75 mm M3 on the Sherman tank, and shares its powerful support capability. With Armored Targets belt loaded, it can knock out light pillboxes with ease and greater accuracy than bombs in Realistic and Simulator modes. It is even effective against light and medium tanks, although the low fire rate makes it less than ideal for strafing several targets in a short target window. It is recommended to use the virtual cockpit view to aim the main gun. The 12.7 mm guns should be mainly utilized against "soft" targets such as Armored Cars, AAA and Artillery positions, and the 75 mm Gun against hardened targets such as light pillboxes and tanks. That said, the concentrated MG fire can also be used to destroy light pillboxes (with practice), though will require significant ammo usage to do so.

Despite armament differences, the airframe of the PBJ is still that of the B-25. While this means that it will have a relatively large number of defensive weapons, it also means that it is relatively sluggish compared to other close-support aircraft. It also presents a relatively large and slow moving, though semi-well-defended target. Beware all variants of the Bell P-39 Airacobra , P-63 Kingcobra, P-47 Thunderbolt, all variants of the Me 410s and the Yak-9T; these aircraft can destroy your aircraft without much difficulty, where as you will have a difficult time expending numerous 12.7 mm rounds trying to knock them out of the sky or off your tail.

This aircraft has several weaknesses in which the pilot must be aware which could be exploited by attacking aircraft. First, the twin rudders in the tail section create gunner dead zones. The rudders will prevent the side gunners and to an extent the dorsal gunner from firing on an enemy attacking from the shadow of either of these two spots. The tail gunner should be able to neutralize this weakness as long as he has not been knocked out. The underside of the aircraft is especially vulnerable as there is no ventral turret and the tail gunner, side gunners only have a limited downward angle in which they can shoot, so it may be best to fly as low as possible in certain circumstances. Even with the great fire-power utilized on this aircraft, the pilot's best bet will be to operate under fighter cover when possible.

Other differences from the B-25 are the smaller bomb payload, attacker spawn location (lower altitude than bombers) and the lack of a bomb-sight view for precision bombing.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,390 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
427	414	5,800	38.9	33.9	4.1	5.3	850
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,390 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
477	451	5,800	35.2	37.0	12.8	7.7	850

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
580	350	340	~4	~2

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 300	< 270	< 350	> 240

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
524 m	3,000 hp	3,339 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,700 m	2,700 hp	3,005 hp

Survivability and armour

• 8 mm Steel - Lower nose armor plate
• 8 mm Steel - Pilot and Co-pilot's seats
• 9.5 mm Steel - Fore cockpit armor plate
• 9.5 mm Steel - Side armor cockpit plates
• 9.5 mm Steel - Cockpit rear plate
• 9.5 mm Steel - Dorsal gunner aft plate
• 6.35 mm Steel - Side gunners armor plate x 2
• 9.5 mm Steel - Tail gunner protective armor plate
• 12 mm Bulletproof glass - Dorsal gunner turret
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Tail gunner canopy

Armaments

Offensive armament

The PBJ-1H is armed with:

• 1 x 75 mm T13E1 cannon (21 rounds)
• 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
• 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, cheek-mounted (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

Suspended armament

The PBJ-1H can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• Without load
• 12 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (600 lb total)
• 8 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)

Defensive armament

The PBJ-1H is defended by:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, ventral turret (600 rpg = 1,200 total)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, 2 x beam turret (250 rpg)

Usage in the 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	Protective Vest	Offensive 12 mm	SBC-25
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs	MBC-25
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Turret 12 mm	Offensive 75 mm
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	New 75 mm Cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Immense firepower in the form of eight 12.7 mm machine guns and a 75 mm cannon in the nose
• Excellent defensive firepower, utilizing most of the B-25 Mitchell's gun positions
• Durable air frame which can withstand numerous hits before going down
• Tricycle landing gear makes takeoff and landing easier

Cons

• 75 mm cannon fires so slow that it is usually impossible to kill more than 2 tanks when passing over a convoy
• Recoil from 75 mm cannon will literally yank the entire plane's nose off target
• Default belt for 75mm cannon alternates between HE and APT shells, giving mixed results
• Payload is limited compared to B-25 Mitchell, and configured as a dive bomber rather than level bomber
• Performance is sluggish at best
• Twin tails create blind spot for gunners, a trait carried by the B-25 Mitchell

History

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