Difference between revisions of "Shipboard reconnaissance aircraft"

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==Description==
 
==Description==
  
While [[:Category:Hydroplanes|hydroplanes]] were present in War Thunder prior to Update "Winged Lions", all were standalone aircraft present in the tech tree that could be piloted in air battles by the player. Shipboard reconnaissance aircraft allows large bluewater ships to utilize their plane catapults to send scout planes to perform recon of an area, land on capture zones, and pester enemy ships with their onboard weaponry.
+
While [[:Category:Hydroplanes|hydroplanes]] were present in War Thunder prior to Update "Winged Lions", all were standalone aircraft present in the tech tree that could be piloted in air battles by the player. Shipboard reconnaissance aircraft allow large bluewater ships to utilize their plane catapults to send scout planes to perform reconnaissance of an area, land on capture zones, and pester enemy ships with their onboard weaponry.
  
A list of available ship-launched reconnaissance aircraft can be found in the below table:
 
 
{{Ship-launched reconnaissance aircraft|expand=true}}
 
{{Ship-launched reconnaissance aircraft|expand=true}}
  
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===Spotting===
 
===Spotting===
 
[[File:E7K2 spotting torpedoes.jpg|thumb|right|[[E7K2]] is used for spotting incoming torpedoes on the Midway [[:Category:Maps and missions#Naval Forces Maps|map]]]]
 
[[File:E7K2 spotting torpedoes.jpg|thumb|right|[[E7K2]] is used for spotting incoming torpedoes on the Midway [[:Category:Maps and missions#Naval Forces Maps|map]]]]
This is the first thing you will notice after launching the plane. Enemy ships through most of the map will be visible from the airplane, allowing you much greater situational awareness. This does not affect spotting of the ship itself. if you switch back to it, but from the aiplane, you still will know the enemy location. In the Arcade mode, even if they are hidden behind the terrain.
+
This is the first thing you will notice after launching the plane. Enemy ships across most of the map will be visible from the air, allowing you much greater situational awareness. This does not affect spotting capabilities of the ship itself.
  
Other than spotting ships, one can also spot torpedoes - these leave a very visible trail in the water, an airplane at altitude can spot them from kilometers away, allowing the mothership to easily avoid them without affecting aim.
+
Other than spotting ships, one can also spot torpedoes - these leave a very visible trail in the water, and can be spotted from kilometres away at altitude, allowing the captain to easily avoid them without affecting aim.
  
 
===Capturing point===
 
===Capturing point===
One of the primary use cases for the shipborne hydroplane is taking the cap points. It's particularly useful on large maps in high ranks, where the time is taken for even the quickest bluewater ships to arrive at the cap counts in long minutes. Also later, throughout the game, if there's an enemy cap point without hostile ships in proximity, it's worth attempting capping with the plane as well.
+
One of the primary use cases for the shipborne hydroplane is taking the cap points. It's particularly useful on large maps in high ranks, where it can take minutes for even the quickest bluewater ships to arrive at the cap point. Also later, throughout the game, if there's an enemy cap point without hostile ships in proximity, it's worth attempting capping with the plane as well.
  
For a successful capping approach the cap at the maximum speed, then reduce the throttle to zero and quickly bleed velocity through sharp turns and/or using the rudder (default <code>Q</code>/<code>E</code> on PC) down to IAS of 200 km/h or less, while being careful to avoid a stall. Then land like you land a regular airplane. If you would like to keep a constant speed on the water in order to avoid getting hit, set your throttle to about 55% and adjust from there on.
+
For a successful capping, approach the cap at maximum speed, then reduce the throttle to zero and quickly bleed velocity through sharp turns and/or using the rudder (default <code>Q</code>/<code>E</code> on PC) down to IAS of 200 km/h or less, while being careful to avoid a stall, and gently land. If you would like to keep a constant speed on the water in order to avoid getting hit, set your throttle to about 55% and adjust from there on.
  
 
===Smoke screen===
 
===Smoke screen===
 
{{Main|Smoke screen#Naval Forces}}
 
{{Main|Smoke screen#Naval Forces}}
 
[[File:Ro43 capping with smoke cover.jpg|thumb|right|Approach towards the edge of the cap, start smoking, and in the cap zone make a turn towards the middle, covering yourself with ample of smoke]]
 
[[File:Ro43 capping with smoke cover.jpg|thumb|right|Approach towards the edge of the cap, start smoking, and in the cap zone make a turn towards the middle, covering yourself with ample of smoke]]
One of the most common uses of the hydroplane is to deploy a smoke screen. Unlike the Smokescreen modification on ships, airplanes can deploy the screen directly between you and the enemy, allowing for a more efficient cover and more time to escape. While escaping from a particularly persistent enemy, a hydroplane can deploy a wall of smoke during the time that the smoke on the ship is still reloading, allowing for a constant cover, switching back a forth between smoke from the ship and smoke from the airplane.
+
One of the most common uses of the hydroplane is to deploy a smoke screen. Unlike the Smokescreen modification on ships, shipboard reconnaissance aircraft can deploy the screen directly between you and the enemy, allowing for a more efficient cover and more time to escape. While escaping from a particularly persistent enemy, a hydroplane can deploy a wall of smoke during the time that the smoke on the ship is still reloading, allowing for constant cover, switching back and forth between smoke from the ship and smoke from the aircraft.
  
Finally, the hydroplane itself can benefit from the smoke screen. Approach the cap point towards its edge and begin dropping smoke as you're about to start capturing, then make a turn towards the center of the cap, hiding yourself behind the smoke.  
+
Finally, the hydroplane itself can benefit from the smoke screen. Approach the cap point towards its edge and begin dropping smoke as you're about to start capturing, then make a turn towards the center of the cap, hiding yourself behind the smoke.
  
 
===Offense and Defence===
 
===Offense and Defence===
Hydroplanes equipped with bombs can directly engage enemy ships to defend your bluewater ship. While this is a very risky strategy, likely a suicidal attempt that usually ends without a success, it can pay off with some luck and maneuvering. Hydroplanes suffer from being extremely fragile - often a single hit from a 20mm can be enough to take them down. But even two small bombs dropped on an ammo rack of an enemy destroyers can turn the tide. Using mountains, icebergs, or other hard cover is highly recommended, as below 500 meters it becomes tricky to survive without a hit even for the most skilled pilots.
+
Hydroplanes equipped with bombs can directly engage enemy ships to defend your bluewater ship. While this is a very risky strategy, likely a suicidal attempt that usually ends without success, it can pay off with some luck and manoeuvring. Hydroplanes suffer from being extremely fragile - often a single hit from a 20 mm can be enough to take them down. But even two small bombs dropped on an ammo rack of an enemy destroyer can turn the tide. Using mountains, icebergs, or other hard cover is highly recommended, as within 500 metres it becomes tricky to survive without a hit even for the most skilled pilots.
  
Alternatively, and often more successfully, hydroplanes can be used to stop enemy hydroplanes, bombers, or even fighters. [[Ar 196 A-3]] is a particularly good fit for that, as its 20 mm cannons can deal damage quickly and efficiently. Lower calibre guns require more time to score the kills, making it riskier when the enemy has any defensive armament. Finally: the airplane itself can be used as a weapon, kamikazeing into the enemy plane.
+
Alternatively, and often more successfully, hydroplanes can be used to stop enemy hydroplanes, bombers, or even fighters. The [[Ar 196 A-3]] is a particularly good fit for that, as its 20 mm cannons can deal damage quickly and efficiently. Lower calibre guns require more time to inflict critical damage, making it riskier when the enemy has any defensive armament. Rear-facing defensive armament is extremely unreliable against hostile aircraft, but it can still be used against unsuspecting enemy hydroplanes, in particular when aimed manually.
 
 
Rear-facing defensive armament is extremely unreliable against hostile airplanes, but it still can be used against unsuspecting enemy hydroplanes, in particular when aimed manually.
 
  
 
===Reloading===
 
===Reloading===
This is relevant only for the [[:Category:Game modes#Realistic Battles|Realistic Battles]]. In this mode, airplanes will not reload their bombs or guns in-flight like they do in the arcade. There is no way of landing back on the ship or at the airport either. This leaves only two options for reloading: Either landing on a naval landing strip - which can be found by opening the map (default <code>M</code> on a PC) - or by landing on a capture point, which will reload ammunition, much like it does for tanks in the ground battles.
+
In Realistic battles, aircraft will not reload their bombs or guns in-flight like they do in Arcade. There is no way of landing back on the ship or at the airfield either. This leaves only two options for reloading: either landing on a naval landing strip, or by landing on a capture point, which will reload ammunition much like it does for tanks in the ground battles.
  
 
==Comparison==
 
==Comparison==
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Airplane
+
! rowspan="2" colspan="2" | Aircraft
! colspan="2" | Max speed
+
! rowspan="2" | Max speed (km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Turn time (s)
 
! rowspan="2" | Turn time (s)
! colspan="3" | Offensive armament
+
! colspan="2" | Offensive armament
! colspan="3" | Defensive armament
+
! colspan="2" | Defensive armament
! colspan="3" | Suspended armament
+
! colspan="2" | Suspended armament
|-
 
! km/h !! at altitude (m) !! type !! count !! fire rate !! type !! count !! fire rate !! type !! count !! TNT equivalent (kg)
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:USA_flag.png|link=|25x25px]] || [[OS2U-1]] || 296 || 1 700 || 33 || [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1 || 1000 || [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1 || 1000 || [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)]] || 2 || 24.5
+
! Type !! Fire rate !! Type !! Fire rate !! Type !! TNT equiv. (kg)
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:USA_flag.png|link=|25x25px]] || [[SOC-1]] || 296 || 1 700 || 33 || [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1 || 1000 || [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1 || 1000 || [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)]] || 2 || 24.5  
+
| [[File:USA_flag.png|link=|30px]] || [[OS2U-1]] || 296 <br> ''at 1,700 m'' || 33 || 1 x [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1,000 || 1 x [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1,000 || 2 x [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)]] || 24.5
 
|-
 
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[File:Germany_flag.png|25x25px|link=]]
+
| [[File:USA_flag.png|link=|30px]] || [[SOC-1]] || 296 <br> ''at 1,700 m'' || 33 || 1 x [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1,000 || 1 x [[Browning (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm Browning]] || 1,000 || 2 x [[AN-M30A1 (100 lb)]] || 24.5
| rowspan="2" | [[Ar 196 A-3]]
 
| rowspan="2" | 320
 
| rowspan="2" | 2 000
 
| rowspan="2" | 21
 
| [[MG FF (20 mm)|20 mm MG FF]]
 
| 2
 
| 520
 
| rowspan="2" | [[MG 15 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG 15]]
 
| rowspan="2" | 1
 
| rowspan="2" | 1000
 
| rowspan="2" | [[SC50JA (50 kg)]]
 
| rowspan="2" | 2
 
| rowspan="2" | 25
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[MG 17 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG 17]]
+
| [[File:Germany_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[Ar 196 A-3]] || 320 <br> ''at 2,000 m'' || 21 || 2 x [[MG FF (20 mm)|20 mm MG FF]]<br>1 x [[MG 17 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG 17]] || 520<br>1,200 || 1 x [[MG 15 (7.92 mm)|7.92 mm MG 15]] || 1,000 || 2 x [[SC50JA (50 kg)]] || 25
| 1
 
| 1200
 
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:USSR_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[KOR-1]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || [[ShKAS (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ShKAS]] || 2 || 1800 || [[ShKAS (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ShKAS]] || 1 || 1800 || [[FAB-100sv (100 kg)]] || 2 || 36.02
+
| [[File:USSR_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[KOR-1]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || 2 x [[ShKAS (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ShKAS]]|| 1,800 || 1 x [[ShKAS (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm ShKAS]] || 1,800 || 2 x [[FAB-100sv (100 kg)]]|| 36.02
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:Britain_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[Osprey Mk IV]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || [[Vickers E (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers E]] || 1 || 900 || [[Lewis (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Lewis]] || 1 || 551 || colspan=3 | {{Cross}}
+
| [[File:Britain_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[Osprey Mk IV]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || 1 x [[Vickers E (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Vickers E]] || 900 || 1 x [[Lewis (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Lewis]] || 551 || colspan=2 | -
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:Britain_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[Walrus Mk.I]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || colspan=3 | {{Cross}} || [[Lewis (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Lewis]] || 2 || 551 || [[G.P. Mk.IV (250 lb)]] || 4 || 30.7
+
| [[File:Britain_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[Walrus Mk.I]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || colspan=2 | - || 2 x [[Lewis (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Lewis]]|| 551 || 4 x [[G.P. Mk.IV (250 lb)]] || 30.7
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[E7K2]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || colspan=3 | {{Cross}} || [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 92]] || 2 || 600 || [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 4 || 25,3
+
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[E7K2]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || colspan=2 | - || 2 x [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 92]]|| 600 || 4 x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 25.3
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[E8N2]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]] || 1 || 900 || [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 92]] || 1 || 600 || [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 4 || 25,3
+
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[E8N2]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || 1 x [[Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]] || 900 || 1 x [[Type 92 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 92]] || 600 || 2 x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 25.3
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[Aichi E13A1]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || colspan=3 | {{Cross}} || [[Type 97 (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]] || 1 || 900 || [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 4 || 25,3
+
| [[File:IJN_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[Aichi E13A1]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || colspan=2 | - || 1 x [[Type 97 navy (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Type 97]] || 900 || 4 x [[Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg)]] || 25.3
 
|-
 
|-
| [[File:Kingdom_Italy_flag.png|25x25px|link=]] || [[Ro.43]] || 412 || 4 000 || 17 || [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] || 2 || 900 || [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] || 1 || 900 || colspan=3 | {{Cross}}
+
| [[File:Kingdom_Italy_flag.png|30px|link=]] || [[Ro.43]] || 412 <br> ''at 4,000 m'' || 17 || 2 x [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]]|| 900 || 1 x [[Breda-SAFAT (7.7 mm)|7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT]] || 900 || colspan=2 | -
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}

Revision as of 18:39, 9 February 2023

Shipboard reconnaissance aircraft were introduced into War Thunder in Update "Winged Lions" as an additional vehicle available for naval units.

Description

While hydroplanes were present in War Thunder prior to Update "Winged Lions", all were standalone aircraft present in the tech tree that could be piloted in air battles by the player. Shipboard reconnaissance aircraft allow large bluewater ships to utilize their plane catapults to send scout planes to perform reconnaissance of an area, land on capture zones, and pester enemy ships with their onboard weaponry.


Ship-launched reconnaissance aircraft
USA  O3U-1 · OS2U-1* · SOC-1
Germany  Ar 196 A-3*
USSR  KOR-1
Britain  Osprey Mk IV · Walrus Mk.I
Japan  E7K2 · E8N2 · E13A1 · F1M2*
Italy  Ro.43
France  GL.832HY · Loire 130С
  *Available standalone in tech tree

Uses

Spotting

E7K2 is used for spotting incoming torpedoes on the Midway map

This is the first thing you will notice after launching the plane. Enemy ships across most of the map will be visible from the air, allowing you much greater situational awareness. This does not affect spotting capabilities of the ship itself.

Other than spotting ships, one can also spot torpedoes - these leave a very visible trail in the water, and can be spotted from kilometres away at altitude, allowing the captain to easily avoid them without affecting aim.

Capturing point

One of the primary use cases for the shipborne hydroplane is taking the cap points. It's particularly useful on large maps in high ranks, where it can take minutes for even the quickest bluewater ships to arrive at the cap point. Also later, throughout the game, if there's an enemy cap point without hostile ships in proximity, it's worth attempting capping with the plane as well.

For a successful capping, approach the cap at maximum speed, then reduce the throttle to zero and quickly bleed velocity through sharp turns and/or using the rudder (default Q/E on PC) down to IAS of 200 km/h or less, while being careful to avoid a stall, and gently land. If you would like to keep a constant speed on the water in order to avoid getting hit, set your throttle to about 55% and adjust from there on.

Smoke screen

Approach towards the edge of the cap, start smoking, and in the cap zone make a turn towards the middle, covering yourself with ample of smoke

One of the most common uses of the hydroplane is to deploy a smoke screen. Unlike the Smokescreen modification on ships, shipboard reconnaissance aircraft can deploy the screen directly between you and the enemy, allowing for a more efficient cover and more time to escape. While escaping from a particularly persistent enemy, a hydroplane can deploy a wall of smoke during the time that the smoke on the ship is still reloading, allowing for constant cover, switching back and forth between smoke from the ship and smoke from the aircraft.

Finally, the hydroplane itself can benefit from the smoke screen. Approach the cap point towards its edge and begin dropping smoke as you're about to start capturing, then make a turn towards the center of the cap, hiding yourself behind the smoke.

Offense and Defence

Hydroplanes equipped with bombs can directly engage enemy ships to defend your bluewater ship. While this is a very risky strategy, likely a suicidal attempt that usually ends without success, it can pay off with some luck and manoeuvring. Hydroplanes suffer from being extremely fragile - often a single hit from a 20 mm can be enough to take them down. But even two small bombs dropped on an ammo rack of an enemy destroyer can turn the tide. Using mountains, icebergs, or other hard cover is highly recommended, as within 500 metres it becomes tricky to survive without a hit even for the most skilled pilots.

Alternatively, and often more successfully, hydroplanes can be used to stop enemy hydroplanes, bombers, or even fighters. The Ar 196 A-3 is a particularly good fit for that, as its 20 mm cannons can deal damage quickly and efficiently. Lower calibre guns require more time to inflict critical damage, making it riskier when the enemy has any defensive armament. Rear-facing defensive armament is extremely unreliable against hostile aircraft, but it can still be used against unsuspecting enemy hydroplanes, in particular when aimed manually.

Reloading

In Realistic battles, aircraft will not reload their bombs or guns in-flight like they do in Arcade. There is no way of landing back on the ship or at the airfield either. This leaves only two options for reloading: either landing on a naval landing strip, or by landing on a capture point, which will reload ammunition much like it does for tanks in the ground battles.

Comparison

Aircraft Max speed (km/h) Turn time (s) Offensive armament Defensive armament Suspended armament
Type Fire rate Type Fire rate Type TNT equiv. (kg)
USA flag.png OS2U-1 296
at 1,700 m
33 1 x 7.62 mm Browning 1,000 1 x 7.62 mm Browning 1,000 2 x AN-M30A1 (100 lb) 24.5
USA flag.png SOC-1 296
at 1,700 m
33 1 x 7.62 mm Browning 1,000 1 x 7.62 mm Browning 1,000 2 x AN-M30A1 (100 lb) 24.5
Germany flag.png Ar 196 A-3 320
at 2,000 m
21 2 x 20 mm MG FF
1 x 7.92 mm MG 17
520
1,200
1 x 7.92 mm MG 15 1,000 2 x SC50JA (50 kg) 25
USSR flag.png KOR-1 412
at 4,000 m
17 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS 1,800 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS 1,800 2 x FAB-100sv (100 kg) 36.02
Britain flag.png Osprey Mk IV 412
at 4,000 m
17 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers E 900 1 x 7.7 mm Lewis 551 -
Britain flag.png Walrus Mk.I 412
at 4,000 m
17 - 2 x 7.7 mm Lewis 551 4 x G.P. Mk.IV (250 lb) 30.7
IJN flag.png E7K2 412
at 4,000 m
17 - 2 x 7.7 mm Type 92 600 4 x Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg) 25.3
IJN flag.png E8N2 412
at 4,000 m
17 1 x 7.7 mm Type 97 900 1 x 7.7 mm Type 92 600 2 x Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg) 25.3
IJN flag.png Aichi E13A1 412
at 4,000 m
17 - 1 x 7.7 mm Type 97 900 4 x Navy Type 97 Number 6 (60 kg) 25.3
Kingdom Italy flag.png Ro.43 412
at 4,000 m
17 2 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT 900 1 x 7.7 mm Breda-SAFAT 900 -

See also

External links