A-35B (France)

▄A-35B

M.B.175T

▄A-35B

M.B.175T

France

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	2.7	3.3

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Research:11 000

Purchase:22 000

Show in game

Description

The A-35B had its beginnings in the Vultee Model 72 in 1940. It was primarily developed for the French Air Force as a dive-bomber but the fall of France put a stop to that. The Model 72 was a unique design for dive bombers as the wings prevent the aircraft from straying off target during a dive-bombing run. After the Pearl Harbor attack, the US acquired many A-31s and Model 72s and later birthed the A-35 “Vengeance”. The A-35 had a better engine and other changes for flight performance. France would later receive almost 70 A-35A/Bs during the lend-lease program.

Introduced in Update 1.73 "Vive la France", the ▄A-35B is a fairly decent ground striker. It has three different loadouts for bombs with the best one being the four 500 lb bomb loadout. The Vengeance also has six M2 Browning machine guns with 375 rounds per gun; which means that the A-35B has an impressive 30 seconds of trigger time. This is more than enough to take out light pillboxes and soft ground targets. In addition, the A-35B comes armoured with three steel plates that protect the crew and oil cooling system. Unfortunately, the A-35B lacks in defensive fire with only a single 12.7 mm turret in the rear.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes

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

Max speed

at 3 650 m485 km/h

Turn time29 s

Max altitude7 100 m

EngineWright R-2600-13

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight16 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,650 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	466	448	7100	30.6	33.4	5.2	5.2	307
Upgraded	507	485		27.8	29.0	10.3	7.5

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	278	369	290	278	~15	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 257	< 350	< 380	> 320

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear278 km/h

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of pilot.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate behind the pilot.
• 6.35 mm Steel plate behind oil cooling system.
• 12.7 mm Steel plate in front of dorsal gunner.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB866 → 1 102

RB1 436 → 1 828

SB2 363 → 3 008

Total cost of modifications10 320

13 700

Talisman cost750

Crew training6 300

Experts22 000

Aces250

Research Aces220 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

60 / 130 / 180 %

124 / 124 / 124 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 520 Cost: 690 85 Radiator Research: 520 Cost: 690 85 Compressor Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 125 Wings repair Research: 650 Cost: 860 105 Engine Research: 650 Cost: 860 105 Engine injection Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 180	Airframe Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 125 Cover Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 180	bmg50_belt_pack Research: 520 Cost: 690 85 SBC-17 Research: 520 Cost: 690 85 bmg50_new_gun Research: 780 Cost: 1 000 125 bmg50_turret_belt_pack Research: 650 Cost: 860 105 LBC-25 Research: 650 Cost: 860 105 bmg50_turret_new_gun Research: 1 100 Cost: 1 500 180

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 16 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun

Ammunition2 250 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The A-35B (France) is armed with:

• 6 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (375 rpg = 2,250 total)

The six machine guns are arranged in bundles of two mounted in each wing. Each is armed with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all guns will fire together until empty.

Suspended armament

List of setups (3)

Setup 12 x 250 lb AN-M57 bomb
2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb

Setup 24 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb

Setup 31 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb

The A-35B (France) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 1 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb (1,000 lb total)

Both loads with 500 lb bombs contain in total a higher TNT equivalent than a single 1,000 lb bomb. This makes that single 1,000 lb bomb suitable only against heavily armored targets in naval mode. Against most of the targets (including destroyers and strategic bases) a multi-bomb load outs are superior. An alternative would be to use the ▄F6F-5 (BR 3.3), the ▄SB2C-5 (BR 3.7), or the ▄AD-4 (BR 6.0) instead, as they all offer comparable or better loads.

Defensive armament

Turret12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun

Ammunition400 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The A-35B (France) is defended by:

• 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, dorsal turret (400 rpg)

Usage in battles

The A-35B is designed as a ground attack aircraft, and should be played as such. The aircraft is relatively slow, rather large, and not particularly manoeuvrable. Thus, play the aircraft like a ground attacker. However, it does have some perks which should be utilized to the maximum.

Air Battles:

The A-35 has a nominal bomb load of up to 2,000 lbs split over four 500 lb bombs. This isn't the greatest bomb load by any means, but can get the job done against lighter targets. The 500 lb bombs don't have a particularly large blast radius, which make it difficult to destroy harder targets such as tanks and pillboxes. However, the aircraft has dive brakes, meaning that it is capable of pinpoint dive-bombing against the enemy. When at a decent altitude (1,500-2,000 m above the target), drop into a near vertical dive, deploy airbrakes, and put the target slightly above the cockpit. Then, at ~500 m above the target, drop the bomb(s) and pull out. If this is done accurately, it can ensure a direct hit or kill against ground targets. The 1,000 lb bomb is usually more suited for this bombing role, since it has a larger blast radius. However, the downside of the larger bomb is that you only have a single bomb, and a single drop.

The second advantage the A-35 has for air battles are its six heavy 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns. While the A-35 doesn't get access to the later, more powerful M2 Brownings, these machine guns are very suited to ripping ground and air targets apart. Notably, they are quite good at destroying light pillboxes. Against pillboxes, the universal or stealth belt is usually the most effective, as they contain the most M8 AP-I incendiary tracer bullets which are extremely effective against pillboxes. Note that the pillboxes will be destroyed faster if shot at from the top - in this mode, perform a diving attack (30-40 degrees) on the pillbox, destroy it, and then pull up and strike another target. If the pillbox isn't destroyed, come in for another strafing run, Finally, note that the 12.7 mm guns can only destroy light pillboxes - regular pillboxes are impervious to all gunfire, and can only be destroyed with bombs.

Ground Battles:

The A-35 is also well-suited for ground battles where it can make use of its payload. Again, the aforementioned dive bombing tactic can be used against enemy tanks, especially clustered vehicles at a capture point, or other choke point. The 1,000 lb bomb is almost always the best option against ground targets, as it packs the largest punch. While this may limit the amount of targets you can hit in a single sortie, the chances of getting one or more kills is much greater. Finally, don't underestimate the power of your machine guns! They can penetrate the tops of most tanks at the A-35's BR (the Ground Targets belt is the best, with 26 mm of penetration), and can obviously lay waste to any unarmoured SPGs or SPAAs.

Air-to-air and defensive flying:

If being attacked by any fighters, the A-35 gets into a sticky position. Its manoeuvrability and top speed are both abysmal for its BR, making it a sitting duck for any pursuing aircraft. Thus, do not attempt to engage any fighters in a 1-on-1, as it will result in a quick demise. Instead, lead the enemies toward friendly fighters, as well as onto your six o'clock as you have a very potent tail gunner. The tail gunner is armed with another 12.7 mm Browning gun, which is great for pilot snipes and setting engines on fire. Thus, bait them onto your tail, where you can quickly pilot-snipe them and remove the threat. It is worth noting that your six 12.7 mm Brownings are very good at setting things on fire; however, do not engage any other aircraft unless they are noticeably more sluggish than you.

Manual Engine Control

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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Gets an airspawn allowing it to reach the battlefield faster
• Has dive brakes which are highly useful for dive-bombing
• Has a decent payload for an aircraft of its size
• Heavy forward armament of six 12.7 mm machine guns, as well as an additional 12.7 mm machine gun in the rear

Cons:

• Large and slow - fighters will have no trouble catching up!
• Payload is constrained to 500 lb bombs if carrying max bomb load, and no bombs over 1,000 lbs are available
• Manoeuvrability, especially roll rate, is absolutely horrid compared to fighters and even some other attackers

History

At the beginning of the 1930s, the American company Vultee was developing a concept for a strike aircraft capable of effectively hitting ground targets, light vehicles and enemy infantry from low altitudes. Effective actions by Germany's Ju-87 dive bombers in Europe served as a basis for the creation of a concept for the American A-31 Vengeance, a strike dive bomber with a machine gun battery in its wings. This new addition immediately caught the attention of the British delegation, which happened to be searching for a design like the Stuka to aid in the fight against Germany. In the course of modernization, the A-31 received a new 1,700 hp engine and strengthened armament of five, and then seven high-calibre Browning machine guns (six in the wings and one more for defense against attacks from the rear), and a bomb load of up to 2,000 pounds. Modernized version got new designation - Vultee A-35. In spite of a large export order, the Vengeance also served in the American air force and navy, and the reviews about it were contradictory. For the war in Europe, the bomber turned out to be ill-prepared. Its low speed, large silhouette and need to descend to drop its bombs made it very vulnerable to enemy flak cannons and fighters. However, in the Pacific Theater the vehicle performed well. The Japanese had far fewer anti-aircraft defenses, and the Vengeance served as an attack aircraft, a bomber and a submarine hunter.

Nonetheless, the main operators of the A-35 were foreigners. Several squadrons in the British Air Force were equipped with these dive bombers. The aircraft was delivered to Australia and Brazil, and it served in the Free French Army in Africa.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the A-35B (France) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #302 - Metal Beasts section at 00:28 discusses the A-35B (France).

The Shooting Range #71 - Pages of History section at 03:13 discusses the A-35.

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

• [Devblog] A-35B: The American Legionnaire
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Vultee Aircraft Corporation
Export	P-66 · ▄A-35B · V-11 · V-12D

France bombers
Farman	F.222.2 · N.C.223.3
Latécoère	Late 298D
Potez	Potez 633
Liore et Olivier	LeO 451 early · LeO 451 late
Bloch	M.B.174A-3 · M.B.162 · M.B.175T
American	V-156-F · Martin 167-A3 · ▄A-35B · ▄SB2C-5 · B-26C · ▄PBY-5A Late · ▄PB4Y-2
British	Lancaster MR.7