Difference between revisions of "AIM-7C Sparrow"
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(updated the comparison with analogues section to better reflect the modern state of the AIM-7C) (Tag: Visual edit) |
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| + | {{About | ||
| + | | about = American air-to-air missile '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| + | | usage = the other versions | ||
| + | | link = AIM-7 Sparrow (Family) | ||
| + | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
| + | <!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --> | ||
[[File:WeaponImage AIM-7E Sparrow.png|thumb|left|420px|The AIM-7C Sparrow missile (scale is approximate)]] | [[File:WeaponImage AIM-7E Sparrow.png|thumb|left|420px|The AIM-7C Sparrow missile (scale is approximate)]] | ||
{{Break}} | {{Break}} | ||
| − | '' | + | The '''{{PAGENAME}}''' is an American [[Air-to-air_missiles#Semi-Active_Radar_Homing_.28SARH.29_missiles|semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missile]]. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. |
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | === Vehicles equipped with this weapon === | ||
| Line 10: | Line 16: | ||
== General info == | == General info == | ||
| − | ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.'' | + | <!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the missile.'' --> |
| + | The {{PAGENAME}} is a SARH guided missile with a 15G overload and is the earliest version of the AIM-7 found in-game. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | ||
| + | ! colspan="2" | Missile characteristics | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Mass''' || 172 kg | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Guidance''' || SARH | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Signal''' || CW | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Lock range''' || 12 km | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Launch range''' || 25 km | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Maximum speed''' || 3 M | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Maximum overload''' || 15 G | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Missile guidance time''' || 20 secs | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | '''Explosive mass''' || 11.52 kg TNTeq | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |} | ||
=== Effective damage === | === Effective damage === | ||
| − | ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' | + | <!-- ''Describe the type of damage produced by this type of missile (high explosive, splash damage, etc)'' --> |
| + | The {{PAGENAME}} contains enough explosive to devastate any target. In most cases, this missile will instantly destroy any plane on contact. | ||
=== Comparison with analogues === | === Comparison with analogues === | ||
| − | ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' | + | <!-- ''Give a comparative description of missiles that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' --> |
| + | The AIM-7C is the most basic Sparrow missile available. As such, it is the least capable Sparrow in the game, partially due to the F3H-2's radar. However, at Mach 3, it is faster than the sidewinder-derived SARH missiles like the R-3R and AIM-9C. Compared to the R-3R and AIM-9C, the AIM-7C's warhead is larger, guaranteeing a kill on multi-engine bombers. Even at mach 3 however, the AIM-7C is limited in range, especially due to it's 20 second guidance time. | ||
== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
| − | ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' | + | <!-- ''Describe situations when you would utilise this missile in-game (vehicle, pillbox, base, etc)'' --> |
| + | Using the {{PAGENAME}} can be quite tricky as it requires many variables to align for proper tracking. As with many other AIM-7 Sparrows, the missile has a 1.5 second tracking delay upon launch, which can make leading a target difficult. Due to this and the missile's average G overload tolerance, it is generally best to use this from 4-5 km away on slow moving, high altitude targets who will give the missile ample time to track. However, some success can also be found in head-on engagements when launched from a 5-6 km distance to the target. | ||
=== Pros and cons === | === Pros and cons === | ||
| − | ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' | + | <!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' --> |
'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | |
| + | * All aspect guidance | ||
| + | * Matchmaking can result in games where many opponents do not have RWR or chaff countermeasures | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | * | + | |
| + | * Requires a constant radar lock | ||
| + | * Generally does not work at low altitude due to early radar systems | ||
| + | * Has a 1.5-second delay after launch before it begins tracking | ||
| + | * Quite short range, making the optimal launch window small | ||
| + | * Will sometimes completely fail to track, even under optimal circumstances | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
| − | ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' | + | <!-- ''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.'' --> |
| + | The AIM-7C Sparrow was the first missile produced in the US Armed Forces' 3rd generation of Sparrow missiles. Despite being a 3rd generation missile, it was the first fully operational Sparrow missile, as the previous generations contained only prototypes that were never used in live service. At the time, it was designated AAM-N-6, and entered service in 1958. It would keep this name until 1963 when the Air Force and Navy agreed on standardized naming conventions for their missiles. However, due to its short-range only 2,000 units were ever produced, and it was quickly replaced by the [[AIM-7D Sparrow|AIM-7D]] in 1959. | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
| Line 37: | Line 78: | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
| − | ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' | + | <!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:'' |
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;'' | * ''reference to the article about the variant of the weapon;'' | ||
| − | * ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' | + | * ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' --> |
| + | |||
| + | ;Related development | ||
| + | |||
| + | * [[AIM-7 Sparrow (Family)]] | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:'' | ||
| + | |||
* ''topic on the official game forum;'' | * ''topic on the official game forum;'' | ||
| − | |||
* ''other literature.'' | * ''other literature.'' | ||
Latest revision as of 16:13, 19 November 2024
| This page is about the American air-to-air missile AIM-7C Sparrow. For the other versions, see AIM-7 Sparrow (Family). |
Contents
Description
The AIM-7C Sparrow is an American semi-active radar-homing air-to-air missile. It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
General info
The AIM-7C Sparrow is a SARH guided missile with a 15G overload and is the earliest version of the AIM-7 found in-game.
| Missile characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Mass | 172 kg |
| Guidance | SARH |
| Signal | CW |
| Lock range | 12 km |
| Launch range | 25 km |
| Maximum speed | 3 M |
| Maximum overload | 15 G |
| Missile guidance time | 20 secs |
| Explosive mass | 11.52 kg TNTeq |
Effective damage
The AIM-7C Sparrow contains enough explosive to devastate any target. In most cases, this missile will instantly destroy any plane on contact.
Comparison with analogues
The AIM-7C is the most basic Sparrow missile available. As such, it is the least capable Sparrow in the game, partially due to the F3H-2's radar. However, at Mach 3, it is faster than the sidewinder-derived SARH missiles like the R-3R and AIM-9C. Compared to the R-3R and AIM-9C, the AIM-7C's warhead is larger, guaranteeing a kill on multi-engine bombers. Even at mach 3 however, the AIM-7C is limited in range, especially due to it's 20 second guidance time.
Usage in battles
Using the AIM-7C Sparrow can be quite tricky as it requires many variables to align for proper tracking. As with many other AIM-7 Sparrows, the missile has a 1.5 second tracking delay upon launch, which can make leading a target difficult. Due to this and the missile's average G overload tolerance, it is generally best to use this from 4-5 km away on slow moving, high altitude targets who will give the missile ample time to track. However, some success can also be found in head-on engagements when launched from a 5-6 km distance to the target.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- All aspect guidance
- Matchmaking can result in games where many opponents do not have RWR or chaff countermeasures
Cons:
- Requires a constant radar lock
- Generally does not work at low altitude due to early radar systems
- Has a 1.5-second delay after launch before it begins tracking
- Quite short range, making the optimal launch window small
- Will sometimes completely fail to track, even under optimal circumstances
History
The AIM-7C Sparrow was the first missile produced in the US Armed Forces' 3rd generation of Sparrow missiles. Despite being a 3rd generation missile, it was the first fully operational Sparrow missile, as the previous generations contained only prototypes that were never used in live service. At the time, it was designated AAM-N-6, and entered service in 1958. It would keep this name until 1963 when the Air Force and Navy agreed on standardized naming conventions for their missiles. However, due to its short-range only 2,000 units were ever produced, and it was quickly replaced by the AIM-7D in 1959.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
- Related development
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- other literature.
