PBY-5A Catalina (USSR)

This page is about the bomber PBY-5A Catalina (USSR). For other versions, see PBY-5 (Family).

▂PBY-5A Catalina

▂PBY-5A Catalina

USSR

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.7	1.7	2.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Bomber

Hydroplane

Torpedo bomber

Purchase:880

Show in game

Description

The Catalina was the Soviet Union's main naval reconnaissance aircraft and naval bomber during and after the Second World War. It was so popular in fact that bombers meant to replace it, like the Be-6, never fully managed to fulfil its role. The Soviet Union received a total of 185 Catalinas of the two main variants in the Lend-Lease program. The Catalinas received by the Soviet Union were both the amphibious variants and those with tricycle landing gear. The Catalinas arrived to the Soviet Union in 1944 and gained good reputation in Soviet naval aviation, serving for many years as naval bombers and rescue aircraft, until they were finally fully retired from military service between 1954 and 1957.

It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. Although technically a medium bomber, the PBY-5's strategies are much like that of heavy bombers in higher tiers such as the Pe-8. It is best to fly high, and for fending off enemy fighters, it is better to use the rudder to direct one of the side gunners towards the attacking plane. It is also smart to use the guns manually in this situation, as the AI is often very inaccurate and will refuse to fire beyond a certain distance. The PBY-5A Catalina is slow and clunky, but it offers a heavy payload that is sure to be a game changer if used properly. It also has a very good defensive armament for its tier, which can occasionally be a saviour against an enemy fighter. The plane is quite unmanoeuvrable, and its wings are very weak, being able to snap just by turning just a little too tight at higher speeds in a realistic battle. This version has landing gear, facilitating the task of landing and enabling it to capture bases in Airfield Domination mode in Arcade Battles.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 2 135 m282 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude4 420 m

Engine2 х Pratt & Whitney R1830-92

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight16 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 2,135 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	259	249	4420	31.0	31.9	2.6	2.6	364
Upgraded	310	282		29.1	30.0	8.7	5.1

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	450	N/A	N/A	N/A	~3	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 220	< 220	< 230	> 200

Survivability and armour

Crew6 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear450 km/h

• 9.5 mm Steel - Plates behind pilot and co-pilot seats
• 4.7 mm Steel - Plates between fuel tanks
• 6.3 mm Steel - Plates behind fuel tanks
• 6.35 mm Steel - Ventral gunner hatch/door
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located in front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
• More fuel tanks located in wings near fuselage

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB212

RB1 339

SB548

Crew training1 400

Experts9 000

Aces80

Research Aces270 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 30 / 100 / 110 %

2 × 106 / 106 / 106 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe Cover	bmg30_turret_belt_pack LTC-5 bmg30_turret_new_gun MBC-5 Improved torpedo bmg50_turret_belt_pack Mk 13 Mod 0 bmg50_turret_new_gun LBC-5

Armaments

Suspended armament

The PBY-5A Catalina (USSR) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6
100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs	1	1	6*	6*	1	1
500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs	1	1*			1*	1
1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs	1	1*			1*	1
2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedoes			1	1
2,216 lb Mk.13-6 torpedoes			1	1
Type A Mark I mines	1	1*			1*	1
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 2,200 kg Maximum permissible wing load: 1,100 kg Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 800 kg
* Marked ordnance on hardpoints 2/5 cannot be equipped in conjunction with 100 lb bombs on hardpoints 3/4 respectively

Default weapon presets
16 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (1,600 lb total) 4 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (2,000 lb total) 4 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000 lb total) 4 x Type A Mark I mines 2 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 torpedoes 2 x 2,216 lb Mk.13-6 Case torpedoes

Defensive armament

The PBY-5A Catalina (USSR) is defended by:

• 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, 2 x beam turrets (478 rpg)
• 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, nose turret (1,050 rpg = 2,100 total)
• 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

Climb off to the side immediately and attempt to avoid all contact with enemy aircraft for as long as possible. The large bomb load will allow you to take care of bases easily, but the fact that this is a flying boat will prevent you from defending yourself in all directions. Never forget this aspect of the Catalina: It's defenceless against attacks from below.

Specific enemies worth noting

Any vehicle with a 12.7 mm guns or higher or anything with a majority tracer filled belt. The .50 cals can easily disable your very much exposed engines and control surfaces, and tracer belts quickly ignite the exposed fuel tanks.

Counter-tactics

Many enemies, due to your low rate of climb and slow speed, will engage you from above and in front. As the Catalina only has a weak gunner on the front, it is vital to engage them early if they approach from this direction. Scaring off enemies should be your main tactic if they approach you in any other direction, though using the rudder to twist your plane will allow you to use the rear gunners effectively against enemies behind you.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Multiple turrets allow for good coverage of the bomber in all directions but directly above and below
• Massive bomb load for Tier I
• Can carry torpedoes unlike most bombers in the Soviet Tree
• Landing gear

Cons:

• Terrible roll rate
• Slow
• Cannot defend itself from attacks directed at it from above or below
• Wings are extremely fragile

History

The PBY-5 flying boat and the PBY-5A amphibious aircraft, all-metal parasol monoplanes, were developed in the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation's design bureau under the direction of Isaac Laddon under the designation of Model 28. A prototype XP3Y-1 flying boat made its first flight on March 21, 1935. Full-scale production began in September 1936.

Full-scale production of the PBY-5В version began in 1939. This variant of the flying boat had a new tail assembly with a more angular rudder and 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp fourteen-cylinder, air-cooled engines. The plane's defensive armament was reinforced: The 7.62 mm Browning M2.3 machine guns in the aircraft's gun placements were replaced with large-calibre 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns with 800 rounds each. Transparent drop-shaped blisters were installed on each side of the boat instead of sliding hatches. The aircraft's equipment was also upgraded.

At the same time as the PBY-5, Consolidated Aircraft designers developed an amphibious variant with retractable tricycle landing gear. The main wheels were hydraulically raised and stored in open bays between struts connected to the wing. The XPBY-5A prototype made its first flight on November 22, 1939. The amphibious variant proved heavier than the PBY-5 flying boat, losing speed, ceiling height, and flight range, but these disadvantages were fully compensated for by the aircraft's increased combat capabilities.

Catalinas of various versions were in service with the USA and countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, including the USSR, where they were delivered as part of the Lend-Lease program.

The Soviets' naval aviation suffered a heavy crisis in the second half of the war. The enormous losses from the first years of the war went practically unremedied by any deliveries of new seaplanes from the aircraft industry. What the Soviet naval aviation industry could offer did not meet the standards of the time, either. Unable to provide their troops with domestically produced planes, the Soviet leaders had to ask for help from the Allies.

Catalinas were delivered to the USSR beginning in 1944. As part of the Soviet Naval Aviation force, these flying boats ran anti-submarine defence and long-distance reconnaissance missions and participated in rescue and landing operations. A total of 185 Catalinas of the PBN-1 and PBY-6A versions were delivered from the USA to the USSR. In addition, several PBY-5A amphibians were delivered to the Soviet Union: these aircraft were handed over to Soviet crews in 1944 at the Vancouver Island base.

The Catalinas that served with the Soviet Naval Aviation force were discarded from 1954 to 1957.

Archive of the in-game description

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina twin-engine, long-distance naval scout aircraft The PBY-5 flying boat and the PBY-5A amphibious aircraft, all-metal parasol monoplanes, were developed in the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation's design bureau under the direction of Isaac Laddon under the designation of Model 28. A prototype XP3Y-1 flying boat made its first flight on March 21, 1935. Full-scale production began in September 1936. Full-scale production of the PBY-5В version began in 1939. This variant of the flying boat had a new tail assembly with a more angular rudder and 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp fourteen-cylinder, air-cooled engines. The plane's defensive armament was reinforced: The 7.62 mm Browning M2.3 machine guns in the aircraft's gun placements were replaced with large-calibre 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns with 800 rounds each. Transparent drop-shaped blisters were installed on each side of the boat instead of sliding hatches. The aircraft's equipment was also upgraded. At the same time as the PBY-5, Consolidated Aircraft designers developed an amphibious variant with retractable tricycle landing gear. The main wheels were hydraulically raised and stored in open bays between struts connected to the wing. The XPBY-5A prototype made its first flight on November 22, 1939. The amphibious variant proved heavier than the PBY-5 flying boat, losing speed, ceiling height, and flight range, but these disadvantages were fully compensated for by the aircraft's increased combat capabilities. Catalinas of various versions were in service with the USA and countries of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, including the USSR, where they were delivered as part of the Lend-Lease programme. The Soviets' naval aviation suffered a heavy crisis in the second half of the war. The enormous losses from the first years of the war went practically unremedied by any deliveries of new seaplanes from the aircraft industry. What the Soviet naval aviation industry could offer did not meet the standards of the time, either. Unable to provide their troops with domestically produced planes, the Soviet leaders had to ask for help from the Allies. Catalinas were delivered to the USSR beginning in 1944. As part of the Soviet Naval Aviation force, these flying boats ran anti-submarine defence and long-distance reconnaissance missions and participated in rescue and landing operations. A total of 185 Catalinas of the PBN-1 and PBY-6A versions were delivered from the USA to the USSR. In addition, several PBY-5A amphibians were delivered to the Soviet Union: these aircraft were handed over to Soviet crews in 1944 at the Vancouver Island base. The Catalinas that served with the Soviet Naval Aviation force were discarded from 1954 to 1957.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the PBY-5A Catalina (USSR) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Premium Review. Russian PBY-5A Catalina. Infused with Soviet Might! - Joseph 2000

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

• [Forum] PBY-5A Catalina Official Thread

Consolidated Aircraft Corporation
Bombers	PBY-5 Catalina · PBY-5A Catalina
	PB4Y-2
	B-24D-25-CO
Export	▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▄PBY-5A Late · ␗PB4Y-2 · ▄PB4Y-2