B-34

B-34

B-25J-1

B-34

B-25J-1

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	3.3	2.7

Class:

Bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

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This page is about the American bomber B-34. For the navalised gift version, see PV-2D.

Description

The B-34 is a rank II American bomber with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/SB) and 3.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai".

The B-34 is a typical American bomber in the sense that its decent payload is outdone by its defensive armament. While its maximum payload and the ability to carry a torpedo is nice, it's not necessarily as good as its ability to take and give out damage to other aircraft. Start with base/pillbox bombing, and should an enemy fighter come to engage, give him hell with your turrets. Do slight maneuvers constantly to throw off his shots while trying to put as many shells into his engine/pilot as possible. With any luck he will fall out of the sky in no time.

General info

Flight performance

While flying the B-34 you can expect maneuverability and speed like few other bombers. Considering you are just a Rank II aircraft you have a good acceleration and max speed, which will allow you to get out of difficult situations, even being able to outrun some lower BR fighters, although never forget to use your turrets to shake enemies off your tail.

Your speed and climb ratio will be superior to most enemy bombers you face, therefore making it an easy task to intercept them. Although try to always keep it under 4500m as your engines aren´t meant for high altitudes, and you will become a big and sluggish target for any fighter around. As a last defensive maneuver in this bomber it is possible to trade some altitude for speed in order to escape from a threat, however keep it at a max speed of 610 km/h IAS since going faster than that will completely lock your surface controls and eventually get you killed.

Given its surprising turn rate and speed for a bomber, mixed with a good offensive power, when used wisely you can successfully intercept enemy aircrafts that aren't yet aware of your position, as well as support your allies if you see an enemy tunnel vision-ed on them, however don't fool yourself into a dogfight since every fighter will outturn you sooner than later.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	509	496	9500	28.3	29.3	8.5	8.5	480
Upgraded	572	539		25.8	27.0	16.7	12.0

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	235	340	340	235	~6	~3

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 260	< 290	< 320	> 337

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,615 m	1,600 hp	1,984 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,023 m	1,450 hp	1,798 hp

Survivability and armour

• 12 mm steel - in front of pilot
• 12 mm steel - behind pilot
• 12 mm steel - bulkhead behind cockpit
• 12 mm steel - tail bulkhead
• 20 mm steel - front of dorsal turret

Armaments

Offensive armament

The B-34 is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (375 rpg = 750 total)

Suspended armament

The B-34 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 7 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (1,750 lb total)
• 3 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs + 4 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (2,500 lb total)
• 1 x 1,927 lb Mk.13-1 Case torpedo

Defensive armament

The B-34 is defended by:

• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm Browning machine guns, ventral turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

Usage in battles

In the hands of an experienced player, the B-34 can be one of, if not the deadliest aircraft of its tier. While being in the bomber line of the tech tree, the B-34 is better suited for use as a frontine bomber, bomber interceptor, and even a heavy fighter in some situations. If played in a bombing role, try to get in low and entice enemy fighters into chasing you while you go for your bombing targets; your powerful 12.7 mm turret will make quick work of most enemy's you'll encounter at its tier. If played as a bomber interceptor, aiming for crucial parts of the target's aircraft (Engine, wings, cockpit, Etc.) with your robust offensive armament will take down enemy bombers quickly and efficiently. Using the B-34 in a heavy fighter role will require the use of your flaps, so make sure to use them when appropriate; as the B-34 has poor energy retention. Head-on's with enemy fighters are ill-advised, as your pilot is quite susceptible to frontal enemy fire as well as your engines that will take damage quite easily.

Your deadliest enemies will be aircraft with heavy machine gun or cannon armament (P-400, LaGG-3-8, Spitfire Mk IIb, Etc.) It is advised to get familiar with using the 12.7 mm dorsal turret while doing evasive maneuvers using flaps for dealing with them quickly before they can do major damage to your aircraft. If they dive on you and fly in front of you for a bit, try to damage them with your frontal armament. Do not let anyone get under your belly, as it is a huge weak spot that knowledgeable players will exploit. In the hands of a skilled pilot, however, you will have no problem going for engine shutdowns or pilot snipes that will quickly send your foes back to the hangar.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm		Offensive 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	ITC mk.III	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 12 mm		Offensive 12 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	SBC-17	New 12 mm MGs

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Reasonably effective armament consisting of 2 x 7.62 mm Brownings and 2 x 12.7 mm Brownings that are nose mounted
• Durable airframe for its BR
• Reasonably effective defensive armament with good coverage on the rear section of the plane
• The dorsal turret can swivel 360 degrees and even fire at targets towards the nose of the plane
• Can provide initial cover for other bombers until fighters reach their altitude
• Blazing fast top speed compared to other medium bombers
• Reasonably large payload capacity.

Cons:

• The belly of the aircraft is a massive blind spot in the aircraft's defence
• Poor climb rate and energy retention
• For the most part, the offensive armament will only be useful in attacking enemy bombers, ground targets, or engaging fighters head-on, as the plane is too unmanoeuvrable for any real dog-fighting of any kind
• Steel construction makes this plane particularly heavy, and a small payload limits this plane's ability to be used as a tactical or strategic bomber
• The elevator can be shot off by an enemy plane easily, causing it to become uncontrollable, although it may still be controllable by operating flaps or adjusting engine power in some cases
• Poor manoeuvrability at lower speeds
• Landing gear is quite weak; breaks at >235 km/h

History

In the beginning of the war, the British were looking for a medium-ranged anti-submarine warfare and patrol aircraft to support the existing Avro Anson. The Lockheed company sent a drawing of their model 144 civilian airliner. The British Purchasing Commission saw the design and asked Lockheed to make modifications to the model 14, also known as the Lockheed Super Electra. Modifications include two fixed forward-firing Browning 7.7 mm machine guns in the nose. There was also the installation of Boulton Paul dorsal gun turrets with two Browning machine guns. Some models had beam guns installed, other had different engines or propellers. They called it the Hudson, eventually it needed a replacement. So Lockheed made it bigger and heavier and introduced it as the B-34 Lexington. It went under the US Army as the B-34, and the Navy as the PV-2 Harpoon (V because Vega aircraft division of Lockheed made the Harpoon). In British service it was simply called the Lockheed Ventura.

Media

Images

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Videos

B-34 Ventura "Operation Christmas Tree Is Officially Dead!" - Bo Time Gaming

See also

Related development

• Other Lockheed Ventura variants on the game:
  • PV-2D Major redesign with increased load capacity

External links

• [Wikipedia] Lockheed Ventura
• [RAAF Museum] TECHNICAL DATA: Lockheed-Vega Ventura
• [Pacific Wrecks] Lockheed PV-1 Ventura Technical Information