Difference between revisions of "Boston Mk I (Great Britain)"
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== Usage in battles == | == Usage in battles == | ||
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | <!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --> | ||
| − | + | The Boston is an incredibly fast bomber, being able to outrun everything it will face. The bomb load lacks a bit of punch as it carries the inferior British 500 pounder which has much less TNT. Decent defensive firepower means it can defend itself if it has to but it shouldn't have to for long, as because it cruises at 450km/h almost nothing can keep up with it. The Boston excels as a ground strike aircraft, dropping its payload on pillboxes and armoured targets and using it's quad forward facing 7.7s to destroy artillery, AA or vehicles. It can also be used as a strike aircraft very effectively, diving on enemy fighters with it's high top speed and damaging them before using the energy to gain altitude again. The 7.7s are unlikely to destroy enemy aircraft outright but can damage vital components like the engine, oil or coolant - forcing the enemy to return to base. | |
| − | The Boston can | + | The Boston can take a fair amount of punishment but it won't last in an extended firefight against enemy fighters on its tail. Being fairly manoeuvrable evasive measures should be taken as you can't rely on the defensive armament to keep you safe - it should be used as a deterrent while you turn. It won't outturn a 109 or similar enemy aircraft but it will maintain more speed in them, allowing you to get more distance between their guns and your tail. It should also outperform early German fighters at high altitude (above 3.5km), where the Boston can be used as a bomber hunter. |
=== Manual Engine Control === | === Manual Engine Control === | ||
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'''Pros:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * | + | * Very fast cruising and top speed |
| − | * | + | * Decent offensive armament |
| − | + | * Lots of ammunition | |
| − | * Lots of | + | * Fairly durable |
| − | * | + | * Can fly with one engine |
| − | * Can | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| − | + | * Defensive armament isn't great | |
| − | * Defensive armament | ||
* Only one payload option | * Only one payload option | ||
| − | * | + | * Big engines are big targets, they will almost always get damaged in a fight |
== History == | == History == | ||
Revision as of 15:12, 1 July 2021
| This page is about the gift British bomber Boston Mk I (Great Britain). For other versions, see DB-7 (Family). |
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Contents
Description
The ▄Boston Mk I is a premium gift rank II British bomber with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/RB/SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
The Boston Mk.1 is a very fast aircraft for its rank, this means that in a decent matchup it can often outrun most if not all the aircraft it faces in level flight. The Boston has got four 7.7 mm guns in the nose and two 7.7 mm in the top and bottom lower and upper of the rear fuselage.
Although the defensive armament may seem rather underwhelming, if it faces lower BR planes they can be more than adequate and can still be made to work against higher level planes. You should load a belt made up of either armour piercing or armour piercing incendiary rounds and aim for the engine of enemy plane(s) that are on your tail; this will likely do one of these things: 1) Destroy the enemy plane's engine 2) Set the enemy plane on fire 3) Knock out the plane's pilot (from shots that go astray).
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,634 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 503 | 487 | 8000 | 27.8 | 28.6 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 550 |
| Upgraded | 534 | 518 | 26.2 | 27.0 | 13.8 | 11.5 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 665 | 296 | 428 | 406 | 296 | ~8 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 260 | < 320 | < 300 | > 320 |
| Compressor (RB/SB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setting 1 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 889 m | 2,200 hp | 2,376 hp |
| Setting 2 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 4,120 m | 2,000 hp | 2,160 hp |
Survivability and armour
- 12.7 mm steel in front of the cockpit
- 8 mm steel lower side of the cockpit
- 9.5mm steel pilots seat
- 12.7mm steel below, behind and in front of the rear gunner
- No armour glazing
- Critical components located in the front and wings of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
Modifications and economy
2 × 50 / 160 / 180 % 2 × 112 / 112 / 112 % | Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Boston Mk I (Great Britain) is armed with:
- 4 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, chin-mounted (500 rpg = 2,000 total)
Suspended armament
The Boston Mk I (Great Britain) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 4 x 500 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (2,000 lb total)
Defensive armament
The Boston Mk I (Great Britain) is defended by:
- 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, dorsal turret (500 rpg)
- 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)
Usage in battles
The Boston is an incredibly fast bomber, being able to outrun everything it will face. The bomb load lacks a bit of punch as it carries the inferior British 500 pounder which has much less TNT. Decent defensive firepower means it can defend itself if it has to but it shouldn't have to for long, as because it cruises at 450km/h almost nothing can keep up with it. The Boston excels as a ground strike aircraft, dropping its payload on pillboxes and armoured targets and using it's quad forward facing 7.7s to destroy artillery, AA or vehicles. It can also be used as a strike aircraft very effectively, diving on enemy fighters with it's high top speed and damaging them before using the energy to gain altitude again. The 7.7s are unlikely to destroy enemy aircraft outright but can damage vital components like the engine, oil or coolant - forcing the enemy to return to base.
The Boston can take a fair amount of punishment but it won't last in an extended firefight against enemy fighters on its tail. Being fairly manoeuvrable evasive measures should be taken as you can't rely on the defensive armament to keep you safe - it should be used as a deterrent while you turn. It won't outturn a 109 or similar enemy aircraft but it will maintain more speed in them, allowing you to get more distance between their guns and your tail. It should also outperform early German fighters at high altitude (above 3.5km), where the Boston can be used as a bomber hunter.
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 |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Very fast cruising and top speed
- Decent offensive armament
- Lots of ammunition
- Fairly durable
- Can fly with one engine
Cons:
- Defensive armament isn't great
- Only one payload option
- Big engines are big targets, they will almost always get damaged in a fight
History
In-game description
The Douglas Boston Mk.I/Mk.II was a twin-engine light bomber/ground-attack aircraft which was initially developed for the United States Army Air Corps, but first entered service as an export model.
The first customer for the aircraft was the French government, which designated the bomber the DB-7 and ordered 100 aircraft. A contract for a second batch of 170 aircraft was finalized with the Douglas Aircraft Company; these machines differed from the first batch by being equipped with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G radial air-cooled engines with two-speed superchargers that delivered better performance characteristics at higher altitudes, thus increasing their maximum speed. The maximum power of the new engines was raised to 1,200 hp.
The aircraft that had not been sent from the USA before France was defeated were diverted to Britain for use by RAF Bomber Command. The RAF renamed the aircraft as the "Boston" to indicate its American origin.
The new Bostons required several modifications for British use: the instruments, which had been set to the metric system, were replaced. Throttle quadrants made according to the French standard were redone, and British radio sets and oxygen equipment were installed on the aircraft.
The defensive armament was also replaced: the forward fuselage now had four 0.303 inch Colt-Browning Mk.II machine guns with 500 rounds each, fed by disintegrating belts. The radio operator/gunner's cockpit had two 0.303 inch Vickers K machine guns with pan magazines and 470 rounds each; the first was located in the rear upper gun position, and the second in the lower hatch.
The DB-7 with Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G engines was designated the Boston Mk.I in the RAF whilst the Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G powered variant was named the Boston Mk.II.
According to British pilots, the Boston had excellent handling characteristics and good visibility from the cockpit and the aircraft's tricycle landing gear made take off and landing significantly easier.
As the Boston's performance and manoeuvrability came at the price of a short range, the RAF did not use the Boston for its original role; instead, many were converted into heavy night fighters or used in anti-shipping or as night time intruders over occupied Europe. In addition, some aircraft were used for training and auxiliary purposes.
A total of 131 machines from the second batch of DB-7s ordered by France were transferred to the RAF. After the successes in RAF service, the Boston was adopted by the United States Army Air Corps, the service it was originally designed and intended for.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
- Related development
- Douglas A-26 Invader
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Bristol Beaufighter
- Messerschmitt Bf 110
- Northrop P-61 Black Widow
- Petlyakov Pe-2
External links
| Douglas Aircraft Company | |
|---|---|
| Strike Aircraft | A-20G-25 · A-26B-10 · A-26B-50 · AD-2 · AD-4 · A-1H |
| Bombers | TBD-1 · B-18A · SBD-3 · BTD-1 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT |
| Turboprops | A2D-1 |
| Jet Aircraft | F3D-1 · F4D-1 |
| A-4 Skyhawk | A-4B · A-4E Early |
| Export | ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 · ▂A-20G-30 · ▄AD-4 · ▄AD-4NA |
| A-4 Skyhawk | A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · Ayit · A-4E |
| The Douglas Aircraft Company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas. | |
| Britain bombers | |
|---|---|
| Torpedo | Swordfish Mk I · Swordfish Mk II · ▄Avenger Mk II |
| Dive | V-156-B1 |
| Hydroplanes | ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · Sunderland Mk IIIa · Sunderland Mk V |
| Light | Blenheim Mk IV · Beaufort Mk VIII · ▄Hudson Mk V · Brigand B 1 |
| Based on A20 | ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 |
| Hampden | Hampden Mk I · Hampden TB Mk I |
| Wellington | Wellington Mk Ic · Wellington Mk Ic/L · Wellington Mk III · Wellington Mk X |
| Halifax | Halifax B Mk IIIa |
| Stirling | Stirling B Mk I · Stirling B Mk III |
| Lancaster | Lancaster B Mk I · Lancaster B Mk III |
| Lincoln | Lincoln B Mk II |
| Shackleton | Shackleton MR.Mk.2 |
| Britain premium aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | Tuck's Gladiator Mk II · ▄Boomerang Mk I · ▄Boomerang Mk II · ▄D.520 |
| ▄Martlet Mk IV · ▄Corsair F Mk II · ▄Hellcat Mk II · ▄Thunderbolt Mk.1 · ▄Mustang Mk IA | |
| Hurricane Mk.I/L FAA M · Spitfire Mk.IIa Venture I · Spitfire F Mk IXc · Plagis' Spitfire LF Mk IXc · Spitfire F Mk XIVc · Prendergast's Spitfire FR Mk XIVe | |
| Typhoon Mk Ib · MB.5 | |
| Twin-engine fighters | Hornet Mk.I · Whirlwind P.9 |
| Jet fighters | Attacker FB.2 · Hunter FGA.9 · Lightning F.53 · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper · Sea Vixen F.A.W. Mk.2 · F-4J(UK) Phantom II · ▄MiG-21 Bison |
| Strike aircraft | ▄Wirraway · Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Wyvern S4 |
| Harrier GR.1 · Strikemaster Mk.88 | |
| Bombers | ▄Avenger Mk II · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · ▄DB-7 · ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Hudson Mk V · Swordfish Mk II |
