A2D-1

A2D-1

A2D-1

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
9.0	7.0	7.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Torpedo bomber

Purchase:6 900

Show in game

Description

The A2D-1 Skyshark is a premium rank V American attacker with a battle rating of 9.0 (AB) and 7.0 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy".

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 8,534 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
???	???	13200	??.?	??.?	??.?	??.?	350
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 8,534 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
796	796	13200	19.5	20.0	36.4	34.4	350

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		600	~9	~4

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 460	< 480	< 460	N/A

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,000 m	5,034 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The A2D-1 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm T31 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

The A2D-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 20 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs (5,000 lb total)
• 20 x HVAR rockets
• 10 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (5,000 lb total)
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (4,000 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs + 8 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (8,000 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs + 20 x HVAR rockets (4,000 lb total)
• 2 x Mk.13/44 torpedoes

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an 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).

Radars

The A2D-1 is equipped with an AN/APS-19 search and tracking radar. The radar is mounted in nose, inside the propeller hub.

AN/APS-19 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum Detection Range	Guaranteed Detection Range	Max Azimuth Scan Angle	Max Elevation Scan Angle
60,000 m (theoretical)	7,200 m	±67.5°	±67.5°
AN/APS-19 - Target Tracking Radar
Maximum Tracking Range	Minimum Tracking Range	Azimuth Tracking Angle	Elevation Tracking Angle
1,500 m	150 m	±15°	±15°

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 20 mm	M64
II		Compressor	Airframe		M65	FRC mk.2
III	Wings repair	Engine		New 20 mm cannons	Mk.13
IV			Cover		M66

• As a premium aircraft, the A2D-1's modifications are automatically unlocked upon purchase of the aircraft.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Possesses tracking and search radar
• Powerful 20 mm cannon armament
• Capable of carrier-landing
• Powerful turboprop engines
• Impressive payload options
• Premium bonuses

Cons:

• Time limit on radar
• Tracking radar only works at ranges below 1 km
• Extremely large target
• Tail of aircraft is fragile
• Rather slow aircraft compared to the jets it sometimes faces

History

In the early years following the war, jet engines underwent rapid development. This attracted the interest of the US Navy, which sought to arm itself with aircraft that were superior to that of potential opponents in speed, altitude, payload, and flight range.

As it turned out, jet engines were perfect for fighter aircraft but too “voracious” for strike aircraft, as they significantly reduced their range. The best engineering solution was to introduce the turboprop engine, which was a task the Douglas company undertook.

Initially, engineers simply wanted to replace the piston engine of the Skyraider attack aircraft with a turboprop engine. However, this led nowhere and the vehicle required significant modification. In the end, the engineers settled on a prototype with Allison Т-40А-2 turboprop engines and coaxial propellers.

The first flight of the XA2D-1 prototype, called the Skyshark, took place on May 26, 1950, but engine vibration nearly destroyed the aircraft and it was forced to land after only two minutes. By December 1950, the prototype had already completed over a dozen flights. However, a routine flight on December 19, 1950, ended in tragedy. Due to issues with the engine, the vehicle and pilot crashed. Nevertheless, testing continued and, despite the many technical problems that plagued the aircraft, the army ordered 10 pre-production models of the A2D-1. However, on August 5, 1954, another accident occurred when the main gearbox failed, and the aircraft crashed a short distance outside Los Angeles. This time, the pilot managed to escape the aircraft, but the project was closed and it was decided to dismantle any existing prototypes. Apparently, this decision was influenced by the fact that in the same year for the first time Douglas got another project in the air, this later became the famous A4D Skyhawk - a new generation of jets.

- From [Devblog

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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] Douglas A2D-1 Skyshark: Wyvern to the Max!