Shackleton MR.Mk.2

Shackleton MR.Mk.2

Lincoln B Mk II

Canberra B Mk 2

Shackleton MR.Mk.2

Lincoln B Mk II

Canberra B Mk 2

Britain

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	6.0	6.3

Class:

Bomber

Long Range bomber

Research:31 000

Purchase:200 000

Show in game

Description

The Shackleton MR.Mk.2 is a rank IV British bomber with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB), 6.0 (RB), and 6.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update "Direct Hit".

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 3 000 m515 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude10 210 m

Engine4 х Rolls-Royce Griffon 57A

Type

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight39 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 3,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	487	469	10210	31.3	32.4	7.0	7.0	1,000
Upgraded	551	515		28.9	30.0	15.7	10.5

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	+	-
583	438	425	404	301	~3	~1

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 350	< 350	< 350	> ___

Survivability and armour

Crew10 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear438 km/h

The Shackleton MR.Mk.2 has large wings where the fuel tank are located. There are two pilots and eight gunners in total, but only two use turrets, the top gunner and the nose gunner, if the top gunner is taken out the Shackleton becomes much easier to kill. There is only one steel armour plate of 8 mm covering the roof turret gunner.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 647 → 3 557

RB7 971 → 10 713

SB15 867 → 21 325

Total cost of modifications52 900

91 100

Talisman cost1 700

Crew training57 000

Experts200 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces520 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 200 / 550 %

172 / 172 / 172 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 230 Radiator Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 230 Airframe Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 900 270 Compressor Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 900 270 Wings repair Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 220 Engine Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 220 Cover Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 290 Engine injection Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 290	EFS Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 290	hispano_mk5_turret_belt_pack Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 230 SUBC mk.I Research: 4 000 Cost: 6 900 270 hispano_mk5_turret_new_gun Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 220 MBC mk.III Research: 3 300 Cost: 5 700 220 HRC mk.8 Research: 4 300 Cost: 7 400 290

Armaments

Suspended armament

List of setups (7)

Setup 118 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 225 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bomb

Setup 315 x 1000 lb M.C. Mk.I bomb

Setup 48 x RP-3 rockets

Setup 58 x RP-3 rockets
18 x G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bomb

Setup 68 x RP-3 rockets
25 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bomb

Setup 78 x RP-3 rockets
15 x 1000 lb M.C. Mk.I bomb

The Shackleton MR.Mk.2 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 18 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 25 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (12,500 lb total)
• 15 x 1,000 lb M.C. Mk.I bombs (15,000 lb total)
• 8 x RP-3 rockets
• 8 x RP-3 rockets + 18 x 250 lb G.P. Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
• 8 x RP-3 rockets + 25 x 500 lb H.E. M.C. Mk.II bombs (12,500 lb total)
• 8 x RP-3 rockets + 15 x 1,000 lb M.C. Mk.I bombs (15,000 lb total)

The 15 x 1,000 lb M.C. Mk.I loadout is ideal to destroy bases and airfields. Only 5 bombs are required to destroy normal bases and 3 to destroy weaker bases. A squad of 3 Shackletons is capable of destroying all bases and the airfield without landing on some maps. Given that most Air RB maps at its BR consist of respawning bases with a prevalence of attackers, you will rarely be able to drop all 15 bombs on bases without having to wait for at least 1 to respawn

Defensive armament

Turret2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon

Ammunition700 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

Turret2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannon

Ammunition600 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The Shackleton MR.Mk.2 is defended by:

• 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, nose turret (300 rpg = 600 total)
• 2 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.V cannons, dorsal turret (350 rpg = 700 total)

The 20 mm cannons are mounted at the front and on top of the plane leaving directly behind and below very vulnerable.

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).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent climb rate for a heavy bomber
• Notably powerful WEP
• Self-sealing fuel tanks and overall structural integrity make it resilient to fires
• Heavy bomb load and access to RP-3 rockets
• 20 mm defensive cannons are strong and will destroy most pursuing aircraft

Cons:

• The bomber risks ripping wings when turning at high speeds (~500 km/h)
• No armour, prone to pilot sniping
• Lacks defensive armament for the belly and tail

History

Devblog

Following the end of WW2 and going into the Cold War era, submarine development had picked up so much momentum that the previously used submarine counters quickly became obsolete. In addition to this, Britain was faced with a lack of capable long-range maritime patrol aircraft after it was forced to return the lend-lease B-24 Liberator bombers it received during wartime. A stopgap solution in the form of a modified version of the Lancaster bomber was created, but the need for a dedicated maritime patrol aircraft became more and more emphasized in the postwar period.

Development of the Avro Shackleton began in 1945 after the British Air Staff expressed an interest in the conversion of the Avro Lincoln bomber into a general reconnaissance as well as rescue aircraft. As a result, the Avro Type 696 was designed. The Type 696 was primarily based on the Avro Lincoln bomber, but also borrowed some design solutions from the Avro Tudor airliner, of which the latter two themselves were derivative designs of the famous Avro Lancaster. The first prototype, designated Shackleton GR.1, successfully performed its maiden flight in March 1949 and was shortly afterwards ordered into production.

The Avro Shackleton entered service with the RAF in February 1951. The aircraft performed several roles, ranging from its primary role - maritime reconnaissance - over escort and transport duties to search and rescue, whilst being employed all across the globe. However, the aircraft saw numerous modifications during its lifetime, aimed at increasing its capabilities and addressing reliability and structural problems, although at the expense of added weight. The Shackleton and its variants continued to serve throughout the Cold War era, and in the late '80s the Avro Shackleton was finally considered obsolete.

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] Avro Shackleton MR Mk.2: The Flight of A Thousand Rivets