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

Show in game

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 manoeuvres 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

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 4,572 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
510	497	9500	28.3	29.3	8.5	8.5	480
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,572 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
573	539	9500	25.8	27.0	16.7	12	480

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		340	~6	~3

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 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 Browning M2 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 Mk.13/44 torpedo

Defensive armament

The B-34 is defended by:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 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

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).

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 air frame 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 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. This can cause it to become uncontrollable in certain situations. However, it can still be controlled by operating flaps or adjusting engine power.
• Poor manoeuvrability

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

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

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.