F2A-3

F2A-3

F4F-3

F2A-3

F4F-3

USA

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.3	2.3

Class:

Fighter

Naval aircraft

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Show in game

This page is about the American fighter F2A-3. For other versions, see F2A-1 and Thach's F2A-1.

Description

The F2A-3 Buffalo is a rank II American fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB) and 2.3 (RB/SB). This naval fighter has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The F2A-3 Buffalo gives pilots the first real taste of typical American fighters in War Thunder- a lumbering, well-armoured beast of a fighter that is well armed and has decent performance capabilities. Indeed, the second Buffalo in War Thunder is a heavy aircraft for its rank, signifying that its turning ability is underwhelming against the sharp turners it meets, especially regarding its relatively low BR- it will face low-rank Zeroes as well as more nimble German Bf 109's. Due to its 4 machine guns, the F2A-3 Buffalo is not very good in a dogfight with British or German aircraft.

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 4,492 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
495	477	10424	18.6	19.3	13.1	13.1	200
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,492 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
548	518	10424	16.7	17.6	20.9	16.4	200

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		460	~12	~4

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 465	< 400	< 500	> 310

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
700 m	1,010 hp	1,191 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,700 m	930 hp	1,097 hp

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 F2A-3 is armed with:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

The F2A-3 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs (200 lb total)

Usage in battles

The characteristics of the F2A-3 means that its pilots shouldn't try to turn-fight their opponents and that they should also strictly maintain their energy. However, its weight and energy retention ability mean that any Buffalo pilot that cares to climb high (3,000 - 4,000 m) will be able to combat opponents with relative ease. However, they should be wary of adept climbers (such as Bf 109s and the US's own P-47, at least in Arcade) as they are more than a match for the F2A's climb rate. In a dive, the Buffalo can rapidly catch up to virtually anything it faces, and, when it does, a battery of 4 x .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns will make short work of any target, save well-armoured bombers such as the B-25 or Ju 88, which an F2A pilot will probably rarely meet.

Discipline is a vital trait needed to master this plane. If you are used to simply engaging with the first opponent you find and turn-fighting, the F2A is not for you, as is much of the US fighter line. The recommended tactic to use with the F2A is Boom & Zoom. At the beginning of the battle, it is vital to climbing - not climbing reduces your energy capabilities drastically due to the low level-flight speed of the F2A - climbing significantly exacerbates performance of the F2A due to its weight and diving capabilities. After attempting a diving engagement on an enemy, whether successful or not, one should always pull out of the engagement shortly after the first attacking pass, so as not to waste speed and/or altitude (a.k.a. energy).

Four M2 Browning .50 MGs are plenty for a 2.7 BR plane - the heavy bullets rip through almost all fighters at this rank. Omni and Stealth rounds are the most effective belts - the Stealth being especially effective due to the M8 API bullets which allow F2A pilots to easily set opponents afire. Against bombers, the capabilities of the M2s are greatly reduced- aiming for engines is the most effective way to combat a bomber. You should always use the boom and zoom tactic as it suits well for Japanese fighters at its rank. However, Japanese fighters will out turn you.

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

For firepower modules, outside of upgrades for the machine guns, the unlock of the module Mk.41 will allow the F2A-3 to mount two 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs.

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Mk.41
IV		Engine injection	Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Good dive speed and energy retention
• Highly manoeuvrable, very good in dog fights
• Great stealth armament
• Tail-hook for carrier landings

Cons:

• Poor acceleration
• Vulnerable fuel tanks (very prone to explosions)
• Poor level flight speed
• Engine overheats quickly. Loses lots of power due to minor damage or if left unchecked
• No armour to protect pilot; avoid any kind of head-ons or pursuit of heavy armoured planes with good defensive armament like the IL-2 or BV 238

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === Encyclopedia Info ===, also if applicable).

In-game description

"The Brewster F2A Buffalo was the first monoplane carrier-based fighter that served in the American fleet. The aircraft had an all-metal construction, with the exception of the control surfaces, which were covered with cloth.

In 1935, the U.S. Navy announced a competition to create a carrier-based fighter which was to replace the obsolete biplanes. The competition was won by the Brewster company and mass production of their F2A began in the summer of 1938. Of the 55 F2A-1s produced, only 11 entered service in the U.S. Finland, which was less demanding than other countries with regards to fighter specs, purchased the rest of the planes, which were then slightly altered for use on airfields.

The F2A-2 variant had a more powerful engine and a pitched Curtiss Electric propeller. The subsequent F2A-3 had a stronger chassis and larger fuel tank. This last modification increased the aircraft’s weight significantly, and the engine did not provide sufficient power, making the F2A-3 inferior even to the F2A-2 in handling and speed.

The F2A was exported to a number of countries, including Finland and Great Britain.

Of the 509 Buffaloes built, 107 were F2A-3s and 20 were B-439s (an export model of the F2A-3 transferred to the Dutch West Indies)."

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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