F-84B-26

F-84B-26

P-51H-5-NA

F-84G-21-RE

F-84B-26

P-51H-5-NA

F-84G-21-RE

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.7	7.0	7.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:82 000

Purchase:240 000

Show in game

This page is about the aircraft F-84B-26. For other uses, see F-84 (Family).

Description

The F-84B-26 Thunderjet is a Rank V American jet fighter with a battle rating of 6.7 (AB), 7.0 (RB), and 7.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.39. The F-84B-26 is known for its versatile payload and decent top speed, but lackluster in terms of acceleration. The Thunderjet does well at destroying ground targets, given the quantity and quality of payload.

The F-84 Thunderjet was Republic’s attempt to convert from piston-engine aircraft to turbojets. F-84B featured here is primarily the same aircraft as the final test version the YP-84A, except that it had faster firing M3 Browning machines guns. Due to unmitigable problems, the F-84B (and F-84C) fleet only had a short four-year operational run before being withdrawn from service.

Though never seeing combat in Korea, the F-84B provided the jumping platform in which the F-84D and later models did successfully serve resulting in destroying over 60% of all ground targets during the Korean war. Early tests with the F-84B revealed that the Allison J35-A-15 was relatively weak when it came to taking off (especially with a full complement of suspended weapons) and was underwhelming when it came to rate of climb, however, when at altitude and during diving runs, the F-84B began to shine. The maximum speed of the F-84B was limited to 0.8 Mach (613 mph or 987 kph), flying faster resulted in catastrophic skin buckling or wing twist and shear due to the wing-tip fuel tanks which is a real concern when flying in realistic and simulator battles. This maximum speed limitation can cause issues, especially when flying against the Soviet MiG-15 which has a higher max speed.

Pilots of the Thunderjet nicknamed it “The World’s Fastest Tricycle” (a play on the newer tricycle landing gear configuration) or “The Lead Sled” due to its extremely long takeoff roll, however in-game during attack runs, the F-84B is an incredibly stable platform and can be outfitted with a number of various suspended armaments along with its six 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns. Though each gun only has 300 rounds of ammunition, trigger control is necessary or else the pilot will be left with empty guns in short order. Considered a multi-role aircraft, the F-84B can be utilised as a fighter-interceptor, bomber interceptor and ground attack fighter. The F-84B can be laden with a variety of bombs ranging from 100 lbs all the way up to two 1,000 lb bombs. HVAR and Tiny Tim rockets are a viable option alone or mixed with bombs to expand the options of targets to be attacked depending on the map the pilot is flying in.

Like many jet fighters, flying slowly makes for an easy target and this is no exception for the F-84B. Speed is necessary to ensure manoeuvrability both to engage a target and to shake a tail. Though not the fastest fighter at this rank, the F-84B can hold its own and when pressed, the six centre lined M3 Browning machine guns can punch enough holes in an enemy fighter to bring it down and allow it to move onto the next target. Don’t expect this fighter when laden down with two 1,000 lbs bombs or two Tiny Tim and 8 HVAR rockets to excel in a dog-fight as it won’t with all that weight, however, after all that ordnance is released the F-84B can then mix it up, though it is preferable to maintain speed while performing Boom & Zoom manoeuvres allowing the fighter to get on target and then speed away to set up for the next shot. The F-84B will help newer jet pilots get used to the basics of the aircraft before upgrading to the F-84G.

General info

Flight Performance

The F-84B is a streamline all-metal jet fighter which was designed to house the Allison J35-A-15 turbine jet engine. This early Allison engine proved to be weak on power when it came to take-off/thrust ratio and climbing speed. The distance needed to achieve the take-off roll became a joke with F-84B pilots as they quipped that there was a “sniffer” device mounted in the nose of the aircraft which upon reaching V₂ (takeoff safety speed at which the aircraft can safely climb) it would then begin searching for the dirt at the end of the runway and when detected the controls would become operational for the pilot to take off and fly the aircraft. While a joke between pilots, it remains that in-game this fighter has a significant roll-out time of 1,500 m (~5,000 ft) before lift-off.

Though the take-off and climb characteristics of the Allison jet engine appeared lacklustre, it actually had decent level flight speed and good dive characteristics. Speed is what saves this fighter, in once it has enough built up, it will perform. Though not the fastest at its battle rating, the F-84B is a great boom & zoom aircraft vs. being a dog-fighter. Turning this aircraft will bleed its speed and the roll rate can be affected by the weight of the wing-tip fuel tanks. One negative aspect of the wing-tip fuel tanks of the early F-84s was that high speeds (+1,000 kph) tended to cause the fuel tanks to twist resulting in the destruction of the wings which does reflect in realistic and simulator battles in-game if exceeded. While turning in this jet is not advised, Immelmann and Split-S manoeuvres will help to conserve energy without compromising the speed of the aircraft.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at ?,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
924	890	12500	32.2	33.8	17.5	17.5	1500
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at ?,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
960	948	12500	30.2	31.0	27.3	22	1500

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
1044.75	320	550	~11	~4.5

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 530	< 600	< 690	N/A

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
0 m	1620 kgf	No WEP

Survivability and armour

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front
• 6.35 mm Steel plate in front of the pilot
• 12.7 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest
• 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot

Like many early jet fighters, the armour was placed around the pilot while not much thought was given to the other critical components of the aircraft. From behind, the pilot is protected by an 8 mm steel plate behind the seat with a 12.7 mm steel plate as a headrest. In front of the pilot, a 38 mm bulletproof windscreen adds protection from head-on's or from defensive bomber weapons. Another 6.35 mm steel plate is placed in front of the pilot and instrument panel for further protection of bullets entering the open-ended air-intake.

Other critical components such as the jet turbine, fuel tanks and coolers are all exposed, only protected by the outer skin of the aircraft which may deflect incoming bullets if at sufficient distance or angle to do so.

When attacking an F-84B, aim for the centre of the aircraft where you have a good chance of getting a critical hit on the engine or in a fuel tank. Due to this aircraft having wing-tip fuel tanks, shots to the wings or wing-tip tanks have a potential of starting a fire or breaking a wing off. If the attacking aircraft has sufficient calibre ammunition then shots taken at the pilot may have a larger chance of success if made from the sides or behind. This aircraft does not have much protection against rockets or missiles, however, given sufficient notice, rockets can be avoided and it is possible that missiles can be outmanoeuvred, however, when playing in realistic or simulator you run the risk of the pilot blacking-out due to G-force manoeuvers or wings snapping while trying to outfly a missile.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The F-84B-26 is armed with:

• 4 x 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine gun, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine gun, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

Early fighters had many different configurations of machine guns and cannons mounted in the fuselage and in the wings, sometimes needing to be synced with the propeller to prevent its destruction. With the jet age developing, many factors of the past needed to be reconsidered with gun placement. With jet fighters flying faster and chasing faster targets, trying to find the sweet spot with gun convergence was extremely difficult, jet fighter pilots needed a little extra help with this. Besides implementing newer gun sites and early radar, jet fighter guns tended to be fuselage-mounted, thus eliminating the need to set the convergence and at any point between 0 m and 800 m the ammunition rounds would fly true without a convergence point.

For the F-84B, four of the 12.7 mm M3 Browning machine guns were mounted in the fuselage with the other two mounted in the wing roots. While they were not all centre mounted, the two in the wing roots were close enough that convergence did not need to be messed with. Two ammunition options provide the most bang-for-the-buck, firstly, the omni-purpose rounds are good all-around ammunition rounds which provide tracers and explosive/incendiary rounds which are effective against aircraft and up to light armoured vehicles. Hardened vehicles and bunkers should be left to bombs and rockets for their destruction. If as a pilot you are looking for the sneak attack, stealth rounds will allow you to get on target fire off rounds and not give away your position, giving you a few seconds to make a second attack if needed before the target realizes where you are coming from.

Suspended armament

The F-84B-26 can be outfitted with the following ordinance"

• 4 × 127 mm HVAR rockets
• 8 × 127 mm HVAR rockets
• 8 × 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs
• 8 × 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• 8 × 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs
• 8 × 127 mm HVAR rockets + 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs
• 2 × 298 mm Tiny Tim rockets + 8 x 127 mm HVAR rockets
• 2 × 298 mm Tiny Tim rockets
• 2 × 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs
• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
• 2 x 250 lb AN-M57 bombs
• 2 x 100 lb AN-M30A1 bombs

The F-84B is one of a small handful of aircraft in War Thunder which offers many different suspended armament options ranging from bombs and rockets depending on the target needing to be destroyed. The smaller bombs such as the AN-M30A1 and AN-M57 and HVAR rockets are useful against soft targets like anti-aircraft batteries, unarmored vehicles, ships and some light tanks. The heavier hitters like the AN-M61A1, AN-M65A1 and Tiny Tim rockets are effective (more like overkill) for the softer targets, but also work well with bunkers, heavier armoured tanks, larger ships and can also be utilised against bases.

Sometimes the suspended weapons you start out with doesn't work well later on in the match, therefore you can return to your base and exit the aircraft (default key = 'j') and select a different load-out unless you would like to fly strictly as a fighter where you can select "without load" and rely just on the six Browning M3 machine guns. The wide variety of ordnance options available for this aircraft make it an excellent clean-up ground attacker which can attack just about anything on the map with the right setup.

Usage in battles

The F-84B-26 can be used in two different ways to maximize efficiency:

1. Boom and Run: Due to the F-84's good top speed, a good way to fight an enemy is to get up to a higher altitude and dive towards the enemy aircraft, then shoot and extend to stay out of weapons range. Once you extend, re-position yourself and repeat.

1. Slice and Dice: Stick low and gain speed (preferably above 800 km/h), once the bowl forms (bowl is when a cluster of enemy planes form into one area) cut through the bowl selecting one target plane and take a shot followed by extending and repositioning.

Enemy worth noting- every single plane which is faster than you. A slow F-84 is a dead 84, stay fast.

As fighter-bomber it can be used as a normal jet fighter too, utilizing the top speed, but hindered by acceleration and climb rate. Due to terrible acceleration, the main tactic to attack enemy fighters, as well as bombers, is to use Boom and Run and Boom and Zoom. Given the inherent issues, keeping energy while flying F-84 is crucial and hard. Indeed a difficult fighter to master, albeit a strict teacher for advanced jet tactics as necessary in the F-86A.

M3s Brownings are very good at shooting down all types of enemy fighters, bombers and attackers.

Due to very high RoF and low ammo count, trigger discipline is advised. Best ammo belts are Stealth and Omni-Purpose.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair			Offensive 12 mm	FRC Mk.7	FSBC Mk.1
II	New Boosters	Compressor	Airframe			FSBC Mk.5
III	Wings Repair	Engine		New 12 mm MGs	FRC Mk.7a	FMBC Mk.1
IV	G-Suit		Cover		LFRC Mk.12	FLBC Mk.1

The quandary with a stock F-84B is to decide whether to first research upgraded ammunition or components which improve speed? If choosing to upgrade the ammunition to gain access to ammunition belts other than the default belt, first choose Offensive 12 mm. The modules which allow access to the bombs and rockets should be the last ones to research. The Compressor and Engine modules should come next (or first if you choose to upgrade the engine first) to increase the aircraft's ability to climb and accelerate. New boosters, Wings repair, Airframe and Cover are the next best choices for upgrades which help the fighter be a little more robust. G-suit module may be a good early choice if the crew points for are lacking, however, this fighter will not be making any high speed/high-G turns which should adversely affect the pilot, but this may come into play with arcade battles where wing ripping is not a factor.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Sufficient amount of ammo
• Excellent top speed in a straight line
• Above average acceleration levelled
• Above average roll rate
• Deadly rapid-firing M3 Browning machine guns
• Nose mounted guns, no need to worry about convergence
• Overall great durability
• Great at Boom & Run and Boom & Zoom
• Gigantic payload
• Air spawn in realistic battle (most maps)

Cons:

• Need a solid burst to down an enemy
• Engine suffers greatly at high altitudes
• Terrible vertical energy retention
• Loses all speed in turns
• Average climb rate
• Worst manoeuvrability of any early tier jets
• Can carry a large and varied payload, though all of them substantially increase drag and weight, severely hampering the performance

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 big, 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>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. 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).

Media

F-84B-26 Thunderjet [Fast and Furious] - Jengar

F84B: Much better than I remember! - Van Sinn

F-84B-26 Thunderjet - The Art Of Rushing - Napalmratte

F-84 ThunderJet - Realistic Battle - MagzTV

See also

Other versions

• F-84G-21-RE
• F-84G-21-RE (China)
• F-84G-21-RE (Italy)
• F-84G-26-RE (France)

Aircraft of comparable configuration, role and era

• M.D.450B Ouragan
• Venom FB.4
• Gloster Meteor
• F9F Panther
• F9F Cougar

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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