B-17E

B-17E

B-26B

B-17E/L

B-17E

B-26B

B-17E/L

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.7	4.7	5.7

Class:

Bomber

Long Range bomber

Research:26 000

Purchase:76 000

Show in game

This page is about the aircraft B-17E. For other uses, see B-17 (Family).

Description

The B-17E Flying Fortress is a rank III American heavy bomber bomber with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB/RB) and 5.7 (SB). This bomber has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

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 7,680 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
497	483	11156	36.9	37.9	5.8	5.6	600
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 7,680 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
525	512	11156	33.7	33.8	10.6	8.6	600

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	290	400	~1	~1

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 360	< 300	< 323	> 210

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,180 m	4,000 hp	4,708 hp

Survivability and armour

• 6.35 mm Steel plate behind nose gunner.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates behind pilots.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates behind dorsal gunners.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates in front of beam gunners.
• 6.35 mm Steel plates in front of tail gunner.
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in front of tail gunner.
• 38 mm Bulletproof glass ball turret.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The B-17E can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• 8 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (4,000 lb total)
• 12 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (6,000 lb total)
• 6 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (6,000 lb total)
• 2 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (4,000 lb total)

Defensive armament

The B-17E is defended by:

• 1 x 7.62 mm Browning machine gun, nose turret (500 rpg)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, front dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
• 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, rear dorsal turret (500 rpg)
• 1 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, 2 x beam turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
• 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun, tail turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in battles

The B-17E Flying Fortress is intended to be used as a high-altitude level bomber in order to target airfields, bases, and land fortifications. Despite its large bomb load, it's not recommended to target moving ground units, such as tanks or armored cars, especially when they are travelling in tight columns due to the inaccuracy of your bombs at high altitudes and the ability for the AI on the ground to perform evasive manoeuvres when bombs are falling onto their position. When using the B-17E, it is best to fly with another friendly bomber or fighter (if possible) to ensure maximum protection. If you are flying alone, design a secure flight path towards your objective in hopes of not being detected by enemy fighters.

The B-17E is designed specifically to withstand the harshest punishment during combat. The bomber itself provides plenty of armour along the fuselage and tail except for the nose, which is the only area that's not protected by any form of protection. These armour ranges from 6.35 mm sheets to a single 38 mm glass plate protecting the tail gunner. Speaking of armour protection, in order to ensure the greatest chance of survival during an interception, you must not move. The B-17E is not designed to execute sharp defensive manoeuvres (turns, dives, and rolls) unlike it's predecessor the B-25, but rather designed to use its defensive armament provided (consisting of 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm turrets) to fight back against harassing enemy fighters. Some great advice for novice bombardiers is to included incendiary ammunition in your turret belts almost ALWAYS! This crucial precaution will guarantee more lethal firepower coming from your defensive armament, since not only are you penetrating armour, but you are also setting components ablaze However these armour and defensice armament won't save you from the hightier interceptor and fighter armed with cannons (especially german heavy fighters/intercepter that are armed with 30 mm cannon and get an air spawn) you will face. Since they are all heavily armoured, while possessing the ability to ripe your wings off with a few 20 mm cannon shot or one shot you with the 30 mm from 1.5 km away. It is better to just avoid them all together by side climbing and using cloud cover when heading to the enemy base. NEVER head strait to the enemy base because the enemy player will trace your flight path from your spawn point to their base and easly intercept you. Also unlike it's predecessor the B-25, the B-17 do not have a lot if any armour or defensive armament in the front. So if an enemy fighter decide to go head on. Try turning away to expose your tail, which is a lot more protected to the incoming fighter. If not then both poliot could get knocked out and send you straight back to the hanger with a hefty repair bill.

In conclusion, the B-17E is a great introduction for players using the American bomber line. Although it is not the old B-17 where it is a immortal gunship, if used well, the B-17E is a force be reckoned with.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable	Not controllable	Controllable	Combined	Controllable	Not controllable

Modules

As a slow and lumbering heavy bomber the Flying Fortress relies entirely on its turrets for defence. Without it, the plane is a pinata. Thus Protective vests should be the first unlock. Further survivability upgrades will make fending off attacks easier but do not think to stand successfully against enemy fighters. So upgrading the bomb load should be second priority. Performance modules can be considered least necessary, it will not go anywhere quick anyway.

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	LBC-17
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Turret 12 mm	SBC-17
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	MBC-17

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Large bomb load
• Heavy defensive armament
• Multiple engines (preserves speed when damaged)
• Very sturdy fuselage able to soak up heavy damage
• Calibers below 12.7 mm are ineffective against it
• Good speed
• Defensive armaments provide all-around coverage
• Performs well at high altitudes

Cons:

• Cumbersome target
• Poor climb rate
• Nose is extremely vulnerable
• Cannons are very effective against it
• Multiple engines mean multiple fires
• Sluggish controls and very difficult to manoeuvre
• Wings are large and vulnerable
• Low speed
• For 20mm+ cannons filled with explosive bullets few shots are needed to cut off a wing
• Engines will overheat at 100%

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).

In-game description

"The legendary B-17 American heavy bombers were rightly called Flying Fortresses. This four-engined heavy bomber was an all-metal hero, an extremely durable aircraft that could return to the airfield with just one engine, riddled with bullets.

But the early models of the B-17 had a significant blind spot in the rear, so fighter support was required. To solve this problem, the B-17E was produced, and a turret with two 12.7mm machine guns was installed in the tail section of the aircraft. To do this, the fuselage size had to be increased. In addition, to improve control of the plane, the tail was broadened and a larger vertical fin was installed.

Although it lost some speed when compared to the B-17D, the new model fared favorably with its new protection and thus became the first truly mass-produced B-17. From September 5, 1941 to May 1942, 512 aircraft were made on the production line, before the development of the B-17F. "

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.