Beaufighter Mk X
| This page is about the British strike aircraft Beaufighter Mk X. For other versions, see Beaufighter (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Beaufighter Mk X is a rank II British strike aircraft with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB), 3.0 (RB), and 3.7 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 2,600 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 468 | 450 | 4575 | 29.8 | 30.8 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 443 |
| Upgraded | 517 | 490 | 27.3 | 28.5 | 14.5 | 10.0 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 0 | 242 | 354 | 242 | 216 | ~7 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 330 | < 390 | < 410 | > 300 |
| Compressor (RB/SB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setting 1 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 460 m | 1,395 hp | 1,743 hp |
| Setting 2 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 2,651 m | 1,300 hp | 1,547 hp |
Survivability and armour
- 25 mm Steel - Armoured nose plate
- 1 mm Steel - Forward engine nacelle armour plates
- 25 mm Steel - Rear aircraft/gunner protection armour plate
- 38 mm Bulletproof glass - Armoured windscreen
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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|
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Armaments
Offensive armament
The Beaufighter Mk X is armed with:
- 4 x 20 mm Hispano Mk.II cannons, belly-mounted (283 rpg = 1,132 total)
- 6 x 7.7 mm Browning machine guns, wing-mounted (2 x left, 4 x right) (1,000 rpg = 6,000 total)
Suspended armament
The Beaufighter Mk X can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 1 x 18 inch Mark XII torpedo
- 8 x RP-3 rockets
Defensive armament
The Beaufighter Mk X is defended by:
- 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, dorsal turret (1,000 rpg)
Usage in battles
Just like the Mk VIc version of the Beaufighter, you can use this aircraft in a variety of roles. Heavy fighter, torpedo bomber, and attacker are all still viable roles for this aircraft. The big difference is in how effective you are at these roles. In the ground attack role, you see a large improvement in capabilities. This is mainly due to the additional ability to carry rockets for ground attack, and the increase in 20 mm cannon ammo. Torpedo bomber tactics should be avoided, however. With the torpedo on offer still being very poor in terms of drop requirements, surviving against incoming flak will be a real challenge. Heavy fighter tactics can be used once again, but with a few changes. Compared to the Mk VIc, you pack a much bigger punch with your weaponry. Unfortunately, this adds weight to the airframe. Thanks to the extra weight, climb rate, manoeuvrability, and speed will all suffer. In short, you will find it harder to find and catch targets, but you can shoot them down more easily. Overall, stick to relatively low altitude. Go after ground targets whenever you see the opportunity and attack any bombers operating at low altitude the second they show up. In order to ensure effectiveness in this role, ground target or universal ammo belts should be used with the 20 mm cannons. The same applies to your 7.7 mm machine guns ammo belts; armoured or universal should be used. With a good flight escort, you can take give your opponents a lot of trouble attacking their ground units, ultimately helping to secure victory for your team.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Not controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Combined | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent armament consisting of four Hispano Mk II cannons and six 7.7 mm machine guns
- Very likely to come out on top during a head-on attack
- Can actually intercept bombers, provided they are flying low enough
- Centre-lined cannon armament makes them much more accurate and easier to aim
- Good horizontal agility
- Very good ammo amount, especially helpful during RB and SB
- Can carry 8 powerful RP-3 rockets, with 60 mm of penetration
- Can be used as a torpedo-bomber
Cons:
- Mediocre climb rate
- Machine guns' accuracy suffers from wing mounting (-> convergence)
- Bad roll rate at high speeds
- Inferior flight performance compared to its predecessor
- Gunner is almost useless due to only having a single machine gun for defensive armament
- Cannot carry any bombs, which makes it harder to destroy pillboxes and heavier tanks
History
In-game description
A design rapidly born from the wings and tail of the earlier Beaufort, the Beaufighter was a two seat, twin engine heavy fighter designed for long range, ground strike and night fighter duties. Equipped with an early AI radar, the Beaufighter was one of the world's first successful night fighters. It was no surprise at how magnificent this aircraft was! The manufactures of the aircraft was Bristol Aeroplane Company. The first flight of the Beaufighter was 17th July 1939 and was introduced into service on the 27th July 1940.
Most of the last mass-produced aircraft in Britain were Beaufighter TF Mk Xs. This model was a logical continuation and development of the Mk VIC, had two Hercules Mk VI engines optimised for low level flight, and could carry the standard torpedoes produced in Britain and the United States. The TF letters in the designation stood for "Torpedo Fighter". It was also nicknamed the "Torbeau." An equal mixture of torpedo and Beaufighter. The aircraft could also carry a bomb load of 1100 kg. During the earlier models of the aircraft, there was a "herringbone" antennae on the nose and outer wings of the aircraft. Soon after, the AI Mk.VIII radar installed in a 'thimble' nose (replacing the herringbone), they were highly capable machines employed in detecting and destroying surface shipping. In the Far East the Beaufighter was reputed to be nicknamed 'Whispering Death' by Japanese soldiers, although some modern historians believe this to be Allied propaganda.
In March 1945, over a period of 48 hours, Beaufighter TF Mk Xs of No 236 and No 254 Squadrons found and destroyed five German submarines. In the RAF North Coates, which was located on the Lincolnshire coast, made up a tactic. The tactic was a large formation, which used cannons and rockets, that would destroy flaks whilst the "Torbeau" would go low and strike it's enemies with it's torpedoes. It became successful! Destroying (over the period of 10 months) 29,763 tons of shipping!
The last major variant of the Beaufighter, over 2200 were built in Britain. Productions of the Beaufighter MK Xs began on 1940 - 1946. The total produced was 5,928. The main countries using it was the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and the Royal Air Force. But it became incredibly famous for all of it's missions and the effectiveness it showed.
Media
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;
- encyclopaedia page on the aircraft;
- other literature.
| Bristol Aeroplane Company | |
|---|---|
| Strike Aircraft | Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Beaufighter Mk VIc · Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21* |
| Bombers | Blenheim Mk IV · Beaufort Mk VIII* · Brigand B 1 |
| * License-produced in Australia by Department of Aircraft Production. | |
| Britain strike aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Blackburn | Firebrand TF Mk IV · Firecrest |
| Bristol | Beaufighter Mk I (40-mm) · Beaufighter Mk VIc · Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21 |
| CAC | ▄Wirraway |
| Fairey | Firefly F Mk I · Firefly FR Mk V |
| de Havilland | Mosquito FB Mk VI · Mosquito FB Mk XVIII |
| Hawker | Hurricane Mk IV · Tempest Mk V (Vickers P) |
| Westland | Wyvern S4 |
