F3D-1

F3D-1

AM-1

F-84F

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/a/a5/Cockpit_f3d_1.jpg

F3D-1

AM-1

F-84F

USA

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.7	7.0	7.0

Class:

Strike aircraft

Naval aircraft

Research:82 000

Purchase:240 000

Show in game

Description

During 1945, the Navy was discussing the idea of a jet-powered aircraft that could operate from carriers. In addition, it was required to have radar and fly in night conditions. Out of 4 companies, Douglas' proposal would ultimately earn the Navy's full attention and they were awarded contracts to build 3 prototypes. Soon after, the name Skyknight was chosen for the project. In 1948, the XF3D-1 was ready for its first flight. It was to be powered by two J34-WE-22 engines and a preliminary radar as the APQ-65 was unavailable at the time. Two XF3D-1's were built with the SCR-720 radar until the third prototype which received the planned APQ-65. After test flights showed the Skyknight to be a capable aircraft, 28 F3D-1s were ordered for both the USMC and USN. The production F3D-1 received a few changes such as better engines (J-34-WE-34) and gained around 5,000 lbs (2,267 kg) in weight.

Introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance", the F3D-1 is a very capable aircraft that can fit many roles. In air-to-air combat, the F3D-1 can hold its own with its good turn rate and four M3 cannons mounted in the nose. In addition, the Skyknight receives an attacker airspawn which greatly helps its capability. The Skyknight can also be effectively used against ground targets due to its high-powered cannons, bombs, and Tiny Tim rockets. The cannons have plentiful ammo and have 16 seconds of trigger time. Players can confidently use the F3D-1 Skyknight against air and ground targets.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear

Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier

Air brakes

Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps

Max speed

at 1 524 m846 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude10 668 m

Engine2 х Westinghouse J34-WE-34

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight12 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 1,524 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	809	783	10668	31.3	32.0	14.7	13.6	700
Upgraded	868	846		28.8	30.0	23.3	18.8

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
932	314	443	422	314	~8	~4

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 620	< 650	< 620	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Westinghouse J34-WE-34		2	7,290 kg			294 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		21m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	60m fuel	73m fuel
600 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		8,361 kg	8,814 kg	9,569 kg	10,324 kg	10,978 kg	12,156 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	21m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	60m fuel	73m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	1,469 kgf	N/A	0.35	0.33	0.31	0.28	0.27	0.24
Optimal	1,469 kgf (0 km/h)	N/A	0.35	0.33	0.31	0.28	0.27	0.24

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural932 km/h

Gear314 km/h

• 38 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front.
• 5 mm Steel plates in the nose.
• 3 mm Steel boxes in the tail.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 140 → 4 207

RB6 491 → 8 697

SB9 859 → 13 211

Total cost of modifications71 400

117 600

Talisman cost1 900

Crew training68 000

Experts240 000

Aces1 400

Research Aces620 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

120 / 250 / 600 %

184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 900 210 Compressor Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 900 210 New boosters Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 300 Wings repair Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 260 Engine Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 260 G-suit Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 440	Airframe Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 300 Cover Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 440	anm3_belt_pack Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 900 210 SBC mk.I Research: 3 600 Cost: 5 900 210 LFRC mk.12 Research: 5 300 Cost: 8 600 300 anm3_new_gun Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 260 MBC mk.I Research: 4 500 Cost: 7 300 260 LBC mk.I Research: 7 700 Cost: 13 000 440

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 20 mm M3 cannon

Ammunition800 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The F3D-1 is armed with:

• 4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, chin-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (4)

Setup 12 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bomb

Setup 22 x Tiny Tim rockets

Setup 32 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bomb

Setup 42 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb

The F3D-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
• 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
• 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
• 2 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (4,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The F3D-1 is pretty good in a dogfight with the right energy situation. While it may not be able to out-turn every enemy it faces, it has decent enough maneuverability to face the majority of the planes it faces. The plane does suffer from a relatively poor climb rate and below average top speed, but once it gains the altitude it needs to gain speed, it can be quite a fighting plane.

The 20 mm can cause a lot of damage if it does catch the enemy. One important note is to avoid large dogfighting furballs, as there will be an enemy Me 262 or other jet that will notice the large F3D-1 and aim to gun it down. Instead, use the F3D-1 to go against outliers and stragglers to deal with them one by one.

If the plane's flight performance is not to one's liking, one can use the F3D-1 as a ground-pounder. Allow teammates to gain an aerial superiority in the fighting area while using the guns and suspended armaments to attack ground units. The cannons are effective against light vehicles and vehicle top armour. The 2000 lb bombs are powerful enough to destroy any target, allowing pinpoint targeting of dug-in vehicles and end their game quickly. The F3D-1 also has access to Tiny Tim Rockets, which have extremely high penetration and post penetration damage. After dropping the payload and strafing targets, quickly return to base and rearm to return with more weaponry and effect.

It is best not to linger over a combat zone, as the F3D-1's presence will attract the attention of players, who may spawn in fighters or SPAA and try to shoot it down. In higher rank matches, SPAA will jump at the chance to shoot down a slow, lumbering jet like the F3D-1. Instead, it is best to quickly pinpoint a target, destroy it and then return to base. Keep on doing this as many times as possible. Fly low and around the edge of the map in order to avoid any anti-aircraft guns, observing the map and looking out for any potential targets. If the F3D-1 has attracted any unwanted attention from an enemy aircraft, the first action should be to call for help. It can save a lot of hassle if a friendly SPAA or fighter can take out the enemy plane. If not, the F3D-1 pilot will need to analyse the enemy and work out if the F3D-1 has any advantages over it. If it is a high-rank plane like a MiG-15 or Sabre, the options are pretty limited. The F3D-1's survival chances mostly depend on the pilot's skill to outwit the opponent, or their skill to outwit the F3D-1's pilot.

Radars

The F3D-1 is equipped with an AN/APS-21 search radar, as well as an AN/APG-26 target tracking radar. Both radars are located in the nose of the aircraft.

AN/APS-21 - Target Detection Radar
Maximum Detection Range	Guaranteed Detection Range	Max Azimuth Scan Angle	Max Elevation Scan Angle
45,000 m	28,000 m	±85°	±16°
AN/APG-26 - Target Tracking Radar
Maximum Tracking Range	Minimum Tracking Range	Azimuth Tracking Angle	Elevation Tracking Angle
4,000 m	150 m	±60°	±60°

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Is equipped with the AN/APS-21 target detection radar and AN/APG-26 target tracking radar, with the best target detection range in the game
• Has four 20 mm cannons with good accuracy and ammo count
• Decent bombload, allowing to perform in CAS roles
• Can turn better than some other jets while it has energy
• Can make it back to base on only one engine (you should be able to maintain ~400 km/h in level flight)
• Engines mounted close to the centre line of aircraft means loss of an engine has less impact on controllability
• Has airbrakes that has very quick deployment time, useful for diving or landing

Cons:

• Fairly large in size, can be easily targeted
• Any positive G manouver will costs a significant amount of energy
• Not very manoeuvrable at low speeds
• Easily compress at high speeds, can be very dangerous while diving or in low altitude engagements
• Poor climb rate makes it impractical to engage bombers

History

In late 1945, the US Navy was in search of a new carrier-based fighter that was to be jet-powered and able to fly in all weather. The two-seated, twin-engine fighter was to be equipped with a radar and with specifications for a top speed of 500 mph (805 km/h), an operating altitude of 40,000 ft (12,192 m), and able to detect an enemy 125 miles (201 km) away. The Douglas Aircraft Company were among the many companies that were asked to produce an aircraft able to meet these specifications. Led by designer Ed Heineman, Douglas produced the designs that the US Navy thought suited best and were offered a contract for three prototypes under the designation XF3D-1, with the nickname Skyknight, on 03 April 1946.

The XF3D-1 prototype made its first flight on 23 March 1948. Due to the favorable performance, the plane was then ordered on May 11th for production of 28 units as the F3D-1. The first production F3D-1 was delivered in early 1950. By February 1951, the F3D-1 was put into service. However, despite its status, the F3D-1 did not meet all standards for aircraft carrier operations, mainly due to underpowered engines. As such, priority shifted over towards the F3D-2 variant and only 28 F3D-1 planes were produced. In all, Douglas would produce 268 F3D Skyknights for U.S. service.

While the F3D-1 stayed stateside to train pilots and radar operators, the F3D-2 were sent to the Korea War in Spring of 1952. The F3D-2 Skyknights were assigned to Marine Corps night fighter squadrons to escort bombers in nighttime raids. While there, the F3D Skyknights racked up one of the best aerial victory record in Korea for a night-fighter, even scoring the first aerial jet-to-jet night victory against a Yak-15 in 03 November 1952. Only one F3D Skyknight was shot down during the rest of the Korean War.

After the Korean War, the F3D Skyknights became used as trainers or testing beds for the then-new air-to-air missiles (AAM) such as the AIM-7 Sparrow missiles. In the 1962, the F3Ds were renamed to the F-10 Skyknights, with the F3D-1 and F3D-2 being redesignated as F-10A and F-10B respectively. These would later be used in Vietnam, making the Skyknights the only jet fighter to have flown in the Korean and Vietnam War. The Skyknight's role in Vietnam was reduced, focusing more on electronic warfare with electronic countermeasure (ECM) equipment as the EF-10B in order to counter the new SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missile. The Skyknights were also used to conduct reconnaissance over Cuba during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.

In 1969 though, all US Navy F-10s were retired and used for testing on the new avionics systems which were implemented into the F-14 Tomcats. The Marines used their F-10s until May 1970.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the F3D-1 from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Shooting Range #81 - War Machines section at 00:31 discusses the F3D-1.

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

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Wikipedia] Douglas F3D Skyknight
• [Combatairmuseum.org] Douglas F-3D-2T2 (TF-10B) Skyknight
• [Boeing.com] Historical Snapshot - F3D/F-10 SKYKNIGHT FIGHTER
• [Airvectors.net] The Douglas F3D Skyknight
• [Joebaugher.com] Douglas F3D-1/F-10A Skyknight

References

Douglas Aircraft Company
Strike Aircraft	A-20G-25 · A-26B-10 · A-26B-50 · AD-2 · AD-4 · A-1H
Bombers	TBD-1 · B-18A · SBD-3 · BTD-1 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
Turboprops	A2D-1
Jet Aircraft	F3D-1 · F4D-1
A-4 Skyhawk	A-4B · A-4E Early
Export	▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 · ▂A-20G-30 · ▄AD-4 · ▄AD-4NA
A-4 Skyhawk	A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · Ayit · A-4E
	The Douglas Aircraft Company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas.