F2A-3
| This page is about the American fighter F2A-3. For other versions, see F2A-1 and Thach's F2A-1. |
Contents
Description
The F2A-3 Buffalo is a rank II American fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB) and 2.3 (RB/SB). It 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
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,492 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 495 | 477 | 10424 | 18.6 | 19.3 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 200 |
| Upgraded | 548 | 518 | 16.7 | 17.6 | 20.9 | 16.4 | ||
Details
| Features | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 0 | 720 | 460 | 460 | 260 | ~11 | ~4 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 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
- No armour
- Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in each wing)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The F2A-3 is armed with:
- 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
- 2 x 12.7 mm M2 Browning 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 Auto control available |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
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
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
- Skins
- Videos
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.
| Brewster Aeronautical Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | F2A-1 · Thach's F2A-1 · F2A-3 |
| Export | ▄B-239 |
| USA fighters | |
|---|---|
| P-26 Peashooter | P-26A-33 · P-26A-34 · P-26A-34 M2 · P-26B-35 |
| P-36 Hawk | P-36A · Rasmussen's P-36A · P-36C · ○P-36C · P-36G |
| P-39 Airacobra | P-400 · P-39N-0 · P-39Q-5 |
| P-40 | P-40C · P-40E-1 · P-40E-1 TD · P-40F-10 |
| P-43 Lancer | P-43A-1 |
| P-47 Thunderbolt | P-47D-22-RE · P-47D-25 · P-47D-28 · P-47M-1-RE · ⋠P-47M-1-RE · P-47N-15 |
| P-51 Mustang | P-51 · P-51A (Thunder League) · P-51C-10 · P-51D-5 · P-51D-10 · P-51D-20-NA · P-51D-30 · P-51H-5-NA |
| P-63 Kingcobra | P-63A-5 · P-63A-10 · P-63C-5 · ␠Kingcobra |
| Prototypes | XP-55 |
| F2A Buffalo | F2A-1 · Thach's F2A-1 · F2A-3 |
| BF2C | BF2C-1 |
| F3F | F3F-2 · Galer's F3F-2 |
| F4F Wildcat | F4F-3 · F4F-4 |
| F4U Corsair | F4U-1A · F4U-1A (USMC) · F4U-1D · F4U-1C · F4U-4 · F4U-4B · F4U-4B VMF-214 · F2G-1 |
| F6F Hellcat | F6F-5 · F6F-5N |
| F8F Bearcat | F8F-1 · F8F-1B |
| Other countries | ▃Ki-43-II · ▃Ki-61-Ib · ▃A6M2 · ▃Bf 109 F-4 · ▃Fw 190 A-8 · ▃Spitfire LF Mk IXc |
