RP-3
Contents
Description
The RP-3, also known as the 60-pounder rocket due to their Semi-Armour Piercing (SAP) warhead. This rocket was developed by the British military during World War II. In the game, these rockets are the backbone of many of the Royal Air Force's aircraft when fighting against both ground and naval targets. They served honourably with the Beaufighter twin-engine strike fighters during anti-shipping and anti-submarine duties. These rockets also served with the Typhoon fighters and their swift high-speed strafes against German tank and mechanized vehicle convoys.
Ground-to-ground usage though was limited, was a viable option. Decorated units such as the 1st Coldstream Guards used them during the crossing of the Rhine river, in command of their Sherman "Tulips". The ground forces would generally use the RP-3 as a weapon for saturation bombardment and counter ambushes. Thanks to the explosive splash of the warhead, it was highly effective when used for this purpose.
The rockets were widely successful and remained in use long after the resolution of World War II.
Vehicles equipped with this weapon
| Vehicles equipped with this weapon | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | |
| Blackburn | Firebrand TF Mk IV · Firecrest |
| Fairey | Firefly F Mk I · Firefly FR Mk V |
| Hawker | Hurricane Mk IIB/Trop · Hurricane Mk IV · Tempest Mk II · Tempest Mk V · Typhoon Mk Ib · Typhoon Mk Ib/L · Sea Fury FB 11 |
| Supermarine | Seafire FR 47 · Spitfire F Mk XVIIIe · Spitfire F Mk 22 · Spitfire F Mk 24 |
| Westland | Wyvern S4 |
| Twin-engine fighters | Beaufighter Mk X · Beaufighter Mk 21 · Hornet Mk.III · Mosquito FB Mk VI · Mosquito FB.Mk.26 |
| Jet fighters | |
| Gloster | Meteor F Mk 8 G.41K · Meteor F Mk.8 Reaper |
| de Havilland | Vampire F.B.5 · Vampire FB 52A · Venom FB.4 |
| Hawker | Sea Hawk FGA.6 · ◄Sea Hawk Mk.100 |
| Supermarine | Attacker FB 1 · Swift F.1 |
| Bombers | Brigand B 1 · Swordfish Mk II |
| Medium tanks | Cromwell V (RP-3) |
Remarkable users
Naturally, some vehicles might have certain advantages that allow them to use the RP-3 more effectively:
The Hurricane family: Due to their agility, resilience, sufficient payload and low battle rating, they can serve as dedicated ground strike aircraft, just as they served in real life. A master example is the Hurricane Mk IV.
The Swordfish: Despite being an old and very, very slow naval plane. The RP-3 turns it on a dangerous opponent, small patrol boats are totally anahilited with the RP-3 payload . It enjoys low battle rating battles with poorly armored vehicles, a perfect combination.
Meteor "Reaper": Just the fact of having one of the highest number of RP-3 availables to launch, make this jet fighter a superior ground attack platform choice to test the RP-3.
Cromwell V RP-3: This variant is highly unique and powerful at the same time. The RP-3 increases the potential of this Cromwell variant.
Whilst theres many more remarkable; The Typhoons, The Beaufighters family and Sea Hawk are also extremely good users of the RP-3.
General info
The rocket is divided into two main components:
- The Semi Armor-Piercing High-Explosive (HE) warhead (152 mm) with 5.44 kg of TNT explosives.
- The "3-inch" rocket propellent body, the "3-inch" designation referred to the diameter of the rocket motor tube (76 mm), is also shared with the analogous of the RP-3, the AP Mk I and AP Mk II referred to as the 25-pounder rockets due to their solid Armour-Piercing (AP) warheads.
The muzzle velocity of the rocket is: 350 m/s, which is enough to account for minimal corrections at close range, however, the trajectory drop is a noteworthy concern, especially at long range (+400 m).
The warhead weight is 27 kg and the rocket engine tube weight is 37 kg.
Effective damage
With a fantastic penetration of 60 mm at a really close distance of 10 m, these rockets will create a lot of damage post penetration. If the target is too far away to obtain a successful penetration of the armour (beyond 1,500 m). The explosive air blast damage will cause splash damage which is able to penetrate up to 44 mm of armour in any direction.
The air blast of HE devastation was dreaded by the crews of light vehicles, half-tracks, and tank commanders; who at times preferred to abandon their vehicles during rocket attacks. This level of lethality can also be put to satisfactory use in War Thunder against the great variety of light vehicles and medium tanks, especially those in lower battle rated battles.
Some examples from the ballistic analysis prove the lethality of the RP-3 against ground targets:
Side-attacks with the RP-3 are highly lethal due to low armor on the sides.
A near miss RP-3 rocket can yet cause serious damage; this one hit the lower tracks
Top-attacks are also really dangerous due to thin roof armor.
Comparison with analogues
Difference over bomb ordnance
The rocket payload allows you to aim more flexibly to one or several targets depending on the ability to efficiently spare them. While the bombs despite being more powerful and deadly, lack in numbers. This is a shared trait of most of the RAFs aircraft equipped with these two ordnance choices.
Another advantage over the bombs, it's the possibility to destroy a target from greater distances, without the need to pass over the target or get closer for a bomb run. This, however, means the pilots should be well versed in the trajectory drop of the rockets.
One of the main drawbacks of these rockets it's the lesser efficiency on heavier armoured vehicles, for example, The Maus, KVs, destroyers, and cruisers.
Usage in battles
The RP-3 rockets thanks to their versatility, work great in several battlefield environments and situations in War thunder.
The main aspects pilots should commit to always keep in mind are the following:
- The designated target
- The angle of approach
- Correction of the rocket trajectory drop
- Once in the air, everything will be diminutive and hard to distinguish. The pilot will need to guide according to the allies calling targets or seek them on his own with the granted privilege of witnessing the developing battlefield beneath him. Once they find a suitable target that is capable to engage and likely to destroy, e.g., a panzer IV. You should proceed to the next step.
- With a good angle of approach, the pilot prepares his plane correctly and ensures better probabilities of the strike upon the first pass. If a pilot uses roll banking too carelessly or in a hurried manner after the first enemy he sees, he will likely fail to strike. This granted to his inability to correct aerodynamically his angle of approach before opening fire and the likely deviation of the trajectory of the rocket, this is known as sideslip. The pilot must seek to align appropriately his sights and take in consideration the motion on his plane after any turn before opening fire. Using the roll axis to centre the aircraft's motion straight ahead. Once you've successfully positioned your angle of approach proceed to the next step.
- The question now lays in when to open fire. It's recommendable to practice the drop to get a better feel of when to fire. Using a salvo for a ranging attempt is considerable. Always keeping in mind the dangers or the zone such as anti-aircraft fire or enemy planes. If needed. You can always barrage the whole target and disengage.
Arcade Battles
In arcade battles equipping this rockets will grant you with a steady and constant ground strike weapon. Capable of destroying Medium tanks and Pillboxes with ease.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Great damage for light and medium tanks up to 5.0 battle rating
- Useful balance in explosive mass, armour penetration and velocity
- Low weight allows for a considerable amount of rocket payload, up to 16 in some planes
- Explosive warhead posses good high-explosive damage post impact
- 152 mm calibre of the warhead will cause major damage
Cons:
- They struggle to pierce heavy armour 5.0+ battle rating, notably against Soviet sloped armour
- Muzzle velocity is the less favourable aspect, a lot of correction is needed
- The 152 mm calibre of the warhead might detonate with non-relevant objects
- No time fuze of any sort. Only ground and naval strike use
History
Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />.
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 article about the variant of the weapon;
- references to approximate analogues by 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 weapon;
- other literature.
