Su-8
Contents
Description
The Su-8 is a premium gift rank IV Soviet strike aircraft with a battle rating of 4.7 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced during Update "Winged Lions" as a reward for Battle Pass: Season VI, "Firepower".
General info
Flight performance
The flight performance of this plane is extremely sluggish, despite having a combined total of 4,000 horsepower, the plane still struggles to perform most manoeuvres. It has a poor turn radius, low lock-up speeds, and has a subpar climb rate compared to other aircraft at this BR. In mixed battles, the performance is made even worse with suspended ordnance options, which can up to 1,500 kg of additional weight. The plane does however have a silver lining, at low speeds, landing flaps can provide a very high amount of lift, which allows the plane to turn on a dime. The flaps can withstand speeds no more than 280 km/h (155 mph), but they can allow for the plane to make sharp turns to get into position to use the 45 mm cannons or establish a bomb line.
Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 7,150 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
Stock | 527 | 511 | 9000 | 25.9 | 26.7 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 400 |
Upgraded | 574 | 550 | 24.1 | 25.0 | 12.3 | 9.3 |
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 | + | - | ||
720 | 390 | 437 | 380 | 310 | ~__ | ~__ |
Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
< 360 | < 360 | < 380 | > ___ |
Survivability and armour
The Su-8 has copious amounts of armour, similar to other Russian strike aircraft such as the IL-2. This means the Su-8 can withstand incredible amounts of punishment, especially from machine gun fire. Dual engines allow the plane to return home if one is taken out, and pilot armour protects the pilot in any head-on engagement. The Su-8 should take every head-on engagement possible for this reason. In addition to pilot armour, the rear gunner also has good protection from the front and back of the aircraft.
Modifications and economy
This is a premium aircraft, which means all modifications will be unlocked when this plane is obtained.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Su-8 is armed with:
- 4 x 45 mm NS-45 cannons, belly-mounted (50 rpg = 200 total)
- 8 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (600 rpg = 4,800 total)
The incredible NS-45 cannon seen on the Yak-9K is mounted on the Su-8. However instead of one cannon, the Su-8 wields four of these monstrous cannons. The armoured targets belt can penetrate the roof of every tank at the Su-8's BR, as well as the sides of many lightly-armoured vehicles. There is a price to pay for having such incredible armament. The recoil on these guns is extremely significant, it is recommended to fire in very short, controlled bursts. The recoil on this gun is effectively a stopping mechanism, as it can bleed so much speed when attacking a target, that you'll need to continuously adjust lead for every shot you fire. The gun velocity is pretty good, however it does not compare to the German MK 103 tank busting cannon, which has a much higher velocity. You'll need to calculate for gun drop when shooting at ground targets from a distance of more than a kilometre.
The smaller calibre ShKAS machine guns are also an important asset to this aircraft's success. They have an incredibly high rate of fire, and the Su-8 has eight of them. This means you can effectively have a fire rate of 240 rounds per second. This is an incredible amount of bullets, and any soft AI target in Air Battles will be completely obliterated by a short burst. Once again, this incredible feature has a price to pay. The guns have a tendency to jam rather quickly, so short bursts are the key to success. The guns are also mounted very far away from the nose. Gun targeting needs to be set correctly in order for maximum effect, 500 m or so will be good for attacking ground units and spraying at pesky fighters.
Suspended armament
The Su-8 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 9 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (900 kg total)
- 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (750 kg total)
- 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 6 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (1,350 kg total)
- 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,400 kg total)
- 10 x RS-82 rockets
- 10 x RS-82 rockets + 9 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (900 kg total)
- 10 x RS-82 rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (750 kg total)
- 10 x RS-82 rockets + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 10 x RBS-82 rockets
- 10 x RBS-82 rockets + 9 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (900 kg total)
- 10 x RBS-82 rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (750 kg total)
- 10 x RBS-82 rockets + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 10 x RS-132 rockets
- 10 x RS-132 rockets + 9 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (900 kg total)
- 10 x RS-132 rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (750 kg total)
- 6 x RS-132 rockets + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 10 x RBS-132 rockets
- 10 x RBS-132 rockets + 9 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (900 kg total)
- 10 x RBS-132 rockets + 3 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (750 kg total)
- 6 x RBS-132 rockets + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
Defensive armament
The Su-8 is defended by:
- 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (200 rpg)
- 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, ventral turret (200 rpg)
Usage in battles
Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).
Manual Engine Control
MEC elements | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
Oil | Water | Type | ||||
Controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent firepower and payload
- 8x 7mm Machine guns with an individual fire rate twice that of most 7mm guns. The combined 8 machine guns fire 240 rounds per second.
- 4x 45mm cannons absolutely annihilate aircraft on any hit, and have no trouble penetrating the rooves of any tank at the BR
- Wide range of payload options, can carry up to 1430kg of bombs and rockets in total. 2x 500kg bombs are perfect for mixed battlest
- Incredible survivability
- Lots of pilot armor, engine armor, and gunner armor to protect from most calibers of weapons you'll face
- Rear gunner has good coverage, allowing you to deter any fighter that gets close
- Other bonuses
- Low repair cost, very high research modifier. All modifications purchased at start
- Gets an attacker airspawn. Coupled with a steady climb, it's a good choice for intercepting bombers.
- Landing flaps can significantly increase turn time in a pinch
Cons:
- Performance Issues
- Turn time is not on par with other aircraft at its BR. Feels sluggish and will lose energy fast
- Compression issues at high speeds. It's best not to dive in this plane
- Weaponry Issues
- Significant recoil when firing the NS 45, will cause a bleed in speed.
- Guns mounted in the wings, necessary to set a convergence, but not all shells will hit
- Guns jam incredibly fast, so short bursts are recommended
- Vulnerabilities in engagements
- Very large target that is easy to hit
- Gunner provides little protection against heavy fighters and other strike aircraft
- No bombsight for mixed battles, a bombing run requires a skilled pilot.
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 long, 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></ref>
, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />
. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===
, also if applicable).
Media
- 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
USSR strike aircraft | |
---|---|
IL-2 | IL-2 (1941) · IL-2 (1942) · IL-2M (1943) · IL-2M type 3 · IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2-37 · IL-2 M-82 |
IL-8 | IL-8 (1944) |
IL-10 | IL-10 · IL-10 (1946) |
Pe-3 | Pe-3 (e) · Pe-3 · Pe-3bis |
Su-2 | BB-1 · Su-2 MV-5 · Su-2 TSS-1 · Su-2 (M-82) |
Su-6 | Su-6 · Su-6 (AM-42) · Su-6 (M-71F) |
Su-8 | Su-8 |
Tandem MAI | Tandem MAI |
TIS MA | TIS MA |
Tu-1 | Tu-1 |
Yak-2 | Yak-2 KABB |
USSR premium aircraft | |
---|---|
Fighters | Krasnolutsky's I-15bis · I-16 type 28 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P · I-180S · I-301 · ITP (M-1) |
LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-11 | |
Eremin's Yak-3(e) · Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3T · Golovachev's Yak-9M | |
▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15 · ▂P-40E-1 · ▂P-47D-27 · ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5 | |
▂Hurricane Mk IIB · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc · ▂Fw 190 D-9 | |
Twin-engine fighters | I-29 |
Jet fighters | Su-11 · MiG-15bis ISh · MiG-17AS · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-23ML |
Strike aircraft | IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2 M-82 · IL-8 (1944) · Su-6 · Tandem MAI · TIS MA · Su-8 · Tu-1 |
Yak-38 · Su-7BMK · Su-25K · Su-39 | |
Bombers | Po-2M · Be-6 · MBR-2-M-34 · Pe-2-205 · TB-3M-17-32 |
▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · ▂A-20G-30 · ▂B-25J-30 |