B-57A
| This page is about the American jet bomber B-57A. For other versions, see Canberra (Family). |
Contents
Description
The B-57A Canberra is a rank V American jet bomber with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB), 8.3 (RB), and 7.7 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.43.
The B-57A is an unarmed plane so survivability depends on the speed. Luckily the two Wright Aeronautical J65 turbojet engines provide enough thrust to out-speed many fighters. Maximum speed is 950 km/h for a fully upgraded variant and 902 km/h for a stock variant. As was mentioned manoeuvrability is the key, but be aware of pulling your nose down, because the airframe can survive only -6G. However, +12G is almost unreachable value for the vast majority of your opponents. These attributes allow doing very sharp and high-G turns. The payload is adequate. Of course, it's not a B-29, but 9 x 500 lb bombs or 6 x 1,000 lb bombs can do a really nice job.
General info
Flight performance
Note: In regards to the B-57A's maximum speed in Indicated Air Speed (IAS), at lower temperatures (normally in high altitudes) the Maximum Mach Operating (MMO) is used and is 0.82, or around 1,012 km/h.
When landing, the B-57A can dramatically reduce speed: you can be less than 2 km away from the airfield, and slow down to landing speed in seconds. This also means you can quickly return to the airfield and rearm compared to other jets at this BR, like the Me 163.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 0 m - sea level) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 926 | 903 | 13716 | 59.2 | 59.9 | 24.5 | 23.1 | 850 |
| Upgraded | 960 | 946 | 57.2 | 58.0 | 39.3 | 32.0 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | X |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 990 | 450 | 498 | 469 | 320 | ~8 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 561 | < 523 | < 510 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Empty mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | |||||
| Wright J65-W-5 | 2 | 11,200 kg | 201 kg/m2 | |||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | ||||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 15m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 50m fuel | ||
| 1,260 kg | Axial-flow turbojet | 13,245 kg | 13,905 kg | 15,230 kg | 17,214 kg | 17,876 kg | 24,947 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%) | |||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 15m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 45m fuel | 50m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 3,265 kgf | N/A | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.43 | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.26 |
| Optimal | 3,265 kgf (0 km/h) |
N/A | 0.49 | 0.47 | 0.43 | 0.38 | 0.37 | 0.26 |
Survivability and armour
- No armour protection
- Self-sealing fuel tanks (3 in central fuselage, 1 in each wing)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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Armaments
Suspended armament
The B-57A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 9 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (4,500 lb total)
- 6 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 Fin M129 bombs (6,000 lb total)
Usage in battles
As for the B-57A have 2 powerful jet engine and no guns. The tactic for this bomber is simple. Start your game at the air and dive. You will gain speed while you are diving. Hold the speed until you destroyed your target. After that, pull your head up to 60 degrees. Climb to 10,000-16,000 ft.
The 1,000 lbs are effective base-destroyers, 3 x 1,000 lb bombs are enough for a single bombing-point in RB and SB. For AB you need more bombs, a whole bomb-load is usually enough to destroy a bombing-point. In AB, it is recommended flying high as it is possible, in danger you can always use your top-speed to run away. In realistic battles, mode is very important to communicate with a team. Don't be afraid of using the in-game chat, just write which one base you are heading. This can avoid a situation when multiple bombers are going to bomb the same target. If you are a lone bomber in your team, count that you are able to destroy 3 bases in 2 runs (with the 1,000 lb bombs, 3 bases in 3 runs with the stock payload).
The 500 lbs (stock bomb-load) is also a great possibility. Use these if you want to destroy some land-targets as are tanks, destroyers or pillboxes. For all tanks and pillboxes, you need only 1 x 500 lb bomb, a single bomb can be used also for destroyers. In AB I wouldn't use ground-target bombing, but if you want to, keep eye on your speed value. Be prepared for enemies with a tunnel-vision (a condition, when the player focuses only on a single goal - shut down). However, RB is awesome for ground-units score-farming. Try to be accurate. To do so, it's recommended to fly in the same line as is the targets move. Pre-aim slightly to track the future position of the ground unit.
Try to fly low to increase a hit-change (but not to low, bombs splash damage could blow you up - 400 m over the target is optimal). However be aware, the faster are you going the less accurate the aiming cross is. You need to compensate for this. Just practicing can show you how to do it. To maximize XP and SL income, attack big pillboxes (not moving target = easier to hit) or destroyers.
To combine tactical awareness and accurate bombing try the boom and zoom tactic. Copy the line of ships movement, drop to 400-500 m (enjoy your highest speed), bomb the target, pull into the almost vertical flight (70% angle), reach 2,500-3,000 m, turn back, and dive on the target again. Keep in mind, that B-57 is not a dive bomber, so level the plane quickly. Also, be aware of -6G limit, just don't push the nose down aggressively.
To survive on the battlefield trying to keep out of fighters radius. But if the enemy finds you and is prepared to shoot you down, try these tips:
- If an enemey Boom & Zooms o you - let him come, prepare for a sharp turn, using your +12G resistance. Turn, when the enemy is within a 1 km radius, almost no one can follow you in such an unexpected manoeuvre. It will buy you time, but try to disappear as soon as possible.
- Fighter on your 6 - only reaching the top-speed can save you. Only MiG-15s and Venoms (+ Sea Meteors in dive) can catch you. Find the clouds to shake them off. Don't try to climb if any bomb is left in the bomb bay.
- Going to land, X enemy fighter is over the AF (airfield) - You have no chance to land. You can use the in-game chat to call for help or grab things into your own hands. Be bait for your team; let the enemy fly on your 6 (of course with enough distance) and Boom & Zoom over the AF. AA may shoot down the enemy. Keep calm and watch your speed, don't let him catch you.
- The last plane in the team - if you left alone (out of bombs) and enemies are circling over the AF, go high as possible. But please, don't restrain, if you dont have ground-unit superiority.
- When the enemy plane/planes have landed - go and drop bombs on them.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Decent horizontal manoeuvrability
- Effective air brakes
- Climbs well
- All bombs are held internally and therefore do not significantly impact performance
- Complete and detailed cockpit (useful in SB)
- Outruns all pre Korean war jets
Cons:
- Unarmed; no offensive/defensive weapons of any kind whatsoever
- Faces air-to-air missiles which are difficult to dodge
- Only a medium bomb payload
- Wings can easily fall off in high speed dives
- Engines overheat at low altitudes
- Expensive to repair in comparison to the silver lions it can generate
- Not fast enough to outrun the majority of the opponents it faces
- Bad energy retention; loses most of its speed in a single turn
- Poor roll rate
History
In 1951 the US Air Force was looking for a reliable assault aircraft after the failure of the 1949 Martin XB-51 project. The English Electric Canberra was already known for its operational versatility, flexibility, ease of handling, range and payload capacity. Martin accordingly contracted for the Canberra under licence. The first Canberra B.2 left Aldergrove, Northern Ireland on February 21, 1951, and crossed the Atlantic non-stop and without refuelling, becoming the first jet to do so in 4 hours and 37 minutes.
The first eight B-57As were US conversions of this first prototype aircraft, with only some structural details adapted for US manufacturing. First flight was July 1953. The initial pre-production models were followed by 67 RB-57A reconnaissance versions, with first deliveries to the USAF commencing in April 1954.
Media
- Skins
See also
- Related development
External links
| Glenn L. Martin Company | |
|---|---|
| Attackers | AM-1 |
| Bombers | B-10B · B-26B · PBM-1 · PBM-3 · PBM-5A |
| Jet bombers | B-57A* · B-57B* |
| Export | Martin 139WC · Martin 167-A3 · B-26C |
| * These aircraft were license-built from The English Electric Company Limited who developed and built the British English Electric Canberra. | |
| USA jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | |
| F9F | F9F-2 · F9F-5 · F9F-8 |
| F-80 | F-80A-5 · F-80C-10 |
| F-84 | F-84B-26 · F-84F · F-84G-21-RE |
| F-86 | F-86A-5 · F-86F-25 · F-86F-2 · F-86F-35 |
| F-89 | F-89B · F-89D |
| F-100 | F-100D |
| F-104 | F-104A · F-104C |
| F-4 | F-4C Phantom II · F-4E Phantom II · F-4J Phantom II · F-4S Phantom II |
| F-5 | F-5A · F-5C · F-5E · F-20A |
| F-8 | F8U-2 · F-8E |
| F-14 | F-14A Early · ▄F-14A IRIAF · F-14B |
| F-15 | F-15A · F-15C MSIP II · F-15E |
| F-16 | F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C |
| Other | P-59A · F2H-2 · F3D-1 · F3H-2 · F4D-1 · F11F-1 |
| Strike Aircraft | |
| FJ-4 | FJ-4B · FJ-4B VMF-232 |
| A-4 | A-4B · A-4E Early |
| A-7 | A-7D · A-7E · A-7K |
| AV-8 | AV-8A · AV-8C · AV-8B Plus · AV-8B (NA) |
| A-10 | A-10A · A-10A Late · A-10C |
| F-111 | F-111A · F-111F |
| Other | A-6E TRAM · F-105D · F-117 |
| Bombers | |
| B-57 | B-57A · B-57B |
