PV-2D

PV-2D

PV-2D

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	3.7	3.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Bomber

Torpedo bomber

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This page is about the American medium bomber PV-2D. For standard version, see B-34.

Description

The PV-2D Harpoon is a gift rank III American medium bomber with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB), 3.7 (RB), and 3.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.67 "Assault", during the 2017 World War Two: Chronicle event, unlocked after obtaining 6 Chronicle Awards.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,267 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
488	435	9,500	29.9	30.3	7.2	8.8	549
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,267 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
513	478	9,500	26.3	28.0	19.0	12.0	549

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
0	277.8	340	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 260	< 290	< 320	> 337

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,615 m	1,600 hp	1,984 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,023 m	1,450 hp	1,798 hp

Survivability and armour

• 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate cockpit, in front of the pilot
• 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate cockpit, behind the pilot
• 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate cockpit, behind radio operator/navigator
• 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate - tail section and ventral gunner protection
• 12.7 mm Steel - Armor plate - dorsal gunner protective plate
• Fuel tanks at wing roots to middle of wing

Armaments

Offensive armament

The PV-2D is armed with:

• 8 × 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 2000 total) [AB Reload time: 20s]

Suspended armament

      Main article: Bombs

The PV-2D can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

• 6 x 250 lb bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 8 x HVAR rockets
• 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 250 lb bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 8 x HVAR rockets + 1 x M13/44 torpedo
• 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 500 lb bombs (1,500 lb total)
• 8 x HVAR rockets + 6 x 1,000 lb bombs (6,000 lb total)
• 8 x HVAR rockets + 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
• 4 x 12.7mm Browning machine gun (secondary) [Two under each wing, each holding 2, 340 RPG totaling 1360)

Note: Gunpods are fired seperately from nose armaments if fired via "Additional guns" keybinds.

Defensive armament

The PV-2D is defended by:

• 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, dorsal turret (400 rpg = 800 total)
• 2 × 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine gun, ventral turret (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

Usage in the battles

The PV-2D Harpoon is a bomber and should be played as such. It's gigantic and versatile payload options allows for enough power against ground/naval targets and bases. The eight nose-mounted 12.7 mm machine guns deal excellent damage, and can be used offensively with the dorsal turret able to point forward. Though the gunners provide ample top and bottom protection, the tail of the vehicle is a blind spot to the two turret gunners and thus a tailing pursuant would be a priority threat.

It is also viable for bomber hunting due to the bomber spawn and it's offensive armaments. Engaging unsuspecting fighters is also good, provided that you utilize BnZing and extend away. If your nose guns are out, consider using your dorsal for emergency shooting. Without an arrester hook, you must land on carriers with some risk. Approach low and slow, use your flaps to slow down more and land on the deck without deploying your gear. Your plane won't break, the fuselage and engines will eat the brunt of impact. Same applies to landing on ground, you can do a soft belly landing without dying.

If you do engage, try to drag the enemy to ground level. Dragging hostiles down is great for your team to pick off, and you can force pursuers to your tail by diving down. Dogfighting is not encouraged, but it can turn on a dime occasionally.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable	Controllable	Controllable	Combined	Controllable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 12 mm	DGP-1	FRC mk.5
II		Compressor	Airframe			ITC mk.3
III	Wings Repair	Engine		New 12 mm MGs	Turret 12 mm	SBC-17
IV		Engine Injection	Cover		New 12 mm MGs (turret)	LBC-25

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very deadly offensive armament with plenty of ammunition
• Effective defensive armament with good coverage over rear section of aircraft
• The dorsal turret can swivel 360 degrees and even fire at targets off the nose of the plane
• Defensive armament has lots of ammo
• Good acceleration overall
• Acceptable climb rate
• Good energy retention in turns due to heavy weight(But do not turn too much, else you bleed all your energy)
• Large and versatile payload options

Cons:

• Huge airframe: Overall prone to damage
• Big tail section is prone to attacks, usually crippling tail control
• Belly is a blindspot for gunners
• Cannot sustain multiple turns, energy will bleed despite nice energy retention
• Mediocre maneuverability
• Cannot fly on one engine: You cannot sustain flight with just one

History

Ventura

After the success of the Lockheed Hudson, Lockheed sought to introduce another bomber named the Ventura based off their Model 18 Lodestar transport aircraft. Though similar to the Hudson, the Ventura was a lot bigger. The Royal Air Force adopted the plane under the Ventura name, and the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) adopted it as the B-34 Lexington. Though the Ventura was faster and could hold twice as much bombs than the Hudson, the Royal Air Force did not like the plane very much and were replaced by Mosquitos, the surplus Venturas sent towards Coastal Command. America's usage of the B-34 Lexington was complicated with a feud in air power between the USAAF and the US Navy (USN). The USAAF had a monopolization on manufacturing and command of land-based bombers, leading to naval activities such as anti-submarine duties with bombers be shouldered by the USAAF rather than the USN, forcing the usage of float planes like the Catalina in the Navy's role. It wasn't until a compromise with the B-29 Superfortress in a naval manufacturing factory that the Army finally gave the Navy the aircraft and jurisdiction to act in their roles.

Naval adoption

The Lockheed Ventura bomber, an aircraft the USN had an eye for, was converted for their usage. The adapted Venturas were adopted under the designation PV-1 Ventura for the navy, with special equipment for patrol bombing, increased fuel storage along with a decrease in forward defensive armaments, and the addition of search radar. The first PV-1s arrived in December 1942, then entered naval service in February 1943.

The PV-1 was an adequate bomber but provided some weaknesses needed addressing, most notably in that the increased fuel weight made it difficult to take-off without problems. The Ventura design was modified with an increased wing area in order to improve take-off and load-carrying capability. This allowed the aircraft to carry not only up to 4,000 lb of bombs but even rockets under the wings. The redesigned aircraft was accepted by the USN as the PV-2 Harpoon. More than 500 Harpoons were built in the course of the war, with several variants. The original PV-2 had five forward armaments whereas the PV-2D updated it with eight forward guns. The PV-2C and PV-2T models were models built for training.

Combat usage

The PV-1 was operated by three squadrons in the Pacific Theater and flew bombing strikes against Japan. The PV-1 usually accompanied B-24s due to having a more sophisticated radar system. A few were also given to the Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF(N)-531 at the Solomon Islands.

The PV-2's design had a shaky start, issues with the wings wrinkling came off as dangerously problematic. Another redesign was needed, delaying the introduction into the Navy until early 1945, with the ones already delivered converted for training purposes as the PV-2C. When the Harpoons were finally shipped, it went as the PV-2D model, and these aircraft designs proved reliable and popular with the crews that used them.

After the war, the Venturas and its variants were eventually declared obsolete. A number were scrapped, some were given away to foreign nations during and after the war. A number of the aircraft still survive today in both airworthy and display-only conditions.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read also

• [Devblog] WW2 Chronicles vehicles: The PV-2 Harpoon

Obtainable events

• The PV-2D Harpoon was available in 2017 World War Two: Chronicle Event, unlocked after obtaining 6 Chronicle Awards.
• It was made available again during the 2018 WW2 Chronicles during the "Special Objectives" section of the event, where it could be assembled as a coupon with 12 Element piece and a scheme, with the latter obtainable after completing seven tasks in air battles and a community milestone of 400,000 completed Special Objectives is obtained.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
• other literature.