Pe-8

Pe-8

Pe-2-359

Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e)

Pe-8

Pe-2-359

Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e)

USSR

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.3	5.3

Class:

Bomber

Long Range bomber

Research:33 000

Purchase:105 000

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Description

The Pe-8 is a rank III Soviet heavy bomber with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB/RB) and 5.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm".

The Petlyakov Pe-8 was an early design Soviet heavy bomber which debuted in 1936. This monster of a bomber was the only four-engine bomber produced by the Soviet Union during World War II. Though impressive as it was, it was only produced in limited numbers and was reserved for special occasions called “morale raids” to encourage and raise the spirits of the Soviet population by hitting important German targets deep behind enemy lines to include bombing Berlin in mid-1941. Other prime targets included the nighttime bombing of factories, German airfields and rail yards. As such an important aircraft to the Soviet people, it became a priority target for the German Luftwaffe pilots to go after. By 1944 all remaining Pe-8s were removed from service but were retrofitted for other jobs such as VIP transport and operations up into the arctic circle.

The Pe-8 though a large and tempting target, it is not without its merits. The huge bomber has a nose gunner, tail gunner, rear-facing dorsal turret and two rear-facing underwing gun pods. Attacking this aircraft especially from the rear whether above, below or directly from the rear is a bad choice as, like with the BV 238, there are many defensive guns which can hit and hit hard. These defensive weapons are critical to protecting the bomber against inbound enemy fighter especially because of the bomb payload which it can carry. Options can range between 2,000 and 5,000 kg bomb loads with as many as 40 x 50 kg or 100 kg bombs, or fewer but heavier bombs such as 6 x 500 kg bombs or a single massive 5,000 kg FAB-5000 bomb.

It is easy to see why the Pe-8 would be a prime target to eliminate as if left unchecked, it could easily wipe out the enemy bases without flinching and move onto the next. Other payload options are useful for carpet bombing areas where clusters of lighter vehicles or fixed anti-aircraft targets may sit. Fleet vessels are not to discount this bomber as it has the means to destroy ships with its accurate bomb site, pending the pilot slowing the aircraft down enough to let the bombardier line up the target and release the necessary ordnance. For the pilot of the Pe-8, fly high and drop as much as you can on the targets, as a fighter trying to take out the Pe-8 set up your run so that in the event you lose control of your aircraft, it has a good chance of ramming the bomber causing it to crash as this aircraft has a good propensity to soak up bullets.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 5,900 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
412	398	10500	37.2	37.6	4.9	4.9	1,500
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 5,900 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
445	422	10500	35.1	36.0	10.2	7.2	1,500

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
			+	-
535	300	480	~1	~1

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
250	261	391	> 200

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,050 m	6,160 hp	7,478 hp

Survivability and armour

• 8 mm Steel - Plate behind pilot's seat
• 8 mm Steel - Plate behind copilot's seat
• 8 mm Steel - Plate for underwing nacelle gunners x 2
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located in front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
• More fuel tanks located in throughout wings

Armaments

Suspended armament

The Pe-8 can be outfitted with various payloads:

• 40 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (2,000 kg total)
• 40 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (4,000 kg total)
• 12 x 250 kg FAB-250M43 bombs (3,000 kg total)
• 6 x 500 kg FAB-500 (welded) bombs (3,000 kg total)
• 4 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bombs (4,000 kg total)
• 1 x 5,000 kg FAB-5000 bomb (5,000 kg total)

Defensive armament

The Pe-8 is defended by:

• 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, nose turret (750 rpg = 1,500 total)
• 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, 2 x engine nacelle turret (200 rpg = 400 total)
• 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, dorsal turret (200 rpg)
• 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, tail turret (230 rpg)

Usage in the battles

The Pe-8, as mentioned earlier, is in essence a Russian Death Star (a.k.a Tu-4 at a lower tier). It both boasts a very effective cannon armament and a high bomb load, able to kill two bases in one pass. It's 5,000-kilo bomb is especially useful in Ground Battles as a "tactical nuke" of sorts, able to wipe out large concentrations of enemy tanks.

However, the FAB-5000's practicality ends there. In Air Battles, the FAB-5000 is woefully overpowered against most targets and makes it inferior to most of the plane's other bomb combinations. In addition, it peculiarly does less damage against an airfield than the 4 x 1,000 kg payload, further decreasing its usefulness. Instead, use the other payloads. The stock payload of 40 x 100 kg bombs, while difficult to aim, can still be used to base bomb, simply drop 12 on a base to destroy it (remember that the first 16 are pylon mounted meaning they drop in pairs, so the first base will require only 6 presses of the bomb release button). Keep using this payload for base bombing until you unlock the 4 x 1,000 kg modification, as all the other payloads yield less damage. You can use your bombs to destroy ground targets as well, however, be sure to be high enough or use a timer so that the bomb's splash damage doesn't kill you.

Try to side climb around the main battle when going after bases, though your defensive armament is powerful, you will be an easy target for experienced players, heavy fighters, and groups of fighters that encounter you. If you see an enemy, always turn the plane to make sure the rear cannon-armed guns face the pursuer so you can focus as much of your defensive firepower on them as possible while also increasing the time you can put your guns on the target. Make sure to fire in bursts as your guns will jam if fired for too long.

In Ground Realistic mode, the Pe-8 can be used to devastating effect as a "meme" CAS aircraft. If there are no fighter aircraft or few SPAA, try to find the largest group of enemies and drop the FAB-5000 as fast as you can. This usually results in 1-2 kills, but can easily net many more. Try to spawn early game, as there will be less fighter aircraft and SPAA. Let it be noted that there is a certain terror from seeing a FAB-5000 land next to your tank that is not easily replicated elsewhere in War Thunder.

In Naval Battles, the Pe-8 can be used to break up large groups of ships, however it is difficult to do so, as the AA fire in Naval battles is much more accurate, hard-hitting, and plentiful. One would try to compensate for this by flying high up, but you will find that it is hard to aim the FAB-5000 from these altitudes. Thus, it is more effective to bring the Pe-8 to higher tier battles with less-maneuverable, usually slower ships.

Counter-tactics

When pursuing the Pe-8, try to go for a head-on - nearly all the time there is critical damage and "pilot snipes" to down the aircraft - with the added bonus that the front is the least defended area of the Pe-8. Use your mobility to do so. When in a not so optimal position, try to come up at a angle above the Pe-8 - with a sharp enough angle, you will stop the 12.7's from reaching you, and with a bit of luck, you will make it past the single 20 defending the plane.

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Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Turret 12 mm		Der-13P
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 12 mm MGs (turret)		Der-19P
III	Wings Repair	Engine		Turret 7 mm	Turret 12 mm	Der-20P
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	Der-20U

Pros and cons

Inbound bogie as seen by the nose gunner somewhere over the Eastern Front.

Pros:

• Largest bomb in-game - the massive 5,000 kg FAB-5000
• Good overall payload for its tier
• Incredible defensive armament, third to only the G8N1 and Tu-4
• Durable airframe - can take some damage and make it home
• Can resist being up-tiered for a while; possible to bring in tier IV matches
• A big step up from the Yer-2's ShKAS
• Matchmaking can be gracious
• Reputation - reason weaker fighters will stay low (Enemies)
• Decent Silver Lions and Research Points earner

Cons:

• Large, heavy, and slow
• Poor climb rate and speed
• Prone to very devastating fires
• Stock bomb load is prone to missing when used for base bombing
• Defensive turrets lack ammo and jam easily, resulting in frequent reloads that essentially leave you defenceless
• Turrets lack armour and gunners die easily
• Reputation - a reason fighters will climb up to bomber altitude (Enemies)
• Frontal defensive ShKAS machine guns aren't particularly effective.
• While coverage to the rear is pretty good, frontal coverage is poor. Aircraft coming from high altitude can avoid defensive firepower
• In Mixed Battles, it is very easy to accidentally team kill as the blast radius of the FAB-5000 is very large

History

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Read also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Avro Lancaster
• Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
• Heinkel He 177
• Nakajima G5N
• Nakajima G8N
• Piaggio P.108
• Short Stirling

Sources

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