Difference between revisions of "B-29A-BN"

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{{Specs-Card|code=b-29}}
 
{{Specs-Card|code=b-29}}
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{{About
 +
| about = American heavy bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = B-29/Tu-4 (Family)
 +
}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
<!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.-->
 +
[[File:GarageImage B-29A-BNSuperfortress.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} American heavy bomber {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.47 "Big Guns"]]. The B-29 follows the [[B-24D-25-CO|B-24 Liberator]] in the U.S. bomber branch and is currently the last American propeller-powered bomber in the US Tech Tree. At the top of its game, the {{PAGENAME}} is one of the most powerful and heavily armed bombers found in War Thunder.
 +
 
 +
In the few years leading up to World War II, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) realized that its current primary heavy bomber, the [[B-17 (Family)|B-17]] would not have the range nor the payload which would be needed to efficiently transit what would end up becoming the Pacific Theater. To compensate for this Boeing began to develop a prototype which would incorporate a pressurized cabin to allow for higher altitude flying, which would help to protect the bomber from Japanese fighters which struggled to get to the higher altitudes.
 +
[[File:B-29 kawashima momo 001.png|350px|thumb|left|A view of the '''{{PAGENAME}}''' cockpit.]]
 +
The resulting XB-29 prototype and the later production series B-29 bomber had everything the USAAC was looking for, high-pressured cockpit, a maximum altitude of almost 32,000 ft (9753.6 m), true air-speed around 372 mph (600 kph) and could carry a massive payload of bombs upwards of 20,000 lbs (9,072 kg). Defensive positions on the B-29 were well placed to ensure maximum coverage surrounding the bomber. This bomber was one of the first aircraft to be fitted with the General Electric Central Fire Control system which could be used to remotely control four of the remotely controlled turrets (two dorsal and two ventral). Though in their early stages, this aircraft’s turrets each also had a General Electric analogue computer linked to it allowing the weapons to be more accurate by automatically factoring in airspeed, gravity, temperature and lead time for the inbound aircraft. With this setup, these turrets could be controlled from the nose, tail or any of the three mid-fuselage positions and a single gunner could actually control more than one turret at a time increasing the effectiveness and lethality of the bomber’s defences. Bristling with 12 x M2 Browning machine guns, the {{PAGENAME}} was extremely difficult to approach, yet make a successful pass and leave untouched.
 +
 
 +
Unlike other bombers which can take on a secondary role as a pseudo-attacker, the {{PAGENAME}} is a bomber, period. The sole purpose of the B-29 is to beat ground targets into submission either with upwards of 40 x 500 lb bombs, 18 x 1,000 lb bombs or 8 x 2,000 lb bombs. The larger 1,000 and 2,000 lb bombs are perfect for base bombing while the relatively smaller 500 lb bombs make the perfect tool for carpet bombing where vehicles, pillboxes or anti-aircraft artillery may be clustered together which may be reminiscent for pilots who have flown the rank I French bomber the [[F.222.2]] and utilised its 52 x 50 kg [[G.A. MMN. 50 (50 kg)|G.A. MMN. 50]] bombs which created area denial on early maps.
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} is an aerial beast which can drop a beastly amount of explosive ordnance, rivalled by few, but is not immune to enemy fighters. Altitude is this bombers friend and when achieved can be a safer haven from which to rain down explosives on enemy bases or vehicles.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight Performance ===
 
=== Flight Performance ===
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}}, much like its contemporaries the Messerschmitt [[Me 264]], Blohm & Voss [[BV 238]] and Tupolev [[Tu-4]] was built for the sole purpose of flying high and dropping large amounts of bombs. To account for these characteristics, others such as manoeuvrability, rate-of-climb and acceleration were compromised. The B-29 is a heavy aircraft which when adding 10,000 – 20,000 lbs of ordnance will only make the plane that much more difficult to get to altitude, but once there this aircraft does have a decent cruising speed. To help speed up gameplay for this aircraft, it is given an air-start at the beginning of matches and also after landing to reload and repair due to its sheer size and difficulty climbing to its bombing altitude.
 +
 
 +
The typical method of utilising this bomber is to fly the aircraft to a higher altitude. Depending on the enemy fighters, attackers and interceptors which appear in the match, you may be able to stay lower around 20,000 ft (6,000 m) or you may need to increase closer to 30,000 ft (9,150 m) to make it extremely difficult for the fighters to follow you up and many if they do get that high, their engines are struggling to keep the plane  above stall speed which provides you with the opportunity to leave them behind or to easily pick them off with your gunners.
 +
 
 +
One downside to flying at the higher altitudes in arcade battles is that if you bomb a base but don’t completely destroy it, it is difficult to circle back around and bomb again when the bombs have reloaded. A wide circle is necessary to accomplish this and it may be better and more efficient instead to fly towards another base, bomb it and turn around and finish off the first base. Another option too is to leave the partially bombed bases for the smaller and slower bombers on your team to finish off or just catch the partially bombed bases on a return pass.
 +
[[File:B-29 jonigustavo 001.png|350px|thumb|right|Bombs away!]]
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 9,100 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
| 613 || 602 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 33.5 || 34.4 || 2.9 || 4.2 || 1,800
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 9,100 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
| 669 || 641 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 30.7 || 32.0 || 11.7 || 6.5 || 1,800
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Details====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Features
 +
|-
 +
! Combat flap
 +
! Take-off flap
 +
! Landing flap
 +
! Air brakes
 +
! Arrestor gear
 +
|-
 +
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
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! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! +
 +
! -
 +
|-
 +
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} || 340 || ~1 || ~1
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
 +
|-
 +
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
 +
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
 +
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
 +
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| < 340 || < 350 || < 290 || > 400
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| 9,720 m || 2,200 hp || 2,499 hp
 +
|-
 +
<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 +
|- -->
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Engine performance====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Engine
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Engine Name
 +
! colspan="3" | Number present
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="3" | Wright R-3350-57 18-cylinder || 4
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Engine characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Weight (each)
 +
! colspan="1" | Type
 +
! colspan="1" | Cooling
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="2" | 1,251 kg || Radial || Air
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Stock)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max
 +
! colspan="2" | Take-off
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="2" | 1,975 hp || colspan="2" | 2,276 hp
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Upgraded)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max
 +
! colspan="2" | Take-off
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="2" | 2,200 hp || colspan="2" | 2,502 hp
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
<!--Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.-->
 +
 
 +
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilots.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plates in front of the pilots.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plates behind the pilots.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plates in front of tail control tractions.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plates boxing around rear dorsal gunner and beam gunners.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plate behind the rear ventral gunner.
 +
* 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of tail gunner.
 +
* 6.5 mm Steel plate in front of tail gunner.
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} had to be judicious when it came to providing protecting armour for the aircrew at the sacrifice of additional fuel or ordnance. In fact, later models removed many of their defensive turrets in order to allow for more fuel and ordnance to be loaded. It is obvious that an aircraft this size will be a huge target for enemy fighters to attack with the nose section (''cockpit'') and the tail turret being the two most likely targets (''head-on attack and tail approach attack'') and thus both areas were outfitted with 60 mm bulletproof glass which helps against lower calibre weapons, however 20 mm and above make short work of the bulletproof glass. 6.5 mm steel plates are scattered around the aircraft to provide protection for both the crew members and some of the control surface linkages. Though not a stop-all invincible shield for the crew, it many instances it provided enough protection to allow crew members to survive and fight another day.
  
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
=== Offensive armament ===
+
=== Suspended armament ===
''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
[[File:B-29 meanswing 001.png|450px|thumb|right|The bombs just don't seem to stop falling from the '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]
 +
<!--Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.-->
 +
{{main|AN-M64A1 (500 lb)|AN-M65A1 (1,000 lb)|AN-M66A2 (2,000 lb)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordinance:
 +
 
 +
* 20 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (10,000 lb total)
 +
* 40 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (20,000 lb total)
 +
* 18 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (18,000 lb total)
 +
* 8 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (16,000 lb total)
  
=== Suspended armament ===
+
One might say the {{PAGENAME}} is effectively a dump truck which can dump a ton of explosives, no make that upwards of 10 tons of explosives upon enemy targets. Utilising speed at higher altitudes, it is the purpose of the Superfortress to race to an enemy base or ground targets and just rain down TNT. With three choices of bomb weights to choose from and four different configurations, there is no shortage of ways to destroy ground targets. The 1,000 lb and 2,000 lb bombs come in most handy for base bombing as they do the most amount of damage for the least amount of effort in a concentrated area. Area of denial is the speciality of the 500 lb bombs when used in carpet bombing operations. Carpet bombing is effectively laying down many of the 500 lb bombs at one time over an area where vehicles such as trucks, tanks and anti-aircraft vehicles or hardened structures such as pillboxes or anti-aircraft artillery may be located at. Since vehicles are on the move, dropping multiple bombs at a time making it more difficult for them to move out of the way and avoid the inbound ordnance.  
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
 
  
 +
With the {{PAGENAME}}, there is no real overkill with the bombs, which can make the Superfortress a prime target to be eliminated early as with upwards of 20,000 lbs in bombs, the {{PAGENAME}} can make short work of enemy bases and end the match earlier than most will expect.
 +
 
=== Defensive armament ===
 
=== Defensive armament ===
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
+
<!--Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available, remove this subsection.-->
 +
{{main|Browning M2 (12.7 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is defended by:
 +
 
 +
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret  (550 rpg = 1,100 total)
 +
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, rear ventral turret  (575 rpg = 1,150 total)
 +
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, rear dorsal turret  (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
 +
* 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, front ventral turret  (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
 +
* 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, front dorsal turret  (400 rpg = 1,600 total)
 +
 
 +
The {{PAGENAME}} is defended by an impressive 12 x .50 calibre Browning machine guns rivalled only by the Blohm & Voss [[BV 238]], Tupolev [[Tu-4]], Consolidated [[PB4Y-2]] and [[B-24D-25-CO|B-24]] and the Boeing [[B-17 (Family)|B-17]]. Typically when bombers add more guns, they had to add more crew to operate them which increased the overall weight of the aircraft, though ensuring more protection, it also reduced the amount of fuel or bombs which could be carried.
 +
 
 +
As a historical note, the advent of early analogue computers which were outfitted on the {{PAGENAME}} and the state-of-the-art General Electric Central Fire Control System allowed for remote operation of both dorsal and both ventral turrets along with the tail gun if needed. The turrets could be linked through the fire control system and allow one gunner to operate multiple guns at one time. Simplifying this process and allowing gunners from just about anywhere on the aircraft to control the turrets reduced the number of crew members needed to operate the aircraft. Though four times the size of a B-25, the {{PAGENAME}} operated efficiently on the same amount of crew members, seven.
 +
 
 +
The computer-aided turrets allowed for more accuracy when firing and can train the guns in just about any direction needed to combat incoming fighters. The tail gunner position is especially deadly as a fighter perched on the tail will be flying into the oncoming bullets from the tail gun position, thereby taking more damage when hit and more likely to take on a critical hit or disabling blow. Though not totally invulnerable to the crafty fighter pilot, the {{PAGENAME}} in its own right is a porcupine with sharp quills pointing in all directions which will make it as difficult as possible for anyone to get past the defences.
 +
 
 +
==Usage in battles==
 +
<!--Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles 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).-->
 +
 
 +
The ultimate strategic bomber for the [[:Category:USA_aircraft|USAF]]. Loaded up with eight metric tonnes (8 long tonnes) of bombs and twelve good ol' Browning heavy machine guns this is the ''Superfortress''! A wonderful advertising name, but don't be fooled, it is bigger than a barn and thus impossible to miss. Keep a safe distance from any hot combat zones. Your defensive turrets will not keep you safe, they will shred any foe getting close, but the B-29's enemies do not need too! So concentrate on what this plane is good at delivery payload, ''lots of it''.
 +
 
 +
Once your bombing run is complete, start descending towards your airfield; enemy fighters might be trying to find you so you should be even more alert now than before. The B-29 has one of the most powerful defensive systems installed on any bomber, so you should be able to defend yourself reasonably well unless it is a head-on attack where you will have very limited protection. You must also combine it with a defensive style of flying to utilize it to its full potential; the B-29 offers great handling for its size. Despite this, be very careful when you enter a dive. It is just as prone as any other aircraft to suffering structural damage if its limitations are exceeded.
 +
 
 +
Great defensive armament will destroy most enemies that do get close. Being able to point at least four fifty-calibre in every direction and about six to the six o'clock position will deal with any fighter quickly. But do not forget the size of the Fortress. Most of the enemies shells will hit some mark.
 +
 
 +
Of course, bomb load is very good with the B-29, with its historic performance as one of the best American bomber in service. Up to 8 x 2,000 lb could be carried in the bomb bay.
  
== Usage in the battles ==
+
===Modules===
''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but 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).''
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Tier
 +
! colspan="2" |Flight performance
 +
! Survivability
 +
! colspan="2" |Weaponry
 +
|-
 +
| I
 +
| Fuselage repair||Radiator
 +
|
 +
| Turret 12 mm||SBC-40
 +
|-
 +
| II
 +
| ||Compressor
 +
| Airframe
 +
| ||
 +
|-
 +
| III
 +
| Wings repair||Engine
 +
|
 +
| New 12 mm MGs (turret)||MBC-12
 +
|-
 +
| IV
 +
| ||Engine injection
 +
| Cover
 +
| ||LBC-8
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
=== Pros and cons ===
+
===Pros and cons===
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
[[File:B-29 your jacket 001.jpg|450px|thumb|right|A Bf 109 attempts to take on the tail gunner of a '''{{PAGENAME}}'''.]]
 +
<!--Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
 
  
 +
* Second heaviest payload in War Thunder next to the Soviet [[Tu-4]]
 +
* Stock bomb load is able to destroy bases with one payload in arcade and up to two bases in realistic/simulatory battles
 +
* Can be difficult for fighters to reach same cruising altitude, even for jets
 +
* Effective defensive turrets which virtually have no blind spots
 +
* Fast for its size
 +
* Virtually immune to small arms machine gunfire
 +
* Receives air start after repairing/rearming in an airfield
 +
* All payload options are internal and have next to no effect on flight performance
 +
* Gunners are located separately from the gun turret (remote-controlled turrets) with the exception of the tail turret
 +
* Can easily win a match if allowed to reach optimal bombing altitude
 +
* Exceptionally strong when flying in groups with other bombers
 +
[[File:B-29 kohler 001.png|450px|thumb|right|]]
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Easily susceptible to damage from autocannons larger than 20 mm especially the MK108
 +
* Unable to reliably defend itself from multiple opponents attacking at once from multiple directions
 +
* Big size, can easily be spotted from long distances, especially with skilled crews
 +
* Has a low dive top-speed
 +
* As with all heavy bombers, it lacks the ability to manoeuvre well
 +
* Takes a while to reach an optimal altitude
 +
* Landing gear takes a long time to deploy and retract
 +
* Wings are considered weak spots
 +
* Will face jets most of the time
 +
* Extremely high repair cost
  
 
== History ==
 
== 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 big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--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 big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).-->
 +
 
 +
The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft used during World War II. It was exclusively used in the Pacific Theatre during the war and participated in bombing raids on multiple islands in the Pacific war. The B-29 became the world's first and only nuclear-capable bomber to deliver weapons during wartime when on August 6th, 1945 the B-29 ''Enola Gay'' dropped the atomic bomb known as "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, the B-29 ''Bockscar'' dropped the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki, Japan.
 +
 
 +
During the Second World War, its only area of operations was the Pacific Theater specifically targeting the Japanese mainland. It also saw combat service in the Korean War a small group of loaned aircraft were evaluated by the R.A.F during the early 1950's as well. In British service, they were known as the “Washington B Mk. 1”.
 +
 
 +
During World War 2, the B-29 completed over 20,000 sorties with an estimated 180,000 tons of bombs dropped, as well as two atomic bombs. A total number of 3,970 were built and delivered to the USAAF. Perhaps the most famous “copy” of the war was the Tu-4. Although outwardly looking identical, this Soviet “B-29” was converted to metric making it unique. Other aircraft derived from the B-29 include the B-50, C-97, KC-97, 377 Stratocruiser, and NASA’s own Guppy cargo carriers.<ref name="Vehicle Profile WT forum">Excerpts from [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/292156-profile-b-29-superfortress/ 'Profile' B-29 Superfortress], no Author mentioned.</ref>
 +
 
 +
The B-29 post-war also helped in the scientific, research, and development fields. They would play a key role in hurricane hunting and storm chasing which allowed it to collect key information about storm patterns, and helped to improve and to develop new radar systems such as the “sun tracker”. It was also the aircraft that carried the supersonic test aircraft Bell X-1 into the air. The last American B-29 squadron was retired in the 1960s. Today one called “Fifi” still flies at air show circuits. It was joined by another named “Doc” in 2016.<ref name="Vehicle Profile WT forum" />
 +
[[File:B-29 tay777 001.png|550px|thumb|center|]]
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
"An all-metal monoplane with a retractable landing gear system including a nosewheel. The crew consisted of 14 persons. Distinctive features of the Superfortress included a pressurized cockpit for the crew and a Central Fire Control system for the defensive armament.
 +
 
 +
The B-29 (Model 345) was developed by the Boeing Aircraft design department in early 1940. The XB-29 prototype model performed its maiden flight on September 21, 1942. Full-scale production of the aircraft was started in June 1943.
 +
 
 +
В-29s had Wright R-3350-23 eighteen-cylinder, radial air-cooled engines producing a maximum power of 2,200 hp, with four-bladed automatic propellers.
 +
 
 +
The defensive armament of the Superfortress included four remotely controlled turrets: two below the fuselage and two above. Each turret housed two 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns with 500-1,000 rounds each. Some aircraft had an upper front turret equipped with four machine guns. All weapons were aimed at the target from three sighting stations located in blisters and from the bombardier's station.
 +
 
 +
Three armament options were available for the rear mount, controlled by an independent air gunner: a 20 mm Hispano-Bendix AN-M2 cannon and two 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns, three 12.7 mm machine guns, or two 12.7 mm machine guns.
 +
 
 +
A bomb load of up to 9,000 kg was housed in two bomb bays, where cluster racks were mounted.
 +
 
 +
The B-29 was equipped with a large amount of radio equipment for various purposes. Its large bomb capacity, powerful and effective defensive armament, and state-of-the-art equipment would have turned the Superfortress into the best heavy bomber of World War II if not for engine breakdowns that continually plagued the aircraft. For one whole year, up to the middle of 1944, the bomber's performance was hampered by a high accident rate. It was only by the end of the summer of 1944 that efforts to improve the fire-prone engines were relatively successful, but the problem was never entirely eradicated.
 +
 
 +
B-29s were used exclusively in the Pacific theater of the war. Superfortresses were used in combat for the first time on June 5, 1944 during the raid on Bangkok. On June 14, 1944, American bombers attacked the territory of Japan for the first time. Military and industrial facilities in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Omura and Yawata were regularly attacked. In August 1944, B-29s began to bomb oil refineries on the island of Sumatra.
 +
 
 +
The B-29s were flown out of China until December 1944, when they were relocated to India. Their targets were docks in Singapore, ports in Indochina, and rail junctions in Burma. В-29s also mined rivers in China and the coastal waters of Vietnam and Malaya from the air.
 +
 
 +
In October 1944, B-29s began carrying out massive attacks on Japan from the Mariana Islands. During the war, these aircraft dropped 54,917 tons of high-explosive bombs and 109,068 tons of incendiary bombs on Japan and delivered 12,000 naval mines. The В-29 became the world's first nuclear weapon carrier when it dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
 +
 
 +
From 1950-53, B-29 bombers took part in the Korean War. From 1950-55, the aircraft was operated by the RAF Bomber Command under the designation ""Washington B.1.""
 +
 
 +
A total of 3,947 В-29s were manufactured, including all variants. The plane was withdrawn from service as a bomber with the USA in late 1954."
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!--Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.-->
 +
;Images
 +
<div><ul>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:B-29 kawashima momo 002.png|thumb|none|300px|]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:B-29 th fegel team 001.png|thumb|none|250px|]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:B-29 kawashima momo 003.png|thumb|none|300px|]] </li>
 +
</ul></div>
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|3Ut75XHCWgk|'''War Thunder Realistic: B-29A-BN Superfortress [Grace]''' - ''Jengar''|iJhLf-SOVIc|'''War Thunder B-29 SuperFortress Bomber Gameplay''' - ''BaronVonGamez''|8Yewf7LXfUU|'''WT - B-29 - Punished for not Scumbagging''' - ''NaplamRatte''}}
 +
 
 +
;User created skins
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=heavy_bomber&vehicle=b-29 '''Skins''' and '''camouflages''' for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
== Read 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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''-->
''ETC.''
+
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 +
* Tupolev [[Tu-4]] (unauthorized reverse-engineered copy of the B-29)
 +
* Avro [[Lincoln B Mk II]]
 +
* Nakajima [[G8N1]]
 +
* Messerschmitt [[Me 264]]
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!--Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.''-->
 +
* [http://warthunder.com/en/news/3507/current/ [Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-29 Superfortress]
 +
* [[Wikipedia:Boeing_B-29_Superfortress|[Wikipedia] B-29 Superfortress]]
 +
* [https://www.boeing.com/history/products/b-29-superfortress.page [Boeing.com<nowiki>]</nowiki> B-29 Superfortress History Page]
 +
* [https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=82 [Militaryfactory.com<nowiki>]</nowiki> Boeing B-29 Superfortress - Strategic High-Altitude Long-Range Heavy Bomber Aircraft]
 +
* [https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/hero-soviet-union-japanese.html [Warhistoryonline.com<nowiki>]</nowiki> Futuristic Cannons of B-29 Superfortress: Ahead and Behind the Times]
 +
 
 +
== References ==
 +
<references />
 +
 
 +
{{USA bombers}}

Revision as of 07:43, 15 November 2019

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B-29A-BN
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B-29A-BN
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This page is about the American heavy bomber B-29A-BN. For other versions, see B-29/Tu-4 (Family).

Description

GarageImage B-29A-BN.jpg


The B-29A-BN Superfortress is a Rank IV American heavy bomber with a battle rating of 7.0 (AB/SB) and 7.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.47 "Big Guns". The B-29 follows the B-24 Liberator in the U.S. bomber branch and is currently the last American propeller-powered bomber in the US Tech Tree. At the top of its game, the B-29A-BN is one of the most powerful and heavily armed bombers found in War Thunder.

In the few years leading up to World War II, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) realized that its current primary heavy bomber, the B-17 would not have the range nor the payload which would be needed to efficiently transit what would end up becoming the Pacific Theater. To compensate for this Boeing began to develop a prototype which would incorporate a pressurized cabin to allow for higher altitude flying, which would help to protect the bomber from Japanese fighters which struggled to get to the higher altitudes.

A view of the B-29A-BN cockpit.

The resulting XB-29 prototype and the later production series B-29 bomber had everything the USAAC was looking for, high-pressured cockpit, a maximum altitude of almost 32,000 ft (9753.6 m), true air-speed around 372 mph (600 kph) and could carry a massive payload of bombs upwards of 20,000 lbs (9,072 kg). Defensive positions on the B-29 were well placed to ensure maximum coverage surrounding the bomber. This bomber was one of the first aircraft to be fitted with the General Electric Central Fire Control system which could be used to remotely control four of the remotely controlled turrets (two dorsal and two ventral). Though in their early stages, this aircraft’s turrets each also had a General Electric analogue computer linked to it allowing the weapons to be more accurate by automatically factoring in airspeed, gravity, temperature and lead time for the inbound aircraft. With this setup, these turrets could be controlled from the nose, tail or any of the three mid-fuselage positions and a single gunner could actually control more than one turret at a time increasing the effectiveness and lethality of the bomber’s defences. Bristling with 12 x M2 Browning machine guns, the B-29A-BN was extremely difficult to approach, yet make a successful pass and leave untouched.

Unlike other bombers which can take on a secondary role as a pseudo-attacker, the B-29A-BN is a bomber, period. The sole purpose of the B-29 is to beat ground targets into submission either with upwards of 40 x 500 lb bombs, 18 x 1,000 lb bombs or 8 x 2,000 lb bombs. The larger 1,000 and 2,000 lb bombs are perfect for base bombing while the relatively smaller 500 lb bombs make the perfect tool for carpet bombing where vehicles, pillboxes or anti-aircraft artillery may be clustered together which may be reminiscent for pilots who have flown the rank I French bomber the F.222.2 and utilised its 52 x 50 kg G.A. MMN. 50 bombs which created area denial on early maps.

The B-29A-BN is an aerial beast which can drop a beastly amount of explosive ordnance, rivalled by few, but is not immune to enemy fighters. Altitude is this bombers friend and when achieved can be a safer haven from which to rain down explosives on enemy bases or vehicles.

General info

Flight Performance

The B-29A-BN, much like its contemporaries the Messerschmitt Me 264, Blohm & Voss BV 238 and Tupolev Tu-4 was built for the sole purpose of flying high and dropping large amounts of bombs. To account for these characteristics, others such as manoeuvrability, rate-of-climb and acceleration were compromised. The B-29 is a heavy aircraft which when adding 10,000 – 20,000 lbs of ordnance will only make the plane that much more difficult to get to altitude, but once there this aircraft does have a decent cruising speed. To help speed up gameplay for this aircraft, it is given an air-start at the beginning of matches and also after landing to reload and repair due to its sheer size and difficulty climbing to its bombing altitude.

The typical method of utilising this bomber is to fly the aircraft to a higher altitude. Depending on the enemy fighters, attackers and interceptors which appear in the match, you may be able to stay lower around 20,000 ft (6,000 m) or you may need to increase closer to 30,000 ft (9,150 m) to make it extremely difficult for the fighters to follow you up and many if they do get that high, their engines are struggling to keep the plane above stall speed which provides you with the opportunity to leave them behind or to easily pick them off with your gunners.

One downside to flying at the higher altitudes in arcade battles is that if you bomb a base but don’t completely destroy it, it is difficult to circle back around and bomb again when the bombs have reloaded. A wide circle is necessary to accomplish this and it may be better and more efficient instead to fly towards another base, bomb it and turn around and finish off the first base. Another option too is to leave the partially bombed bases for the smaller and slower bombers on your team to finish off or just catch the partially bombed bases on a return pass.

Bombs away!
Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed
(km/h at 9,100 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
613 602 12000 33.5 34.4 2.9 4.2 1,800
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 9,100 m)
Max altitude (meters) Turn time (seconds) Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run (meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
669 641 12000 30.7 32.0 11.7 6.5 1,800

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
+ -
0 389 340 ~1 ~1
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 340 < 350 < 290 > 400
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
9,720 m 2,200 hp 2,499 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name Number present
Wright R-3350-57 18-cylinder 4
Engine characteristics
Weight (each) Type Cooling
1,251 kg Radial Air
Engine power (Stock)
Max Take-off
1,975 hp 2,276 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Max Take-off
2,200 hp 2,502 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the pilots.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plates in front of the pilots.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plates behind the pilots.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plates in front of tail control tractions.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plates boxing around rear dorsal gunner and beam gunners.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plate behind the rear ventral gunner.
  • 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front of tail gunner.
  • 6.5 mm Steel plate in front of tail gunner.

The B-29A-BN had to be judicious when it came to providing protecting armour for the aircrew at the sacrifice of additional fuel or ordnance. In fact, later models removed many of their defensive turrets in order to allow for more fuel and ordnance to be loaded. It is obvious that an aircraft this size will be a huge target for enemy fighters to attack with the nose section (cockpit) and the tail turret being the two most likely targets (head-on attack and tail approach attack) and thus both areas were outfitted with 60 mm bulletproof glass which helps against lower calibre weapons, however 20 mm and above make short work of the bulletproof glass. 6.5 mm steel plates are scattered around the aircraft to provide protection for both the crew members and some of the control surface linkages. Though not a stop-all invincible shield for the crew, it many instances it provided enough protection to allow crew members to survive and fight another day.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The bombs just don't seem to stop falling from the B-29A-BN.

The B-29A-BN can be outfitted with the following ordinance:

  • 20 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (10,000 lb total)
  • 40 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (20,000 lb total)
  • 18 x 1000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (18,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 2000 lb AN-M66A2 bombs (16,000 lb total)

One might say the B-29A-BN is effectively a dump truck which can dump a ton of explosives, no make that upwards of 10 tons of explosives upon enemy targets. Utilising speed at higher altitudes, it is the purpose of the Superfortress to race to an enemy base or ground targets and just rain down TNT. With three choices of bomb weights to choose from and four different configurations, there is no shortage of ways to destroy ground targets. The 1,000 lb and 2,000 lb bombs come in most handy for base bombing as they do the most amount of damage for the least amount of effort in a concentrated area. Area of denial is the speciality of the 500 lb bombs when used in carpet bombing operations. Carpet bombing is effectively laying down many of the 500 lb bombs at one time over an area where vehicles such as trucks, tanks and anti-aircraft vehicles or hardened structures such as pillboxes or anti-aircraft artillery may be located at. Since vehicles are on the move, dropping multiple bombs at a time making it more difficult for them to move out of the way and avoid the inbound ordnance.

With the B-29A-BN, there is no real overkill with the bombs, which can make the Superfortress a prime target to be eliminated early as with upwards of 20,000 lbs in bombs, the B-29A-BN can make short work of enemy bases and end the match earlier than most will expect.

Defensive armament

Main article: Browning M2 (12.7 mm)

The B-29A-BN is defended by:

  • 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, tail turret (550 rpg = 1,100 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, rear ventral turret (575 rpg = 1,150 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, rear dorsal turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, front ventral turret (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
  • 4 x 12.7 mm Browning M2 machine guns, front dorsal turret (400 rpg = 1,600 total)

The B-29A-BN is defended by an impressive 12 x .50 calibre Browning machine guns rivalled only by the Blohm & Voss BV 238, Tupolev Tu-4, Consolidated PB4Y-2 and B-24 and the Boeing B-17. Typically when bombers add more guns, they had to add more crew to operate them which increased the overall weight of the aircraft, though ensuring more protection, it also reduced the amount of fuel or bombs which could be carried.

As a historical note, the advent of early analogue computers which were outfitted on the B-29A-BN and the state-of-the-art General Electric Central Fire Control System allowed for remote operation of both dorsal and both ventral turrets along with the tail gun if needed. The turrets could be linked through the fire control system and allow one gunner to operate multiple guns at one time. Simplifying this process and allowing gunners from just about anywhere on the aircraft to control the turrets reduced the number of crew members needed to operate the aircraft. Though four times the size of a B-25, the B-29A-BN operated efficiently on the same amount of crew members, seven.

The computer-aided turrets allowed for more accuracy when firing and can train the guns in just about any direction needed to combat incoming fighters. The tail gunner position is especially deadly as a fighter perched on the tail will be flying into the oncoming bullets from the tail gun position, thereby taking more damage when hit and more likely to take on a critical hit or disabling blow. Though not totally invulnerable to the crafty fighter pilot, the B-29A-BN in its own right is a porcupine with sharp quills pointing in all directions which will make it as difficult as possible for anyone to get past the defences.

Usage in battles

The ultimate strategic bomber for the USAF. Loaded up with eight metric tonnes (8 long tonnes) of bombs and twelve good ol' Browning heavy machine guns this is the Superfortress! A wonderful advertising name, but don't be fooled, it is bigger than a barn and thus impossible to miss. Keep a safe distance from any hot combat zones. Your defensive turrets will not keep you safe, they will shred any foe getting close, but the B-29's enemies do not need too! So concentrate on what this plane is good at delivery payload, lots of it.

Once your bombing run is complete, start descending towards your airfield; enemy fighters might be trying to find you so you should be even more alert now than before. The B-29 has one of the most powerful defensive systems installed on any bomber, so you should be able to defend yourself reasonably well unless it is a head-on attack where you will have very limited protection. You must also combine it with a defensive style of flying to utilize it to its full potential; the B-29 offers great handling for its size. Despite this, be very careful when you enter a dive. It is just as prone as any other aircraft to suffering structural damage if its limitations are exceeded.

Great defensive armament will destroy most enemies that do get close. Being able to point at least four fifty-calibre in every direction and about six to the six o'clock position will deal with any fighter quickly. But do not forget the size of the Fortress. Most of the enemies shells will hit some mark.

Of course, bomb load is very good with the B-29, with its historic performance as one of the best American bomber in service. Up to 8 x 2,000 lb could be carried in the bomb bay.

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Turret 12 mm SBC-40
II Compressor Airframe
III Wings repair Engine New 12 mm MGs (turret) MBC-12
IV Engine injection Cover LBC-8

Pros and cons

A Bf 109 attempts to take on the tail gunner of a B-29A-BN.

Pros:

  • Second heaviest payload in War Thunder next to the Soviet Tu-4
  • Stock bomb load is able to destroy bases with one payload in arcade and up to two bases in realistic/simulatory battles
  • Can be difficult for fighters to reach same cruising altitude, even for jets
  • Effective defensive turrets which virtually have no blind spots
  • Fast for its size
  • Virtually immune to small arms machine gunfire
  • Receives air start after repairing/rearming in an airfield
  • All payload options are internal and have next to no effect on flight performance
  • Gunners are located separately from the gun turret (remote-controlled turrets) with the exception of the tail turret
  • Can easily win a match if allowed to reach optimal bombing altitude
  • Exceptionally strong when flying in groups with other bombers
B-29 kohler 001.png

Cons:

  • Easily susceptible to damage from autocannons larger than 20 mm especially the MK108
  • Unable to reliably defend itself from multiple opponents attacking at once from multiple directions
  • Big size, can easily be spotted from long distances, especially with skilled crews
  • Has a low dive top-speed
  • As with all heavy bombers, it lacks the ability to manoeuvre well
  • Takes a while to reach an optimal altitude
  • Landing gear takes a long time to deploy and retract
  • Wings are considered weak spots
  • Will face jets most of the time
  • Extremely high repair cost

History

The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft used during World War II. It was exclusively used in the Pacific Theatre during the war and participated in bombing raids on multiple islands in the Pacific war. The B-29 became the world's first and only nuclear-capable bomber to deliver weapons during wartime when on August 6th, 1945 the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the atomic bomb known as "Little Boy" on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later, the B-29 Bockscar dropped the second atomic bomb "Fat Man" on Nagasaki, Japan.

During the Second World War, its only area of operations was the Pacific Theater specifically targeting the Japanese mainland. It also saw combat service in the Korean War a small group of loaned aircraft were evaluated by the R.A.F during the early 1950's as well. In British service, they were known as the “Washington B Mk. 1”.

During World War 2, the B-29 completed over 20,000 sorties with an estimated 180,000 tons of bombs dropped, as well as two atomic bombs. A total number of 3,970 were built and delivered to the USAAF. Perhaps the most famous “copy” of the war was the Tu-4. Although outwardly looking identical, this Soviet “B-29” was converted to metric making it unique. Other aircraft derived from the B-29 include the B-50, C-97, KC-97, 377 Stratocruiser, and NASA’s own Guppy cargo carriers.[1]

The B-29 post-war also helped in the scientific, research, and development fields. They would play a key role in hurricane hunting and storm chasing which allowed it to collect key information about storm patterns, and helped to improve and to develop new radar systems such as the “sun tracker”. It was also the aircraft that carried the supersonic test aircraft Bell X-1 into the air. The last American B-29 squadron was retired in the 1960s. Today one called “Fifi” still flies at air show circuits. It was joined by another named “Doc” in 2016.[1]

B-29 tay777 001.png

In-game description

"An all-metal monoplane with a retractable landing gear system including a nosewheel. The crew consisted of 14 persons. Distinctive features of the Superfortress included a pressurized cockpit for the crew and a Central Fire Control system for the defensive armament.

The B-29 (Model 345) was developed by the Boeing Aircraft design department in early 1940. The XB-29 prototype model performed its maiden flight on September 21, 1942. Full-scale production of the aircraft was started in June 1943.

В-29s had Wright R-3350-23 eighteen-cylinder, radial air-cooled engines producing a maximum power of 2,200 hp, with four-bladed automatic propellers.

The defensive armament of the Superfortress included four remotely controlled turrets: two below the fuselage and two above. Each turret housed two 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns with 500-1,000 rounds each. Some aircraft had an upper front turret equipped with four machine guns. All weapons were aimed at the target from three sighting stations located in blisters and from the bombardier's station.

Three armament options were available for the rear mount, controlled by an independent air gunner: a 20 mm Hispano-Bendix AN-M2 cannon and two 12.7 mm Colt-Browning M2.5 machine guns, three 12.7 mm machine guns, or two 12.7 mm machine guns.

A bomb load of up to 9,000 kg was housed in two bomb bays, where cluster racks were mounted.

The B-29 was equipped with a large amount of radio equipment for various purposes. Its large bomb capacity, powerful and effective defensive armament, and state-of-the-art equipment would have turned the Superfortress into the best heavy bomber of World War II if not for engine breakdowns that continually plagued the aircraft. For one whole year, up to the middle of 1944, the bomber's performance was hampered by a high accident rate. It was only by the end of the summer of 1944 that efforts to improve the fire-prone engines were relatively successful, but the problem was never entirely eradicated.

B-29s were used exclusively in the Pacific theater of the war. Superfortresses were used in combat for the first time on June 5, 1944 during the raid on Bangkok. On June 14, 1944, American bombers attacked the territory of Japan for the first time. Military and industrial facilities in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Omura and Yawata were regularly attacked. In August 1944, B-29s began to bomb oil refineries on the island of Sumatra.

The B-29s were flown out of China until December 1944, when they were relocated to India. Their targets were docks in Singapore, ports in Indochina, and rail junctions in Burma. В-29s also mined rivers in China and the coastal waters of Vietnam and Malaya from the air.

In October 1944, B-29s began carrying out massive attacks on Japan from the Mariana Islands. During the war, these aircraft dropped 54,917 tons of high-explosive bombs and 109,068 tons of incendiary bombs on Japan and delivered 12,000 naval mines. The В-29 became the world's first nuclear weapon carrier when it dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

From 1950-53, B-29 bombers took part in the Korean War. From 1950-55, the aircraft was operated by the RAF Bomber Command under the designation ""Washington B.1.""

A total of 3,947 В-29s were manufactured, including all variants. The plane was withdrawn from service as a bomber with the USA in late 1954."

Media

Images
  • B-29 kawashima momo 002.png
  • B-29 th fegel team 001.png
  • B-29 kawashima momo 003.png
Videos
User created skins

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Excerpts from 'Profile' B-29 Superfortress, no Author mentioned.


USA bombers
Dive  SB2U-2 · SB2U-3 · SBD-3 · SB2C-1C · SB2C-4
Torpedo  TBD-1 · PBY-5 Catalina · PBY-5A Catalina · TBF-1C · BTD-1
Medium  B-10B · B-18A · B-34 · PV-2D · B-25J-1 · B-25J-20 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT · B-26B
Heavy  B-17E · B-17E/L · B-17G-60-VE · PB4Y-2 · B-24D-25-CO · B-29A-BN
Hydroplanes  OS2U-1 · OS2U-3 · PBM-1 "Mariner" · PBM-3 "Mariner"