B18A

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This page is about the Swedish bomber B18A. For other versions, see B18 (Family). For the American bomber of similar designation, see B-18A.
saab_b18a.png
GarageImage B18A.jpg
B18A
AB RB SB
2.0 2.7 2.3
Research:7 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:10 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The B18A is a rank II Swedish bomber with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB), 2.7 (RB), and 2.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.95 "Northern Wind".

Sweden had been using the Ju 86K (export version of the German Ju 86) or the B3C bomber as their main bomber. In 1938 a requirement was put forth to Swedish aircraft manufactures for a fast reconnaissance aircraft with a crew of three. SAAB was awarded the contract for the project and began to build the SAAB 18 alongside the smaller SAAB B17 bomber. At this point the B17 had the facilities priorities in construction, however, the B18 was modified from being just a reconnaissance aircraft to also being a medium bomber. The mid-project changes caused a significant delay in the production of the aircraft which didn’t roll out for duty until mid-1944.

Initially, the B18A aircraft was deemed underpowered with the two Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engines, but would later be replaced by license-built Daimler-Benze DB 605 liquid-cooled engines. Later the B18B variant was modified to operate as a dive bomber/ground attack variant which could be outfitted with three 120 kg bombs or 12 m/51 rockets which could utilize both the internal bomb bay and hardpoints on under the wings. A single defensive positions utilised two 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine guns which had limited coverage the rear dorsal position of the aircraft. The pilot was in control of a single 13.2 mm m/39A machine gun.

The B18A was a multi-role aircraft which filled a need for the Swedish air forces, which continued on until 1959. This bomber can operate in two roles, either as a medium-altitude bomber working on destroying vehicles and anti-aircraft artillery targets or to bomb enemy bases. Flying at a higher altitude will help to avoid a majority of the fighter aircraft which tend to stay at the lower altitudes. The B18A can also be pressed into service in the lower altitudes and even on the deck. When outfitted with rockets, the B18A can dive-bomb ground targets to include tanks, bunkers, anti-aircraft artillery and naval ships.

General info

Flight performance

Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Max speed
at 4 000 m465 km/h
Turn time30 s
Max altitude9 100 m
Engine2 х SFA STWC3
Type
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight9 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 4,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 445 430 9100 31.2 32.2 2.1 2.1 530
Upgraded 487 465 28.9 30.0 8.6 5.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
735 320 490 440 290 ~7 ~3
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 370 < 350 < 400 > 320

Survivability and armour

Crew3 people
Speed of destruction
Structural735 km/h
Gear320 km/h
Protective components found in the B18A.
  • 10 mm steel - cockpit floor under pilot's seat
  • 10 mm steel - pilot's seatback
  • 10 mm steel - rear gunner protective plate
  • 10 mm steel - cockpit floor under gunner's seat
  • 10 mm steel - aft protective plate

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB482 → 613 Sl icon.png
RB825 → 1 050 Sl icon.png
SB1 188 → 1 512 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications6 930 Rp icon.png
6 760 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost530 Ge icon.png
Crew training3 000 Sl icon.png
Experts10 000 Sl icon.png
Aces125 Ge icon.png
Research Aces160 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
40 / 70 / 150 % Sl icon.png
112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
430 Rp icon.png
Cost:
420 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
430 Rp icon.png
Cost:
420 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
13_2_akan_m39_belt_pack
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
m/40(250)
Research:
350 Rp icon.png
Cost:
340 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
13_2_akan_m39_turret_belt_pack
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
95 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods weapon.png
13_2_akan_m39_new_gun
Research:
430 Rp icon.png
Cost:
420 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
m/41
Research:
430 Rp icon.png
Cost:
420 Sl icon.png
80 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
13_2_akan_m39_turret_new_gun
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
140 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition300 rounds
Fire rate1 080 shots/min
Main article: Akan m/39A (13.2 mm)

The B18A is armed with:

  • 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39A machine gun, nose-mounted (300 rpg)

Suspended armament

List of setups (5)
Setup 118 x 50 kg sb m/42 bomb
Setup 23 x 250 kg mb m/40 bomb
Setup 38 x 50 kg sb m/42 bomb
3 x 250 kg mb m/40 bomb
Setup 42 x 500 kg mb m/41 bomb
Setup 58 x 50 kg sb m/42 bomb
2 x 500 kg mb m/41 bomb

The B18A can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • 18 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (900 kg total)
  • 3 x 250 kg mb m/40 bombs (750 kg total)
  • 3 x 250 kg mb m/40 bombs + 8 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (1,150 kg total)
  • 2 x 500 kg mb m/41 bombs (1,000 kg total)
  • 2 x 500 kg mb m/41 bombs + 8 x 50 kg sb m/42 bombs (1,400 kg total)

Defensive armament

Ammunition300 rounds
Fire rate1080 shots/min
Main article: Akan m/39 (13.2 mm)

The B18A is defended by:

  • 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine gun, dorsal turret (300 rpg)
  • 1 x 13.2 mm Akan m/39 machine gun, ventral turret (300 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).

The B18A is a really good aircraft in all game modes. Its frontal armament is really powerful, using HEF shells. It does have a low ammo count of 300 for all guns, including the turrets. The B18A is a good bomber hunter, as you'll be facing He-111's which have such poor defensive armaments. You can easily destroy axis bombers with this plane. The G4M1 and He-111 don't hold a candle to this bomber. You can use this plane in all roles, even fighter. The list is below for realistic battles.

Bomber: This plane can carry enough bomb to destroy 2 and a half bases on maps with three bases, and 1 base on new maps with its max bomb payload. Once you drop your payload, you can kill any remaining bombers or fighters still hanging around. Remember, if an aircraft is on your six, outspeed them and use your turrets to your advantage.

Ground Attacker/CAS: With 2x 500kg + 8x 50kg bombs, this plane is a devastating ground attacker. The 500kg bombs will one shot anything in a huge radius, while the 50kg ones require more precise drops. It is a great aircraft for ground support. Watch out for SPAAs though, as they will find you a large and easy target.

Fighter/Bomber Hunter: The 13mm is absolutely devastating. When you prep for an engagement with a bomber, go head on, and try to bait them into getting behind you. Use your turrets from bellow where they have no coverage, and aim for the cockpit. For fighter engagements, you need to ask yourself three things. Am I faster than them? Am I higher than them? Can I dive at least 1.5 kilometers? If one of them is yes, go for the engagement. If none are yes, run away, and use your good turret coverage and acceleration to speed away and chip with your turrets.

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 Not controllable
1 gear
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Summarise 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:

  • Extremely quick for a twin engine aircraft, especially at altitude. Able to cruise at ~560 km/h @ 5 km and even run away from some single-engine fighters
  • Blisteringly fast maximum top speed, able to reach almost 900 km/h without ripping wings, possibly fastest twin engine prop in the game
  • Above average climb rate for an aircraft of its size
  • Defensive 13.2mm machine guns have HEF bullets, which will melt any enemies that attack from behind
  • Forward facing 13.2mm MG is also a very deadly attack weapon
  • Air spawn gives it a good opportunity for chasing down enemy bombers with its superior speed
  • Versatile secondary weapons allow it to take on a variety of roles
  • Very strong ground attacker, carries 2x 500kg + 8x 50kg bombs.
  • Effective airbrakes

Cons:

  • Gunners are vulnerable and die easily
  • Higher than average chance of getting set on fire
  • Single forward facing 13.2mm MG is inadequate for taking down larger aircraft like the BV 238
  • Very nose heavy when landing, must take great care not to tip forward and crash, leave the airbrake retracted when landing
  • As with most DB engined aircraft, the cooling system is vulnerable and you will find yourself overheating after only a few hits
  • Low ammo count of 300 rounds per gun for each gun, including the turrets. It is advisable to reload your turrets after an engagement

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

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

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  • reference to the series of the aircraft;
  • links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

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


Swedish Aeroplane Company Ltd. (SAAB)
Pre-SAAB: ASJA  J6B
Fighters  J21A-1 · J21A-2 · A21A-3
Jet fighters  A21RB · J21RA · J29A · A29B · J29D · J29F · J32B · J35A · J35D · JA37C · JA37D · JAS39A
Jet attackers  A32A · A32A Röd Adam · AJ37 · AJS37 · SAAB-105G · SK60B
Bombers  B17A · B17B · S17BS
Dive-bombers  B3C · B18A · B18B · T18B · T18B (57)
Export  SAAB-105OE · Saab J35XS · JAS39C · ◔JAS39EBS HU C

Sweden bombers
B3  B3C
B17  B17A · B17B · S17BS
B18  B18A · B18B · T18B · T18B (57)
T 2  T 2
Finland  ▄Ar 196 A-5 · ▄Ju 88 A-4