D.371

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Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Challenger DS Pack
This page is about the French fighter D.371. For other versions, see D.37 (Family).
D.371
d_371.png
GarageImage D.371.jpg
ArtImage D.371.png
360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/6/62/Cockpit_d_371.jpg
D.371
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.0
Class:
Research:Free
Purchase:Free
Show in game

Description

Developed over the D.37 family of aircraft by SAF-Avions Dewoitine in the early 1930s, the D.371 was the first production version of this family, first flown in 1934 and powered by a Gnome Rhone 14Kfs engine. At the time, the aircraft used a single-seat aeroplane design with a parasol wing, a fixed landing gear and, like many other aircrafts of the time, it did not feature an enclosed cockpit and instead just had a windshield for the pilot. There are no records of the aircraft being used in combat due to its obsolence and the presence of more modern fighters at the start of World War II.

Introduced in Update 1.73 "Vive la France", this aircraft is the first of the D.37 series featured in the game, along with its younger sibling, the D.373. As a single-engine monoplane, it is agile and quick and while it can be a formidable turnfighter, maintaining speed in this aircraft is crucial, or else it becomes a slow easy target for other aircraft. The MAC 1934 machine guns are not that powerful, however having four of them will enable the pilot to sling quite a bit of lead at the target aircraft. Due to the D.371 being a reserve aircraft, it is not uncommon for it to be pitted against higher rank I aircraft and even some lower rank II planes too. While slower than many of the higher aircraft it may face, not all is lost. The D.371 will have a manoeuvrability advantage, and if the pilot can pull the higher rank enemy into a turnfight, the D.371 may be able to turn the tables and score a win. Don't count the D.371 out of the fight until the pilot bails out of the plane, if still flying, it can fight!

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 3 000 m393 km/h
Turn time13 s
Max altitude9 000 m
EngineGnome Rhone 14Kfs
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight2 t
Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 3,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 377 361 9000 13.6 14.4 9.7 9.7 232
Upgraded 412 393 12.8 13.0 21.3 14.2

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
560 560 N/A N/A N/A ~12 ~6
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 240 < 220 < 260 > 210

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural560 km/h
Gear560 km/h

Early aircraft did not feature much in the way of armoured protection, as many of the aircraft were at this point were transitioning from the wood frame and cloth skin to the wood frame and metal skinned aircraft. Due to the balancing of the aircraft, much of the critical equipment was positioned towards the front of the aircraft, where the engine, fuel tanks, oil pumps, control linkages and the pilot were clustered around each other. With this tight grouping and no armour protection, when fired upon, chances are high to hit a critical component in the aircraft.

The key to survival is to keep moving (avoid flying in straight lines and always be looking around) along with being aware of your surroundings. If you start hearing bullets or see tracer fire whizzing by, it may be too late, and the pilot will need to take evasive action to avoid being shot down.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
ABfree
RBfree
SBfree
Total cost of modifications4 130 Rp icon.png
193 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost190 Ge icon.png
Crew trainingfree
Experts1 000 Sl icon.png
Aces10 Ge icon.png
Research Aces80 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
10 / 10 / 50 % Sl icon.png
100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
810 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
70 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
720 Rp icon.png
Cost:
35 Sl icon.png
60 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
7_5mm_belt_pack
Research:
440 Rp icon.png
Cost:
19 Sl icon.png
35 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
mac39_new_gun
Research:
500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
25 Sl icon.png
40 Ge icon.png

Upgrading the machine guns will unlock more ammunition options, increasing the lethality of this aircraft. Focusing on engine and engine component upgrades will increase speed and climb rate, giving you an advantage over slower or stock aircraft. Survivability upgrades will increase the toughness of your aircraft, allowing it to absorb more damage before being critically damaged usually.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Ammunition1 200 rounds
Fire rate1 350 shots/min
Main article: MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)

The D.371 is armed with:

  • 4 x 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns, wing-mounted (300 rpg = 1,200 total)

Each of the four machine guns is bundled into groups of two and mounted to the underside of the upper wing. Each machine gun is outfitted with the same amount of ammunition, which means that all weapons will fire with each other until empty. Due to the mounting locations on the wings (outside the propeller arc) and the calibre of the machine guns, convergence in this aircraft is essential. Most of the fighting with this aircraft will be in close quarters to exploit the power of the machine guns in close. Convergence set between 150 and 300 m (wherever you are most comfortable) will work best to put the most bullets into the enemy aircraft as possible and hit a critical component. Many pilots in World War I and II would set their weapon's convergence to 200 to 250 m and would wait until being in that range before firing to ensure the best chances for shooting down the enemy. Shots from too far away could "spook" the enemy into evasive manoeuvres or just waste ammunition in a "spray and pray" manoeuvre. Practice and skill will allow the pilot to close within 250 m of the enemy and take them out with controlled bursts, filling the enemy with holes and potentially hit a critical target such as the engine, oil cooler, fuel tanks, or the pilot, which would cripple the enemy to allow for moving onto the next victim.

Usage in battles

Maintaining speed with this aircraft is a must, as a slow D.371 is an easy target. Initial spawning into a map should lead a D.371 pilot to climb and gain altitude. Having an altitude advantage will set you up in a position of power over most other pilots upon reaching the combat area as you will select which enemy plane to dive on and attack. With a diving attack, you will gain speed which will allow you to quickly gain on the enemy aircraft to fire off a burst of rounds and then climb back up for altitude. If you decide to tail an enemy plane after a dive, you will risk bleeding off your energy. When attacking an enemy plane, attempt to attack when you see the greatest surface area of the fuselage and wings. If tailing a fighter, wait for them to turn or pull-up to expose the most surface area. When turfighting or looping, utilise your rudder to sharpen your turning ability.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Separate Not controllable
1 gear
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very manoeuvrable
  • Excellent offensive armament for a reserve aircraft
  • Difficult to stall
  • Fast for an early high-wing monoplane
  • Multirole: turnfighter, energy fighter, Boom & Zoom

Cons:

  • Weak construction, vital equipment clustered on the plane
  • Open cockpit (easy to be pilot sniped)
  • Fixed-extended landing gear
  • Fuel tank situated between engine and pilot
  • Fuel tank is not self-sealing

History

In the early 1930s, SAF-Avions Dewoitine, a French aircraft manufacturing company developed the D.37 aircraft, a single-seat aeroplane with a parasol wing, radial engine, fixed landing gear and a tail-skid; however, the actual manufacturing of the aircraft was transferred to Lioré et Olivier. The cockpit did not have an enclosed canopy; just a windshield forward of the pilot.

The D.371 was the first production version of this aircraft line which was first flown in 1934 powered by a Gnome Rhône 14Kfs radial engine and also featured wheel brakes. Four MAC 1934 7.5 mm machine guns were installed, two in each wing and positioned outside of the propeller arch which eliminated the need to synchronise the weapons to the propeller spin.

Media

Skins
Videos

See also

Related development
  • D.371 H.S.9 - Gift vehicle version with 20 mm cannons
  • D.373 - Naval variant of the D.371

External links


Dewoitine (SNCAM/SNCASE)
Fighters 
D.37  D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373
D.500  D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510
D.520  D.520 · ▄D.520 · ▄D.521
Export  ␗D.510C

France fighters
Dewoitine  D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373 · D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510 · D.520
Morane-Saulnier  M.S.405C1 · M.S.406C1 · M.S.410
Arsenal  V.G.33C-1
Bloch  M.B.152C1 · M.B.157
Caudron  C.R.714
Sud-Ouest  S.O.8000 Narval
American  H-75A-1 · H-75A-4 · ▄P-39Q-25 · ▄P-40F-5 Lafayette · ▄P-47D-22-RE · ▄P-63C-5 · F-6C-10-NA
  ▄F6F-5 · ▄F6F-5N · F4U-7 · ▄F8F-1B
Other countries  ▄Seafire LF Mk.III · ▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · NC.900