Difference between revisions of "DB-7 (Great Britain)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=db_7}}
+
{{Specs-Card
 +
|code=db_7
 +
|market=▄DB-7
 +
}}
 +
{{About
 +
| about = gift British bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other uses
 +
| link = DB-7 (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 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 a 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.''-->
  
 +
[[File:GarageImage_DB-7_Great_Britain.jpg|420px|thumb|left|]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} gift British bomber {{Battle-rating}}. This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.
 
== 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. Maximum speed, manoeuvrability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,896 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
 +
|-
 +
|476||462|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||28.9||29.7||9.5||9.4||550
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,896 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
 +
|-
 +
|505||491|| {{Specs|ceiling}} ||27.2||28.0||13.5||11.5||550
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====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)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! +
 +
! -
 +
|-
 +
| {{Specs|разрушение|конструкции}} || {{Specs|разрушение|шасси}} ||520|| ~9 || ~3
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| 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)
 +
|-
 +
| < 260 || < 360 || < 343 || > 270
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| 3,090 m || 1,050 hp || N/A
 +
|-
 +
<!--! 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
 +
|- -->
 +
|}
  
 
=== 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. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''-->
 +
* 12.7 mm steel in front of the cockpit
 +
* 8 mm steel lower side of the cockpit
 +
* 9.5mm steel pilots seat
 +
* 12.7mm steel below, behind and in front of the rear gunner
 +
* No armour glazing
 +
* Critical components located in the front and wings of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
 +
 
 +
== Armaments ==
 +
=== Offensive 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.''-->
 +
{{main|MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
 +
* 4 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 RPG = 2,000 total)
 +
 
 +
=== Suspended armament ===
 +
<!--''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|:Category:Suspended armaments|l1=Suspended armaments}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordinance"
 +
 
 +
* 4 × 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs
  
== Weaponry ==
+
=== Defensive armament ===
=== Offensive weaponry ===
+
<!--''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.''-->
''Describe the offensive weaponry 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.''
 
  
=== Suspended weaponry ===
+
{{main|MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)}}
''Describe the aircraft's suspended weapons: 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.''
 
  
=== Defensive weaponry ===
+
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is defended by:
''Defensive weaponry 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.''
+
 
 +
* 1 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, dorsal turret (500 RPG)
 +
* 1 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, ventral turret (500 RPG)
  
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the 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 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).''
+
<!--''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).''-->The DB-7 is a very fast aircraft for its rank, this being coupled with its Battle Rating of 2.3 means it can often outrun most aircraft it faces in level flight. The DB-7 has four 7.5mm light machine guns in the nose that are fixed and controlled by the pilot. Two additional guns are located in turrets facing the rear, one above and one below the fuselage. The upper turret has better coverage than the lower. Although the defensive armament may seem underwhelming, they are more than capable of dealing with planes of a lower BR. They can still be made to work against higher level planes if AP-T or AP belts are used. As always, one should aim for the pursuer's engine.
 +
 
 +
The recommended belt for the offensive weaponry is the Tracers belt (IT). For the defensive weaponry, the AP-T belt (IT/AP) is the best choice
 +
 
 +
The good level speed allows for hit and run tactics, however, some dedicated fighter pilots may choose to hunt you down regardless. In such cases try to run for allied fighters and drag the enemy behind. Alternatively, the superior climb rate in comparison to other bombers allows climbing above one's allies which subsequently act as meat shield i.e. other bombers are easier targets. Although this can turn into a false sense of security. Stay vigilant.
 +
 
 +
It is best to use the plane as a fast attacker. Keep your altitude and proceed to bomb points. Once your payload is delivered, you can engage enemy fighters which should still be climbing to reach your altitude while being careful not to become outnumbered or dive towards friendly forces in order to gain cover. Few are the planes which will be able to keep up with you if you choose the latter. If you are on a map with lots of vital soft targets, you can always engage those. One has to keep in mind that doing so will leave him exposed to enemy interceptors. If you decide to engage enemy fighters, you will find that the DB-7 is quite manoeuvrable for its size. Always keep an eye on your speed and avoid depleting too much of it in case you need to flee from the battle. The DB-7 can soak up a lot on LMG fire and return to base. The radial engines can also take a lot of punishment before going out. If the rest of its fuselage is not damaged, the aircraft can easily fly on one engine. HMGs and canons will quickly render the plane uncontrollable.
 +
 
 +
While a lot of the above is true, it is much more important to stick with friendly forces since one can easily become outnumbered if on his own near the enemy's spawn point.
 +
 
 +
===Manual Engine Control===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" |Mixer
 +
! rowspan="2" |Pitch
 +
! colspan="3" |Radiator
 +
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger
 +
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger
 +
|-
 +
! Oil
 +
! Water
 +
! Type
 +
|-
 +
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
===Modules===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! colspan="1" | Tier
 +
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 +
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 +
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 +
|-
 +
| I
 +
| Fuselage Repair
 +
| Radiator
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| II
 +
|
 +
| Compressor
 +
| Airframe
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| III
 +
| Wings Repair
 +
| Engine
 +
|
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| IV
 +
|
 +
| Engine Injection
 +
| Cover
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
The plane comes with all modules unlocked except mark of distinction which allows you to use all 4 decal slots without a premium account. It is recommended to upgrade the crew qualification and have a second trained gunner as the improves the plane further.
  
 
=== 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".''
+
<!--''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle regarding 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".''-->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
*
+
 
 +
* Fast for its rank and role.
 +
* Decent bomb load. (4 × 500lb)
 +
* Has offensive armaments. (4 × 7.5mm machine guns)
 +
* Good amount of rounds for the offensive armament. (2000 rounds, 500 per gun)
 +
* Great RP rewards.
 +
* Efficient at researching planes from Rank 1 to 3.
 +
* Can soak up damage from and return to base with an engine out.
 +
* Can go up to 434 Mph or 700 kph IAS in a dive and maintain control.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
*
 
  
== Historical part ==
+
* Armament, both offensive and defensive, can become inadequate tougher enemies.
''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/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Prone to fires.
 +
 
 +
== 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 main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.
 +
 
 +
===In-game description ===
 +
 
 +
The Douglas DB-7 (DB-7B3) was a twin-engine light bomber/ground-attack aircraft of all metal construction. Jack Northrop started to develop this aircraft as early as 1936, on his own personal initiative. When, in 1937, the United States Army Air Corps command formulated its requirements for a next-generation ground-attack aircraft/bomber, the draft design of the Model 7A multi-purpose aircraft (which would combine the functions of a light bomber, a ground-attack aircraft, and a reconnaissance aircraft) was already complete.
 +
 
 +
In the meantime, the small Northrop Aviation Corporation was taken over by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Since the USAAC had not made their final choice about their main bomber, the Douglas Aircraft Company continued working on the aircraft, despite having no guarantee of its profitability. The first Model 7B prototype conducted its first test flight on October 26th 1938. 
 +
 
 +
The French Purchasing Commission took an interest in the new aircraft and placed an order for a total of 100 aircraft in February 1939. The Model 7B prototype aircraft was altered at the customer's request: the modified aircraft, designated the DB-7 (Douglas Bomber 7), made its first flight on August 17th 1939. The first production bomber was delivered to the French in October 1939.
 +
 
 +
The production DB-7 was equipped with 1,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G radial air-cooled engines with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 23E50 three-bladed variable-pitch metal propellers.
 +
 
 +
The aircraft’s defensive armament consisted of six 7.5 mm Chatellerault MAC 1934 machine guns of French manufacture. Four of these belt-fed machine guns, with 500 rounds each, were located in the nose section on each side of the navigator's glazed cockpit. One machine gun was mounted in the radio operator/gunner's cockpit in the rear upper gun position, and another one in the lower hatch. Both machine guns had 500 rounds each (5 pan magazines with 100 rounds). The DB-7 had an enlarged bomb bay, with its payload increased to an 800 kg capacity.
 +
 
 +
The American aircraft were designated DB-7B3 (B3 meaning ""three-seat bomber"") by the French Air Force. In the summer of 1940, DB-7s participated in combat operations in Southern France, where they suffered serious losses assaulting German tank columns without fighter cover. After the French surrender, these aircraft were used in the service of the Vichy French government who collaborated with Nazi Germany. In November 1942 the same aircraft were used to strike the British-American landing forces in Algeria during Operation Torch.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
 
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
 
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
  
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
<!--''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.''
+
;Related development
 +
* Douglas [[A-26 (Family)|A-26]] Invader
  
== Sources ==
+
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 +
* Bristol [[Beaufighter (Family)|Beaufighter]]
 +
* Messerschmitt [[Bf 110 (Family)|Bf 110]]
 +
* Northrop [[P-61C-1|P-61]] Black Widow
 +
* Petlyakov [[Pe-2 (Family)|Pe-2]]
 +
 
 +
== 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 the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
 
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
 +
 +
{{AirManufacturer Douglas}}
 +
{{Britain bombers}}

Revision as of 19:53, 30 December 2019

▄DB-7
db_7.png
▄DB-7
Show in game
MARKET
This page is about the gift British bomber DB-7 (Great Britain). For other uses, see DB-7 (Family).

Description

GarageImage DB-7 (Great Britain).jpg


The ▄DB-7 is a rank II gift British bomber with a battle rating of 2.3 (AB/RB/SB). This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed
(km/h at 2,896 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
476 462 7200 28.9 29.7 9.5 9.4 550
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 2,896 m)
Max altitude (meters) Turn time (seconds) Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run (meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
505 491 7200 27.2 28.0 13.5 11.5 550

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
+ -
665 296 520 ~9 ~3
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 260 < 360 < 343 > 270
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
3,090 m 1,050 hp N/A

Survivability and armour

  • 12.7 mm steel in front of the cockpit
  • 8 mm steel lower side of the cockpit
  • 9.5mm steel pilots seat
  • 12.7mm steel below, behind and in front of the rear gunner
  • No armour glazing
  • Critical components located in the front and wings of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)

The DB-7 (Great Britain) is armed with:

  • 4 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 RPG = 2,000 total)

Suspended armament

Main article: Suspended armaments

The DB-7 (Great Britain) can be outfitted with the following ordinance"

  • 4 × 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs

Defensive armament

Main article: MAC 1934 (7.5 mm)

The DB-7 (Great Britain) is defended by:

  • 1 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, dorsal turret (500 RPG)
  • 1 × 7.5 mm MAC 1934 machine gun, ventral turret (500 RPG)

Usage in the battles

The DB-7 is a very fast aircraft for its rank, this being coupled with its Battle Rating of 2.3 means it can often outrun most aircraft it faces in level flight. The DB-7 has four 7.5mm light machine guns in the nose that are fixed and controlled by the pilot. Two additional guns are located in turrets facing the rear, one above and one below the fuselage. The upper turret has better coverage than the lower. Although the defensive armament may seem underwhelming, they are more than capable of dealing with planes of a lower BR. They can still be made to work against higher level planes if AP-T or AP belts are used. As always, one should aim for the pursuer's engine.

The recommended belt for the offensive weaponry is the Tracers belt (IT). For the defensive weaponry, the AP-T belt (IT/AP) is the best choice

The good level speed allows for hit and run tactics, however, some dedicated fighter pilots may choose to hunt you down regardless. In such cases try to run for allied fighters and drag the enemy behind. Alternatively, the superior climb rate in comparison to other bombers allows climbing above one's allies which subsequently act as meat shield i.e. other bombers are easier targets. Although this can turn into a false sense of security. Stay vigilant.

It is best to use the plane as a fast attacker. Keep your altitude and proceed to bomb points. Once your payload is delivered, you can engage enemy fighters which should still be climbing to reach your altitude while being careful not to become outnumbered or dive towards friendly forces in order to gain cover. Few are the planes which will be able to keep up with you if you choose the latter. If you are on a map with lots of vital soft targets, you can always engage those. One has to keep in mind that doing so will leave him exposed to enemy interceptors. If you decide to engage enemy fighters, you will find that the DB-7 is quite manoeuvrable for its size. Always keep an eye on your speed and avoid depleting too much of it in case you need to flee from the battle. The DB-7 can soak up a lot on LMG fire and return to base. The radial engines can also take a lot of punishment before going out. If the rest of its fuselage is not damaged, the aircraft can easily fly on one engine. HMGs and canons will quickly render the plane uncontrollable.

While a lot of the above is true, it is much more important to stick with friendly forces since one can easily become outnumbered if on his own near the enemy's spawn point.

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage Repair Radiator
II Compressor Airframe
III Wings Repair Engine
IV Engine Injection Cover

The plane comes with all modules unlocked except mark of distinction which allows you to use all 4 decal slots without a premium account. It is recommended to upgrade the crew qualification and have a second trained gunner as the improves the plane further.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Fast for its rank and role.
  • Decent bomb load. (4 × 500lb)
  • Has offensive armaments. (4 × 7.5mm machine guns)
  • Good amount of rounds for the offensive armament. (2000 rounds, 500 per gun)
  • Great RP rewards.
  • Efficient at researching planes from Rank 1 to 3.
  • Can soak up damage from and return to base with an engine out.
  • Can go up to 434 Mph or 700 kph IAS in a dive and maintain control.

Cons:

  • Armament, both offensive and defensive, can become inadequate tougher enemies.
  • Prone to fires.

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 main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.

In-game description

The Douglas DB-7 (DB-7B3) was a twin-engine light bomber/ground-attack aircraft of all metal construction. Jack Northrop started to develop this aircraft as early as 1936, on his own personal initiative. When, in 1937, the United States Army Air Corps command formulated its requirements for a next-generation ground-attack aircraft/bomber, the draft design of the Model 7A multi-purpose aircraft (which would combine the functions of a light bomber, a ground-attack aircraft, and a reconnaissance aircraft) was already complete.

In the meantime, the small Northrop Aviation Corporation was taken over by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Since the USAAC had not made their final choice about their main bomber, the Douglas Aircraft Company continued working on the aircraft, despite having no guarantee of its profitability. The first Model 7B prototype conducted its first test flight on October 26th 1938. 

The French Purchasing Commission took an interest in the new aircraft and placed an order for a total of 100 aircraft in February 1939. The Model 7B prototype aircraft was altered at the customer's request: the modified aircraft, designated the DB-7 (Douglas Bomber 7), made its first flight on August 17th 1939. The first production bomber was delivered to the French in October 1939.

The production DB-7 was equipped with 1,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G radial air-cooled engines with Hamilton Standard Hydromatic 23E50 three-bladed variable-pitch metal propellers.

The aircraft’s defensive armament consisted of six 7.5 mm Chatellerault MAC 1934 machine guns of French manufacture. Four of these belt-fed machine guns, with 500 rounds each, were located in the nose section on each side of the navigator's glazed cockpit. One machine gun was mounted in the radio operator/gunner's cockpit in the rear upper gun position, and another one in the lower hatch. Both machine guns had 500 rounds each (5 pan magazines with 100 rounds). The DB-7 had an enlarged bomb bay, with its payload increased to an 800 kg capacity.

The American aircraft were designated DB-7B3 (B3 meaning ""three-seat bomber"") by the French Air Force. In the summer of 1940, DB-7s participated in combat operations in Southern France, where they suffered serious losses assaulting German tank columns without fighter cover. After the French surrender, these aircraft were used in the service of the Vichy French government who collaborated with Nazi Germany. In November 1942 the same aircraft were used to strike the British-American landing forces in Algeria during Operation Torch.

Media

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

See also

Related development
  • Douglas A-26 Invader
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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


Douglas Aircraft Company
Strike Aircraft  A-20G-25 · A-26B-10 · A-26B-50 · AD-2 · AD-4 · A-1H
Bombers  TBD-1 · B-18A · SBD-3 · BTD-1 · A-26C-45 · A-26C-45DT
Turboprops  A2D-1
Jet Aircraft  F3D-1 · F4D-1
A-4 Skyhawk  A-4B · A-4E Early
Export  ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7 · ▂A-20G-30 · ▄AD-4 · ▄AD-4NA
A-4 Skyhawk  A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · Ayit · A-4E
  The Douglas Aircraft Company merged with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas.

Britain bombers
Torpedo  Swordfish Mk I · Swordfish Mk II · ▄Avenger Mk II
Dive  V-156-B1
Hydroplanes  ▄Catalina Mk IIIa · Sunderland Mk IIIa · Sunderland Mk V
Light  Blenheim Mk IV · Beaufort Mk VIII · ▄Hudson Mk V · Brigand B 1
Based on A20  ▄Havoc Mk I · ▄Boston Mk I · ▄DB-7
Hampden  Hampden Mk I · Hampden TB Mk I
Wellington  Wellington Mk Ic · Wellington Mk Ic/L · Wellington Mk III · Wellington Mk X
Halifax  Halifax B Mk IIIa
Stirling  Stirling B Mk I · Stirling B Mk III
Lancaster  Lancaster B Mk I · Lancaster B Mk III
Lincoln  Lincoln B Mk II
Shackleton  Shackleton MR.Mk.2