Difference between revisions of "F-104A (China)"
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{{About | {{About | ||
| about = jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | | about = jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}''' | ||
| usage = other versions | | usage = other versions | ||
| link = F-104 (Family) | | link = F-104 (Family) | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | {{Specs-Card | ||
| + | |code=f-104a_china | ||
| + | |images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}} | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Description == | == Description == | ||
<!-- ''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.'' --> | <!-- ''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.'' --> | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. | The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Chinese jet fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update "Starfighters"]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | This early interceptor model of the F-104 Starfighter, identical to the [[F-104A|US F-104A]] is a very different aircraft from the [[F-100A (China)|ROCAF F-100A]] that precedes it. The thin and pencil-shaped F-104 has excellent speed, acceleration, and climb for its battle rating but horrid turning capabilities at low speeds. The missile armament of two AIM-9B Sidewinders is disappointing, but it at least has a nifty M61 Vulcan rotary cannon that can dispatch enemies in a quick burst. Pilots who adhere to strict boom-and-zoom tactics can take advantage of the F-104's high performance compared to its contemporaries. Succeeding this aircraft is the improved [[F-104G (China)|ROCAF F-104G]], which boasts further improved performance and vastly superior payload options. | ||
== General info == | == General info == | ||
=== Flight performance === | === Flight performance === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Avia-Flight}} | ||
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration 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 F-104A has a lower top speed than the later Starfighter models but is still capable of reaching about twice the speed of sound. The acceleration and climb are very good and the F-104A should be able to achieve an altitude and speed advantage over its close competitors. Horizontal energy retention and vertical energy retention are both good, allowing the F-104A to escape easily after making a pass. The elephant in the room is the substandard turning ability due to the tiny wings shared by all Starfighters. At low speeds, the turn rate is agonizing and flaps are not of much help. At high speeds, the turn rate becomes more bearable, but still not good. Maneuvering energy retention is also unimpressive, though the effects may not be immediately obvious due to the low turn rate. The roll rate is very good and is important to utilize when making defensive manoeuvers. | ||
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%" | {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%" | ||
| Line 28: | Line 33: | ||
|- | |- | ||
! Stock | ! Stock | ||
| − | | 2,104 || 2, | + | | 2,104 || 2,089 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 32.4 || 33.0 || 190.9 || 182.7 || rowspan="2" | 1,180 |
|- | |- | ||
! Upgraded | ! Upgraded | ||
| − | | | + | | 2,161 || 2,142 || 31.2 || 31.9 || 248.6 || 219.0 |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! - | ! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! - | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || | + | | {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || 827 || 444 || ~13 || ~5 |
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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|- | |- | ||
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics | ! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics | ||
| − | ! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br/>Weight | + | ! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br />Weight |
|- | |- | ||
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type | ! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type | ||
| Line 101: | Line 106: | ||
| 0.87 || 0.79 || 0.71 || 0.68 || 0.25 | | 0.87 || 0.79 || 0.71 || 0.68 || 0.25 | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | ''Optimal'' || 3,936 kgf<br/>(0 km/h) || 7,751 kgf<br/>(1,200 km/h) | + | | ''Optimal'' || 3,936 kgf<br />(0 km/h) || 7,751 kgf<br />(1,200 km/h) |
| 1.12 || 1.00 || 0.91 || 0.87 || 0.32 | | 1.12 || 1.00 || 0.91 || 0.87 || 0.32 | ||
|- | |- | ||
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=== Survivability and armour === | === Survivability and armour === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Avia-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, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and 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.'' --> | ||
| − | |||
The F-104A is not equipped with any armour plating, and is therefore rather vulnerable to enemy fire, especially given the fact that most enemies at this rank sport high-calibre cannons. Since the plane's wings are so small, any damage to them at all drastically reduces stability and manoeuvrability, and may result in a crash. All of the vehicle's fuel tanks are centrally located, so fuel fires are unlikely to occur. However, the engine is very large, so it is very likely that it will sustain heavy damage if the vehicle is fired upon. | The F-104A is not equipped with any armour plating, and is therefore rather vulnerable to enemy fire, especially given the fact that most enemies at this rank sport high-calibre cannons. Since the plane's wings are so small, any damage to them at all drastically reduces stability and manoeuvrability, and may result in a crash. All of the vehicle's fuel tanks are centrally located, so fuel fires are unlikely to occur. However, the engine is very large, so it is very likely that it will sustain heavy damage if the vehicle is fired upon. | ||
| + | |||
| + | === Modifications and economy === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Economy}} | ||
| + | |||
| + | The pilot should focus first on researching the ''Fuselage'' ''repair'' and the ''AIM-9B'' modifications. After that, it is recommended to research the remaining ''Flight performance'' modules before moving on to the ''Survivability'' modules. | ||
== Armaments == | == Armaments == | ||
| + | {{Specs-Avia-Armaments}} | ||
=== Offensive armament === | === Offensive armament === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Avia-Offensive}} | ||
<!-- ''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.'' --> | <!-- ''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|M61 (20 mm)}} | {{main|M61 (20 mm)}} | ||
| Line 119: | Line 131: | ||
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with: | The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with: | ||
| − | * 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, -mounted (750 rpg) | + | * 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, fuselage-mounted (750 rpg) |
| + | |||
| + | The M61 Vulcan is a powerful gatling cannon. A quick and accurate burst can send targets into flames and the incredible rate of fire allows for some spray-and-pray, which is especially helpful considering how difficult it can be to get guns on target in this aircraft. But it has several drawbacks: first, the gun needs to spool up momentarily before it will fire, and second, the ammunition supply of 750 rounds will be depleted in no time if fired continuously. The former makes tap firing the gun to conserve ammunition a difficult affair but the latter means that holding down the trigger is not optimal either—certainly an awkward situation! New pilots can be afford to be somewhat more trigger-happy as they get used to the gun. | ||
=== Suspended armament === | === Suspended armament === | ||
| + | {{Specs-Avia-Suspended}} | ||
<!-- ''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.'' --> | <!-- ''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|AIM-9B Sidewinder}} | {{main|AIM-9B Sidewinder}} | ||
| Line 129: | Line 144: | ||
* Without load | * Without load | ||
* 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles | * 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles | ||
| + | |||
| + | The F-104A is an interceptor variant, unlike the later multirole models like the [[F-104C]] or [[F-104G]]. In light of this, its only loadout option is a pair of AIM-9B Sidewinders. The AIM-9Bs have worn out their welcome at the F-104A's battle rating and getting kills with them is challenging: they have a limited acquisition cone, cannot be launched under high G-loads, and are prone to losing their target due to evasive maneuvers, flares, or sometimes plain luck. Poor-quality missiles like these are situational: save them for use against enemies that are not paying attention or who have run out of airspeed and are unable to maneuver, but do not rely on them to score a kill and be ready to mop things up with the Vulcan at a moment's notice. | ||
== Usage in battles == | == 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).'' --> | <!-- ''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 F-104A does one thing extremely well: speed. This is the vehicle's greatest advantage | + | The F-104A does one thing extremely well: speed. This is the vehicle's greatest advantage and can be used to great effect if the pilot is careful about choosing which engagements to pursue. It is recommended to keep up a high air-speed at all times, which will allow the F-104A to swoop in and out of the combat zone while evading enemies. Sometimes, it is even possible to outrun enemy air-to-air missiles. At this battle rating, the F-104A is able to greatly outspeed the vast majority of its opponents. |
| − | However, the F-104 struggles with manoeuvrability. With such small wings, it simply can't produce the lift necessary to throw itself around the sky | + | However, the F-104 struggles with manoeuvrability. With such small wings, it simply can't produce the lift necessary to throw itself around the sky and therefore has a very poor turning circle. This means that any turning engagement is most likely futile, and also reemphasizes the utility of a boom and zoom playstyle. Note that getting guns on target, even in a high speed pass, is difficult and a pilot may find themselves fighting with the controls often. If the target dodges, extend away and gain a comfortable amount of separation before climbing and preparing for another pass. Working with teammates is very helpful to keep an enemy distracted and limit their opportunities to regain energy. |
| − | + | Keep the airspeed up at all costs. A slow F-104A is a sitting duck for guns and missiles due to its horrible turning. If an enemy is tailing the F-104A, the best option is to outrun them, but if they are closing in the only chance of pulling a reversal is to use the roll rate for rolling scissors. | |
| − | + | This vehicle also lacks in the weaponry department. Although it has a powerful [[M61 (20 mm)]] Vulcan cannon, the only air-to-air missiles to which the plane has access is the AIM-9B. At this high battle rating, these early missiles are simply not enough to reliably destroy enemy targets, and the best way to use them is to target only slow-moving or inattentive enemies, like those in stall climbs. What's more, this vehicle is only equipped with two of them; the previous F-100A at least had four AIM-9Bs to toss around. | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | The complete lack of ground attack ordnance makes the F-104A fairly useless for ground pounding. At most, the Vulcan can mop up lightly armored AI ground targets, but the handling characteristics of the aircraft make low-altitude gun runs risky. In combined battles, the Vulcan's AP rounds have decent penetration on paper, but attacking armored targets from the top-down angles required to attack roof armor is borderline suicidal in a Starfighter. Stick to other options for CAS. | |
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=== Pros and cons === | === 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".'' --> | <!-- ''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:''' | '''Pros:''' | ||
| − | * Much faster than most enemies | + | * Much faster than most enemies, supported by high acceleration |
* Great climb-rate | * Great climb-rate | ||
| − | * | + | * Decent high-speed manoeuvrability, in spite of its tiny wings |
| − | + | * Powerful 20 mm Vulcan gun which has absurdly high fire rate, can do some serious damage | |
| − | * | + | * Good roll rate |
| + | * Has airbrakes, allowing it to decelerate quicker when needed, eg when avoiding an overshoot | ||
| + | * Adequate all-round vision in simulator | ||
'''Cons:''' | '''Cons:''' | ||
| + | * Lousy low-speed manoeuvrability | ||
* Inadequate air-to-air missiles | * Inadequate air-to-air missiles | ||
| − | * | + | * No flares to counter AAMs |
| − | * Unable to equip bombs or rockets | + | * Unable to equip bombs or rockets, limited to air-to-air role only |
| − | + | * As with most jets, it tends to bleed off speed quickly in sustained turns | |
| − | * | + | * Relatively low ammo count for the Vulcan; trigger discipline is necessary |
| + | * M61 Vulcan doesn't shoot instantly, takes less than a second to rotate | ||
== 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 long, 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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> | <!-- ''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: <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></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --> | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a supersonic jet fighter known for its distinctive appearance, described as a "missile with a man in it". At the time of its introduction in 1958 with the US Air Force as an interceptor, the F-104 set multiple performance records and was the first production fighter capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. Flaws of the design included engine troubles, limited range, and poor handling characteristics that led to a poor safety record, earning it several morbid nicknames like "Widowmaker". | ||
| + | |||
| + | The F-104's involvement with the Republic of China/Taiwan began soon after it entered service with the US Air Force in 1958. The Second Taiwan Straits Crisis in the August of that year was sparked by the People's Liberation Army shelling new ROC military installations on the islands of Kinmen and the Matsu Archipelago. The USAF deployed F-104s to Taiwan and used them to perform supersonic passes into the airspace of the Straits and mainland China in order to show off the capabilities of the Mach-2 capable Starfighter and intimidate the PLAAF, which at that time was equipped with [[J-2|MiG-15]]s and [[J-4|MiG-17]]s. No actual shooting engagements occurred and the F-104s were withdrawn after a cease fire in October. | ||
| + | |||
| + | The Republic of China Air Force received its first Starfighters starting in 1960, the first batch of F-104A/Bs being from ex-USAF stock. A number of them were sent to Pakistan in 1965, who received at least two F-104As from Taiwan to replace combat losses in the war with India. The F-104As were retired in the 1980s, with only the later variants like the [[F-104G (China)|F-104G]] remaining in service until the late 1990s with upgrades. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A large number of Starfighters are preserved and on display in Taiwan today. At least four F-104As can be found at Kanshan Air Force Base, Hsinchu Air Force Base, and other locations. A full list can be found [https://www.i-f-s.nl/preserved-f-104s/preserved-in-taiwan/ here]. | ||
== Media == | == Media == | ||
Revision as of 12:28, 17 February 2021
| This page is about the jet fighter F-104A (China). For other versions, see F-104 (Family). |
.jpg)
Contents
Description
The ␗F-104A Starfighter is a rank VI Chinese jet fighter with a battle rating of 9.7 (AB/SB) and 9.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update "Starfighters".
This early interceptor model of the F-104 Starfighter, identical to the US F-104A is a very different aircraft from the ROCAF F-100A that precedes it. The thin and pencil-shaped F-104 has excellent speed, acceleration, and climb for its battle rating but horrid turning capabilities at low speeds. The missile armament of two AIM-9B Sidewinders is disappointing, but it at least has a nifty M61 Vulcan rotary cannon that can dispatch enemies in a quick burst. Pilots who adhere to strict boom-and-zoom tactics can take advantage of the F-104's high performance compared to its contemporaries. Succeeding this aircraft is the improved ROCAF F-104G, which boasts further improved performance and vastly superior payload options.
General info
Flight performance
The F-104A has a lower top speed than the later Starfighter models but is still capable of reaching about twice the speed of sound. The acceleration and climb are very good and the F-104A should be able to achieve an altitude and speed advantage over its close competitors. Horizontal energy retention and vertical energy retention are both good, allowing the F-104A to escape easily after making a pass. The elephant in the room is the substandard turning ability due to the tiny wings shared by all Starfighters. At low speeds, the turn rate is agonizing and flaps are not of much help. At high speeds, the turn rate becomes more bearable, but still not good. Maneuvering energy retention is also unimpressive, though the effects may not be immediately obvious due to the low turn rate. The roll rate is very good and is important to utilize when making defensive manoeuvers.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 10,668 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 2,104 | 2,089 | 18900 | 32.4 | 33.0 | 190.9 | 182.7 | 1,180 |
| Upgraded | 2,161 | 2,142 | 31.2 | 31.9 | 248.6 | 219.0 | ||
Details
| Features | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combat flaps | Take-off flaps | Landing flaps | Air brakes | Arrestor gear | Drogue chute |
| X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Limits | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wings (km/h) | Gear (km/h) | Flaps (km/h) | Max Static G | |||
| Combat | Take-off | Landing | + | - | ||
| 0 | 546 | N/A | 827 | 444 | ~13 | ~5 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 720 | < 950 | < 800 | N/A |
Engine performance
| Engine | Aircraft mass | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine name | Number | Basic Mass | Wing loading (full fuel) | ||||
| General Electric J79-GE-3 | 1 | 6,182 kg | 513 kg/m2 | ||||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) | Max Takeoff Weight | |||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 10m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 35m fuel | ||
| 1,750 kg | Afterburning axial-flow turbojet | 6,947 kg | 7,712 kg | 8,477 kg | 8,859 kg | 24,000 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | ||||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 10m fuel | 20m fuel | 30m fuel | 35m fuel | MTOW |
| Stationary | 3,936 kgf | 6,061 kgf | 0.87 | 0.79 | 0.71 | 0.68 | 0.25 |
| Optimal | 3,936 kgf (0 km/h) |
7,751 kgf (1,200 km/h) |
1.12 | 1.00 | 0.91 | 0.87 | 0.32 |
Survivability and armour
The F-104A is not equipped with any armour plating, and is therefore rather vulnerable to enemy fire, especially given the fact that most enemies at this rank sport high-calibre cannons. Since the plane's wings are so small, any damage to them at all drastically reduces stability and manoeuvrability, and may result in a crash. All of the vehicle's fuel tanks are centrally located, so fuel fires are unlikely to occur. However, the engine is very large, so it is very likely that it will sustain heavy damage if the vehicle is fired upon.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
The pilot should focus first on researching the Fuselage repair and the AIM-9B modifications. After that, it is recommended to research the remaining Flight performance modules before moving on to the Survivability modules.
Armaments
Offensive armament
The F-104A (China) is armed with:
- 1 x 20 mm M61 cannon, fuselage-mounted (750 rpg)
The M61 Vulcan is a powerful gatling cannon. A quick and accurate burst can send targets into flames and the incredible rate of fire allows for some spray-and-pray, which is especially helpful considering how difficult it can be to get guns on target in this aircraft. But it has several drawbacks: first, the gun needs to spool up momentarily before it will fire, and second, the ammunition supply of 750 rounds will be depleted in no time if fired continuously. The former makes tap firing the gun to conserve ammunition a difficult affair but the latter means that holding down the trigger is not optimal either—certainly an awkward situation! New pilots can be afford to be somewhat more trigger-happy as they get used to the gun.
Suspended armament
The F-104A (China) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- Without load
- 2 x AIM-9B Sidewinder missiles
The F-104A is an interceptor variant, unlike the later multirole models like the F-104C or F-104G. In light of this, its only loadout option is a pair of AIM-9B Sidewinders. The AIM-9Bs have worn out their welcome at the F-104A's battle rating and getting kills with them is challenging: they have a limited acquisition cone, cannot be launched under high G-loads, and are prone to losing their target due to evasive maneuvers, flares, or sometimes plain luck. Poor-quality missiles like these are situational: save them for use against enemies that are not paying attention or who have run out of airspeed and are unable to maneuver, but do not rely on them to score a kill and be ready to mop things up with the Vulcan at a moment's notice.
Usage in battles
The F-104A does one thing extremely well: speed. This is the vehicle's greatest advantage and can be used to great effect if the pilot is careful about choosing which engagements to pursue. It is recommended to keep up a high air-speed at all times, which will allow the F-104A to swoop in and out of the combat zone while evading enemies. Sometimes, it is even possible to outrun enemy air-to-air missiles. At this battle rating, the F-104A is able to greatly outspeed the vast majority of its opponents.
However, the F-104 struggles with manoeuvrability. With such small wings, it simply can't produce the lift necessary to throw itself around the sky and therefore has a very poor turning circle. This means that any turning engagement is most likely futile, and also reemphasizes the utility of a boom and zoom playstyle. Note that getting guns on target, even in a high speed pass, is difficult and a pilot may find themselves fighting with the controls often. If the target dodges, extend away and gain a comfortable amount of separation before climbing and preparing for another pass. Working with teammates is very helpful to keep an enemy distracted and limit their opportunities to regain energy.
Keep the airspeed up at all costs. A slow F-104A is a sitting duck for guns and missiles due to its horrible turning. If an enemy is tailing the F-104A, the best option is to outrun them, but if they are closing in the only chance of pulling a reversal is to use the roll rate for rolling scissors.
This vehicle also lacks in the weaponry department. Although it has a powerful M61 (20 mm) Vulcan cannon, the only air-to-air missiles to which the plane has access is the AIM-9B. At this high battle rating, these early missiles are simply not enough to reliably destroy enemy targets, and the best way to use them is to target only slow-moving or inattentive enemies, like those in stall climbs. What's more, this vehicle is only equipped with two of them; the previous F-100A at least had four AIM-9Bs to toss around.
The complete lack of ground attack ordnance makes the F-104A fairly useless for ground pounding. At most, the Vulcan can mop up lightly armored AI ground targets, but the handling characteristics of the aircraft make low-altitude gun runs risky. In combined battles, the Vulcan's AP rounds have decent penetration on paper, but attacking armored targets from the top-down angles required to attack roof armor is borderline suicidal in a Starfighter. Stick to other options for CAS.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Much faster than most enemies, supported by high acceleration
- Great climb-rate
- Decent high-speed manoeuvrability, in spite of its tiny wings
- Powerful 20 mm Vulcan gun which has absurdly high fire rate, can do some serious damage
- Good roll rate
- Has airbrakes, allowing it to decelerate quicker when needed, eg when avoiding an overshoot
- Adequate all-round vision in simulator
Cons:
- Lousy low-speed manoeuvrability
- Inadequate air-to-air missiles
- No flares to counter AAMs
- Unable to equip bombs or rockets, limited to air-to-air role only
- As with most jets, it tends to bleed off speed quickly in sustained turns
- Relatively low ammo count for the Vulcan; trigger discipline is necessary
- M61 Vulcan doesn't shoot instantly, takes less than a second to rotate
History
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter was a supersonic jet fighter known for its distinctive appearance, described as a "missile with a man in it". At the time of its introduction in 1958 with the US Air Force as an interceptor, the F-104 set multiple performance records and was the first production fighter capable of flying at twice the speed of sound. Flaws of the design included engine troubles, limited range, and poor handling characteristics that led to a poor safety record, earning it several morbid nicknames like "Widowmaker".
The F-104's involvement with the Republic of China/Taiwan began soon after it entered service with the US Air Force in 1958. The Second Taiwan Straits Crisis in the August of that year was sparked by the People's Liberation Army shelling new ROC military installations on the islands of Kinmen and the Matsu Archipelago. The USAF deployed F-104s to Taiwan and used them to perform supersonic passes into the airspace of the Straits and mainland China in order to show off the capabilities of the Mach-2 capable Starfighter and intimidate the PLAAF, which at that time was equipped with MiG-15s and MiG-17s. No actual shooting engagements occurred and the F-104s were withdrawn after a cease fire in October.
The Republic of China Air Force received its first Starfighters starting in 1960, the first batch of F-104A/Bs being from ex-USAF stock. A number of them were sent to Pakistan in 1965, who received at least two F-104As from Taiwan to replace combat losses in the war with India. The F-104As were retired in the 1980s, with only the later variants like the F-104G remaining in service until the late 1990s with upgrades.
A large number of Starfighters are preserved and on display in Taiwan today. At least four F-104As can be found at Kanshan Air Force Base, Hsinchu Air Force Base, and other locations. A full list can be found here.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See 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;
- links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.
External links
Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:
- topic on the official game forum;
- encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
- other literature.
| Lockheed Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | XP-38G · P-38E · P-38G-1 · P-38J-15 · Bong's P-38J-15 · P-38K · P-38L-5-LO · YP-38 |
| Bombers | B-34 · PV-2D |
| Jet Fighters | F-80A-5 · F-80C-10 |
| F-104A · F-104C | |
| Export / License | A-29 · ▄Hudson Mk V |
| ␗P-38L-1 | |
| ␗F-104A · ▀F-104G · ␗F-104G · ▅F-104J · ▄F-104S | |
| See Also | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries · Fiat Aviation |
| China jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Fighters | J-2 · J-4 · Shenyang F-5 · J-6A · J-7II · J-7D · J-7E · J-8B · J-8F · J-11 |
| Strike aircraft | Q-5 early · Q-5A · Q-5L · A-5C · JH-7A |
| Bombers | H-5 |
| American | ␗F-84G-21-RE · ␗F-84G-31-RE · ␗F-86F-30 · ␗F-86F-40 · ␗F-100A · ␗F-100F · ␗F-104A · ␗F-104G · ␗F-5A · ␗F-5E · ␗F-16A MLU |
| Soviet | ␗MiG-9 · ␗MiG-9 (l) |
