IL-4

From War Thunder Wiki
Revision as of 18:18, 11 December 2020 by DnaGonite (talk | contribs) (Edits)

Jump to: navigation, search
Rank VI | Premium | Golden Eagles
Chinese A-5C Pack
il-4.png
IL-4
Research:4 600 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:16 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage IL-4.jpg


The IL-4 is a rank II Soviet bomber with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/SB) and 2.7 (RB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight performance

The IL-4, being a development of the previous DB-3B, has similar flight characteristics as its predecessor. The aircraft has decidedly mediocre manoeuvrability and overall flight performance, which is to be expected considering its bomber role. The aircraft has a low top speed of ~400 km/h at higher altitudes, and absolutely horrible acceleration to go with it. The aircraft's climb rate is also mediocre, and will suffer greatly when carrying larger loads. On the plus side, the aircraft's engines don't have major overheating issues, and can use WEP power continuously for long periods of time.

The aircraft's manoeuvrability on a whole is rather undesirable. The control surfaces are sluggish, which is to be expected due to the aircraft's role. As well, note that the aircraft's control surfaces experience severe lock-up at high speeds - above ~500 km/h (a speed you will only ever obtain in dives), the elevator loses most of its deflection ability which could prevent you from pulling out of a dive. One plus is that the aircraft's wings break at a relatively high speed of 600 km/h IAS - this is a speed you'll never obtain unless you're in a steep dive, and in that case your elevator lock-up will prevent you from getting out of it anyways.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 6,250 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 389 375 9400 35.0 35.9 7.0 7.0 326
Upgraded 428 409 33.0 33.8 12.7 9.7

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
600 320 N/A N/A 280 ~5 ~2
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 280 < 240 < 300 > 270
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
4,000 m 1,100 hp 1,274 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
6,000 m 1,000 hp 1,158 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 6mm steel behind pilot
  • 6mm Steel plate in the tail
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks, with neutral gas pressurization system (3 in each wing)

Armaments

Suspended armament

Main article: 45-36AN (450 mm)

The IL-4 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • 10 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (500 kg total)
  • 10 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
  • 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
  • 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs + 10 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (1,500 kg total)
  • 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
  • 1 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bomb (1,000 kg total)
  • 1 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bomb + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv bombs (2,000 kg total)
  • 1 x 450 mm 45-36AN torpedo

Defensive armament

The IL-4 is defended by:

  • 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (230 rpg)
  • 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
  • 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

The IL-4 should be played similarly to its predecessor, the DB-3B. The aircraft's main advantage is its large collection of suspended armaments, meaning that it can be used quite effectively in multiple roles. In Air Battles, the IL-4 should be used as a fast bomber, delivering its payload to bases then retreating to avoid interception. The aircraft could also be used, in a niche role, as a torpedo bomber - as one of the few Soviet aircraft capable of carrying torpedoes, the IL-4 can easily destroy naval vessels in both Air and Naval battles.

The IL-4 can be used as an effective bomber in Air battles. In this role, the most effective load is the 1000kg + 2 x 500kg bomb load. This load will allow you to take out at least one base, and potentially damage another. At the start of each battle, simply fly straight towards the enemy bases - you could side climb too, but it isn't advised as the bomb load will make the IL-4's climb rate almost completely nonexistent. After dropping bombs, immediately fly back towards friendly airspace, potentially in a slight dive. This ensures that the IL-4 won't be intercepted by pursuing fighters, most of which can tear its airframe to bits.

The IL-4 is unique in that it is the only USSR tech-tree aircraft that is capable of carrying a torpedo - that is, the Soviet 450 mm 45-36AN torpedo. However useful the load may be, the Torpedo's effectiveness is severely limited by its slow drop speed. In naval battles, this torpedo is best used against early destroyers, which are large, bulky and (for the most part) lack effective anti-aircraft armament. Make sure to slow to the torpedo drop speed of 248 km/h, lead the target and drop the torpedo. Keep in mind that the IL-4 is a large bulky target; it may be wise to drop the torpedo early, to ensure survival.

If being pursued by enemy fighters, the best strategy is to simply run towards friendly airspace. The IL-4 lacks an effective defensive armament suite, and also cannot outspeed most fighters at its BR. If an engagement cannot be avoided, bait the fighters to your tail, and slightly above; this is where the aircraft's only 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun is located. Despite being of a lower calibre, the machine gun is accurate and highly effective, capable of setting enemy aircraft's engines on fire. You may even get some pilot-snipes, with enough accuracy.

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 Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Turret 7 mm
II Compressor Airframe New 7 mm MGs (turret) Der-19
III Wings repair Engine Turret 12 mm Der-20
IV 95 octane fuel usage Engine injection Cover New 12 mm MGs (turret) T-18

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • The only researchable propeller torpedo bomber in the USSR tech tree
  • Decent payload options, including bombs of up to 1000 kilograms
  • Gets a bomber airspawn allowing it to reach the battlefield faster
  • Engines are reliable and don't overheat much in RB

Cons:

  • The torpedo's drop requirements and performance is poor compared to other nations' torpedoes
  • Defensive armament is lacklustre when compared to contemporaries such as the B-34 (which actually gets twice as many guns!)
  • Lacklustre top speed and acceleration, will be outsped and outmanoeuvred by most fighter at its BR

History

In-game description

The IL-4 long-range bomber was one of the most famous Soviet bombers of WWII. With thousands of IL-4s built, the aircraft took part in all the important battles of the Eastern Front, including long-range bombing raids of Axis industrial targets. A large number of books, including both memoirs and technical publications, focus on the IL-4.

It was a twin-engine long-range bomber, a further development of the Ilyushin DB-3 bomber, with a redesigned cockpit, redesigned wings, pneumatic landing gear and a new fuselage designed for faster mass production, based on DC-3 / Li-2 production methods. The aircraft was designated IL-4 in March 1942. Combined with the DB-3, over 6,800 bombers of the DB-3/IL-4 family were built, 5,256 of them the IL-4. One of the most celebrated accomplishments for the type was a long-range bombing raid on Berlin in 1941.

Media

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

See also

Related Development
Aircraft of a similar role, configuration or era

External links


Ilyushin Design Bureau (Илью́шинa Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Bombers  DB-3B · IL-4
Jet Bombers  IL-28* · IL-28Sh
Strike Aircraft  IL-8 (1944)
Il-2  IL-2 (1941) · IL-2 (1942) · IL-2M type 3 · IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2M (1943) · IL-2-37 · IL-2 M-82
Il-10  IL-10 · IL-10 (1946)
Export/Captured 
Bombers  ␗DB-3A · ◊IL-28 · ◔IL-28
Strike Aircraft  ▀IL-2 (1942) · ␗IL-10 (1946) · ◔IL-10
  * The Chinese Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation built unlicensed copies of the Il-28 known as the H-5.

USSR bombers
SB and Ar  SB 2M-100 · SB 2M-103 · SB 2M-103 MV-3 · SB 2M-103U · SB 2M-103U MV-3 · SB 2M-105 · Ar-2
Yer-2 (petrol)  Yer-2 (M-105) · Yer-2 (M-105) TAT · Yer-2 (M-105R) TAT · Yer-2 (M-105R) LU
Yer-2 (diesel)  Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e) · Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (l)
Tu  Tu-2 · Tu-2S · Tu-2S-44 · Tu-2S-59 · Tu-4
Pe  Pe-2-1 · Pe-2-31 · Pe-2-83 · Pe-2-110 · Pe-2-205 · Pe-2-359 · Pe-8
IL  DB-3B · IL-4
Po  Po-2 · Po-2M
Other  MBR-2-M-34 · TB-3M-17-32 · Yak-4 · Be-6
Lend-Lease  ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · ▂A-20G-30 · ▂B-25J-30