Difference between revisions of "Wellington Mk Ic"

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(Updated)
(Added In-game description.)
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In AB the winning tactic is to climb high and do base bombing with 500’s ''from orbit''; it helps to have escorts.
 
In AB the winning tactic is to climb high and do base bombing with 500’s ''from orbit''; it helps to have escorts.
  
In RB you start in the air so you have the advantage to trade altitude for airspeed, bomb ground targets and retreat before enemy fighters arrive, however be close to friendlies so they can intercept chasers.
+
In RB you start in the air so you have the advantage to trade altitude for airspeed, bomb ground targets and retreat before enemy fighters arrive, however, be close to friendlies so they can intercept chasers.
  
 
==== Counter-tactics ====
 
==== Counter-tactics ====
Line 222: Line 222:
 
|}
 
|}
  
The default bomb load is a meagre 10 x 250 lb (117 kg) so upgrading to 18 x 250 or 9 x 500 ''pounders'' (500 lb (226 kg)) should be task number one. In order: unlock the Turret 7 mm ammo first, then the TC mk.I (torpedo) rack, and then the LBC mk.I. Unlocking the 7 mm ammo gives access to the ''Universal'' AP-I belt as one works up to the bomb racks for 18 x 250 or 9 x 500. After that you can pursue your choice of upgrades.
+
The default bomb load is a meagre 10 x 250 lb (117 kg) so upgrading to 18 x 250 or 9 x 500 ''pounders'' (500 lb (226 kg)) should be task number one. In order: unlock the Turret 7 mm ammo first, then the TC mk.I (torpedo) rack, and then the LBC mk.I. Unlocking the 7 mm ammo gives access to the ''Universal'' AP-I belt as one works up to the bomb racks for 18 x 250 or 9 x 500. After that, you can pursue your choice of upgrades.
  
 
Upgrades to the turret should also be considered. The different belts do not have a considerable effect, but the upgraded turrets allow for a longer rate of fire. Very important for the small rifle calibre machine guns.
 
Upgrades to the turret should also be considered. The different belts do not have a considerable effect, but the upgraded turrets allow for a longer rate of fire. Very important for the small rifle calibre machine guns.
Line 228: Line 228:
 
However, speed and climb rate is also a necessity and the unlocks help the sluggish Wellington a lot. The decision should depend on the pilots flying style. When rushing in better armament will help in the retreat, but the better performance will aid even more to get to friendly zones.
 
However, speed and climb rate is also a necessity and the unlocks help the sluggish Wellington a lot. The decision should depend on the pilots flying style. When rushing in better armament will help in the retreat, but the better performance will aid even more to get to friendly zones.
  
The sneaky approach on the other hand relies less on speed, but on surviving the random combat encounters. Turret upgrades are the way to go for this playstyle.
+
The sneaky approach, on the other hand, relies less on speed, but on surviving the random combat encounters. Turret upgrades are the way to go for this playstyle.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
Line 234: Line 234:
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
* Excellent payload - 4,500lbs at max.
+
* Excellent payload - 4,500lbs at max payload weight
* Versatile payload options.
+
* Versatile payload options
* Devastating to enemy bases/airfields when unopposed.
+
* Devastating to enemy bases/airfields when unopposed
* Excellent turret coverage.
+
* Excellent turret coverage
* Very powerful torpedoes, two are enough to sink an aircraft carrier.
+
* Very powerful torpedoes, two are enough to sink an aircraft carrier
* Access to the devastating 4000 lb bomb.
+
* Access to the devastating 4,000 lb bomb
* The aircraft can take a beating thanks to the cross hatched air frame.
+
* The aircraft can take a beating thanks to the cross-hatched airframe
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
* Defensive turrets are easy to take out.
+
* Defensive turrets are easy to take out
* Defensive armament is poor.
+
* Defensive armament is poor
* Extremely slow all-around mobility.
+
* Extremely slow all-around mobility
* Easy prey for high altitude fighters/try to get near 6000m where very little opposition is found.
+
* Easy prey for high altitude fighters/try to get near 6, 000 m where very little opposition is found
* Having a fighter with good weaponry on your six usually means death.
+
* Having a fighter with good weaponry on your six usually means death
* The crew cannot take a beating thanks to there being no armour. The cockpit is particularly vulnerable.
+
* The crew cannot take a beating thanks to there being no armour. The cockpit is particularly vulnerable
  
 
== 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 big, 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</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 big, 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></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== Encyclopedia Info ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
Performance wise the Willington was not notably remarkable, its strength lay on the inside. Devised by one of the greatest innovative thinkers in history, Sir Barnes Neville Wallis devised a geodesic structure resulting in an exceptionally strong airframe. Together with Reginald Kirshaw "Rex" Pierson they designed their record making ''Vickers Wellesley'', opening the way for the ''Wellington'' and larger ''Warwick''. With high aspect ratio wing and spacious fuselage it proved capable of handling a myriad of missions including early airborne radar and robust enough enough to absorb severe damage and fly home. Although the bomb bay configuration limited bomb size its payload was slightly more than the Heinkel He-111H-3 and with greater range. It is also one of the first aircraft to have a powered turret in the extreme tail with a very wide arc; however it still was inadequate to defend itself against attacking fighters and early models lacked self sealing fuel tanks. Still, this aircraft was admired by crews and affectionately called ''Wimpy'' after Popeye’s hamburger loving friend and sidekick who's full name is J. Wellington Wimpy. Over 11,000 made, it equipped many RAF squadrons including those comprised of foreign crews like the Polish (4 squadrons), New Zealand (No. 75), and Czech (No, 311) one of which was captured by Germans who used it for intelligence and training. ''Viking'', a passenger transport variant, became the world's first pure jet transport prototype aircraft in 1948.
+
 
 +
Performance wise the Willington was not notably remarkable, its strength lay on the inside. Devised by one of the greatest innovative thinkers in history, Sir Barnes Neville Wallis devised a geodesic structure resulting in an exceptionally strong airframe. Together with Reginald Kirshaw "Rex" Pierson, they designed their record making ''Vickers Wellesley'', opening the way for the ''Wellington'' and larger ''Warwick''. With high aspect ratio wing and spacious fuselage, it proved capable of handling a myriad of missions including early airborne radar and robust enough to absorb severe damage and fly home. Although the bomb bay configuration limited bomb size its payload was slightly more than the Heinkel He-111H-3 and with greater range. It is also one of the first aircraft to have a powered turret in the extreme tail with a very wide arc; however, it still was inadequate to defend itself against attacking fighters and early models lacked self-sealing fuel tanks. Still, this aircraft was admired by crews and affectionately called ''Wimpy'' after Popeye’s hamburger loving friend and sidekick who's full name is J. Wellington Wimpy. Over 11,000 made, it equipped many RAF squadrons including those comprised of foreign crews like the Polish (4 squadrons), New Zealand (No. 75), and Czech (No, 311) one of which was captured by Germans who used it for intelligence and training. ''Viking'', a passenger transport variant, became the world's first pure jet transport prototype aircraft in 1948.
 +
 
 +
=== In-game description ===
 +
 
 +
In May 1940, the Vickers Wellington bomber was included in the list of aircraft declared a high priority by Great Britain's Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Wellington was built around Barnes Wallis’ geodetic structure concept, maximising airframe strength for minimum weight. Powered by two Bristol Pegasus engines, the Wellington was first test flown in May 1936 and entered service with RAF Bomber Command in 1938. Full-scale production of the Mk.IC (Type 415) model started in April 1940; the most numerous of the Mk.Is, the Mk.IC differed from previous variants by replacing the ventral turret with guns fitted to the aircraft’s beams. In place of the Frazer-Nash FN-25 turret, the Mk.IC featured two side blisters consisting of 0.303 inch Vickers Class K machine guns with 483 rounds each (7 flat pan magazines, standard capacity). The Mk.IC bombers of later series were fitted with Colt-Browning Mk.II .303 inch belt-fed machine guns with 600 rounds each. The standard bomb capacity was 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg); this was normally made up of nine 500-lb (227-kg) bombs or two 2,000-lb (907-kg) bombs. A special model, the Type 423, was based on the Wellington Mk.IC; it was able to deliver one 4,000-lb (1,816-kg) extra-heavy Cookie Mk.I or Mk.II bomb to the target. To accomplish this, the central bomb bay doors were removed and the bomb bay itself was modified. The defensive armament remained the same.
 +
 
 +
On the night of July 7th 1941, Sgt James Ward became the only Wellington crewman to win a Victoria Cross when his Mk.IC was hit by a German night fighter and its starboard engine set on fire. With a rope attached to him, Ward crawled out onto the wing and tearing holes in the aircraft’s fabric for hand holds, reached the fire to extinguish it.
 +
 
 +
The Wellington served not only as a bomber, it was also modified for use in the maritime role for RAF Coastal Command. In January 1941, the Mk.IC began to be used as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft, although no design changes were made. In December 1941, the first torpedo bomber conversions were made.
 +
 
 +
The Wellington Mk.IC (TB) torpedo bomber was identical to the Mk.IC in terms of its engines and defensive armament but could carry up to two Mk.XII torpedoes.
 +
 
 +
The first special anti-submarine model designed for the RAF Coastal Command was the Type 428 Wellington GR Mk.VIII (TB). Its structure had the airframe of the later Mk.IC series. The GR Mk.VIII (TB) reconnaissance/torpedo bomber began production in the spring of 1942 in three versions: one version with radar, one version with a retractable searchlight (in place of a nose turret), and the last variant developed as a long range reconnaissance aircraft with extra fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay. All three, starting with the 66th production aircraft, were equipped with the same torpedo mount as the Mk.IC (TB) model.
 +
 
 +
The Wellington torpedo bombers were used for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of December 1941; anti-submarine models began to patrol the North Sea in May 1942. The first German submarine destroyed by these aircraft was sunk on July 6, 1942.
 +
 
 +
2,547 Mk.IC aircraft were produced, including 138 Mk.IC (TB) torpedo bombers and 271 GR Mk.VIII (TB) torpedo bombers.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==

Revision as of 13:50, 21 May 2019

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Wellington Mk Ic
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This page is about the British bomber Wellington Mk Ic. For the German version, see Wellington Mk Ic (Germany). For other uses, see Wellington (Family).

Description

GarageImage Wellington Mk Ic.jpg


The Wellington Mk Ic is a rank II British bomber with a battle rating of 2.0 (AB), 2.3 (RB), and 2.7 (SB). This aircraft has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed
(km/h at 4,572 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
366 352 6500 36.0 37.2 4.2 4.1 877
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 4,572 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
391 378 6500 34.1 35.0 6.5 5.3 877

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X
Limits
Wing-break speed
(km/h)
Gear limit
(km/h)
Combat flaps
(km/h)
Max Static G
+ -
355 ~5 ~3
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 275 < 275 < 310 > 320
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
900 m 1,005 hp 1,005 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
3,920 m 890 hp 890 hp

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, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

Armaments

Suspended armament

The Wellington Mk Ic can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • 10 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (2,500 lb total)
  • 18 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
  • 9 x 500 lb G.P. 500 lb Mk.IV bombs (4,500 lb total)
  • 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs + 6 x 250 lb G.P. 250 lb Mk.IV bombs (3,500 lb total)
  • 2 x 18 inch Mark XII torpedoes
  • 1 x 4,000 lb H.C. 4,000 lb Mk.II bomb (4,000 lb total)

Defensive armament

The Wellington Mk Ic is defended by:

  • 2 x 7.7 mm Browning .303 machine guns, nose turret (1,200 rpg = 2,400 total)
  • 2 x 7.7 mm Browning .303 machine guns, rear turret (2,000 rpg = 4,000 total)
  • 1 x 7.7 mm Vickers K machine gun, 2 x side turrets (483 rpg)

Usage in battles

Wellingtons are great Rank 2 turret platforms, with wide arcs and stable flight. If your flight controls are shot out, adjustment of engine power will allow stable flight and more opportunities to fight back. Just remember it only has 7.7 mm (.303 in) MGs so it is more luck to earn kills with them.

As with all bombers, crew training with at least Expert Qualification is important for profitable missions.

Both the UK Wellington and German Mk I’s (Jelly Welly) are identical.

Tactics

In AB the winning tactic is to climb high and do base bombing with 500’s from orbit; it helps to have escorts.

In RB you start in the air so you have the advantage to trade altitude for airspeed, bomb ground targets and retreat before enemy fighters arrive, however, be close to friendlies so they can intercept chasers.

Counter-tactics

If you are attacking a Wellington, focus on its engines, they are relatively easy to set on fire. While you should not worry too much about its turrets, do not hang around either, as an attack could still be dangerous.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Not controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Controllable
Not auto controlled
Combined Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Turret 7 mm TC mk.I
II Compressor Airframe New 7 mm MGs (turret) LBC mk.I
III Wings repair Engine New 7 mm MGs (turret) SBC mk.I
IV Engine injection Cover MBC mk.I

The default bomb load is a meagre 10 x 250 lb (117 kg) so upgrading to 18 x 250 or 9 x 500 pounders (500 lb (226 kg)) should be task number one. In order: unlock the Turret 7 mm ammo first, then the TC mk.I (torpedo) rack, and then the LBC mk.I. Unlocking the 7 mm ammo gives access to the Universal AP-I belt as one works up to the bomb racks for 18 x 250 or 9 x 500. After that, you can pursue your choice of upgrades.

Upgrades to the turret should also be considered. The different belts do not have a considerable effect, but the upgraded turrets allow for a longer rate of fire. Very important for the small rifle calibre machine guns.

However, speed and climb rate is also a necessity and the unlocks help the sluggish Wellington a lot. The decision should depend on the pilots flying style. When rushing in better armament will help in the retreat, but the better performance will aid even more to get to friendly zones.

The sneaky approach, on the other hand, relies less on speed, but on surviving the random combat encounters. Turret upgrades are the way to go for this playstyle.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Excellent payload - 4,500lbs at max payload weight
  • Versatile payload options
  • Devastating to enemy bases/airfields when unopposed
  • Excellent turret coverage
  • Very powerful torpedoes, two are enough to sink an aircraft carrier
  • Access to the devastating 4,000 lb bomb
  • The aircraft can take a beating thanks to the cross-hatched airframe

Cons:

  • Defensive turrets are easy to take out
  • Defensive armament is poor
  • Extremely slow all-around mobility
  • Easy prey for high altitude fighters/try to get near 6, 000 m where very little opposition is found
  • Having a fighter with good weaponry on your six usually means death
  • The crew cannot take a beating thanks to there being no armour. The cockpit is particularly vulnerable

History

Performance wise the Willington was not notably remarkable, its strength lay on the inside. Devised by one of the greatest innovative thinkers in history, Sir Barnes Neville Wallis devised a geodesic structure resulting in an exceptionally strong airframe. Together with Reginald Kirshaw "Rex" Pierson, they designed their record making Vickers Wellesley, opening the way for the Wellington and larger Warwick. With high aspect ratio wing and spacious fuselage, it proved capable of handling a myriad of missions including early airborne radar and robust enough to absorb severe damage and fly home. Although the bomb bay configuration limited bomb size its payload was slightly more than the Heinkel He-111H-3 and with greater range. It is also one of the first aircraft to have a powered turret in the extreme tail with a very wide arc; however, it still was inadequate to defend itself against attacking fighters and early models lacked self-sealing fuel tanks. Still, this aircraft was admired by crews and affectionately called Wimpy after Popeye’s hamburger loving friend and sidekick who's full name is J. Wellington Wimpy. Over 11,000 made, it equipped many RAF squadrons including those comprised of foreign crews like the Polish (4 squadrons), New Zealand (No. 75), and Czech (No, 311) one of which was captured by Germans who used it for intelligence and training. Viking, a passenger transport variant, became the world's first pure jet transport prototype aircraft in 1948.

In-game description

In May 1940, the Vickers Wellington bomber was included in the list of aircraft declared a high priority by Great Britain's Ministry of Aircraft Production. The Wellington was built around Barnes Wallis’ geodetic structure concept, maximising airframe strength for minimum weight. Powered by two Bristol Pegasus engines, the Wellington was first test flown in May 1936 and entered service with RAF Bomber Command in 1938. Full-scale production of the Mk.IC (Type 415) model started in April 1940; the most numerous of the Mk.Is, the Mk.IC differed from previous variants by replacing the ventral turret with guns fitted to the aircraft’s beams. In place of the Frazer-Nash FN-25 turret, the Mk.IC featured two side blisters consisting of 0.303 inch Vickers Class K machine guns with 483 rounds each (7 flat pan magazines, standard capacity). The Mk.IC bombers of later series were fitted with Colt-Browning Mk.II .303 inch belt-fed machine guns with 600 rounds each. The standard bomb capacity was 4,500 lbs (2,041 kg); this was normally made up of nine 500-lb (227-kg) bombs or two 2,000-lb (907-kg) bombs. A special model, the Type 423, was based on the Wellington Mk.IC; it was able to deliver one 4,000-lb (1,816-kg) extra-heavy Cookie Mk.I or Mk.II bomb to the target. To accomplish this, the central bomb bay doors were removed and the bomb bay itself was modified. The defensive armament remained the same.

On the night of July 7th 1941, Sgt James Ward became the only Wellington crewman to win a Victoria Cross when his Mk.IC was hit by a German night fighter and its starboard engine set on fire. With a rope attached to him, Ward crawled out onto the wing and tearing holes in the aircraft’s fabric for hand holds, reached the fire to extinguish it.

The Wellington served not only as a bomber, it was also modified for use in the maritime role for RAF Coastal Command. In January 1941, the Mk.IC began to be used as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft, although no design changes were made. In December 1941, the first torpedo bomber conversions were made.

The Wellington Mk.IC (TB) torpedo bomber was identical to the Mk.IC in terms of its engines and defensive armament but could carry up to two Mk.XII torpedoes.

The first special anti-submarine model designed for the RAF Coastal Command was the Type 428 Wellington GR Mk.VIII (TB). Its structure had the airframe of the later Mk.IC series. The GR Mk.VIII (TB) reconnaissance/torpedo bomber began production in the spring of 1942 in three versions: one version with radar, one version with a retractable searchlight (in place of a nose turret), and the last variant developed as a long range reconnaissance aircraft with extra fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay. All three, starting with the 66th production aircraft, were equipped with the same torpedo mount as the Mk.IC (TB) model.

The Wellington torpedo bombers were used for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea at the end of December 1941; anti-submarine models began to patrol the North Sea in May 1942. The first German submarine destroyed by these aircraft was sunk on July 6, 1942.

2,547 Mk.IC aircraft were produced, including 138 Mk.IC (TB) torpedo bombers and 271 GR Mk.VIII (TB) torpedo bombers.

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.


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