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Douglas A-4C (A4D2-N) Skyhawk
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the most numerous Skyhawk variant for the US tree in War Thunder, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk. A total of 638 A-4C aircraft were produced, making it the most-built Skyhawk variant. It was also the first production Skyhawk equipped with a terrain-clearance radar and low-altitude bombing system, and many later received AN/ALE-29A chaff and flare dispensers during the Vietnam War.
History
Originally designated A4D-2N before the 1962 tri-service redesignation system standardized it as the A-4C, the variant represented the first major all-weather development of the Skyhawk family. The “N” in A4D-2N referred to its “night” attack capability, made possible through the addition of the AN/APG-53A terrain-clearance radar housed in a nose section extended by approximately nine inches compared to earlier Skyhawk variants.
In addition to radar equipment, the A-4C introduced an angle-of-attack indicator system and the Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS), greatly enhancing the aircraft’s low-level strike capabilities. These avionics improvements changed the operational doctrine of Skyhawk squadrons, allowing them to conduct all-weather and low-altitude conventional attack missions more effectively than the earlier Douglas Skyhawk A-4B.
Structurally, however, the A-4C remained closely related to the earlier Skyhawk models. Only around fifteen percent of the structure differed from the A-4B, and the aircraft retained the original three-pylon configuration consisting of one centerline station and one under each wing. Despite its additional avionics equipment and slightly heavier airframe, the A-4C was set to be the most versatile attacker.
The first A-4C completed its maiden flight on August 21, 1958. Early production aircraft were powered by the Wright J65-W-16A turbojet producing 7,700 pounds of thrust, while later production aircraft switched to the more powerful J65-W-20 engine generating up to 8,400 pounds of thrust.
The first operational squadron to receive the A-4C was Marine squadron VMA-225 in March 1960. Shortly afterward, VA-192 became the first US Navy squadron equipped with the variant in May 1960. Eventually, twenty-nine Navy and Marine Corps squadrons operated the A-4C throughout its service career.
Although the more advanced A-4E became the first Skyhawk variant to see combat operations over Vietnam in early 1965, the A-4C also served extensively during the conflict. During the war, surviving A-4Cs were retrofitted with AN/ALE-29A chaff and flare dispensers to improve survivability against radar-guided and infrared-guided threats.
The A-4C remained in frontline use until the late 1970s. Around one hundred surplus airframes were later converted into the A-4L standard to fulfill Navy and Marine Corps Reserve requirements. As the aircraft became increasingly surplus to US Navy needs, a number of A-4Cs were exported abroad and went to serve with foreign operators such as Argentina, Singapore, and Malaysia.
Specifications
Douglas A-4C (A4D2-N) Skyhawk
General Characteristics
Crew: 1 (Pilot)
Dimensions:
Length: 40 ft 1.2 in (12.2 m)
Height: 15 ft (4.6 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m)
Wing Area: 260 sq ft (24.15 sq m)
Powerplant:
Type: 1 x Wright J65-W-16A turbojet
Power Output:
Military: 7,700 lbf (34.25 kN) @ 8,300 rpm
Normal: 6,780 lbf (30 kN) @ 8,030 rpm
Fuel/Oil:
Fuel Capacity: 800 US-gal (3,028 L)
Oil Capacity: 4 US-gal (15.1 L)
Weight:
Empty: 9,827 lb (4,457 kg)
Gross: 14,052 lb (6,374 kg)
Max. Takeoff: 22,500 lb (10,206 kg)
Flight Performance
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.55
Wing Loading: 54 lb/sq ft (264 kg/sq m)
Max Speed:
Sea Level: 569 kts (655 mph, 1,054 km/h)
At Altitude: 571 kts (676 mph, 1,058 km/h) @ 4,000 ft (1,219 m)
Stall:
Power-off: 97 kts (112 mph, 180 km/h)
Power-on: 93 kts (107 mph, 172 km/h)
Rate of Climb: 8,800 fpm (44.7 m/s)
Service Ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,411 m)
Armament
Avionics:
AN/APG-53A surface radar
AN/AJB-3 LABS computer
Guns:
2 x 20 mm Colt Mk 12 Mod 0 cannons (100 rpg; 200 rds)
Air-to-Air Missiles:
Air-to-Ground Missiles:
3 x AGM-12A Bullpups
3 x AGM-12B Bullpups
2 x AGM-12C Bullpups
Bombs:
3 x 250-lb Mk 81 bombs
3 x 500-lb Mk 82 bombs
3 x 750-lb M117 bombs
3 x 1,000-lb Mk 83 bombs
1 x 2,000-lb Mk 84 bomb
3 x Mk 77 fire bombs
3 x Mk 79 fire bombs
3 x sea mines
Rockets:
3 x 7-tubed 2.75” (69.85 mm) FFAR pods
3 x 19-tubed 2.75” (69.85 mm) FFAR pods
3 x 4-tubed 5” (127mm) Zuni pods
Drop Tanks:
1 x 300 US-gal drop tank
3 x 150 US-gal drop tanks
Other:
AN/ALE-29A chaff/flare countermeasures dispenser
Standard Aircraft Characteristics
Related Suggestions
Sources
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
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