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Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the Douglas F3D-2 Skyknight for US aviation in War Thunder. The F3D-2 was a subsequent variant developed after the F3D-1 with two uprated J34-WE-36 engines and several changes. It was the last and most numerous operational variant, with 237 F3D-2s built versus only 28 F3D-1s. The F3D-2s also not only saw combat in the Korean War but also in the Vietnam War. It was the only US Korean-War-era jet fighter that served during the Vietnam War.
Key Characteristics
- Naval jet-propelled night fighter
- Two 3,400-lbf J34-WE-36 turbojet engines
- Larger engine nacelles
- Improved Westinghouse AN/APQ-36 fire control system
- Retained four 20-mm cannons and bombs
History
BackgroundThe F3D-1 Skyknight was initially designed in August 1945 to respond to US Navy’s needs for a jet-powered, radar-equipped, carrier-based night fighter. A contract was issued to Douglas on April 3, 1946, and the XF3D-1 prototype first flew on March 23, 1948. Following the successful prototype, a production contract for 28 F3D-1 production aircraft was issued In June 1948. The aircraft was incorporated with a Westinghouse AN/APQ-35 fire control system, with three separate radars essential to operate during the night fighter operations, with a detection range of 125 miles.
Design and DevelopmentOn May 23, 1949, the Navy declared further specifications for the Skyknight aircraft, seeking improvements over the F3D-1 with the need for larger engines to increase performance. Douglas designed and developed F3D-2 as an improved variant to replace the F3D-1.
The F3D-2 was planned to be powered by two 4,600-lbf Westinghouse J46-WE-3 turbojets, which would have offered an overwhelmingly improved performance. However, because the J46 development suffered technical difficulties, the engines never materialized when the first F3D-2 was in preparation for its maiden flight in early 1951. Instead, two uprated 3,400-lbf J34-WE-36s were ordered to be installed in the aircraft.
Other changes included an advanced General Electric G-3 autopilot, new wing spoilers to increase the rate of roll, better air conditioning, a stronger bulletproof windscreen, and, lastly, improved models of radar intercept, tail warning radar, and gun targeting radar.
237 F3D-2s were built in total before production was terminated on March 23, 1952. The first F3D-2 completed its maiden flight on February 14, 1951. As the development of J46 engines never came to fruition, all production F3D-2s were to be powered by J34-WE-36s turbojets. Along with the J34s, these F3D-2s retained the larger engine nacelles, which were initially designed for the J46.
Operational Service - Korean WarIt was mentioned that only 28 F3D-1s were produced in the final total. For this reason, this variant did not see combat in the Korean War with limited quantity, so these aircraft were primarily used to train first-timer F3D crews. The F3D-2, however, would have seen combat in that war, and the F3D-2 was almost exclusively used by Marine squadrons deployed in Korea soon after the war began.
VMF(N)-542 was the first Marine Corps squadron to operate the F3D-2 stationed in Korea beginning in June 1952. It was only a land-based squadron. It had previously used F7F Tigercat night fighters since its arrival and initial operations in August 1950. The squadron was later transitioned to the F3D-2, but the aircraft came without guns due to a lack of gun barrel extensions necessary to fire their cannons. These F3D-2s would be cleared for exercises and nighttime operations in August 1952 with their gun barrel extensions added.
As the F3D-2 Skyknight began its first operational missions in North Korea, it began to receive its reputation for being a successful jet night fighter that had shot down enemy aircraft despite facing the adversity of effective hostile jamming from inside North Korea.
The first claimed aerial kill by the F3D-2 Skyknight was recorded on November 2, 1952, when the Skyknight shot down an alleged North Korean Yak-15 (no Yak-15s were reported in Korea, however). It may have been the MiG-15 that the Skyknight shot down due to being difficult to identify on an almost pitch-black night. Regardless, it was the first successful night radar interception of a jet by another jet. Another claimed kill was made on November 8, 1952, when another Skyknight shot down the MiG-15 northwest of Pyongyang. Another record was set on December 10, 1952, when the other Skyknight managed to become the first aircraft to shoot down another aircraft without visual contact by using its radar to lock onto a Polikarpov Po-2 biplane; however, it may been the Yakovlev Yak-18 that the Skyknight shot down.
When the number of Skyknights in Korea was doubled to 24 in January 1953, the Skyknights were flying on escort missions to cover B-29 Superfortresses during their night bombing operations. On January 13, 1953, an F3D-2 that was escorting the B-29s on a night bombing mission had accomplished the fourth destruction of an enemy aircraft that was intercepting the bomber.
Although most F3D-2s operated from shore bases in the Korean War, the only Navy squadron that deployed the Skyknight aircraft at sea was VC-4 in 1952 aboard the USS Coral Sea aircraft carrier and in 1953 aboard the USS Midway. A detachment of Skyknights was also operating and boarding the USS Lake Champlain during the last stages of the Korean War.
By the war’s end, the Skyknights had accounted for an unlikely Yak-15, four MiG-15s, and probable Po-2 biplane kills.
Post Korean War - F3D-2’s SubvariantsAfter the Korean War, the F3D-2 belonging to the US Navy was gradually replaced by more powerful aircraft with better radar systems, such as the F4D-1 Skyray.
However, with F3D-2’s stability and spacious fuselage, it was a very adaptable aircraft that could be converted to other roles. Thus, 16 F3D-2s were modified as missile-armed fighters with a designation of F3D-2M, though their guns had to be removed for a larger guidance radar installed in a longer nose cone. Four hardpoints were mounted under the wings for missiles. These F3D-2Ms were used to support the development of several air-to-air missile systems during the 1950s. In 1954, the F3D-2M became the first Navy jet aircraft fitted with an operational air-to-air missile with the Sparrow I (AIM-7A), the beam-riding missile variant.
In the late 1950s, 35 F3D-2s were modified as electronic warfare aircraft, with their radar installations replaced with specialized electronics countermeasures equipment. The first conversion was completed in 1955, and the designation F3D-2Q was given to these aircraft. Additionally, 5 F3D-2s were modified into night fighter trainers as F3D-2T, and 55 F3D-2s were converted to F3D-2T2 radar operator trainers.
The Skyknights would remain in service with the Marine Corps through the 1960s longer than in the Navy. These aircraft were repainted in a more modern gull-white color scheme. In September 1962, the F3D-2 was redesignated F-10B under the new Tri-Service unified designation system, with the F3D-2M as MF-10B, the F3D-2Q as EF-10B, and the F3D-2T2 as TF-10B.
The EF-10Bs were the common Skyknight variant used by the Marine Corps in its electronic warfare operations. They would be seen during the Cuban crisis and later in the Vietnam conflict until 1969, before their retirement in May 1970. The Skyknight was the only Korean War jet fighter that later flew and saw action in Vietnam.
Specifications
Douglas F3D-2 SkyknightGeneral Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 45 ft 5 in (13.84 m)
- Height: 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)
- Span: 50 ft (15.24 m)
- Wing Area: 400 sq ft (37 sq m)
- Powerplant: 2 x Westinghouse J34-WE-36 turbojet engines
→ 6,800 lbf (30 kN) thrust- Internal Fuel: 1,350 US gal. (5,110 L)
- Oil Tankage: 4 US gal. (15.14 L)
- Empty Weight: 14,989 lb (6,799 kg)
- Gross Weight: 21,374 lb (9,695 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 26,731 lb (12,125 kg)
Engine Ratings
- Takeoff
→ 3,400 lbf thrust @ 12,500 rpm @ S.S.L- Military
→ 3,400 lbf thrust @ 12,500 rpm @ S.S.L- Normal
→ 3,000 lbf thrust @ 11,930 rpm @ S.S.LPerformance @ Military Power
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.32
- Sea level Speed: 527 mph (848 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed: 529 mph (851 km/h)
- Stall Speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
- Wing Loading: 53.44 lb/sq ft (260.9 kg/sq m)
- Takeoff Distance - Calm: 2,080 ft (634 m)
- Rate of Climb: 3,570 fpm (18 m/s)
- Time to Altitude:
- 9.9 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m)
- 20.9 minutes to 30,000 ft (9,144 m)
- Service Ceiling: 36,700 ft (11,186 m)
- Combat Radius: 478 - 598 miles (769 - 962 km)
- Max. Range: 1,145 - 1,375 miles (1,843 - 2,213 km
Armament
- Avionics:
- AN/APQ-36 radar
- Search radar
- Track and lock-on radar
- Tail warning radar
- Guns:
- 4 x 20-mm cannons (200 rpg; 800 rounds)
- Bombs:
- 2 x 2,000-lb bombs
- 2 x 1,000-lb bombs
- 2 x 500-lb bombs
- Rockets:
- 2 x 11.75-inch (298.45-mm) Tiny Tim rockets
- Drop Tanks:
- 2 x 150-gal drop tanks
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The F3D-2 Skyknight was arguably a successful jet-propelled night fighter during the Korean War by the US Marine Corps. This F3D-2 would be a good addition to War Thunder as a possible 7.3 gap filler. It was much faster than the F3D-1 with new radar, reinforced bulletproof windscreen, and improved roll rate. It’s certainly a different aircraft in comparison to the F3D-1. I am surprised the F3D-2 is not in the game yet, although over 200 more examples of the F3D-2 were produced. I’d like to see it added to represent the wartime variant of the Skyknight.
- F3D-2 Skyknight Standard Aircraft Characteristics (15 February 1952)
- Naval Fighters Number Four: Douglas F3D Skyknight (1982)
- United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 (1990)
- F3D/EF-10 Skyknight Units of the Korean and Vietnam Wars (2022)
- F3D-2 Skyknight (Korea)
- Douglas F3D, F-10 Skyknight | Plane-Encyclopedia
- Douglas F3D-2/F-10B Skyknight
- Douglas F3D Skyknight - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃