Would you like to see this in-game?
North American B-25J Mitchell
Hello everybody. I’d like to suggest the gunship/strafer version of the North American B-25J Mitchell for the US aviation tree in War Thunder. This particular model features a solid nose that accommodates eight .50-caliber (12.7mm) machine guns, as well as four additional guns on the forward fuselage. The B-25J gunship famously saw action during the last stages of the war in the Pacific.
History
The B-25J was the final production variant of the Mitchell and the most numerous, with 4,390 aircraft built. Introduced in December 1943, production switched from the B-25D at North American’s Kansas City plant. Unlike the earlier B-25H, the J model restored the co-pilot’s station while returning to a conventional bombardier nose, which carried one or two fixed guns and a flexible nose gun. Additional armament included four fixed and six flexible machine guns, continuing the heavy defensive layout of the H model. Throughout its production run, the J also incorporated incremental improvements such as new armored seats for the pilot and co-pilot, refinements to the electrical and hydraulic systems, and reinforcement of the top turret.
Although originally intended to serve in the medium bomber role, the B-25J became increasingly important as a strafer. By 1944, the cannon-armed G and H variants had proven less effective in combat, as targets suited for the 75 mm gun had become rare. To compensate, large numbers of B-25Js were converted into solid-nose gunships optimized for strafing. Between 800 and 1,000 aircraft were factory-built or modified with a solid nose mounting eight .50 caliber machine guns, raising the total to twelve forward-firing guns. With the solid nose modification, the aircraft was designated as B-25J-11, -17, -22, -27, -32, or -37, depending on which production block the modification took place. Beginning with the B-25J-30-NC production block, underwing racks for up to four 5-inch rockets per wing were also added, further increasing firepower.
These strafer-configured B-25Js entered combat in the summer of 1944, arriving first at Townsville Depot in Australia and Nadzab in Papua New Guinea. They were issued to the 38th Bombardment Group, followed by the 345th Bombardment Group in September, and later the 42nd Bombardment Group, which used them to replace worn-out C and D models. The strafer B-25J went on to become the last gunship variant of the Mitchell to see combat in World War II, serving in the Pacific until the war’s end.
Specifications
North American B-25J Mitchell
Number Built: 4,390 (counting all subvariants)
General Characteristics
Crew: 1 (Pilot, copilot, bombardier, navigator/radio operator, and gunner)
Dimensions:
Length: 53 ft (16.15 m)
Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
Wingspan: 67 ft 6.75 in (20.59 m)
Wing Area: 610 sq ft (56.67 sq m)
Propeller:
Type: 2 x 3-bladed Hamilton Standards
Diameter: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
Powerplant:
Type: 2 x Wright Cyclone R-2600-29 air-cooled radials
Power Output:
1,700 hp (1,268 kW) each @ takeoff (3,400 hp / 2,535 kW total)
Fuel Capacity: 670 US gal (self-sealing)
Weight:
Empty: 19,490 lb (8,840 kg)
Max. Takeoff: 33,400 lb (15,150 kg)
Flight Performance
Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.10 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg)
Max Speed: 293 mph (472 km/h) @ 13,850 ft (4,221 m)
Wing Loading: 55 lb/sq ft (268 kg/sq m)
Rate of Climb: 1,587 fpm (8.06 m/s)
Service Ceiling: 25,240 ft (7,693 m)
Range: 1,350 miles (2,173 km)
Armament
Guns:
12 x fixed 0.50-in (12.7 mm) MGs (400 rpg; 4,800 rds total)
Turrets:
Dorsal: 2 x 0.50-in (12.7 mm) MGs (400 rpg; 800 rds total)
Waist: 2 x 0.50-in (12.7 mm) MGs (200 rpg; 400 rds total)
Tail: 2 x 0.50-in (12.7 mm) MGs (600 rpg; 1,200 rds total)
Bombs:
Payload limitation: 3,200 lb
Internal:
2 x 1,600-lb AP
3 x 1,000
6 x 500-lb
8 x 250-lb
12 x 100-lb
Rockets:
External:
Related Suggestions
Mitchell Family:
British Mitchell Family (made by @lxtav ):
Sources
EE-393 Wartime Tactical Planning Characteristics & Performance Charts (1 July 1945)
Walk Around B-25 Mitchell - Walk Around Number 12 (1997)
Warbird Tech Vol. 12 - North American B-25 Mitchell (1998)
B-25 Mitchell in Detail & Scale - D&S Vol. 60 (1999)
Crowood Aviation Series - North American B-25 Mitchell (2001)
Osprey Combat Aircraft 032 - B-25 Mitchell Units of the MTO (2002)
B-25 Mitchell - Detail in Action (2022)
North American B-25 Mitchell - Wikipedia North American B-25J Mitchell
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃
+1 gunships are cool so this would be a nice addition
