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4s | The Shooting Range |
---|---|
8s | In this episode... |
9s | Pages of History: Israeli Infantry Fortress |
13s | Arsenal: Best Loadouts for the F-15 |
17s | And Metal Beasts: 3++ Generation Fighter |
31s | War Thunder players have long been accustomed |
34s | to seeing fourth-gen fighters in top-rank battles, |
37s | while the Vietnam war era aircraft |
40s | have left the eternal struggle for air superiority. |
43s | Today’s highlight, however, is ready to change the notion a little. |
47s | Please welcome a fighter that could be placed in the ‘3++’ generation: |
51s | the MiG-21 Bison. |
58s | At first glance, there’s no difference between this and the regular MiG-21bis. |
63s | It’s propelled by the same turbojet engine |
65s | with a total afterburning power of 7,300 kilogram-forces. |
70s | More than enough for a light machine to quickly climb and reach its top speed. |
74s | The latter isn’t impressive, though, |
76s | especially when compared to more modern fighters. |
79s | The 21 hits its flutter speed early, so don’t expect to be racing around in it. |
84s | On the other hand, this low limit is good for fuel efficiency. |
88s | Since you’ll need to turn the afterburner off pretty often, |
91s | the internal tanks have enough fuel for most battles. |
94s | There’s a similar situation with maneuverability: |
97s | the plane can make amazing turns at the beginning of a fight |
100s | and outturn most opponents. |
101s | Only... It spends too much energy on that and quickly finds itself exhausted. |
110s | It’s only fair to ask: why does the Bison have such a high battle rating? |
114s | Well, it’s all about the hardware. |
116s | To be exact, the electronic equipment and the weapons. |
120s | This aircraft can carry two close-range R-73s |
123s | and just as many medium-range R-27 missiles. |
127s | The former are amazing in close-quarters fights. |
130s | Thanks to the helmet-mounted display and thrust control, |
133s | you can complete a duel in just a couple of maneuvers |
136s | and move on before you bleed too much speed. |
139s | As it often happens, medium-range missiles come in two variants: |
142s | with infrared and with radar-guided homing devices. |
146s | Both are amazing at their respective jobs |
148s | and can hit enemies just fine where the R-73 can’t reach. |
153s | In addition to great weapons, the fighter has everything it needs to defend itself. |
157s | A modern radar warning system gives a heads-up in case of danger, |
161s | and countermeasure blocks on the sides of the hull |
164s | provide a chance to escape an incoming hit. |
170s | In terms of CAS, the Bison is a pretty modest performer, |
173s | but it’s still better than the base model. |
175s | In addition to rockets and conventional bombs, |
178s | it can offer the TV-guided KAB-500Kr bombs. |
185s | Despite its respectable age, the MiG-21 Bison can keep the youngsters company |
190s | and is not planning to retire any time soon! |
203s | Few armored personnel carriers or infantry fighting vehicles |
206s | have defenses comparable to the Israeli Namer. |
210s | Its development followed a pretty curious path full of unique combat experience |
214s | and numerous unconventional solutions. |
217s | By the early 1980s, the Israeli army had accumulated |
220s | a large fleet of outdated heavy vehicles. |
223s | They had the British Centurions, also known as the Sho’t, the Soviet T-54s and T-55s... |
230s | And all of them had inferior levels of performance |
232s | compared to the modern Merkava MBTs and even the late modifications of the Magach, |
238s | but it didn’t make them worthless. |
240s | Engineers can often find a new way to use obsolete combat vehicles. |
244s | The 105-mm Shermans are a good example of that. |
248s | But this time, Israel decided to make some auxiliary vehicles. |
252s | For instance, there was an IFV project using the T-55 with a new crew compartment, |
258s | improved armor, and a better engine. |
260s | Despite the fact that the turret was removed, |
262s | the resulting vehicle got even heavier. |
264s | The program was deemed successful, and the new vehicles found their ways into service. |
269s | Infantry survivability soared, and when vehicles needed even more armor, |
274s | they could always use modular add-ons. |
276s | A similar thing happened to the early versions of the Merkava in the early 2000s. |
281s | The chassis and hulls of the first models were vastly different from the modern ones, |
286s | and they couldn’t be used as tanks anymore. |
288s | The base was very good upcycle material, though. |
291s | Unlike the T-55, the Merkava’s original layout was already similar to APCs |
297s | due to the engine compartment in the front and a large crew section in the rear. |
301s | Computer-aided design software sped up the development. |
305s | As it turned out, the tank had huge potential for change: |
308s | for instance, the engineers reused the third version’s power plant. |
313s | By 2008, the final design was clear: a 1200-horsepower engine, |
318s | composite front armor, |
319s | and a personnel compartment for nine people, not counting the crew. |
323s | Production models had no large-caliber weapons. |
326s | Only some vehicles had an unmanned turret with a 30-mm autocannon. |
330s | An active protection system was also in the plans, |
333s | but budgetary limits put a stop to that. |
336s | The Namer armored personnel carrier turned out to be pretty reliable |
339s | and very well-protected for its class. |
342s | Its platform can even fit the Spike anti-tank guided missile system. |
346s | The only questionable part of the design is its mass. |
349s | This Israeli APC isn’t just heavier than its counterparts: |
353s | it’s heavier than many main battle tanks! |
356s | Still, it looks like the benefits far outweigh this flaw, |
359s | and the Namer remains one of the best in its class. |
377s | We’ve recently talked about the Su-27, |
379s | and today it’s time to talk about another heavy fighter: the F-15. |
383s | With the recent additions, this family now has six models in three nations! |
388s | Let’s talk about them all. |
393s | As is our tradition, we’ll start with discussing air combat. |
397s | A classic loadout for early versions is four medium-range Sparrows |
401s | and just as many close-range missiles. |
403s | The American and Israeli versions’ best choice is the AIM-9M, |
408s | while the Japanese one can use its own AAM-3s. |
412s | All early missiles are basically the best in their respective classes, |
415s | but the true highlight of this summer is even more advanced. |
419s | The three top F-15s can now boast a new in-game record. |
423s | Each of them can carry up to eight active radar-homing missiles! |
428s | The Japanese version brings something extra: |
430s | in addition to the standard AIM-120A, it can use its own AAM-4s. |
436s | You might even feel like it’s too many FOX-3s for a single battle, |
440s | so you could use some combo loadouts with infrared-guided missiles for close range. |
445s | The wings can carry more than weapons, though. |
447s | The F-15 is pretty fuel-hungry and could always use more tanks! |
451s | All six modifications can carry up to three drop tanks |
454s | with a total capacity of almost 7,000 liters. |
458s | But wait, there’s more! |
460s | Two versions can also fit conformal fuel tanks adding 2,800 liters each! |
465s | And the grand total is no less than 12,600 liters of extra fuel! |
471s | Conformal fuel tanks provide extra benefits. |
474s | They create less air drag than drop tanks and occupy no hardpoints. |
478s | They can even add them, but we’ll get back to that later. |
481s | The biggest drawback of conformal tanks |
484s | is that you can’t drop them and lighten your aircraft. |
489s | The F-15 isn’t supposed to hit ground targets (at least the fighter versions), |
494s | but they do have a few tools for close air support in the arsenal. |
497s | The smallest tool set belongs to the Japanese versions: |
501s | they’re limited to a few types of conventional bombs. |
504s | As usual, the handiest ones are the biggest: 2000 lbs. |
508s | For the Israeli and American versions, the main weapon is the TV-guided GBU-8 bombs. |
514s | Now, about those extra hardpoints added by conformal fuel tanks... |
519s | The American F-15C can carry an extra dozen small-caliber bombs thanks to the tanks. |
525s | Can’t say it’s a major buff to firepower, but it sure looks impressive! |
533s | Tell us in the comments what aircraft you’d like to see next. |
536s | Meanwhile it’s time for us to answer some of your questions... |
554s | The first question was sent by a player called Davy Davitoes: |
558s | “What’s the point of those “fences” around the hulls of some tanks? |
562s | It doesn’t seem like it can block anything.” |
565s | Hi Davy! They’re called slat screens and what they do is defend against HEAT shells. |
571s | The slats disrupt incoming rounds before they can hit the armor, |
574s | preventing shaped charges from forming. |
578s | Stealthy Amraam asks: |
580s | “What’s the best armament for the Mig-23ML?” |
583s | Hi there! Almost missed you! |
586s | The best air combat set includes four R-60Ms for close range |
590s | and a couple R-24Rs for medium range. |
593s | As for attacking tanks, go for the S-24B rockets. |
599s | Another question comes from Nosewheel: |
601s | “How can I know when my fox-3 is locked on with its own radar?” |
606s | Hey Nosewheel! You can spot it on the radar indicator. |
609s | See that line connecting your missile to the target? |
612s | While it’s dashed, your missile uses your aircraft’s radar. |
616s | When it changes to a continuous line, |
618s | it means that the missile has achieved its own lock. |
622s | Crysman writes: |
623s | “What’s the difference between the tech tree Sea Harrier |
626s | and the one that can be unlocked with Squadron Points?” |
630s | Hi Crysman! |
631s | The only differences are the number of air-to-air missiles and battle ratings. |
636s | And the last comment for today was written by Astro Gamer: |
640s | “The missile knows where it is, it knows this because you told it.” |
645s | Hello, Astro Gamer! In fact, even if you never tell the missile where it is, |
650s | it can find out. |
652s | Because it always knows where it isn’t! |
654s | That’s it for today. You’ve been watching the Shooting Range by Gaijin Entertainment, |
659s | and the next episode will premier the following Sunday |
661s | at 4 PM GMT or noon Eastern time. |
665s | Subscribe and click the bell if you don’t want to miss our next videos. |
668s | Don’t forget to paint your F-15 red for that extra speed, |
672s | leave a like, share your thoughts and comments... |
674s | and see you next week! |