[Coming soon] В-57В Canberra: The American Accent
In the upcoming Seasonal Update – an American jet bomber combining powerful cannons with a flexible bomb load.
Historical Note
In the early 1950s, the U.S. Air Force sought a replacement for the aging B-26 Invader night bomber. The competition was won by the British English Electric Canberra – though due to the British manufacturer's production commitments, a license was granted to the American company Glenn L. Martin to build the aircraft domestically. The resulting B-57A first flew on July 20, 1953, by which point the Korean War had already ended.
The subsequent B-57B featured a redesigned nose section, a tandem-seat cockpit, an improved navigation and targeting system, and radar. A total of 202 aircraft of this variant were built, entering service between August 1954 and May 1956.
В-57В (Rank IX)
Brief Analysis
- Strengths: Good payload capacity, high speed, and a choice of forward-firing armament – machine guns or cannons.
- Weaknesses: Mediocre maneuverability.
- Role in battle: Equally capable as a bomber or a fast interceptor, thanks to its potent forward-firing armament.
In battle
The B-57B Canberra will be one of the rare jet aircraft in War Thunder Mobile to offer a choice of forward-firing armament – and it is doubly unusual in being a bomber capable of carrying a substantial bomb load for destroying ground bases. Let's take a closer look.
This American adaptation of the British bomber can carry up to 8,000 lbs of bombs and rockets across its internal bomb bay and underwing hardpoints.
The pilot can select from bombs ranging from 250 to 1,000 lbs, as well as HVAR and Mighty Mouse rockets in various combinations. Forward-firing armament consists of eight M3 Browning heavy machine guns, which can be replaced with four rapid-firing 20 mm M39 cannons.
The "Canberra" is fast for its class and can comfortably compete in speed with many jet fighters – allowing it not only to deliver bombing strikes but also to pursue and engage air targets with cannon or machine-gun fire.
Its notably poor maneuverability, however, must always be kept in mind. When hunting other aircraft, the preferred approach is a diving attack from above followed by an immediate climb back to altitude. Energy lost in prolonged turns can quickly turn the B-57B into easy prey for enemy fighters.
The B-57B Canberra arrives in War Thunder Mobile in the next major update!
Premium ♠В-57В♠︎ (Rank IX)
The Premium variant is an extra aircraft for your roster! The premium warplane maintains the same performance as the standard variant, though it comes in a unique camouflage. With this premium warplane you’ll be able to enjoy faster Silver Lion and Research Point gains, and earn some Golden Eagles in your battles.
If you’re lucky enough to unlock both the premium and the standard variants, you will be able to use them both in the same battle!
* Vehicle specifications and camouflages are still a work in progress and may change upon release.
The В-57В Canberra (Rank IX) will appear in War Thunder Mobile (WTM) in the “Final Frontier”’ seasonal update.
