Vehicles

Aviation
Ground vehicles
Fleet

Resources

WT on YouTube
Official Forum
War Thunder
WT Live

Navigation

Recent changes
Random page
Help

Tools

What links here

Related changes
Special pages
Printable version
Permanent link
Page information

In other languages

Русский

BUY
RANK 6 USA
 RANK 6 USA INFO

"APACHE" | AH-64A P…
This page is about the American strike aircraft AD-4. For other versions, see AD Skyraider (Family).

AD-4
AD-2 F3D-1
LOADING...
USA IV Rank

Battle rating: Class:

Strike aircraft
AB RB SB
Torpedo bomber
Description 6.0 6.0 5.7

The AD-4 Skyraider is a rank IV Research: Purchase:

American strike aircraft with a battle rating
of 6.0 (AB/RB) and 5.7 (SB). It was
82 000 240 000
introduced in Update 1.75 "La Résistance".
Show in game
The AD-4 is a thorough-bred ground
attacker. It can be armed with a slew of
deadly anti-ground weaponry ranging from several high
payload bombs and HVAR rockets to a massive 56
Mighty Mouse rockets capable of pinpoint precision and
deadly effect. Though lacking in flight performance, the
Contents
AD-4's armament allows the pilot to annihilate anything
that ends up in front of his guns; destroying enemy 1 Description
planes in very few hits and being able to destroy even 2 General info
light pillboxes and light tanks with the right ammunition. 2.1 Flight performance
If there are ground targets to be destroyed, the American 2.1.1 Details
tree can offer no better attacker aircraft. 2.2 Survivability and armour
2.3 Modifications and economy
The AD-4 is generally a sluggish aircraft, which should 3 Armaments
come to no surprise considering the engine output and 3.1 Offensive armament
weight of the aircraft. In sustained horizontal turn fights 3.2 Suspended armament
and all energy fights, the AD-4 will be out-manoeuvred 4 Usage in battles
quickly. Whilst it has speed, the AD-4 has a surprisingly 4.1 Specific enemies worth noting
high turn rate, though the high weight causes energy 4.2 Counter-tactics
retention to be perhaps one of the worst of any aircraft in
4.3 Manual Engine Control
War Thunder.
4.4 Pros and cons
5 History
General info 6 Media
7 See also
Flight performance 8 External links

Arrestor gear
 Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing
the brake cable on the deck of
the aircraft carrier

Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically
reduce the flight speed by
releasing special flaps

Max speed
at 5 821 m 587 km/h

Turn time 23 s

Max altitude 8 900 m

Engine Wright R-3350

Type Radial
Cooling system Air

Take-off weight 10 t

Considering the size, weight, and engine of the aircraft, the AD-4 still maintains a good top-end speed and
gets there in a reasonable time, though nowhere as fast as comparable fighters get to theirs. Skyraider pilots
will find their plane able pull a great instantaneous turn rate to keep up with fighters or other aircraft that end
up on the business end of the AD-4's cannons, though their plane will very quickly lose a lot of speed thanks
to its incredibly high weight. Sustained turns are not a strength of the AD-4 by any means, and the
introduction of any verticality into manoeuvres will emphasis this weakness even further; the plane has
rather terrible energy retention.

Max
Speed Max Turn time Rate of climb Take-
Characteristics (km/h at altitude (seconds) (metres/second) off run
5,822 m) (metres) (metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB

Stock 557 543 24.0 24.6 11.5 11.5

8900 600
Upgraded 621 587 22.1 23.0 24.7 15.5

Details
 Features

Combat Take-off Landing Air Arrestor

flaps flaps flaps brakes gear

X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

Limits

Max
Flaps (km/h)
Wings Gear Static G
(km/h) (km/h) Take-
Combat Landing + -
off

797 680 N/A 345 252 ~12 ~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)

Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator

< 460 < 480 < 410 > 300

Survivability and armour

Crew 1 person

Speed of destruction
Structural 797 km/h
Gear 680 km/h

40 mm Bulletproof glass - Pilot's windscreen

9.5 mm Steel - Armour plate under the engine
9.5 mm Steel - Armour plate behind the pilot

Modifications and economy

Repair cost Basic → Reference

AB 2 390 → 3 001
RB 5 000 → 6 280
SB 6 530 → 8 201

Total cost of modifications 71 600

116 800

Talisman cost 1 900

 Talisman cost 1 900

Crew training 68 000

Experts 240 000
Aces 1 400
Research Aces 620 000

Reward for battle AB / RB / SB

90 / 150 / 460 %
184 / 184 / 184 %

Modifications

As an attacker, your priority is on obtaining more effective ground attack ordnance.

Start off with Offensive 20 mm, to unlock Universal belts with a higher composition of API-T shells for
ground attack.
Then, research SBC mk.I, to unlock the 12 x HVAR & 500 lb bomb combination.

The following depends on whether your preferred play style will be either Air or Ground attack:

Air

1. Research TC mk.I to unlock the 12 x HVAR & Torpedo combination for maps with mainly naval
targets and few ground targets, such as Norway.
2. Next, select LFRC mk.12 to unlock the path to FFAR later.
3. With tier 3 unlocked, research the New 20 mm Cannons to fix the AN/M3's terribly accuracy
problems and to make the ground strike more effective.
4. As we're going to be using exclusively FFAR's later, research Engine and Wings Repair to
unlock tier 4 modules.
5. Finally, with tier 4 open, get FFAR Mighty Mouse as soon as you can.

56 Mighty Mouse rockets can be potentially used to destroy 23 tanks or light pillboxes, no other ordnance
can compete. This makes it the obvious and only choice for grinding with the AD-4 in Air.

Ground

1. Research TC mk.I to open up the path to MBC mk.I.

2. Then research Compressor for the extra engine power.
3. With tier 3 open, research MBC mk.I, then Engine and New 20 mm cannons.
4. Finally, with tier 4 open, research LBC mk.I.

FFARs may be accurate, but their post-penetration damage versus ground forces vehicles is pathetic. The
large 2,000 lb and 1,000 lb bombs available to the AD-4 are much more reliable at destroying in general, and
HVARs have far superior destruction power when they hit.
Armaments
Offensive armament

Weapon 1 4 x 20 mm M3 cannon
Ammunition 800 rounds
Fire rate 750 shots/min

The AD-4 is armed with:

4 x 20 mm M3 cannons, wing-mounted (200 rpg = 800 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (9)

The AD-4 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

Without load
12 x HVAR rockets
12 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 1,927 lb Mk.13-1 Case torpedo
12 x HVAR rockets + 2 x Tiny Tim rockets
12 x HVAR rockets + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (1,000 lb total)
12 x HVAR rockets + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (2,000 lb total)
12 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb + 2 x Tiny Tim rockets (2,000 lb total)
12 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb + 2 x 500 lb AN-M64A1 bombs (3,000 lb
total)
12 x HVAR rockets + 1 x 2,000 lb AN-M66A2 bomb + 2 x 1,000 lb AN-M65A1 bombs (4,000
lb total)
56 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets

Usage in battles
In an air match, you need to know where the most important targets are and immediately make a beeline for
them. Using your weight and air-spawn, you can reach a relatively high speed for your airframe of 500 - 600
km/h in an extended shallow dive. Once at the objective area, your mission is to destroy as many vehicles
that contribute to your team's victory as possible before enemy interceptors reach you. If possible, use your
FFAR rocket payload, as they are incredibly accurate and are able to destroy light pillboxes and all ground
vehicles in one direct hit. You can also use your AN/M3 cannons' API-T rounds to penetrate and destroy
light pillboxes and light tanks. If this is your goal, use the Universal ammo belt if unlocked, as it means
every other round is API-T. Ground targets use two API-T, then
a HE-T and a P round, so it is not as effective versus aircraft
while being no more effective against ground targets than
Universal.

Specific enemies worth noting

AD-4 Skyraider, Performing ground attack
role.
ALL fighter aircraft have a massive advantage they can exploit
against you to easily defeat you. Jets, especially the Me 262,
have speed, energy retention and heavy armament that make it
hard for you to win in a head-on or get your guns on target outside of one. If you're fighting against one, you
don't have much of a chance other than to try and snipe them in a head-on before they get their rounds down
range. Remember that the Me 262's guns have a notably low muzzle velocity. For propeller fighters, your
tactic is the same and has a higher chance of succeeding thanks to your opponents generally weaker
armaments and slower speed.

Counter-tactics

The AD-4 has a great burst horizontal turn rate, and can even compete with some of the poorer turning
fighters when not laden with armament, though bleeds energy incredibly fast. When attempting to engage an
AD-4, use the vertical to your advantage, the AD-4's incredibly high weight makes it almost impossible for
it to fire on anyone above them as they will almost immediately lose all momentum.

The most important piece of information to keep in mind while attacking an AD-4; do NOT go into a head-
on versus the plane. The AD-4's inability to get guns on target easily is mitigated if they can commit to a
head-on, and with four AN/M3 cannons alongside a relatively tanky structure the AD-4 will have a high
chance of critically damaging you and escaping to repair.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements

Radiator
Mixer Pitch Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type

Controllable Controllable Controllable

Controllable Not
Controllable Auto control Auto control Auto control Separate
2 gears controllable
available available available

Pros and cons

Pros:

Incredibly large and powerful anti-ground armament selection

Strong cannons for both air-to-ground and air-to-air
Relatively strong structure and armour
Faster than its predecessor, the AD-2
High burst turn rate for its size
Can carry 56 FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets, with high-penetration HEAT warheads
Cons:

Slower than nearly all planes it meets

Matchmaker allows it to face jets
Extremely poor energy retention
Low sustained turn rate
Terrible stock aircraft (inaccurate cannons, slow, less effective payload options)

History
The AD-4 Skyraider was an improved model of the AD-3. The main improvement came with a more
powerful R-3350-26WA engine. It also featured stronger landing gear and an improved radar. The armament
was increased to four 20 90mm cannons. Provisions were added for 14 Aero rocket launchers. 372 AD-4
Skyraiders were built.

AD Skyraiders made up the bulk of the Navy's ground strike sorties. The only Skyraider air-to-air kill during
the war occurred on 16 June 1953. A USMC AD-4 from VMC-1, piloted by Major George H. Linnemeier
and CWO Vernon S. Kramer, shot down a Polikarpov Po-2 biplane in that action. Often painted blue, the
Skyraider was nicknamed the "Blue Plane" by enemy forces during the Korean War. Many Skyraiders were
shot down by ground fire during the war while flying low-altitude ground attack missions.

Skyraiders later participated in the Cathay Pacific VR-HEU Incident and the Vietnam War.

Media
Skins

Skins and camouflages for the AD-4 from live.warthunder.com. (https://live.warthunder.com/fee

d/camouflages/?vehicle=douglas_ad_4)

Videos

THE SHOOTING RANGE #185…

The Shooting Range #185 - Pages of History section

at 04:10 discusses the Douglas Skyraider.

See also
Related development

Douglas A2D Skyshark

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Aichi B7A
Martin AM Mauler
Westland Wyvern

External links
Official data sheet - more details about the performance (https://forum.warthunder.com/index.ph
p?/topic/392585-douglas-ad-4-skyraider/)

[History Net] Able Dog: Was the AD Skyraider the Best Attack Bomber Ever Built? (https://ww
w.historynet.com/able-dog-was-the-ad-skyraider-the-best-attack-bomber-ever-built.htm) (Web
Archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20210418234140/https://www.historynet.com/able-dog-w
as-the-ad-skyraider-the-best-attack-bomber-ever-built.htm))
[Boeing] AD/A-1 SKYRAIDER ATTACK BOMBER (https://www.boeing.com/history/product
s/ad-a-1-skyraider-bomber.page) (Web Archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20210418234204/h
ttps://www.boeing.com/history/products/ad-a-1-skyraider-bomber.page))
[Air Vectors] The Douglas AD / A-1 Skyraider (https://www.airvectors.net/ava1spad.html) (Web
Archive (https://web.archive.org/web/20210418234200/https://www.airvectors.net/ava1spad.ht
ml))

Douglas Aircraft Company [Expand]

USA strike aircraft [Expand]

Retrieved from "https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=AD-4&oldid=121319"

This page was last edited on 21 January 2022, at 22:02.

© 2022 Gaijin Network Ltd. All rights reserved.