For over a decade the Ar 234 B-2 has been on the receiving end of allied guns, with almost nothing to defend itself with. In the next major update, it’s back with a bite!
Ar 234 B-2 (WB 151): A Premium Bomber for Germany at Rank V
At a glance:
Dual 20 mm gunpod!
Decent speed and maneuverability
Up to 1,500 kg bomb load
Poor rear view from cockpit
Pre-order - Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151) Pack
To get to the Gaijin Store through Steam, go to the in-game hangar > Shop > Online Store.
This pack includes:
Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151) (Rank V, Germany)
Premium account for 15 days
2000 Golden Eagles
Pre-order bonus: unique "Blitzwing" title
Pre-order bonus: unique "Lightning Arado" decal
49.99
Today we’re taking a look at a rare example of an Ar 234 B-2 with a gunpod! The Ar 234 B-2 was the first ever jet bomber in War Thunder, and the first aircraft with no defensive or offensive guns as well! This addition will give the plane some extra versatility, so let’s have a look at this Arado, where pre-orders for it have started today!
The major addition here is the dual 20 mm gunpod, which can be equipped on the central pylon and is optional, meaning you can take a full bomb load if you like. Now the Arado has something to answer its rivals with! Excellent flight characteristics, a decent bomb load, and now a pair of 20 mm cannons with a combined ammo capacity of 400 rounds. With the new damage model, the Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151) becomes an extremely effective strike aircraft for all game modes.
In Air Battles, the Arado will be deceptively capable in the fighter role. The bomber spawn will give it additional altitude and speed over the battlefield, which it can use to engage enemy aircraft during their climb. You may not have realized it before, but the Arado can be deceptively agile at a decent speed. Not close to the level of a single-seat fighter of course, but maneuverable enough to stay on the tail of enemy aircraft and perform light defensive maneuvers.The main weakness of the Arado is the poor acceleration, so make sure to not bleed too much speed, keep your energy high and only turn when necessary — the Arado can do it but it’s still best to avoid becoming too slow. The Arado will work best in the initial stages of the battle, zooming right into the enemy climb path with its altitude advantage. From there you can pick off some fighters and force others to a lower altitude for your team. Once your ammo runs dry you can zip back to the runway to rearm.More consideration should be taken for combined battles however. The gunpod takes up the central pylon, which is where your heaviest bomb sits. Taking the gunpod means reducing the payload to a pair of 500 kg bombs, which is hardly poor, but does mean losing the ability to mount a 1000 kg bomb in the middle.Overall, mounting the gunpod will offer more versatility. You can drop your bombs on the first pass and then keep your eyes peeled for enemy aircraft. Maintaining your speed and staying low will be ideal here, using the terrain to conceal your approach before striking hard and fast.
Developer Comment: The Arado with the WB 151 is a good opportunity to return to the Arado lineup, given the new game modes and updated bomber damage model. In Ground Battles, the Arado 234 B-2 (WB 151) will be able to fully demonstrate its attack capabilities in vehicle lineups featuring King Tigers and late-war SPGs. It’s also useful in Air Battles, as it’s no longer toothless, constantly fleeing prey! It’s a maneuverable and fast bomber with decent frontal armament. Currently, we’re only planning this gunpod to be available on this special variant. It is compatible with the regular Ar 234 B-2 in the tech tree, but the addition of the gunpod would result in a Battle Rating change, and the regular Arado fits very well into the 6.3 lineup and we don’t want to push it out of that range for now.
In the late 1940s, the German Aviation Ministry issued a request for a high-speed, jet-powered reconnaissance aircraft. Arado was the only company to respond, putting forward several designs. Their E.370 proposal was accepted, which would eventually become the Ar 234 B. The first prototype, model V9, flew on March 12th 1944, becoming the basis for the main production variants.The B-2 model was the primary version produced, configured for both bombing and reconnaissance roles. While the initial plans were ambitious, scarce materials and being in direct competition with the Me 262 series for engines slowed the production of the Ar 234 B-2 down considerably. The B-2 model entered front-line service in the autumn of 1944, taking part in the Battle of the Bulge in December.
The Ar 234 saw service until Germany’s surrender on May 8th 1945, with most aircraft destroyed or scrapped. A single example survives today, W.Nr. 140312 was captured at Stavanger-Sola in Norway, and is currently preserved at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.
That’s all for today! Consider picking up this rare modification if you’re interested in early German jets. You can pre-order it starting today, the link for it is above, where you get the vehicle, Premium Account time, Golden Eagles, a title and a decal. In the meantime keep checking in for more blogs, and we’ll see you soon!
Please note that this vehicle’s characteristics may be changed before it is added to the game.