F-14A Early FULL Review - Is It Worth The Grind? The Tomcat Is Good, But Is It Great? [War Thunder]

In this video, I do a full review of the F-14A Early Tomcat - a tier 7 naval jet fighter for the American air tech tree. I go over everything that you need to know before you make a decision on whether or not this plane is worth grinding.
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#warthunder #f14 #f14review

[@uberschnilthegreat22]

You need to use the AIM-54s from high altitude, their large mass and top-down attack method means they need to be in the thinner air to gain more speed and dive down from a suitable position. Staying low limits the speed and attack capability of the Phoenix.

[@sylamy7457]

Yep people seem to forget about air physics in the game.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

Yet we see everyone flying at sea level.

[@goofball1804]

Agreed

[@dosidicusgigas1376]

​@joeis18 i fly my f14 low because of the mig 29, it just has better high altitude bvr missles

[@uberschnilthegreat22]

@@dosidicusgigas1376 Then run Sparrows, you're limiting your performance by operating Phoenixes in low altitude engagements. Their active homing is tantalizing, but not useful at all if the missile can't effectively follow its target.

[@dosidicusgigas1376]

Just so you guys know the f14 has a 5 stage burner (4 stages are modeled in game), if you change throttle with your mouse wheel, lower the axis sensitivity and when you go from 100% to Wep (one notch), the f14 uses fuel saving afterburners, and the more you notch up, the higher the stage goes and the more thrust it puts out. I can be really helpful in air rb or sim/ec maps

[@danielmostert993]

I love the F14 but the stock grind has been brutal so far. I don't think my KD or win rate can recover. 11 times today I was last man standing on a team that had only 2 or 3 kills.

[@hansloyalitat9774]

2 to 3 kills is great, im lucky if I get 1

[@Nubex.]

@@hansloyalitat9774 I think he is talking about the teams total kill count

[@danielmostert993]

@@hansloyalitat9774 2 - 3 for the whole team. those are the matches I could get one kill. they do not include the ones where i wiped out completely.

[@CharliMorganMusic]

Just give them money. It's easier.

[@sussyamongus6754]

Get bombs and just do stuff in sim.

[@isaacramirez3634]

me who only has the P36C as my highest br plane: mmmmmmmmhhh, yes. very useful information... I can only dream to play at these higher BRs

[@DanAlpern]

Enjoy the game at any level; it’s no fun playing higher BR when you are still learning and bonus, it’s cheaper!

[@thatguynk8044]

Don’t get your hopes up too high, matchmaker is basically the American civil war every time, which is kind of boring since its basically been f14 vs f14 since patch day

[@mystic0970]

@@thatguynk8044 this is because everyone is piling on american top tier to get F14. On the first day, I saw 380 players waiting in line at the american top tier.

[@dosidicusgigas1376]

@@DanAlpern do you have any premium aircraft that you can use to grind? I just got the f14 today and I got it by using basically just my a-10 and the phantom. I got deep in to rank V before getting the a-10 though. It still takes some time but its worth it.

[@dwkqdrt85..]

same me to;)

[@daniel_f4050]

The best loadout with our current options is probably going to be one that was very common on Tomcats in the mid to late ‘80s. Two Sidewinders and two Sparrows on the wings, two Phoenix in the forward conformal mounts and a single Sparrow in the center aft conformal slot. Bringing more than two AIM-54 is like trying to carry a car into the dogfight. The Phoenix in game is so far from the real thing that it’s just a really, really heavy AIM-7 that might keep tracking its target at close range. It should boost itself to over 50,000 feet (the missile can not maneuver during the boost phase, it’s a preprogrammed sequence) and then coast toward its target, which should be a heavy bomber or enormous Soviet missile, losing only the minimum altitude required to maintain maneuvering speed. Shooting one at a fighter is just a waste of taxpayer’s money. I’ve got the non-classified launch envelope data around here somewhere, but my guess* is the longer War Thunder engagements might be just at the edge of minimum range. *NOTE: This my my guess based on research I did in the late 1980s for a tabletop air combat game called Air Superiority (designed by JD Webster and published by GDW).

[@johndomino993]

I'll Bring 2 Aim9s' 2 Aim7's and 4 Aim 54's. I first get an altitute about 15k ft. Engage TWS and select my targets. Dump all Aim54's then break away to reengage low targets with Aim7s and Aim9s. Rtb and do it again. I have far more success staying out of the frontline and being methodical than being aggressive looking for all the quick kills.

[@meatisomalley]

Idk why you get the impression that the 54s can only be used against bombers. They were used to great effect in the Iran -Iraq war and are perfectly serviceable for hitting fighters

[@raygunreagan2274]

@@meatisomalley exactly it’s as if most people forget the Iran Iraq war

[@bajablast7741]

Funny how people said the phoenix would break the game, pretty sure the navy fired 2 phoenix’s in combat ever, both exploded a mile in front of the plane that shot them

[@raygunreagan2274]

@@bajablast7741 and the Iran Iraq war doesn’t count or something

[@rm2569]

I've yet to get killed by a phoenix. It just doesn't turn hard enough, and it's very visible, so in air rb even if you don't see it coming if you stay manouvering like normal it'll be hard to hit. I think using aim7f's is just a better deal than the phoenix. It's likely better in sim however.

[@Explorer1964]

The joy of Gijan not modeling Phoenixes right

[@stoyantodorov2133]

Even in sim its easy to dodge if you have rwr.

[@Explorer1964]

@@stoyantodorov2133 An AIM54 in real life can turn extremely hard especially in close range

[@Explorer1964]

The Phoenix in WT is nothing like a real one

[@stoyantodorov2133]

@@Explorer1964 To be fair the missiles in war thunder are mostly accurate. Problem is aircraft that can pull 6-8g irl are easily doing 12-14g in the game. How is a missile supposed to hit such a UFO.

[@andrewalexander9315]

1:48 "get down mr president".

[@spoozufy3359]

glad i wasnt the only one who noticed xd

[@mrperson6963]

love the livery/skins on the f-14. why it wasnt done on all planes getting a starter squadron and getting to upgrade to other units... is something great left undone. i hope the continue this idea as it makes the history of the bird more immersive.

[@kodakmatt4208]

“If you should grind” *me having researched all US Aviation tree* no choice

[@explosivecommando9100]

Its our demise.

[@Luca-kh8zf]

I’m gonna get it, simply because of the movie

[@charlesbowery]

talk to me goose lmfao

[@swynty5767]

This thing would be a lot better with larger maps, And don't know why people are complaining about the aim 54 not being great at engaging fighters, they were mainly developed for shooting down large bombers

[@Fatallydisorganized]

The Iranians proved that although it was designed to hit bombers it is more than maneuverable enough to engage fighter sized targets and was very good at doing so

[@nathanskupowski4726]

I’ve found the Aim-54s to very useful in the 120x120 maps. Seeing as you can use the tws mode and the missiles at ranges and altitudes they where meant to be used at. If I’m not on one of the large maps though. I’m taking the aim7f

[@hiphip4808]

Just use the Aim 7F, they pull a lot harder and have the range for 20km kills, the Aim54 is primarily good for Sim

[@noahsawesomevids422]

Awesome 😎:) the new truck is just ridiculous

[@jedinight235]

I got the F-8E and the F-4J between me and my kitty! Gotta grind some other rank 6 jets before I start the grind though.

[@sparkmyte7097]

will grind for this

[@canaanhilderbrandzapata4801]

We need a 2v2 mode or something to simulate more realistic strategies.

[@finnrandler2131]

That F-4 at 1:52 was like “Mister President get down!”

[@_r3kt_792]

Hey tank, just saying if you wanna do a good cinematic view of aircraft or tanks, i recommend setting up relative control settings on your camera, it makes the camera movement really smooth.

[@Tankenstein]

Thank you! I'll look into it!

[@_r3kt_792]

@@Tankenstein i have a friend who made a video on it, its pretty easy, just that you dont hold it or tap it, you tap it once and youll go at a certain speed, just that you might wanna set up reset movement buttons for that.

[@mrjamesho]

It's not the plane. It's the pilot.

[@lazaruslazybones]

You didn't mention the F-14A 5 stage afterburner, yes it burns fuel if you use full afterburner, but if you want to keep afterburning constantly, use its stage one or stage 2 afterburner.

[@NXBXD]

It's definitely worth getting 💯

[@ThePeanut999]

All my gauges say coll 0% now after the update. Doesn't even show my speed. Only engine temps. Love it.

[@mrpineapples4752]

Same

[@mar3869]

If they game proceeds forward in time to say early 90s, The F-14D variant was a fighter bomber and used smart bombs while still being a capable fighter.

[@aurabanda6144]

I have no way to prove it, but I think that I'm the player on the far right at the front! I only had Aim 9D's and the plane loadout looked similar! It was my only game cuz matchmaking...

[@silver_sky_plays]

The F-14 in War Thunder is exactly what it was in real life; a deadly fighter in the hands of a pilot who knows how to use it. And it is totally worthless in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use it. Same as most fighters. The Tomcat is not an "invincible airplane" as I have seen some people in other places. No aircraft is. Like I said before, it's effectiveness is entirely dependent on the pilot. Personally, I love this plane.

[@fate3071]

I've probably killed more F-14's than any other jet so far using the F5, with other F5's being my biggest threat

[@mannysamson4091]

I barely started the game, bought an A10, and grinded from rank 1 in 14 days, 2 hours. I ain't even doing to bad in rank 7 so far. 1 guaranteed kill. And yeah, the AIM 54's are hard to use.

[@robrob3325]

It sounds like they wont fully give it irl stats so that cold war era jets and tanks dont get blown apart

[@the_burger]

Facing it with MiG-21 SMT is a nightmare

[@bpmgaming3351]

While I am grinding for the F-14, I REALLY want the F-16's that are in the game now. That's two whole more F's.

[@E_Bro]

Could you please do a video on the new plane UI cuz I don't understand it at all :D

[@PNolandS]

I can’t imagine it’s worth the grind. Unless it’s flawless in every single way, there’s no way it’s worth spending a year of your time to get to it.

[@bogingathedolphinking2802]

A week*

[@kcz1093]

this goes for every aircraft. Every past top tier aircraft has a meta / flavour of the month phase before being replaced another new top tier vehicle that replaces it as meta. This cycle will continue until Gajin runs out of vehicles to add.

[@anishthefish463]

I grinded it in 1 day no priemium

[@michalherman15]

@@bogingathedolphinking2802 a week from tier 1 f14 it self few hours

[@D4RKMA7TER]

if you're actually good and get the F5C you can get it in decent time

[@Cutetomato62]

I don’t feel like grinding hopefully gajin will let people test fly whatever they want.

[@braydonzalewski2362]

On sim maps the phoenix is better because most people climb. The tomcat is a high altitude interceptor and should be played that way. Even in ec maps you should only bring 1-2 aim 54s because they weigh a lot and once you close the distance gap they become useless.

[@sageg58]

now that we have the f-14s war i need its wRC+ to see how good it really is please

[@jamestriplett5854]

my question on all these planes is - how bad will the grind be with it when you don't have all the upgrades

[@shminkydinky321]

i can confirm it’s absolute hell without upgrades trying to grind

[@neftalisantana6276]

I second this, I went for flares first then aim 7es before heading for compressor

[@PhanchaiSiam555]

No grind. You can just buy it

[@raygunreagan2274]

The stock grind is pure pain

[@jamestriplett5854]

@@raygunreagan2274 reminds me of when i got that german mig-23- i still haven't spaded it because it feels so gimped when stock

[@smippycis6285]

Maverickstein lmao. And damn is top tier air just F14's now? Did a lot of people just buy their way?

[@NXBXD]

If they did it's their money 🤷‍♂️

[@Tankenstein]

It's about 1/4 to 2/3 F-14s on any given team. Most people don't have them spaded yet, though.

[@noahsawesomevids422]

@@Tankenstein lol I have seen noobs buying there way to 5.3 and 7.3 br in ground and sometimes 8.0 br and the people who buy there way to these br .. makes my grind easier:)

[@NXBXD]

@@noahsawesomevids422 100% agree I can't complain about them buying it because it's their money but with the buying the vehicle and don't know how to play at top br jets it's just makes it easier for everyone else that's been playing and took the time to learn..

[@ameliaraevert611]

I got awhile to go before I can fly this legend

[@Sir_Cactus]

One thing is for sure: It is the most beautiful plane in game by far!

[@chimpswag3492]

It’s crazy how this comment was made at a time where people couldn’t even fathom the idea of the f16 or mig29 coming within 5 months

[@Sir_Cactus]

@@chimpswag3492 The F14 is still the most beautiful plane. I personaly think the F16 is quite ugly and the Mig29 just can not compete with the F14s elegance. So, purely aesteticly, F14 is king and will always be

[@Rex6b2001]

How is your rada locking enemy’s. My can’t see them oven they are 10km away. The only locks I get is with the „BEYOND visual range“ lock which works within 9km for some reason. Even the F4J can lock from 19 cm with pd in this mode

[@harryshuman9637]

The new meta gameplay of top tier jets is missile jousting. It's fucking nuts.

[@ReepsWasteOfTime]

One more thing, engines burn at over 1000°c I believe so aim9L will track through flares and such

[@sugarflame1833]

I wish I had teammates like that 1:48

[@fqeagles21]

IRL F-14 Had AIM-9L and newer version i think

[@Wintertime74]

I want the GI Joe Sky Striker skin for it

[@bmcrey8163]

me who only has the p47: that information is not anything for me

[@bajablast7741]

Pretty my sure the US Navy only shot the Phoenix in combat twice during its lifetime, both times the missle blew up like a few miles from the plane that shot them, people acted like they were gonna be amraams , and they aren’t

[@ohiostatebuckeye9748]

The Iranians actually got lots of kills with their phoenix missiles, on their f-14. They still have some of the top modern air aces.

[@hecunt3633]

Yeah because the Libyan aircraft ran away, iirc

[@topphatt1312]

Me, just moving on to Rank IV in American Ground forces: th-th-the grind? You say?

[@YouShallNotAskformyName]

Im on xbox and 120k away from f14.. Since im xbox and cant use MK atm i wont be able to use all features of it due to key limitation

[@sergentredneckkerthanyou7860]

I have a question why does it get 205kg sparrows instead of dogfight? The aim7e the ones that the f4e got first?

[@akirasean4080]

I notice the sound of bells, is that your pet dog?

[@Orangefan77]

Or Santa Claus brought him the F-14A early for Christmas...

[@spaceartist1272]

Danger zone!

[@daveshilling6610]

In the controls wht do I need to change to be able to change my radar?

[@braydenwoll]

Anyone else’s speed and height measurements get replaced with coll after the update? No idea how to fix it.

[@justinsmith9135]

Yeah people are pissing me off with them flying the 14. My team literally all dies within the first minute. It’s ridiculous. BuT iTs Op, NeEdS NeRfEd!!

[@politicalmonkeyfan]

if it means getting back at mld's for the short time before the mixed battles kick in (mostly already mixed), im all for it

[@Buttlicker-xd6ct]

F14 to 12.0

[@Blueesteel_]

I’ve been getting spanked in my stock f14 lol

[@rudeelk7042]

I don't want to be goose, I like my head intact thank you very much

[@bad_pilot13official]

By the time i get to the f14 everyone else will already have gotten the NGAD lmao

[@mr.abrams8112]

Anyone know why my speed and altitude ingame and in testdrive are coll, and doesnt give me a number

[@aaronbowe9523]

Are the aim 9h better than the 9g? I’ve seen to get more kills or better performance out of the g

[@oriolguerrero1702]

The H just has a slightly upgraded seeker head meaning that it wont loose lock with countermeasures as easily but is still pretty much the same

[@ollilaine6763]

@@oriolguerrero1702 The H also has a better track rate and it should pull more Gs due to more powerful actuators. Let's see how long it takes for Gaijin to buff it.

[@oriolguerrero1702]

@@ollilaine6763 im in no Rush, im just at the second F8 and on final exams so it Will surely get patched before im anywhere near the F14 hahah

[@cristobalalvarez5491]

They didn’t even fix its radar and the aim 54 should have 30g in supersonic and 15g in hypersonic

[@verzache-]

Already complaining for buffs for the f14

[@hecunt3633]

probably the c he's speaking about idk

[@adspie]

Where did you get your jolly roger skin?

[@aweirdthing7781]

lets just say R.I.P to top tier sim

[@duckiray7081]

Maverick n goose lol

[@sparkmyte7097]

love it

[@abhishekverma-tg5jk]

speed and altitude not showing on top left what to do ?

[@morzik12345]

super bummed this isn't part of a paid premiujm. Test flying higher-tier jets is the most fun i get out of War thunder

[@correnmonroe201]

Bro what

[@Lillspratt]

Ive won many dogfights against the Tomcat with my viggen.

[@marksmith2402]

Yeah, no contest. The first phoenix missile I faced got me in my J29F unaware, came back in the Viggen and caught him losing too much energy on a turn - twice. He came back in with a backup so I could do it again.

[@ImCxlt]

Will there be a premium tomcat? I’m considering buying an f5 but am hesitant. And if so, around when would that be?

[@kamo8073]

A god dam long time, if they do it will be when a new rank of aircraft are added

[@FrickinRod]

i have barley played this game. DCS has always been my thing but with the tomcat in the game i wanna try it out. i know the game is really grindy. is there anyway to just buy the jet? thanks

[@justalittlebreezy6184]

You got to buy the tech tree out or grind it for years ether way it's not worth that kind of money lol

[@IndigenousRealGuy]

bit of a late response but if you buy the F5C pack and have A LOT of free time you can grind out the Tomcat in about two weeks. I just did a B-Line dash to the plane and i got it after like 1 week since i already had some progress in the tree

[@FrickinRod]

@@IndigenousRealGuy i can grind out the lower end of the tech tree with an f5?

[@addyboi8493]

Just wondering, but in test flight the f14s engines have no sound for me, anyone else got this?

[@raussie]

Biggest pro about this aircraft is that it is cool as hell obviously... 😂

[@brecibros2469]

Ii need over 5 mil sl to get to it. This gonna suck

[@diegok2245]

What’s the best weapon load that I should carry for air to air

[@Klaus_Klavier]

I use two 9H, four 7F, two 54s

[@diegok2245]

@@Klaus_Klavier I tried that loadout and it’s insane

[@Klaus_Klavier]

@@diegok2245 gives you a good mix of everything. Allows a good chance of a kill long range with the Phoenix missiles, then allows you to use the sparrows after mid range.

[@Shin_Arknights]

Top gun beginner plane is F14 Tomcat

[@zapp3r504]

im 13 thousand research away and i got 2.4 million. im so close

[@mattin5850]

Is it worth the talisman?

[@agescospreader]

After update the game lag so mutch. Impossible to play. I have all at minimal setting video but game lag. Quit game

[@19DESERTFOX91]

My question is how in the world did so many noobs to top tier jets get it so quick? I mean did these guys really spend thousands or more golden eagles? And still have SL to buy their way up? It's so obvious most all of them don't know how to play top tier, their jet, or even the game itself. Plus they nearly all run aim54s so once the furball happens being noobs no real missles. I've been clapping f14s left and right in my EJ Kai... until that once actually good f14 pilots shows up lol.

[@keegzter]

anyone else having trouble getting a radar lock with the f14?

[@Christian-nh8ue]

yes! and its not just the f14 on my game. i am losing lock with all planes that have radar. if i even slightly turn my plane the green square just slides off the target:(

[@germansherman3839]

Quick answer is yes

[@paulbrown3302]

They put focus on one aircraft as having weaponry no one else has yet, why not drop a mig-31 vs f-14 update?!?! How’s it fair to just drop one aircraft for one tree of one country then the rest be premium, shitty aircraft. The sagittario 2 is literal dogshit at its rank lmao it’s like a 7.0, they need to put more work in for a ‘major’ update. All my high tier keybinds are fucking changed to something new too….

[@larshenrik8900]

MiG-31 would be worthless in Warthunder

[@hecunt3633]

notice how small maps are??/how quickly it devolves into a low altitude missile orgy??

[@derekanderson8279]

Hi

[@fastgoodkiwi9570]

hello

[@Luca-kh8zf]

Hi

[@lafouche345]

Ok …. Where is chat ?

[@PhanchaiSiam555]

They disabled it again.

[@jd4200mhz]

the planes in this game, are horribel inacurate

[@purplenurp5590]

Who is ready to be a mig 23 pleb against these f-14s?

[@SubToMe218]

Kiki

[@Diamond-dl3wu]

F5 aircraft works for me the best f14 is too complex for me

[@VulcanXIV]

What grind? Lol

[@panKowalski597]

So you get this amazing airplane, and decide to dump your missiles into yak bots, and go head-on with people? Bad video

[@thehorsecockexpress1068]

Get DCS, this game is a worse looking version of ace combat

[@PhanchaiSiam555]

Phönix missiles are piece of shit and hit nothing. Had 20 games, launch maybe 50 Phönix missiles and hit 1 plane. LOOOOOL. The fuel is also not correct. I load fuel for 30min and could fly not even 10min. Bombing is good. But that I can do also with the F105D. My winrate is 33% is with the F14. LOOOOOL. With the Harrier 55%. Better play the Harrier.

[@PhanchaiSiam555]

By the way the Phönix missiles and aim 7h missiles are not documented in the war Thunder wiki. And the game is buggy. I flew around and see ghost planes on my screen. They was 20km away and how I look around the position of the planes move in the same way I look around. And they deactivated the chat again. Yesterday I could sent team mates a message and the forums was working. Today again all dead

[@PhanchaiSiam555]

What is playing F14?: Starting. Climb up. Launch a missile. Hit a missile Next game. LOOOOOL. Nice game.