https://wiki.warthunder.com/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=U60172176&feedformat=atomWar Thunder Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T05:02:38ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.30.0https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=M18_GMC&diff=107703M18 GMC2021-07-27T12:18:38Z<p>U60172176: Added context to M79 shot, which originally had a higher penetration than M62 before the introduction of the penetration calculator</p>
<hr />
<div>{{About<br />
| about = American light tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = M18 Hellcat (Family)<br />
}}<br />
{{Specs-Card<br />
|code=us_m18_hellcat<br />
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''', also known as the '''{{Specs|pseudonym}}''', is a rank {{Specs|rank}} American light tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory"]]. It was categorized as a [[:Category:Tank_destroyers|tank destroyer]] since its in-game introduction, but it was recategorized into a [[:Category:Light_tanks|light tank]] during [[Update "Ixwa Strike"]] on [[wt:en/game/changelog/current/1240|07 May 2021]].<br />
<br />
The M18 "Hellcat" was the epitome of the American tank destroyer doctrine, it was very fast, very mobile, and has a powerful gun, though with a large trade-off with only 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) of armour.<br />
<br />
The M18 "Hellcat" compensates the lack of anti-tank capability on U.S vehicles by having access to a 76 mm gun with APCR ammunition, all in the battle rating of 5.7. This makes the M18 able to fight off many of the high-ranking vehicles it could face like the [[Panther D|Panther D]], [[Tiger H1|Tiger H1]], [[KV-1_(ZiS-5)|KV-1]], [[KV-85]], and [[IS-1]].<br />
<br />
Unlike the other tank destroyers known in the game, the M18 "Hellcat" has access to a 360° traversable turret, allowing players to have a greater arc of fire than a typical casemate tank destroyer like the [[StuG III G|StuG III]], but at the expense of a slightly higher profile. Americans tank destroyers also have very high manoeuvrability compared to other nation's tank destroyers, allowing it to flank the enemy.<br />
<br />
The main weak point of M18 is its very thin armour, a feature that actually allows the M18 to reach its high speed. The thin armour makes it possible for any enemy tanks to penetrate the vehicle. A single hit would destroy many critical components in the M18 or cripple the crew. The only saving grace with this extremely thin ammunition is that standard AP rounds may over-penetrate the armour, doing minimal damage to the internals. Thus, when facing the M18, it's best to use AP rounds with explosive fillers or HE and HEAT rounds while avoiding usage of pure AP rounds and APCR.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armour}}<br />
<!-- ''Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat? If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.'' --><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Gun mantlet)<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front (Slope angle) !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 12.7 mm (39-64°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 12.7 mm (23-52°) ''Lower glacis'' || 12.7 mm (23-26°) ''Top'' <br> 12.7 mm ''Bottom'' || 12.7 mm (12°) ''Top'' <br> 12.7 mm (36°) ''Bottom'' || 8 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 25.4 mm (15-26°) ''Turret front'' <br> 19 mm + 25.4 mm (0-55°) ''Gun mantlet''|| 12.7 mm (1-21°) || 12.7 mm (7°) || N/A ''Open-top'' <br> 8 mm ''Bustle and Front''<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels and tracks are 15 mm thick.<br />
* Belly armour is 5 mm thick.<br />
* The hull underside right above the tracks are only 8 mm thick.<br />
* Tracks are attached the turret rear, granting some 15 mm in thickness.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Mobility}}<br />
<!-- ''Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.'' --><br />
<br />
{{tankMobility|abMinHp=568|rbMinHp=354}}<br />
<br />
=== Modifications and economy ===<br />
{{Specs-Economy}}<br />
<br />
As with every ground vehicle, Parts and FPE are an absolute top priority. Following that, depending on player preferences, one of 3 should be researched: Horizontal Drive (close-range, flanking), Suspension (medium-range) or Adjustment of Fire (long-range of a typical engagements). Following this the goal is to get rank IV mobility improvements in order Filters -> Engine -> Transmission. On rank III, along the way, the Crew Replenishment should be prioritized, as its an open-top vehicle, so it will suffer significant causalities from enemy airplanes. If your preferred engagement range is above 700m then the Elevation Mechanism should be researched. Otherwise: Mobility upgrades are the most important, shells are the lowest priority, as even the situational advantage of the M93 shot is not worth researching over improved mobility, or even accuracy.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Armaments}}<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|1}}<br />
<!-- ''Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.'' --><br />
{{main|M1 (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
76 mm M1 is an extremely capable gun with a high damage potential and a very good gun handling. It can be found on tanks used up to battle rating 6.0, making it one of the most widely used guns throughout the battle ratings and with M18 being the first tanks to use it - it gives it a very high staying power throughout battle ratings. Once upgraded, the turret has very fair guidance in both: horizontal and vertical axis allowing to quickly catch pot-shots, though given exceptional mobility of the platform even it struggles to catch up with the near-instant hull rotation.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M1 (76 mm)|76 mm M1]] || colspan="5" | Turret rotation speed (°/s) || colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! Mode !! Capacity !! Vertical !! Horizontal !! Stabilizer<br />
! Stock !! Upgraded !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
! Stock !! Full !! Expert !! Aced<br />
|-<br />
! ''Arcade''<br />
| rowspan="2" | 45 || rowspan="2" | -10°/+20° || rowspan="2" | ±180° || rowspan="2" | N/A || 21.13 || 29.25 || 35.52 || 39.28 || 41.79 || rowspan="2" | 7.93 || rowspan="2" | 7.02 || rowspan="2" | 6.47 || rowspan="2" | 6.10<br />
|-<br />
! ''Realistic''<br />
| 14.28 || 16.80 || 20.40 || 22.56 || 24.00<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Ammunition ====<br />
M18 comes with an exceptionally good stock shell, allowing it to unleash its full potential pretty much right off the bat. Additional unlocks are more specialized.<br />
<br />
* M62 shell - {{Annotation|APCBC|Armour-Piercing Capped Ballistic Capped}} - The best anti-tank shell, also the stock round. It has very good penetration and an excellent post-penetration effect.<br />
* M42A1 shell - {{Annotation|HE|High-Explosive fragmentation shell}} - The best round for dealing with unarmored targets or unarmored sections of vehicles. It should be used carefully, as everything over 10 mm armour can negate its effects. Typically M62 is superior.<br />
* M79 shot - {{Annotation|AP|Armour-Piercing}} - Round inferior in every way to the M62, it's in-game largely for historical reasons. This round originally had a higher penetration than M62, but introduction of the penetration calculator reduced its penetration below that of M62.<br />
* M93 shot - {{Annotation|APCR|Armour-Piercing Composite Rigid shell}} - Round trades a significantly lower post-penetration effect for a 20% increase in penetration and flatter flight path.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration @ 0° Angle of Attack (mm)'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10 m !! 100 m !! 500 m !! 1,000 m !! 1,500 m !! 2,000 m<br />
|-<br />
| M62 shell || APCBC || 149 || 146 || 133 || 119 || 106 || 95<br />
|-<br />
| M42A1 shell || HE || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7 || 7<br />
|-<br />
| M79 shot || AP || 134 || 132 || 121 || 109 || 99 || 89<br />
|-<br />
| M93 shot || APCR || 190 || 186 || 167 || 146 || 128 || 112<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="10" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" | Type of<br>warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" | Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse delay<br>(m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Fuse sensitivity<br>(mm)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
! colspan="3" | Ricochet<br />
|-<br />
! 0% !! 50% !! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| M62 shell || APCBC || 792 || 7 || 1.2 || 14 || 63.7 || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| M42A1 shell || HE || 800 || 5.84 || 0 || 0.1 || 390 || 79° || 80° || 81°<br />
|-<br />
| M79 shot || AP || 792 || 6.8 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 47° || 60° || 65°<br />
|-<br />
| M93 shot || APCR || 1,036 || 4.22 || N/A || N/A || N/A || 66° || 70° || 72°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke shell characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity<br>(m/s)<br />
! Projectile<br>Mass (kg)<br />
! Screen radius<br>(m)<br />
! Screen deploy time<br>(s)<br />
! Screen hold time<br>(s)<br />
! Explosive Mass<br>(TNT equivalent) (g)<br />
|-<br />
| M88 || 274 || 3.44 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== [[Ammo racks]] ====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_{{PAGENAME}}.png|right|thumb|x250px|[[Ammo racks]] of the {{PAGENAME}}]]<br />
<!-- '''Last updated:''' --><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Full<br>ammo<br />
! 1st<br>rack empty<br />
! 2nd<br>rack empty<br />
! 3rd<br>rack empty<br />
! 4th<br>rack empty<br />
! 5th<br>rack empty<br />
! Visual<br>discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''45''' || 37&nbsp;''(+8)'' || 27&nbsp;''(+18)'' || 17&nbsp;''(+28)'' || 9&nbsp;''(+36)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+44)'' || No<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Turret empty: 37&nbsp;''(+8)''<br />
<br />
When fighting in downtiers it's best to take only 17 shells, which allows the turret and sides of the tank to be empty of shells, notably increasing survivability. Otherwise, it doesn't matter how many rounds are loaded, as most hits against the tank will prove deadly regardless.<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
{{Specs-Tank-Weapon|2}}<br />
<!-- ''Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.'' --><br />
{{main|M2HB (12.7 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | [[M2HB (12.7 mm)|12.7 mm M2HB]]<br />
|-<br />
! Mount !! Capacity (Belt) !! Fire rate !! Vertical !! Horizontal<br />
|-<br />
| Pintle || 800 (200) || 576 || -10°/+70° || ±60°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --><br />
Before all, avoid colourful or bright decals. Camouflage is the main part of the M18's defence. Chances for good performance in battle are: be "invisible", fast and effective.<br />
<br />
The M18's speed is its best ally. This speed has to be used for flanking manoeuvres and relocate. Not for trying to cross an open field, that will leave it open to enemy fire, speed is not a substitute for armour.<br />
<br />
'''Relocate:'''<br />
<br />
* This movement will have to be done again and again. Choose a good spot wisely, remove the foliage if necessary to get a clear field of fire. When in the fire spot, use the gun depression and stay in a hull-down position until a target is located. Once a target is locked on, aim at critical components. Try to immobilize the enemy by firing at the engine or transmission, or remove their firepower by shooting the gun or breech, or for instant destruction with a shot to the ammo storage. The last option can work very well or not, as skilled players only carry a few rounds of ammo.<br />
<br />
* If positive that the enemy hasn't discovered the firing spot, go for another shot. Stay attentive that none of the enemy's teammates has also located the firing spot. If detected, hide immediately and relocate.<br />
<br />
'''Flanking:'''<br />
<br />
* Flanking is the most dangerous manoeuvre of all because the vehicle will have to be exposed as it moves to the enemy's rear, but it is very effective when it's coordinated with other vehicles. A distraction is needed to gain the enemy's attention while the M18 makes its move. Isolated enemy units are very vulnerable to this tactic. Using the M18 speed to get to the rear and as the enemy heads toward the objective, the firing perspective should give a very clear view of the enemy's side armour. A good shot with the M62 APCBC shell could knock out the enemy rather quickly, but if using solid AP shots like the M79, aim at critical components on mobility and firepower before knocking out the crew or ammo stowage.<br />
<br />
'''Avoid flat terrain'''<br />
<br />
* Flat terrain means that the Hellcat will become an easy target for virtually any vehicle by exposure, especially when not moving or when moving in a straight line. Open plains are the bane of the Hellcat. Whenever possible, one should try to stay amongst hills.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Overall mobility is superb, with very responsive manoeuvring that allows the Hellcat to excel in flanking manoeuvres<br />
* Fast reload speed and turret traverse<br />
* Stock APCBC round has great penetration and lots of explosive fillers, rarely requiring more than one penetrating shot to kill common tanks like M4, Cromwell, [[Tiger H1]] or [[Panzer V Panther (Family)|Panther]]<br />
* Low profile, reducing target size and allows it to hide behind small bushes or rocks easily<br />
* The nature of its thin armour means AP rounds have a tendency to pass straight through without damaging modules, and an APHE fuze may not even be triggered. For example the Russian 122mm will over-penetrate, dealing little damage<br />
* Is one of, if not the best, vehicle at climbing hills, particularly at steep angles<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Thin armour means rapid-fire autocannons, heavy machine guns, and aerial weapons could easily shred it. Beware of the [[R3 T20 FA-HS]], [[IL-2 (Family)|IL-2]] and [[ZSD63]]!<br />
* Commander is exposed at the 0.50 calibre machine gun mount, and knocking him out would render the weapon useless<br />
* Open-top construction means aerial strikes and artillery could rain havoc onto the crew<br />
* Gun has poor penetration in an uptier, often can't penetrate anything frontally unless hitting a weak spot. The [[Ho-Ri Production|Ho-Ri]], [[Tiger II (H)]] and [[M26 (Family)|M26]] are frontally immune to this 76mm M1.<br />
* A moment of immobility due to a damaged engine or transmission could be a sign of impending doom for the M18<br />
* HEAT or HE shells can cause the vehicle to be over pressurized and destroy the vehicle instantly, even if it wasn't aimed at a critical spot.<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
<br />
===US Tank Destroyer Doctrine===<br />
The self-propelled anti-tank doctrine established by the US military called for fast, powerful vehicles able to stop the German blitzkrieg tactics by ambushing the attacking tank forces. This doctrine, known as the "Tank Destroyer Doctrine", called for anti-tank forces to be held in reserve to blunt the massed Panzer attacks that many in the War Department believed was the key to German victory in France in 1940. The concentration of antitank weaponry away from the frontline was eventually determined to be an unnecessary weakness, and the solution was to keep a few anti-tank guns in the front-line as the first defence, while a large reserve of mobile tank destroyers would move in at the location where a German tank breakthrough is happening to ambush and destroy the enemy forces. This role led to the desire for a fast vehicle with a powerful gun and mobility. Minimal emphasis was placed on armour, as the doctrinal role of tank destroyers was to respond rapidly to an enemy armoured breakthrough; heavy armour would only hinder a timely response. The development of a purpose-built tank destroyer languished in bureaucratic limbo for the early years of the war (a delay caused by poor designs such as the M5 Cletrac and bureaucratic infighting between the various departmental cliques), and consequently, the majority of self-propelled tank destroyers were expedients derived from the M4 Sherman chassis. The most common tank destroyer was the [[M10 GMC|M10 GMC]], made from the [[M4A2|M4 Sherman]] hull and armed with a 3-inch M1918 gun. Although perfectly capable and welcome addition for frontline forces, it was no faster than an ordinary Sherman tank. The tank destroyers would in 1944 finally receive their purpose-built self-propelled tank destroyer in 1944: the M18 Hellcat.<ref name="ZalogaM18" /><br />
<br />
===Development===<br />
The origin of the M18 design came as early as December 1941 with the requirement of a Christie suspension and a 37 mm gun. This requirement called for a radical new tank design rather than a derivative of the [[M4|M4 Sherman]]. These requirements changed as the war progressed, the first change was to the new and innovative Torsion bar suspension from Buick Motor Division from General Motors and another change was to mount the British [[Ordnance_QF_6-pounder_Mk.III_(57_mm)|QF 6-pounder gun]] then in use on their [[Churchill_Mk_III|Churchill Mark III]] tanks, the developed prototype vehicle was called the ''T49 GMC''. Then the US Army wanted the heavier [[M3_(75_mm)|75 mm gun]] used on the Shermans on it, this prototype was designated the ''T67 GMC''. Finally, the army decided to mount the [[M1_(76_mm)|76 mm gun]] also in development for the Sherman onto the prototype, now known as ''T70 GMC''. Changes to hull shape and turret took place to accommodate all these new requirements and armament, but it eventually was approved for service and finally renamed as the '''M18 GMC''' and started production in mid-1943, which went on until ending in October 1944 with 2,507 units produced. A variant called the ''M39 Armored Utility Vehicle'' was also produced, its turret was removed for space for cargo, 8 personnel, or to tow guns.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
These vehicles saw combat debut in the summer of 1944, where they are given the unofficial nickname '''"Hellcat"''' by the crews using them. Unlike the [[M10 GMC|M10 tank destroyer]] that was built before it, the M18 GMC was purely made for emphasis on speed. Armour was restricted down to a maximum of 1-inch (25 mm) on the turret front while the rest of the body plating is a measly .50-inches thick (12.7 mm). The turret was also an open-top design similar to the M10 tank destroyer, meaning the crew are left exposed to the elements and enemy fire and shrapnel. These faults were mitigated by the fact that as its role as a tank destroyer, it was to have minimum contact with infantry and ambush enemy tanks in concealed position rather than face them in an offensive operation. Nevertheless, the M18 GMC was well-liked by the crew for its 76 mm cannon, which allows it to destroy the newer German [[Tiger H1|Tiger Is]] and [[Panther D|Panthers]] tanks from the front with HVAP ammo (though the Panther at close range only) when unable to flank around to the side or rear of these tanks. The speed was also astounding, reaching 55 miles per hour maximum, this makes the M18 GMC the fastest armoured fighting vehicle in World War II.<br />
<br />
While use in the Pacific theatre was limited due to the inadequate armour of Japanese tanks, it saw most of its service in the European theatre against Nazi Germany. Due to the lack in armour and emphasis on speed, the M18 crews utilize the "shoot and scoot" tactic in attacking the enemy from one position and quickly move to another before the enemy could find their initial firing position, this tactic confuses the German tanks, and could even lead them to believe there is more armoured enemy than what it appears. The M18 GMCs were present during the Battle of Arracourt in France as the 704th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Lt. Edwin Leiper led an M18 platoon of C Company and in the battle knocked a total of 15 German tanks for the loss of three M18; six of these German tank kills, most of which were Panthers, were credited to one M18 led by Sgt Henry R. Hartman. The M18 also played a crucial part in the Battle of the Bulge, where its top speed of 55 mph was finally put to good use in bypassing the enemy forces. Four M18 tank destroyers of the 705th Tank Destroyer Battalion assisted the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in attacking the 2nd Panzer Divison and their support to kill the fuel lines to the German tanks. The overall attack had the M18 GMC credited with at least 24 tank kills of the 30 total inflicted in the attack.<br />
<br />
===Legacy===<br />
Overall, the M18 GMC proved itself by having the highest kill-to-loss ratio to any other tanks and tank destroyer in American service, making it the most effective tank destroyer in American service. However, like its other tank destroyer brethren, it soon found itself obsolete along with the entire tank destroyer doctrine. Mainly due to increasing prevalence of well-armoured tanks that could do its job more efficiently such as the [[M26|M26 Pershing]], but also the lack of German AFVs at the time of the war and a study on ammo usage indicates that the tank destroyers spent more time supporting infantry with high-explosive shells than killing tanks with armour-piercing, rendering the anti-tank section an unnecessary component in the modernizing armoured forces.<br />
<br />
Today, some countries in the world such as Yugoslavia still have the M18 Hellcats in reserves.<br />
<br />
=== In-game description ===<br />
A self-propelled artillery/tank destroyer mount based on the M24 tank. It was part of the American arsenal during World War II. It was produced from the middle of 1943 to October, 1944 and was used in combat operations in Italy and northern Europe. Its primary gun was the M1 76mm cannon, as was the case with late-model Sherman tanks. This tank destroyer featured very light armor, but the M18 was nevertheless the fastest armored vehicle in World War II.<br />
<br />
The Hellcat was the most effective anti-tank SPG in the American army despite its extreme vulnerability and the fact that its 76mm cannon was unable to penetrate the armor of late German tanks. The vehicle stood out for its speed and maneuverability. Able to accelerate and change direction quickly, the Hellcat could easily outflank German tanks or even get behind them, whereas the rotation speed of the German tanks was not fast enough to attack the M18 and the M1 cannon could penetrate the enemy's weak points with relative ease.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=usa&vehicleType=tank&vehicleClass=light_tank&vehicle=us_m18_hellcat Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|MMbI22Uya8A|A M18 Hellcat at the Big Sandy Shootout in 2011}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/760/ [Devblog<nowiki>]</nowiki> M18 and M18 'Black Cat']<br />
* [https://warthunder.com/en/news/3448/current/ [Vehicle Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> As fast as deadly: The M18 Hellcat]<br />
* [http://warthunder.com/en/news/3772-profile-m18-gun-motor-carriage-hellcat-en/ [Profile<nowiki>]</nowiki> M18 Gun Motor Carriage – Hellcat]<br />
<br />
=== References ===<br />
<references><br />
<ref name="ZalogaM18">Zaloga Steven. ''M18 Hellcat Tank Destroyer 1943-97'' Great Britain: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 2004</ref><br />
</references><br />
<br />
{{TankManufacturer Buick}}<br />
{{USA light tanks}}</div>U60172176https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=M2_Browning_(12.7_mm)&diff=88923M2 Browning (12.7 mm)2021-01-05T03:06:55Z<p>U60172176: added belt composition for late-war universal belt</p>
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<div>{{About<br />
| about = aircraft mounted '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| other<br />
| usage-1 = the vehicle mounted variant<br />
| link-1 = M2HB (12.7 mm)<br />
| usage-2 = other uses<br />
| link-2 = M2 (Disambiguation)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --><br />
There are 4 version of the M2 Browning in War Thunder. The "early" M2 does not have API bullets. The "mid" M2 is identical to the early M2, but with access to API bullets. The "late" M2 has access to more effective belts, has better accuracy, overheats slower, and a slightly higher RoF. The British have their own variant that is similar to the "mid" version but with different bullets (for example the API for the American gun is different from the British API).<br />
<br />
The turreted variants of the M2 Browning are also separated into the "mid" version, the "late" version, and the British version. The only difference between the "mid" and "late" variants are the belt composition. The British version yet again has different bullets, but is otherwise identical to the American versions.<br />
<br />
The DGP-1 gunpods are composed of 4 "late" M2's.<br />
<br />
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===<br />
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' --><br />
<br />
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with early M2}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|CW-21}}{{Specs-Link|cw_21}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F2A}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-1_thach}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f2a-3}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F3F}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f3f-2_galer}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F4F}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4f-4_martlet_mk4}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-26}}{{Specs-Link|p-26a_34_m2}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-36}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36a_rasmussen}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-36g}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-39}}{{Specs-Link|p-39k_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39n_su}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-39q_15}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-40}}{{Specs-Link|p-40c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40c_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40e_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40f-5_france_ep}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-40f_10}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-66}}{{Specs-Link|p-66}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-400}}{{Specs-Link|p-400}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|yp-38}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|a-20g}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbd-1_1938}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with mid M2}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F4U}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|corsair_fmk2}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_japan}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1a_usmc}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-1d}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F6F}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-3}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f6f-5n_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|hellcat_fmk1}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-43}}{{Specs-Link|p-43a-1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-43a-1_china}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-51}}{{Specs-Link|p-51a_tl}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51c-10-nt}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-63}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-5_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63a-10_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_kingcobra_animal_version}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-63c-5_ussr}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|XP-55}}{{Specs-Link|xp-55}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F7F}}{{Specs-Link|f7f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f7f3}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-38}}{{Specs-Link|p-38e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38g_metal}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38j_marge}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38k}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l_1_china_rocaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-61}}{{Specs-Link|p-61a_1}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-61c_1}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|VB.10}}{{Specs-Link|vb_10_02}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|XF5F}}{{Specs-Link|xf5f}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|XP-50}}{{Specs-Link|xp-50}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|a-20g}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b_10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26b}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1h}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pbj_1j}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|xa_38}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|A-26}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|a-26c-45-dt}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|A-29}}{{Specs-Link|a_29_hudson}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|A-35}}{{Specs-Link|a-35b}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|B-17}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e_japan}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|B-24}}{{Specs-Link|b_24d}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2_china}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pb4y-2_france}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|B-25}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_20}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|b_25j_30_vvs_ussr}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|B-34}}{{Specs-Link|b_34}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|PBM-3}}{{Specs-Link|pbm_3}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|PBY-5}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_raf}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|pby-5a_ussr}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|SB2U}}{{Specs-Link|sb2u-3}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|Sunderland}}{{Specs-Link|sunderland_mk5}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|TBF-1}}{{Specs-Link|tbf-1c}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|avenger_mk1}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with late M2}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Fighters'''}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F4U}}{{Specs-Link|f4u-4}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|F8F}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|f8f1b_france}}&nbsp;(Suspended)<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-47D}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_16_re_germany}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_22_re}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|thunderbolt_mk1}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_22_re_france}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_23_ra_china_rocaf}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_luftwaffe}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_ussr}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d-28}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47d_30_china}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-47M}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-47m-1-re_boxted}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-47N}}{{Specs-Link|p-47n-15}}<br />
{{Navigation-Line|P-51}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-5}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-10}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20_china}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-20-na}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51d-30_usaaf_korea}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51h-5_na}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-51k}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Twin-engine fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l_1_china_rocaf}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|p-38l}}&nbsp;(Suspended)<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Jet fighters'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-59a}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|f-80a}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Attackers'''}}{{Specs-Link|p-51_a-36}}&nbsp;(Suspended)<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Line|'''Bombers'''}}{{Specs-Link|b-17e_late}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-17g}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|b-29}}&nbsp;(Defensive)<br />
{{Navigation-Line| }}{{Specs-Link|pv_2d}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_4}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sb2c_5_france}}&nbsp;(Suspended){{-}}{{Specs-Link|sbd-3}}&nbsp;(Suspended)<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-End}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-Start|Vehicles equipped with British M2}}<br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line|}}<center>{{Specs-Link|beaufighter_mk21}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_ix}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk14e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_fr_mk14e}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_xvi}}{{-}}{{Specs-Link|spitfire_mk18e}}</center><br />
<br />
{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line|}}<center>{{Specs-Link|beaufort_mkviii}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|lancaster_mk3}}&nbsp;(Defensive){{-}}{{Specs-Link|lincoln_b2}}&nbsp;(Defensive)</center><br />
<br />
{{Navigation-End}}<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
<!-- ''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.'' --><br />
The 12.7 mm (.50 cal) M2 Browning is a very powerful heavy machine gun when used in large numbers, particularly with the late P-51s and P-47s, with six and eight .50 cal machine guns respectively. However, on early American aircraft, many are armed with only a 7.62 mm and .50 cal, putting out very limited firepower. The .50 cals are inadequate in few numbers, making them ineffective in "snapshots" or high deflection shots. This is particularly noticeable in Spitfire Mk IX, XIV, and XVI, where the two Brownings provide insufficient firepower and are mounted too far apart, leaving only the plane with 2 cannons, with only 240-260 shells each, without complementing firepower. Without the cannons, the .50s can only chip away at the enemy, and the best hope for scoring is to hope for a lucky pilot snipe.<br />
<br />
=== Available ammunition ===<br />
<!-- ''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).'' --><br />
<br />
Early bullets (USA):<br />
<br />
* Armor Piercing (AP)<br />
* Incendiary (I)<br />
* Ball<br />
* Tracer (T)<br />
<br />
Mid bullets (USA):<br />
<br />
* Armor Piercing Incendiary (AP-I)<br />
<br />
Late bullets (USA):<br />
<br />
* Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer (API-T)<br />
<br />
Belts<br />
<br />
* Fighters (USA)<br />
** Default (early) - T/Ball/I/AP<br />
** Default (mid) - T/Ball/Ball/I/AP-I<br />
** Default (late) - API-T/AP/AP/I<br />
**<br />
** Universal (early) - AP/AP/AP/T/I<br />
** Universal (mid) - AP-I/AP-I/AP-I/T/I<br />
** Universal (late) - AP-I/AP-I/API-T/I/I<br />
** Ground Targets (early) - T/AP/AP/AP<br />
** Ground Targets (mid) - T/AP/AP/AP/AP-I/I<br />
** Ground Targets (late) -<br />
** Tracers (early) - T/T/T/AP<br />
** Tracers (mid) - T/T/T/T/T/AP-I<br />
** Tracers (late) - API-T<br />
** Stealth (early) - AP/I/AP<br />
** Stealth (mid) - AP/AP-I/AP-I/I/I<br />
** Stealth (late) - API/I<br />
<br />
=== Comparison with analogues ===<br />
''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.''<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!--''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''--><br />
<br />
* AP, API, and API-T rounds are effective against light pillboxes, light tanks, armored trucks, SPGs, artillery, AAA.<br />
* Usually incapable of an instant kill or a "snapshot" kill unless you pilot snipe, but is quite capable of a "snapshot fire" (not guaranteed though)... which is almost a kill...<br />
* Incredible range (can hit and still light a fire at 1.5km+, but damage does drop off). Good for long range desperation/harassment shots.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Usually carries enough rounds per gun to be able to take out multiple targets per sortie<br />
* Quite accurate, does not randomly spread a lot (unlike stock AN/M3 and stock Hispanos)<br />
* API-T rounds are exceptionally good at igniting fuel tanks and engines<br />
* Armour piercing (AP) rounds have better penetration values when compared to most small calibre cannons<br />
* Retains kinetic energy and damage potential over a range much better than 7 mm calibre machine guns<br />
* Can be fired accurately and be a significant threat to fleeing enemies upwards of 1.5 km away<br />
* Virtually only jams if you try to mag-dump (continuous fire until the weapon jams or runs out of ammunition) the entire ammo load<br />
* Makes up the bulk of the USAAF's armament with most planes utilizing anywhere between 4-8 guns<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Ball ammo in the default belt is rather ineffective<br />
* 25% slower rate of fire compared to 7 mm calibre machine guns<br />
* AP ammo lacks any incendiary or tracer, meaning shots that don't hit vital components barely does anything<br />
* Slower rate of fire at higher ranks means boom-n-zoom is necessary to maintain a firing solution long enough to dump sufficient rounds on target<br />
* The M2 Browning has 3 different variations, which all have vastly different ammunition belt types and how they are used<br />
<br />
''Words of wisdom'': Always check the belt composition on a new vehicle or when returning to an old aircraft you have not used in a while...'''before''' heading into battle!<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''<br />
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[Browning M2HB (12.7 mm)|M2HB - Ground variant]]<br />
* [[Browning_AN-M2_(12.7_mm)|AN-M2 - Naval variant]]<br />
* [[Akan m/45 (12.7 mm)]] - Swedish license-built M2 Browning<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{Aircraft machine guns}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Aircraft machine guns]]</div>U60172176https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Bf_109_K-4&diff=78934Bf 109 K-42020-11-28T19:56:54Z<p>U60172176: Corrected a statement about the MK 108's rate of fire - the page stated its rate of fire being low when in reality it is quite high for its caliber</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card|code=bf-109k-4}}<br />
{{About<br />
| about = German fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other variants<br />
| link = Bf 109 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' --><br />
[[File:GarageImage_Bf109K4.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]<br />
{{Break}}<br />
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} German fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. The K-4 is the pinnacle of the famed [[Bf_109_(Family)|109 series]]. The ''''K'''urfürst' frame is the last iteration and was focused on ease of production rather than performance, yet it features the best power to weight ratio and acceleration of any 109, turning this machine into a beast. However, the age of the design is reflected in its poor high-speed characteristics.<br />
<br />
[[File:Bf109 K-4 billythekid 001.png|350px|thumb|left|]]<br />
<br />
Use the plane's outstanding climb rate and speed retention. Energy fighting tactics should be this plane's primary mode of fighting. It has good acceleration when using WEP. This grants the machine reasonable zoom climbing abilities. If chased, dodge away from the enemy with fancy manoeuvres without losing too much speed. In Realistic Battles, try to do a climbing spiral, but be sure to be in a higher energy state than the enemy! A miscalculation and the foe will have the opportunity for an easy deflection shot.<br />
<br />
However, there are also downsides. The top speed can be reached quickly, yet the plane is not fast when stock. While it does have an edge in agility, it has bad low-speed manoeuvrability. Furthermore, foes will not usually engage in manoeuvring combat, rendering any manoeuvrability advantage moot.<br />
<br />
K-4 can outmanoeuvre these planes at medium speeds (<450 km/h IAS): [[P-51]] (all types), [[P-47D-28|P-47D]], [[Typhoon_Mk_Ib/L|Typhoons]] and the [[La-9]]. However, it will have a hard time dealing with other late Rank IV aircraft, especially Spitfires. It is highly recommended to use rudder during rolls as this increases the roll rate dramatically. This is useful if when trying to force an overshoot or when avoiding shots.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Flight performance ===<br />
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' --><br />
[[File:Bf109 K-4 call me hyper 001.jpg|300px|thumb|right|]]<br />
For the pilots who flew the Bf 109, it could be a brutal aircraft, with a cramped cockpit and poorly located controls and levers, the pilot could get a serious workout during a dogfight, but don't think this aircraft is not worth the time as a majority of Germany's top aces flew Bf 109s. The {{PAGENAME}} was the final iteration of the aircraft, there really wasn't much more which could have been designed into it to take it any further. In comparison to the early versions which saw combat in the Spanish Civil War, the K-4 was over 300 km/h faster at 2,000 m higher than the Bf 109A. The aircraft morphed from a two-bladed wooden propeller to a three-bladed metal propeller with 20 mm or 30 mm autocannons and 13 mm heavy machine guns over two paltry 7 mm machine guns.<br />
<br />
The {{PAGENAME}} is meant to dance in the sky with its quick speed, fast rate of climb and excellent energy retention, it can be used to Boom & Zoom in the vertical, unlike many other aircraft which require wide swaths of space to make their attack runs and retreats. The manoeuvrability of the aircraft allows it to make tight turns or quick evasive manoeuvres, especially those which cause a faster and heavier enemy to overshoot and then become the target themselves. To truly compete as a dogfighter and to milk every last bit of speed and manoeuvrability out of the aircraft, the pilot will want to fly it in the clean configuration without the 20 mm gun pods. The gun pods add weight, but for this aircraft, in the worst possible location with one hooked up under each wing. The gun pods mess with the aircraft's centre of gravity and hamper the manoeuvrability of the aircraft. While it can still fly and fight, the gun pods will make dogfighting a bigger challenge, however, expert pilots may be able to negate some of those factors through sheer skill and luck.<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"<br />
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics<br />
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 6,000 m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)<br />
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)<br />
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)<br />
|-<br />
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB<br />
|-<br />
! Stock<br />
| 685 || 665 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 20.3 || 21.1 || 18.0 || 18.0 || rowspan="2" | 333<br />
|-<br />
! Upgraded<br />
| 759 || 720 || 18.3 || 19.0 || 32.2 || 23.8<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
==== Details ====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | Features<br />
|-<br />
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear<br />
|-<br />
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X <!-- ✓ --><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="7" | Limits<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)<br />
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)<br />
! colspan="2" | Max Static G<br />
|-<br />
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -<br />
|-<br />
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 460 || 420 || 260 || ~13 || ~6<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)<br />
|-<br />
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator<br />
|-<br />
| < 450 || < 390 || < 450 || > 715<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! Compressor<br />
! Optimal altitude<br />
! 100% Engine power<br />
! WEP Engine power<br />
|-<br />
! Setting 1<br />
| 6,900 m || 1,250 hp || 1,775 hp<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' --><br />
<br />
* 60 mm bulletproof glass in front and rear of the pilot<br />
* Fuel tank with 21 mm steel plate behind it, and 4 mm plates surrounding it<br />
* Pilot's seat has 4 mm steel plates underneath, with 8 mm steel making up the backrest<br />
* 10 mm steel plates surrounding rear bulletproof glass<br />
<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="150px"><br />
File:BF 109 K-4 All armor.png|All the armour plates on the 109 K-4.<br />
File:Fuel tank 109 K4.png|Picture of the giant fuel tank the pilot is sitting on (self-sealing).<br />
File:Steel 21.png|Seat armour plates of the K-4.<br />
</gallery><br />
<br />
Willy Messerschmitt's design of the Bf 109 is known for its very lightweight construction, eliminating any unnecessary devices, parts and even structural spars to allow for the fastest that this fighter could be and still be a strong fighter. Part of this challenge was ensuring there was enough protection for the pilot and certain critical components without overburdening the aircraft and make it sluggish with the addition of too much armour. For this aircraft, it makes sense that all of the armour is centred around the pilot as this serves two purposes, aid in the protection of the pilot and two, protecting the fuel tank which the pilot literally sat on top of.<br />
<br />
The pilot's protection from the front comes mainly from the 60 mm bulletproof glass windscreen, headrest and various plates of armour between 4 and 10 mm in thickness which makes up the seat and headrest. These plates aid in protecting the pilot from both frontal attacks generally associated from attacking bombers with defensive positions and also from the rear when being chased by an enemy fighter. Though the fuel tank is self-sealing when it has been shot, 4 mm and 20 mm steel plating also surrounds the tank as the first line of defence against enemy machine gun rounds, however, incoming 20 mm rounds may not have any problems getting through.<br />
<br />
When attacking a {{PAGENAME}}, unless you can aim autocannon shots to blow off a wing, the best bet will be to aim for the fuselage starting from right behind the pilot all the way to the propeller. Hitting within this range will allow you to hit one of the vital components of the aircraft to include the fuel tank, the pilot, any of the coolers or the engine itself. The most successful attacks will happen from underneath the aircraft or from the sides where there is no armour protection. If however, you find yourself tailing a {{PAGENAME}}, use short bursts to spook the pilot into manoeuvring where they end up exposing the large surface areas of the aircraft and then unload where the rounds will have less chance to ricochet and more chances of taking out this aircraft.<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
=== Offensive armament ===<br />
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|MK 108 (30 mm)|MG 151 (20 mm)|MG 131 (13 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:<br />
<br />
* A choice between two presets:<br />
** 1 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon, nose-mounted (65 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)<br />
** 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (200 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)<br />
<br />
As was typical of Bf 109s was having a motorkanone mounted to shoot through the propeller hub. Typically these aircraft were outfitted with a 20 mm autocannon, which pilots of earlier 109s will have already had experience with, however, the {{PAGENAME}} provides the pilot with the option to choose their motorkanone of choice, either a 20 mm MG 151 or a 30 mm MK 108. In real life, the 30 mm autocannon tended to jam during combat and can do the same in-game, until that is the module is upgraded and jamming frequency will lessen. For the most part, the difference between the 20 and 30 mm autocannons is power vs. ammunition count.<br />
[[File:Bf109 K-4 bomberpilot1784.png|400px|thumb|right|]]<br />
The 30 mm round is a slow but deadly round and when fired at close range it can have devastating results on its target. A large disadvantage due to its size and weight only carries 65 rounds which make it necessary for the pilot to exercise disciplinary control and only fire when they are sure the rounds will hit. On the other hand, the 20 mm, though powerful in their own right, will not have the same heavy-hitting power as the 30 mm rounds, however, the {{PAGENAME}} can carry 200 of these rounds and they travel faster and can be fired more rapidly. Typically if the {{PAGENAME}} pilot is going to play the role of a bomber interceptor, the 30 mm round will be most effective, however, if the choice is made to be a fighter/attacker interceptor, then the 20 mm motorkanone will probably be the best bet.<br />
<br />
While a choice is necessary between the two cannons as to which to take, regardless of the choice, the pilot will also have two 13 mm heavy machine guns which are mounted on the top of the fuselage engine cowling. Having 300 rounds per gun will allow the pilot to continue to spew out damage even when the autocannons have run dry. Another option is to separate the firing control for the autocannons and the heavy machine guns and instead track and fire enemy targets with the machine guns, utilize them as range finders and when the pilot sees they have a good firing solution, they can then employ the autocannons, thereby saving valuable ammunition and ensuring there is enough there when it is needed.<br />
<br />
=== Suspended armament ===<br />
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' --><br />
{{main|MG 151 (20 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:<br />
<br />
* Without load<br />
* 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (135 rpg = 270 total)<br />
<br />
There are a few aircraft which are featured in War Thunder which becomes a monster aircraft when they utilise gun pods to increase their firepower. The {{PAGENAME}} is no exception, especially considering that its gun pods contain a single 20 mm MG 151 autocannon, each of which holds 135 rounds of ammunition. Attacking enemy aircraft with three autocannons and two machine guns can cause devastating results, however, with these gun pods, the pilot will need to calculate for convergence so as not to waste ammunition. While the fuselage weapons fire straight forward, the underwing cannons will need to be adjusted to converge at the correct point where the pilot typically shoots down enemy fighters. A convergence set too far may mean a number of the rounds will easily miss the enemy aircraft while setting the convergence zone too close will do the same. The gun pods are not required for the pilot to take while leaving them behind at the hanger, the pilot will not have to worry about the decrease in performance with the weight out on the wings and will have increased manoeuvrability that they would have otherwise not had were there gun pods mounted.<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' --><br />
[[File:Cockpit_Bf109k4.jpg|thumbnail|right|The Bf 109 K-4's instrument panel.]]<br />
<br />
The MK 108 is a double-edged sword: Nicknamed by the allies for its characteristic sound, the `''Jackhammer''´ lives true to its name. Slow but powerful. Its '''main purpose''': Demolition of heavy objects, such as the B-17G Flying Fortress. However, its '''common purpose''' in War Thunder remains to hunt fighter planes. The cannon's rate of fire is surprisingly high for its caliber - 660 rpm - meaning that, while deflection shots can be made, absolute trigger discipline must be maintained - the 65 rounds given to you will last you less than ''6 seconds'' of continuous fire. Furthermore, the minengeschoß-shells are slow- very slow. One must either become very good at leading the shells or close the distance. Kills are generally done from 300 meters away, if not closer. On the plus side, the damage is equivalent to most 37 mm cannons upon hitting. Tip: In order to better learn and understand the cannon's trajectory, do not fire in conjunction with the machine guns.<br />
<br />
The two additional machine guns are best fired alone. The MG 131 features HE shells (named IAI in-game) as the ''Tracer belt''. Yet they are only highly effective in Simulator battles, where they will deal good damage to control surface areas, causing inexperienced pilots to lose control. In Arcade and Realistic battles, however, the instructor will dampen any such effects. Here, the damage-based ''Stealth'' and ''Fighter'' belts fare better.<br />
<br />
The plane should equip one of two load-outs: with either the single 30 mm cannon or 2 x 20 mm cannons. The single 30 mm is very capable of taking out 2-3 bombers and the low muzzle velocity matters less due to the large targets. The 3 x 20 mm cannons are very capable of taking out fighters due to the high shell density and sheer damage output. A single 20 mm does not deal enough damage and the 30 mm with gun pods is rather ineffective due to the differing muzzle velocities of the 30 mm and 20 mm cannons.<br />
<br />
One technique you can use is the prop pitch technique. Most of the later 109s have this but it is really effective in the 109 K-4. The prop pitch technique is using Manual Engine Control (found in sim controls) to set your prop pitch to 100% but throttle to 0%. This will make your prop, a giant air brake and is very helpful in forcing overshoots of the enemy aircraft. It can also be very helpful in diving where you might get dangerously close to your rip speed.<br />
<br />
=== Effective Strategies ===<br />
<br />
When using the K-4, make sure to always have an altitude advantage. If any enemy is approaching at a higher altitude and/or energy state, the best bet is to run away in a dive. This will usually work, as the enemy will probably lose interest, or be shredded apart in the dive process. Once the plane reaches 450 mph (700 km/h), hit the brakes and start slowing down so as to not rip the {{PAGENAME}} apart. To retain energy, level off while diving every now and then.<br />
<br />
When the {{PAGENAME}} is at an altitude advantage, smart pilots will run away from the K-4. This can be easily countered with a quick boom-and-zoom. The 30 mm cannon will take care of anything it hits, even bombers. The 30 mm cannon is practically useless in head-ons, however, so '''don't ever head on'''. Use the {{PAGENAME}}'s superior turn rate and energy retention to get the enemy into the crosshairs. Fire away at close distances!<br />
<br />
Targets to look for. The K-4 excels in tackling targets that:<br />
<br />
* Enemies that are chasing others that have a low energy state. (Use a surprise attack.)<br />
* Enemies that have just finished a dogfight and have low energy states.<br />
* Bombers (Be wary of their gunners.)<br />
<br />
Enemies worth noting:<br />
<br />
* '''P-51s:''' They will always try to boom-and-zoom the {{PAGENAME}}. Be on constant lookout for enemies coming from behind. If one is chasing and can catch up, pretend to not notice them. When they start shooting, duck and do a loop towards the ground to gain energy. The P-51 will have a lot of speed when it tries to attack, and fortunately, will have its controls locked up. The P-51 will also bleed way too much speed trying to catch up. Head into a 20 degree climb with WEP and then jump them from above.<br />
* '''Spitfires:''' They are very tough to deal with, and will always out-turn the {{PAGENAME}}, with engagements ending with the Spitfire firing from behind. Spitfires should be attacked alongside two teammates at once. Make sure that the Spitfire gets overwhelmed, then attack the spitfire from behind. Retain enough energy so the {{PAGENAME}} can climb back up to safety if the Spitfire ends up manouevring to the {{PAGENAME}}'s rear. When a Spitfire is on the {{PAGENAME}}'s 6, '''dive'''. The Spitfire has a lot of drag with its oddly shaped wings and will not be able to keep up.<br />
* '''American bombers:''' While other nation's bombers have varying threat levels, all American bombers are bursting with .50 cal machine guns in almost every angles. This is especially the case for the B-17 Flying Fortress and the B-29 Superfortress As such, the best way to attack a bomber with large number of defensive armaments is by:<br />
** Step 1 - Fly above the bomber at distances where they cannot shoot at the {{PAGENAME}}.<br />
** Step 2 - Make sure the {{PAGENAME}} is approaching at a faster speed than the bomber.<br />
** Step 3 - Fly directly above the bomber and descend on it<br />
** Step 4 - Approach the bomber as fast as possible, and shoot at it when close enough<br />
** Step 5 - Turn away, and level out maintaining an attitude of 0 degrees to keep speed, regardless if the target is destroyed. Re-climb and re-start as needed.<br />
<br />
=== Manual Engine Control ===<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="7" | MEC elements<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" | Mixer<br />
! rowspan="2" | Pitch<br />
! colspan="3" | Radiator<br />
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger<br />
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger<br />
|-<br />
! Oil !! Water !! Type<br />
|-<br />
| Not controllable || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Auto control available || Separate || Not controllable<br>1 gear || Not controllable<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Modules ===<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! Tier<br />
! colspan="2" | Flight performance<br />
! Survivability<br />
! colspan="2" | Weaponry<br />
|-<br />
| I<br />
| Fuselage repair<br />
| Radiator<br />
|<br />
| Offensive 13 mm<br />
| MG.151/20 cannon<br />
|-<br />
| II<br />
|<br />
| Compressor<br />
| Airframe<br />
| New 13 mm MGs<br />
| R4 modification<br />
|-<br />
| III<br />
| Wings repair<br />
| Engine<br />
|<br />
| Offensive 30 mm<br />
| Offensive 20 mm<br />
|-<br />
| IV<br />
|<br />
| Engine injection<br />
| Cover<br />
| New 30 mm cannons<br />
| New 20 mm cannons<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
The true acceleration power of the plane is only achieved very late into the grind. Specifically, the Tier 4 ''Engine injection'' modification provides a significant boost and is a top priority. On the way there, all engine upgrades should be taken. 13 mm belts are helpful for removing tracer rounds. The 20 mm gun pods with belts and the gun upgrade are viable choices but engine injection remains a priority.<br />
[[File:Bf109 K-4 jonigustavo 001.png|thumb|right|300px|]]<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Very powerful engine when using WEP, providing excellent acceleration and climb rate<br />
* Manual engine control can extend the climb rate and top speed in realistic and simulator battles<br />
* Good performance at medium altitude<br />
* Good firepower for destroying larger attackers and bombers<br />
* Can carry additional armament<br />
* Performance on par with Griffon Spitfires (even better when fully upgraded)<br />
* 30 mm cannon will usually destroy anything that it hits<br />
* Can research nose-mounted 20 mm MG 151 cannon, which makes deflection shooting much more reliable<br />
* Exceptional high-speed manoeuvrability<br />
* All weaponry mounted in the nose, allowing easy aiming without having to worry about convergence<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Low cannon ammunition count for the 30 mm MK 108 cannon and the 13 mm MG 131 machine guns<br />
* Low velocity 30 mm shell with a high drop, resulting in a VERY large lead angle on targets in turn leading to poor dogfight performance due to having to pull extreme turns to get guns on target<br />
* Flimsy airframe, prone to react heavily to damage<br />
* When aircraft is stock, very heavy and slow to fly without WEP<br />
* Stock 13 mm machine gun belts consist solely out of tracers which alerts enemy, makes aiming 30 mm difficult<br />
* Fighters with lower top speeds but better low altitude performances (such as Russia's La-7 fighters) will find it quite easy to run down the K-4 when at a low energy state<br />
* Very slow deploying flaps<br />
* For Sim, the numerous canopy frames and razorback greatly limit the all-round view, and huge engine torque causes severe turning when taking off<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!-- ''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' --><br />
=== Design and development ===<br />
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) moved ahead at break-neck speeds to develope civilian aircraft which secretly doubled as military fighters and bombers requiring only minor modifications to become war-fighter operational. Aircraft designated as transport and airline variants could easily be converted to bombers and the initial Bf 109 was no different in its purposes. The birth of the Bf 109 started out as a requirement from Herman Göring, Reichsminister of Aviation proposed to newly appointed Theo Croneiß of Bayerisch Flugzeugwerke (BFW, Bavarian Aircraft Works). The requirement was for a single-seat high-speed courier plane, obviously, one which could be converted into a fighter when the time required. At the same time this requirement went out, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's (RLM, Reich Aviation Ministry) Technisches Amt (C-AMT) or technical department was tasked with projecting aircraft requirements for potential future air combat and of the four main types determined to be essential, single-seat fighter requirements were published as L.A. 1432/33.<br />
[[File:Bf109 K-4 wallysonbf 001.png|thumb|right|300px|]]<br />
These fighter requirements were as follows:<br />
<br />
* Top speed – 400 km/h (250 mph) at 6,000 m (19,690 ft) maintained for 20 minutes<br />
* Total flight duration – 90 minutes<br />
* Critical altitude of 4,000 m reached within 17 minutes<br />
* Operational ceiling – 10,000 m (32,810 ft)<br />
* Armed with 1 x 20 mm motorkanone and two 7.92 mm machine guns<br />
* Rated performance in the order of: level speed, rate of climb and manoeuvrability<br />
<br />
During the early years of BFW, Willy Messerschmitt was the designer of the transport aircraft the BFW M.20, however due to several high-profile crashes of these transport aircraft, one of which included test pilot Hans Hackmack, a close friend of Erhard Milch (at the time, head of Luft Hansa and the German civil aviation authorities). With Erhard Milch, a lifelong hatred developed when Messerschmitt responded very callously to events about the crash. During this time, BFW went bankrupt and Messerschmitt went to work designing aircraft for a Romanian airline company. At the time requirements for L.A. 1432/33 were published, Messerschmitt was called back to Berlin and basically told his efforts were to be used for the Fatherland. Messerschmitt acquiesced and was given the specifications for the potential fighter, which after review, he proceeded to relate a very unfavourable opinion of the fighter as if built as described, the fighter would be literally obsolete as it rolled off the assembly line and unable to catch up to even medium bombers. After hearing the report and seeing the truth in Messerschmitt's words, the Technisches Amt awarded BFW the contract to build a fighter aircraft and Willy Messerschmitt was given free rein over the design of the aircraft.<br />
<br />
Messerschmitt began design of the P.1034 (later known as Bf 109), and much like its older transport sibling the Bf 108, the new fighter was developed based on Messerschmitt's lightweight construction principle, the basis of this principle was to minimize the number of separate parts located on the aircraft, which would speed up construction and add in ease of maintenance. For example, many of the main connection points for the airframe, engine frame and wings all had their connecting load points all at the firewall. Another example was having the landing gear attached to the fuselage and not the wings, which allowed for removal of the wings without having to support the aircraft on jack-stands and also reduced the stress on the wing loads during takeoff and landing. One tell-tale sign of a Bf 109 is the landing gear slightly splayed outwards and this was to increase the stability of the aircraft while taxiing on the ground by providing a wider track, making it less prone to flipping over.<br />
<br />
Forethought was put into the aircraft especially for mechanics which would service the aircraft on the front-lines of battle. The entire engine cowling, weapon hatches, and other maintenance access panels could be removed allowing the mechanics full access to service, repair and even replace critical parts on the aircraft with little difficulty. Pipe connections were colour-coded and electrical cabling plugged into junction boxes, typically an old engine could be disconnected, removed, replaced with a new engine and all connections resecured in a matter of minutes, something unheard of in most military aircraft of the time.<br />
<br />
While a high-speed requirement would necessitate a small wing to decrease surface area, Messerschmitt knew this would require a more powerful engine to generate enough lift to maintain flight. The wings of the Bf 109 had several modifications which would compensate for these issues to include high-lift devices such as automatically-opening leading edge slats and trailing edge flaps which had a large camber to allow for a significant increase of lift when deployed. To help increase the overall flap effectiveness, the ailerons would also "droop" to aid in the flaps work. The weapons for the aircraft were all centrally located in the fuselage, with the large cannons mounted in the propeller hub and the machine guns located in the upper fuselage. Leaving these out of the wings allowed for significant manoeuvrability with all of the heavy equipment kept along the centerline of the aircraft leaving the wings to be very thin and light.<br />
<br />
Messerschmitt was ahead of his time, this was noted when the Bf 109 went to trials. Most experienced military pilots were seasoned World War I pilots who spent their time flying biplane fighters such as the He-51, aircraft with two sets of wings, open cockpit, low wing loading and light g-forces, one look at the new Bf 109 produced sour reactions, especially from stunt and ace pilot Ernst Udet. At first glance, Udet had serious doubts about the Bf 109 and requested directly from Messerschmitt to remove the canopy to allow the pilot to judge the aircraft's speed through the air stream and to add a second wing with struts and wires, otherwise, the aircraft was destined to fail as a fighter. Udet's initial test flight of the Bf 109 drastically changed his opinion of the revolutionary new fighter, forever changing how Germany designed and manufactured their fighters.<br />
<br />
Throughout the years, the Bf 109 with through many iterations involving upgrades and fine-tuning. The last of the series was the Bf 109 K series, also known as Kurfüst. Unfortunately for this series, it was a compilation of model upgrades, modification kits and factory conversions which ultimately made both the production and maintenance of this aircraft a literal nightmare in both cost and complication with its maintenance. Due to problems with the series production and the lateness of the war when it entered, the K-4 model was the only version to be mass-produced. External changes included movement of the radio equipment hatch, fuselage fuel tank filler point, movement of the direction-finding loop and a retractable tail-wheel with clam-shell doors. Armament would include a 30 mm motorkanon and 2 x 13 mm machineguns with options to attach bombs or 20 mm cannon gondola pods, however, the suspended armament was rarely utilised. Between November 1944 and March 1945, a total of 1,593 Bf 109 K-4 fighters were produced, one in four Bf 109s listed in front line fighting units was the Bf 109 K-4. Unfortunately at this point in the war, the Bf 109 K-4 had two things going against it, first was the appearance of jet fighters which nullified any advantages the K-4 had achieved and secondly, the hastily trained novice pilots at this point of the war could not exploit the K-4's advantages which would eventually come from experience.<br />
<br />
=== In-game description ===<br />
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a single-seat monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe before and during WWII. It was used as a fighter, interceptor, high-altitude interceptor, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.<br />
<br />
The Bf 109K "Kurfuerst" was the last mass-produced variant of the Bf 109 family. It first reached front-line units in September 1944 (or early 1945, according to other data). The fighter was powered by the Daimler-Benz DB 605 DCM engine and had more powerful armament, with some variants equipped with two 15mm or three 30mm cannon.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' --><br />
<br />
;Skins<br />
<br />
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicleCountry=germany&vehicleType=aircraft&vehicleClass=fighter&vehicle=bf-109k-4 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]<br />
<br />
;Images<br />
<div><ul><br />
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Bf109 K-4 speedsteer1944.jpg|thumb|none|250px|]] </li><br />
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:Bf109 K-4 *olfie- 001.jpg |thumb|none|250px|]] </li><br />
</ul></div><br />
<br />
;Videos<br />
{{Youtube-gallery|0I9fzmNuJyE|'''Enjoying The Beast - {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''Napalmratte''|xMZo89CWWuA|'''{{PAGENAME}} Propeller Pitch Technique''' - ''JZA80 98' Supra''|Luxss9DRoZU|'''{{PAGENAME}} Vs Spitfires - Techniques and Strategies''' - ''Green Fury''|nYXB_a0RA40|'''War Thunder Realistic: {{PAGENAME}} [High-G Resistant<nowiki>]</nowiki>''' - ''Jengar''}}<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' --><br />
<br />
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era<br />
<br />
* Mitsubishi [[A6M (Family)|A6M]]<br />
* Fiat [[G.55 serie 1|G.55]]<br />
* [[IAR-81C|IAR-81]]<br />
* Kawasaki [[Ki-61 (Family)|Ki-61]]<br />
* Nakajima [[Ki-43 (Family)|Ki-43]]<br />
* North American [[P-51 (Family)|P-51]] Mustang<br />
* Supermarine [[Spitfire (Family)|Spitfire]]<br />
* Yakovlev [[Yak-9]]<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''<br />
* ''other literature.'' --><br />
<br />
* [https://www.chuckhawks.com/messerschmitt_Bf109.htm [Chuckhawks.com website <nowiki>]</nowiki> The Best Fighter of its Generation (1935-1945): Messerschmitt Bf 109]<br />
* [https://www.luftkrieg-ueber-europa.de/en/how-good-was-the-messerschmitt-bf-109/ [Luftkrieg-ueber-europa.de website <nowiki>]</nowiki> How good was the Messerschmitt Bf 109?]<br />
* [http://kurfurst.org/ [Kurfurst.org website <nowiki>]</nowiki> Kürfurst - The Messerschmitt Bf 109 Performance Resource Site]<br />
<br />
{{AirManufacturer BFW}}<br />
{{Germany fighters}}</div>U60172176https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=KPV_(14.5_mm)&diff=73607KPV (14.5 mm)2020-10-21T20:07:15Z<p>U60172176: Changed con (low muzzle velocity) to pro (high muzzle velocity) since the KPVT has quite a high muzzle velocity</p>
<hr />
<div>[[File:Weapon_KPVT_(14.5_mm).png|thumb|450px|The 14.5 mm KPVT mounted on the [[IS-7]].]]<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!-- ''Write an introduction to the article in 2-3 small paragraphs. Briefly tell us about the history of the development and combat using the weaponry and also about its features. Compile a list of air, ground, or naval vehicles that feature this weapon system in the game.'' --><br />
A gigantic gun bordering on a machine cannon, the 14.5 mm KPVT is one of the heaviest pintle-mounted machine guns in the game. It has enough damage to fight both heavily armoured aircraft, as well as light cold war tanks.<br />
<br />
=== Vehicles equipped with this weapon ===<br />
<!-- ''List out vehicles that are equipped with the weapon.'' --><br />
'''Ground vehicles:'''<br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_btr_152a}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_is_7}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_268}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_object_279}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_su_122_54}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_t_10m}}<br />
<br />
'''Naval vessels:'''<br />
<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_191m}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_123k_hydrofoils}}<br />
* {{Specs-Link|ussr_pr_1204}}<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
''Tell us about the tactical and technical characteristics of the cannon or machine gun.''<br />
<br />
=== Available ammunition ===<br />
''Describe the shells that are available for the weapon and their features and purpose. If it concerns autocannons or machine guns, write about different ammo belts and what is inside (which types of shells).''<br />
<br />
=== Comparison with analogues ===<br />
<!-- ''Give a comparative description of cannons/machine guns that have firepower equal to this weapon.'' --><br />
<br />
* [[MG 151 (15 mm)|MG 151]]<br />
* [[MG M38(t) (15 mm)|MG M38(t)]]<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
''Describe the cannon/machine gun in the game - its distinctive features, tactics of usage against notable opponents. Please don't write a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but give the reader food for thought.''<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the weaponry in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark pros and cons as a list.'' --><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Decent rate of fire for its calibre<br />
* High muzzle velocity (1000 m/s)<br />
* Unlockable API-T belt has 45 mm of penetration at close range, can take on lightly armoured vehicles and even some tanks from the side or rear<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Best belt are tracer rounds, will give your location away<br />
* Penetration drastically drops after 100 meters<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
''Examine the history of the creation and combat usage of the weapon in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the weapon and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Weapon-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>.''<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the article about the variant of the cannon/machine gun;''<br />
* ''references to approximate analogues by other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the weapon;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{USSR anti-aircraft guns}}<br />
{{Tank machine guns}}<br />
{{Naval machine guns}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Tank machine guns]]<br />
[[Category:Anti-aircraft guns]]<br />
[[Category:Naval machine guns]]</div>U60172176https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=KV-1E&diff=29376KV-1E2019-08-07T21:36:13Z<p>U60172176: Fixed shell details for OF-350M (values were originally shifted one cell to the left)</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card|code=ussr_kv_1e}}<br />
{{About<br />
| about = Soviet heavy tank '''{{PAGENAME}}'''<br />
| usage = other uses<br />
| link = KV-1 (Family)<br />
}}<br />
<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!--In the description, the first part should be about the history of the creation and combat usage of the vehicle, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the ground vehicle in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.--><br />
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]<br />
{{break}}<br />
The '''{{specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{specs|rank}} Soviet heavy tank {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update_1.41#19.06.2014_-_1.41.27.12|Update 1.41.27]]. Its basis is that of the [[KV-1 (L-11)|original KV-1 model]], but up-armoured with bolted appliqué armour on the front and side of the hull and turret. <br />
<br />
In the game this tank possesses great armour and a mostly adequate gun, however, it sometimes will not be able to destroy an enemy from the front and will require very close distance or a flank shot. The defining characteristic of this tank is its armour and it can be a tough tank to destroy, most of the weak spots from its predecessors have been armoured and the only frontal weak spot is the centre of the upper hull. When using this tank do not be afraid to advance towards the enemy, especially against tanks such as the 75mm M4s and T-34s since they will find it very difficult to penetrate your armour. This tank can also be used for long-range support since when the armour is properly angled almost no tank that it faces can pierce its armour.<br />
<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
<!--Describe armour protection. Note the most well protected and key weak areas. Appreciate the layout of modules as well as the number and location of crew members. Is the level of armour protection sufficient, is the placement of modules helpful for survival in combat?<br />
<br />
If necessary use a visual template to indicate the most secure and weak zones of the armour.--><br />
'''Armour type:'''<br />
<br />
* Rolled homogeneous armour<br />
* Cast homogeneous armour (Barrel shroud, <br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
|-<br />
! Armour !! Front !! Sides !! Rear !! Roof<br />
|-<br />
| Hull || 75 + 25 mm (30-31°) ''Front plate'' <br> 40 mm (72°) ''Front glacis'' <br> 25 + 40-75 mm (7-71°) ''Joint plate'' <br> 75 mm + 25 mm (26-51°) ''Lower glacis'' || 75 + 25 mm || 60 mm (13-89°) ''Top'' <br /> 70 mm (14-57°) ''Bottom'' || 30 mm<br />
|-<br />
| Turret || 75 + 30 mm (14°) ''Turret front'' <br> 90 mm (0-62°) ''Gun mantlet shield'' <br> 75 mm (4-36°) ''Gun mantlet'' || 75 + 30 mm (14-15°) || 75 mm (15-16°) || 40 mm<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
'''Notes:'''<br />
<br />
* Suspension wheels are 20 mm thick, tracks are 30 mm thick.<br />
* Roof armour is quite excellent. 30 - 40 mm is nothing to ignore, even for heavy fighters. It will reliably protect from most autocannons. Although aircraft with good drive-ability and +30mm arms may still pierce it. More importantly, it makes the vehicle quite resilient against rocket strikes from vehicles such as the [[Calliope]].<br />
* The lower glacies, unlike most other tanks, is not a weakspot! it is including your own turrets height significantly better angled than the upper frontal plate. Further, neither the MG port nor the drivers view slit are weak points. Discard them as targets if aiming for them.<br />
* Gun mantlet is an extra 75 mm bolted on to the turret, with some parts with an extra 90 mm added instead. This results in a spaced overlapped part with ~150 mm. Only the cheeks left and right of the mantlet bulges should be shot! However, these areas are quite small and easily missed, if the turret is traversed.<br />
* Extra armour indicated by the addition to the armour is not placed all over the tank, thus revealing some weaker areas on the front hull and sides.<br />
<br />
=== Mobility ===<br />
<!--Write about the mobility of the ground vehicle. Estimate the specific power and manoeuvrability, as well as the maximum speed forwards and backwards.--><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Mobility characteristic<br />
|-<br />
! Weight (tons)<br />
! colspan="1" | Add-on Armour<br>weight (tons)<br />
! colspan="1" | Max speed (km/h)<br />
|-<br />
| rowspan="2" | 49.0 || colspan="1" rowspan="2" | N/A || colspan="1" | 36 (AB) <br />
|-<br />
|34 (RB/SB)<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Engine power (horsepower)<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="1" | Mode<br />
!Stock<br />
!Upgraded<br />
|-<br />
|''Arcade''<br />
|775<br />
|954<br />
|-<br />
|''Realistic/Simulator''<br />
|531<br />
|600<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Power-to-weight ratio (hp/ton)<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="1" | Mode<br />
!Stock<br />
!Upgraded<br />
|-<br />
|''Arcade''<br />
|15.82<br />
|19.47<br />
|-<br />
|''Realistic/Simulator''<br />
|10.84<br />
|12.24<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
=== Main armament ===<br />
<!--Give the reader information about the characteristics of the main gun. Assess its effectiveness in a battle based on the reloading speed, ballistics and the power of shells. Do not forget about the flexibility of the fire, that is how quickly the cannon can be aimed at the target, open fire on it and aim at another enemy. Add a link to the main article on the gun: <code><nowiki>{{main|Name of the weapon}}</nowiki></code>. Describe in general terms the ammunition available for the main gun. Give advice on how to use them and how to fill the ammunition storage.--><br />
{{main|F-32 (76 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="6" | [[F-32 (76 mm)|76 mm F-32]]<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity<br />
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance<br />
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance<br />
! rowspan="1" | Stabilizer<br />
|-<br />
| colspan="3" | 111 || -5°/+25° || ±180° || N/A<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="6" | Turret rotation speed (°/s)<br />
|-<br />
! style="width:4em" |Mode<br />
! style="width:4em" |Stock<br />
! style="width:4em" |Upgraded<br />
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew<br />
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.<br />
! style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.<br />
|-<br />
| ''Arcade'' || 7.1 || 9.9 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__<br />
|-<br />
| ''Realistic'' || 7.1 || 8.4 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4" | Reloading rate (seconds)<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Stock<br />
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Full crew<br />
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Expert qualif.<br />
! colspan="1" style="width:4em" |Prior + Ace qualif.<br />
|-<br />
| 8.1 || __.__ || __.__ || __.__<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===== Ammunition =====<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="8" | Penetration statistics<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead<br />
! colspan="6" | '''Penetration''' '''''in mm''''' '''@ 90°'''<br />
|-<br />
! 10m<br />
! 100m<br />
! 500m<br />
! 1000m<br />
! 1500m<br />
! 2000m<br />
|-<br />
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 73 || 71 || 65 || 57 || 51 || 45 <br />
|-<br />
| BR-350B || APHEBC || 77 || 76 || 69 || 61 || 54 || 48 <br />
|- <br />
| OF-350M || HE || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 || 9 <br />
|- <br />
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 37 || 35 || 29 || 25 || 20 || 17 <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" width="100%"<br />
! colspan="11" | Shell details<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" data-sort-type="text" | Ammunition<br />
! rowspan="2" class="unsortable" | Type of <br /> warhead<br />
! rowspan="2" |Velocity <br /> in m/s<br />
! rowspan="2" |Projectile<br />Mass in kg<br />
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse delay''<br />
''in m:''<br />
! rowspan="2" | ''Fuse sensitivity''<br />
''in mm:''<br />
! rowspan="2" | ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''<br />
! rowspan="2" | ''Normalization At 30° <br> from horizontal:''<br />
! colspan="3" | ''Ricochet:''<br />
|-<br />
! 0%<br />
! 50%<br />
! 100%<br />
|-<br />
| BR-350A || APHEBC || 615 || 6.3 || 0.15 || 10.0 || 150 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|-<br />
| BR-350B || APHEBC || 615 || 6.8 || 0.9 || 15 || 108.8 || +4° || 48° || 63° || 71°<br />
|- <br />
| OF-350M ||HE|| 615 || 6.2 || 0.05 || 0.1 || 621 || +0° || 79° || 80°<br />
|81°<br />
|- <br />
| Sh-354T || Shrapnel || 615 || 6.2 || 0.5 || 8.0 || 85 || +0° || 62° || 69° || 73°<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"<br />
! colspan="7" | Smoke characteristic<br />
|-<br />
! Ammunition<br />
! Velocity <br /> in m/s<br />
! Projectile<br />Mass in kg<br />
! ''Screen radius <br /> in m''<br />
! ''Screen time <br /> in s''<br />
! ''Screen hold time <br /> in s:''<br />
! ''Explosive Mass in g<br /> (TNT equivalent):''<br />
|-<br />
| D-350A || 615 || 6.5 || 13 || 5 || 20 || 50 <br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===== [[Ammo racks|Ammo racks]] =====<br />
[[File:Ammoracks_KV-1(L-11).png|right|thumbnail|x250px|Ammo racks of the KV-1 L-11]]<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Full<br /> ammo<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |1st<br /> rack empty<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |2nd<br /> rack empty<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |3rd<br /> rack empty<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |4th<br /> rack empty<br />
! class="wikitable unsortable" |Visual<br /> discrepancy<br />
|-<br />
| '''111''' || 107&nbsp;''(+4)'' || 102&nbsp;''(+9)'' || 82&nbsp;''(+29)'' || 1&nbsp;''(+110)'' || style="text-align:center" | Yes<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
Turret empty: 102&nbsp;''(+9)''<br />
<br />
=== Machine guns ===<br />
<!--Offensive and anti-aircraft machine guns not only allow you to fight some aircraft but also are effective against lightly armoured vehicles. Evaluate machine guns and give recommendations on its use.--><br />
{{main|DT (7.62 mm)}}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="7" | [[DT (7.62 mm)|7.62 mm DT]]<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="7" | ''Coaxial mount''<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4" rowspan="1" style="width:5em" |Capacity (Belt capacity)<br />
! rowspan="1" | Fire rate <br> (shots/minute)<br />
! rowspan="1" | Vertical <br> guidance<br />
! rowspan="1" | Horizontal <br> guidance<br />
|-<br />
| colspan="4" | 1,890 (63) || 600 || N/A || N/A<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Usage in battles ==<br />
<!--Describe the tactics of playing in the vehicle, the features of using vehicles in the team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but instead give the reader food for thought. Describe the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).--><br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''Urban environment'''<br> <br />
Urban areas tend to result in very close range engagements and at this range, the armour of this tank can no longer offer the degree of protection that is done at range. With this being said urban can also present nice medium range opportunists such as open-air squares and long streets in which this tank can use its armour. <br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
Urban fighting presents the largest challenge for this tank as close range flank shots can easily pierce its mighty armour, as such here are some tactics to use in a city setting.<br />
<br />
* Hold down a street - set yourself up in a way that minimizes the chance to be flanked while allowing for the largest angle fire. This will allow you to fire at the enemy while minimizing the chance of getting knocked out by a close-range flank shot<br />
* Move with a group of tanks - try to stay in the middle of a group as this will minimize the chances of a close-range flank shot. At this range the cannon of the tank can penetrate most tanks and has a decent rate of fire, allowing it to quickly engage multiple targets.<br />
* Never blindly drive through an intersection - always check both ways before crossing as this presents the largest area of danger for this tank.<br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''Open country'''<br><br />
The armour of this tank allows it to engage in the long-range fighting that defines an open country. However, the gun on this tank does not allow it to engage targets at range. this means that in open country it is a good idea to get into a good overwatch position or to charge the enemy until you are capable of engaging at the optimal rage for your weapon.<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
While the armour on this tank is among the best for the enemies it faces, you will have to worry about certain tanks. The main tanks to work about is tanks with the American 76 mm, German 75 mm L48, Russian 57 mm and 85 mm, and of course all the large calibre guns such as the [[KV-2 (1939)|KV-2]]. These weapons are capable of piercing your armour at range, however, this requires a lucky hit and for you to be un-angled. Here are some tips when fighting in open country.<br />
<br />
* Always angle your tank - un-angled your armour is good angles it is almost impossible to pierce<br />
* Don't be afraid to expose your self - use your armour to allow you to find the target that you can damage with your gun<br />
* Advance - take the point or lead the charge you have the armour to break through enemy lines <br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''Hill country '''<br><br />
this is the type of terrain that this tank excels in. The average range of engagements allows for both your armour and gun to shine. The terrain also makes flanking hard since going over a hill exposes a tank to fire from multiple directions, but still, don't forget to check your surroundings <br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
here are some tips and tactics for fighting in this environment <br />
<br />
* In this type of environment move through the area between hills - this will allow you to control where the enemy will come from and angle your armour in accordance<br />
* Going over large hills can be dangerous as it exposes you to fire from all directions and also exposes the bottom of the tank to fire <br />
* check your surrounding - while this is dangerous, many newer player will attempt to do this and will sometimes manage to flank you.<br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''long range'''<br><br />
This tank does not excel due to the low penetration of the gun however the armour of this tank makes it almost invulnerable to enemy fire at long ranges. Due to this, it is possible to safely attack enemies with little fear of return fire, just remember to properly angle the tank in order to maximizes its armour<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
While long-range combat is not the best option for this tank it can use its armour to sit in positions that no other tank could do safely. When using this tank from long range the first advice would be to close in on the enemy however this is sometimes not possible. When one finds that long-range combat is necessary or is a preferred strategy, one can use place this tank in a highly visible position to draw enemy fire. This will allow teammates to find the enemy and eliminate them, it also allows for this tank to choose its target since its gun necessitates shooting at weakly armoured targets or the sides and rear of tanks.<br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''Medium range'''<br><br />
This tank excels in medium range combat due to great armour. Many tanks it faces will find penetrating this tank almost impossible even from the side, due to the additional armour.<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
''please add detailed information about how to use this tank in this situation ''<br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:100%"><br />
'''Close range'''<br><br />
this tank does not excels due to bad mobility, and at this range the greatest strength of this tank, its great armour, is no longer as potent. <br />
<div class="mw-collapsible-content"><br />
''please add detailed information about how to use this tank in this situation ''<br />
</div></div><br />
<br />
Generally, it is a good idea to avoid engaging the enemy armoured vehicles mentioned below frontally if possible, as they can reliably harm you and vice versa.<br />
<br />
* - '''[[Pz.IV F2]]/[[Pz.IV G|G]]/[[Pz.IV H|H]]/[[Pz.IV J|J]]''' - Lethal at short ranges, shoot first.<br />
* - '''[[M4A3E2|M4A3E2 Jumbo]]''' - Shoot at sides/rear or the armour weak spot above the gun-mantlet or Hull MG.<br />
* - '''[[T14]]''' - Shoot at the hull MG port + sides/rear.<br />
* - '''[[Churchill Mk III|Churchill MK. III]]/[[Churchill Mk VII|MK. VII]]''' - Hull at the MG port + sides/rear.<br />
* - '''[[ARL-44]]''' - Difficult to engage frontally, shoot sides/rear.<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!--Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in a bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".--><br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Great armour protection on all sides<br />
* Weak spots like the flat sides are much better protected<br />
* Acceleration is good on flat terrain<br />
* Angling your hull makes the frontal armour immune to most guns it faces<br />
* Gun does a lot of damage upon penetration<br />
* Heavily armoured for a Rank II tank, even compared to [[KV-1 (L-11)|original KV-1]]<br />
* Crew of five allow for higher survivability<br />
* Reload rate is decent for the cannon<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Poor overall top speed<br />
* Additional weight hampers the tanks already poor performance<br />
* F-32 gun is same as L-11 in penetration, very bad for dealing with other vehicles it may face<br />
* Slow turret traverse, if you need to change target quickly you must rotate both the turret and the hull<br />
* Making turns will decrease your speed dramatically<br />
* Climbing hills is very sluggish for the tank<br />
* Can encounter other armoured fighting vehicles that are able to easily penetrate its armour, such as the [[Pz.IV F2|Panzer IV F2]]<br />
* Large fuel tanks lined up on the side<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!--Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the ground vehicle in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).--><br />
===Development===<br />
The start of the KV-1 heavy tanks began after the heavy tank [[T-35]] flaws came to light. Designers were ordered to draw up new designs to become the basis of a breakthrough heavy tank needed for the Soviet doctrine. This made for a tank that was heavily armoured, but not very mobile as it was to be for siege warfare. The designs offered all had heavy armour, wide tracks, and used the torsion-bar suspension. The designs were the [[SMK]], T-100, and what would be the '''KV tank''', which was named after the then Soviet Defense Commissar '''K'''liment '''V'''oroshilov.<br />
<br />
During the developmental progress, the prototypes of all these heavy tanks were made and the Winter War with Finland was on its way. The Soviets sent these tanks into Finland for combat testing, to which the KV design outperform in every way with its superior armour and firepower. The armour on the KV tank was impenetrable by a tank cannon in service and most anti-tank guns as well, the 76.2 cannon also gave it a huge firepower boost compared to the usual 37 mm in use by other countries. However, the design was found to be difficult to steer, the transmission was unreliable, ergonomics was poor and vision was limited, plus with its 45-ton weight, it was a very heavy tank for its time. In truth, while formidable in power and protection, courageous crew member willing to curse the name would speak out about the trouble the KV tank really was. The main variant of production before World War II broke out was the '''KV-1''' model.<br />
<br />
===KV-1E===<br />
The initial production in 1939 had the KV-1 equipped with an [[KV-1 (L-11)|L-11 cannon]], this was upgraded to the F-32 in 1940. The Model 1940 production was the main KV-1 variant that was available during the German invasion in Operation Barbarossa. During the German invasion, it was found that the KV-1s, while invulnerable to even the German [[Pz.III J|Panzer IIIs]] and [[Pz.IV F1|Panzer IVs]], was easily taken out by the German 88 mm FlaK cannon used in anti-tank roles. This caused the KV-1 production model to be up-armoured for increased survivability with applique armour bolted onto the tank. Though it varies on how much extra armour is bolted on, some KV-1s have overall armour width of 100 mm thick. These up-armoured Model 1940 KV-1s were called '''KV-1E''', with "E" standing for ''"ekranami "'', which means "with shields". This up-armouring of the tank caused the weight to be increased from its original 45 tons to 50 tons, further straining the drive system of the tank.<br />
<br />
===Combat usage===<br />
The main bulk of these up-armoured tanks was sent to the Northwestern and Leningrad fronts. Some of these tanks were captured intact and used by German forces against their former users. Nevertheless, the KV-1 continued to serve until the end of the war, though in dwindling numbers as they are lost due to mechanical failures or combat. Some 1941-built KV-1s still saw service in 1944 at the Leningrad front before being replaced by [[IS-2]] tanks, then they saw service in Manchuria in 1945.<br />
<br />
===Survivors===<br />
Several KV-1s survive after the war, most as monuments, but also in museums. Only one genuine KV-1 was restored to running condition in Russia after it was found in the bottom of the Neva River. One KV-1B can also be found at the Bovington Tank Museum at England.<br />
<br />
=== In-game description ===<br />
After receiving the first reports from the front about the heavy tanks' deployment in battle, the LKZ factory began to work on strengthening the KV's armour. The only weapon capable of penetrating the Soviet tank's frontal armour was the 88 mm 8.8 Flak 18 anti-aircraft cannon. Its anti-aircraft rounds, even without an armour-piercing steel core, had an 810 m/s muzzle velocity and could penetrate an 80 mm thick armour plate set at a 30 degree angle from a range of 1,000 metres. As a rule, it disabled the KV-1 with 2-3 hits to its turret and hull. <br />
<br />
Specialists at the Leningrad Kirovsk factory developed a simple but effective up-armouring design previously used on the T-28 tank. The tank's turret and hull sides were fitted with 25 mm add-on armour plates, increasing the overall armour width to 100 mm. Furthermore, a small gap was left between the turret and the add-on armour. This improved the tank's defences when under fire from shaped high explosive shells. These modifications increased the tank's combat-loaded weight to 50 tonnes. Tanks modified in such a way could be discerned by the huge heads of the bolts used to attach the add-on armour plates.<br />
<br />
The main bulk of these up-armoured tanks was sent to the Northwestern and Leningrad fronts. Some of these tanks were captured intact and used by German forces.<br />
The stationary nature of combat encounters did not allow the KV to truly come into its own. Apart from that, tank units constantly complained about the vehicle's high weight, which didn't just lead to technical problems. All it took was a few KV tanks driving along a road to make it difficult to negotiate for other vehicles, even tracked ones. The heavy tank's mobility on loose ground or boggy terrain was unsatisfactory.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''<br />
<br />
== See also ==<br />
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''<br />
<br />
* ''reference to the series of the vehicles;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
<br />
== External links ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''encyclopedia page on the tank;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{USSR heavy tanks}}<br />
{{USSR premium ground vehicles}}</div>U60172176https://wiki.warthunder.com/index.php?title=Bf_109_E-4&diff=24978Bf 109 E-42019-05-21T17:29:47Z<p>U60172176: Replaced MiG-17 with MG 17</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Specs-Card|code=bf-109e-4}}<br />
{{Notice|''This page is about the aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[Bf_109_(Disambiguation)|Bf 109 (Disambiguation)]]''}}<br />
== Description ==<br />
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''--><br />
<br />
[[File:GarageImage_Bf109E4.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]<br />
{{break}}<br />
The '''Bf 109 E-4''' is a Rank II German fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/SB) and 2.7 (SB). It was introduced in [[Update_1.53_"Firestorm"|Update 1.53 "Firestorm"]]. The differences from its [[Bf 109 E-3|predecessor]] are little in quantity, though they have a drastic effect in-game. The E-4 is slightly heavier, but thanks to better surface polishing and a +150 hp WEP, it is faster than the E-3. The greatest advantage though, is the installment of Mg FF/M cannons with minengeschoße.<br />
<br />
After having played both the [[Bf 109 E-1|''E-1'']] and [[Bf 109 E-3|''E-3'']], players will rejoice upon unlocking the ''E-4''. While essentially the same plane, the E-4 overcomes the inadequate MgFF with MgFF/M, featuring the fantastic minengeschoße. With two wing-mounted MG FF/Ms with 60 rounds each, the plane has an even more deadly punch, attributed solely to the new thin-walled 20 mm HE shells. Fighting in the E-4 is essentially the same as with all E-frame 109s.<br />
<br />
Remaining a great energy fighter against its historical opposition, the E-4 is somewhat troubled by the fact that it often faces mid-to-later-war planes such as the [[P-47D-25|P-47D]]. To engage these, make sure you have a clear energy advantage; if attacked, fly defensively and attempt to bleed the enemy’s speed while pulling them down. The Bf 109 E-4 is often regarded as a poor turner, a reputation coming from the fact that its main rival, the Spitfire, simply did it better. However, with combat flaps, the E-4 is a respectable turner able to out-turn most planes that outperform it in other ways. However, keep in mind that one of the changes from E-3 to E-4 increased the frame's weight. Flat turning should only be reserved for extreme situations.<br />
== General info ==<br />
=== Flight Performance ===<br />
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''--><br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="8" | Characteristics<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,000 m)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)<br />
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)<br />
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)<br />
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)<br />
|-<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
|-<br />
| 554 || ?543 || 11,000 || 23.3 || 27.7 || 11.8 || 14.0 || 390<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,000 m)<br />
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)<br />
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)<br />
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)<br />
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)<br />
|-<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
! AB<br />
! RB<br />
|-<br />
| 604 || 580 || 11,000 || 19.7 || 21.0 || 26.5 || 17.8 || 390<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
====Details====<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | Features<br />
|-<br />
! Combat flap<br />
! Take-off flap<br />
! Landing flap<br />
! Air brakes<br />
! Arrestor gear<br />
|-<br />
| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X <!-- ✓ --><br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="5" | Limits<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)<br />
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)<br />
! colspan="2" | Max Static G<br />
|-<br />
! +<br />
! -<br />
|-<br />
| 789 || 320 || 500 || ~12 || ~10<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities<br />
|-<br />
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)<br />
! Rudder<br>(km/h)<br />
! Elevators<br>(km/h)<br />
! Radiator<br>(km/h)<br />
|-<br />
| < 370 || < 370 || < 420 || > 250<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Setting 1<br />
|-<br />
! Optimal altitude<br />
! 100% Engine power<br />
! WEP Engine power<br />
|-<br />
| 3,550 m || 1,050 hp || 1,172 hp <br />
|-<br />
<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 2<br />
|-<br />
! Optimal altitude<br />
! 100% Engine power<br />
! WEP Engine power<br />
|-<br />
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp <br />
|-<br />
! colspan="3" | Setting 3<br />
|-<br />
! Optimal altitude<br />
! 100% Engine power<br />
! WEP Engine power<br />
|-<br />
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp <br />
|- --><br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Survivability and armour ===<br />
<!--''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''--><br />
<br />
* 10 mm Steel plate behind seat<br />
* 10 mm Steel plate head rest<br />
* No armour glazing<br />
* Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)<br />
<br />
== Armaments ==<br />
=== Offensive armament ===<br />
<!--''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''--><br />
{{main|MG FF/M (20 mm)|MG 17 (7.92 mm)}}<br />
<br />
The Bf 109 E-4 is armed with:<br />
<br />
* 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannon, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total) <br />
* 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, nose-mounted (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total) <br />
<br />
The two canons are mounted with one in each wing where as the two machine guns are mounted in the upper fuselage just in front of the cockpit.<br />
=== Suspended armament ===<br />
<!--''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''--><br />
{{main|SC50JA (50 kg)|SC250JA (250 kg)}}<br />
<br />
The Bf 109 E-4 can be outfitted with the following ordinance:<br />
<br />
* Without load<br />
* 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)<br />
* 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)<br />
<!--<br />
=== Defensive armament ===<br />
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''<br />
--><br />
<br />
== Usage in the battles ==<br />
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''--><br />
The main armament is identical to that of the [[Bf 109 E-3|''Bf 109 E-3'']]. However, there is one critical difference. The [[MG FF (20 mm)|MG FF/M]] can fire minengeschoss shells. Minengeschoss have thin shells, allowing more incendiary material to be used; however, these very same characteristics prevent them from being fired from older MG FF versions (like on the predecessor E-3). Thus, the MG FF/Ms are far more powerful than the MG FFs.<br />
<br />
The E-4 can load either 4 x 50 kg or 1 x 250 kg bombs. Unless you like to fly at a severe disadvantage, do not use the bombs unless you have to in order to win a match, for example after refueling/restocking at the base. The bomb load is nowhere near large enough to make a fighter bombing trip worth it.<br />
<br />
The DB 601N provides its maximum performance around 2,000 m to 5,000 m (6,500 ft to 16,500 ft respectively) and comes with WEP, providing +150 hp upon activation. The boost will last about one minute from a cooled engine.<br />
<br />
====Tactics====<br />
<!--Specific methods of play in different situations, label the methods with pros and cons (if possible) based on vehicle's performances (i.e. Me 262 playing as a fighter or anti-bomber)--><br />
[[File:Cockpit_Bf109e3.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Click to enlarge]]<br />
Just as the with the [[Bf 109 E-1|''E-1'']], new players should adopt a hit and run tactic with the Bf 109s (also known as Boom and Run). While often called a Boom & Zoom aircraft, the 109s are not dedicated Boom & Zoomers, and many other aircraft such as the Fw 190 do it much better. While it is true that a pure Boom and Zooming approach can be used for the 109s, limiting oneself to this enormously undermines plane efficiency. That said, the 109s do build up speed quickly in a dive, and they have a respectable zoom climb that ends in a strong sustained climb at ~270 km/h (optimal climbing speed 260, and dash 280 km/h). Doing so will often give the player the maximum speed or altitude advantage they can have over their chosen target. A straight-up bounce, with a short extend from the target and a slowly increasing climb leading into an Immelmann, tends to work best for rookie pilots. Remember to check your six and surroundings during the climb and just before diving back on your target. <br />
<br />
With mounting experience on the side of the player, the ''energy fighting'' abilities of the Bf 109 E-4 come to the forefront. Fluid and speedy transitions between altitude and speed, together with well-timed uses of flaps, throttle, and maneuvers, enable the Emil to quickly change an engagement to its favour.<br />
<br />
When firing at enemies, be aware that your 20 mm cannons only hold a 60 round drum magazine each. They empty quickly, and many a new pilot has seen themselves on pitifully low ammunition after only one attack run. Once you empty your cannons, the E-4 will be hard-pressed to secure a kill. In your own interest, do not waste your cannons on ground targets and when firing at planes, fire in short, controlled and well-aimed bursts. Luckily, the E-4 holds 1000 rounds in each of its two [[MG 17 (7.92 mm)|MG 17s]]. Use these if you are inclined to spray and pray or are about to engage ground targets.<br />
<br />
====Counter-tactics====<br />
<!--What to expect, if it would be in command of the enemy and how to counter it. (i.e. They will most likely BnZ, etc.)--><br />
Engaging the Bf 109 E-4 in a group is your best bet. While it can easily pick off one or two planes, it doesn’t have very much cannon ammo and will be easily overwhelmed when engaged by multiple foes. In a one-on-one engagement, try to trick the pilot into bleeding their energy. While the Bf 109 E-4 will outrun most planes at its tier, it can also be outgunned by them. Once it uses all its cannon ammo, it's only left with two machine guns, which most planes take little to no damage from at a glance.<br />
<br />
===Manual Engine Control===<br />
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"<br />
|-<br />
! colspan="7" | MEC elements<br />
|-<br />
! rowspan="2" |Mixer<br />
! rowspan="2" |Pitch<br />
! colspan="3" |Radiator<br />
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger<br />
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger<br />
|-<br />
! Oil<br />
! Water<br />
! Type <br />
|-<br />
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not ontrollable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
===Modules===<br />
{| class="wikitable"<br />
! Tier<br />
! Flight performance<br />
! Survivability<br />
! Weaponry<br />
|-<br />
| I<br />
| Fuselage Repair, Radiator<br />
| <br />
| Offensive 7 mm, ETC 50/VIIId<br />
|-<br />
| II<br />
| Compressor<br />
| Airframe<br />
| New 7 mm MGs<br />
|-<br />
| III<br />
| Wing Repair, Engine<br />
| <br />
| Offensive 20 mm, ETC 500/IXb<br />
|-<br />
| IV<br />
| Engine Injection<br />
| Cover<br />
| New 20 mm Cannons<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
=== Pros and cons ===<br />
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''--><br />
<br />
'''Pros:'''<br />
<br />
* Good acceleration<br />
* Good rate of climb<br />
* Good continuous turn rate<br />
* Good roll rate<br />
* Good sustained turn rate<br />
* Plenty of LMG ammo<br />
* Fairly good MG FF/M cannons in steady hands, ideal for Boom & Zoom<br />
* Can perform negative G maneuvres<br />
* Better cockpit visibility than [[Bf 109 F-4|Bf 109Fs]]<br />
<br />
'''Cons:'''<br />
<br />
* Less than average instantaneous turn rate<br />
* Control stiffening above 400 IAS (kph)<br />
* Low cannon ammo<br />
* Weak low-velocity cannons compared to Hispano, [[MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 151/20]], etc<br />
* Relatively poor durability<br />
* Harsh matchmaking<br />
* Thicker cockpit framing than the E-3 with armoured glass frame<br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''--><br />
The E-4 was used extensively in `Operation Barbarossa´ (invasion of the U.S.S.R.), it was eventually replaced by the [[Bf 109 F-4|''Friedrich'']]. Old machines remained in use by other Axis nations, such as Romania and Hungary.<br />
<br />
== Media ==<br />
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''<br />
<br />
== Read also ==<br />
<!--''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''<br />
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''<br />
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''<br />
''ETC.''--><br />
<br />
* Radinger, Willy & Otto, Wolfgang, Messerschmit Me 109 - Das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt - Entwicklung, Erprobung, Technik - Bf 109A bis 109K, Aviatic Verlag, Oberhachingen: 2011<br />
*[http://www.messerschmitt-bf109.de/web.php?lang=de&auth=e&name=bf109b&versionscategory=6 "Falcon's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Hangar" Bf 109E subpage]<br />
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Bf_109_variants#Bf_109E English Wikipedia: "Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants &ndash; Bf 109 E"]<br />
*[http://kurfurst.org/#Emil "Performance Information Bf 109E"]<br />
<br />
== Sources ==<br />
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''<br />
<br />
* ''topic on the official game forum;''<br />
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''<br />
* ''other literature.''<br />
<br />
{{Germany fighters}}</div>U60172176