View source for Po-2 Night Witch

{{About
| about =  event Soviet bomber '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
| other
| usage-1 = the gift version
| link-1 = Po-2
| usage-2 = the premium version
| link-2 = Po-2M
}}
{{Specs-Card
|code=po-2_nw
|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
}}
== Description ==
{{Youtube|url=ybNGk4TXzyA|size=530px|align=leftT}}  
<!--''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 a 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.''
{{break}}-->
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a special race event variant of the legendary [[Po-2]] gift Soviet biplane.

== General info ==
=== Flight Performance ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 10,667 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
|-
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
|-
! Stock
| 130 || 126 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 30.5 || 31.4 || 0.5 || 0.4 || rowspan="2" | 258
|-
! Upgraded
| 138 || 134 || 29.6 || 30.0 || 1.5 || 1.0
|-
|}

====Details====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
|-
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear
|-
| X || X || X || X || X     <!-- ✓ -->
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
|-
! colspan="7" | Limits
|-
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
|-
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
|-
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || N/A || N/A || N/A || ~5 || ~3
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
|-
| < 200 || < 200 || < 200 || > 95
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
|-
! Optimal altitude
! 100% Engine power
|-
| 700 m || colspan="2" |114 hp 
|-
|}

====Engine performance====
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine
|-
! colspan="3" | Engine Name
! colspan="3" | Number present
|-
| colspan="3" | Shvetsov M-11D 5-cylinder || colspan="1" | 1
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine characteristics
|-
! colspan="2" | Weight (each)
! colspan="1" | Type
! colspan="1" | Cooling
|-
| colspan="2" | 170 kg || Radial || Air
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Stock)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
! colspan="4" | Take-off
|-
| ''Arcade'' || colspan="4" | 117 hp 
|-
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || colspan="4" | 116 hp
|-
! colspan="4" | Engine power (Upgraded)
|-
! colspan="1" | Mode
! colspan="4" | Take-off
|-
| ''Arcade'' || colspan="4" | 123 hp 
|-
| ''Realistic/Simulator'' || colspan="4" | 120 hp
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="4" | WEP Duration
|-
! colspan="2" | Arcade
! colspan="2" | Realistic/Simulator
|-
| colspan="2" | 25 seconds || colspan="2" | Infinite
|-
|}

=== Survivability and armour ===
<!--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.-->

The Po-2 has a 13 mm steel plate in the nose, which is something but not useful as if you are attacked from the front you cannot retaliate. In Air RB, the Po-2's airframe is surprisingly reliable and is perfectly controllable even with serious damage, however, past a certain amount of damage (yellow all over and worse) you will not have enough power to keep airborne for much longer. At this point, you can make an emergency landing and act as an anti-aircraft gun for the rest of the match.

It also has a small, self-sealing fuel tank, as well as a tiny oil tank in from of it, both just behind the engine. This leads to a low chance of catching on fire, however, if you are set on fire you have very little chance of putting it out due to your slow speed.

* 13 mm Steel plate in the nose.
* Small, single, self-sealing fuel tank.

== Armaments ==

=== Defensive armament ===
<!--''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.''-->
{{main|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}

The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:

* 1 x 7.62 mm [[ShKAS (7.62 mm)|ShKAS]] machine gun, dorsal turret (200 RPG) but can be reloaded by the rear gunner, making the ammo count practically infinite.

== Usage in battles ==
<!-- ''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).'' -->

When playing the Halloween race event, you will spawn in the air at the start of the race line. To gain speed accelerate as fast as you can, however keep an eye out on other PO-2's which will be in the event. If either of you hit each other, you will both get knocked out. Going around the island, do not go to fast around the caves or hills, if you do you could crash into it, knocking you out. 

===Manual Engine Control===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
|-
! rowspan="2" |Mixer
! rowspan="2" |Pitch
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger
|-
! Oil
! Water
! Type 
|-
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>Not automatic pitch || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Combined || rowspan="2" | Not controllable || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
|-
|}

=== Pros and cons ===

'''Pros:'''

* A race variant of the [[Po-2]]
* A lot of fun to fly in the Halloween race events.  

'''Cons:'''

* None, perfect for racing

== History ==
The U-2, or Po-2, was a multi-role biplane, created by Nikolay Polikarpov in 1928. The U-2 was designed as a primary civilian trainer and was forgiving and easy to fly. Its inaugural flight took place on 7th January 1928, with M. M. Gromov at the controls. As designed, the U-2 was a conventional biplane with an air-cooled 100-HP M-11 engine. The aircraft was widely used in agriculture, transport and other roles. Staff plane and ambulance variants also existed, as well as reconnaissance, passenger, floatplane and many other versions. 

By 1932, a new military trainer variant, U-2VS was designed. It could carry six 8-kg dummy bombs on underwing pylons and had a gunner turret in the rear seat. After the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, many existing U-2s were converted to light night bombers. Modifications were made by both the Polikarpov Design Bureau, directly at the factories, and even in the field, by mechanics at front-line squadrons. As a result, the number of operational variants was high. The plane could carry from 100 to 350 kg of bombs. By 1943, the number of frontline Po-2 regiments reached its peak of up to 70 night bomber regiments. After Nikolay Polikarpov died in 1944, the aircraft was redesignated Po-2 in his memory. The aircraft remained in serial production until 1953, with over 33,000 built.

== Media ==
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->

;Videos
{{Youtube-gallery|nRGDD4N8UwM|'''Some of The RARE and HIDDEN Aircraft in War Thunder.''' - ''Ash'' ({{PAGENAME}} is displayed at 8:28)}}

== See also ==
<!-- ''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->

;Related development

* [[Po-2]] - The in-game playable version
* [[Po-2M]]

;Other race event vehicles

* [["Racing" M18]]

== External links ==
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''other literature.'' -->

* [[wt:en/news/888/current|[Ugly Ducklings] Polikarpov U-2/Po-2]]
* [[wikipedia:Polikarpov_Po-2|[Wikipedia] Polikarpov Po-2]]

{{Sp-begin|Playable events}}
<div align="left">
* [[wt:en/news/7939-event-halloween-in-war-thunder-en|Halloween 2022]]
* [[wt:en/news/7397-event-halloween-in-war-thunder-en|Halloween 2021]]
* [[wt:en/news/6920-event-halloween-in-war-thunder-en|Halloween 2020]]
* [[wt:en/news/6460-event-halloween-in-war-thunder-en|Halloween 2019]]
* [[wt:en/news/5856-event-halloween-in-war-thunder-en|Halloween 2018]]
* [[wt:en/news/5062-special-halloween-update-winners-list-en|Halloween 2017]]
* [[wt:en/news/4305-event-halloween-mischief-updated-01-11-2016-en|Halloween 2016]]
* [[wt:en/news/3393--en|Halloween 2015]]
* [[wt:en/news/2595/current|Halloween 2014]]
* [[wt:en/news/321--en|Halloween 2013]]
</div>
{{Sp-end}}