MiG-3-34

MiG-3-34

MiG-3-15 (BK)

I-16 type 27

MiG-3-34

MiG-3-15 (BK)

I-16 type 27

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.7	2.3

Class:

Fighter

Interceptor

Research:4 600

Purchase:16 000

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This page is about the Russian fighter MiG-3-34. For other versions, see MiG-3-15 and MiG-3-15 (BK).

Description

The MiG-3-34 is a rank II Russian fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/RB) and 2.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.41.

The MiG-3-34 was built with the intention of making a fighter capable of fighting at high altitudes and this is reflected in the game. The MiG-3 is one of the few Soviet planes that fly decently at high altitudes, although still not as well as German or American planes. This gives the Soviets a hand in high altitude battles and gives them some defence against high-flying bombers. This plane has dual 20 mm that is powerful and accurate with the neat ability to equip "Armored-Targets" (Antitank) rounds.

General info

Flight Performance

The MIG 3-34 is not a turn fighter. It's a Boom & Zoom aircraft. It is a bit sluggish when turning, but the flaps help a lot. This aircraft climbs well. Upgrading helps a lot in this plane. Once upgraded it is enjoyable to fly though it may be a bit challenging to master, it is worth it.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 7,800 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
587	569	11000	23.2	24.1	12.8	12.8	450
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 7,800 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
641	612	11000	20.8	22.0	20.2	16	450

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
700	320	480	~12	~5

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 350	< 280	< 350	> 370

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,000 m	1,200 hp	1,446 hp

Survivability and armour

The overall survivability isn't bad. The pilot is very vulnerable. The plane's only armour is on the seat (8 mm and 8.5 mm). The structure of the plane is good. It isn't anything special. It can take a few hits. The fuel tanks sometimes explode and catch fire.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The MiG-3-34 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, nose-mounted (100 rpg = 200 total)

Usage in battles

This aircraft can be used in 2 ways:

As an anti-aircraft artillery and light vehicle destroyer, or as a Boom & Zoom aircraft.

Its cannons can easily destroy anti-aircraft artillery when attacked from an angle. The cannons can easily destroy anti-aircraft artillery trucks and armoured vehicles.

It can destroy aircraft, especially bombers and ground attack aircraft. You should any aircraft flying in a straight line target. You should stay clear of Spitfire-s and Zero-s. It is good in a head-on situations. You should target these planes: IL-2, B-25, Yak 2 KABB, Do 217...

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator
II		Compressor	Airframe
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• 2 x ShVak 20 mm cannons which are powerful at close range
• Durable construction
• Using flaps improve turn time

Cons:

• Very long reload time
• Not very manoeuvrable in turns
• Pilot is vulnerable
• No additional armaments

History

Though riddled with shortcomings, the I-200/MiG-1 fighter/interceptor aircraft proved to be both a popular and capable aircraft with pilots that had experience flying them. To address the oft-cited shortcomings, aircraft designers Mikoyan and Gurevich set out to rectify these issues, not only to make the aircraft more pilot-friendly but to make it a more effective fighter/interceptor.

By utilizing a full-sized model of the aircraft in a wind tunnel, designers quickly set about documenting necessary changes in the aircraft's configuration. The increase of the outer wing dihedral improved the wing's overall stability and lengthening the fuselage by just four inches improved the horizontal stability of the aircraft. By happenstance, the minute change in length created enough space for an additional 66 gallon (250 litres) fuel tank installation behind the pilot seat. Inert exhaust gases were routed to the fuel tanks to help improve the survivability of the aircraft and pilot by reducing the likelihood of fuel fires if enemy gunfire punctured the fuel tanks. Other improvements included strengthening the landing gear, larger main wheels, extending the canopy glazing aft for better visibility, improved gunsight, updated configuration of the instrument panel and an overall increase to 750 rounds of ammunition per machine gun.

After making the recommended updates and changes, the heavily modified I-200/MiG-1 (fourth revision) made its maiden flight on 29 October 1940. The Soviet state accepted this version of the aircraft during December 1940 State acceptance trials and due to the significant changes made to the plane was renamed to MiG-3. Though the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau rectified many of the MiG-1's deficiencies, unfortunately, the resulting aircraft ended up being 550 lbs (250 kg) heavier and reduced service ceiling by 1,500 ft (457 m). They also took approximately a minute longer to reach 16,000 ft (4,900 m) than the original MiG-1s. Two other positive outcomes for the MiG-3 was an overall increase in the aircraft's speed at altitude and sea-level along with an increase in its service range.

Many of the initial MiG-3 airframes pushed out to the VVS regiments which were considered poor quality and unusable. After an inquiry completed, a panel found that the Soviet Air Force Research Institute was negligent in their duty to monitor the quality of the aircraft coming off the assembly line. After several demotions of senior managers and the execution of the institute head, new management set to address the problems with the MiG-3.

Though designed as a high-altitude bomber-interceptor, the MiG-3's pilot's oxygen supply was woefully inadequate, both fuel and oil pumps failed to keep necessary pressure at altitude and pilot inexperience with high altitude flying all played against the aircraft's abilities. Once again, the MiG Design Bureau set out to fix these deficiencies and when complete, the MiG-3 design teams optimized it for high altitude operations above 20,000 ft (6,000 m). Here the MiG-3 boasted almost a 20 mph (26 kph) speed advantage over the German Bf 109E, though at sea-level, this advantage disappeared and the MiG-3 had roughly the same top speed as the Bf 109.

The weapons of the MiG-3 always seemed lacking compared to other aircraft such as the Bf 109 which typically sported a 20 mm canon along with machine guns. MiG-3s of all iterations only had machine guns in the 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm varieties. Though experiments with wing-mounted gun pods and rockets took place, reduction of airspeed due to them often resulted in the pilots having them removed, one of the few times where fighter pilots prefered streamlined aircraft over firepower. Ultimately the new gun sight was not fit for the task, so pilots often relied on getting as close to the enemy aircraft as possible before opening fire, sometimes within point-blank range to ensure a hit.

Leading up to the German invasion titled Operation Barbarossa, MiG-3s found homes at front-line regiments. Here, they could ideally intercept any hostile bomber or reconnaissance aircraft that flew over such as the German Ju-86P. Unfortunately, at the beginning of the German invasion, the MiG-3, though one of the best fighters available to Soviet pilots, proved to be unsuited for the task at hand. Instead of intercepting bombers and reconnaissance aircraft, they instead fought more agile Bf 109s and such in a fashion which negated all of the MiG-3's advantages, and it struggled. With the Bf 109 being more agile and had better weapons, the MiG-3 fought for a foothold but often lost. It was around this time that other Russian fighters such as the Yak and LaGG series aircraft were debuting and showing their effectiveness at lower altitude combat with more agility and better weapon options. Forcing the aircraft to work as a bomber and ground attack aircraft proved to be an, even more, less effective than as a low-altitude fighter.

Some Soviet pilots did find success while flying the MiG-3. Aleksander Pokryshkin was one such pilot, as his initial foray into air combat was at the controls of a MiG-3. It was while flying the MiG-3 that Pokryshkin scored several victories against the German Bf 109. However, it was also during this time he realized that Soviet air combat doctrine was outdated, and he took detailed notes of his and other's accounts at air combat to determine a better way to fight. Pokryshkin's experience in the MiG-3 helped shape future Soviet air combat tactics for pilots flying more capable aircraft such as the Yak-1B, P-39K and Lavochkin fighters. Pokryskin was quoted as saying, "The operational advantage of the MiG-3 seemed to be obscured by its certain defects. However, these advantages could undoubtedly be exploited by a pilot able to discover them."

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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.

External links

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• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.