Difference between revisions of "Me 262 A-1a"

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{{Specs-Card|code=me-262a-1a}}
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{{About
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| about = German jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = Me 262 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=me-262a-1a
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|ArtImage_{{PAGENAME}}.png}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''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.''
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' was a variant of the Me 262, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. It was designed and produced by Messerschmitt in Germany during World War II. The Me 262 A-1a, also known as Schwalbe (Swallow), was used as a defensive interceptor against Allied bombers and fighters. It had revolutionary Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines that gave it a top speed of over 540 miles per hour, making it much faster than any Allied fighter at the time. The Me 262 A-1a was armed with four 30 mm cannons and could also carry air-to-air rockets. The Me 262 A-1a entered service with the Luftwaffe in mid-1944 and proved to be an effective dogfighter against Allied fighters. It made its first combat mission on July 26, 1944, when it attacked a British Mosquito reconnaissance plane over Bavaria. It was the first time in history that a jet fighter engaged in air-to-air combat. German pilots claimed 542 Allied aircraft were shot down by the Me 262, although higher claims have sometimes been made. However, the Me 262 also faced many problems, such as reliability issues with the engines, shortages of fuel and materials, and interference from Hitler, who wanted the Me 262 to be used as a fighter-bomber instead of an interceptor. The Allies also countered the Me 262 by attacking it on the ground and during takeoff and landing. The Me 262 had little impact on the war because of its late introduction and the small numbers that entered service. The Allies captured several Me 262s, which they examined and tested in flight. Some were also operated by Czechoslovakia until 1951.
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The {{Specs|name}} has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. This aircraft is a true heavy fighter in every way: bomber "box formations" fall apart under your heavy rocket bombardments, flying fortresses perish within seconds by this machine's MK 108 cannons, whose unusually low velocity you will have to take into account. However, it may struggle against other jets that have superior speed and manoeuvrability. The armament is what makes the Me 262 a formidable opponent but also a challenging one to master.
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[[File:Cockpit_Me262.jpg|thumbnail|right|250px|The Schwalbe's instrument panel.]]
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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=== Flight Performance ===
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=== Flight performance ===
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''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
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<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
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The Me 262 A-1a can enter an uncontrollable flatspin after attempting certain vertical manoeuvres, in a similar manner to the Fw 190 series fighters when the rudder is manipulated. This can prove fatal at altitudes below 2,000 m as it leaves little space to recover from it.
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
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! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 6,000 m)
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! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
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! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
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! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
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! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
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|-
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! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
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|-
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! Stock
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| 824 || 796 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 29.0 || 30.0 || 16.0 || 14.9 || rowspan="2" | 750
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|-
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! Upgraded
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| 909|| 865 || 27.7 || 28.0 || 24.5 || 20.0
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|-
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|}
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 +
==== Details ====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="6" | Features
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|-
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! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
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|-
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| ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
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|-
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|}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="7" | Limits
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|-
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! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
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! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
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! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
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! colspan="2" | Max Static G
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|-
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
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|-
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| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 558 || 529 || 380 || ~10 || ~5
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
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|-
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! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
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|-
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| < 500 || < 600 || < 680 || N/A
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|-
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|}
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==== Engine performance ====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Engine
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! colspan="6" | Aircraft mass
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|-
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! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
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! colspan="3" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
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|-
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| colspan="2" | Junkers Jumo 004B-1 || 2
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| colspan="3" | 4,280 kg || colspan="3" | 287 kg/m<sup>2</sup>
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
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! colspan="5" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br />Weight
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|-
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! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
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! 16m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 53m fuel
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|-
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| 720 kg || colspan="2" | Axial-flow turbojet
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| 4,894 kg || 5,041 kg || 5,409 kg || 5,961 kg || 6,255 kg || 6,520 kg
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|-
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! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
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! colspan="6" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
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|-
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! Condition || 100% || WEP
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! 16m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 45m fuel || 53m fuel || MTOW
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|-
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| ''Stationary'' || 910 kgf || N/A
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| 0.37 || 0.36 || 0.34 || 0.30 || 0.29 || 0.28
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|-
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| ''Optimal'' || 910 kgf<br />(0 km/h) || N/A
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| 0.37 || 0.36 || 0.34 || 0.30 || 0.29 || 0.28
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|-
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|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
 
 +
* 15 mm Steel - Behind the pilot
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* 15 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
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* 15 mm Steel - Between cockpit and fore fuel tank
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* 15 mm Steel - Instrument panel plate
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* 16 mm Steel x 2 - Ammunition protection plates
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* 90 mm Bulletproof glass
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* Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in front of pilot, 1 under pilot's feet, 2 behind pilot)
 +
 
 +
=== Modifications and economy ===
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{{Specs-Economy}}
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The biggest issue of the Schwalbe is its bad acceleration across all speeds. Thus, ''Compressor'' and ''Engine'' upgrades have the highest priority. The cannons' stock belts are decent, but the high explosive content increases with the new ammo in ''Offensive 30 mm''. Including them into the upgrade route is not a bad idea. The same applies for the rockets in the ''R1 modification''. Being able to knock out bases (~40) or tanks (direct hit) with these warheads makes a long game much easier to win. ''New 30 mm cannons'' is an interesting upgrade choice as it increases accuracy above 300 m (350 yds), but the MK 108 will still be unable to hit any at 500 m (600 yds).
 +
 
 +
== Armaments ==
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
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=== Offensive armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
{{main|MK 108 (30 mm)}}
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[[File:Me262 intercepting B-29.png|thumbnail|The Schwalbe in its interceptor role.]]
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
 
 +
* 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons (2 x 100 RPG top + 2 x 80 RPG bottom = 360 total)
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 +
The MK 108 has a high damage potential. With a great in-game burst mass of 14.52 kg/s (32.01 lbs/s) and the great explosive warhead "Minengeschoss" (mine-shell), this weapon will vaporize aircraft, especially bombers. But every coin has a flip side and the MK 108 is no exception. The amazing rate of fire is exchanged with a very short barrel and small propellant charges, resulting in very poor ballistics. The MK 108 cannon fires very slow shells with a great bullet drop.
 +
 
 +
The MK 108 cannons have an ammo indicator in the cockpit, which is typical of Luftwaffe aircraft. It sits directly beneath the compass (the one with the little plane in the middle). The left white column is for the two top autocannons. The right one is for the bottom two cannons; this bar is also taller than the left one as the ammo count is different for the two pairs.
 +
 
 +
The MK 108 is a very bad anti-fighter weapon particularly in a jet-to-jet combat. Bullet drop and slow velocity result in a severe difficulty leading shots at ranges above 300 m (350 yds). In dogfights where both aircraft are constantly turning and changing direction, this trait gets even worse. The high speed of jet battles push the necessary lead for hitting the target farther in front of the enemy. Training with this weapon system before getting into battle is heavily advised.
 +
 
 +
All four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted on the underside of the upper mounted in the nose of the aircraft. Two are outfitted with 100 RPG, while the other two have 80 RPG.
 +
 
 +
=== Suspended armament ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
 +
{{main|R4M}}
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 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can externally outfit:
 +
 
 +
* 24 x 55 mm R4M rockets
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* 48 x 55 mm R4M rockets
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 +
== 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).'' -->
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 +
As a heavy fighter, the 'Schwalbe' is not nimble, but neither are other first-generation jets. Compared to them, the Me 262 is actually quite agile and possesses a speed, roll, and damage output advantage against certain adversaries.
 +
 
 +
However, don't be fooled - this aircraft was the first operational jet fighter. Generally, anything 3 years older than the 262 outclasses it. Against them, the 262's turn rate is your only advantage, with the exclusion of the Gloster Meteor. Avoid combat with Meteors if possible, however, if engaged with a Sea Meteor or any later variant, do not attempt to dive as it will only make your situation worse. Try alternating barrel rolls to force them to overshoot. Joystick users can try the classic trick of banking the aircraft about 120-180 degrees out of phase of the enemy aircraft with a positive G-load but as usual, they will need to watch their altitude carefully.
 +
 
 +
The 'Schwalbe' climb rate is actually not too bad as stock in 6.0-7.0 games but to climb well you need to be around 450 to 500 km/h for best climb rate which can be visually unappealing due to its low angle of climb. This in itself can be used to out-run and climb simultaneously as an advantage.
 +
 
 +
The Schwalbe has three main possible usages:
 +
 
 +
*'''Air-supremacy-fighter''':
 +
 
 +
''Find and destroy other fighters''. While the historic purpose of the Me 262 was a bomber interceptor, it performs well against other fighters. However, it must be played like a heavy fighter or, for instance, the Fw 190 series. Be careful and plan every step ahead, including your retreat and how you will regain lost energy. A standard attack looks like the following:
  
−
== Weaponry ==
+
# Find a target already engaged in combat and busy or an enemy who is alone.
−
=== Offensive weaponry ===
+
# Position yourself with either a speed or energy advantage in the enemy's blind-spot (where they would least expect you, attacking with the sun behind you is a good tactic).
−
''Describe the offensive weaponry 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.''
+
# Proceed closer to the enemy aircraft with the energy advantage you hold.
 +
# Launch a deadly surprise attack.
 +
# Escape any other nearby enemies with a "zoom climb" or a continuation of the approach at your maximum speed.
 +
# Once enough separation has been gained (3-5 km), regain energy by accelerating or climbing. Likewise, engaging a different target who has lower energy is an option.
  
−
=== Suspended weaponry ===
+
These tactics are virtually the same as used by the Fw 190 series and also works on all early jets ([[Meteor F Mk 3|Meteor F 3]], [[F-80A-5|P-80]], [[MiG-9]], [[F2H-2|F2H]], [[Kikka]], [[R2Y2 Kai V1|R2Y2]]), etc.<br>
−
''Describe the aircraft's suspended weapons: 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.''
+
Against later jets, ([[Sea Meteor F Mk 3|Sea Meteor]], [[La-15]], [[F9F-2|F9F]]), it gets trickier as they can easily neglect any energy advantage you built up due to their superior acceleration. The approach suggested above will still work, but needs to be executed with even more caution. Having allies nearby to assist is also often mandatory in matches like these, as a single 262 bears little threat to Korean War jets.<br>
 +
Against these superior foes, one of the 262's lesser strengths can be used - the turn rate. For a few turns, the Schwalbe will easily outmanoeuvre most Korean War jets, apart from the naval carrier jets like the [[F9F-2|F9F Panther]] and [[Sea Meteor F Mk 3|Seameteor]].<br />
  
−
=== Defensive weaponry ===
+
* '''Bomber interceptor''':
−
''Defensive weaponry 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.''
 
  
−
== Usage in the battles ==
+
Seek and annihilate any heavy bombers with the impressive armament the Me 262 brings to the battlefield. Avoid getting shot at though! The 262's engines are weak and like to burn. If the engines catch on fire, throttle down and then shut off the engine (default "i") and go into a dive to gain speed. Rockets are also fun in this mode, as the Schwalbe has the option to carry up to 48 55 mm R4M rockets. Don't forget to set a detonation timer for the R4M missiles so they do not require direct hits. 600-800 m is suggested.
−
''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).''
+
 
 +
*'''Ground attacker''':
 +
 
 +
Bad acceleration and a high stall speed - usually not the traits wielded by an attacker, but the Schwalbe as two very convincing arguments on its side: R4M rockets and bad [[Matchmaker|matchmaking]]. The 24 (48 seconds unlock) rockets can destroy light pillboxes, medium tanks and mini bases (~50 rocket impacts). Peculiar to note is the ability of the MK 108 to destroy light pillboxes. 60-80 shots are needed from a very low angle and from a short distance. Also, the Me 262 can get dragged up to games where it will face Korean War jets. One could try, as an experienced pilot, to get the best out of the situation. Those who are not as skilled at ground attacking still benefit the team; if the match starts to take longer, a ground victory becomes a viable option. The same applies if the last enemy is hiding and the tickets start to count down.
 +
 
 +
Going against other countries would bring out their jets. Other countries' first-generation jets include the [[F-80A-5]], [[Meteor_F_Mk 3|Meteor Mk. 3]], [[Vampire_FB 5|Vampire]], [[MiG-9]], [[Kikka]] and [[Yak-15]]. The Me 262 is the heaviest of them and thus reigns straight line kinetic energy retention at high speeds.
 +
 
 +
* Top speed goes to the [[F-80C-10|F-80]], followed by the MiG-9 and Meteor F.4. Not all is grim though! Both the Vampire and Yak-15 sit far at the end of the spectrum.
 +
* The [[Sea Meteor F Mk 3|Sea Meteor]] has the best acceleration in the horizontal, although it will break apart before it can reach its top speed. In the vertical, however, the weight and design of the Me 262 allow for the most rapid dive in this time era.
 +
* Turn rate: do not turn in jets, or heavy fighters like in this case. Pure horizontal manoeuvres are reserved for emergency situations and should be avoided accordingly.
 +
 
 +
As such, the Me 262 is often lacking in certain traits compared to its BR contemporaries. Always try to get a drop on the opponent and catch them by surprise rather than a straight-up dogfight.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''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".''
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<!-- ''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".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Heavy armament of 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons
 +
* Powerful mine shells
 +
* Decent agility, able to outroll most soviet jet fighters it faces
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
+
* Bad acceleration
−
''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/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
* Bad climb rate
 +
* As with most Me 262s, the take-off run is relatively long
 +
* Exposed and fragile engines, very prone to fires and oil leaks
 +
* Mediocre aircraft gun ballistics: very low muzzle velocity and a lot of drag, hitting a manoeuvring target beyond 500 m is nearly impossible
 +
* Cannons have very small ammo count, requires trigger discipline
 +
* Cannons are inaccurate
 +
* Tends to enter an uncontrollable flatspin after stalling out
 +
* Unusually high wing angle of attack is required for level flight at most speed ranges so aircraft tends to bleed energy easier when turning
 +
* Pilot snipes from medium to large-calibre machine guns and cannons is frequent and sometimes even guaranteed
 +
 
 +
== History ==
 +
<!-- ''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).'' -->
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 +
{{break}}
 +
{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}|expand=true}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
 +
The Messerschmitt Me 262 was a German jet fighter, fast bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the WWII era. It was the world's first mass-produced jet fighter and the first jet aircraft to see combat. The first serial variant, the Me 262 A-1a, unofficially known as 'Schwalbe', arrived for flight testing in Lechfeld in July 1944. The construction used generic alloys, was almost fully riveted and its weight was rather high, all for the sake of ease of mass production. The Jumo 004B-1 jet engine (later B-2 and B-3) also housed a 2-stroke Riedel motorcycle engine, used as a starter. Two small 17-liter fuel tanks were used to power the starter. The rest of the fuel was housed in the fuselage. Two main and two extra fuel tanks were used. Main tanks held 900 liters of fuel, the nose tank had 170 liters and the rear tank held 600 liters.
 +
 
 +
Radio equipment included the FuG 16ZY radio (later replaced with the FuG 15) and the FuG 25a IFF set. The 262 was armed with four 30 mm MK 108 cannon with 100 rounds per gun for the top pair and 80 rounds per gun for the bottom pair. The pilot was protected by a 90 mm armoured glass and 15 mm armoured plating on the sides and back.
 +
 
 +
The Me 262 A-1 was easier to fly than the Bf 109G. Considering the great range of available airspeeds, the cockpit equipment was rather sparse. Although the turn radius for the jet fighter was significantly wider than that of a piston fighter, it could better retain high speeds in a turn. Its acceleration was much worse than that of a piston plane, but the Me 262 had an incredible dive rate, which could occasionally threaten going past Mach 1.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
 
 +
;Skins
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 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=me-262a-1a Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
;Images
 +
<gallery mode="packed" heights="150">
 +
File:FighterImage_Me262V1 frontal.jpg|First prototype was fitted with a Jumo 210 600 hp and a wooden propeller. This saved the test pilot on at least one occasion.
 +
File:FighterImage_Me262v1 take off asymetrical.jpg|Asymmetrical jet engine test prototype
 +
File:FighterImage Me262A-1.jpg|Me 262A "White 3" at the Dübendorf airfield in Switzerland
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
;Videos
 +
{{Youtube-gallery|V77eUJjifzM|'''The Me-262 family''' discusses the {{PAGENAME}} at 1:26 - ''War Thunder Official Channel''|hgi1k_ljFYw|'''The Shooting Range #14''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 06:16 discusses the Me 262 and the Kikka.|bxalaBFUfb8|'''The Shooting Range #174''' - ''Pages of History'' section at 04:45 discusses the Me 262 "Schwalbe".|Spx654gP4Ac|'''{{PAGENAME}} [Brutal Schwalbe]''' - ''Jengar''|6Xiqj1h2qrQ|'''AIR SHARK: The {{PAGENAME}}''' - ''MikeGoesBoom''}}
 +
 
 +
== See also ==
 +
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
  
−
== Read 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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
−
''ETC.''
 
  
−
== Sources ==
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== External links ==
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''other literature.''-->
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* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
 
−
* ''other literature.''
+
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/320881-messerschmitt-me-262-a-1a-a-1au4/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
 +
 
 +
{{AirManufacturer BFW}}
 +
{{Germany jet aircraft}}

Latest revision as of 19:01, 7 April 2024

Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
This page is about the German jet fighter Me 262 A-1a. For other versions, see Me 262 (Family).
Me 262 A-1a
me-262a-1a.png
GarageImage Me 262 A-1a.jpg
ArtImage Me 262 A-1a.png
Me 262 A-1a
Germany flag.png Germany
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
7.3 7.0 7.0
Class:
Research:95 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:270 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
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Description

The Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe was a variant of the Me 262, the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. It was designed and produced by Messerschmitt in Germany during World War II. The Me 262 A-1a, also known as Schwalbe (Swallow), was used as a defensive interceptor against Allied bombers and fighters. It had revolutionary Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines that gave it a top speed of over 540 miles per hour, making it much faster than any Allied fighter at the time. The Me 262 A-1a was armed with four 30 mm cannons and could also carry air-to-air rockets. The Me 262 A-1a entered service with the Luftwaffe in mid-1944 and proved to be an effective dogfighter against Allied fighters. It made its first combat mission on July 26, 1944, when it attacked a British Mosquito reconnaissance plane over Bavaria. It was the first time in history that a jet fighter engaged in air-to-air combat. German pilots claimed 542 Allied aircraft were shot down by the Me 262, although higher claims have sometimes been made. However, the Me 262 also faced many problems, such as reliability issues with the engines, shortages of fuel and materials, and interference from Hitler, who wanted the Me 262 to be used as a fighter-bomber instead of an interceptor. The Allies also countered the Me 262 by attacking it on the ground and during takeoff and landing. The Me 262 had little impact on the war because of its late introduction and the small numbers that entered service. The Allies captured several Me 262s, which they examined and tested in flight. Some were also operated by Czechoslovakia until 1951.

The Me 262 A-1a Schwalbe has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. This aircraft is a true heavy fighter in every way: bomber "box formations" fall apart under your heavy rocket bombardments, flying fortresses perish within seconds by this machine's MK 108 cannons, whose unusually low velocity you will have to take into account. However, it may struggle against other jets that have superior speed and manoeuvrability. The armament is what makes the Me 262 a formidable opponent but also a challenging one to master.

The Schwalbe's instrument panel.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 6 000 m865 km/h
Turn time28 s
Max altitude12 500 m
Engine2 х Junkers Jumo 004B-1
TypeJet
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight7 t

The Me 262 A-1a can enter an uncontrollable flatspin after attempting certain vertical manoeuvres, in a similar manner to the Fw 190 series fighters when the rudder is manipulated. This can prove fatal at altitudes below 2,000 m as it leaves little space to recover from it.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 6,000 m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 824 796 12500 29.0 30.0 16.0 14.9 750
Upgraded 909 865 27.7 28.0 24.5 20.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
✓ ✓ ✓ X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1050 450 558 529 380 ~10 ~5
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 500 < 600 < 680 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Empty mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Junkers Jumo 004B-1 2 4,280 kg 287 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 16m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 53m fuel
720 kg Axial-flow turbojet 4,894 kg 5,041 kg 5,409 kg 5,961 kg 6,255 kg 6,520 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 16m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 45m fuel 53m fuel MTOW
Stationary 910 kgf N/A 0.37 0.36 0.34 0.30 0.29 0.28
Optimal 910 kgf
(0 km/h) 		N/A 0.37 0.36 0.34 0.30 0.29 0.28

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural1 050 km/h
Gear450 km/h
  • 15 mm Steel - Behind the pilot
  • 15 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
  • 15 mm Steel - Between cockpit and fore fuel tank
  • 15 mm Steel - Instrument panel plate
  • 16 mm Steel x 2 - Ammunition protection plates
  • 90 mm Bulletproof glass
  • Self-sealing fuel tanks (1 in front of pilot, 1 under pilot's feet, 2 behind pilot)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 673 → 4 653 Sl icon.png
RB9 448 → 11 970 Sl icon.png
SB13 880 → 17 585 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications80 100 Rp icon.png
129 100 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 000 Ge icon.png
Crew training78 000 Sl icon.png
Experts270 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 500 Ge icon.png
Research Aces670 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
130 / 320 / 600 % Sl icon.png
190 / 190 / 190 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
8 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 700 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 700 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon rocket.png
R1 modification
Research:
8 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
310 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods ammo.png
mk108_belt_pack
Research:
6 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
9 700 Sl icon.png
230 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods pilon rocket.png
R1/II modification
Research:
10 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
16 000 Sl icon.png
390 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
mk108_new_gun
Research:
8 700 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png

The biggest issue of the Schwalbe is its bad acceleration across all speeds. Thus, Compressor and Engine upgrades have the highest priority. The cannons' stock belts are decent, but the high explosive content increases with the new ammo in Offensive 30 mm. Including them into the upgrade route is not a bad idea. The same applies for the rockets in the R1 modification. Being able to knock out bases (~40) or tanks (direct hit) with these warheads makes a long game much easier to win. New 30 mm cannons is an interesting upgrade choice as it increases accuracy above 300 m (350 yds), but the MK 108 will still be unable to hit any at 500 m (600 yds).

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon
Ammunition360 rounds
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main article: MK 108 (30 mm)
The Schwalbe in its interceptor role.

The Me 262 A-1a is armed with:

  • 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons (2 x 100 RPG top + 2 x 80 RPG bottom = 360 total)

The MK 108 has a high damage potential. With a great in-game burst mass of 14.52 kg/s (32.01 lbs/s) and the great explosive warhead "Minengeschoss" (mine-shell), this weapon will vaporize aircraft, especially bombers. But every coin has a flip side and the MK 108 is no exception. The amazing rate of fire is exchanged with a very short barrel and small propellant charges, resulting in very poor ballistics. The MK 108 cannon fires very slow shells with a great bullet drop.

The MK 108 cannons have an ammo indicator in the cockpit, which is typical of Luftwaffe aircraft. It sits directly beneath the compass (the one with the little plane in the middle). The left white column is for the two top autocannons. The right one is for the bottom two cannons; this bar is also taller than the left one as the ammo count is different for the two pairs.

The MK 108 is a very bad anti-fighter weapon particularly in a jet-to-jet combat. Bullet drop and slow velocity result in a severe difficulty leading shots at ranges above 300 m (350 yds). In dogfights where both aircraft are constantly turning and changing direction, this trait gets even worse. The high speed of jet battles push the necessary lead for hitting the target farther in front of the enemy. Training with this weapon system before getting into battle is heavily advised.

All four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted on the underside of the upper mounted in the nose of the aircraft. Two are outfitted with 100 RPG, while the other two have 80 RPG.

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)
Setup 124 x R4M rockets
Setup 248 x R4M rockets
Main article: R4M

The Me 262 A-1a can externally outfit:

  • 24 x 55 mm R4M rockets
  • 48 x 55 mm R4M rockets

Usage in battles

As a heavy fighter, the 'Schwalbe' is not nimble, but neither are other first-generation jets. Compared to them, the Me 262 is actually quite agile and possesses a speed, roll, and damage output advantage against certain adversaries.

However, don't be fooled - this aircraft was the first operational jet fighter. Generally, anything 3 years older than the 262 outclasses it. Against them, the 262's turn rate is your only advantage, with the exclusion of the Gloster Meteor. Avoid combat with Meteors if possible, however, if engaged with a Sea Meteor or any later variant, do not attempt to dive as it will only make your situation worse. Try alternating barrel rolls to force them to overshoot. Joystick users can try the classic trick of banking the aircraft about 120-180 degrees out of phase of the enemy aircraft with a positive G-load but as usual, they will need to watch their altitude carefully.

The 'Schwalbe' climb rate is actually not too bad as stock in 6.0-7.0 games but to climb well you need to be around 450 to 500 km/h for best climb rate which can be visually unappealing due to its low angle of climb. This in itself can be used to out-run and climb simultaneously as an advantage.

The Schwalbe has three main possible usages:

  • Air-supremacy-fighter:

Find and destroy other fighters. While the historic purpose of the Me 262 was a bomber interceptor, it performs well against other fighters. However, it must be played like a heavy fighter or, for instance, the Fw 190 series. Be careful and plan every step ahead, including your retreat and how you will regain lost energy. A standard attack looks like the following:

  1. Find a target already engaged in combat and busy or an enemy who is alone.
  2. Position yourself with either a speed or energy advantage in the enemy's blind-spot (where they would least expect you, attacking with the sun behind you is a good tactic).
  3. Proceed closer to the enemy aircraft with the energy advantage you hold.
  4. Launch a deadly surprise attack.
  5. Escape any other nearby enemies with a "zoom climb" or a continuation of the approach at your maximum speed.
  6. Once enough separation has been gained (3-5 km), regain energy by accelerating or climbing. Likewise, engaging a different target who has lower energy is an option.

These tactics are virtually the same as used by the Fw 190 series and also works on all early jets (Meteor F 3, P-80, MiG-9, F2H, Kikka, R2Y2), etc.
Against later jets, (Sea Meteor, La-15, F9F), it gets trickier as they can easily neglect any energy advantage you built up due to their superior acceleration. The approach suggested above will still work, but needs to be executed with even more caution. Having allies nearby to assist is also often mandatory in matches like these, as a single 262 bears little threat to Korean War jets.
Against these superior foes, one of the 262's lesser strengths can be used - the turn rate. For a few turns, the Schwalbe will easily outmanoeuvre most Korean War jets, apart from the naval carrier jets like the F9F Panther and Seameteor.

  • Bomber interceptor:

Seek and annihilate any heavy bombers with the impressive armament the Me 262 brings to the battlefield. Avoid getting shot at though! The 262's engines are weak and like to burn. If the engines catch on fire, throttle down and then shut off the engine (default "i") and go into a dive to gain speed. Rockets are also fun in this mode, as the Schwalbe has the option to carry up to 48 55 mm R4M rockets. Don't forget to set a detonation timer for the R4M missiles so they do not require direct hits. 600-800 m is suggested.

  • Ground attacker:

Bad acceleration and a high stall speed - usually not the traits wielded by an attacker, but the Schwalbe as two very convincing arguments on its side: R4M rockets and bad matchmaking. The 24 (48 seconds unlock) rockets can destroy light pillboxes, medium tanks and mini bases (~50 rocket impacts). Peculiar to note is the ability of the MK 108 to destroy light pillboxes. 60-80 shots are needed from a very low angle and from a short distance. Also, the Me 262 can get dragged up to games where it will face Korean War jets. One could try, as an experienced pilot, to get the best out of the situation. Those who are not as skilled at ground attacking still benefit the team; if the match starts to take longer, a ground victory becomes a viable option. The same applies if the last enemy is hiding and the tickets start to count down.

Going against other countries would bring out their jets. Other countries' first-generation jets include the F-80A-5, Meteor Mk. 3, Vampire, MiG-9, Kikka and Yak-15. The Me 262 is the heaviest of them and thus reigns straight line kinetic energy retention at high speeds.

  • Top speed goes to the F-80, followed by the MiG-9 and Meteor F.4. Not all is grim though! Both the Vampire and Yak-15 sit far at the end of the spectrum.
  • The Sea Meteor has the best acceleration in the horizontal, although it will break apart before it can reach its top speed. In the vertical, however, the weight and design of the Me 262 allow for the most rapid dive in this time era.
  • Turn rate: do not turn in jets, or heavy fighters like in this case. Pure horizontal manoeuvres are reserved for emergency situations and should be avoided accordingly.

As such, the Me 262 is often lacking in certain traits compared to its BR contemporaries. Always try to get a drop on the opponent and catch them by surprise rather than a straight-up dogfight.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Heavy armament of 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons
  • Powerful mine shells
  • Decent agility, able to outroll most soviet jet fighters it faces

Cons:

  • Bad acceleration
  • Bad climb rate
  • As with most Me 262s, the take-off run is relatively long
  • Exposed and fragile engines, very prone to fires and oil leaks
  • Mediocre aircraft gun ballistics: very low muzzle velocity and a lot of drag, hitting a manoeuvring target beyond 500 m is nearly impossible
  • Cannons have very small ammo count, requires trigger discipline
  • Cannons are inaccurate
  • Tends to enter an uncontrollable flatspin after stalling out
  • Unusually high wing angle of attack is required for level flight at most speed ranges so aircraft tends to bleed energy easier when turning
  • Pilot snipes from medium to large-calibre machine guns and cannons is frequent and sometimes even guaranteed

History


Archive of the in-game description

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was a German jet fighter, fast bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of the WWII era. It was the world's first mass-produced jet fighter and the first jet aircraft to see combat. The first serial variant, the Me 262 A-1a, unofficially known as 'Schwalbe', arrived for flight testing in Lechfeld in July 1944. The construction used generic alloys, was almost fully riveted and its weight was rather high, all for the sake of ease of mass production. The Jumo 004B-1 jet engine (later B-2 and B-3) also housed a 2-stroke Riedel motorcycle engine, used as a starter. Two small 17-liter fuel tanks were used to power the starter. The rest of the fuel was housed in the fuselage. Two main and two extra fuel tanks were used. Main tanks held 900 liters of fuel, the nose tank had 170 liters and the rear tank held 600 liters.

Radio equipment included the FuG 16ZY radio (later replaced with the FuG 15) and the FuG 25a IFF set. The 262 was armed with four 30 mm MK 108 cannon with 100 rounds per gun for the top pair and 80 rounds per gun for the bottom pair. The pilot was protected by a 90 mm armoured glass and 15 mm armoured plating on the sides and back.

The Me 262 A-1 was easier to fly than the Bf 109G. Considering the great range of available airspeeds, the cockpit equipment was rather sparse. Although the turn radius for the jet fighter was significantly wider than that of a piston fighter, it could better retain high speeds in a turn. Its acceleration was much worse than that of a piston plane, but the Me 262 had an incredible dive rate, which could occasionally threaten going past Mach 1.


Media

Skins
Images

  • First prototype was fitted with a Jumo 210 600 hp and a wooden propeller. This saved the test pilot on at least one occasion.

  • Asymmetrical jet engine test prototype

  • Me 262A "White 3" at the Dübendorf airfield in Switzerland

Videos
The Me-262 family discusses the Me 262 A-1a at 1:26 - War Thunder Official Channel
The Shooting Range #14 - Pages of History section at 06:16 discusses the Me 262 and the Kikka.
The Shooting Range #174 - Pages of History section at 04:45 discusses the Me 262 "Schwalbe".
Me 262 A-1a [Brutal Schwalbe] - Jengar
AIR SHARK: The Me 262 A-1a - MikeGoesBoom

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


Bavarian Aircraft Corporation (BFW*)
Bf 109  Flegel's Bf 109 A · Bf 109 B-1 · Bf 109 C-1 · Bf 109 C-1 · Bf 109 E-1 · Bf 109 E-3 · Bf 109 E-4 · Bf 109 E-7/U2
  Bf 109 F-1 · Bf 109 F-2 · Bf 109 F-4 · Bf 109 F-4/trop · Bf 109 G-2/trop · Bf 109 G-6 · Bf 109 K-4 · Bf 109 G-10 · Bf 109 G-14 · Bf 109 Z-1
Bf 110  Bf 110 C-6 · Bf 110 C-7 · Bf 110 F-2 · Bf 110 G-2 · Bf 110 G-4
Me 410  Me 410 A-1 · Me 410 A-1/U2 · Me 410 A-1/U4 · Me 410 B-1 · Me 410 B-1/U2 · Me 410 B-2/U4 · Me 410 B-6/R3
Bombers  Me 264
Jet Fighters  Me 163 B · Me 163 B-0 · Me 262 A-1a · Me 262 A-1a/Jabo · Me 262 A-1a/U1 · Me 262 A-1/U4 · Me 262 A-2a · Me 262 C-1a · Me 262 C-2b
Export  ▅Bf 109 E-7 · ▄Bf 109 G-14/AS · ◐Bf 109 F-4 · ◐Bf 109 G-2 · Bf 109 G-2 · ▄Bf 109 G-2 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 Erla · ◐Bf 110 G-4
Captured  ▃Bf 109 F-4
  * BFW was later renamed Messerschmitt Aktiengesellschaft (AG) on 11 July 1938. All aircraft currently in production at this time retained the designation Bf while those developed after this date had the designation Me.

Germany jet aircraft
Germany flag.png  Luftwaffe
He 162  He 162 A-1 · He 162 A-2
Me 163  Me 163 B · Me 163 B-0
Ho 229  Ho 229 V3
Ar 234  Ar 234 B-2 · Ar 234 C-3
Me 262  Me 262 A-1a · Me 262 A-1a/Jabo · Me 262 A-1a/U1 · Me 262 A-1/U4 · Me 262 A-2a
  Me 262 C-1a · Me 262 C-2b
GDR flag.png  LSK
Fighters  ◊MiG-15bis · ◊Lim-5P · ◊MiG-19S
  ◊MiG-21MF · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M"
  ◊MiG-29
Attackers  ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA
  ◊Su-22UM3K · ◊Su-22M4
  ◊IL-28
FRG flag.png  Luftwaffe
F-84  ◄F-84F
F-86  ◄CL-13A Mk 5 · ◄CL-13B Mk.6 · ◄F-86K
F-104  ◄F-104G
F-4  ◄F-4F Early · ◄F-4F · ◄F-4F KWS LV
G.91  ◄G.91 R/3 · ◄G.91 R/4
Tornado  ◄Tornado IDS WTD61 · ◄Tornado IDS MFG · ◄Tornado IDS ASSTA1
Other  Alpha Jet A · ◄Sea Hawk Mk.100
Ex-LSK  ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◄MiG-29G · ◄Su-22M4 WTD61
Switzerland flag.png  Swiss Air Force
  ◌Hunter F.58 · FFA P-16

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