He 162 A-2

He 162 A-2

Ta 152 C-3

◊MiG-15bis

He 162 A-2

Ta 152 C-3

◊MiG-15bis

Germany

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
6.3	6.0	6.7

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:95 000

Purchase:270 000

Show in game

This page is about the German jet fighter He 162 A-2. For other version, see He 162 A-1.

Description

The He 162 A-2 is a rank V German jet fighter with a battle rating of 6.3 (AB), 6.0 (RB), and 6.7 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight performance

Cockpit of the He 162

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	801	776	12000	31.4	32.3	19.1	18.1	750
Upgraded	875	840		28.8	30.0	28.2	23.4

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	+	-
1040	350	700	700	500	~12	~7

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 500	< 500	< 580	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass		Wing loading (full fuel)
BMW 003		1	1,877 kg		205 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)			Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel
673 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		2,044 kg	2,313 kg	2,375 kg	2,495 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (108%)
Condition	100%	108%	7m fuel	20m fuel	23m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	801 kgf	910 kgf	0.46	0.39	0.38	0.36
Optimal	801 kgf (0 km/h)	910 kgf (0 km/h)	0.46	0.39	0.38	0.36

Survivability and armour

• 15 mm steel - bulkhead behind cockpit
• Engine exposed on top of the fuselage
• Fuel tanks in fuselage and wings below the engine

Armaments

Offensive armament

The He 162 A-2 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, chin-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)

The twin MG 151s are one of the weaker cannons equipped by the early Rank 5 jets. However, when compared to the 30 mm Mk. 108's found on other German jets, its cannons have acceptable muzzle velocity, though this will remain a problem. The ammo count is less than enough considering the speeds at which jet combat takes place.

Usage in battles

This aircraft is best used exclusively for Boom & Zoom attacks and fighting at high altitudes (over 5 km).

It bleeds energy fast in dogfights against early jets, and when matched with propeller planes, dogfights become suicide. Head-ons may seem like a good idea due to the plane's small size and powerful 20 mm cannons, but keep in mind that most of the time you will be fighting American or British aircraft, which will often one-shot or severely damage you with their multiple sets of .50 cal's or Hispanos.

He 162 is an excellent bomber hunter, especially if you choose to fly with minimum (7 min) fuel and go to intercept bombers attacking your team's bases. Your 20 mm and small size will make you a deadly opponent, but keep in mind that most propeller bombers at this rank have great defensive armaments. When up-tiered with jets you will probably never see a bomber in-game.

When attempting to Boom & Zoom enemy fighters, it is vital that you climb at least 1 km above the enemy. Try climbing along the corners of the map, as if you go head-on you'll run into fighters without the energy you need to getaway. Avoid sharp turns when diving and pulling up as you lose energy very fast in this aircraft. This becomes even more important when up-tiered, as enemy jets at higher battle-ratings have no problem catching up to you just long enough to destroy you.

The best place for He 162 is combined battles, where it has relatively low SP requirements and does not face a large group of enemy fighters. In this mode fly with a minimum tank load (7 min) as it's all you need and it gives you agility. Just as in air realistic, use Boom & Zoom to shoot down enemies ground attacking your team or unsuspecting enemy fighters.

Modules

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

"Offensive 20 mm", "Compressor", "Wings repair", then "Engine", is the recommended order of unlocking. Why? The stock MG 151 belts are bad as they lack the very powerful HE Minengeschosse. Compressor and Engine are no-brainers. Everything that improves acceleration is a must for early jets. Wings repair is superior to new cannons, the stock MG 151 does not overheat and accuracy is acceptable in short bursts.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Often faces propeller-powered aircraft
• Top speed in comparison to propeller planes of the same rank
• Good bomber hunter, especially so if the bomber isn't very well self-protected
• Good acceleration for an early jet
• Good climb rate for an early jet, climbs even better than American jets of the same rank
• Excellent dive rate, can catch up even the MiG-9 and F-84B-26 in shallow dive
• Hard-hitting armament of two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons that fires Minengeschoß shells
• Does not have war emergency power, however, the throttle can push past 100% (up to 108% throttle)
• Very good visibility
• Small wing surface area means difficult to target when turning
• Loses no energy in rudder turns still maintaining acceptable turning radius
• Can use its 108% throttle almost indefinitely above 6,000 m
• Great roll rate

Cons:

• Very fragile even for a jet, little damage can cause significant performance loss
• Little armour protecting the pilot, often gets pilot knocked-out, useless for head-ons
• Lacklustre high-speed acceleration (above 800 km/h) and a top speed in comparison to some of the early jets
• Energy retention limited due to slightly lacklustre high-speed engine performance and a lightweight airframe
• Other contemporary and later jet have significant weapon and manoeuvrability advantages
• Suitable only for energy fighting, avoid dogfights at all costs, significant energy loss in turns
• Poor performance when stock
• Ammo runs out quickly
• Engine prone to take damage
• 20 mm 151/20 cannon muzzle velocity could be better
• Extended usage of the throttle over 100% burns out the jet engine (deteriorates quality of use until its own destruction)
• Difficulty with take-off, struggles on some airfields
• Engine mounted on top, vertical manoeuvre techniques need to account for the pitching-down moment of the engine thrust
• Engine easily overheats below 2,000 m

History

Initially, this Heinkel fighter was designated He 500, but by October, in order to fool enemy intelligence services, the RLM redesignated the plane He 162; the number being previously assigned to a Messerschmitt fast bomber prototype that competed with the Ju 88. At the same time, the fighter was named the Salamander, which initially was the codename for the very same fast bomber design. The official name at the start of introduction was Volksjäger to emphasize the usage as every man's fighter similar to Volkswagen aka VW.

Overall 170 to 320 aircraft were produced, most of them A-2 variants. The previous A-1 were first fitted with Mk108, but these shocked the airframe too hard and were changed into the less recoil-heavy MG 151/20. An interesting feature is the dorsal mounted engine. It serves two purposes; first: Easier maintenance like with Me 262s underwing gondolas and second - and most importantly: The high installation greatly reduced foreign object damage - or FOD. Unpaved runways were common on all sides in WW2 and rocks and other debris were often sucked into the intake -- the main cause of engine failures in early jets.

Albeit named the Volksjäger, the jet was a dangerous vehicle for beginners. Short flight time and a high stall speed compared to the gliders most recruits trained on caused a high after-combat crash rate, especially on landing approaches. Pilots often failed to attain the recommended landing speed of 250 km/h (100 more than the Bf109) due either inexperience or lack of fuel. The high landing speed was the cause of even more deadly problems.

In the air, however, the aircraft was praised even by its foes. Allied pilots loved to take the captured He 162s into the air, praising its smooth flight and good controllability. The only downside was the weak rudder and weak in the literal meaning. RAF pilot, Flt Lt. R. A. Marks, despite being instructed not to use heavy rudder on high speed, performed a low-altitude, high-speed barrel roll during a demonstration. A fin and rudder assembly ripped out of its socket, the sudden loss of control and insufficient height resulted in a fatal crash.

Like the Me 262 Schwalbe, the Volksjäger proved to be too little too late.

In-game description

Initially this Heinkel fighter was designated He 500, but by October, in order to fool enemy intelligence services, the RLM redesignated the plane He 162; the number being previously assigned to a Messerschmitt fast bomber prototype that competed with the Ju 88. At the same time, the fighter was named the Salamander, which initially was the codename for the entire program.

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;
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