I-153P

I-153P

I-153P

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	2.7	2.3

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:950

Show in game

This page is about the premium Soviet biplane I-153P. For other uses, see I-15 (Family).

Description

The I-153P is a premium rank II Soviet biplane with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB), 2.7 (RB), and 2.3 (SB). This fighter has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

There is one thing you need to know about the I-153; you will out turn everything it fights. Not a single plane the Chaika fights will win against the I-153P in a turn fight. At a BR of 3.0, however, the Chaika's once moderate speed is now very bad. Nearly every plane will be faster; especially due to how the Chaika locks up at high speed, making it extremely difficult to maneuver at high speed. However, plenty of people underestimate the lowly Chaika, and attempt to turn with it. If you notice someone is trying to turn fight you, simply out turn them and light them up with 2 x 20 mm. However, bear in mind the Chaika is also more fragile than most planes in the game; a single 20 mm shot on it is almost always death.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,850 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
420	408	10,500	14.1	14.4	8.9	11.1	274
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,850 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
465	465	10,500	13.0	13.0	24.1	24.1	274

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	X	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
570	570	???	~14	~14

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 300	< 340	< 340	> 220

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,500 m	930 hp	1,116 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,000 m	880 hp	1,056 hp

Survivability and armour

• 8 mm Steel - Plating behind pilot's seat
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)

Armaments

Offensive armament

The I-153P is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)

Suspended armament

The I-153P can be outfitted externally with:

• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (200 kg total)
• 8 x 82 mm RS-82 rockets
• 8 x 82 mm RBS-82 rockets

Usage in the battles

Not only can the Chaika be played as a turn fighter, but it is relatively effective as a bomber hunter. Since it can climb somewhat well, it can get up to bomber altitude and make an effort to stop them. With 2 x 20 mm, it has the ability to do significant damage to bombers. It also has 8 RS82 rockets, and when fired in a volley at a bomber, one of them is bound to make impact. All it takes is one to bring down even the mighty BV-238. As you face bombers, do NOT stay behind them for long. Their turrets will most likely shread you.

Counter-tactics

Should you be facing an I-153P, whatever you do, do not attempt to engage in a turn fight. The little biplane is more than capable of out turning even the A6M2 Reisen. Calmly deploy Boom & Zoom tactics against it; fly from an upper ground, light it up, and fly away. Try not to keep yourself level for too long, as there is a chance it will be able to hit you if you speed away. It has a moderate climbrate too and will climb after you with relative effectiveness if you fly back up after the "zoom".

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair, Radiator		Offensive 20 mm
II	Compressor	Airframe	DZ-40
III	Wing Repair, Engine		New 20 mm Cannons
IV	Engine Injection	Cover	RO-82

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Low stall speed
• Good roll rate
• Great turn speed
• Great armament consisting of 2 x 20 mm cannons
• Easily underestimated

Cons:

• Slow
• Very vulnerable against enemy guns it faces
• Poor energy retention
• Good climbrate against biplanes, but not against advanced monoplanes

History

The I-153P Chaika (Russian:Seagull) was a Soviet biplane fighter of the 1930s and 1940s. It was created by the Polikarpov Design Bureau in 1938. It is a modification (3rd variant) of the earlier I-15 fighter, as shown in the designation. The Chaika was considered to be the fastest biplane in the world. However, at the start of hostilities between the Soviet Union and Germany, the I-153 could not compete on equal terms with the German Messerschmitt Bf-109 and therefore was mainly used in ground attack roles.

For many years, Soviet pilots considered the I-15 to be the most dangerous aircraft in a spin. Therefore, when flight testing the I-153 with the M-25 engine in March and April of 1939, the Voenno-Vozdushmiy Sily (VVS) or Soviet Air Force Command paid special attention to its spin characteristics. Initially, the matter remained unresolved. However, in the summer of 1939, when the new aircraft saw action against the Japanese in Mongolia, NII VVS once again resolved to rectify this crucial problem. Unfortunately, the test results were disappointing. After entering a spin, by the third full rotation, the I-153 would convert into a flat spin and by the fifth revolution of the spin, the engine would cease altogether. At this point, spin recovery would become extremely difficult and even lowering the landing gear in order to shift the centre of gravity did not make a difference resulting in the Chaika still requiring a significant amount of time and altitude to recover.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

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;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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