Bf 109 E-7/U2

Bf 109 E-7/U2

▀S.M.79 serie 1

Bf 109 E-7/U2

▀S.M.79 serie 1

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	3.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

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This page is about the German fighter Bf 109 E-7/U2. For other uses, see Bf 109 (Family).

Description

The Bf 109 E-7/U2 is a gift Rank II German fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.53 "Firestorm". It is currently a rare vehicle and is obtainable through the Gaijin Marketplace. The Bf 109 E-7 offers little difference from its historic predecessor, the Bf 109 E-4, but is a model produced from the experience gained from the E-4. Notable differences include a newly designed aerodynamic propeller hub and additional bomb racks, the bomb racks also allowing the usage of drop tanks to extend its combat range.

While essentially the same plane as the E-3, the E-7 overcomes the inadequate MgFF for MgFF/M, featuring the fantastic `minengeschoße´. With two wing-mounted MG FF/Ms with 60 rounds each, the plane has an even more deadly punch, attributed solely to the new installed HE-20mm-shell. Fighting in the E-7/U2 is essentially the same as with all E-frame 109s.

Remaining a great energy fighter versus its historical opposition, the E-7 is somewhat troubled by the fact that it often faces mid-to-later war planes such as the P-47D. To engage these, make sure you have a clear energy advantage or, if attacked, fly defensively and attempt to bleed the enemies speed while pulling him down. The Bf 109 E-7/U2 is often not regarded as a good turner, a reputation coming out of the fact that its main rival, the Spitfire, simply did it better. However, especially with combat flaps, the E-7 is a respectable turner able to out turn most planes that outperform it. Keep in mind though that one of the changes from E-3 to E-7 increased the frame's weight. Flat turning should only be reserved for extreme situations.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
554	543	11,000	22.3	22.7	11.8	14.0	390
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
604	580	11,000	19.7	21.0	26.5	27.8	390

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
789	320	500	~22	~10

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 370	< 370	< 420	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
3,550 m	1,050 hp	1,172 hp

Survivability and armour

• No armour plating
• No armour glazing
• Critical components located at front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)
• More fuel tanks located in wings near the fuselage

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Bf 109 E-7/U2 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannons, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

Suspended armament

The Bf 109 E-7/U2 can support the following ordinance options:

• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)

Usage in the battles

Click to enlarge

The main armament is identical to that of the Bf 109 E-3. However, there is one critical difference. The MgFF/M can fire `minengeschoss´ shells. Minengeschoss shells have a thin shell, allowing more incendiary material to be used; however the very same characteristics prevent these shells to be fired from older MG FF versions (like on the predecessor, E-3). Thus, the MGFF/Ms are far more powerful than the MG FFs.

The E-7 is able to load bombs, either 4 x 50 kg or 1 x 250 kg. Unless you like to fly at a severe disadvantage, do not use the bombs unless you have to in order to win a match - for example after refuelling/ restocking at the base. The bomb load is nowhere near big enough to make a fighter bombing trip worth it.

The DB 601N engine provides its maximum performance around 2,000 m to 5,000 m (6,500 ft to 16,500 ft respectively) and comes with WEP, providing +150 hp upon activation. The boost will last about one minute from normal operating temperatures.

Tactics

Just as the with the E-1, new players should adopt a hit and run tactic with the Bf 109s. While often called Boom & Zoom aircraft, the 109s are not dedicated Boom & Zoomers and many other aircraft such as the FW 190 do it much better. While it is true that a pure Boom and Zooming approach can be used in the 109s, limiting oneself to this undermines ones plane efficiency enormously. That said, the 109s does build up speed fast in a dive and they have a respectable zoom climb that ends in a strong sustained climb at ~270 km/h [optimal climbing speed 260 km/h - 280 km/h]. Doing so will often see the player with the maximum speed or altitude advantage he can have over his chosen target. A straight-up bounce, with a short extend from the target and a slowly increasing climb leading into an Immelmann tends to work best for rookie pilots. Remember to check your six and surroundings during the climb and just before diving back on your target.

With mounting experience on the side of the player, the energy fighting abilities of the Bf 109 E-7/U2 come to the forefront. Fluid and speedy transitions between altitude and speed, together with well timed uses of flaps, throttle and manoeuvres enable the Emil to quickly change the nature of the engagement in its favour.

When firing at enemies, be aware that your 20 mm cannons only hold a 60 round drum magazine each. They empty quick and many a new pilot has seen himself on pitiful low ammunition even after his first attack run. Once you emptied your cannons, the E-7 will be hard-pressed to down a plane with just the machine guns. In your own interest, do not waste your cannons on ground targets and when firing at planes, fire in short, controlled and well aimed bursts. Luckily, the E-7 holds 1000 rounds in each of its two MG 17s. Use these if you are inclined to spray and pray or are are about to engage ground targets.

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
II	Compressor	Airframe
III	Wing Repair, Engine
IV	Engine Injection	Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Great overall manoeuvrability
• Good acceleration
• Good rate of climb
• Good continuous turn rate
• Good roll rate
• Good sustained turn rate
• Excellent MG ammunition load
• Powerful 20mm cannons
• Can perform negative Gs
• Better cockpit visibility than Bf 109Fs

Cons:

• Less than average instantaneous turn rate
• Control stiffening above 400 IAS(kph)
• Cannons have a limited amount of ammo
• Low-velocity cannons compared to others; Hispano, MG 151/20, etc.
• Relatively poor durability
• Harsh matchmaking
• Engine overheats relatively quick
• Water radiator is prone to being damaged and leaking, compounding the overheating problem
• Missing its historical radiator and glass armour

History

The E-7 was used extensively in `Operation Barbarossa´ (invasion of USSR), it was eventually replaced by the Friedrich. Old machines remained in use though by other Axis nations, such as Romania and Hungary.

Media

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

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Mitsubishi A6M
• Bell P-39 Airacobra
• Curtiss P-36
• Curtiss P-40
• Dewoitine D.520
• Fiat G.55
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• Hawker Hurricane
• Heinkel He 112
• IAR-81
• Kawasaki Ki-61
• Lavochkin LaGG-3
• Macchi C.202
• Macchi C.205
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3
• Morane-Saulnier MS.406
• Nakajima Ki-43
• North American P-51 Mustang
• Polikarpov I-16
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Yakovlev Yak-1
• Yakovlev Yak-9

External links

• Radinger, Willy & Otto, Wolfgang, Messerschmitt Me 109 - Das meistgebaute Jagdflugzeug der Welt - Entwicklung, Erprobung, Technik - Bf 109A bis 109K, Aviatic Verlag, Oberhachingen: 2011
• "Falcon's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Hangar" Bf 109E subpage
• English Wikipedia: "Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants – Bf 109 E"
• "Performance Information Bf 109E"