Me 262 A-1a/U1

Me 262 A-1a/U1

Me 262 A-1a/U1

Germany

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.3	7.3	7.0

Class:

SQUADRON

Strike aircraft

Research:320 000

Purchase:340 000

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This page is about the squadron German jet fighter Me 262 A-1a/U1. For other versions, see Me 262 (Family).

Description

File:GarageImage Me 262 A1a-U1.png

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The Me 262 A-1a/U1 is a squadron rank V German jet fighter with a battle rating of 7.3 (AB/RB) and 7.0 (SB). It was introduced during Update 1.91 "Night Vision". It can be unlocked with 310,000 squadron activity points or 6,600 golden eagles.

General info

Flight performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

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	825	798	12500	29.4	30.4	16.2	15.3	750
Upgraded	???	865		??.?	28.0	??.?	19.5

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	580	580	380	~10	~4

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	4,550 kg			300 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		5,164 kg	5,311 kg	5,679 kg	6,231 kg	6,525 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	0.35	0.34	0.32	0.29	0.28	0.28
Optimal	910 kgf (0 km/h)	N/A	0.35	0.34	0.32	0.29	0.28	0.28

Survivability and armour

• 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

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Me 262 A-1a/U1 is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm MK 103 cannons, nose-mounted (72 rpg = 144 total)
• 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, nose-mounted (66 rpg = 132 total)
• 2 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, nose-mounted (146 rpg = 292 total)

Usage in battles

As a modified Me 262 A-1a, its role in the battle has not changed that much. The added cannons make the plane more capable at its battle rating, with a single burst it will obliterate any opponent in its path.

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair			Offensive 20 mm	Offensive 30 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 20 mm cannons
III	Wings repair			Offensive 30 mm	New 30 mm cannons
IV		Engine	Cover	New 30 mm cannons

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Outstanding amount of nose battery of 6 auto cannons
• Obliterates any plane
• Decent energy retention (compared to other contemporary aircraft)
• Only a slight difference in flight performance compared to the Me 262 A-1a
• Good roll rate at low speeds
• Fairly manoeuvrable at low speeds compared to early jets

Cons:

• Lack of mounted armaments
• Rather slow compared to most other jets
• Bad acceleration
• Not very nimble at high speeds
• Poor rate of climb
• Poor turn rate
• Fuel feed cuts off if flying with inverted G-loads for an extended period of time
• Very exposed engines that are very susceptible to damage.

History

The Me 262A-1a / U1 is a modification of the world's first mass produced jet fighter, the German Me 262 ‘Schwalbe’. The armament of the A-1 sub-serie, being four 30mm MK.108 auto cannons, had a number of drawbacks, such as cycle failures and complex heavy shell ballistics. For these reasons, engineers experimented with different variations as to the weaponry, including a reinforced cannon battery. As such, the Me.262A-1a/U1 modification was created as part of this program. German engineers managed to fit 6 autocannons in the nose: 2x20mm MG.151/20, 2x30mm stock version MK.108, and 2x30mm MK.103 guns. For the latter, they developed shells with a higher initial speed, and the guns themselves had a longer barrel length than the MK.108, as well as an effective muzzle brake - all to improve the ballistics of the heavy shells.  They built a prototype (according to other sources, there were three units), but the project was not entered into mass production. However, one example was flown by one of the most effective jet aces of World War II, Heinz Bär, who flew it at the end of April 1945, and with it, even shot down several Thunderbolts in the skies over Germany.

- From Devblog

Media

Images

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Videos

Me 262 A1a/U1 - Squadron Vehicle Overview - Bacongaming

The Germans were NUTS - Me 262 A1a/U1 - PhlyDaily

The Shooting Range #174 - Pages of History section at 04:45 discusses the Me 262 "Schwalbe".

Avoid them in frontal attack! discusses the Me 262 A-1a/U1 at 2:33 - War Thunder Official Channel

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

• [Development] Squadron vehicles: Me 262A-1a/U1

Germany squadron aircraft
Me 262 A-1a/U1