Me 262 A-1a/U1
| This page is about the squadron German strike aircraft Me 262 A-1a/U1. For other versions, see Me 262 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Me 262 A-1a/U1 is a squadron rank V German strike aircraft 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 squadron activity points or purchased with Golden Eagles.
General info
Flight performance
| 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 | 908 | 865 | 27.4 | 28.0 | 23.7 | 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 | 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 | 4,550 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
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
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 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. Its cannons can carry an ammo belt that has the capability of penetrating the roofs of some tanks when playing in Ground Realistic battles. It is advisable to fire each pair of cannons separately, because all of its autocannons have a different muzzle velocity and a different amount of ammunition.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Decent offensive armament of 6 autocannons
- MK 103s can utilize with HVAP rounds that can penetrate 77 mm of armour
- MK 103s have relatively high velocity compared to other mounted autocannons on the aircraft
- Can fire each pair of cannons separately
Cons:
- Lack of suspended armaments
- Severely lacks engine power compared to its contemporaries
- Lacklustre acceleration
- Very fragile engines
- Control surfaces compress at 600 km/h
- Poor rate of climb
- Poor survivability. Getting hit by anything often results in critical damage
- Inaccurate and slow guns
- Poor stall performance, ailerons ineffective below 380 km/h
- High repair cost for performance
- Heavy
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 30 mm 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: 2 x 20 mm MG.151/20, 2 x 30 mm stock version MK 108, and 2 x 30 mm 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
- Skins
- Images
- Me 262 A-1a/U1 Devblog Images
- Videos
See also
- Related development
External links
- [Development] Squadron vehicles: Me 262A-1a/U1
- Official data sheet - more details about the performance
| Germany jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
|
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 | |
|
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 | |
|
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 |
|
Swiss Air Force |
| ◌Hunter F.58 · FFA P-16 | |
| Squadron aircraft | |
|---|---|
| USA | A-4E Early · F-117 |
| Germany | Me 262 A-1a/U1 · ◌Hunter F.58 |
| USSR | Su-22M3 |
| Britain | Firecrest · Sea Harrier FRS.1 |
| Japan | ▄F-5E FCU |
| China | JF-17 |
