Fw 190 A-5 (Japan)

This page is about the premium Japanese fighter Fw 190 A-5 (Japan). For the German version, see Fw 190 A-5. For other versions, see Fw 190 (Family).

▅Fw 190 A-5

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▅Fw 190 A-5

Japan

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	4.7	4.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:Bundle or Gift

Show in game

Description

The ▅Fw 190 A-5 was loaned to the Japanese Army to examine its performance and design for their own IJAAS. The diving speed impressed them, but its agility disappointed, and Army decided not to produce or license more units. Instead, Kawasaki engineers learned from its features, especially its powerful air-cooled engine, which inspired the development of the Ki-100s engine that replaced the one in the Ki-61. The Army tested the Fw 190 against other foreign planes they had acquired, such as the Bf 109 E-7, P-51C 'Evalina' and their own domestic planes Ki-61 and the advanced Ki-84. They ranked the Fw 190 second after the P-51C, noting that its horizontal speed and maneuverability were not very impressive, while its diving speed was outstanding.

It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27 as the Fw 190 A-5/U3, but was renamed to Fw 190 A-5 in Update 1.35. Rocking four 20 mm cannons, an armoured radial engine and armoured fuel tanks, this aircraft is far but shy in the giving and taking role. Anything at 12 o'clock is soon to be smithereens. The wing root mounted cannons should be additionally placed on a separate key for head-on attacks. The outer-wing guns would only miss on distances of 800-1,000 m (~0.7 miles). This also helps for tricky shots, as the second pair of 20 mm guns only have 90 shots each, instead of the whopping 250 of the inner ones. But make sure to bring hell loose once the optimal firing solution is reached.

Nicknames

• Allied reporting name: Fred.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 800 m648 km/h

Turn time22 s

Max altitude12 000 m

EngineBMW 801 D2

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,800 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	623	603	12000	23.2	24.1	10.8	10.8	420
Upgraded	675	648		20.8	22.0	18.2	14.1

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
912	310	-	700	310	~13	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 420	< 300	< 550	> 320

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear310 km/h

• 57 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the cockpit
• 3-5 mm Steel plates in front of oil cooling system
• 6 mm Steel plate under the radial engine
• 12 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest, and an 8 + 6 mm steel plates behind the pilot
• 8 mm Steel plate under the cockpit
• 5 mm Steel plate behind the fuel tank

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB1 395

RB5 274

SB4 102

Crew training10 000

Experts250 000

Aces820

Research Aces870 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 90 / 230 / 410 %

2 × 160 / 160 / 160 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe Cover	mg_belt_pack mg17_new_gun mgff_belt_pack mg15120_belt_pack mgffm_new_gun mg15120_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon

Ammunition500 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannon

Ammunition180 rounds

Fire rate520 shots/min

Weapon 32 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun

Ammunition1 800 rounds

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

The Fw 190 A-5 (Japan) is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
• 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannons, wing-mounted (90 rpg = 180 total)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (900 rpg = 1,800 total)

Usage in battles

The Fw 190 A-5, as all the planes in this line, are some of the best Boom & Zoomers in the game and should be flown exclusively in this style. The performance at high speeds is excellent, as are their dive and zoom characteristics. Do not ever engage in a turn fight as this will most likely end badly, instead only fight in the vertical. Try to have an altitude, or speed, advantage over the opponents (by climbing to the side at the start of the battle and then entering the highest dogfight). But the Fw 190 can still win fights when in a lower energy state than the foe.

In the defensive, the best option is to just dive away from planes such as Spitfires and La-5s. But the plane needs to be at a decent altitude to gain top speed, so do not be too quick to dive after an enemy if they are flying at a lower altitude. Unless the Fw 190 is higher than everybody else, or alone. Just be sure then to have the time to regain the lost altitude.

In a dive, the 190 can, due to its short wings, pull quite some stunts to either lose the hunter or even make him lose his own wings! This is a favourable strategy against La-5s, Yaks & Spitfires who have, due to their low wing-loading (and partly wooden wings for the Russians), less resistance against high G manoeuvres. Again, be sure to regain energy by a zoom-climb. Just look out while doing so, many pilots die as they do not notice a second enemy aircraft approaching. German proverb: "Wenn zwei sich streiten, freut sich der Dritte." ~ "When two quarrel, the third one rejoices." Of course, this could also be highlighting an opportunity to take in the skies.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Not controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Combined	Not controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Best roll rate
• Good climb rate
• Performs very well in dives
• Good at Boom & Zoom
• Excellent firepower

Cons:

• Engine overheats fast
• Not that fast in level flight
• Turns poorly
• Not much defensive possibilities (only dive and scissors)

History

In 1943, the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service imported one Fw 190 A-5 from Germany, which was delivered via submarine. The Fw 190 A-5 model was tested at the Fussa airfield, the Imperial Japanese Army's central testing facility for aircraft. The plane was flown by Lieutenant Commander Aramaki Yoshitsugu, who found the Fw 190 cockpit size just right as opposed to the tightness of the Bf 109 or the spaciousness of a P-40.

The Fw 190 A-5 was also tested alongside Japanese aircraft and prototypes, including the prototypes that would be the Ki-84 and Ki-100. During these, it was deemed that the Fw 190 performance was similar to that of the Ki-84. Overall Japanese impression of the Fw 190 A-5 was positive, with better firepower than most other Japanese planes, reliable electric systems, fine craftsmanship, and a reliable engine.

The Allies predicted that the Japanese would use the Fw 190 as a fighter aircraft and gave the Fw 190 the nickname "Fred" in 1942. However, it is not known if the Japanese ever used the Fw 190 in combat purposes against the Allies. The last known reported the presence of the Fw 190 A-5 was it being loaned to a reconnaissance unit, with its ultimate fate unknown but presumably lost.

Archive of the in-game description

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (Shrike) was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe in WWII. One of the best fighters of the time, it was widely used during the Second World War. A total of over 20,000 were produced, including some 6,000 fighter-bomber variants. The 190 remained in production from 1941 until the end of the war, going through multiple redesigns. The Fw 190 made a name for itself as a true Luftwaffe workhorse and was used in a wide variety of roles, including a high-altitude interceptor (especially the Fw 190 D), escort fighter, fighter-bomber and night fighter. 1942 flight tests of the Fw 190 A-3 proved that the installation of additional equipment could shift the plane's center of gravity. To address the issue, the aircraft had to be lengthened. First examples, designated Fw 190 A-5, saw combat in November 1942. Other modifications were minor and included improved oxygen equipment and a new artificial horizon. All production aircraft were also equipped with the FuG 25a IFF set. The armament remained unchanged.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Fw 190 A-5 (Japan) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Japanese FW-190 A-5 Review. Nerfed but still fun! - Joseph 2000

Premium Review: Japanese Fw 190 A-5 - Jengar

See also

Related development

• Fw 190 A-5

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Ki-84 (Family)

External links

Citations

Bibliography

• Arawasi. "Japanese Focke-Wulf Fw 190." WildEagles. N.p., 22 Jan. 2014. Web. 01 Feb. 2018. Website.
• Dyer, Edwin M. Japanese Secret Projects: Experimental Aircraft of the IJA and IJN, 1939-1945. Midland, 2009.
• Hanson, David. "Focke-Wulf Fw 190A5 (Fred)." Dave's Warbirds. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2018. Website.

Focke-Wulf Aircraft Corporation (Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Aktiengesellschaft)
Fighters	Fw 190 A-1 · Fw 190 A-4 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5/U2 · Fw 190 A-5/U12 · Fw 190 A-5/U14 · Fw 190 A-8
	Fw 190 C
	Fw 190 D-9 · Fw 190 D-12 · Fw 190 D-13
	Fw 190 F-8
	Ta 152 C-3* · Ta 152 H-1* · Ta 154 A-1*
Bombers	Fw 189 A-1 · Fw 200 C-1
Export	▅Fw 190 A-5
Captured	▃Fw 190 A-8 · ▂Fw 190 D-9
	* In 1944, the Germany Air Ministry changed new fighter aircraft designation to that of the chief designer. Kurt Tank was the chief designer at Focke-Wulf and later aircraft he designed were given the prefix of Ta.