Bf 109 F-4 (USA)

This page is about the premium American fighter Bf 109 F-4 (USA). For other versions, see Bf 109 (Family).

▃Bf 109 F-4

360://https://wiki.warthunder.com/images/6/6d/Cockpit_bf-109f-4_usa.jpg

▃Bf 109 F-4

USA

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.0	4.0

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:1 450

Show in game

Description

The ▃Bf 109 F-4 is a premium rank III American fighter with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB) and 4.0 (RB/SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m665 km/h

Turn time19 s

Max altitude11 600 m

EngineDaimler-Benz DB-601E

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight3 t

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	635	623	11600	20.3	20.7	14.2	16.3	363
Upgraded	695	665		18.2	19.0	28.3	20.0

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
790	360	437	408	260	~13	~6

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 450	< 390	< 450	> 715

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,950 m	1,185 hp	1,333 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural790 km/h

Gear360 km/h

• 60 mm bulletproof glass - armoured windscreen
• 6 mm steel - bulkhead behind cockpit
• 8 mm steel - pilot's seat
• 10 mm steel - pilot's headrest
• Critical components located in front of aircraft (fuel, pilot, engine, controls)

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB711

RB3 456

SB2 100

Crew training10 000

Experts115 000

Aces500

Research Aces640 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 60 / 190 / 310 %

2 × 142 / 142 / 142 %

Modifications

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

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 120 mm MG 151 cannon

Ammunition200 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun

Ammunition1 000 rounds

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

The Bf 109 F-4 (USA) is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Usage in battles

The Bf 109 F-4 represents the pinnacle of the Friedrich line of Messerschmitt. With a powerful engine and decent armament, the F-4 is an extremely powerful fighter in any hands. It is mainly a dogfighter, with a well-rounded mix of good climb rate, speed, manoeuvrability, and weaponry.

As the Bf 109 F-4 USA Premium comes with all upgrades, it is an extremely effective aircraft at purchase. Its main strengths lie in its astounding low-speed/mid-altitude climb rate. Use this to your advantage in a dogfight. Your opponents will be caught off guard when you rocket away at 25 m/s with your WEP. Compared to other aircraft at the same BR, the F-4 is more than able to take on most enemy aircraft.

Unfortunately, for a premium plane, the F-4 isn't quite so stellar. It is relatively under-gunned, with only one 20mm cannon and two MGs. Pilots must be precise- as the single MG-151 will jam under intensive fire, even though the mods are all equipped.

The F-4 is also only average in its energy retention capabilities. Its redeeming feature for Boom & Zoom is its climb rate. It does have a relatively good turn rate but is also hampered by its lack of good energy retention. Stay in middle altitudes and dive and engage slower fighters. Avoid tangling with extremely manoeuvrable fighters such as the Yaks.

The F-4 performs poorly at high altitude. Do not try to chase planes above 4,000-5,000 m. In a dive, the F-4's wings will tear relatively quickly. Avoid diving at speeds above 800 km/h.

One could consider the F-4 a jack-of-all-trades, master of none. It has an average-to-good turn rate, decent weaponry, astounding climb rate, and poor energy retention.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very good rate of climb, very good dive speed
• It is a Premium aircraft, all modifications are equipped. It can perform better than some other Bf 109s on the battlefield
• MG 151 that can fire HE shells
• All weaponry mounted in the nose, allowing easy aiming without having to worry about convergence

Cons:

• No gunpods as the R6 modification is only available for Germans
• No bombs
• Poor energy retention
• Wings tear easily
• For Sim, the numerous canopy frames and razorback greatly limit the all-round view, and huge engine torque causes severe turning when taking off

History

In-game description

Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 "Friedrich" single-engine front-line fighter

On May 29, 1942, a pair of German Bf 109 F-4 fighters from the 9th Squadron of the III./JG 3 Fighter Wing, piloted by Petty Officer E. Volkmann as the leader and Corporal A. Kuhn as the wingman, lost their bearings, ran out of fuel, and made a forced landing on a plot of arable land behind the front lines in the Chuguyev area. The Red Army thus obtained two Friedrichs in quite a good condition.

The fighter, with a serial number of 7690 and a yellow tail number reading "12" on the fuselage, was photographed from different angles and prepared for flight tests at the Red Army Air Force Research Institute.

However, it soon became known that the captured Messerschmitt located in the USA had been damaged during flight, and the Allies requested that one of the two planes be transferred to them. General А. А. Novikov, Commander-in-Chief of the Red Army Air Force, gave permission to send the new Messerschmitt over the ocean.

In the USA, the Bf 109 F-4 (serial number 7690) successfully passed a complete set of flight tests. The aircraft received the USAAF's standard combat pattern and markings. Its tactical number at first was EB-1 and then EB-100.

The test results showed that the Bf 109 F-4 was 70 km/h quicker than the Bf 109E when near land; about one half of the velocity gain was obtained due to the more powerful DB 601E engine, while the other half was a result of better aerodynamics. The fighter's excellent controllability and good manoeuvrability were also noted.

Favourable comments included those praising the plane's easily accessible engine components, especially its plugs, and its well-suited engine cowling. The fighter had various automatic devices, including those regulating water and oil temperature in the engine, which made the aircraft's piloting significantly easier.

A thorough examination of the Bf 109 F-4 showed that the most vulnerable point of the fighter's power unit was the bottom of the engine. Even one shell or incendiary bullet hitting that area was enough to cause a fire. In addition, the Messerschmitt's water and oil coolers were not protected by armour, which turned them into a good target due to these units' large surface area. Two reserve cooling system tanks, mounted in the bottom of the engine, were also good targets.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Bf 109 F-4 (USA) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• North American P-51 Mustang
• Kawasaki Ki-61]
• Fiat G.55
• Macchi C.205

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance