Fw 190 A-5 (Japan)

▅Fw 190 A-5

▅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

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).

Description

The ▅Fw 190 A-5 is a premium rank IV Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB) and 4.7 (RB/SB). 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.

"Würger" is the German nickname of this beast of a plane. It can be translated as slayer, choker, or strangler. In that regard fits the English designation well too: "Butcher-bird"

The 190s are fighters, while this one can load additional payload, it will reduce the planes combat ability. Using it as a fighter-bomber is generally not advised, this would be the duty of the 190F-8. Whether to load the extra four 20 mm gun pods is personal preference, but like bombs, they reduce the performance greatly and the plane has good armament without the extra cannons.

Rocking four 20 mm cannons, an armoured radial engine, armoured fuel tanks and sometimes two artillery rockets 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 ones the optimal firing solution is reached.

The rockets are an interesting piece of equipment. Developed from the 210 Nebelwerfer artillery system they were originally rather used to break up B-17 formations by forcing the US pilots to evade them. This was rather done to safely get closer to now separate lone bombers then actually use the rockets to destroy them. The BR.21 has the same shell drop as the MK 108 cannon, so if used to the trajectory of the 30 mm, good job. If not, which wouldn't be a surprise as this is the page for the Fw 190, then prepare for some misses. Like the "Sledgehammer" the accuracy is woeful, not made better by the low velocity. A characteristic noticeable in-game which makes them difficult to use in direct fighter to fighter engagements. But all of these deficits are made up by the warhead. Oh boy... they've got power. With the fuze timer set correctly even misses will damage enemy planes, as the shock wave radius gets close to 100 m. So watch out when using them against ground units. It will most likely end with the Fw 190 engulfed in the blast radius, over 100 m safety distance is strongly advised!!!

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

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		900	~13	~6

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 420	< 240	< 550	> 280

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
700 m	1,498 hp	1,685 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
5,300 m	1,301 hp	1,464 hp

Survivability and armour

• 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

Armaments

Offensive armament

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

• 2 x 20 mm MG 151/20 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 190A-5/U2, 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 is 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 enter the highest dog fight). But the Fw 190 can still win fights when in a lower energy state than the foe.

In the defensive, best option is to just dive away from planes, such as Spitfires and La-5s, but it 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 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 will reap the success." 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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm	Offensive 20 mm
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons	New 20 mm cannons

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 Allied code names for Japanese planes 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.

In-game description

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wuerger (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

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

References

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.

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.