Yak-1

This page is about the Russian fighter Yak-1. For later versions, see Yak-1B and Yak-1B (Germany).

Yak-1

Yak-1B

Yak-1

Yak-1B

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.3	2.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Show in game

Description

The Yak-1 is a rank II Soviet fighter with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB/SB) and 2.3 (RB). It was introduced in Update 1.43.

The Yak-1 is a fairly good turn fighter. Although not as good as Spitfires around the same BR, it is better than some of the German aircraft. The aircraft has good diving speed and energy retention, however, without slats, it cannot out-turn a Bf 109 F in a vertical loop. This aircraft performs best at medium-low altitudes. Due to its small wings and poor rate of climb at higher altitudes, it is lacking as a high altitude fighter. The aircraft can be used as a horizontal turn fighter, but one must be careful to be on the lookout for Boom & Zoomers. If the situation gets worse, a possible escape can be flying low level at high speed or trying an energy-retaining climb. While this aircraft should not be wasted on a ground attack, as a last resort it can be used to destroy unarmoured ground targets if the last flying opponent happens to be running away. The aircraft does perform well at lower speeds, yet it becomes very vulnerable to most enemy aircraft including biplanes.

Used well, the Yak-1 can be an unstoppable flying machine. Two of the most important things a Yak-1 pilot should aim for are the opponent's cockpit (pilot sniping) or wings. These are typically the weakest spots of an aircraft where a good shot can knock-out the enemy pilot or snap off a wing with a few well-placed rounds. The ShVAK is a fantastic 20 mm cannon if the pilot's aim is good! This cannon has an excellent rate of fire, unfortunately, it is paired with a barely adequate amount of ammunition which can be used up quickly. Mounted alongside the ShVAK are two 7.62 ShKAS machine guns. Much like the cannon, the machine guns do not have a large ammo pool to draw from. Yak-1 pilots always need to be mindful on how much ammo remains after an encounter or risk being pounced on by more manoeuvrable enemies when out of ammunition (or while reloading in AB).

An Achilles Heel of the Yak-1 is that it lacks armour protection. Head-on attacks from an enemy risk the pilot being knocked out by flying rounds or the water coolant radiator being hit. With a leaking water radiator, the Yak-1 will suffer engine failure within a few minutes (in RB mode). The engine of the Yak-1, like most Russian fighter engines, tends to overheat quickly and stays running hot. One way to combat overheating is to run the engine at 97% of maximum and limiting usage of WEP. Manual engine control (MEC) can be used to keep the Yak's engine running cool at 100% power, though this means that prop pitch, fuel mixture, and supercharger gears must be manually adjusted in addition to the radiators (In Realistic mode, you can always use MEC while climbing, then switch back to automatic once you are dogfighting). If the aircraft is damaged, the Yak-1 pilot can check the cockpit's instrument panel and observe the oil temperature gauge as this will give a more accurate state of the engine than the water temperature gauge. The wings of the Yak-1 are also vulnerable to enemy fire, being rather fragile and full of fuel tanks.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 000 m577 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude10 000 m

EngineKlimov VK-105P

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight3 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	555	538	10000	19.0	19.6	13.1	13.1	320
Upgraded	601	577		17.1	18.0	19.6	16.0

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
0	320	N/A	N/A	280	~11	~8

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 380	< 420	< 490	> 340

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,300 m	1,081 hp	1,211 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,200 m	1,015 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 8 mm steel behind the pilot
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing)
• Oil cooling system located underneath engine
• Liquid cooling system located behind and under the pilot

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB354 → 448

RB725 → 917

SB1 007 → 1 274

Total cost of modifications6 930

6 740

Talisman cost530

Crew training3 000

Experts10 000

Aces125

Research Aces160 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

20 / 60 / 120 %

112 / 112 / 112 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 Radiator Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 Compressor Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 Wings repair Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 Engine Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 Engine injection Research: 750 Cost: 730 130	Airframe Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 Cover Research: 750 Cost: 730 130	shkas_belt_pack Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 shkas_new_gun Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 BI-42 Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 shvak_belt_pack Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 shvak_new_gun Research: 750 Cost: 730 130

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 120 mm ShVAK cannon

Ammunition110 rounds

Fire rate800 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun

Ammunition1 240 rounds

Fire rate1 800 shots/min

The Yak-1 is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (110 rpg)
• 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, nose-mounted (620 rpg = 1,240 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 12 x 50 kg FAB-50sv (forged) bomb

Setup 22 x 100 kg FAB-100sv (forged) bomb

The Yak-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (100 kg total)
• 2 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (200 kg total)

Usage in battles

Due to the Yak-1's manoeuvrability and armament, the main role will be employed as a fighter in the game. The Yak-1 can be used as a turn fighter (see next section for aircraft to avoid while turn fighting), boom & zoomer or energy fighter. The Yak-1 performs well in the mid to lower altitudes but loses mobility in the higher altitudes.

• Ground attack: This should be avoided due to low speeds needed allowing the Yak-1 to become an easy target for enemy aircraft (especially biplanes).

• Bomber hunting: This is a risky option as bombers typically fly in the higher altitudes where the Yak-1 starts losing its manoeuvrability. The lack of armour on the Yak-1 makes it vulnerable to turret gunners and it is very easy to lose the pilot, engine or a wing to them. When hunting bombers, the Yak-1 can utilise a head-on approach going for the pilots (pilot sniping) or the engines; otherwise employ the speed of the Yak-1 by diving from a higher altitude towards the front of the bomber aiming for the cockpit, engine or wings. If failing to destroy the bomber on the first pass, exercise patience and set up for another diving pass, any other way the Yak-1 risks bleeding crucial speed in making a quick turn in an attempt to finish off the bomber. Here, quick turns will expose the Yak-1 to any turrets on the plane which would otherwise have a very difficult time acquiring a firing solution on a zooming fighter which is quickly out of their range.

Specific enemies worth noting

• Spitfires: The Spitfire's superior turning ability gives it an edge over the Yak-1's manoeuvrability. Turn fighting against a Spitfire is very difficult in a Yak-1, usually resulting in the Yak-1 being unable to shake or outrun the Spitfire. Baring any mistakes made by the Spitfire pilot, the Yak-1 will have a very difficult time gaining an advantage or escaping.

• A6M Zeroes: Much like the Spitfires, the A6M Zeros are superior turn fighters and have the added bonus of being armed with 20 mm auto cannons giving the Japanese fighter a firepower boost against the Yak-1.

Counter-tactics

When attacking a Yak-1, specific areas to exploit:

• When attacking in a Spitfire or A6M Zero, engage in a turn fight, bait the Yak-1 into tight turns to bleed its speed.

• Bait the Yak-1 to higher altitudes, the higher it goes, the less manoeuvrable it becomes and the more limited their options become.

• The Yak-1 does not have any armour plates in the front and is susceptible to pilot sniping, wing snapping, engine/fuel tank fires and overheating with a few well-placed shots from cannons or machine guns.

• Non-turn fighting aircraft should rely on Boom & Zoom tactics in an attempt to take out a Yak-1.

If there's a Yak-1 on the tail:

• A drastic speed reduction and turn in hopes of an overshoot.

• Keep moving around so the Yak-1 cannot get acquire a firing solution with its cannon, causing the Yak-1 to expend all of its rounds (in AB this then gives a ~40-second window to attempt to get away or reverse roles before the Yak-1 cannon has reloaded).

• Drag the Yak-1 back towards teammates and set the Yak-1 up to be an easy target for comrades to take out.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Powerful cannon with limited ammo/dual machine guns with an adequate amount of ammo.
• Good low-level acceleration.
• Good top speed at low altitudes.
• Even though its frame is constructed of wood, the Yak can take a lot of punishment and still perform well.
• Highly manoeuvrable.

Cons:

• Engine overheats quite easily, forcing the pilot to slow down or return to base to allow it to cool (engine is notorious for overheating and ceasing to work mid-dogfight if run at 100% or WEP). Operating the engine at 97% reduces chances for engine overheating while maintaining very good aircraft performance.
• No armour to protect the pilot from the front, engine or fuel tanks, almost doomed if set on fire.
• Cannon ammo runs out very quickly if not carefully monitored (in AB, reloading at every opportunity is advised).
• Single powerful gun requires good aim and knowledge of aircraft weak spots to be used effectively ("spray and pray" causes ammo to deplete very quickly).
• Wings are an easy target when trying to loop in a dogfight, and they almost always get hit.
• Elevator compresses at high speeds, so turning or pulling up in a dive can be a struggle.

History

In 1939 the Soviet Command was looking for a replacement for their outdated I-153 Chaikas and I-16 Ishaks. Yakovlev was part of a Soviet delegation on a visit to the German aviation industry in October 1939. His interest was in aerodynamic design and during a visit at Heinkel, their new radiator lacking He 100 fighter was shown to them. Three (or ten) vehicles were bought by the CCCP. While the He 100 was producing record level top speeds, the surface cooling technology and other handling characteristics tainted the aircraft with the Soviets and were marked unsuitable, like in Germany.

Already by January 1940 a first prototype was ready for taking off. Baptized I-26 (Istrebitel -> Fighter), the test flights were marked by a horrible accident as Julian I. Piontkowski, a test pilot for every Yakovlev plane, crashed and died. Fortunately for the plane's designers, the aircraft's construction was not found to be the cause of the accident and state supervised tests continued until November 1940. Serial production subsequently started in December 1940 under the new designation "Yak-1".

By the time of the German invasion, all of the new fighters were delegated to the defence of Moscow, as was the MiG-3.

Notable pilots

While Soviet male pilots were being upgraded with newer Lavochkin fighters, women fighter pilots such as Litvyak were supplied with the older Yak-1 fighters.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Yak-1 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

Cockpit of the Yak-1 explained

Videos

Community Choice, Yak-1. From a loss to a win. - Joseph 2000

The Shooting Range #157 - Pages of History section at 04:02 discusses the Yak-1.

Yak-1: 2 types of overshooting - Defensive flying - Green Fury

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

• [Devblog] Yak-1
• [Wikipedia] Yakovlev Yak-1

References

A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau (Яковлев Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Fighters
Yak-1	Yak-1 · Yak-1B
Yak-3	Yak-3 · Eremin's Yak-3(e) · Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3P · Yak-3T · Yak-3U
Yak-7	Yak-7B
Yak-9	Yak-9 · Yak-9B · Yak-9K · Golovachev's Yak-9M · Yak-9P · Yak-9T · Yak-9U · Yak-9UT
Twin-engine fighters	I-29
Jet fighters
Yak-15	Yak-15P · Yak-15
Yak-17	Yak-17
Yak-23	Yak-23
Yak-30	Yak-30D
Yak-141	Yak-141
Strike aircraft
Yak-2	Yak-2 KABB
Yak-38	Yak-38 · Yak-38M
Bombers	Yak-4
Jet bombers	Yak-28B
Foreign use	▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · ◔Yak-9P
Captured	▀Yak-1B