Bf 109 G-6

This page is about the German fighter Bf 109 G-6. For other versions, see Bf 109 (Family).

Bf 109 G-6

Bf 109 G-2/trop

Bf 109 G-14

Bf 109 G-6

Bf 109 G-2/trop

Bf 109 G-14

Germany

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.3	4.7	4.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:27 000

Purchase:185 000

Show in game

Description

The Bf 109 G-6 is a rank IV German 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.

The Bf 109 G-6 is a difficult plane to fly when it is in stock configuration. Once upgraded, it performs well enough to even the playing field and allows an enjoyable experience. This variant is played much like its predecessors, by using energy fighting. Because of its poor performance, it's imperative to keep your energy state high at all times.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 500 m668 km/h

Turn time20 s

Max altitude11 500 m

EngineDaimler-Benz DB-605AM

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight4 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,500 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	636	616	11500	21.3	22.1	14.0	14.0	343
Upgraded	705	668		19.3	20.0	27.6	19.5

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
5,700 m	1,270 hp	1,778 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural790 km/h

Gear360 km/h

• 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front and rear of the cockpit.
• 4-8 mm Steel plates on pilot seat.
• 10 mm Steel plates around pilot's head.
• 21 mm Steel plate on the rear of the fuel tank, with 4 mm plates surrounding it on other sides.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 348 → 3 174

RB5 288 → 7 149

SB7 436 → 10 053

Total cost of modifications47 600

86 400

Talisman cost1 500

Crew training52 000

Experts185 000

Aces940

Research Aces480 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

90 / 210 / 450 %

166 / 166 / 166 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 Radiator Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 Compressor Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 220 Wings repair Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 250 Engine Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 250 Engine injection Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 330	Airframe Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 220 Cover Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 330	mg131_belt_pack Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 mg131_new_gun Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 SC 50 Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 Flamm C 250 Research: 1 600 Cost: 2 900 170 mg15120_belt_pack Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 220 mg15120_new_gun Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 220 SC 250 Research: 2 100 Cost: 3 800 220 mk108_belt_pack Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 250 mk108_new_gun Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 250 U4 modification Research: 2 400 Cost: 4 400 250 R5 modification Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 330 R6 modification Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 330 W.Gr.21 Research: 3 100 Cost: 5 600 330

The Bf 109 G-6 performs badly in stock conditions with an armament that is vastly inferior to other fighters. This changes drastically with upgrades. They are listed in the order in which they should be acquired.

1. Offensive 13 mm (for removing the tracers and getting an idea of where your cannon rounds land)
2. Radiator
3. Compressor
4. Offensive 20 mm (the stock belts are abhorrent with only 25% of Minengeschoß rounds)
5. Engine
6. U4 modification (do not equip it now, the single 30 mm is a bit inconsistent)
7. Offensive 30 mm (for later use)
8. Engine injection
9. R5 modification (30 mm) or R6 modification (20 mm) depending on which you prefer, though generally, the 30 mm are very useful against bombers and the 20 mm are better for engaging fighters

Afterwards, get all the cannon and machine gun upgrades and the remaining ones for better flight characteristics. Bombs and rockets should be ignored until you have researched everything else since they are not very useful in the G-6's role.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 120 mm MG 151 cannon

Ammunition200 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun

Ammunition600 rounds

Fire rate900 shots/min

The Bf 109 G-6 is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (200 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
  • 1 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon, nose-mounted (65 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

The two machine guns are located just forward of the pilot firing out of the nose of the aircraft. The cannon (either 20 mm or 30 mm) is mounted in the propeller shaft and will fire through the propeller hub. The 30 mm cannon can only be installed once the corresponding module at tier III is unlocked. The best 20 mm belt is "Air Targets", the best 13 mm belt is "IAI" or "Stealth" and the best 30 mm belt is the "Universal" or "Stealth".

Suspended armament

List of setups (6)

Setup 14 x 50 kg SC50JA bomb

Setup 21 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb

Setup 31 x Flam C 250 incendiary bomb

Setup 42 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon (secondary) (ammunition: 70 rounds)

Setup 52 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon (secondary) (ammunition: 270 rounds)

Setup 62 x Wfr.Gr.21 rockets

The Bf 109 G-6 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (35 rpg = 70 total)
• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (135 rpg = 270 total)
• 2 x Wfr.Gr.21 rockets

Usage in battles

When stock, you should side climb and enter combat with a superior altitude before engaging. Your enemies will render you ineffective if you don't have the height advantage. However, when it's fully upgraded you might omit side-climbing as the plane should generally get you either at the same altitude or above the opponent. WEP is very effective, so use it to get to an effective altitude in the least amount of time. The engine overheats quite fast, but it also cools down rapidly. Don't be afraid to use WEP even if your temperature is yellow or red.

If you're engaging an enemy while you have an energy advantage, you should do everything in your power to keep or regain this advantage while depleting his. The Bf 109 can achieve this through the use of energy traps like rope-a-dopes, and to disengage when a foe avoids your boom. When neither you or the enemy has an advantage, you should avoid head-ons with the least amount of energy waste. Most of the time the enemy tries to get back on your 6 o clock, which drains his energy much more than yours. This gives you the opportunity to extend, climb, or bait him into an energy trap. Should you, however, face an enemy with superior altitude or speed, attempt to evade his booms on you or force him to overshoot.

When it comes to armament you have the choice of a 20 or 30 mm cannon in the engine, and gun pods of the same calibre. The 20 mm gun has good gun characteristics with decent damage and a good ammo count, while the 30 mm deals devastating damage but has a low ammo capacity and a very slow shell velocity. The gun pods aren't recommended in realistic battles as they dramatically decrease the plane's performance.

In Simulator, the Bf 109 G-6 is quite a friendly fighter that can perform many tasks. It offers great flight performance with its smooth handling, adequate speed, and impressive climb rate and turn rate. Its nose-mounted guns do not require any convergence setting, making it very easy to aim. The nose gently slopes down from the windscreen, offering great over-the-nose visibility. The late G models also have an improved canopy side with less frames, and the solid armour headset is replaced by a transparent bulletproof glass, allowing some rear views which is better over the F models. Said bulletproof glass, however, has a thick metal frame, thus you can only see through the middle at a small portion of the tail. Still this is better than not being able to see anything behind at all. There are bombs of 50kg/250kg to choose from which are beneficial for ground-pounding or base-bombing, although these are not its primary objectives. However, the Bf 109 G does have pretty limited cockpit view obstructed by its numerous canopy frames and handles. The inclusion of two 13mm MG131 creates two large, visible bulges on the nose, just in front of the windscreen, obstructing the pilot's downward view. The plane also behaves poorly during takeoffs due to its torquey engine. 

Bring at least 30 minutes of fuel for prolonged patrolling and fighting. The convergence does not really matter, it might be anywhere between 250-600 m. Depending on the task you wish to complete (eg destroy enemy attackers), gunpods can be helpful, if available. Although they slightly worsen the flight performance, that extra burst mass can be the difference between a "Hit" and "Aircraft destroyed". Finally, you can set keys for vertical head movement, as lifting up your head a little helps improving the over-the-nose visibility which helps you to track target.

Taking off in a late Bf 109 is harder than other aircraft, so one should familiarise themselves with the earlier 109s. When taking off, the Bf 109 will shift severely to the left side due to the huge torque, so consider setting keybinds for left and right brakes, as they are more effective at directional control than the rudder while on the ground. As the plane just lifts off the ground it will automatically roll to the left again due to the torque, so you must immediately roll a little right to keep it level, or the left wingtip will strike the ground. 

Dogfighting in SB involves everyday RB tactics and manoeuvres such as Immelmann, Split-S, scissor, barrel roll, etc. Note: the Bf 109 handles very sluggishly in the roll axis at low speed, so take this into account if dogfighting at low speed/altitude. You can even pull the elevator fully for maximum agility, but only if you pull gently and gradually will the 109 manoeuvre as you wish. If the stick is pulled harshly and suddenly, the plane will start swaying around and enter a flat spin. The aircraft can quite easily recover from a flat spin by fully deflecting elevators downward and rudder to the opposite side of which the plane is spinning, and wait until it starts a dive and gather some speed to pull up. 

• If you want to engage bombers, consider bring gunpods to maximise your damage output. Against late-war heavy bombers like B-17, relying solely on the one central cannon might also work, but that requires more professional evading and longer aiming which is considerably more dangerous, as the bombers you see will be better armed. Choosing between the 30 mm and 20 mm gunpods is up to you. The extra two Mk 108 will significantly boost your one-second burst mass and damage which can be very destructive for experienced pilots doing deflection shots, however the pathetic 35 rounds each gun will not last long in, for example, "destroy enemy bombers" mission where there are ~10 aircraft to down. The pair of MG151 is more balanced in terms of ammo and velocity, although they do not pack as much punch in a short firing window. With the powerful Minengeschoß rounds, 1-3 passes are enough to destroy any aircraft. In fact gunpods can also be helpful in dogfights against fighters, as the slight decrease in performance does not matter a lot in simulator, rather the ability to cripple/destroy the target as soon as you get a chance to is way more important.
• Landing may need practice for some. It is easy at first: decelerate and descent towards the runway, deploy combat, takeoff, landing flaps and gears in such order, fly at ~210 km/h before touchdown. Now note that you must align the plane with the airstrip correctly prior to touchdown and do not yaw/break one side too much when breaking, as the undercarriages are so close together that they cannot support such lateral force, causing the plane to wobble on the tires dangerously or even tilt towards one side, striking a wingtip into the ground. At last, you can break until the plane reaches a full stop and not worry about propeller strike.

Specific enemies worth noting

Your worst enemies in the Bf-109 G-6 are the Spitfires and the Thunderbolts. The Spitfire can out-turn you at almost all altitudes below 4,000 m. You have to be really careful when engaging a P-47 with an altitude advantage against you. The best thing you can do in that case is to turn away and keep climbing. If the Thunderbolt dives on you, turn into the head-on, fire a few rounds then use your superior roll rate to do a split-S. If a Spitfire engages you DO NOT try to turn with it! If you try, you will have fallen into their trap, your best defence is similar to the tactics employed against the Thunderbolt, split-S and use your roll rate.

Counter-tactics

If you're facing this plane, try to deplete its energy and force the plane either low or high. At higher altitudes, the engine performance is poor at best, and at lower ones, the plane loses energy quickly with no fast means to regain it. Avoid head-ons, as the enemy aircraft can potentially carry up to 3 x 30 mm guns.

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:

• Extremely good climb rate, even at high altitudes
• Very good energy retention
• Great for stalling out enemies, as the stall control is excellent
• Good low speed manoeuvrability without gunpods: you'll outturn planes like the P-47s and the early P-51s at low speeds
• Can research 2 types of gun pods for greatly increased firepower
• 30 mm cannons are extremely effective at bomber-hunting, allied with a great climb rate, will turn out to be a superb interceptor
• 20 mm cannons are wonderful when dogfighting against fighters
• The plane is overall very durable, with armour plates covering the only fuel tank
• Very powerful engine when using WEP
• Radiators are responsive and will keep the engine cooler for way longer than the G-2s
• Rather manoeuvrable, in the hands of an experienced pilot may outturn late Spitfire models
• Can feature a pair of Br.21 rockets, enabling it to take out even heavy tanks like the US T29 and Soviet IS-2 in tank realistic battles

Cons:

• Engine produces less horsepower on 100% throttle than the Bf 109 G-2, while being about 200 kg heavier
• Poor armament: unless using gunpods, head-ons should be avoided at all costs
• Outdated airframe means compression speed and rip speed are lower than most enemies you'll face
• Undergunned and underpowered when stock
• Engine still overheats, although not that often as the F or the G-2 models
• Mounted weaponry/payloads will reduce flight performance significantly
• Low ammo count unless using gunpods, which sacrifice flight performance
• 30 mm MK 108 cannons have too little ammo (35 rpg) to be an effective weapon in a battle
• Flaps are very sluggish to deploy and they rip at low speed
• 13 mm machine guns don't hit very hard
• 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

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a single-seat monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe before and during WWII. It was used as a fighter, interceptor, high-altitude interceptor, fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.

The Bf 109 G-6 "Gustav" was the most mass-produced variant of the Gustav series. It entered production in the late Autumn of 1942, and was initially designed as a universal platform which could be quickly converted to various roles as needed in field conditions. The G-6 was also equipped with improved engines, either with MW 50 methanol-water injection, or the high-altitude GM-1 nitrous oxide injection. The DB 605AS engine, which used 96-octane fuel, as opposed to 87-octane, could reach over 2,000 HP at 500 m and 1,800 HP at 5,000 m. These variants were designated Bf 109G-6/AS. The armoured seat had a transparent seat back, which significantly improved visibility. A total of 700 /AS aircraft were produced.

In addition to those changes, the G-6 was also the first to house the 30mm MK 108 cannon, which had 60 specially designed incendiary shells. A single hit was usually enough to destroy a single-seat fighter, most bombers needing no more than 4 or 5 hits.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Bf 109 G-6 from live.warthunder.com.

"Erica Hartmann" collaboration camouflage

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• North American P-51 Mustang
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190
• Kawasaki Ki-61
• Fiat G.55
• Macchi C.205

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Warrior Profile] Ace of the Month - July - Captain Alexandru Şerbănescu