Me 262 A-1a/U1

This page is about the squadron German strike aircraft Me 262 A-1a/U1. For other versions, see Me 262 (Family).

Me 262 A-1a/U1

Me 262 A-1a/U1

Germany

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
7.3	7.3	7.0

Class:

SQUADRON

Strike aircraft

Research:320 000

Purchase:340 000

Show in game

Description

The Me 262 A-1a/U1 is a squadron rank V German strike aircraft with a battle rating of 7.3 (AB/RB) and 7.0 (SB). It was introduced during Update 1.91 "Night Vision". It can be unlocked with squadron activity points or purchased with Golden Eagles.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m865 km/h

Turn time28 s

Max altitude12 500 m

Engine2 х Junkers Jumo 004B-1

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight7 t

The Me 262 A-1a/U1 severely lacks engine power compared to its contemporaries and is heavy, resulting in a lacklustre acceleration and a poor climb rate. Control surfaces compress above 650 km/h and G-LOC becomes prominent when slightly manoeuvring above 700 km/h. It also performs poorly in a stall, as the control surfaces become ineffective below 350 km/h, making recoveries difficult.

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	823	797	12500	29.3	30.1	15.7	14.7	750
Upgraded	908	865		27.4	28.0	23.7	19.5

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1050	450	558	529	380	~10	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 500	< 600	< 680	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass			Wing loading (full fuel)
Junkers Jumo 004B-1		2	4,550 kg			310 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load)					Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel
720 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		5,164 kg	5,311 kg	5,679 kg	6,231 kg	6,525 kg	6,520 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition	100%	WEP	16m fuel	20m fuel	30m fuel	45m fuel	53m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	910 kgf	N/A	0.35	0.34	0.32	0.29	0.28	0.28
Optimal	910 kgf (0 km/h)	N/A	0.35	0.34	0.32	0.29	0.28	0.28

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 050 km/h

Gear450 km/h

• 15 mm Steel - Behind the pilot
• 15 mm Steel - Pilot's headrest
• 15 mm Steel - Between cockpit and fore fuel tank
• 15 mm Steel - Instrument panel plate
• 16 mm Steel x 2 - Ammunition protection plates
• 90 mm Bulletproof glass

The engines are very fragile. Any hit at this BR often results in critical damage

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 695 → 4 844

RB7 595 → 9 957

SB11 108 → 14 562

Total cost of modifications101 700

165 000

Talisman cost2 200

Crew training98 000

Experts340 000

Aces1 800

Research Aces780 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 290 / 600 %

202 / 202 / 202 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 6 800 Cost: 11 000 280 Compressor Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 Wings repair Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 350 Engine Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 450	Airframe Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 Cover Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 450	mg15120_belt_pack Research: 6 800 Cost: 11 000 280 mk108_belt_pack Research: 6 800 Cost: 11 000 280 mg15120_new_gun Research: 7 600 Cost: 12 000 310 mk103_belt_pack Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 350 mk108_new_gun Research: 8 500 Cost: 14 000 350 mk103_new_gun Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 450

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 30 mm MK 103 cannon

Ammunition144 rounds

Fire rate450 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon

Ammunition132 rounds

Fire rate600 shots/min

Weapon 32 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon

Ammunition292 rounds

Fire rate700 shots/min

The Me 262 A-1a/U1 is armed with:

• 2 x 30 mm MK 103 cannons, nose-mounted (72 rpg = 144 total)
• 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, nose-mounted (66 rpg = 132 total)
• 2 x 20 mm MG 151 cannons, nose-mounted (146 rpg = 292 total)

Usage in battles

As a modified Me 262 A-1a, its role in the battle has not changed that much. The added cannons (namely, the MK 103) make the plane more capable at its battle rating. The MK 103s can carry an ammo belt that has the capability of penetrating the roofs of some tanks when playing in Ground Realistic battles. It is advisable to fire each pair of cannons separately, because all of its autocannons have a different muzzle velocity (about 200 m/s) and different amounts of ammunition. MK 108s will run dry first, followed by the MK 103s, and lastly the MG 151s.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Decent offensive armament of 6 autocannons
• MK 103 cannons can fire HVAP rounds that penetrate 77 mm of armour
• MK 103s have a relatively high muzzle velocity

Cons:

• Lacklustre acceleration and poor climb rate
• Control surfaces compress above 650 km/h
• Poor stall performance, control surfaces are ineffective below 350 km/h
• G-LOC quickly becomes prominent when slightly manoeuvring above 700 km/h
• Poor survivability. Getting hit by anything often results in critical damage, especially the engines
• Inaccurate and slow guns, difficult to use
• Lack of suspended armaments

History

The Me 262A-1a/U1 is a modification of the world's first mass produced jet fighter, the German Me 262 'Schwalbe'. The armament of the A-1 sub-serie, being four 30 mm MK 108 auto cannons, had a number of drawbacks, such as cycle failures and complex heavy shell ballistics. For these reasons, engineers experimented with different variations as to the weaponry, including a reinforced cannon battery. As such, the Me.262A-1a/U1 modification was created as part of this program. German engineers managed to fit 6 autocannons in the nose: 2 x 20 mm MG.151/20, 2 x 30 mm stock version MK 108, and 2 x 30 mm MK 103 guns. For the latter, they developed shells with a higher initial speed, and the guns themselves had a longer barrel length than the MK 108, as well as an effective muzzle brake - all to improve the ballistics of the heavy shells. They built a prototype (according to other sources, there were three units), but the project was not entered into mass production. However, one example was flown by one of the most effective jet aces of World War II, Heinz Bär, who flew it at the end of April 1945, and with it, even shot down several Thunderbolts in the skies over Germany.

- From Devblog

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Me 262 A-1a/U1 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• Me 262 A-1a/U1 Devblog Images
• 
• 
• 

Videos

The Me-262 family discusses the Me 262 A-1a/U1 at 3:17 - War Thunder Official Channel

Avoid them in frontal attack! discusses the Me 262 A-1a/U1 at 2:33 - War Thunder Official Channel

The Shooting Range #174 - Pages of History section at 04:45 discusses the Me 262 "Schwalbe".

Me 262 A-1a/U1 - Squadron Vehicle Overview - Bacongaming

The Germans were NUTS - Me 262 A-1a/U1 - PhlyDaily

The Joke Of The German Tech Tree - Me 262 A-1a/U1 Squadron Vehicle - DEFYN

See also

• Related development
  • Me 262 (Family)

External links

• [Development] Squadron vehicles: Me 262A-1a/U1
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Squadron aircraft
USA	A-4E Early · F-117
Germany	Me 262 A-1a/U1 · ◌Hunter F.58
USSR	Su-22M3
Britain	Firecrest · Sea Harrier FRS.1
Japan	▄F-5E FCU
China	JF-17