Bf 109 B-1
| This page is about the German fighter Bf 109 B-1. For other variants, see Bf 109 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The Bf 109 B-1 Late is a rank I German fighter with a battle rating of 1.7 (AB) and 1.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.49 (aka 1.70.1945) "Weapons of Victory". The Bf 109 B-1 is the first of the fabled 109s that make up the bulk of the German fighter forces in War Thunder. Seeing combat in the Spanish Civil War, the B-1 allowed the Germans to acquire valuable combat experience and develop the 109s further.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 443 | 434 | 9000 | 22.9 | 23.7 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 210 |
| Upgraded | 486 | 465 | 21.1 | 22.0 | 13.2 | 10.2 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 0 | 280 | 400 | 350 | 250 | ~13 | ~6 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 450 | < 390 | < 450 | > 312 |
| Compressor (RB/SB) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Setting 1 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 1,250 m | 670 hp | 704hp |
| Setting 2 | ||
| Optimal altitude | 100% Engine power | WEP Engine power |
| 3,200 m | 600 hp | 660 hp |
Survivability and armour
Despite having no armour protection or self-sealing fuel tanks, this aircraft can surprisingly survive inflicted damage. The first part of the aircraft that you will most likely lose is the engine. The engine is great for soaking up incoming rounds especially from head-on attacks or gunners on bombers. When fighting bi-planes and other early tier aircraft, their bullets are not very effective unless they are close enough or aimed to target the vital components. Luckily, a majority of early tier pilots are just starting out and may not be good at aiming. Coupled with good evasive manoeuvres this aircraft can survive long enough to escape low-powered planes: saving your life.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Armaments
Offensive armament
The Bf 109 B-1 is armed with:
- 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)
Usage in battles
Against fighters that are able to tank quite a few 7.92 mm, the best option to quickly dispatch an enemy is to aim specifically for the pilot.
Against bombers, the Bf 109 B-1 performs poorly. When engaging, aim for the engine or pilot. Due to its bigger hit box, the engine is the preferable of the two. This could cause an engine/fuel tank fire, making the task all the easier. Remember that propellers often take some time to 'stop spinning', so don't be misled into firing all you have into a single engine. A few good bursts will do the trick just nicely. Alternate to the second/third/fourth engine once you feel like the previous one had enough. Picking of the gunners might also allow you to stay behind the bomber, littering a certain area/ engine. However, this calls for some good shots and a loss of valuable time if you don't get them in your initial pass.
Simulator
In Simulator, the Bf 109 B is quite a friendly fighter that fights well. It offers great flight performance with its smooth handling, adequate speed against biplanes, and impressive climb rate and turn rate. Its nose-mounted MGs have lots of ammo and 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 vision. Despite having a razorback, the B model actually has great visibility towards the tail, increasing the pilot's situational awareness. Finally, the engine is not as powerful as the later models, making takeoff easier. However the B model does suffer from poor firepower given by the mere 2 x 7.92 mm MGs. Shooting windows in SB are way smaller than in RB, which reduces its effectiveness even more.
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. You can also set keys for vertical head movement, as lifting up your head a little helps improving the over-the-nose visibility.
Dogfighting in SB involves everyday RB tactics. Utilise common manuevers 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 maximum elevator input is harsh and sudden, 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.
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 order, fly at ~230 km/h before touchdown. If the plane bounces up with landing flaps, use takeoff/combat flaps instead to reduce lift. 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 main landing gears are so close together that they cannot support such sideways force, causing the plane to wobble dangerously or even tilt towards one side, striking a wingtip into the ground.
Specific enemies worth noting
The Bf 109 B-1 runs the risk of meeting Hurricanes, a plane introduced to the RAF in 1935 that has a far heavier armament and shorter snap turns. Against better performing enemies, the Bf 109 B-1 is not hopeless, but it will be tough. It is not exactly sturdy and will be quickly stitched to death by heavily armed enemies. Here, manoeuvrability is key, allowing you to roll out of an incoming attack quickly, setting up overshoots to keep the enemy at bay. A surprising number of players will lose their patience in such moments, making mistakes and thus nullifying their performance advantage. Nearly all planes of superior performance turn worse than a B-1, so if you manage to bleed their speed and pull them to the deck, you will be able to win a turning engagement. However, keep a watchful eye for better turning enemies such as biplanes.
Counter-tactics
The Bf 109 B-1 is going to be a rude awakening for those that flock to the 109s due to their historic reputation. While a capable pre-war fighter, it is severely lacking in firepower. Its two MG 17s 7.92 mm are just about adequate when engaging biplanes or I-16s, but lack punch against tougher opponents such as Hawker Hurricanes. Just about any enemy you might meet has either comparable or better armament.
What the plane lacks in firepower, it makes up in manoeuvrability, with the later trademark Bf 109 energy fighting capabilities displayed. A capable pilot can make this aircraft dance like any Messerschmitt, but it requires discipline, precision and effective use of the two MG 17's. When engaging planes that are of the Spanish Civil War Era, the B-1 does best by using its speed and superior climb rate to place itself into an advantageous attack position, and then launching one concentrated attack after the other on its target. Remember to always recycle your speed into altitude and back as the fight progresses. Before zoom climbing back up from an attack, remember to extend a little bit to avoid getting picked off from a prop-hang. As you zoom up, check your surroundings to keep good situational awareness.
Manual Engine Control
| MEC elements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixer | Pitch | Radiator | Supercharger | Turbocharger | ||
| Oil | Water | Type | ||||
| Not controllable | Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Controllable Not auto controlled |
Separate | Not controllable 2 gears |
Not controllable |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent agility, able to do very sharp turns
- Good energy conservation
- Very useful during dogfights since it is able to outmanoeuvre the opponent
- Has excellent control during slow speed
Cons:
- Not the fastest option at its rank
- Considerably weak armament
- May be too responsive for some players
History
The Bf 109 B-1 came out of the prototype V series of the 109s to see combat in the Spanish Civil War. While the 109s faced various issues from engine performance/reliability to an obvious lack of 'punch', the experience proved to yield valuable data allowing for design improvement, ensuring the success of later Bf 109 models.
While the B-1 was the only production model of the 109 carrying the 'Berta' designation, later models that saw improvements to the variable pitch carried the unofficial designation of B-2. A B-1/Late did not exist but might be used by War Thunder instead of B-2.
A notable feature of the Bf 109 B-1 is its massive opening in the cowling. While production models carried a third MG 17 firing out of said cowling, this was nearly always removed after combat trials during the Spanish Civil War. Although the fixed gun was cooled by the air coming in through the hole, it proved unreliable and a detriment to the plane. The War Thunder Bf 109 B-1 does not have this MG 17.
Media
Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Mitsubishi A6M
- Bell P-39 Airacobra
- Curtiss P-36
- Curtiss P-40
- Dewoitine D.520
- Fiat G.55
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190
- Grumman F4F Wildcat
- Grumman F6F Hellcat
- Hawker Hurricane
- Heinkel He 112
- IAR-81
- Kawasaki Ki-61
- Lavochkin LaGG-3
- Macchi C.202
- Macchi C.205
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3
- Morane-Saulnier MS.406
- Nakajima Ki-43
- North American P-51 Mustang
- Polikarpov I-16
- Supermarine Spitfire
- Yakovlev Yak-1
- Yakovlev Yak-9
External links
- "Falcon's Messerschmitt Bf 109 Hangar" Bf 109B subpage
- [Wikipedia] Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants – Bf 109 A/B/C/D
| Germany fighters | |
|---|---|
| Heinkel | |
| He 51 | He 51 A-1 · He 51 B-1 · He 51 B-2/H · He 51 C-1 · He 51 C-1/L |
| He 100 | He 100 D-1 |
| He 112 | He 112 A-0 · He 112 B-0 · He 112 B-1/U2 · He 112 B-2/U2 · He 112 V-5 |
| Messerschmitt | |
| Bf 109 (Jumo) | Flegel's Bf 109 A · Bf 109 B-1 · Bf 109 C-1 · Bf 109 C-1 |
| Bf 109 (DB-601) | Bf 109 E-1 · Bf 109 E-3 · Bf 109 E-4 · Bf 109 E-7/U2 · Bf 109 F-1 · Bf 109 F-2 · Bf 109 F-4 · Bf 109 F-4/trop |
| Bf 109 (DB-605) | Bf 109 G-2/trop · Bf 109 G-2 · Bf 109 G-6 · Bf 109 G-10 · Bf 109 G-14 · Bf 109 K-4 |
| Focke-Wulf | |
| Fw 190 (early) | Fw 190 A-1 · Fw 190 A-4 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5/U2 · Fw 190 A-5/U14 · Fw 190 A-8 · Fw 190 C |
| Fw 190 (late) | Fw 190 D-9 · Fw 190 D-12 · Fw 190 D-13 |
| Ta 152 | Ta 152 C-3 · Ta 152 H-1 |
| Blohm & Voss | |
| BV 155 | BV 155 B-1 |
| Captured: | |
| USA | ▀P-47D-16-RE · ▀P-47D |
| USSR | ▀La-5FN · ▀Yak-1B |
| Britain | ▀Tempest Mk V |
| Italy | |
| CR.42 | ▀CR.42 · ▀Marcolin's C.R.42 CN |
| G.50 | ▀G.50 serie 2 · ▀G.50 AS serie 7 |
| C.200 | ▀C. 200 serie 3 · ▀C. 200 serie 7 |
| C.202 | ▀C. 202 |
| Finland | ▀Hawk H-75A-2 |
