Hs 123 A-1

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Hs 123 A-1
hs-123a-1.png
Hs 123 A-1
AB RB SB
1.0 1.0 1.3
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This page is about the bomber Hs 123 A-1. For the Chinese version, see Hs 123 A-1 (China).

Description

GarageImage Hs 123 A-1.jpg


The Hs 123 A-1 is a rank I German biplane bomber with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB) and 1.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows".

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 4,000 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
293 289 8000 15.8 16.5 8.2 8.2 294
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 4,000 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
325 310 8000 14.4 15.0 16.8 12 294

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X
Limits
Wing-break speed
(km/h)
Gear limit
(km/h)
Combat flaps
(km/h)
Max Static G
+ -
320 ~12 ~8
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 220 < 220 < 380 > 270
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
850 m 660 hp 747 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 5 mm steel - pilot's headrest

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: MG 17 (7.92 mm)

The Hs 123 A-1 is armed with:

  • 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Suspended armament

The Hs 123 A-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
  • 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb + 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (450 kg total)

Usage in battles

Being a dive-bomber, its main role is rather self-explanatory. However, its frontal armament makes it feasible to be used in a fighter role, especially after dropping its bombs, which leaves a lighter and in consequence faster and more manoeuvrable plane.

In AB, the Hs 123 is a ground attacker/emergency fighter. Use your bomb load and guns to dispatch as many ground targets as possible, while making sure to keep the enemy off of your six. If someone does get on your six, pull a snap turn and keep him from getting a good shot on you for as long as possible. If you can't get onto his six you'll have to hope help arrives soon.

In RB, the tactics change massively. Use your bomber spawn to stay above the enemy team, and dive only after the enemy fighters have passed below you. Hit their tanks and other targets with your bombs through either dive bombing or low level bombing (set a 2 second fuse then fly as low as you can, dropping just before you lose sight of the target). After your bomb load is exhausted, engage soft targets for a while. If there are none it's time that you kill some of the enemy team, begin to climb and look for damaged fighters/attackers returning to their airfield, then pounce on them. Your 7.92 mm machine guns are good, but be sure to aim for wings, as most aircraft you'll face will likely be able to absorb most of the MG bullets you put into their fuselage.

The Stealth belt is recommended for ground attack, being made up of Armour Piercing and Incendiary rounds, while Tracers are better suited for air targets (being Armour Piercing and Incendiary thanks to its Tracer component).

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Combined Not controllable
1 gear
Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Offensive 7 mm ETC 50/VIIIb
II Compressor
III Wings repair Engine Airframe New 7 mm MGs ETC 250/IV
IV Engine injection Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Extremely sharp control input
  • Good manoeuvrability and nimble
  • Powerful selection of bombs
  • Fast BMW-132 radial engine
  • Can be used as a fighter-bomber after dropping payload
  • Although not effective, the MG-17 machine guns can decimate ground targets with a few bursts of fire
  • Bomber spawn in RB

Cons:

  • Easy to rip your wings off when diving past 450 km/h
  • No gunner
  • Lack of self-sealing tanks
  • Less manoeuvrable than most biplanes
  • Bad climb rate

History

First flying in 1935, the Hs 123 was Henschel's response to the 1933 Reich Ministry requirement for a dive bomber. After the successful delivery of 250 aircraft its christening of fire began. In 1936 the Hs-123 was sent to Spain where its usefulness as a close air support aircraft was well known. Being able to accurately place its powerful bombload and reliability outweighed its short range and it saw extensive service in that role. After the beginning of World War 2, The Hs 123 saw service on the front line airfields, where its quick turn time and ability to take heavy damage was appreciated by pilots and ground crews alike. Despite this, the Luftwaffe considered them obsolete and most squadrons re-equipped to Stukas or Bf 109 E's (Jabo variant).

At the beginning of Operation Barbarossa, the Hs-123 saw its rebirth, where its ability to survive heavy damage and its reliability shone through. Even in the winter, where more modern aircraft would fail to even start, Hs 123s could be counted upon to provide close air support through the bleakest of weather. In 1943, Generaloberst Wolfram von Richthofen asked if production of the aircraft could be restarted, however the jigs had been taken down in the Henschel plant all the way back in 1940.

Media

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

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.


Henschel & Son Corporation (Henschel und Sohn Aktiengesellschaft)
Attackers  Hs 129 B-2 · Hs 129 B-3
Bombers  Hs 123 A-1
Export  ␗Hs 123 A-1
  Hs 129 B-2 (Romania) · Hs 129 B-2 (Romania)

Germany bombers
Arado  Ar 196 A-3
Blohm & Voss  BV 138 C-1 · BV 238
Dornier  Do 17 E-1 · Do 17 Z-2 · Do 217 E-2 · Do 217 E-4 · Do 217 K-1 · Do 217 M-1
Focke-Wulf  Fw 189 A-1 · Fw 200 C-1
Henschel  Hs 123 A-1
Heinkel  He 111 H-3 · He 111 H-6 · He 111 H-16 · He 115 C-1 · He 177 A-5
Junkers  Ju 87 B-2 · Ju 87 R-2 · Ju 87 R-2 Libya · Ju 87 D-3 · Ju 87 D-5 · Ju 88 A-1 · Ju 88 A-4 · Ju 188 A-2 · Ju 288 C
Messerschmitt  Me 264
Savoia-Marchetti  ▀S.M.79 serie 1 · ▀S.M.79 B · ▀S.M.79 serie 4 · ▀S.M.79 serie 8
  ▀S.M.79 AS · ▀S.M.79 bis/N · ▀S.M.79 bis/T.M
Trophies  ▀Wellington Mk Ic