Difference between revisions of "La-15"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
+
<!--''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''-->
  
 
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
{{break}}
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating|?}}. This aircraft was introduced in [[Update 1.39]].  
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a Rank {{Specs|rank}} Soviet jet fighter {{Battle-rating|1}}. This aircraft was introduced in [[Update 1.39]].
 +
 
 +
The La-15 is a special jet, it lies somewhere in the middle of the 8.0 jets due to its wings being incredibly weak for the engine it possesses and is one of the few planes that can break its wings clean off in level flight. However, due to the battle rating and the speeds that jet combat is usually fought at, you shouldn't need to rely on your top speed: The La-15 can be classed as an underestimated jet, relying on it's a performance at slow speeds (700 kph - 300 kph) to win battles of manoeuvrability.
  
The La-15 is a special jet, it lies somewhere in the middle of the 8.0 jets due to it's wings being incredibly weak for the engine it possesses, and is possibly one of the only planes that can break it's wings clean off in level flight. However, due to the battle rating and the speeds that jet combat is usually fought at, you shouldn't need to rely on your top speed: The La-15 can be classed as an underestimated jet, relying on it's performance at slow speeds (700 kph - 300 kph) to win battles of maneuverability.
 
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
 
=== Flight Performance ===
 
=== Flight Performance ===
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
+
<!--''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, manoeuvrability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''-->
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
+
! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 
|-
 
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 
|-
 
 
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 3,000 m)
 
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 3,000 m)
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
+
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
 
|-
 
|-
! AB
+
! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
! RB
 
! AB
 
! RB
 
! AB
 
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 999 || 971 || 13,500 || 24.0 || 25.2 || 25.6 || 23.9 || 650
+
! Stock
 +
| 999 || 971 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 24.0 || 25.2 || 25.6 || 23.9 || rowspan="2" | 650
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
+
! Upgraded
 +
| 1,037 || 1,022 || 23.2 || 23.5 || 38.4 || 31.7
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
====Details====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 3,000 m)
+
! colspan="6" | Features
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
 
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
 
 
|-
 
|-
! AB
+
! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
! RB
 
! AB
 
! RB
 
! AB
 
! RB
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 1,037 || 1,022 || 13,500 || 23.2 || 23.5 || 38.4 || 31.7 || 650
+
| || || || || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
====Details====
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="5" | Features
+
! colspan="7" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
 +
! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
|-
 
|-
! Combat flap
+
! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
! Take-off flap
 
! Landing flap
 
! Air brakes
 
! Arrestor gear
 
 
|-
 
|-
| || || || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
+
| {{Specs|destruction|body}} || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || 520 || 520 || 320 || ~13 || ~6
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="5" | Limits
+
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
|-
 
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
 
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
 
|-
 
|-
! +
+
! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
! -
 
 
|-
 
|-
| 945 || 450 || 520 || ~25 || ~12
+
| < 640 || < 535 || < 630 || N/A
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
 +
==== Engine performance ====
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
+
! colspan="3" | Engine
 +
! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
 +
! colspan="2" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
 +
|-
 +
| colspan="2" | Klimov RD-500 ||  1
 +
| colspan="2" | 2,790 kg || colspan="3" | 228 kg/m<sup>2</sup>
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
 +
! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br/>Weight
 +
|-
 +
! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
 +
! 11m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 39m fuel
 +
|-
 +
| 567 kg || colspan="2" | Centrifugal-flow turbojet
 +
| 3,054 kg || 3,262 kg || 3,492 kg || 3,700 kg || 3,870 kg
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | {{Annotation|Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)|The maximum thrust produced by each engine, while mounted in the aircraft. NOTE: Thrust varies significantly depending on speed & altitude.}}
 +
! colspan="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (112%)
 +
|-
 +
! Condition || 100% || 112%
 +
! 11m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 39m fuel || MTOW
 
|-
 
|-
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
+
| ''Stationary'' || 1,350 kgf || 1,499 kfg
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
+
| 0.49 || 0.46 || 0.43 || 0.41 || 0.39
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
 
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 
 
|-
 
|-
| < 640 || < 535 || < 630 || > 140
+
| ''Optimal'' || 1,350 kgf<br/>(0 km/h) || 1,499 kgf<br/>(0 km/h)
 +
| 0.49 || 0.46 || 0.43 || 0.41 || 0.39
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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== Usage in the battles ==
 
== Usage in the battles ==
 
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
 
<!--''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view but give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''-->
The La-15 should be used in as an American Fighter when not in engagements (straight lines, absolute minimal turning to retain speed) and as a "jet-turnfighter" when in engaged with enemy aircraft.
+
The La-15 should be used in as an American Fighter when not in engagements (straight lines, absolute minimal turning to retain speed) and as a "jet-turn-fighter" when in engaged with enemy aircraft.
  
 
Here are the DON'Ts of the La-15...
 
Here are the DON'Ts of the La-15...
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# '''DON'T''' climb at the beginning of the match, use the beginning of the match to fly straight forward to the enemy, as low to the ground you can get.
 
# '''DON'T''' climb at the beginning of the match, use the beginning of the match to fly straight forward to the enemy, as low to the ground you can get.
 
# '''DON'T''' keep yourself on 100% throttle and never use the special 112% power that the La-15's engine gives you. The WEP, as one could call it, lasts for a long time, and when overheating, just simply turn it off for about 15 - 60 seconds, after which it can be turned on again
 
# '''DON'T''' keep yourself on 100% throttle and never use the special 112% power that the La-15's engine gives you. The WEP, as one could call it, lasts for a long time, and when overheating, just simply turn it off for about 15 - 60 seconds, after which it can be turned on again
# '''DON'T''' headon attack or turn after one. Your guns are hard to aim in the heat of a headon and it would be advised to break when closing in on a headon, allowing your enemy to miss his attack and keeping your speed and plane in one piece. Your aircraft is bad at turning at higher speeds.
+
# '''DON'T''' head-on attack or turn after one. Your guns are hard to aim in the heat of head-on and it would be advised to break when closing in on a head-on, allowing your enemy to miss his attack and keeping your speed and plane in one piece. Your aircraft is bad at turning at higher speeds.
# '''DON'T''' get into an situation where you must fly at high speeds defensively. When an enemy shows up on your tail, if you have superior speed, outrun him, however if he has superior speed, slow down to a point in which higher G turns don't G-lock you and where you can take full advantage of an enemy fighter's higher speed to get behind them. Make them bleed their energy turning to get you while avoiding their attacks and engage your flaps when you're slow enough to deploy without ripping.
+
# '''DON'T''' get into a situation where you must fly at high speeds defensively. When an enemy shows up on your tail, if you have superior speed, outrun him, however, if he has superior speed, slow down to a point in which higher G turns don't G-lock you and where you can take full advantage of an enemy fighter's higher speed to get behind them. Make them bleed their energy turning to get you while avoiding their attacks and engage your flaps when you're slow enough to deploy without ripping.
  
 
However, DO the following:
 
However, DO the following:
  
# DO go straight at the begging of the match, the La-15 still can reach a high enough speed where it can outrun planes that turn to get behind you.
+
# '''DO''' go straight at the begging of the match, the La-15 still can reach a high enough speed where it can outrun planes that turn to get behind you.
# DO bring 20 minutes of fuel at minimum. You'll have enough fuel to last you a usual jet battle's time with WEP on, and you won't catch on fire.
+
# '''DO''' bring 11 - 20 minutes of fuel at maximum. You'll have enough fuel to last you a usual jet battle's time with WEP on when you need it, and you won't catch on fire. The La-15 has a lot more maneuverability when only 11 minutes of fuel are taken. '''Do keep in mind that only taking 11 minutes of fuel will result in a lower wing rip speed of around 920 - 910 kph!'''
# DO keep going straight after you break from a head on attack or overshoot, you can win the acceleration battle with almost any American jet you face.
+
# '''DO''' keep going straight after you break from a head-on attack or overshoot, you can win the acceleration battle with almost any American jet you face. '''You are ''light'', as with almost all Russian jets you are much lighter than your American counterparts and will always win a battle of low speed acceleration, but lose a battle of diving acceleration.'''
# DO slow down when an enemy plane that's faster than you is behind you. Most enemy planes will try to keep their speed, which puts you in a situation to pull hard turns without G-locking. If you're fast, do some light horizontal turns, but don't turn into the vertical, most american fighters will beat you at energy retention at higher speeds then have no acceleration when they stall which leads you to always be in front of their guns. If possible, keep rolling and spiraling, using your 'w' 'a' 's' 'd' keys to dodge attacks and then come out as the slower but still maneuverable plane when they try to dogfight you.
+
# '''DO''' slow down when an enemy plane that's faster than you are behind you. Most enemy planes will try to keep their speed, which puts you in a situation to pull hard turns without G-locking. If you're fast, do some light horizontal turns, but don't turn into the vertical, most American fighters will beat you at energy retention at higher speeds then have no acceleration when they stall which leads you to always be in front of their guns. If possible, keep rolling and spiraling, using your 'w' 'a' 's' 'd' keys to dodge attacks and then come out as the slower but still manoeuvrable plane when they try to dogfight you.  
  
 
====Specific enemies worth noting====
 
====Specific enemies worth noting====
Line 141: Line 147:
 
'''F-86 Sabre/CL-13A Sabre:'''
 
'''F-86 Sabre/CL-13A Sabre:'''
  
The F-86 Sabre is the one of the main rivals of the La-15 if up-teired and facing allied teams. The Sabre can easily out maneuver, out run, and out climb the La-15. The best way to counter the Sabre is to attack it when it is at its most vulnerable position (low on energy, or damaged) or force it into a low speed maneuvering fight. Do not try to engage a F-86/CL-13A Sabre in any high speed maneuvers or any high speed dog fighting in general as the Sabre will come out on top. In any low speed manoeuvers, the Sabre will lose to the La-15 in any manoeuvering engagements.
+
The F-86 Sabre is one of the main rivals of the La-15 if up-tiered and facing allied teams. The Sabre can easily outmanoeuvre, outrun, and out climb the La-15. The best way to counter the Sabre is to attack it when it is at its most vulnerable position (low on energy, or damaged) or force it into a low-speed manoeuvring fight. Do not try to engage an F-86/CL-13A Sabre in any high-speed manoeuvres or any high-speed dogfighting in general as the Sabre will come out on top. In any low-speed manoeuvers, the Sabre will lose to the La-15 in any manoeuvering engagements.
  
 
'''Meteor:'''
 
'''Meteor:'''
  
The Meteor is another main rival of the La-15 as the La-15 can meet the Meteor at any time from being down-teired to up-tiered. While the La-15 can out run and out climb early variants of the Meteors, the later variants are far harder to out run and out climb as they can easily catch the La-15. The best way to deal with Meteors is to apply boom and zoom tactics, but do remember a skilled Meteor pilot will have no issue avoiding a La-15 that is attacking with boom and zoom tactics. Avoid any maneuvering fights with any variant of the Meteor as they will out maneuver you with no issues at all.  
+
The Meteor is another main rival of the La-15 as the La-15 can meet the Meteor at any time from being down-tiered to up-tiered. While the La-15 can outrun and out climb early variants of the Meteors, the later variants are far harder to outrun and outclimb as they can easily catch the La-15. The best way to deal with Meteors is to apply boom and zoom tactics, but do remember a skilled Meteor pilot will have no issue avoiding a La-15 that is attacking with boom and zoom tactics. Avoid any manoeuvring fights with any variant of the Meteor as they will outmanoeuvre you with no issues at all.  
  
 
====Counter-tactics====
 
====Counter-tactics====
 
<!--What to expect, if it would be in command of the enemy and how to counter it. (i.e. They will most likely BnZ, etc.)-->
 
<!--What to expect, if it would be in command of the enemy and how to counter it. (i.e. They will most likely BnZ, etc.)-->
The La-15 has, at best, a speed limit of 1000 km/h. Be aware of this and, if possible, try to out dive or out run the La-15, as it can break it's wings easily in a dive and in level flight. It's airbrake is ineffective in a hard dive unless the engine is turned off, so turn on an afterburner and keep it on until you have gotten into level flight.
+
The La-15 has, at best, a speed limit of 1000 km/h. Be aware of this and, if possible, try to out dive or outrun the La-15, as it can break its wings easily in a dive and in level flight. Its airbrake is ineffective in a hard dive unless the engine is turned off, so turn on an afterburner and keep it on until you have gotten into level flight.
 
If you are slower than the La-15, '''Do not try to climb, break, or use an airbrake''', the La-15 has very good energy retention in a climb and it's airbrake very effective at level flight, so refrain from these types of defensive flying.
 
If you are slower than the La-15, '''Do not try to climb, break, or use an airbrake''', the La-15 has very good energy retention in a climb and it's airbrake very effective at level flight, so refrain from these types of defensive flying.
  
Line 190: Line 196:
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
  
* Cannons have decent rate of fire and punch.
+
* Cannons have a decent rate of fire and punch.
 
* Good energy retention.
 
* Good energy retention.
 
* Decent acceleration.
 
* Decent acceleration.
 
* Cockpit visibility is above average.
 
* Cockpit visibility is above average.
* Decent maneuverability around 500-700 kph/310-435 mph.  
+
* Decent manoeuvrability around 500-700 kph/310-435 mph.  
 
* Good roll rate.
 
* Good roll rate.
 
* good top speed for its rank
 
* good top speed for its rank
Line 206: Line 212:
 
* Ammunition is limited, restricted to firing short accurate bursts from close range.
 
* Ammunition is limited, restricted to firing short accurate bursts from close range.
 
* Doesn’t take battle damage very well especially to the wings of the aircraft.
 
* Doesn’t take battle damage very well especially to the wings of the aircraft.
+
 
 
== History ==
 
== History ==
''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!--''Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/History" (example: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).''-->
 +
The La-15 was a contemporary of the MiG-15 and Yak-30, that would see limited production numbers and remain in service through the 1950s in secondary roles. The NATO name for it was "Fantail."
 +
 
 +
Designer S.A. Lavochkin followed on his successful line of World War II piston-engine fighters with a series of jet prototypes in 1947. One of these, the La-174, became the basis for the production La-15. The fighter used a licence-built Rolls-Royce Derwent engine. A larger and more capable prototype, the La-176D, would be the first Soviet aircraft to break Mach (first in a dive in 1948 and then in level flight the next year) but never entered production.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
Line 227: Line 236:
 
* ''other literature.''
 
* ''other literature.''
  
{{USSR jet aircrafts}}
+
{{AirManufacturer Lavochkin}}
 +
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

Revision as of 20:50, 14 February 2020

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
La-15
la-15.png
La-15
AB RB SB
8.0 8.0 8.0
Research:61 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:340 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

GarageImage La-15.jpg


The La-15 is a Rank V Soviet jet fighter with a battle rating of 8.0 (AB/RB/SB). This aircraft was introduced in Update 1.39.

The La-15 is a special jet, it lies somewhere in the middle of the 8.0 jets due to its wings being incredibly weak for the engine it possesses and is one of the few planes that can break its wings clean off in level flight. However, due to the battle rating and the speeds that jet combat is usually fought at, you shouldn't need to rely on your top speed: The La-15 can be classed as an underestimated jet, relying on it's a performance at slow speeds (700 kph - 300 kph) to win battles of manoeuvrability.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 3,000 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 999 971 13500 24.0 25.2 25.6 23.9 650
Upgraded 1,037 1,022 23.2 23.5 38.4 31.7

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
0 450 520 520 320 ~13 ~6
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 640 < 535 < 630 N/A

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Empty mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Klimov RD-500 1 2,790 kg 228 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 11m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 39m fuel
567 kg Centrifugal-flow turbojet 3,054 kg 3,262 kg 3,492 kg 3,700 kg 3,870 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (112%)
Condition 100% 112% 11m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 39m fuel MTOW
Stationary 1,350 kgf 1,499 kfg 0.49 0.46 0.43 0.41 0.39
Optimal 1,350 kgf
(0 km/h)
1,499 kgf
(0 km/h)
0.49 0.46 0.43 0.41 0.39

Survivability and armour

  • 105 mm Bulletproof glass in cockpit front
  • 8 mm Steel plate behind the pilot
  • 6 mm Steel plate in the nose

Armaments

Offensive armament

Main article: NR-23 (23 mm)

The La-15 is armed with:

  • 3 x 23 mm NR-23 cannon, chin-mounted (100 rpg = 300 total)

Usage in the battles

The La-15 should be used in as an American Fighter when not in engagements (straight lines, absolute minimal turning to retain speed) and as a "jet-turn-fighter" when in engaged with enemy aircraft.

Here are the DON'Ts of the La-15...

  1. DON'T climb at the beginning of the match, use the beginning of the match to fly straight forward to the enemy, as low to the ground you can get.
  2. DON'T keep yourself on 100% throttle and never use the special 112% power that the La-15's engine gives you. The WEP, as one could call it, lasts for a long time, and when overheating, just simply turn it off for about 15 - 60 seconds, after which it can be turned on again
  3. DON'T head-on attack or turn after one. Your guns are hard to aim in the heat of head-on and it would be advised to break when closing in on a head-on, allowing your enemy to miss his attack and keeping your speed and plane in one piece. Your aircraft is bad at turning at higher speeds.
  4. DON'T get into a situation where you must fly at high speeds defensively. When an enemy shows up on your tail, if you have superior speed, outrun him, however, if he has superior speed, slow down to a point in which higher G turns don't G-lock you and where you can take full advantage of an enemy fighter's higher speed to get behind them. Make them bleed their energy turning to get you while avoiding their attacks and engage your flaps when you're slow enough to deploy without ripping.

However, DO the following:

  1. DO go straight at the begging of the match, the La-15 still can reach a high enough speed where it can outrun planes that turn to get behind you.
  2. DO bring 11 - 20 minutes of fuel at maximum. You'll have enough fuel to last you a usual jet battle's time with WEP on when you need it, and you won't catch on fire. The La-15 has a lot more maneuverability when only 11 minutes of fuel are taken. Do keep in mind that only taking 11 minutes of fuel will result in a lower wing rip speed of around 920 - 910 kph!
  3. DO keep going straight after you break from a head-on attack or overshoot, you can win the acceleration battle with almost any American jet you face. You are light, as with almost all Russian jets you are much lighter than your American counterparts and will always win a battle of low speed acceleration, but lose a battle of diving acceleration.
  4. DO slow down when an enemy plane that's faster than you are behind you. Most enemy planes will try to keep their speed, which puts you in a situation to pull hard turns without G-locking. If you're fast, do some light horizontal turns, but don't turn into the vertical, most American fighters will beat you at energy retention at higher speeds then have no acceleration when they stall which leads you to always be in front of their guns. If possible, keep rolling and spiraling, using your 'w' 'a' 's' 'd' keys to dodge attacks and then come out as the slower but still manoeuvrable plane when they try to dogfight you.

Specific enemies worth noting

F-86 Sabre/CL-13A Sabre:

The F-86 Sabre is one of the main rivals of the La-15 if up-tiered and facing allied teams. The Sabre can easily outmanoeuvre, outrun, and out climb the La-15. The best way to counter the Sabre is to attack it when it is at its most vulnerable position (low on energy, or damaged) or force it into a low-speed manoeuvring fight. Do not try to engage an F-86/CL-13A Sabre in any high-speed manoeuvres or any high-speed dogfighting in general as the Sabre will come out on top. In any low-speed manoeuvers, the Sabre will lose to the La-15 in any manoeuvering engagements.

Meteor:

The Meteor is another main rival of the La-15 as the La-15 can meet the Meteor at any time from being down-tiered to up-tiered. While the La-15 can outrun and out climb early variants of the Meteors, the later variants are far harder to outrun and outclimb as they can easily catch the La-15. The best way to deal with Meteors is to apply boom and zoom tactics, but do remember a skilled Meteor pilot will have no issue avoiding a La-15 that is attacking with boom and zoom tactics. Avoid any manoeuvring fights with any variant of the Meteor as they will outmanoeuvre you with no issues at all.

Counter-tactics

The La-15 has, at best, a speed limit of 1000 km/h. Be aware of this and, if possible, try to out dive or outrun the La-15, as it can break its wings easily in a dive and in level flight. Its airbrake is ineffective in a hard dive unless the engine is turned off, so turn on an afterburner and keep it on until you have gotten into level flight. If you are slower than the La-15, Do not try to climb, break, or use an airbrake, the La-15 has very good energy retention in a climb and it's airbrake very effective at level flight, so refrain from these types of defensive flying.

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage Repair Compressor Offensive 23 mm
II New Boosters Airframe
III Wings Repair New 23 mm Cannons
IV Engine Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Cannons have a decent rate of fire and punch.
  • Good energy retention.
  • Decent acceleration.
  • Cockpit visibility is above average.
  • Decent manoeuvrability around 500-700 kph/310-435 mph.
  • Good roll rate.
  • good top speed for its rank

Cons:

  • Low top speed for a swept wing jet.
  • Can rip its wings off in level flight (speed warning at approximately 945 kph/587 mph, wings rip at 955 kph/593 mph).
  • Ineffective airbrake.
  • Guns have poor accuracy and very low muzzle velocity. Hitting a target can be difficult.
  • Ammunition is limited, restricted to firing short accurate bursts from close range.
  • Doesn’t take battle damage very well especially to the wings of the aircraft.

History

The La-15 was a contemporary of the MiG-15 and Yak-30, that would see limited production numbers and remain in service through the 1950s in secondary roles. The NATO name for it was "Fantail."

Designer S.A. Lavochkin followed on his successful line of World War II piston-engine fighters with a series of jet prototypes in 1947. One of these, the La-174, became the basis for the production La-15. The fighter used a licence-built Rolls-Royce Derwent engine. A larger and more capable prototype, the La-176D, would be the first Soviet aircraft to break Mach (first in a dive in 1948 and then in level flight the next year) but never entered production.

Media

An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.

Read 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.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • page on aircraft encyclopedia;
  • other literature.


Lavochkin Design Bureau (Лавочкинa Опытное конструкторское бюро)
LaGG-3*  I-301 · LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-8 · LaGG-3-11 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · LaGG-3-35 · LaGG-3-66
La-5/7  La-5 · La-5F · La-5FN · La-7 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-7B-20
La-9/11  La-9 · La-11
Jet Fighters  La-15 · La-174 · La-200
Export  ␗La-9 · ␗La-11
Captured  ▀La-5FN
  *Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov (Лавочкин-Горбунов-Гудков), head designer V. P. Gorbunov

USSR jet aircraft
Bereznyak-Isayev  BI
Yakovlev  Yak-15 · Yak-15P · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-28B · Yak-30D · Yak-38 · Yak-38M · Yak-141
Mikoyan-Gurevich  MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l) · MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISH · MiG-17 · MiG-17AS · MiG-19PT
  MiG-21F-13 · MiG-21PFM · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-21SMT · MiG-21bis
  MiG-23M · MiG-23ML · MiG-23MLD · MiG-27M · MiG-27K
  MiG-29 · MiG-29SMT
Lavochkin  La-174 · La-15 · La-200
Sukhoi  Su-9 · Su-11
  Su-7B · Su-7BKL · Su-7BMK · Su-17M2 · Su-17M4 · Su-22M3
  Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39
  Su-27
Ilyushin  IL-28 · IL-28Sh
Tupolev  Tu-14T