Difference between revisions of "NC.900"

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{{Specs-Card|code=fw-190a-8_france}}
 
{{Specs-Card|code=fw-190a-8_france}}
{{Notice|''This page is about the aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[Fw_190_(Disambiguation)|Fw 190 (Disambiguation)]]''}}
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{{About
 +
| about = French fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| other
 +
| usage-1 = the German version
 +
| link-1 = Fw 190 A-8
 +
| usage-2 = other versions
 +
| link-2 = Fw 190 (Family)
 +
}}
 +
 
 
== 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.''-->
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<!-- ''In the description, the first part should 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, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
[[File:GarageImage_NC.900.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
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[[File:GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 
{{break}}
 
{{break}}
The '''NC.900''' is a gift Rank III French fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB/SB) and 5.0 (RB). It was introduced during [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]] in the 2017 "Festive Quest" that took place between 22 December 2017 to 22 January 2018. It was obtained via completing 13 pilot’s Christmas toys.
+
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a gift rank {{Specs|rank}} French fighter {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced during [[Update 1.75 "La Résistance"]] in the 2017 "Festive Quest" that took place from 22 December 2017 to 22 January 2018. It was obtained via collecting 13 pilot's Christmas toys.
  
The NC.900 is the French version of the [[Fw190A-8|Fw 190 A-8]] which features many of the same characteristics as the late Focke-Wulf Anton fighters.
+
The NC.900 is the identical, French version of the [[Fw 190 A-8|Fw 190 A-8]] which features many of the same characteristics as the late Focke-Wulf Anton fighters.
  
 
== 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. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
 +
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
Line 18: Line 27:
 
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at ?,000 m)
+
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,500 m)
 
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 
! 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>(meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run<br>(meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! AB
 
! AB
Line 31: Line 40:
 
! RB
 
! RB
 
|-
 
|-
| ? || ? || ?,000 || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ??.? || ???
+
| 622 || 601 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 24.2 || 25.3 || 10.2 || 10.2 || 450
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at ?,000 m)
+
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 5,500 m)
! rowspan="2" |Max altitude (meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
! colspan="2" | Turn time (seconds)
+
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
! rowspan="2" |Take-off run (meters)
+
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 
|-
 
|-
 
! AB
 
! AB
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! RB
 
! RB
 
|-
 
|-
| ? || ? || ?,000 || ??.? || ??.? || ?.? || ?.? || ?
+
| 687 || 652 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 21.4 || 22.8 || 19.5 || 14.1 || 450
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
====Details====
+
==== Details ====
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="5" | Features
 
! colspan="5" | Features
 
|-
 
|-
! Combat flap
+
! Combat flaps
! Take-off flap
+
! Take-off flaps
! Landing flap
+
! Landing flaps
 
! Air brakes
 
! Air brakes
 
! Arrestor gear
 
! Arrestor gear
 
|-
 
|-
| X || X || X || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
+
| X || || || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
 
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
! rowspan="2" | Combat flap<br> (km/h)
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! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps<br>(km/h)
 
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 
|-
 
|-
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! -
 
! -
 
|-
 
|-
| ??? || ??? || ??? || ~?? || ~?
+
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 900 || ~12 || ~6
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
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! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 
|-
 
|-
| < ??? || < ??? || < ??? || > ???
+
| < 420 || < 240 || < 550 || > 280
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
Line 106: Line 115:
 
! WEP Engine power
 
! WEP Engine power
 
|-
 
|-
| ?,??? m || ??? hp || ?,??? hp  
+
| 700 m || 1,498 hp || 1,874 hp
 
|-
 
|-
<!--! colspan="3" | Setting 2
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! colspan="3" | Setting 2
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Optimal altitude
 
! Optimal altitude
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! WEP Engine power
 
! WEP Engine power
 
|-
 
|-
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp  
+
| 5,300 m || 1,301 hp || 1,628 hp
 
|-
 
|-
! colspan="3" | Setting 3
 
|-
 
! Optimal altitude
 
! 100% Engine power
 
! WEP Engine power
 
|-
 
| ?,??? m || ?,??? hp || ?,??? hp
 
|- -->
 
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
<!--''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''-->
+
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 
* 57 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the cockpit.
 
* 57 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the cockpit.
 
* 3-5 mm Steel plates in front of oil cooling system.
 
* 3-5 mm Steel plates in front of oil cooling system.
Line 136: Line 138:
 
== Armaments ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
<!--''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''-->
+
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
{{main|MG 131 (13 mm)|MG 151/20 (20 mm)}}
+
{{main|MG 151/20 (20 mm)|MG 131 (13 mm)}}
  
The NC.900 is armed with:
+
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
* 4 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, -mounted (140 rpg outer + 250 rpg inner = 780 total)
 +
* 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, -mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)
  
* 4 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon (140 rpg outer + 250 rpg inner = 780 total)
+
The four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted in each wing. The two outer cannons have 110 less rounds compared to the two inner cannons and will run empty first. The two machine guns are mounted in the nose of the aircraft have the same amount of ammunition and will deplete at the same time if out of ammo.
* 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine gun (400 rpg = 800 total)
 
  
The four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted in each wing. The two outward most cannons have 110 lest rpg compared to the two innermost cannons and will run empty first. The two machine guns are mounted in the nose of the aircraft have the same amount of ammunition and if continuously fired will deplete at the same time.
+
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, 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).'' -->
 +
Flying the NC.900 tends to be very defensive and relies on neutralising an enemy's energy advantage and capitalising on the plane's advantages. Manoeuvres that work well include the Split-S, Chandelle and anything that requires a high rate of roll. One of these is to dive and roll in a single direction whilst applying rudder. This causes a very tight barrel roll that few aircraft can hope to gain a firing solution on. Another way to clear the NC.900's six is to pitch steeply up and roll over forcing an overshoot and potentially giving a firing solution. It's possible to dismember superior aircraft simply because of the roll rate and firepower this plane possesses. If skilled enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, it could be greatly rewarded.
  
<!--=== Suspended armament ===
+
In summary, climb to the side, BnZ steadily, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use the roll rate to outgame the enemy when cornered.
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
 
  
=== Defensive armament ===
+
=== Manual Engine Control ===
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
 
-->
 
== 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).''-->
 
Flying the NC.900 tends to be very defensive and relies on neutralizing an enemy's energy advantage and capitalizing on your own. Maneuvers that work well include the Split-S, Chandelle and anything that requires a high rate of roll. One of these its dive and roll in a single direction whilst applying rudder, this causes a very tight barrel roll that few aircraft can hope to gain a firing solution on. another way to clear your six is to pitch steeply up and roll over forcing an overshoot and potentially giving you a firing solution. It's possible to dismember superior aircraft simply because of the roll rate and firepower this plane possesses. If you are skilled enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, you could be greatly rewarded. In summary, climb to the side, BnZ steadily, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use your roll rate to free yourself when cornered.
 
 
 
===Manual Engine Control===
 
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 
|-
 
|-
 
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 
|-
 
|-
! rowspan="2" |Mixer
+
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
! rowspan="2" |Pitch
+
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
! colspan="3" |Radiator
+
! colspan="3" | Radiator
! rowspan="2" |Supercharger
+
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
! rowspan="2" |Turbocharger
+
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 
|-
 
|-
 
! Oil
 
! Oil
 
! Water
 
! Water
! Type  
+
! Type
|-
 
| Not controllable || Controllable<br>Automatic pitch || Controllable || Not controllable || Combined || Controllable || Not controllable
 
 
|-
 
|-
 +
| Not controllable || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Not controllable<br>Auto control available || Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || Combined || Not controllable<br>2 gears || Not controllable
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
  
===Modules===
+
=== Modules ===
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Tier
+
! colspan="1" | Tier
! Flight performance
+
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
! Survivability
+
! colspan="1" | Survivability
! Weaponry
+
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 
|-
 
|-
 
| I
 
| I
|  
+
| Fuselage repair
|  
+
| Radiator
|  
+
|
 +
| Offensive 13 mm
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| II
 
| II
|  
+
|
|  
+
| Compressor
|  
+
| Airframe
 +
| New 13 mm MGs
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
| III
 
| III
|  
+
| Wings repair
|  
+
| Engine
|  
+
|
 +
| Offensive 20 mm
 +
| R6 modification
 
|-
 
|-
 
| IV
 
| IV
|  
+
|
|  
+
| Engine injection
|  
+
| Cover
 +
| New 20 mm cannons
 +
|
 
|-
 
|-
 
|}
 
|}
 +
 +
Note: The aircraft comes with all modules fitted already.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
<!--''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''-->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
* Great roll rate at moderate speeds.
+
* Great roll rate at all speeds.
* Great energy retention (Though somewhat poor compared to [[Spitfire_LF._Mk_IX|Spitfire mk 9]]s in the b/z role).
+
* Good energy retention (though somewhat poor compared to [[Spitfire_LF_Mk_IX|Spitfire LF Mk IX]] in the BnZ role).
* Heavy armament.
+
* Excellent high speed control.
* Plenty of ammunition.
+
* Heavy armament, with plenty of ammunition.
* Well armored from the front.
+
* Well armoured from the front, especially cockpit.
* Easy to land with mouse aim due to the higher stall speed.
 
 
* Small and rugged air-frame.
 
* Small and rugged air-frame.
* Is sometimes viewed as a "free" kill, causing enemies to commit fatal mistakes.
+
* Has interceptor airspawn.
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
* Poor acceleration.
+
* Poor acceleration at all altitudes.
* Poor sustained turn.  
+
* Poor turn time and energy retention in turns.
* Rate of climb is bad.
+
* Poor control at low speed.
* Poor at altitude performance.
+
* Rate of climb is mediocre.
* One of the slowest Rank III fighters.
+
* Bad at altitude performance.
 
* Very bricky to fly in general.
 
* Very bricky to fly in general.
  
 
== 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 '''SNCAC NC.900''' was a French version of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, constructed from a number of abandoned Fw 190A-5 and A-8 airframes found in the former chalk quarry of Cravant after the Liberation of France.
 +
 
 +
The chalk quarry of Cravant was used for about 800 years for mining chalkstone, used in the construction of local buildings.  After the quarry was abandoned in 1935, centuries of extractions of chalk had resulted in large underground caverns.  During 1939, the French constructor ''Loire et Olivier'' became interested in the abandoned quarry, seeing the underground caverns as an ideal location to construct an additional aircraft factory.  Before any airframe could be built at the Cravant installation, the Germans managed to occupy France, and for a couple of years, the installations at Cravant lay dormant.  However, following the intensification of the Allied bombing offensive in 1943, the Germans started looking at alternative repair depots, and the installations at Cravant were reactivated.  Following preparations, the repair facilities at Cravant were taken in use on February 6th 1944 as the ''Sonderreparaturbetrieb G.L & Elbag Lager 918 Auxerre'', also known as the ''Frontrepareturbetrieb 918''.  Cravant soon became the main repair works for Focke-Wulf Fw 190s on the Western Front.
 +
 
 +
Over the next 6 months, about 163 Focke Wulf 190s were repaired at Cravant until the region was liberated by Allied forces on August 18th 1944.  The German Forces tried to destroy the facilities before abandoning them by setting them on fire, however, according to local legends, the fire was asphyxiated through a lack of oxygen in the underground caverns.  As such, when the factory was discovered by the Allied forces, they discovered 156 sets of wings and 112 fuselages of various marques of Focke Wulf Fw 190, including Fw 190 A-3s, A-4s, A-5s, A-6s, A-7s, A-8s, F-8s and G-3s.  A large number of these fuselages were in a damaged state, either through pre-existing damage which had seen the aircraft end up at the facility in the first place or through damage caused by the fire set by the retreating German forces.  After an inventory was made, it was found that of 112 fuselages about 70 to 75 were more or less in a useable state.  With a large supply of available parts and a need for fighter planes, the decision was taken to rebuild a number of Focke Wulfs for use by French units.
 +
 
 +
Assembly of the airframes was started under the supervision of the ''Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Centre'' (SNCAC), and the French-built Fw 190s were given the new designation of NC.900.  Despite using a mixture of A-5, A-6 and A-8 fuselages and wings, no separate designations were given to the two variants; the main problem faced by the SNCAC was a lack of BMW 801 engines, necessitating the use of a large stock of engines built by the French Voisin factories.  However, at the time it was not fully understood that these engines, built during the German occupation, had been subtly sabotaged by the French labourers, often in such a way that the sabotage could not be determined unless one knew where to look.
 +
 
 +
The first NC.900 flew on March 16th 1945, and the first aircraft was officially accepted by the French Air Force on May 11th 1945.  The first unit which would be converted to the NC.900 was the Groupe du Chasse III/5 : the legendary ''Normandie-Niemen'' group which had arrived from the Soviet Union to France on June 20th 1945, and which in the first few months after its return had been flying the Yakolev Yak 3 with which the unit had returned from the Soviet Union.  As spares for these aircraft were impossible to come by in France, and the unit's aircraft had one by one been cannibalised to keep them flying, the decision was made to assign the NC.900 to them first - and that could not have been a worse choice.  After all, ''Normandie-Niemen'' had just spent three years on the Eastern Front, where they had fought intense battles against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of JG51 and had lost many of their comrades to the Butcher Bird's guns.  As a result, the pilots hated the Fw 190/NC.900 and thoroughly disliked flying it.  Despite their protests, the unit was officially converted to NC.900 on February 1st 1946.
 +
 
 +
Due to the way in which the NC.900s had been assembled at Cravant - using numerous parts of various variants without any real attempt at matching parts - the end result was that the NC.900 proved to be an unbalanced and unstable aircraft, with each separate airframe having distinctly different flying characteristics.  Additionally, sabotage to both engines and individual parts meant that numerous incidents soon started happening with the NC.900s; added to that the pilots of ''Normandie-Niemen'' had been used to flying the lighter and more nimble Yak fighters, and conversion to the 'hated' Butcher Bird proved more problematic than expected.  A series of incidents, accidents and mechanical breakdowns - often due to failure of sabotaged parts or engines - soon gave the NC.900 a very bad reputation, and already two weeks after its official introduction into service, on February 18th, the decision was taken to end production of the type, with the type being grounded in April pending thorough inspections.  This resulted in a partial lifting of the ban, and 9 airframes were greenlit for service in July of 1946, but only one of them appears to have flown until the NC.900 was permanently grounded on November 1st 1946.  The circa 70 NC.900s built flew barely 100 hours in service between February 1st and November 1st 1946.
 +
 
 +
Following the permanent flight ban of the NC.900s, the remaining airframes were scrapped except for one which now stands as an Fw 190 at the ''Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace'' at Bourget; France's remaining stock of Focke Wulf spare parts was subsequently sold to Turkey to keep its remaining Fw 190A-3a's flying (they, in turn, were withdrawn from service towards the end of 1947).
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?q=#NC900 Camouflages for the NC.900 on War Thunder Live]
 +
<div><ul>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:NC.900 Alt Camo.png|thumb|300px|''"Non-standard bicolor camouflage pattern''", given to owners when 350,000 lights were on the tree during the event.]] </li>
 +
<li style="display: inline-block;"> [[File:NC.900 Tail.png|thumb|200px|Close-up on unique tail marking.]] </li>
 +
</ul></div>
  
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
''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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
<!--''ETC.''-->
 
  
== Sources ==
+
== External links ==
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
* ''other literature.''
+
* ''other literature.''-->
 +
 
 +
* [https://www.histavia21.net/Cravant/cravant.htm [Histavia21 website<nowiki>]</nowiki> CRAVANT, L' USINE SOUTERRAINE Focke Wulf 190 et NC 900]
 +
* [https://www.aviationsmilitaires.net/v2/base/view/Variant/6596.html [Aviationsmilitares website<nowiki>]</nowiki> SNCAC NC.900]
 +
* [https://www.avionslegendaires.net/avion-militaire/sncac-nc-900/ [Avionslegendaries website<nowiki>]</nowiki> SNCAC NC.900]
  
{{French fighters}}
+
{{France fighters}}

Revision as of 16:19, 19 November 2019

RANK 6 BRITAIN
Rooikat 105 PACK
NC.900
fw-190a-8_france.png
NC.900
Show in game
This page is about the French fighter NC.900. For the German version, see Fw 190 A-8. For other versions, see Fw 190 (Family).

Description

GarageImage NC.900.jpg


The NC.900 is a gift rank IV French fighter with a battle rating of 5.3 (AB/SB) and 5.0 (RB). It was introduced during Update 1.75 "La Résistance" in the 2017 "Festive Quest" that took place from 22 December 2017 to 22 January 2018. It was obtained via collecting 13 pilot's Christmas toys.

The NC.900 is the identical, French version of the Fw 190 A-8 which features many of the same characteristics as the late Focke-Wulf Anton fighters.

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 5,500 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
622 601 10300 24.2 25.3 10.2 10.2 450
Upgraded
Max Speed
(km/h at 5,500 m)
Max altitude
(meters)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(meters/second)
Take-off run
(meters)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
687 652 10300 21.4 22.8 19.5 14.1 450

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X
Limits
Wing-break speed
(km/h)
Gear limit
(km/h)
Combat flaps
(km/h)
Max Static G
+ -
900 ~12 ~6
Optimal velocities
Ailerons
(km/h)
Rudder
(km/h)
Elevators
(km/h)
Radiator
(km/h)
< 420 < 240 < 550 > 280
Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
700 m 1,498 hp 1,874 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude 100% Engine power WEP Engine power
5,300 m 1,301 hp 1,628 hp

Survivability and armour

  • 57 mm Bulletproof glass in front of the cockpit.
  • 3-5 mm Steel plates in front of oil cooling system.
  • 6 mm Steel plate under the radial engine.
  • 12 mm Steel plate in pilot's headrest, and a 8 + 6 mm steel plates behind the pilot.
  • 8 mm Steel plate under the cockpit.
  • 5 mm Steel plate behind the fuel tank.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The NC.900 is armed with:

  • 4 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, -mounted (140 rpg outer + 250 rpg inner = 780 total)
  • 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, -mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

The four cannons are arranged in bundles of two mounted in each wing. The two outer cannons have 110 less rounds compared to the two inner cannons and will run empty first. The two machine guns are mounted in the nose of the aircraft have the same amount of ammunition and will deplete at the same time if out of ammo.

Usage in battles

Flying the NC.900 tends to be very defensive and relies on neutralising an enemy's energy advantage and capitalising on the plane's advantages. Manoeuvres that work well include the Split-S, Chandelle and anything that requires a high rate of roll. One of these is to dive and roll in a single direction whilst applying rudder. This causes a very tight barrel roll that few aircraft can hope to gain a firing solution on. Another way to clear the NC.900's six is to pitch steeply up and roll over forcing an overshoot and potentially giving a firing solution. It's possible to dismember superior aircraft simply because of the roll rate and firepower this plane possesses. If skilled enough to press for a gun solution when scissoring an enemy, it could be greatly rewarded.

In summary, climb to the side, BnZ steadily, never get in a sustained turn fight, and use the roll rate to outgame the enemy when cornered.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Not controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Auto control available
Controllable
Not auto controlled
Combined Not controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Modules

Tier Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
I Fuselage repair Radiator Offensive 13 mm
II Compressor Airframe New 13 mm MGs
III Wings repair Engine Offensive 20 mm R6 modification
IV Engine injection Cover New 20 mm cannons

Note: The aircraft comes with all modules fitted already.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Great roll rate at all speeds.
  • Good energy retention (though somewhat poor compared to Spitfire LF Mk IX in the BnZ role).
  • Excellent high speed control.
  • Heavy armament, with plenty of ammunition.
  • Well armoured from the front, especially cockpit.
  • Small and rugged air-frame.
  • Has interceptor airspawn.

Cons:

  • Poor acceleration at all altitudes.
  • Poor turn time and energy retention in turns.
  • Poor control at low speed.
  • Rate of climb is mediocre.
  • Bad at altitude performance.
  • Very bricky to fly in general.

History

The SNCAC NC.900 was a French version of the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, constructed from a number of abandoned Fw 190A-5 and A-8 airframes found in the former chalk quarry of Cravant after the Liberation of France.

The chalk quarry of Cravant was used for about 800 years for mining chalkstone, used in the construction of local buildings. After the quarry was abandoned in 1935, centuries of extractions of chalk had resulted in large underground caverns. During 1939, the French constructor Loire et Olivier became interested in the abandoned quarry, seeing the underground caverns as an ideal location to construct an additional aircraft factory. Before any airframe could be built at the Cravant installation, the Germans managed to occupy France, and for a couple of years, the installations at Cravant lay dormant. However, following the intensification of the Allied bombing offensive in 1943, the Germans started looking at alternative repair depots, and the installations at Cravant were reactivated. Following preparations, the repair facilities at Cravant were taken in use on February 6th 1944 as the Sonderreparaturbetrieb G.L & Elbag Lager 918 Auxerre, also known as the Frontrepareturbetrieb 918. Cravant soon became the main repair works for Focke-Wulf Fw 190s on the Western Front.

Over the next 6 months, about 163 Focke Wulf 190s were repaired at Cravant until the region was liberated by Allied forces on August 18th 1944. The German Forces tried to destroy the facilities before abandoning them by setting them on fire, however, according to local legends, the fire was asphyxiated through a lack of oxygen in the underground caverns. As such, when the factory was discovered by the Allied forces, they discovered 156 sets of wings and 112 fuselages of various marques of Focke Wulf Fw 190, including Fw 190 A-3s, A-4s, A-5s, A-6s, A-7s, A-8s, F-8s and G-3s. A large number of these fuselages were in a damaged state, either through pre-existing damage which had seen the aircraft end up at the facility in the first place or through damage caused by the fire set by the retreating German forces. After an inventory was made, it was found that of 112 fuselages about 70 to 75 were more or less in a useable state. With a large supply of available parts and a need for fighter planes, the decision was taken to rebuild a number of Focke Wulfs for use by French units.

Assembly of the airframes was started under the supervision of the Société Nationale de Construction Aéronautique du Centre (SNCAC), and the French-built Fw 190s were given the new designation of NC.900. Despite using a mixture of A-5, A-6 and A-8 fuselages and wings, no separate designations were given to the two variants; the main problem faced by the SNCAC was a lack of BMW 801 engines, necessitating the use of a large stock of engines built by the French Voisin factories. However, at the time it was not fully understood that these engines, built during the German occupation, had been subtly sabotaged by the French labourers, often in such a way that the sabotage could not be determined unless one knew where to look.

The first NC.900 flew on March 16th 1945, and the first aircraft was officially accepted by the French Air Force on May 11th 1945. The first unit which would be converted to the NC.900 was the Groupe du Chasse III/5 : the legendary Normandie-Niemen group which had arrived from the Soviet Union to France on June 20th 1945, and which in the first few months after its return had been flying the Yakolev Yak 3 with which the unit had returned from the Soviet Union. As spares for these aircraft were impossible to come by in France, and the unit's aircraft had one by one been cannibalised to keep them flying, the decision was made to assign the NC.900 to them first - and that could not have been a worse choice. After all, Normandie-Niemen had just spent three years on the Eastern Front, where they had fought intense battles against the Focke-Wulf Fw 190s of JG51 and had lost many of their comrades to the Butcher Bird's guns. As a result, the pilots hated the Fw 190/NC.900 and thoroughly disliked flying it. Despite their protests, the unit was officially converted to NC.900 on February 1st 1946.

Due to the way in which the NC.900s had been assembled at Cravant - using numerous parts of various variants without any real attempt at matching parts - the end result was that the NC.900 proved to be an unbalanced and unstable aircraft, with each separate airframe having distinctly different flying characteristics. Additionally, sabotage to both engines and individual parts meant that numerous incidents soon started happening with the NC.900s; added to that the pilots of Normandie-Niemen had been used to flying the lighter and more nimble Yak fighters, and conversion to the 'hated' Butcher Bird proved more problematic than expected. A series of incidents, accidents and mechanical breakdowns - often due to failure of sabotaged parts or engines - soon gave the NC.900 a very bad reputation, and already two weeks after its official introduction into service, on February 18th, the decision was taken to end production of the type, with the type being grounded in April pending thorough inspections. This resulted in a partial lifting of the ban, and 9 airframes were greenlit for service in July of 1946, but only one of them appears to have flown until the NC.900 was permanently grounded on November 1st 1946. The circa 70 NC.900s built flew barely 100 hours in service between February 1st and November 1st 1946.

Following the permanent flight ban of the NC.900s, the remaining airframes were scrapped except for one which now stands as an Fw 190 at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace at Bourget; France's remaining stock of Focke Wulf spare parts was subsequently sold to Turkey to keep its remaining Fw 190A-3a's flying (they, in turn, were withdrawn from service towards the end of 1947).

Media

  • "Non-standard bicolor camouflage pattern", given to owners when 350,000 lights were on the tree during the event.
  • Close-up on unique tail marking.

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


France fighters
Dewoitine  D.371 · D.371 H.S.9 · D.373 · D.500 · D.501 · Pallier's D.510 · D.520
Morane-Saulnier  M.S.405C1 · M.S.406C1 · M.S.410
Arsenal  V.G.33C-1
Bloch  M.B.152C1 · M.B.157
Caudron  C.R.714
Sud-Ouest  S.O.8000 Narval
American  H-75A-1 · H-75A-4 · ▄P-39Q-25 · ▄P-40F-5 Lafayette · ▄P-47D-22-RE · ▄P-63C-5 · F-6C-10-NA
  ▄F6F-5 · ▄F6F-5N · F4U-7 · ▄F8F-1B
Other countries  ▄Seafire LF Mk.III · ▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · NC.900