Yak-9 vs BF-109G-2 [Eastern Front, 1943]

[Laurelix]

Loaded Weight: 2873kg
Wing Area: 17.15m2
Engine: VK-105PF - 1210 Horsepower

Max Speed: (10 Minute Regime, max power)
535km/h at Sea Level
594km/h at 3850m

Rate of Climb: (10 Minute Regime, max power)
5:06 to 5000m

Stall Speed: (Sea Level, No Flaps, 2873kg)
157km/h IAS
(17-18 Sec Sustained Turn Time)

Max Dive Limit: 650-670km/h IAS

Firepower:
1x 20mm ShVAK (1x 120 Rounds)
1x 12.7mm UBS (1x 200 Rounds)

::::

Loaded Weight: 3100kg
Wing Area: 16.20m2
Engine: DB-605A - 1455 Horsepower

Max Speed:
520km/h at Sea Level (1.3ata, 30 min regime)
644km/h at 7000m (1.3ata, 30 min regime)

541km/h at Sea Level (1.42 ata, 3 min regime)
663km/h at 6500m (1.42ata, 3 min regime)

Rate of Climb:
5:08 to 5000m (1.3ata, 30 min regime)
4:22 to 5000m (1.42ata, 3 min regime)

Stall Speed: (Sea Level, No Flaps, 3100kg)
168km/h IAS
(19-20 Sec Sustained Turn Time)

Max Dive Limit: ~750km/h IAS

Firepower:
1x 20mm MG151 (1x 200 Rounds)
2x 7.92mm MG17 (2x 500 rounds)

:::

Observations:

Yak-9 (Tactics)
1. Avoid Fighting BF-109G that has altitude advantage
2. Force Fights to happen below 3500m altitude
3. Force the dogfight to become a contest of turning capability
4. Engage with altitude or energy advantage

BF-109G-2 (Tactics)
1. Avoid Fighting Yak-9 below 3500m altitude but rather fight at high altitudes
2. Engage with either speed or altitude advantage
3. Use Boom & Zoom tactics or energy based tactics with short uses of 1.42ata
4. Avoid getting into turn fighting contest

 

[GregP]

What the Russians did, however, was to go attack German ground troops with many aircraft.

The German pilots were left with the decision to stay at higher altitudes and watch their ground troops get hit hard or come down and fight at lower altitudes. They mostly chose to come down and fight, which was exactly what the Soviet pilots wanted them to do.

The Yaks may have had some advantage down low, but a well-flown Bf 109 was never an easy target, particularly if friends were about and alert. Ditto for the Soviet pilots and the Yaks. Neither dies was adverse to a good old-fashioned dogfight.

Definitely a target-rich environment.