Quote:
Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski
It was enough to get a Me 109G in infavourable position, but it would be interesting to compare this 1944 aircraft with such ones like Meteor, Mustang, Spitfire XIV or Tempest.
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As far as I know, Yak-3 will easily outclimb, outrun, outmaneuver each of them (exept JET - Meteor) on altitudes below at least 3-4k. The things will shange ABOVE.
Also, I think it is not good to compare low-level tacktical FRONT fighter as Yak-3 and Interceptor like Spits and Tempests or High-altitude longrange escort fighter like Mustang. Each of them were good in "theyr" role.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Franek Grabowski
Yaks were never state of the art, and more, had several limitations, to mention poor armament, short range or not very good altitude performance as most important ones.
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Poor armament? It had CENTRAL mounted 20mm cannon (wich is more accurant - and in that case deadly - compare with 2 wingmountaid Hispanos with Spit for example) and 1 or 2 12mm UB (with was the best highcaliber mashinegun of WW II). The lack of ammunition usually was reparated with very close range of fire - usually much less than 100 metres. At this range even short burst of 1x20+1x12 will destroy Bf109 or Fw190.
Short range - but was it so need to have LONG range on Ostfront? Main mistake of early WW II Soviet aircrafts was claim for "longrange" from VVS high command to aircraft developers, wich resulted to over heavying of MiG-3 and LaGG-3, making them "sitting ducks".
Altitude performance - as You know, VVS fighters were specialised on LOW altitudes, and from 42-43 most of VVS fighters were better (in some case - MUCH better) to accomplish MISSION TARGETS on lowaltitudes that Bf109's or Fw190's.