Difference between revisions of "MiG-15"

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{{Specs-Card|code=mig-15_ns23}}
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{{About
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| about = Soviet jet fighter '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
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| usage = other versions
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| link = MiG-15 (Family)
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}}
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{{Specs-Card
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|code=mig-15_ns23
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|images={{Specs-Card-Image|GarageImage_{{PAGENAME}}.jpg}}
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}}
  
 
== Description ==
 
== Description ==
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''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.'' -->
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Shortly after the first generation Soviet jet fighters were entering service, the plans for far more improved "second generation" fighters were already underway. Mikoyan OKB would begin testing swept wing designs on their MiG-8 prototype before a major breakthrough in aviation technology occurred in the Soviet Union: the United Kingdom not only authorized the sale of their latest and highly advanced Rolls-Royce Nene and Derwent engines, but also sold a license for production to the Soviets to produce them as the RD-45 and RD-500 respectively. As such, all new second generation fighter projects quickly restarted and drew up new designs to use these new engines. Mikoyan was no exception, with their I-310 prototype utilizing a 35 degree swept wing on a high-tailplane airframe powered by a single RD-45 engine. In the end, this design and Lavochkin's [[La-174|Project 174]] ended up beating Yakovlev's heavily delayed [[Yak-30D|Yak-30]], and were chosen as the Soviet Union's second-generation jet fighters, entering production as the '''MiG-15''' and [[La-15]] respectively. The MiG-15 would go on to serve a very long and fruitful life with many countries all around the world and would be produced in other regions of the world (both with and without a license) as the Lim-1 in Poland, the S-102 in Czechoslovakia, and the [[J-2]] in China.
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 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' (NATO reporting name: Fagot) was introduced in [[Update 1.35]] as the top rank Soviet jet at the time, as a competitive contemporary to the [[F-86F-25]]. The MiG-15 is characterized by its above-average energy parameters for its battle rating, its hard-hitting but sparse armament which can be tricky to new pilots, and its abysmal roll-rate compared to all of its adversaries. The MiG-15 has strong energy fighting characteristics, but can turn fight some of its adversaries if the need arises due to its flight performance. Players who enjoy this aircraft and master its characteristics are advised to research the foldered variant, the upgraded [[MiG-15bis]]. The MiG-15bis will reward its pilots with far stronger engines and better energy management during dogfights over the normal MiG-15, allowing its pilots more options and energy-reliant manoeuvres to use during an engagement.
  
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
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=== Flight Performance ===
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[[File:CockpitImage_MiG-15.jpg|thumbnail|right|The MiG-15's instrument panel.]]
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''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
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 +
=== Flight performance ===
 +
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
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<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 +
The MiG-15, while being a successor of the MiG-9, uses swept wings which provide better performance at transonic speed. The other difference is the use of a single engine, the Klimov RD-45F. The plane is able to reach 1050 km/h at sea level and 994 km/h at 9,000 m, it makes the plane's speed very comparable with other jets at a similar battle rating. The climb rate is very high: with full fuel tanks it reaches 42 m/s and the plane can climb from sea level up to 5,000 m in slightly above 2 minutes. The acceleration is also great, thrust to weight ration when the plane is fully loaded is 0.44, which is significantly better compared to the F-86A, one of its main competitors, the plane also keeps its speed very well, especially at high speed.
 +
The engine can start overheating after prolonged flying at 100% of power, but it is quite easy to cool down, although when that happens it will keep overheating after switching back to max power so when it possible it should be reduced to 95% or lower.
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 +
The MiG-15's weight is very low in comparison to other jet fighters from similar era, it is only ~4700 kg and along with quite good wings aerodynamics and wing loading it makes the plane very manoeuvrable at low and medium speeds and makes it a very dangerous foe to any other plane when it comes to dogfighting, the only thing that slightly drags this plane down is its high speed turn rate, which is very underwhelming. The MiG-15 locks up at lot after reaching subsonic speeds and its rolling performance, which is already very average at medium and low speeds, gets very bad at high speed. It is also equipped with an airbrake that can help a lot with slowing down and it situations to make the enemy plane overshoot.
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Flaps while do not have very high speed limit can still make the turn fight at medium and low speed easier, as they increase turn rate by up to ~10% at a cost of increased drag.
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When flying with simulator controls, it is very pleasant to fly: trimming is almost not required when the plane travels at high speed, insufficient roll rate can be improved by using the rudder, but that can also make it slow down. The plane can be stalled out even at high speed, and when above its critical angle of attack (AoA) it severely wing-stalls, throwing off your aim and/or your heading. Be very careful to not pull too much from the stick as to not reach this state, remember that it is one of the best rate-fighter of its tier, so it's best to pull a bit less to keep your speed and not wing-stall as you'll get into position within a few turns.
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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! rowspan="2" | Characteristics
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! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
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! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(metres)
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! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
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! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(metres/second)
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! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(metres)
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|-
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! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB !! AB !! RB
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|-
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! Stock
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| 1,009 || 975 || rowspan="2" | {{Specs|ceiling}} || 22.4 || 23.7 || 34.2 || 32.5 || rowspan="2" | 600
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|-
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! Upgraded
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| 1,067 || 1,050 || 22.8 || 22.1 || 50.8 || 42.0
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|-
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|}
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 +
==== Details ====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="6" | Features
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|-
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! Combat flaps !! Take-off flaps !! Landing flaps !! Air brakes !! Arrestor gear !! Drogue chute
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|-
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| X || ✓ || ✓ || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
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|-
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|}
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="50%"
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|-
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! colspan="7" | Limits
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|-
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! rowspan="2" | Wings (km/h)
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! rowspan="2" | Gear (km/h)
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! colspan="3" | Flaps (km/h)
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! colspan="2" | Max Static G
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|-
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! Combat !! Take-off !! Landing !! + !! -
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|-
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| 1,132 <!-- {{Specs|destruction|body}} --> || {{Specs|destruction|gear}} || - || 598 || 450 || ~12 || ~5
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|-
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|}
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 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities (km/h)
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|-
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! Ailerons !! Rudder !! Elevators !! Radiator
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|-
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| < 600 || < 700 || < 750 || -
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|-
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|}
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 +
==== Engine performance ====
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{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Engine
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! colspan="5" | Aircraft mass
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|-
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! colspan="2" | Engine name || Number
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! colspan="2" | Empty mass || colspan="3" | Wing loading (full fuel)
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|-
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| colspan="2" | Klimov RD-45F || 1
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| colspan="2" | 3,508 kg || colspan="3" | 229 kg/m<sup>2</sup>
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|-
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! colspan="3" | Engine characteristics
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! colspan="4" | Mass with fuel (no weapons load) || rowspan="2" | Max Takeoff<br />Weight
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|-
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! Weight (each) || colspan="2" | Type
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! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel
 +
|-
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| 872 kg || colspan="2" | Centrifugal-flow turbojet
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| 3,875 kg || 4,241 kg || 4,608 kg || 4,718 kg || 5,485 kg
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|-
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! 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.}}
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! colspan="5" | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
 +
|-
 +
! Condition || 100% || WEP
 +
! 10m fuel || 20m fuel || 30m fuel || 33m fuel || MTOW
 +
|-
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| ''Stationary'' || 2,086 kgf || N/A
 +
| 0.54 || 0.49 || 0.45 || 0.44 || 0.38
 +
|-
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| ''Optimal'' || 2,086 kgf<br />(0 km/h) || N/A
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| 0.54 || 0.49 || 0.45 || 0.44 || 0.38
 +
|-
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|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
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''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.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
  
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== Weaponry ==
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* 64 mm Bulletproof glass in the cockpit front
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=== Offensive weaponry ===
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* 10 mm Steel plate in front of the pilot in the nose
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''Describe the offensive weaponry 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.''
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* 6 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
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* 10 mm Steel plate behind the pilot's head
  
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=== Suspended weaponry ===
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=== Modifications and economy ===
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''Describe the aircraft's suspended weapons: 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.''
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{{Specs-Economy}}
  
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=== Defensive weaponry ===
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== Armaments ==
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''Defensive weaponry 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.''
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{{Specs-Avia-Armaments}}
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=== Offensive armament ===
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{{Specs-Avia-Offensive}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|N-37D (37 mm)|NS-23 (23 mm)}}
  
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== Usage in the battles ==
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
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''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).''
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* 1 x 37 mm N-37D cannon, nose-mounted (40 rpg)
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* 2 x 23 mm NS-23 cannons, nose-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)
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 +
Both the N-37D and the NS-23 cannons have the muzzle velocity of 690 m/s.
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 +
=== Suspended armament ===
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{{Specs-Avia-Suspended}}
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<!-- ''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.'' -->
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{{main|FAB-100M-43 (100 kg)}}
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The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
 +
 
 +
* Without load
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* 2 x 100 kg FAB-100M-43 bombs (200 kg total)
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 +
== Usage in battles ==
 +
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the 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).'' -->
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At higher ranks of the Soviet aviation line, the MiG-15 series is one of the most iconic jet fighter aircraft designs from after the Second World War. Earning its reputation on fame over the skies of Korea against its US contemporary, the [[F-86A-5]] Sabre.
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 +
The MiG-15 can be researched from its predecessor, the [[MiG-9]]. The MiG-15 features a powerful cannon arrangement of 2 x 23 mm and 1 x 37 mm, excellent high altitude performance and is highly effective in vertical manoeuvres. Unlike the MiG-9, the MiG-15 is also the first Soviet jet aircraft to feature an air brake which is extremely useful in combat situations. The jet fighter does, however, have its downsides. The lack of an "All-flying tailplane" (such as that featured on the [[F-86F-25]]) leads to less control over the aircraft at higher speeds approaching 1,000 km/h. While the MiG is initially faster in acceleration by comparison to the Sabre, this does mean that once both aircraft are up at higher speeds, the Sabre will hold some advantages over the MiG-15. If you load 8 minutes of fuel instead of the regular (for most pilots) 20, it drastically improves your performance. However, this is not recommended to be done at the beginning of the match as most matches last longer than 8 minutes, and should instead be done when you land mid-match.
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 +
The combination of 37 mm and 23 mm cannons creates aiming issues for pilots not familiar with their ballistic properties or velocity. Due to the size of these cannons, ammunition pools are restricted by comparison to other top tier jet aircraft. To help compensate the two different trajectories of the armament, it is recommended to use rolling manoeuvres, as the rudder may lock in high speeds. To aim with these cannons, it is best to estimate the lead with the experience built up with planes beforehand (i.e.: Yak-9T / La-9) and add extra distance over the estimated lead (about double from the estimated).
 +
 
 +
Once pilots have learned to use the MiG-15s excellent rate of climb, acceleration and high altitude capabilities to their advantage, the downsides of the aircraft are far less significant than the positives. In the right hands, the MiG-15 can be a devastating combatant, capable of dealing with any aircraft in game swiftly. Teamwork, Squads and communication will also be beneficial when flying the MiG-15 as effective coordination between multiple pilots allow you to use this aircraft to its maximum potential. After mastering the MiG-15, you can research its improved variant, the [[MiG-15bis]]. As the MiG-15 is essentially a slightly merged MiG-15bis, it shares much of its performance issues and abilities.
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
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''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".''
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<!-- ''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:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Flaps can be deployed at high speeds
 +
* Capable and useful air brake
 +
* High rate of climb
 +
* Great acceleration
 +
* Deadly armament capable of making snapshots
 +
* Excellent energy retention
 +
* Quite good turn rate compared to other subsonic jets
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
 
  
−
== Historical part ==
+
* Abysmal roll rate
−
''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/index.php?title=Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
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* Compression at high speeds
 +
* Extremely challenging to use when stock
 +
* Armament is difficult to use (low velocities, low ammo and two different trajectories)
 +
* Guns tend to do an insufficient amount of damage quite often
 +
* No G-suit, so maintaining control is difficult when turning at high speeds
 +
* The plane cannot use any rockets, it is limited to bombs only
 +
* Poor forward visibility in simulator, as a large canopy frame and the gunsight block the top and bottom
 +
 
 +
== 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 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).'' -->
 +
First taking to the air in December of 1947, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter aircraft came as a massive shock to the west when it appeared in the skies over Korea in the early 1950s. The swept-wing fighter quickly proved itself as a capable and effective combat aircraft and forged a fearsome reputation.
 +
 
 +
The prototype I-310 was designed around the British Rolls Royce Nene engine which was purchased under license from Great Britain as the RD-45. Featuring sleek swept-back wings, tricycle undercarriage and the same armament as its predecessor, the [[MiG-9]], in the form of 2 x 23 mm NS-23 cannons (Later replaced by NR-23 cannons in the [[MiG-15bis]] model) and a single 37 mm N-37D cannon all mounted centrally under the nose intake. The new aircraft was designed as an interceptor with heavy armament capable of quickly taking out bomber formations and was one of the most advanced aircraft in the world at the time.
 +
 
 +
Entering service between 1949-50, the MiG-15 saw combat during the last stages of the Chinese Civil War. In repsonse to air raids conducted by Republic of China Air Force based in Taiwan against mainland China, the Soviets deployed a MiG-15 unit in Shanghai at the request of the leadership of the People's Republic of China. On 28 April 1950, a ROCAF [[P-38]] was shot down a MiG-15, the first aerial victory of the MiG-15. The MiG-15 made its operational combat debut in the Korean War, completely outclassing the first-generation jet fighter aircraft of the UN forces such as the [[F-80C-10]] and [[F-84B-26]]. The MiG's excellent climb rate, high-speed performance and deadly weaponry proved superior to the early jets and was only challenged by the arrival of the [[F-86A-5]]. At the time, the Sabre was the only aircraft capable of effectively combating the MiG in aerial combat and the pair became synonymous with the conflict.
 +
 
 +
From 1950, the MiG-15 was later developed into the Bis model, featuring a new engine, armament changes and minor overall improvements. However, the aircraft would ultimately lead to the development of the MiG-17. The MiG-15 was also a hugely successful export aircraft, operated by many nations such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, [[MiG-15bis (Germany)|East Germany]], China, North Korea and Vietnam to name but a few. Licence built versions of the MiG-15 also existed such as the Chinese J-2, Czech S-102/3 and Polish Lim-1.
 +
 
 +
The MiG-15 is a true icon of aviation and will provide experienced pilots with an impressive top tier jet fighter when employed to its strengths, being more than a match to any other aircraft in the game.
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 +
{{break}}
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{{Navigation-Start|{{Annotation|Archive of the in-game description|An archive of the historical description of the vehicle that was presented in-game prior to Update 1.55 'Royal Armour'}}}}
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{{Navigation-First-Simple-Line}}
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After World War II was over, the leaders of the USSR realized that they were behind the leading states of the world in the sphere of jet aircraft construction, most notably in the full-scale production of turbojet engines. Consequently, a delegation including the designers A. I. Mikoyan and V. Y. Klimov was sent to Great Britain towards the end of 1946. Their negotiations were successful, resulting in the purchase of two of the most advanced turbojet engines at that time: the Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.V and the Rolls-Royce Nene I/Nene II. The British consented to sell their newest strategic designs easily enough, since they believed that the Soviet industrial/technological apparatus could not handle the mass production of sophisticated assemblies. However, very soon that the Rolls-Royce engines were launched into full-scale Soviet production under the designations RD-500 and RD-45.
 +
 
 +
The emergence of the new engines led to the creation of Soviet jet fighters able to compete with the leading models of the world. In 1947, the Mikoyan Design Bureau started the development of a front line fighter with a Nene (RD-45) turbojet engine and an airtight cockpit: the I-310 ("S"). The first S-01 prototype aircraft made its first flight on December 30, 1947, and, after working on the test results, was launched into full-scale production in 1948 under the designation MiG-15. The plane's airframe was an all-metal monoplane configuration with mid-swept wings and empennage. Thus the MiG-15 became the first production swept-wing fighter.
 +
 
 +
The MiG-15 was equipped with a RD-45F single-shaft turbojet engine rated at 2,270 kg of thrust with a double-entry centrifugal compressor. The plane's armament included a 37 mm Nudelman N-37D cannon with 40 rounds and two 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23KM guns with 160 rounds in total. The cannons were mounted in the forward fuselage on a lowerable carriage. Two 100 kg or 50 kg bombs could be suspended under the wings. To increase its flight range, the aircraft could carry two external fuel tanks with a capacity ranging from 250 to 600 litres.
 +
 
 +
The MiG-15 fighter was notable for its simple and reliable structure, high flight and operating characteristics, and powerful armament. Its maximum speed, rate of climb, ceiling, and flight range were the best among Soviet fighters at the time and superior to many foreign aircraft, as well.
 +
 
 +
The first production MiG-15s with RD-45F engines began to leave the factory floor in early 1949. In 1950, more advanced MiG-15bis fighters replaced them in the factory assembly lines.
 +
{{Navigation-End}}
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
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''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
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<!-- ''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.'' -->
  
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== Read also ==
+
;Skins
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''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
 
 +
* [https://live.warthunder.com/feed/camouflages/?vehicle=mig-15_ns23 Skins and camouflages for the {{PAGENAME}} from live.warthunder.com.]
 +
 
 +
== 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;''
 
* ''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 ==
+
;[[MiG-15 (Family)|Related development]]
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
 
 +
* [[MiG-15bis]]
 +
 
 +
;Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
 +
 
 +
* [[F-86 Sabre (Family)|F-86 Family]]
 +
* [[F9F (Family)|F9F Family]]
 +
* [[F-80C-10|F-80C]]
 +
* [[J29 (Family)|J29 Family]]
 +
* [[Hunter (Family)|Hunter Family]]
 +
 
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''page on the Wikipedia;''
+
* ''other literature.'' -->
−
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
+
 
−
* ''other literature.''
+
* [[wt:en/news/3054/current/|[Vehicle Profile] MiG-15]]
 +
* [https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/285037-mikoyan-gurevich-mig-15/ Official data sheet - more details about the performance]
 +
 
 +
{{AirManufacturer MiG}}
 +
{{USSR jet aircraft}}

Latest revision as of 02:01, 16 December 2023

This page is about the Soviet jet fighter MiG-15. For other versions, see MiG-15 (Family).
MiG-15
mig-15_ns23.png
GarageImage MiG-15.jpg
MiG-15
USSR flag.png USSR
V Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
8.7 8.0 8.3
Class:
Research:120 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:340 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

Shortly after the first generation Soviet jet fighters were entering service, the plans for far more improved "second generation" fighters were already underway. Mikoyan OKB would begin testing swept wing designs on their MiG-8 prototype before a major breakthrough in aviation technology occurred in the Soviet Union: the United Kingdom not only authorized the sale of their latest and highly advanced Rolls-Royce Nene and Derwent engines, but also sold a license for production to the Soviets to produce them as the RD-45 and RD-500 respectively. As such, all new second generation fighter projects quickly restarted and drew up new designs to use these new engines. Mikoyan was no exception, with their I-310 prototype utilizing a 35 degree swept wing on a high-tailplane airframe powered by a single RD-45 engine. In the end, this design and Lavochkin's Project 174 ended up beating Yakovlev's heavily delayed Yak-30, and were chosen as the Soviet Union's second-generation jet fighters, entering production as the MiG-15 and La-15 respectively. The MiG-15 would go on to serve a very long and fruitful life with many countries all around the world and would be produced in other regions of the world (both with and without a license) as the Lim-1 in Poland, the S-102 in Czechoslovakia, and the J-2 in China.

The MiG-15 (NATO reporting name: Fagot) was introduced in Update 1.35 as the top rank Soviet jet at the time, as a competitive contemporary to the F-86F-25. The MiG-15 is characterized by its above-average energy parameters for its battle rating, its hard-hitting but sparse armament which can be tricky to new pilots, and its abysmal roll-rate compared to all of its adversaries. The MiG-15 has strong energy fighting characteristics, but can turn fight some of its adversaries if the need arises due to its flight performance. Players who enjoy this aircraft and master its characteristics are advised to research the foldered variant, the upgraded MiG-15bis. The MiG-15bis will reward its pilots with far stronger engines and better energy management during dogfights over the normal MiG-15, allowing its pilots more options and energy-reliant manoeuvres to use during an engagement.

General info

The MiG-15's instrument panel.

Flight performance

Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Max speed
at 0 m1 050 km/h
Turn time22 s
Max altitude15 500 m
EngineKlimov RD-45F
TypeJet
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight5 t

The MiG-15, while being a successor of the MiG-9, uses swept wings which provide better performance at transonic speed. The other difference is the use of a single engine, the Klimov RD-45F. The plane is able to reach 1050 km/h at sea level and 994 km/h at 9,000 m, it makes the plane's speed very comparable with other jets at a similar battle rating. The climb rate is very high: with full fuel tanks it reaches 42 m/s and the plane can climb from sea level up to 5,000 m in slightly above 2 minutes. The acceleration is also great, thrust to weight ration when the plane is fully loaded is 0.44, which is significantly better compared to the F-86A, one of its main competitors, the plane also keeps its speed very well, especially at high speed. The engine can start overheating after prolonged flying at 100% of power, but it is quite easy to cool down, although when that happens it will keep overheating after switching back to max power so when it possible it should be reduced to 95% or lower.

The MiG-15's weight is very low in comparison to other jet fighters from similar era, it is only ~4700 kg and along with quite good wings aerodynamics and wing loading it makes the plane very manoeuvrable at low and medium speeds and makes it a very dangerous foe to any other plane when it comes to dogfighting, the only thing that slightly drags this plane down is its high speed turn rate, which is very underwhelming. The MiG-15 locks up at lot after reaching subsonic speeds and its rolling performance, which is already very average at medium and low speeds, gets very bad at high speed. It is also equipped with an airbrake that can help a lot with slowing down and it situations to make the enemy plane overshoot. Flaps while do not have very high speed limit can still make the turn fight at medium and low speed easier, as they increase turn rate by up to ~10% at a cost of increased drag.

When flying with simulator controls, it is very pleasant to fly: trimming is almost not required when the plane travels at high speed, insufficient roll rate can be improved by using the rudder, but that can also make it slow down. The plane can be stalled out even at high speed, and when above its critical angle of attack (AoA) it severely wing-stalls, throwing off your aim and/or your heading. Be very careful to not pull too much from the stick as to not reach this state, remember that it is one of the best rate-fighter of its tier, so it's best to pull a bit less to keep your speed and not wing-stall as you'll get into position within a few turns.

Characteristics Max Speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 1,009 975 15500 22.4 23.7 34.2 32.5 600
Upgraded 1,067 1,050 22.8 22.1 50.8 42.0

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X ✓ ✓ ✓ X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1,132 450 - 598 450 ~12 ~5
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 600 < 700 < 750 -

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Empty mass Wing loading (full fuel)
Klimov RD-45F 1 3,508 kg 229 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Takeoff
Weight
Weight (each) Type 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 33m fuel
872 kg Centrifugal-flow turbojet 3,875 kg 4,241 kg 4,608 kg 4,718 kg 5,485 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (100%)
Condition 100% WEP 10m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 33m fuel MTOW
Stationary 2,086 kgf N/A 0.54 0.49 0.45 0.44 0.38
Optimal 2,086 kgf
(0 km/h) 		N/A 0.54 0.49 0.45 0.44 0.38

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear450 km/h
  • 64 mm Bulletproof glass in the cockpit front
  • 10 mm Steel plate in front of the pilot in the nose
  • 6 mm Steel plate in pilot's seat
  • 10 mm Steel plate behind the pilot's head

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB3 065 → 4 269 Sl icon.png
RB9 203 → 12 819 Sl icon.png
SB11 242 → 15 660 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications101 100 Rp icon.png
163 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost2 200 Ge icon.png
Crew training98 000 Sl icon.png
Experts340 000 Sl icon.png
Aces1 800 Ge icon.png
Research Aces780 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
120 / 380 / 600 % Sl icon.png
202 / 202 / 202 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
6 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
6 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ns23_belt_pack
Research:
6 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
11 000 Sl icon.png
280 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
ns23_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
450 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
ns37_belt_pack
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
BD-2-48
Research:
8 500 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
350 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
n37_new_gun
Research:
8 300 Rp icon.png
Cost:
13 000 Sl icon.png
340 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 137 mm N-37D cannon
Ammunition40 rounds
Fire rate400 shots/min
Weapon 22 x 23 mm NS-23 cannon
Ammunition160 rounds
Fire rate600 shots/min
Main articles: N-37D (37 mm), NS-23 (23 mm)

The MiG-15 is armed with:

  • 1 x 37 mm N-37D cannon, nose-mounted (40 rpg)
  • 2 x 23 mm NS-23 cannons, nose-mounted (80 rpg = 160 total)

Both the N-37D and the NS-23 cannons have the muzzle velocity of 690 m/s.

Suspended armament

List of setups (1)
Setup 12 x 100 kg FAB-100M-43 bomb
Main article: FAB-100M-43 (100 kg)

The MiG-15 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

  • Without load
  • 2 x 100 kg FAB-100M-43 bombs (200 kg total)

Usage in battles

At higher ranks of the Soviet aviation line, the MiG-15 series is one of the most iconic jet fighter aircraft designs from after the Second World War. Earning its reputation on fame over the skies of Korea against its US contemporary, the F-86A-5 Sabre.

The MiG-15 can be researched from its predecessor, the MiG-9. The MiG-15 features a powerful cannon arrangement of 2 x 23 mm and 1 x 37 mm, excellent high altitude performance and is highly effective in vertical manoeuvres. Unlike the MiG-9, the MiG-15 is also the first Soviet jet aircraft to feature an air brake which is extremely useful in combat situations. The jet fighter does, however, have its downsides. The lack of an "All-flying tailplane" (such as that featured on the F-86F-25) leads to less control over the aircraft at higher speeds approaching 1,000 km/h. While the MiG is initially faster in acceleration by comparison to the Sabre, this does mean that once both aircraft are up at higher speeds, the Sabre will hold some advantages over the MiG-15. If you load 8 minutes of fuel instead of the regular (for most pilots) 20, it drastically improves your performance. However, this is not recommended to be done at the beginning of the match as most matches last longer than 8 minutes, and should instead be done when you land mid-match.

The combination of 37 mm and 23 mm cannons creates aiming issues for pilots not familiar with their ballistic properties or velocity. Due to the size of these cannons, ammunition pools are restricted by comparison to other top tier jet aircraft. To help compensate the two different trajectories of the armament, it is recommended to use rolling manoeuvres, as the rudder may lock in high speeds. To aim with these cannons, it is best to estimate the lead with the experience built up with planes beforehand (i.e.: Yak-9T / La-9) and add extra distance over the estimated lead (about double from the estimated).

Once pilots have learned to use the MiG-15s excellent rate of climb, acceleration and high altitude capabilities to their advantage, the downsides of the aircraft are far less significant than the positives. In the right hands, the MiG-15 can be a devastating combatant, capable of dealing with any aircraft in game swiftly. Teamwork, Squads and communication will also be beneficial when flying the MiG-15 as effective coordination between multiple pilots allow you to use this aircraft to its maximum potential. After mastering the MiG-15, you can research its improved variant, the MiG-15bis. As the MiG-15 is essentially a slightly merged MiG-15bis, it shares much of its performance issues and abilities.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Flaps can be deployed at high speeds
  • Capable and useful air brake
  • High rate of climb
  • Great acceleration
  • Deadly armament capable of making snapshots
  • Excellent energy retention
  • Quite good turn rate compared to other subsonic jets

Cons:

  • Abysmal roll rate
  • Compression at high speeds
  • Extremely challenging to use when stock
  • Armament is difficult to use (low velocities, low ammo and two different trajectories)
  • Guns tend to do an insufficient amount of damage quite often
  • No G-suit, so maintaining control is difficult when turning at high speeds
  • The plane cannot use any rockets, it is limited to bombs only
  • Poor forward visibility in simulator, as a large canopy frame and the gunsight block the top and bottom

History

First taking to the air in December of 1947, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter aircraft came as a massive shock to the west when it appeared in the skies over Korea in the early 1950s. The swept-wing fighter quickly proved itself as a capable and effective combat aircraft and forged a fearsome reputation.

The prototype I-310 was designed around the British Rolls Royce Nene engine which was purchased under license from Great Britain as the RD-45. Featuring sleek swept-back wings, tricycle undercarriage and the same armament as its predecessor, the MiG-9, in the form of 2 x 23 mm NS-23 cannons (Later replaced by NR-23 cannons in the MiG-15bis model) and a single 37 mm N-37D cannon all mounted centrally under the nose intake. The new aircraft was designed as an interceptor with heavy armament capable of quickly taking out bomber formations and was one of the most advanced aircraft in the world at the time.

Entering service between 1949-50, the MiG-15 saw combat during the last stages of the Chinese Civil War. In repsonse to air raids conducted by Republic of China Air Force based in Taiwan against mainland China, the Soviets deployed a MiG-15 unit in Shanghai at the request of the leadership of the People's Republic of China. On 28 April 1950, a ROCAF P-38 was shot down a MiG-15, the first aerial victory of the MiG-15. The MiG-15 made its operational combat debut in the Korean War, completely outclassing the first-generation jet fighter aircraft of the UN forces such as the F-80C-10 and F-84B-26. The MiG's excellent climb rate, high-speed performance and deadly weaponry proved superior to the early jets and was only challenged by the arrival of the F-86A-5. At the time, the Sabre was the only aircraft capable of effectively combating the MiG in aerial combat and the pair became synonymous with the conflict.

From 1950, the MiG-15 was later developed into the Bis model, featuring a new engine, armament changes and minor overall improvements. However, the aircraft would ultimately lead to the development of the MiG-17. The MiG-15 was also a hugely successful export aircraft, operated by many nations such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, China, North Korea and Vietnam to name but a few. Licence built versions of the MiG-15 also existed such as the Chinese J-2, Czech S-102/3 and Polish Lim-1.

The MiG-15 is a true icon of aviation and will provide experienced pilots with an impressive top tier jet fighter when employed to its strengths, being more than a match to any other aircraft in the game.


Archive of the in-game description

After World War II was over, the leaders of the USSR realized that they were behind the leading states of the world in the sphere of jet aircraft construction, most notably in the full-scale production of turbojet engines. Consequently, a delegation including the designers A. I. Mikoyan and V. Y. Klimov was sent to Great Britain towards the end of 1946. Their negotiations were successful, resulting in the purchase of two of the most advanced turbojet engines at that time: the Rolls-Royce Derwent Mk.V and the Rolls-Royce Nene I/Nene II. The British consented to sell their newest strategic designs easily enough, since they believed that the Soviet industrial/technological apparatus could not handle the mass production of sophisticated assemblies. However, very soon that the Rolls-Royce engines were launched into full-scale Soviet production under the designations RD-500 and RD-45.

The emergence of the new engines led to the creation of Soviet jet fighters able to compete with the leading models of the world. In 1947, the Mikoyan Design Bureau started the development of a front line fighter with a Nene (RD-45) turbojet engine and an airtight cockpit: the I-310 ("S"). The first S-01 prototype aircraft made its first flight on December 30, 1947, and, after working on the test results, was launched into full-scale production in 1948 under the designation MiG-15. The plane's airframe was an all-metal monoplane configuration with mid-swept wings and empennage. Thus the MiG-15 became the first production swept-wing fighter.

The MiG-15 was equipped with a RD-45F single-shaft turbojet engine rated at 2,270 kg of thrust with a double-entry centrifugal compressor. The plane's armament included a 37 mm Nudelman N-37D cannon with 40 rounds and two 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23KM guns with 160 rounds in total. The cannons were mounted in the forward fuselage on a lowerable carriage. Two 100 kg or 50 kg bombs could be suspended under the wings. To increase its flight range, the aircraft could carry two external fuel tanks with a capacity ranging from 250 to 600 litres.

The MiG-15 fighter was notable for its simple and reliable structure, high flight and operating characteristics, and powerful armament. Its maximum speed, rate of climb, ceiling, and flight range were the best among Soviet fighters at the time and superior to many foreign aircraft, as well.

The first production MiG-15s with RD-45F engines began to leave the factory floor in early 1949. In 1950, more advanced MiG-15bis fighters replaced them in the factory assembly lines.


Media

Skins

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

External links


Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau (Микоя́н и Гуре́вич Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Fighters  MiG-3-15 · MiG-3-15 (BK) · MiG-3-34
  I-225
Jet fighters  MiG-9 · MiG-9 (l)
  MiG-15 · MiG-15bis · MiG-15bis ISh
  MiG-17
  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
Export/Licensed  ␗MiG-9 · ␗MiG-9 (l)
  ◊MiG-15bis · ◔MiG-15bis · J-2*
  MiG-17AS · ◔MiG-17PF · J-4* · Shenyang F-5*
  ◊MiG-19S · J-6A*
  ◄MiG-21 SPS-K · ◊MiG-21MF · ◔MiG-21MF · ▄MiG-21bis · ◔MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21bis-SAU · ◊MiG-21 "Lazur-M" · ▄MiG-21 Bison · J-7II**
  ◊MiG-23BN · ◊MiG-23MF · ◔MiG-23MF · ◊MiG-23MLA
  ◔MiG-29 · ◊MiG-29 · ◄MiG-29G
  *Licensed and domesticated with Chinese designations.
  **Unlicensed, reverse-engineered and domesticated with Chinese designations.
See Also  Shenyang · Chengdu

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-24M
  Su-25 · Su-25BM · Su-25K · Su-25T · Su-25SM3 · Su-39
  Su-27 · Su-27SM
  Su-34
Ilyushin  IL-28 · IL-28Sh
Tupolev  Tu-14T

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