Fw 190 A-1

Fw 190 A-1

He 112 B-0

Fw 190 A-4

Fw 190 A-1

He 112 B-0

Fw 190 A-4

Germany

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.7	3.0	3.3

Class:

Fighter

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

This page is about the German fighter Fw 190 A-1. For other uses, see Fw 190 (Family).

Description

The Fw 190 A-1 is a Rank II German fighter with a battle rating of 3.7 (AB), 3.0 (RB), and 3.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.39. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wuerger (Shrike) was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane fighter used by the Luftwaffe in WWII. One of the best fighters of the time, it was widely used during the Second World War. A total of over 20,000 were produced, including some 6,000 fighter-bomber variants. The 190 remained in production from 1941 until the end of the war, going through multiple redesigns. The Fw 190 made a name for itself as a true Luftwaffe workhorse and was used in a wide variety of roles, including a high-altitude interceptor (especially the Fw 190 D), escort fighter, fighter-bomber and night fighter.

"Würger" is the German nickname of this beast of a plane. It can be translated as slayer, choker, or strangler. In that regard fits the English designation well too: "Butcher-bird"

The Fw 190A-1, as all the planes in this line, are some of the best Boom and Zoomers in the game and should be flown exclusively in this style. The performance at high speeds is excellent, as is their dive and zoom characteristics. 'Do not ever engage in a turn fight as a "furball" with superior turners such as the A6M2 will end badly. Instead fight mainly in the vertical. Try to have an altitude, or speed advantage over your opponents (by climbing to the side at the start of the battle and then enter the highest battle you see). It is still possible to subdue your opponent with the A-1 due to the fantastic roll rate of the "Wurger".

Unlike the later 190 line (A-8 and up), the A-1 through A-5 all possess higher turn capabilities than the rest of the line. The A-1 can, in general, out turn less maneuverable planes such as the LaGG-3. Still, it is not recommended to out-turn, as the A-1 will be placed with many higher-maneuvering fighters.

General info

Flight Performance

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
625	608	13,228	21.6	22.0	8.8	10.7	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
678	652	13,228	18.8	20.2	21.5	14.1	450

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
860	450	520	~20	~20

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 420	< 510	< 510	> 280

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
468 m	1,512 hp	1,633 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,283 m	1,468 hp	1,585 hp

Survivability and armour

• 57 mm Bulletproof glass in front of pilot.
• 8 & 12 mm Steel plates on pilot's seat.
• 3 & 5 mm Steel plates in front of oil cooling system.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Fw 190 A-1 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannon, wing-mounted (60 rpg = 120 total)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, nose-mounted (900 rpg = 1,800 total)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, wing-mounted (1,000 rpg = 2,000 total)

Usage in the battles

Unlike the He-112 with 2 MgFF cannon, the Fw-190 has 2 MgFF/M cannon, which are identical except for the re-engineered shells and barrel for the MgFF/M. The "M" variant has access to the deadly minengeschoss shells (mine-shells) that can wreak havoc on most planes at Tier II-III. However, keep in mind the brutally low velocity of the MgFF/M shells. Fire when within 400m of your quarry.

The Mg-17 LMGs are not effective against most planes; however, when equipped with stealth these MGs can turn into powerful anti-ground destroyers. Armored cars and AAA are great targets for the MGs. Maintain an effective speed, however, as an enemy fighter can blow you out of the air if you have no energy.

Tactics

Watch your ammo count! Like the Spitfire Mk. IIB, the FW-190 A-1 has only 60 rpg. The lower fire rate of the Mg-FF/M cannons can work in your favor, however. When playing in Arcade, you can go bomber hunting, as the minengeschoß will make short work of the bombers. As you can reload while in the air, bomber hunting is a great tactic.

In the defensive, you can often just dive away from planes, such as Spitfires and La-5s, but you need to be at a decent altitude to gain top speed, so do not be to quick to dive after an enemy, if they fly below your plane. Unless you are higher then everybody else, or alone. Just be sure then to have the time to regain the lost altitude.

In a dive the 190 can, due its short wings, pull quite some stunts to either lose the hunter, or even make him loose his own wings!

Sharp rolling scissors can be effective. This is favourable strategy against La-5s, Yaks & Spitfires who have due their low wingloading (and partly wooden wings for the Russians), less resistance against high G maneuvers. Again be sure to regain your energy by a zoom-climb. Just look out while doing so, many pilots die as they do not notice a second enemy aircraft approaching. German proverb:"Wenn Zwei sich streiten, freut sich der Dritte." ~ "When two quarrel, the third will reap the success." Of course this could also be you.

Specific enemies worth noting

When flying this plane, a common foe will be spitfires due to the fact that they can climb higher than you and also out turn you by a significant margin. However, as they have weaker wings, a dive with rolls to change direction will send them crashing to their deaths.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair, Radiator		Offensive 7 mm
II	Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wing Repair, Engine		Offensive 20 mm
IV	Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm Cannons

While the Focke Wulf retains it dive abilities even without all upgrades, getting to a vantage point to utilize these strength can prove difficult. Therefore unlocks in the category "flight performance" are a must, especially those which grant increased climb rate (e.g. New engine, Compressor). New 20 mm belts are also a good choice, as the Air-target-belt improves the damage significantly. The 20 mm cannon upgrade is hardly worth though, it tends to run out of ammo before it can overheat. Different story for the 7 mm LMGs though. They should be a tertiary priority.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Plenty of LMG ammo
• Great top speed
• Great energy retention & zoom-climbs
• Great high-speed manoeuvrability
• Great roll rate
• Decent steady climb rate
• One of the more agile 190s
• Cannons are more than enough against all fighters given Air Targets belts

Cons:

• Low ammo for cannons
• No external payloads for use against ground forces
• MG-FF/M inferior to MG 151/20
• Less durable than later Fw 190s

History

The A-1 series was the first one to be used in active combat sorties. The previous A-0 was a production test run and saw no front-line fighting. Focke-Wulf completed 102 190A-1s at the Bremen and Marienburg factories between June and October 1941.

1942 flight tests of the Fw 190 A-3 proved that the installation of additional equipment could shift the plane’s center of gravity. To address the issue, the aircraft had to be lengthened. First examples, designated Fw 190 A-5, saw combat in November 1942. Other modifications were minor and included improved oxygen equipment and a new artificial horizon. All production aircraft were also equipped with the FuG 25a IFF set. The armament remained unchanged.

Combat history

Over the channel and after the battle of Britain, the Luftwaffe faced harassment in form of "Circus Operations". Continues attacks by daylight bombers (Bristol Blenheim), heavily guarded by fighter squadrons flying Spitfire V. These were not strategical, or even tactical assaults, but distractions, to keep German forces bound to the west, giving the east a little more freedom. They were however ineffective and required only little countermeasures.

The same tactics used by the British six month earlier were now adopted by the Germans.

One of these squadrons facing this flying circus was Jg26 equipped with Bf 109 F-4 and the new Fw 190 A-1.

In July 1941 parts of Jg26 were moved to Le Bourget. Here they were the first to be trained on the Focke Wulf 190 A-1. Following August the 6. squadron of Gruppe II was equipped entirely with the new fighter and until September the entire group was refitted. Still Bf 109F-4 remained in service with them and ultimately the Messerschmidt would stick as the units fighter type. They remained at the channel coast until the end of year. With 79 aerial victories, but only 24 total losses, the Fw 190 gained its first prestige.

Media

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

Read also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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

Focke-Wulf Aircraft Corporation (Focke-Wulf Flugzeugbau Aktiengesellschaft)
Fighters	Fw 190 A-1 · Fw 190 A-4 · Fw 190 A-5 · Fw 190 A-5/U2 · Fw 190 A-5/U12 · Fw 190 A-5/U14 · Fw 190 A-8
	Fw 190 C
	Fw 190 D-9 · Fw 190 D-12 · Fw 190 D-13
	Fw 190 F-8
	Ta 152 C-3* · Ta 152 H-1* · Ta 154 A-1*
Bombers	Fw 189 A-1 · Fw 200 C-1
Export	▅Fw 190 A-5
Captured	▃Fw 190 A-8 · ▂Fw 190 D-9
	* In 1944, the Germany Air Ministry changed new fighter aircraft designation to that of the chief designer. Kurt Tank was the chief designer at Focke-Wulf and later aircraft he designed were given the prefix of Ta.