Yak-1

This page is about the Soviet fighter Yak-1. For other versions, see Yak-1 (Family).

Yak-1

Yak-1B

Yak-1

Yak-1B

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
2.7	2.3	2.7

Class:

Fighter

Research:7 900

Purchase:10 000

Description

The Yakovlev-1 is the first variant of the Yakovlev-1 fighter aircraft family. Early-production Yakovlev fighter aircraft were among the greatest piston-engine fighters created during World War II, despite often being overshadowed by their Western counterparts in media (especially the Supermarine Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, Messerschmitt Bf 109, and Focke-Wulf Fw 190). When all of the Yak fighter aircraft families were combined, the Yak easily became the most produced fighter aircraft of World War II, with around 37,000 total aircraft produced. The Yakovlev bureau created the Yak-1 in response to a Soviet government request in 1938 for a fighter made mostly of wood for ease of maintenance, repair, and, most importantly, mass production. The initial design was named "Ya-26 Krasavec" and first flew in March 1939. The aircraft was given the designation "I-26" after the Soviet Air Force approved its mass production. However, once production began, the aircraft's designation changed to the more common "Yak-1" naming system. The success of the Yak-1 inspired several other successful designs, pushing the Yakovlev to the top tier of Soviet fighter aircraft engineering for decades to come. Ultimately, the Yak-1 brought the Soviet Air Force up on par with competing German designs during World War II (Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighters), significantly improving aerial combat tactics that went beyond what the old Russian Empire had to offer.

Introduced in Update 1.43, the Yak-1 is a capable turn-fighter. Although it may not perform as well as British Spitfires and Japanese Zeros, it outperforms the majority of other aircraft. The aircraft has high energy retention and a fast dive speed. This aircraft performs excellently at medium-low altitudes. Due to its thin wings and poor rate of climb at higher altitudes, it falls short of a high-altitude fighter. The aircraft can be used as a horizontal turn fighter, but keep a watch out for high-altitude boom and zoom fighters. If the situation worsens, a possible escape could be to fly low and fast. While Yak-1 should not be utilized for ground attacks, it can be employed as a last resort to destroy unarmoured ground targets if the final flying opponent happens to be fleeing. Although the aircraft performs effectively at low speeds, it becomes extremely vulnerable to most adversary aircraft, particularly biplanes, due to their superior turning ability. The Yak-1, when used correctly, can be an unstoppable flying machine. Two of the most critical targets for a Yak-1 pilot are the opponent's cockpit (pilot sniping) and wings. These are often the weakest points of an aircraft, where a well-placed round might knock out the adversary pilot or snap off a wing. It provided considerable firepower in the early ranks, armed with a single 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 7.62 mm ShVAK light machine guns. The Yak-1's Achilles heel is its lack of armour protection. Head-on hits from an opponent risk knocking the pilot out or damaging the water-cooling radiator. With a leaking water radiator, the Yak-1's engine will fail in a matter of minutes (in realistic battle mode). The Yak-1's engine, like most Soviet fighter engines, overheats quickly. To prevent overheating, run the engine at 97% power and restrict the use of Wartime Emergency Power (WEP). Manual engine control (MEC) can be employed to keep the Yak's engine cool at full power, although it requires manual adjustment of the prop pitch, fuel mixture, and supercharger ratios in addition to the radiators. If the aircraft is damaged, the Yak-1 pilot can inspect the cockpit's instrument panel and look at the oil temperature gauge, which is more precise than the water temperature gauge. The Yak-1's wings are extremely vulnerable to hostile fire because of their fragility.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 000 m577 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude10 000 m

EngineKlimov VK-105P

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight3 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 5,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	555	538	10000	19.0	19.6	13.1	13.1	320
Upgraded	601	577		17.1	18.0	19.6	16.0

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
675	320	N/A	N/A	280	~11	~8

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 380	< 420	< 490	> 340

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
2,300 m	1,081 hp	1,211 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,200 m	1,015 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 8 mm steel behind the pilot
• Self-sealing fuel tanks (2 in each wing)
• Oil cooling system located underneath engine
• Liquid cooling system located behind and under the pilot

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB354 → 448

RB725 → 917

SB1 007 → 1 274

Total cost of modifications6 930

6 740

Talisman cost530

Crew training3 000

Experts10 000

Aces125

Research Aces160 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

20 / 60 / 120 %

112 / 112 / 112 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 Radiator Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 Compressor Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 Wings repair Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 Engine Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 Engine injection Research: 750 Cost: 730 130	Airframe Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 Cover Research: 750 Cost: 730 130	shkas_belt_pack Research: 460 Cost: 450 80 shkas_new_gun Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 BI-42 Research: 390 Cost: 380 70 shvak_belt_pack Research: 580 Cost: 560 100 shvak_new_gun Research: 750 Cost: 730 130

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 120 mm ShVAK cannon

Ammunition110 rounds

Fire rate800 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun

Ammunition1 240 rounds

Fire rate1 800 shots/min

The Yak-1 is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (110 rpg)
• 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, nose-mounted (620 rpg = 1,240 total)

Suspended armament

List of setups (2)

Setup 12 x 50 kg FAB-50sv (forged) bomb

Setup 22 x 100 kg FAB-100sv (forged) bomb

The Yak-1 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 2 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (100 kg total)
• 2 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (200 kg total)

Usage in battles

Due to the Yak-1's manoeuvrability and armament, the main role will be employed as a fighter in the game. The Yak-1 can be used as a turn fighter (see next section for aircraft to avoid while turn fighting), boom & zoomer or energy fighter. The Yak-1 performs well in the mid to lower altitudes but loses mobility in the higher altitudes.

• Ground attack: This should be avoided due to low speeds needed allowing the Yak-1 to become an easy target for enemy aircraft (especially biplanes).

• Bomber hunting: This is a risky option as bombers typically fly in the higher altitudes where the Yak-1 starts losing its manoeuvrability. The lack of armour on the Yak-1 makes it vulnerable to turret gunners and it is very easy to lose the pilot, engine or a wing to them. When hunting bombers, the Yak-1 can utilise a head-on approach going for the pilots (pilot sniping) or the engines; otherwise employ the speed of the Yak-1 by diving from a higher altitude towards the front of the bomber aiming for the cockpit, engine or wings. If failing to destroy the bomber on the first pass, exercise patience and set up for another diving pass, any other way the Yak-1 risks bleeding crucial speed in making a quick turn in an attempt to finish off the bomber. Here, quick turns will expose the Yak-1 to any turrets on the plane which would otherwise have a very difficult time acquiring a firing solution on a zooming fighter which is quickly out of their range.

Specific enemies worth noting

• Spitfires: The Spitfire's superior turning ability gives it an edge over the Yak-1's manoeuvrability. Turn fighting against a Spitfire is very difficult in a Yak-1, usually resulting in the Yak-1 being unable to shake or outrun the Spitfire. Baring any mistakes made by the Spitfire pilot, the Yak-1 will have a very difficult time gaining an advantage or escaping.

• A6M Zeroes: Much like the Spitfires, the A6M Zeros are superior turn fighters and have the added bonus of being armed with 20 mm auto cannons giving the Japanese fighter a firepower boost against the Yak-1.
• Bf 109 Friedrichs: The Bf 109 F1 is at the same br as the Yak-1, the Bf 109 F is faster, climbs better, has better energy retention, and better all around high altitude performance than the Yak-1. The Yak-1 should attempt to lure the Bf 109 into a low altitude (below 3000m) turnfight where the Yak has the advantage.

Counter-tactics

When attacking a Yak-1, specific areas to exploit:

• When attacking in a Spitfire or A6M Zero, engage in a turn fight, bait the Yak-1 into tight turns to bleed its speed.
• Bait the Yak-1 to higher altitudes, the higher it goes, the less manoeuvrable it becomes and the more limited their options become.
• The Yak-1 does not have any armour plates in the front and is susceptible to pilot sniping, wing snapping, engine/fuel tank fires and overheating with a few well-placed shots from cannons or machine guns.
• Non-turn fighting aircraft should rely on Boom & Zoom tactics in an attempt to take out a Yak-1.

If there's a Yak-1 on the tail:

• If your plane has similar or better turn compare to the Yak-1 drastically reduce speed and turn in hopes of an overshoot.
• If your plane is faster or has better high speed performance than the Yak-1, dive at a high angle and make evasive maneuvers, the Yak-1 has a low rip speed and compresses at high speed.
• Keep moving around, try to keep your cockpit at an 180 degree angle to the Yak-1, so the Yak-1 cannot get acquire a firing solution with its cannon, causing the Yak-1 to expend all of its rounds (in AB this then gives a ~40-second window to attempt to get away or reverse roles before the Yak-1 cannon has reloaded).
• Drag the Yak-1 back towards teammates and set the Yak-1 up to be an easy target for comrades/teammate to take out.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Highly manoeuvrable.
• Good acceleration and top speed at low altitudes.
• Even though its frame is constructed of wood, the Yak can take a lot of punishment and still perform well.
• Powerful cannon with limited ammo/dual machine guns with an adequate amount of ammo.

Cons:

• Engine overheats quite easily, forcing the pilot to slow down or return to base to allow it to cool (engine is notorious for overheating and ceasing to work mid-dogfight if run at 100% or WEP). Operating the engine at 97% reduces chances for engine overheating while maintaining very good aircraft performance.
• Elevator compresses at high speeds, so turning or pulling up in a dive can be a struggle.
• No armour to protect the pilot from the front, engine or fuel tanks, almost doomed if set on fire.
• Wings are an easy target when trying to loop in a dogfight, and they almost always get hit.
• Cannon ammo runs out very quickly if not carefully monitored (in AB, reloading at every opportunity is advised).
• Single powerful gun requires good aim and knowledge of aircraft weak spots to be used effectively ("spray and pray" causes ammo to deplete very quickly).

History

In 1939 the Soviet Command was looking for a replacement for their outdated I-153 Chaikas and I-16 Ishaks. Yakovlev was part of a Soviet delegation on a visit to the German aviation industry in October 1939. His interest was in aerodynamic design and during a visit at Heinkel, their new radiator lacking He 100 fighter was shown to them. Three (or ten) vehicles were bought by the CCCP. While the He 100 was producing record level top speeds, the surface cooling technology and other handling characteristics tainted the aircraft with the Soviets and were marked unsuitable, like in Germany.

Already by January 1940 a first prototype was ready for taking off. Baptized I-26 (Istrebitel -> Fighter), the test flights were marked by a horrible accident as Julian I. Piontkowski, a test pilot for every Yakovlev plane, crashed and died. Fortunately for the plane's designers, the aircraft's construction was not found to be the cause of the accident and state supervised tests continued until November 1940. Serial production subsequently started in December 1940 under the new designation "Yak-1".

By the time of the German invasion, all of the new fighters were delegated to the defence of Moscow, as was the MiG-3.

Notable pilots

While Soviet male pilots were being upgraded with newer Lavochkin fighters, women fighter pilots such as Litvyak were supplied with the older Yak-1 fighters.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Yak-1 from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• 

  Cockpit of the Yak-1 explained

Videos

The Shooting Range #332 - Pages of History section at 02:59 relates a nighttime interception with a Yak-1.

Community Choice, Yak-1. From a loss to a win. - Joseph 2000

The Shooting Range #157 - Pages of History section at 04:02 discusses the Yak-1.

Yak-1: 2 types of overshooting - Defensive flying - Green Fury

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

• [Devblog] Yak-1
• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• [Wikipedia] Yakovlev Yak-1

References

A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau (Яковлев Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Fighters
Yak-1	Yak-1 · Yak-1B
Yak-3	Yak-3 · Eremin's Yak-3(e) · Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3P · Yak-3T · Yak-3U
Yak-7	Yak-7B
Yak-9	Yak-9 · Yak-9B · Yak-9K · Golovachev's Yak-9M · Yak-9P · Yak-9T · Yak-9U · Yak-9UT
Twin-engine fighters	I-29
Jet fighters
Yak-15	Yak-15P · Yak-15
Yak-17	Yak-17
Yak-23	Yak-23
Yak-30	Yak-30D
Yak-141	Yak-141
Strike aircraft
Yak-2	Yak-2 KABB
Yak-38	Yak-38 · Yak-38M
Bombers	Yak-4
Jet bombers	Yak-28B
Foreign use	▄Yak-3 · Challe's ▄Yak-9T · ◔Yak-9P
Captured	▀Yak-1B