Bf 109 F-4

Bf 109 F-4

Bf 109 F-2

Bf 109 F-4/trop

Bf 109 F-4

Bf 109 F-2

Bf 109 F-4/trop

Germany

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.0	4.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

Show in game

This page is about the German fighter Bf 109 F-4. For other uses, see Bf 109 (Family).

Description

The Bf 109 F-4 is a rank III German fighter with a battle rating of 4.3 (AB) and 4.0 (RB/SB). This fighter has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

General info

Flight Performance

Stat card

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 7,040 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
633	624	11,600	20.3	20.7	16.3	16.3	363
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 7,040 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
695	665	11,600	18.1	19.0	28.4	20.0	363

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
			+	-
790	450	460	~17	~10

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 390	< 390	< 450	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,950 m	1,185 hp	1,333 hp

Engine performance

Engine
Engine Name			Number present
Daimler-Benz DB-601E 12-cylinder			1
Engine characteristics
Weight (each)		Type	Cooling
610 kg		Inline	Water
Engine power (Stock)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,065 hp		1,305 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,053 hp		1,170 hp
Engine power (Upgraded)
Mode	Max		Take-off
Arcade	1,212 hp		1,452 hp
Realistic/Simulator	1,200 hp		1,318 hp

WEP Duration
Arcade		Realistic/Simulator
25 seconds		Infinite

Survivability and armour

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.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Bf 109 F-4 is armed with:

• 1 x 20 mm MG 151 cannon, nose-mounted (200 rpg)
• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Suspended armament

The options available for the Bf 109 F-4 are:

• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)
• 2 x 15 mm MG 151 cannons, wing-mounted (125 rpg = 250 total)

Usage in the battles

The Bf 109 F-4's instrument panel.

A very good energy fighter for its rank, the Bf 109 F-4 can out climb most opponents due to its high power to weight ratio. However, WEP must be limited or else the engine will overheat, although manual engine control can remedy this. Despite that, it can Boom & Zoom and Rope-a-Dope well, although one must watch out for severe control stiffening around 650km/h.

Unfortunately, the F-4’s 15mm additional gondolas do not increase the damage output much at all, while reducing flight performance. However, it is recommended you at least use it once to see how effective it is because depending on how you play it can really boost your kill abilities. For example, if you prefer to get into a dogfight, the additional weaponry will not be noticeably effective. However, if you fight in the vertical, where level speed and agility are not necessarily most important, the additional MG 151’s can mean the difference between a kill or nothing at all.

The BF-109 F-4 is not a great plane when compared to the other Rank 3 planes, but it is effective nonetheless. Do not try to kill a plane by coming behind it and giving them all you got- you don't have much. Instead, try to scare your prey into a turn by peppering it with your 7.92mm MG 17s, and then blow its wing off with the cannon.

Word to the wise: the F-4 is a fairly good turner for its class; if you are chased by a F4U, P-51, P-47D, F6F or Typhoon, turn and destroy. The forward wing slats give the F-4 an exceptionally short turning radius. However, to survive a tangle with a Spitfire is an ordeal. The best strategy would be to scissor until the Spitfire either runs out of ammo or overshoots you and then try to dive and outrun it. Then, repeat. Do not try to out-climb the Spitfire (its community nickname is a `Spacefire´ for a reason), but try to outrun it in a dive. The Spitfire Mk-Vc is superior to the F-4, so avoid them.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Automatic pitch	Controllable	Not controllable	Combined	Not controllable	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Nimble, compared to Russian and American counterparts
• Its 20 mm is lethal if the shells hit
• Relatively good climb rate, possibly as good as a Spitfire or a maxed-out P-39 Airacobra
• Good sustained turn
• Faster than most opponents, such as the Spitfire Mk.V, Yak-3, and La-5, especially at altitude
• Good performance at medium altitudes
• Better than the F-4 tropical variant due to engine power.
• The 15mm cannons have quite high penetration with the armoured targets belt. They are very effective against soft targets.

Cons:

• Overheats quickly
• Additional armament can critically reduce performance, especially in a dogfight
• Poor cockpit visibility
• Prone to catching fire when chasing a bomber
• Gun pods can't load stealth belts, thus giving the user away in a surprise attack
• Turns sluggishly at speeds under 190 km/h

Media

Skins and camouflages for the Bf 109 F-4 from live.warthunder.com.

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.

ETC.

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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