Bf 109 E-7 (Japan)

This page is about the premium Japanese fighter Bf 109 E-7 (Japan). For other uses, see Bf 109 (Family).

▅Bf 109 E-7

▅Bf 109 E-7

Japan

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	2.7

Class:

PREMIUM

Fighter

Purchase:1 000

Description

The ▅Bf 109 E-7 is a premium rank II Japanese fighter with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB) and 2.7 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27 as the Bf 109 E-3; it was renamed to the Bf 109 E-7 in Update 1.65 "Way of the Samurai".

While essentially the same plane as the E-3, the E-7 overcomes the inadequate MgFF for MgFF/M, featuring the fantastic minengeschoße. With two wing-mounted MG FF/Ms with 60 rounds each, the plane has an even more deadly punch, attributed solely to the new installed HE-20 mm shell. Fighting in the E-7/U2 is essentially the same as with all E-frame 109s.

Remaining a great energy fighter versus its historical opposition, the E-7 is somewhat troubled by the fact that it often faces mid-to-later warplanes such as the P-47D. To engage these, make sure you have a clear energy advantage or, if attacked, fly defensively and attempt to bleed the enemies speed while pulling him down. The Bf 109 E-7 is often not regarded as a good turner, a reputation coming out of the fact that its main rival, the Spitfire, simply did it better. However, especially with combat flaps, the E-7 is a respectable turner able to out turn most planes that outperform it. Keep in mind though that one of the changes from E-3 to E-7 increased the frame's weight. Flat turning should only be reserved for extreme situations.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 5 000 m570 km/h

Turn time20 s

Max altitude11 000 m

EngineDaimler-Benz DB-601N

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	544	532	11000	21.3	21.8	14.0	14.0	376
Upgraded	594	570		18.7	20.0	26.5	17.8

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
790	320	487	471	280	~12	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 370	< 370	< 420	> 250

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,800 m	905 hp	1,086 hp

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural790 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 10 mm Steel plates behind the pilot.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost

AB950

RB6 433

SB1 261

Crew training4 800

Experts32 000

Aces250

Research Aces440 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

2 × 50 / 220 / 230 %

2 × 124 / 124 / 124 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Radiator Compressor Wings repair Engine Engine injection	Airframe Cover	mg_belt_pack mg17_new_gun mgff_belt_pack mgffm_new_gun

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm MG FF/M cannon

Ammunition120 rounds

Fire rate520 shots/min

Weapon 22 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine gun

Ammunition2 000 rounds

Fire rate1 200 shots/min

The Bf 109 E-7 (Japan) is armed with:

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

Usage in battles

Unlike its Emil variant predecessors, the Bf 109 E-7 has improved its flying characteristics, while packing the MG FF/M at its wings for maximum damage output. Respectable rate of climb and energy retention due its power-to-weight ratio allow the Bf 109 E-7 to perform BnZ tactics, however due to the limited ammo of the MG FF/M cannons, this role may be better left to more suitable aircraft, such as the Fw 190s. Instead, Bf 109 E-7 excels at energy fighting, capable of bleeding opponents of energy and quickly striking them down. Bf 109 E-7 has good manoeuvrability, and combined with strong flaps can deal with anyone trying to dogfight you. The Air targets belt for your MG FF/M is undoubtedly effective for most aircraft, while universal ammo for your MG 17 provides AI and AP-I rounds which are capable of setting aflame vital part of your opponents.

Remember, altitude is everything, so make sure you are above your opponents. Thankfully the engine provides excellent speed and energy retention which makes climbing even higher without losing much speed easy. Once you are at altitude and found your opponents, analyze the situation and pick the right target to deal with. However if someone is above or has same altitude with you, don't attempt to head-on as your MG 17 cannot do much damage while the MG FF/M is less accurate at longer ranges. Instead, evade any shots from them by doing a barrel roll. If they try to turn vertically, you can turn in aggressively and attempt to shoot them down. After any engagement, regain your altitude ASAP. You don't want the opponent above your plane and destroy you without letting you to counter-attack. Be careful not to dive towards your opponents too steeply (600+ km/h), or you will crash without getting kill at all.

The 2,000 rounds in the pair of MG 17 are sufficient for sustaining battles, but the amount of MG FF/M rounds is a different story. Its cannon still utilizes the 60-round drum magazine, and its accuracy is mediocre at best. Once again, picking the right target can prevent you from burning through the cannon ammo in no time. Adjust your gun convergence to 250-400 m to maximize the effectiveness of MG FF/Ms. Refrain from attempting to catch bombers as the armament is not strong enough to reliably down them quickly, and also could get you killed from its defensive gunners. If your cannon has run out, the pair of MG 17 is still capable doing its job despite its low damage output. Most important of all: don't destroy ground targets as you don't have any kind of ordnance and save your ammo for your actual role: killing fighters.

Overall, Bf 109 E-7 is fun to play, combining a stable platform, power-to-weight ratio, improved overall performance, and devastating armament. However, trigger discipline is mandatory as cannon ammo amount is limited. As long as you have enough energy in your Bf 109 E-7, this plane can overcome anything without worrying about being overtiered as this plane provide stable performance characteristics.

Specified enemies worth noting:

• Spitfires: The bane of your existence. Not only boasting an extremely tight turn radius, but its armament (8 x 7.7 mm or 2 x 20 mm + 4 x 7.7 mm) is capable of shredding you if you are unaware of its presence. Its performance in low alt is excellent, and the opposite. If you find one on your six, do a barrel roll to make them overshoot at you. Climb slightly, and attempt to scissor as the Spitfire's roll rate is mediocre at best. Once they have bled most of their energy, rolling over and shooting them down should be easy as their wings are fragile even towards your 7.92 mm MG 17. If you are both at altitude, you can also lure them higher, as the Spitfire's engine begins to choke above 3,000 m. While so, if they force you into a sustained dogfight, pop your flaps to takeoff mode, and you may be able to outturn them. Also, remember the Spitfire engine is prone to overheating, and will soon have to break off from the fight. If they attempt to do straight flat evasion, use your speed and armament to take him down with ease. However, as a general of thumb, never attempt to dogfight Spitfire under any circumstances without proper support.

• LaGG-3: LaGG-3s has devastating armament placed in its nose. Avoid head-ons as your MG 17 are inadequate to do this task. LaGG-3 has mediocre manoeuvrability, lousy energy retention, and inadequate rate of climb. Dogfighting LaGG-3 is a good option to exploit its weaknesses. Or, if your teammate has engaged with LaGG-3, don't miss the opportunity to destroy LaGG-3. You should outclimb him, and force him into dogfight where its engine performance is significantly worse once hit and the aircraft becomes a flying brick.

• F4U-1 Corsair: Known for its gull-like wing, F4U Corsair has powerful M2 Browning which capable to shred your Bf 109 with single burst at well-placed aim. If its not enough, the Corsair could outrun and outdive you, so special awareness must be taken. However its strength has significant drawbacks: low rate of climb, poor manoeuvring energy retention, and poor performance at lower speed, making the Corsair nothing but an easy sitting duck in your sights. It should be noted despite the inverted gull wing being strong during steep dives, is actually not durable against enemy fire, especially 20 mm. If they are above you, make sure to lure them to your current altitude and provoke them into dogfight. Usually, most Corsair player will extend away if they couldn't hit you, however if they turnfight against you, pop your flaps into takeoff mode. Once they lose energy and prefer to run away, use your MG 17 to damage, or if lucky, set him on fire. If below you, watch your speed and decrease the throttle to prevent control stiffening during engagement. At this point, you have not only secured your altitude, but have greater energy to make another kill if you miss it. Low-altitude Corsair is dead Corsair, so don't miss this opportunity to secure your kill.

• MiG-3: This Soviet fighter has same armament as LaGG-3s. You'll mostly find it above your current altitude, so evade its guns and attempt the same as against LaGG-3. Fortunately, its manoeuvring capability is much worse than F4U and LaGG-3, so countering with a dogfight is the best option and you can secure the kill much easier even if they attempt to run away.

• ITP (M-1): Another worst nightmare beside Spitfire, this Soviet fighter not only has faster speed than most Soviet fighters, but also sports 2 x 20 mm ShVAK and a 37 mm NS-37 which can provide devastating damage to your fuselage in a very short burst. Worse still, the player with ITP will outclimb you by a large margin, and once that happens, he will perform BnZ at you without giving you room to evade if you are caught. Maintaining your energy is the only key to fight against ITP, and never attempt to head-on at any cost as it will end badly. Although ITP is manoeuvrable at high speed, it will not lose energy easily unless it attempts hard manoeuvring. If you find an ITP ground-pounding, analyze the situation before ambushing. Decrease your throttle if your speed is more than 450 km/h. If he notices you and pulls manoeuvres, pursue them and pepper them with your armament.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Not controllable	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• The latest Emil variant provides improved overall performance
• Respectable amount of light machine gun ammo for sustained engagements
• MG FF/M has Minengeschoss ammo which proves deadly against any aircraft
• Can endure negative Gs without the engine dying (Realistic and Simulator battles)
• Better cockpit visibility than Bf 109 Fs

Cons:

• Less than average instantaneous turn rate
• Hard to control over 500 km/h
• MG FF/M has low ammo capacity (60 rpg), and low velocity compared with Hispanos and other 20 mm cannons
• Relatively poor durability
• No suspended armament, limiting its ground attack capabilities

History

Although Imported, Japan decided to not pursue a license agreement with Germany over the Bf 109E. The Emil, (Nicknamed Mike) would stay in Japan until the end of the war.

In-game description

Messerschmitt Bf 109E "Emil" single-engine front-line fighter

In 1941, a Bf 109E prototype fighter was sold to Japan as a part of the German-Japanese military technical cooperation.

The aircraft was delivered to the Land of the Rising Sun without armament for flight tests. Japanese Hinomaru markings and a tail number of "1" were applied to the fighter, and then the machine underwent a complete cycle of flight tests at the Kawasaki Company's factory airfield. Comparative tests of the Bf 109E were also performed, with Japanese army fighters involved, such as the Nakajima Ki-43 Type 1 Hayabusa, the Nakajima Ki-44 Type 2 Shoki, and the Kawasaki Ki-61 Type 3 Hien prototype. The aircraft was piloted not only by the Japanese but also by a German test pilot named Willy Stor.

The Japanese were most of all interested in the Messerschmitt's DB 601 engine, whose licensed production was being mastered by the Japanese industry at the same time and which was to be mounted on the Ki-61 Hien, the newest fighter being developed in Japan. That is why the Bf 109E itself, as well as any prospects of its licensed manufacture, aroused minimal interest among Japanese specialists.

Media

Old camouflage scheme of the Bf 109 E-3 which was later changed in-game to the ▅Bf 109 E-7.

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Mitsubishi A6M
• Bell P-39 Airacobra
• Curtiss P-36
• Curtiss P-40
• Dewoitine D.520
• Fiat G.55
• Focke-Wulf Fw 190
• Grumman F4F Wildcat
• Grumman F6F Hellcat
• Hawker Hurricane
• Heinkel He 112
• IAR-81
• Kawasaki Ki-61
• Lavochkin LaGG-3
• Macchi C.202
• Macchi C.205
• Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3
• Morane-Saulnier MS.406
• Nakajima Ki-43
• North American P-51 Mustang
• Polikarpov I-16
• Supermarine Spitfire
• Yakovlev Yak-1
• Yakovlev Yak-9

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance