Yak-3U

This page is about the Soviet fighter Yak-3U. For other versions, see Yak-3 (Family).

Yak-3U

Yak-9P

Yak-9UT

Yak-3U

Yak-9P

Yak-9UT

USSR

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.7	5.7	6.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:63 000

Purchase:200 000

Description

The Yak-3U is a rank IV Soviet fighter with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB/RB) and 6.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.89 "Imperial Navy". It differs from the Yak-3 aircraft line by the use of a M-82 radial engine found on the Lavochkin fighters (La-5, La-7, La-9), adopting a shorter and rounder nose.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m695 km/h

Turn time18 s

Max altitude10 500 m

EngineShvetsov M-82FN

TypeRadial

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight3 t

The Yak-3U is the pinnacle of the Yakovlev piston engine fighter design, combining the amazing agility of the Yak-3 airframe with the excellent Shvetsov M-82FN engine acquired from the Lavochkin line, increasing its top speed tremendously. One can expect a similar playstyle to the feared Yak-3P but turned up a few notches due to the improvement in speed. Armament is two B-20S 20 mm cannons mounted in the nose, with a low ammo count, so conserve ammo. The pilot should aim for critical components (engines, wings or pilot) in order to secure a kill.

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 6,000 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	668	649	10500	18.2	19.4	21.6	21.6	360
Upgraded	729	695		17.2	18.0	32	26.5

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	+	-
700	320	N/A	N/A	280	~12	~9

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
1,550 m	1,630 hp	1,920 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,550 m	1,430 hp	N/A

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 64 mm sloped bulletproof glass behind the pilot
• 8.5 mm steel plate behind the pilot seat

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB2 994 → 3 727

RB6 969 → 8 676

SB10 608 → 13 206

Total cost of modifications52 900

90 800

Talisman cost1 700

Crew training57 000

Experts200 000

Aces1 100

Research Aces520 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

100 / 230 / 490 %

172 / 172 / 172 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 165 Radiator Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 165 Compressor Research: 6 000 Cost: 10 000 290 Wings repair Research: 4 400 Cost: 7 600 210 Engine Research: 4 400 Cost: 7 600 210 Engine injection Research: 8 600 Cost: 15 000 410	Airframe Research: 6 000 Cost: 10 000 290 Cover Research: 8 600 Cost: 15 000 410	shvak_belt_pack Research: 3 500 Cost: 6 000 165 b20_new_gun Research: 4 400 Cost: 7 600 210

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 12 x 20 mm B-20S cannon

Ammunition240 rounds

Fire rate750 shots/min

The Yak-3U is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm B-20S cannons, nose-mounted (120 rpg = 240 total)

Usage in battles

Being an improvement on the Yak-3P, one can expect a similar playstyle to the feared Red Soviet Menace, but with more versatility thanks to the improved engine providing a large increase in speed. The Yak-3U provides quite a unique experience, as it can out-turn the enemies it can't out-run, and it can outrun the enemies it can't out-turn, so a smart pilot will use this versatility to their advantage. One should stick with energy fighting for the most part, but can certainly turn-fight with less manoeuvrable opponents, which include the P-51 line.

The main drawbacks of the 3U are its poor armament and poor performance above 2,000 m. The two B-20S cannons provide lacklustre stopping power at this tier and have a nasty habit of sparking, and to top it off, they have a low ammunition count of 120 rounds per gun. Due to the lack of a supercharger, the engine's output greatly decreases above 2,000 m; it is recommended to entice opponents (mainly Germans & Americans) down to altitude in order to engage them. The solid performance combined with the weak armament makes the Yak-3U a very volatile plane. A newer or inexperienced player may find the performance enticing, but will struggle to do well if they're too trigger happy and have not used to the Soviet 20 mm very much. However, a good pilot will be able to use the upsides to these cannons (accuracy, high rate of fire and ability to start fires) to their advantage. Also worth noting is that "Armoured Targets" belts from these cannon tend to set fuel tanks on fire quite easily, so aiming at them and at the engines of enemy aircraft will likely yield bright, warm results. The Tracers belt is also a noteworthy option, as it only contains FI-T, and will easily take off control surfaces with one hit, as well as help someone who is not so confident with the ballistics of the cannons aim.

Manual Engine Control

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

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Very fast for a propeller-driven aircraft, able to out-run the P-51D-5 at low altitude
• Amazing manoeuvrability that can compete with almost every aircraft at the rank
• Solid climb rate
• Immense energy retention
• Fast firing and accurate cannons concentrated in the nose that is devastating in short, well-placed bursts at close range
• Bulletproof glass in the rear of the cockpit will prevent pilot snipes if you're being chased
• Outstanding acceleration due of the M-82FN Radial engine
• Not as prone to overheating like other Yaks
• Can reach 6,000 m (19,500 ft) in a front-climb when spaded and still perform well

Cons:

• M-82FN engine performance starts to deteriorate above 3,500 m and has no WEP beyond this altitude
• Airframe is quite weak
• Susceptible to fires
• Twin cannon setup provides poor firepower for its rank
• Difficult to keep up with contemporary aircraft in a dive, lower wing ripping speeds than a diving P-51 Mustang or F-4U Corsair (around 750 km/h or 460 mph)
• No bulletproof glass in the front of the plane, hard to use against planes with defensive turrets or in head-on situations
• Very limited ammunition load combined with the fast fire rate, trigger discipline is a must
• No combat flaps option, just like all Yak propeller fighters
• Low rip speed for a prop of its rank (700 km/h IAS)

History

The Yak-3U is based on the Yak-3 VK-105PF 2 variant, with some major modifications. A Yak-3U is also referred as Yak 3U/Ash-82FN. It was first flown on the 29th of April 1945, it was developed by Yakovlev design bureau and powered by the almighty Ash-82FN engine. It was one of the best power plants in the world at that time. Created by Design Bureau No. 19 and manufactured by Factory No. 478, it provided 1,850 BHP. This is the same engine as used on other legendary & iconic Soviet fighter and attacker aircraft, such as the Tu-2, La-5 & La-7 planes.

The engine was designed in the Soviet Union (Russia) by Design Bureau No. 19 it was a technological innovation based on its licensed built version Wright R-1820 cyclon power plant. The Ash-82FN featured direct fuel and afterburner injection systems to give it an additional output of 250 BHP, bringing it up-to 1850 BHP. Giving it a top speed of 705 km/h (438 mph) over its western counterpart Wright R-1820 which only provided 1,600 BHP. The Ash-82FN allowed the Yak-3U, to hit 5 km in 3 minutes.

This plane would not enter mass production as the war was nearing the end and jet technology would become the priority for Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. This plane would become the foundation, for the legendary Yak U trainer aircraft, later to become the Yak 11.

The main differences of this modification are major modifications of the airframe over the Yak-3 VK-105PF 2 variant with:

• Installation of the Ash-82FN engine, Design Bureau No. 19 with up-to 1,850 BHP, direct fuel and afterburner injection systems gave it a top speed of 705 km/h (438 mph).
• Twin B-20S cannons, with 120 rounds per gun, total of 240 rounds with burst of 2.40 kg/s.
• Larger wing span, 9.4 m, it was additionally moved forward by 219 mm.
• Cockpit placed 84 mm higher.
• Plywood fuselage skin.
• Metal tail and metal ailerons.
• Weight and drag reduction.
• All metal wing upgrade.
• Longer landing legs increased by 80 mm, allowed for better control.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Yak-3U from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

Spade Review, Yak-3U. An excellent but limited aircraft - Joseph 2000

The Shooting Range #160 - Metal Beasts section at 00:39 discusses the Yak-3U.

See also

• Yak-3 (Family)
• La-5 (Family)
• La-7 (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• The suggestion post for the aircraft

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