Me 262 C-2b

This page is about the German jet fighter Me 262 C-2b. For other versions, see Me 262 (Family).

Me 262 C-2b

Me 262 C-1a

Me 163 B

Me 262 C-2b

Me 262 C-1a

Me 163 B

Germany

V Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
8.0	8.0	8.0

Class:

Fighter

Jet fighter

Research:61 000

Purchase:340 000

Description

To combat constant Allied bomber raids, the need for a high-performance interceptor was at an all-time high. Many proposals and designs were made and one of those designs was the Me 262 C-2b, a variant based on the Me 262 A series fitted with rocket boosters. Nicknamed the "Home Defender", it would retain the two normal turbojets with the addition of two rocket boosters, one mounted on top of each engine exhaust. Although the idea was thought of in 1943, it would take two years for the only 262 C-2b prototype to take flight in March 1945. During the test flight, it boasted an incredible climb rate and was able to reach 30,000 feet (9,100 metres) in three minutes. However, the Me 262 C-2b arrived far too late into the war.

The Me 262 C-2b Heimatschützer II was introduced in Update 1.41. Since the C-2b is based on the Me 262 A, it has four MK 108 30 mm cannons mounted in the nose. Unfortunately, the MK 108s are insufficient at jet battle ratings. The velocity requires excessive lead compared to other cannons and the MK 108's lack significant effective range. The 262 C-2b has around six minutes of booster fuel, and it should be mainly used in accelerating to a suitable speed. Once the booster fuel runs out, the C-2b becomes outclassed by many of its opponents. The Me 262 C-2b is a capable plane, however players should expect it to be difficult to use.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 6 000 m865 km/h

Turn time30 s

Max altitude14 900 m

Engine2 х BMW 003-R

TypeJet

Cooling systemAir

Take-off weight8 t

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	824	797	14900	31.6	32.5	16.5	15.6	628
Upgraded	909	865		29.3	30.3	24.0	20.0

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
1050	450	498	469	320	~11	~5

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 500	< 600	< 680	N/A

Engine performance

Engine			Aircraft mass
Engine name		Number	Empty mass	Wing loading (full fuel, no booster fuel)
BMW 003-R		2	4,775 kg	260 kg/m2
Engine characteristics			Mass with fuel (no weapons load, no booster fuel)		Max Takeoff Weight
Weight (each)	Type		6m fuel	20m fuel
673 kg	Axial-flow turbojet		5,070 kg	5,653 kg	8,000 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)			Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (108%, no booster)
Condition	100%	108%	6m fuel	20m fuel	MTOW
Stationary	801 kgf	910 kgf	0.36	0.32	0.23
Optimal	801 kgf (0 km/h)	910 kgf (0 km/h)	0.35	0.32	0.23

Booster (BMW 109-718 - Liquid-fuel rocket)						Aircraft mass
Number	Booster weight (each)	Fuel weight (each)	Burn Time	Can be shutdown	Jettisoned after use	Mass with full booster fuel (no weapons load)
						6m fuel	20m fuel
2	165 kg	850 kg	163s	Yes	No	6,770 kg	7,353 kg
Condition		Maximum booster thrust @ 0 m (RB / SB)		Combined engine & booster thrust @ 0 m		Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (108% with booster)
						6m fuel	20m fuel
Stationary		1,224 kgf		4,268 kgf		0.63	0.58
Optimal		1,224 kgf (any speed)		4,268 kgf (0kph)		0.63	0.58

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural1 050 km/h

Gear450 km/h

• 15 mm Steel - plate behind the pilot seat
• 15 mm Steel - plate headrest
• 15 mm Steel - Cockpit for plate
• 15 mm Steel - Instrument panel plate
• 16 mm Steel - 2 x plates protecting ammunition
• 90 mm Bulletproof glass

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB3 745 → 4 744

RB10 514 → 13 321

SB13 429 → 17 014

Total cost of modifications102 000

164 000

Talisman cost2 200

Crew training98 000

Experts340 000

Aces1 800

Research Aces780 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

130 / 380 / 600 %

202 / 202 / 202 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 270 Compressor Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 300 Wings repair Research: 13 000 Cost: 21 000 350 Engine Research: 17 000 Cost: 27 000 460	Airframe Research: 11 000 Cost: 18 000 300 Cover Research: 17 000 Cost: 27 000 460	mk108_belt_pack Research: 10 000 Cost: 16 000 270 mk108_new_gun Research: 13 000 Cost: 21 000 350

The biggest issue of the Schwalbe is its bad acceleration across all speeds. Thus "Compressor" and "New Engine" upgrades have the highest priority. The stock belts are decent, but the high explosive content increases with the new ammo, so including belts into the upgrade route is not a bad idea. The same applies to the rockets. Being able to knock out bases or tanks(direct hit) with these warheads, makes the late game much more easy to win if the last enemies are running or hiding. "New cannons" is an interesting upgrade choice as it increases accuracy above 300 m (350 yds), but the MK 108 will still be unable to hit a barn-door at 500 m (600 yds). Cool-down and jamming is nothing the "Sledgehammer" has to deal with, considering the damage potential and low ammo count per gun.

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon

Ammunition360 rounds

Fire rate600 shots/min

The Me 262 C-2b is armed with:

• 4 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, nose-mounted (2 x 100 rpg top + 2 x 80 rpg bottom = 360 total)

The Me 262 C-2b is equipped with 4 x 30 mm MK 108 autocannon, which represents a consequent damage potential. With a high burst mass rate of 14.52 kg/s (32.01 lbs/s) and the great Minengeschoß (mine-shell) explosive warhead, this weapon will vaporize aircraft, especially bombers. But every coin has a flip side and the "Sledgehammer" is no exception. The 30 mm cannon comes with a very short barrel and small propellant charges, resulting in very poor ballistics: the shells are slow with great drop over distance.

The MK 108 is a very bad anti-fighter weapon particular in a jet to jet combat. Bullet drop and slow velocity result in difficult lead shots in ranges above 300 m (350 yds). In manoeuvre fights, this trait gets even worse: the high speed of jet battles increases the necessary lead for hitting the target, putting far in front of the enemy. Training with this weapon-system on a custom battle against random enemies is heavily advised.

The Sledgehammer cannons have the typical bar ammunition counter of the Luftwaffe in the cockpit. It sits directly beneath the compass (the one with the little plane in the middle). The left white column is for the two top autocannons. The right one is for the bottom two cannons, this bar is also taller than the left one as the ammo count is different for the two pairs.

Usage in battles

Rocket boost should either be saved to compete against post-war jets or be used immediately to propel oneself up to 6,000 m before the hostile forces had the opportunity to gain any energy advantage.

Anti-fighter combat strategies include:

Climb - Self-explanatory. Rockets are used to boost oneself up to > 7,000 m. Henceforth denying enemy fighters absolute altitude advantage. Of course, this must be followed through to the extreme, as once altitude advantage is gone, so will be the Me 262. Especially high-altitude propeller-driven aircraft will be dangerous foes as jet-engine's power steadily declines over altitude. Whereas turbochargers and superchargers will keep the piston engine's power output steady. Watch out for late piston-engine fighters, even if they're out of their BR range. Apply classic Boom and Zoom tactics to eliminate them.

Aggressive climb - Useful against pure enemy jet teams. The same principle as merely "Climb", however with the twist of actively engaging towards the hostile airfield to intercept with E-advantage enemy fighters. Air-Domination is established beyond the frontline with the prime directive to hinder enemy aircraft (especially jets) to gain any further altitude. If piston aircraft are present, this may prove to be difficult as these machines will be on or even above the Me 262 C upon contact. Hostile jets though will again not be on a similar energy state, making them on the first two initial passes easy prey. Good energy management is key though.

Rush - Enemy team energy denial. This strategy can prove deadly but will provide similar aggressive team-mates with a better outset once team vs team combat starts. Start boosters after spawning and use them to reach maximum level flight speed. Reduce engine throttle before losing a wing. Head straight for the enemy and disturb them in their acceleration & climb. The idea is to either seize targets of opportunity (e.g. AFK climbers, unaware targets) or to confuse the foes to give one's allies the better vantage position.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Can use boosters to outrun and outclimb other aircraft
• Excellent energy retention, can hold onto speed earned from boosters for a good while
• Good roll rate
• Devastating offensive armament at close range
• Great plane for arcade battles, as it climbs quickly with the rocket boosters and can land to refuel them
• Decently agile when on a low fuel load.

Cons:

• Handling feels heavy
• Boom and zoom is a must with this plane, as it struggles to keeps up with all other jets at the battle rating
• Slow compared to other aircraft at the rank
• Horrible climb rate if boosters aren't in use
• Performs significantly worse than the A-1a variant unless boosters are engaged
• Rocket fuel is very heavy, leading to worsened turn rate and climb r
• MK 108 cannons are not well suited for jet-on-jet combat
• No airbrakes to slow down

History

After constant bombing raids by Allied bombers, Germany realized they needed a more capable interceptor that could reach the heights bomber crews operated at in record time. One of the proposals was the Me 262 C. Nicknamed Heimatschützer ("Home Defender"), these variants were intended to be fitted with one or more rockets that would greatly increase the climb rate and reach Allied bombers much faster. The Me 262 C-2b would receive two BMW 109-718 rocket motors mounted on the engines. The fuel pumps would inject both a nitric acid oxidizer and hydrocarbon fuel. This generated around 2,200 lb of thrust and greatly boosted the climb rate. During the Me 262 C-2bs one and only test flight, it managed to achieve 30,000 feet (~9,100 m) in only three minutes. Unfortunately for the C-2b, it was introduced far too late into the war to have any impact.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the Me 262 C-2b from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

The Me-262 family discusses the Me 262 C-2b at 5:17 - War Thunder Official Channel

See also

Related development

• Me 262 (Family)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance