Hs 123 A-1

Hs 123 A-1

Ju 87 B-2

Hs 123 A-1

Ju 87 B-2

Germany

I Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
1.0	1.0	1.3

Class:

Bomber

Dive bomber

Research:2 900

Purchase:700

Description

The Hs 123 A-1 is a Rank I German biplane bomber with a battle rating of 1.0 (AB/RB) and 1.3 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.59 "Flaming Arrows".

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
284	278	8000	16.4	17.1	6.5	8.0	294
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 4,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
324	310	8000	13.9	15.0	20.5	12.0	294

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
			+	-
577	590	338	~??	~?

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 220	< 220	< 380	> 270

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
850 m	660 hp	747 hp

Survivability and armour

• 5 mm steel - pilot's headrest
• Fuel tank in fuselage in front of cockpit

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Hs 123 A-1 is armed with:

• 2 x 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns, nose-mounted (500 rpg = 1,000 total)

Suspended armament

The Hs 123 A-1 can be outfitted with the following external ordinance:

• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA Bombs
• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs + 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb

Usage in battles

In AB, the Hs-123 is a ground attacker/emergency fighter. Use your bomb load and guns to dispatch as many ground targets as possible, while making sure to keep the enemy off of your six. if someone does get on your six, pull a snap turn and keep him from getting a good shot on your for as long as possible. If you can't get onto his six you'll have to hope help arrives soon.

In RB, the tactics change massively. Use your bomber spawn to stay above the enemy team, and dive only after the enemy fighters have passed below you. Hit their tanks and other targets with your bombs through either dive bombing or low level bombing (set a 2 second fuse then fly as low as you can, dropping just before you lose sight of the target). After your bomb load is exhausted, engage soft targets for a while. If there are none it's time that you kill some of the enemy team, begin to climb and look for damaged fighters/attackers returning to their airfield, then pounce on them. Your 7.92 mm machine guns are good, but be sure to aim for wings, as most aircraft you'll face will likely be able to absorb most of the MGs you put into their fuselage.

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm	ETC 50/VIIIb
II		Compressor	Airframe
III	Wings Repair	Engine		New 7 mm MGs	ETC 250/IV
IV		Engine Injection	Cover

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Extremely sharp control input
• Good manoeuvrability and nimble
• Powerful selection of bombs
• Fast BMW-132 radial engine
• Can be used as a fighter-bomber after dropping payload
• Although not effective, the MG-17 machine guns can decimate ground targets with a few bursts of fire
• Bomber spawn in RB

Cons:

• Easy to rip your wings off when diving past 450 Kmh
• No gunner
• Lack of self-sealing tanks
• Less manoeuvrable than most biplanes
• Bad climb rate

History

First flying in 1935, the Hs-123 was Henschel's response to the 1933 Reich Ministry requirement for a dive bomber. After the Successful delivery of 250 aircraft it's christening of fire began. In 1936 the Hs-123 was sent to spain where it's usefulness as a close air support aircraft was well known. Being able to accurately place it's powerful bombload and reliability outweighed it's short range and saw extensive service in that role. After the Beginning of World War 2, The Hs-123 saw service on the front line airfields, where it's quick turn around time and ability to take heavy damage was appreciated by pilots and ground crews alike. Despite this the Luftwaffe considered them obsolete and most squadrons re-equipped to Stukas or Bf-109Es (Jabo variant).

At the Beginning of Operation Barbarossa the Hs-123 saw it's rebirth, where it's ability to survive heavy damage and it's reliability shone through. Even in the Winter, where more modern aircraft would fail to even start, Hs-123s could be counted upon to provide close air support through the bleakest of weather. In 1943, Generaloberst Wolfram von Richthofen asked if production of the aircraft could be restarted, however the jigs had been taken down in the henschel plant all the way back in 1940.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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

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