Bf 109 G-14/AS (Italy)

▄Bf 109 G-14/AS

C. 205 serie 3

G.91 pre-serie

▄Bf 109 G-14/AS

C. 205 serie 3

G.91 pre-serie

Italy

IV Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
5.7	5.3	5.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:54 000

Purchase:185 000

This page is about the fighter Bf 109 G-14/AS (Italy). For the German version, see Bf 109 G-14. For other versions, see Bf 109 (Family).

Description

The ▄Bf 109 G-14/AS is a rank IV Italian fighter with a battle rating of 5.7 (AB), 5.3 (RB), and 5.0 (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica".

The Bf 109 G-14 represents the utmost technological achievement of the Bf 109 Gustav series of aircraft. Like both the G-10 and the G-6, the G-14 can be modified for either bombing duties, intercepting bombers, or improving its firepower against enemy fighter. However, the G-14 both possesses a more powerful engine and better manoeuvrability than its predecessors.

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 7,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
664	645	11500	21.3	22.1	16.5	16.5	325
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 7,000 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
737	698	11500	19.3	20.0	29.5	21.8	325

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		460	~12	~6

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 450	< 390	< 450	> 715

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
7,800 m	1,140 hp	1,596 hp

Survivability and armour

• 60 mm Bulletproof glass in front and rear of cockpit.
• 4-8 mm Steel plates on pilot seat.
• 10 mm Steel plates around pilot's head.
• 21 mm Steel plate on rear of fuel tank, with 4 mm plates surrounding it on other sides.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The Bf 109 G-14/AS (Italy) is armed with:

• A choice between two presets:
  • 1 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon, nose-mounted (200 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)
  • 1 x 30 mm MK 108 cannon, nose-mounted (65 rpg) + 2 x 13 mm MG 131 machine guns, nose-mounted (300 rpg = 600 total)

Suspended armament

The Bf 109 G-14/AS (Italy) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 1 x 250 kg SC250JA bomb (250 kg total)
• 2 x 30 mm MK 108 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (35 rpg = 70 total)
• 2 x 20 mm MG 151/20 cannons, gunpods (wing-mounted) (135 rpg = 270 total)

Usage in battles

Just like its predecessors, the G-14 should generally be utilised as an energy fighter/Boom and Zoomer. While it's fairly more manoeuvrable than other Bf 109's, its increased agility should be used for maintaining high speed and energy rather than dog fighting, since even the G-14 is only passable at best. Due to its excellent energy retention and climb rate, it is exceptionally good at stall fighting, since many fighters will not be able to keep up with its climb rate, giving it the opportunity to put overconfident pilots in vulnerable situations.

When it comes to selecting armament, it is largely dependent on the role the pilot intends to fulfil. Equipping bombs should generally only be considered as a last resort or when air cover is sufficient to facilitate tactical bombing. The very potent 30 mm cannon and gun pods should generally only be done if there is a significant threat from enemy bombers and heavy fighters. Keep in mind that while the 30 mm shells pack a high explosive filling, their muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient results in a slow and fairly inaccurate shell. If chasing after enemy fighters, with a minimal profile exposed, it is not unusual to see 30 mm shells doing minimal damage to wings due to not detonating. Ideally, the 30 mm should only be fired against large frame aircraft from angels at which they expose the most of the planes frame to ensure a detonation within the airframe. Keep also in mind that the Mk 108 only carries 65 rounds of ammo for the center-mounted cannon, and 35 per gun pod, making trigger pulls very costly (especially considering it's fire rate). As for belt selections for the Mk 108, it should generally be anything but the default belt due to the higher content of minegeschoss shells, beyond that it is personal preference since the difference is only cosmetic.

Adding the twin 20 mm MG 151 gun pods, will substantially increase the G-14's fighting potential and longevity against other enemy fighters, due to carrying a total of 250 extra rounds. Additionally, the 20 mm's ballistic trajectory is very similar to the 13mm machine guns, allowing for firing both weapons simultaneously at an enemy target. However keep in mind that the gun pods will run out of ammunition faster than the centre-mounted one, so if it happens, it is usually a good indication of when it is time to head back to reload, as not much ammo will usually remain in the center mounted one afterwards. As for belts, it should generally be stealth or air targets, since every other belt option either sacrifices explosive content and contains more tracer rounds in exchange for better ground attack capabilities which are very poor even with the armoured targets belt.

Finally, keep in mind it is possible to carry both 13 mm, 20 mm and 30 mm weaponry, however due to the 30 mm's aforementioned poor ballistic properties, it should be mapped to fire on a different button. Also remember that while gun pods can be swapped while on the airfield in game, the centre-mounted cannon can't and can only be changed from the hangar.

Manual Engine Control

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 13 mm	ETC 500/IXb I
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 13 mm MGs	MK 108 cannon
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 20 mm	Offensive 30 mm	R6 modification
IV		Engine injection	Cover	New 20 mm cannons	New 30 mm cannons	R5 modification

Pros and cons

Pros:

• High climb rate
• Good dive speed
• Powerful and accurate armament with gun pods
• Good engine performance compared to the G-6
• Good rear visibility compared to the G-2
• The most manoeuvrable rank IV Bf 109 in War Thunder, thanks to the working leading slats
• Outstanding energy retention

Cons:

• Not very manoeuvrable
• Very bad compression
• The standard 20 mm armament is lacking vs. heavy armoured targets
• Belt options for the 20 mm MG 151/20 outside of stealth or air targets serve little purpose.
• 30 mm MK 108 cannons are ill-suited for anything but attacking bombers.
• The rip speed is 790 km/h which makes power dives impossible
• Many allied are faster in a straight line.
• Relatively low ammo count
• Cockpit visibility by far not as good as in the Fw 190s or most allied fighters.
• Needs all performance upgrades to shine
• Outside of equipping bombs or rockets, the G-14 does not have anything to attack armoured ground targets beyond armoured cars.

History

In 1943, the Bf 109 G-6 entered service, while its performance was less then stellar, its worth derived from the ability to be easily modified into dedicated fighter bomber, high altitude interceptor or reconnaissance. likewise great care was taken to make sure the G6 could fit heavy armament for attacking bombers, which were beginning to appear in force over Germany, and the shortcoming of the Fw 190's at high altitude became increasingly apparent.

In 1944, the RLM, wishing to standardize fighter production, approved the Bf 109 G-14, which essentially a standardized version of the 109, with all improvements found on late production G-6's, including an enlarged vertical tail surface, a new canopy and Flettner tabs, for better control at higher speeds. to easy construction, it had a non retracting tail wheel, and the distinctive bulges on the upper cowling, which housed the breechlocks of the machine guns.

In addition the new G-14 was fitted with a DB605ASM engine. itself a heavily modified engine also used in the early G-6. It features Watermethanol injection, and an enlarged supercharger which is taken directly off a DB506, meaning the engine has better performance at high altitude, while conversely, it has less output at lower altitudes.

Serving alongside the 109 G-10 and K-4 in the later stages of the war, it proved to be a less then stellar performer, being outperformed by the newest types the Western Allies brought into service. However, it performed admirably in its role, and with a good pilot, was more then a match for the large majority of the Allied aircraft.

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

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