Yak9T gets no respect.

[Rich46yo]

I dont know why. I think it may be the ultimate all around base defender, most of all when GVs/PTs are in the attack. Its not as nimble as the other Yaks but nimble enough to evade and/or kill other fighters. I love catching low bombers in it, that NS37 with HE is terrific and may be the best all around bomber cannon of the war on a single engined fighter. This plane is like the Swiss army knife of base defense. Its even capable of killing tanks if you hit them right.

I have found out the hard way that the best way to dive in it is to go easy on the throttle. I like to open up on GVs at close range and if your going to fast the plane is to front heavy and unstable pulling out quickly.

[Krusty]

2x 20mm with plenty of ammo are better than 1x ns37 with 30 rounds. You MAY get to kill a bomber in 2-3 hits with it, but you can also down one with 20 hits or less from a 20mm cannon. Something with 2x 20mm and a buttload more ammo is able to defend longer and kill more and that is what matters. That yak9T may be good.... for about 1/8th the time that a Fw190 would be able to keep fighting. Then you're not helping and are trying to run home to land (while under fire).

It's a nice plane. It's just not the best defender. Especially when it lacks the WEP and its best bet are short fights that begin with it already in position to dive on a target.

[bustr]

It is a superlative de-acking bird if you have friends to tie up enemy fighters while you setup for your next run. Just a single round for each position. Or Ports and Vbases, you dive straight down from 6000ft, pop off a single round, pop back up and repeat. The more angle to your attack, the better you make it for any wirbles or manned guns. Waystin regularly vulches aircraft spawning on the runway from 1000yds while he is de-acking.

[Squire]

Its downright scary when they open fire on you.

[bozon]

It's a nice plane. It's just not the best defender. Especially when it lacks the WEP and its best bet are short fights that begin with it already in position to dive on a target.

Yaks don't lack WEP - quite the opposite, they have unlimited WEP.

[artik]

About Yak-9T...

It is indeed an interesting plane that does not get deserved respect.

However several points to notice when you take Yak-9T to the air.

Yak-9T should not be confused in terms of performance with Yak-9U. 9U has 1944 Klimov M-107 with 1,500ph while Yak-9T and Yak-7b share the same engine 1942 Klimov M-105PF with 1,250hp that is significantly less powerful. Additionally 9T's 37mm canon is much heavier than 20mm ShVAK.

So Yak-9T is mid-war model with additional weight problems giving it mediocre performance - so don't expect too much from it in terms of air-to-air engagement.

The strong point of Yak-9T's NS-37mm canon is its excellent ballistics with 900 m/s muzzle velocity in comparison for example to 540 m/s of the German 30mm Mk-108.

Interesting that US 37mm M4 (installed at P-39) has 610 m/s muzzle velocity and 150 rpm rate of fire in comparison to 230 rpm of NS-37.

So NS-37 is indeed excellent canon with good ballistics allowing to do really long range shots at bombers. At LA MA the major victims of 9T during last tour are

Lancaster III   28   
M-3   27   
Panzer IV H   25   
Wirbelwind   16   
B-17G   16

It is great tool to kill bombers and with some success GVs. But due to very small ammo load and somewhat low rate of fire it is hard to hit maneuvering targets also next in line are mostly fighters in kill stats.

La-7   16   
N1K2   16   
M-18   15   
P-51D   15   
Fw 190D-9   12   

However the bigger problem of 9T is that it is under-powered/overweight for a LW MA fighter.

[Muzzy]

Is it worse in terms of handling than a 7B? Same engine, but a heavier gun than the 7?

[artik]

Is it worse in terms of handling than a 7B? Same engine, but a heavier gun than the 7?

Actually looking at performance charts of Yak-9T vs Yak-7b




It is strange that they have different critical altitudes while sharing same engine M-105PF and same propeller.

Actually Yak-9 is development of Yak-7b - the weight was reduced by using more aluminium the aerodynamics was improved as well. So overall Yak-9 was improvement of Yak-7b as it was lighter and had better aerodynamics. So Yak-9 was lighter than Yak-7b but 9T added a heavy canon and negated weight reduction improvements. Additionally in 9T model the cockpit moved rearward.

[SPKmes]

I give it the respect it deserves and ensure that I stay away from the pointy end.... if that 37 hits my plane is toast so best to avoid it...
I do remember using it a few years back and getting some help from Gixer at the time... it really is a fun plane to use... just need to teach yourself to hold the shot and keep that trigger finger itch under control.... I never found it as good as the hurriII for gv though....but perhaps that is just due to my aim.

[icepac]

NS37 is good for scoring hits from beyond defensive gun range.

[Lusche]

I never found it as good as the hurriII for gv though....but perhaps that is just due to my aim.

It's because of the ammunition it shoots. Hurri D = AP, Yak-T = HE.

[Rich46yo]

Ive killed T34s and Sherman's with it but very rarely and only a few. The Panzers-lVs it will thump pretty well. The 9T works well working as a team with your own GVs, killing what you can and spotting for your own tanks. It loses speed quickly which makes it good for quick landings and being a Yak its pretty tough. With worbels I like waiting until they are shooting at others and then swooping in for a kill. Its a great PT/LVT killer.

Next time I play theres a few experiments I want to make with it. I want to see if I can set a longer convergence and use the MG to walk in cannon rounds from a farther distance.

[BuckShot]

I fire the 37 by itself. The mg screws up my aim.

[pangea]

It's because of the ammunition it shoots. Hurri D = AP, Yak-T = HE.

Thanks!  I did not know this.