Yak experts

[SFRT - Frenchy]

What is the difference between the Yak 1, 3 and 9 pls? Is Yak3 better than the Yak9?

ty in advance.

[Wotan]

There were variants of the yak 9 with huge performances differences

: Yak-9D, Yak-9M (one additional machine gun), Yak-9B (capable of carrying 883 lbs (400 kg) of bombs), Yak-9T (one 37 mm Nudelmann-Suranov cannon for anti-tank operations), Yak-9K (45 mm cannon), Yak-9DD (increased range), Yak-9MPVO, Yak-9U (one Klimov 1,650 hp (1230 kw) M-107A and a redesigned airframe), Yak-9UT, Yak-9UV, Yak-9R, Yak-9PD, Yak-9P (late and post war production).

Here

Considerable effort was made to reduce production defects in the Yak-9M. The managers responsible had been personally and angrily reprimanded to their faces by Stalin himself when they informed him of problems with the delamination of the wing skinning of the Yak-9: "Oh, but do you know that only the most perfidious enemy could do such a thing?! Producing aircraft at the plant that proved unfit for service at the Front! The enemy could not damage us so cruelly! He could invent nothing worse! This is work for Hitler!"

Stalin did not make empty threats, and he rarely made a threat twice. Resolution of the defects became a top priority. They were fixed, and then Yakovlev and production engineers went on to add improvements. The result was the "Yak-9U", where "U" stood for "Uluchshenny / Improved". The Yak-9U was difficult to tell from the Yak-9M from the outside, but it incorporated a wide range of small changes to improve performance and survivability.

The Yak-9U was initially fitted with the Klimov M-107 engine, but problems with the engine led to the loss of the prototype in late February 1943. As a result, the Yak-9U retained the M-105PF engine. It also featured two UB 12.7 millimeter guns, as well as the ShVAK 20 millimeter cannon. The Yak-9U was regarded as equivalent in performance and handling to its American counterpart, the P-51D Mustang.

The yak-9 was developed from the yak 7.

The Yak-9 was conceived as a natural progression from late model Yak-7 fighters. In the late spring of 1942, the increased availability of aviation metals led to the development of a reconnaissance variant of the Yak-7 with a new wing, featuring metal H-section spars with Bakelite-impregnated wood skinning. The new wing had shorter span but the same wing area. The metal spars permitted an increase in fuel capacity, with eight tanks in the wings along with the single fuselage tank, and this variant was designated the "Yak-7D" (with "D" standing for "Dal'ny / Long Range").

As the Yak-7D seemed promising, Yakovlev then ordered the development of a comparable fighter variant, the "Yak-7DI" (where "DI" stood for "Dal'ny Istrebitel"). This was based on the Yak-7B with the new Yak-7D wing, though with only four fuel tanks; the right UB 12.7 millimeter machine gun removed to reduce weight; an M-105PF engine; and a new all-round vision canopy.

Trials of the Yak-7DI were completed in the late summer of 1942, and the type was put into production as the Yak-9, with the number of wing tanks reduced to two to cut weight. The new Yak-9 variant reached full production in late 1942 and early 1943. By December 1942, early production Yak-9s were in combat, participating in the great winter counteroffensive at Stalingrad.

* The first refinement of the Yak-9 was the "Yak-9T", where "T" stood for "Tyazhelowooruzheny / Heavily Armed", fitted with an NS-37 37 millimeter cannon firing through the propeller spinner instead of the ShVAK 20 millimeter cannon. The variant went through evaluation in early 1943 and was in field service by the spring of that year. It proved very popular, with 2,748 built.

The yak 7 evolved from a 2 seat trainer

[J_A_B]

I believe there were two different basic lines of Yak fighters, a "light" series and a "heavy" series.   The "Heavy" ones were the Yak-7's which later gave way to the Yak-9's.   The "light" Yaks were the Yak-1's and later, the Yak-3.   They had a similar external appearance but were really quite a bit different.  

I am a bit rusty with regards to my knowledge of Soviet fighter history though so I may be mistaken.

J_A_B

[Tilt]

Originally posted by SFRT - Frenchy
What is the difference between the Yak 1, 3 and 9 pls? Is Yak3 better than the Yak9?

ty in advance.

As said above


Yak1 begat a trainer 2 seat version which (in 42) had the rear cockpit removed to become the heavier Yak7....(more on yak 7 later)

Yak1 continued to be modified vis fuselage and cockpit thru various sub types (all yak1) but in 43 begat a prototype  called the Yak1M wich was very much lighter but engine was unreliable.

In early 44 the Yak1M appeared with engine bugs ironed out as the Yak 3.

Back to the yak 7........the bulk of its production it looked just like an armed trainer with the rear canopy covered and its cockpit stripped.........latterly it to went  thru some more sub types where the fuselage was refined to a bubble canopy as had been done with the Yak1.

It then begat in 43 the Yak9 (D) a sub type of which is the Yak9T we have in AH. Yak 9D actually continued production right up to 45 but in early 44 a prototype was built which took it through much of the same development that had been put into the Yak1M..and this eventually ended up as the Yak 9U.


Despite its origins the Yak 9U is in many ways closer to the Yak 3 than its yak 9 D predecessor......the main difference being  engine. Both now used extensively more al alloy than their predecessors both had had large parts of their frame structure re designed and lightened both used the same if not very similar armament both used a similar wing profile but  yak3 had a 2 ft shorter span in broad terms performance and range was similar but the Yak3 was faster

Yak 3 was faster low down with  more accel but more delicate. It had a bubble fronted cockpit with very good all round vision.

Yak9U  had a longer range.

I always look upon it as two strands of development starting from the same origin and nearly finding the same ending.

Some generalisations were made above

[Wilbus]

The fastest Yak of all, also the fastest VVS Prop plane to ever see servicw/action was the Yak 3, top speed around 460-470mph (can't remember alt) and a top speed at the deck of about 380mph, it had shorter wings then the Yak 9 but lighter weight, the turning radius should be around the same while the roll rate would be improved. Climb rate better.

Yak 9 U was also a late Yak, 1944, as were all Yak 3's. Yak 3's didn't start seeing action untill mid 44 or so. Yak 9D was improved range and Yak 9 DD was even more improved range, it must be said though that the D and especially DD were very sluggush with alot of fuel and some squadrons, Normendie Niemen amongst others, never used the D or DD wing tanks but just used it normally instead along their other shorter ranged fighters.

T and K stands for heavy armament versions, usually 23mm and above.

If you want more info I have lots of it, ask what ya wanna know more...

[Kweassa]

A little summary:

 As people have already noted, there are two different lines in the evolutionary table of Yaks. There are the "light" Yaks, and then there are the "heavy" Yaks. Therefore, people tend to get confused if they think of the designation methods they are familiar with. The final two versions of the two Yak types are the Yak-3 and the Yak-9U. The earliest of the two Yak types are Yak-1 and Yak-7.

 The prototype for all Yaks was the plane designated "I-26". After the I-26 production types became the Yak-1, it evolved into Yak-1B and Yak-3. The VVS was initially very pleased with the I-26, and it was therefore also produced astwo-seat trainer version "UTI-26" (Uchbeno Trenirovochny Istrebitel) in March 4th of 1940. The UTI-26, after going through two versions(UTI-26-1, UTI-26-2), was redesignated and modified into Yak-7UTI trainer.

 After "Barbarossa", the VVS thought up a way to deal with plane shortages by modifying existing two-seat trainers into single-seat fighters, and thus the Yak-7UTI, with the rear trainer seat removed, became the Yak-7. The Yak-7 was further developed into the Yak-7A and the Yak-7B, and after 1942, it evolved into the Yak-7DI, which can be considered as an "early Yak-9". Thus, the mainstay of VVS fighters, the Yak-9, evolved from the UTI-26, and reached its final stage with the coming of the Yak-9U.

 Meanwhile, the Yak-1, which was considered the only fighter potent enough to match what the Germans put up, was also going through various changes. The mechanics of the 42IAP led by Major F. I. Shinkarenko had come up with some field modifications based on the pilots' experiences and complaints. The rear fuselage was lowered, and the canopy was changed to "bubble" types. These field-mod Yak-1s were known as "Shinkarenko's Yaks", and became a direct base for the improved version - Yak-1B.

 With the M-105PF engine and armed with 1xUBS machine gun and 1xShVAK 20mm cannon, the Yak-1B was the most formidabble opponent of the German Bf109F-4 and even a worthy match for the latest German fighter Bf109G-2 at low altitudes: a  very maneuverable fighter, doing 321mph at sea-level, 363mph at approximately 12k feet, 5.6 minutes to 15k feet, 18 seconds to 360 degrees turn. Armed with the best of WWII heavy machine guns 12.7mm UBSmg x1 (200 rpg), and 20mm ShVAKcan x1 (140rpg).

 After 1942, the Yak-1B was further experimented with improved engines and armament, which produced the prototype Yak-1M, which was to become the Yak-3.
 ...

 Some specs:

* Yak-7UTI(1941)
 M-105PA(1,100hp)
 360mph @ 13,500ft
 18 seconds to 360d turn
 6.6 minutes to 15,000ft

* Yak-7(1941)
 M-105PA(1,100hp)
 344mph @ 13,500ft
 24 seconds to 360d turn
 6.8 minutes to 15,000ft

* Yak-7B(1942)
 M-105PA(1,100hp)
 356mph @ 15,000ft
 21 seconds to 360d turn
 6.5 minutes to 15,000ft

* Yak-1B(1942)
 M-105PF(1,180hp)
 363mph @ 11,550ft
 18 seconds to 360d turn
 5.6 minutes to 15,000ft

 ...

 We really need some of these early VVS Yaks

 I-16 and LaGG-3 for pre-1941, Yak-7 for 1941, and Yak-1B for 1942. Yak-9 for 1943. Yak-3 for 1943~1944. These six planes + one or two more VVS bombers, with the four previously existing VVS fighters, would finish the VVS fighter plane set with about twelve planes - almost the same as US and LW.

 The VVS needs all of those planes. Soviet Russia was literally the largest participant of WWII in almost all aspects.

[Wotan]

to kweassa request I would like to see a mig3 as well as an earlier la5

[Kweassa]

Woops, almost completely forgotten about the Sturmovik and the P-39! With those, USSR would have the largest number of planes in the set.

 However, as I mentioned, USSR was the largest participant which fought the most bloody and vicious battles in WWII. While the air battle of the Western Front wasn't much a piece of cake either, USSR was fighting the majority of the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe in the East. 80% of Luftwaffe forces were moved to the Eastern Front when Barbarossa began. One can only speculate how more devasting the battle in the West would have become were it not for the Russians, and if the RAF and the USAAF would have had to fight against the full might of the Luftwaffe.

 Therefore, respect is due for the warriors of the Great Patriotic War. Let's see some more VVS planes!!!

[HFMudd]

Yak9U had a longer range.

...oh my.

[bioconscripter]

However, as I mentioned, USSR was the largest participant which fought the most bloody and vicious battles in WWII. While the air battle of the Western Front wasn't much a piece of cake either, USSR was fighting the majority of the Wehrmacht and the Luftwaffe in the East. 80% of Luftwaffe forces were moved to the Eastern Front when Barbarossa began. One can only speculate how more devasting the battle in the West would have become were it not for the Russians, and if the RAF and the USAAF would have had to fight against the full might of the Luftwaffe.

Yes, very true. USSR was the country that accutally won the war for the rest of the world. They were the ones who wore down the Luftwaffe and Wehrmacht so they could be defeated. At a very high price. The battles and the casualties the Allies had on the Western Front are nothing compared to the Eastern Front. It's sad that here in North America the Eastern Front is forgotten. If UK and USA would have to face the Wehrmacht at full strenght, the results would be catastrophic.

[J_A_B]

"Yes, very true. USSR was the country that accutally won the war for the rest of the world. "

So I take it the war against the Japanese doesn't count?

J_A_B

[Wotan]

before you disgard the russians impact on the war in the pacific read up on manchuria.

That was one hell of an assault put on by the soviets almost equal to the assault on berlin.

They faced an ill equipped but determined japaneese defense and they swept through and liberated manchuria with lightening speed. Even in comparison to the early german blitzkrieg it was awesome. Logistics alone are to be admired.

 

• 1.  During the period in question, a constant 21-24% of the Luftwaffe's day fighters were based in the East - but only 12-14% of the Luftwaffe day fighter "losses" occurred in this theater.
   
  
• 2.  During this period, a constant 75-78% of the day fighters were based in the West. The turnover was enormous: 14,720 aircraft were "lost", while operational strength averaged 1364.
   
  
• 3. During this period, 2294 day fighters were "lost" in the East; the ratio of western "losses" to eastern "losses" was thus 14,720/2294 = 6.4 to one.
• 4. During this period, a constant 43-46% of all of the Luftwaffe's operational aircraft were based in the East. It should be noted that these included entire categories (for example, battlefield recce, battle planes, dive bombers) that were used exclusively in the East, because they couldn't survive in the West..
• 5. During this period, a total of 8600 operational aircraft were "lost" in the East, while 27,060 were "lost" in the West; the ratio of western "losses" to eastern "losses" was thus 27,060/8600 = 3.41 to one.

Read Here

The VVS didnt defeat the lw but what they did is tie up enough of the lw to make it easier in the west. But make no mistake the lw was defeated over western Europe.

The western allies on the ground were in no rush to risk any more men then necessary to defeat Germany. They let the russians  do the bleeding on the ground. Well "let" aint the right word as the west had no choice short of getting to berlin before Soviets.

[Karnak]

Originally posted by Wilbus
The fastest Yak of all, also the fastest VVS Prop plane to ever see servicw/action was the Yak 3, top speed around 460-470mph (can't remember alt) and a top speed at the deck of about 380mph, it had shorter wings then the Yak 9 but lighter weight, the turning radius should be around the same while the roll rate would be improved. Climb rate better.

The Yak-3 with the 1,650hp VK-107A engine (the one that matches your performance figures) didn't enter service until after WWII.  The WWII Yak-3 was powered by a 1,225hp VK-105PF-2 engine.

With the VK-105 engine the Yak-3 had a top speed of 404mph and an initial climb rate of 4,265ft/minute.

The post war Yak-3 with the VK-107 engine had a top speed of 447mph and an initial climb rate of 5,250ft/minute.

[whgates3]

Originally posted by Wotan
...The western allies on the ground were in no rush to risk any more men then necessary to defeat Germany. They let the russians  do the bleeding on the ground. Well "let" aint the right word as the west had no choice short of getting to berlin before Soviets.

i have often wondered weather the allied invasion of western europe was intended, not so much to liberate france, Holland, belgium, Denmark, & Luxemborg (was Lichtenstein occupied? how 'bout Andorra?) from the nazis - soviets would have done that anyway - but to keep western europe from falling into stalin's hands

[GRUNHERZ]

Actually Stalin was screaming for a western allies invasion of europe since 1942 or so....