German Aviation - Overview and Recommendations

This guide is an overview of German aviation, with tips and tricks to new and existing players wishing to play the German tech tree.

#WTGuide2

Introduction

Welcome to War Thunder and to the German aviation tech tree. This guide seeks to give a detailed overview and offer some recommendations while traversing this extremely diverse selection of aircraft, from airframes to armament, from unique play styles to the BV 238, the German tech tree has something for everyone and is essential to understand if adhering to Sun Tzu's advice to know the enemy and know yourself.

This guide is focusing entirely on Air Realistic Battles (Air RB). I do not play Arcade, and many of my points will be irrelevant to Arcade players. Simulator players may find my information useful, but also lacking in Sim-specific portions of air combat (like, for instance, visibility).

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
  
• Archetypes
  
• Armament and Payload - Part I - Guns
  
• Armament and Payload - Part II - Cannons
  
• Armament and Payload - Part III - Bombs
  
• Armament and Payload - Part IV - Rockets
  
• The Bf 109 Family
  
• Highlights
  
• Common Opponents
  
• Strategy
  
• Jets
  
• Missiles
  
• Summary

Written up-to-date to information present in Update 2.23 'Apex Predators'.

Archetypes

Fighter - Fighters make up the most common and notable aircraft of the German inventory both in-game and in real life. They served on all fronts and in almost every capacity, from the iconic Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 to the meritorious Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5, German fighters are essential for playing the tech tree not only because they are good grinding tools, but because of just how good they are. Much like other nations, German fighters are built in a solid divide between turnfighters and energy fighters, but that line begins to blur by the time one reaches the very upper end of props. Needless to say, in single combat German fighters all have the potential to be extremely lethal.

Interceptor - Compared to other nations the Germans have surprisingly few dedicated interceptors, but the ones they do have are staggering in their ability to dismantle enemy aircraft. The Ta 152 C-3, the final derivative of the Fw 190, and the Ta 154 A-1, the Luftwaffe’s response to the RAF’s de Havilland Mosquito—both being designs of Focke-Wulf chief aeronautical engineer Kurt Tank—are perfect examples of German interceptors. Extreme climb rates considering the armament they are hauling, supreme dive speed over almost everything they will fight, and enough minengeschoß to win an entire round if played conservatively will thoroughly demonstrate the potential might of German intercepting power.


Heavy Fighter - Unlike other countries which largely focus on one general type of heavy fighter (for example, Japan, with its many twin-engine cannon-based fighters with a single rear gun), Germany has several. Aircraft of other archetypes, particularly the interceptor role, bleed into the heavy fighter archetype, but others are entirely separate. From the Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-7 to the Dornier Do 217 N-1, the heavy fighters of Germany commonly act as superheavy interceptors and important fighter-bombers, traversing the archetype line in an attempt to fulfil multiple important jobs on the same airframe.


Attacker - While German heavy fighters play a significant part in what would traditionally be done by attackers, attackers themselves are still present on the German tech tree. The gargantuan cannons of the Junkers Ju 87 G-2 and the tank buster of the Henschel Hs 129 B-3 are more than enough to define the purpose of the aircraft and fit themselves snugly within the German arsenal. Unlike the attackers of many other nations, German attack aircraft are pretty much exclusive to their role without significant practice.


Dive Bomber - There can be no adequate overview of German aviation without dive bombers, including all variants of the iconic Junkers Ju 87. Equipped with a wide range of armament and payload, set up with a bomber spawn and air brakes, and with a rear gun, German dive bombers are powerful tools in both air battles and combined arms fights, posing a significant threat to AI bases in a bomber role and player ground forces in a close air support position. Especially at lower tiers, German dive bombers can easily expose an enemy airfield and cause large damage to that, too.


Light Bomber - The Germans have very little in the way of dedicated light bombers that are not already doubled up upon by the dive bombing archetype, however they are not entirely missing. Aircraft like the Henschel Hs 123 A-1 and the Blohm und Voß BV 138 C-1 are notable in their largely unique role, providing an adequate bomb load with fighter performance in the Hs 123’s case and a minor bomb load with surprising defensive capability in the BV 138’s. One can obtain the entirety of the German light bombing arsenal and not even realise that they had them with how small of a selection there is, however all of them are particularly good aircraft in one way or another.


Medium Bomber - A major highlight of the Luftwaffe was their focus on medium bombers of all types. From the star of the Blitz, the Heinkel He 111 H-3, to its brother the Junkers Ju 88 A-1, German medium bombers hold significant payloads within light, fast, and well-defended airframes. They are not the strongest planes nor have the largest bombs (excepting the He 111 H-16), but they are cheap and very easy to fly in groups. With proper care and planning, a small flight of German medium bombers can easily win a round; as evidenced, of course, by battle rating brackets from 5.3 to 7.0 broken because of a certain plane.


Heavy Bomber - German heavy bombers are few and far between, as they were not a preferred archetype within the Luftwaffe while they focused on schnellbombers and fighter doctrine. However, that is not to discount the few examples present in-game, as they are formidable. The infamous Blohm und Voß BV 238, terrorising mid-tier since 2016, or the venerable Messerschmitt Me 264, the high altitude destroyer, are both good examples… and also the only ones modelled in War Thunder.


We’ll cover jets in a later section, as all of these main archetypes apply for them, too, but jets are an entirely different playstyle to propeller-driven aircraft regardless of nation. It’s going to be a while until you can fly any jets, anyways, so for now the above is your main resource for information.

Armament and Payload - Part I - Guns

The Luftwaffe put into service a staggering variety of weaponry by the war's end, and in War Thunder a grand majority of them are available to use. While they have mostly the same types of weapons as the other trees, there are several unique options, and no matter what, German aircraft are extremely good at putting rounds and explosives down-range.

(This list excludes helicopter armaments as helicopters deserve their own guide, and, unlike my British guide, will be ignoring post-World War II weaponry because that would nearly double the list.)

Rheinmetall-Borsig 7.92mm MG 17

The MG 17 is the essential primary offensive aircraft machine gun, present on almost every single aircraft that has offensive low-calibre armament. With a good array of belts and a fast fire rate, the MG 17's low single damage output is offset by the sheer number of rounds able to be put at the enemy, as well as a usually high ammo count compared to its larger cannon pairings. Typically dual-mounted, loading tracers will show any enemy pilot a hailfire of rounds they should be terrified of.

Rheinmetall 7.92mm MG 15

Like the MG 17, both of which were developed from the same original gun, the MG 15 is the essential primary defensive aircraft machine gun, being flexibly- or turret-mounted on almost every aircraft that has low-calibre defensive armament. Unlike the MG 17, though, the MG 15 is typically single-mounted in its positions, lowering overall effectiveness as the gun is not that useful alone. In positions where it is dual-mounted, like on the early Messerschmitt Bf 110s, they are typically tightly grouped and particularly lethal as they hit the same spot simultaneously; with some good aim, the MG 15 is very useful both as a gun and as a deterrent.

Mauser 7.92mm MG 81

The successor of the MG 15, the MG 81 takes all of the good aspects of the MG 15 and elevates them. With an even faster fire rate, they serve the same purpose as the MG 15 in both offensive and defensive roles, tearing apart aircraft with surprising precision and keeping safe some of Germany's largest aircraft. On smaller aircraft they are even more important as, for something like the Ar 196 A-5, it means having almost the same stopping power to the rear as it has to its front. The MG 81 is rarer than its pre-war counterparts, but they can make all the difference when it comes to ending the enemy.

Rheinmetall-Borsig 13mm MG 131

The last of Germany's wartime machine guns, the MG 131 fires a larger calibre round than its 7.92mm counterparts in a frame almost the same size. Because of this, the MG 131 entirely replaces low-calibre armament on Germany's mid-to-late fighters and many bomber and attack aircraft turret mountings. It is encountered early on in the tech tree but not entirely adopted until late props, however it is lethal at all levels. Like the American 12.7mm M2 Browning, the MG 131 provides small aircraft with staggering stopping power, and unlike American aircraft are usually tightly grouped together or even nose-mounted, providing a thin attack line and a very exact impact point whether fixed or flexible.

Mauser 15mm MG 151/15

As the original version of the MG 151, the MG 151/15 needs little introduction to those who are already well-acquainted with the German tech tree. Although briefly used and only being the primary armament on a handful of aircraft, the MG 151/15 features prominently early on as the successor to the MG FF. Since one moves on quickly from aircraft mounted with the /15 variant, it is necessary to keep in mind the primary difference between the two: belts. While, of course, they are different sizes and therefore fire different rounds, the most important change between the /15 and /20 is that the /15 does not get the German signature minengeschoß—as it had not been invented yet—and instead opts for standard HEF rounds with a smaller explosive mass but larger fragmentation potential. Because of this, the MG 151/15 is extremely lethal against engines and it becomes almost trivial to cause leaks on enemy aircraft.

Mauser 20mm MG 151/20

Beginning with the Bf 109 F-4, the MG 151/20 is the quintessential German aircraft cannon, seeing use from 4.0 up to the highest end of props. Developed directly from the MG 151/15, the /20 variant saw far greater use and, in-game, will be significantly more effective. As mentioned, the MG 151/20 comes equipped with minengeschoß, mine shells, that have a far higher explosive mass than their standard HEF counterparts. In an offensive role they are often deployed in pairs, though the Bf 109s favour engine-mounted singles, and offer a scary level of explosive mass when paired with gun pods. In a defensive role they are often the single answer to an attacking fighter as, with the learned ability to aim, the MG 151/20 offers precision, explosive mass, and a high muzzle velocity.

Ikaria 20mm MG FF

Although being the first 20mm armament a German player will encounter, it is also one of the hardest to learn, but offers a valuable lesson for the rest of the German tech tree because of that. If a target is hit, the MG FF’s explosive rounds will take care of it easily, however its slow muzzle velocity paired with time-fuzed shells cause it to be somewhat difficult to work with for players who do not know those facts. Using MG FFs in a turnfight situation is particularly difficult because of how slow the rounds move in comparison to the complementing 7.92mm armament. Likewise, the timed fuzes make it impossible to engage enemy units that traverse outside of ~0.70 km (around 0.45 mi) if intending to use MG FFs. Against bombers, unsuspecting fighters, and in manoeuvres in extremely low energy states, the MG FF shines, but its issues make it a problem as armament on introductory aircraft on the tech tree as, for new players, the minutiae of aircraft cannons is not on the mind.

Ikaria 20mm MG FF/M

A slightly upgraded version of the MG FF, the MG FF/M’s main difference is its ability to load minengeschoß. While it does not fundamentally change the cannon’s characteristics, its limitations still having to be kept in consideration, the upgrade is noticeable when looking at its time-to-kill against enemy aircraft. The addition of minengeschoß allows the player to potentially use less ammunition than the standard FF, a most important difference as the MG FF/M’s drum magazines limit the amount of rounds carried to a mere ninety per gun (and only sixty on the MG FF).

Rheinmetall-Borsig 20mm MG C/30L

Designed as a mobile anti-aircraft gun for use with ground and naval forces as the Flugzeugabwehrkanone 30, it was tested as an aircraft cannon during the Spanish Civil War on He 112 A-0s, being used to great effect both against aircraft and against light armoured vehicles. The MG C/30L shines at its best as an anti-aircraft weapon, with its best belt being made up solely of HEFI rounds. With its low ammunition count, its otherwise effective API is made less useful for long-term engagements. Likewise, the MG C/30L offers an interesting challenge for new players because of its extremely slow fire rate and fuze delayed HEFI rounds, making it a very short-range weapon. Once one gets around its shortcomings, though, and learns how to effectively use the potent He 112 platform, the MG C/30L and the He 112 A-0 becomes one of the most useful low-tier German units.

Armament and Payload - Part II - Cannons

Mauser 27mm BK 27

Present aboard all Panavia Tornadoes, the BK 27 is a formidable aircraft cannon that, while not entirely accurate until modifications are researched, offer effective use against both air and ground targets. Compared to similar aircraft cannons like the DEFA and ADEN, the BK 27 gets a large ammunition reserve, useful when considering the Tornado IDS only has two missiles to back it up. Likewise, it means one can continue attacking ground targets after expending air-to-air capability or vice versa without having to immediately return to the airfield. While the BK 27 is available only at top tier, it represents the latest German indigenously-made aircraft cannon in-game and should never be engaged against without caution.


Rheinmetall-Borsig 30mm MK 101

The MK 101 is a unique weapon in War Thunder, only appearing in a ventral mounting on the Bf 110 C-6, an event vehicle from summer of 2019. Its rarity is counteracted by its effectiveness, however, as it is simply terrifying how efficient it is at ending the flight of an enemy aircraft. While its fire rate is notably slow, its muzzle velocity is uncharacteristically high compared to other cannons of the same calibre; so fast, indeed, that it is nearly indistinguishable from the firing arc of the MG 17s that accompany it. Being a 30mm cannon, one or two well-placed rounds is more than enough to take down most aircraft, and a couple more to take down the largest bombers. Considering its fire rate, its sixty round capacity is more than enough to last several engagements and, being mounted on a versatile, low tier, easy-to-learn aircraft, is useful in most engagements.

Rheinmetall-Borsig 30mm MK 103

Developed directly from the MK 101, the MK 103 features a higher rate of fire at the cost of some muzzle velocity. While this does not hamper its ability to be used outside of straight-line combat, it makes it somewhat more difficult to get one’s guns onto the target. Of note is that the obvious choice for air-to-air combat, minengeschoß, has a velocity far slower than its AP counterparts, making the difference between the two cannons all the more glaring. The MK 103 is the primary armament on numerous mid-to-late props (though can be found as early as the Hs 129 B-2) as a useful anti-bomber or anti-tank weapon, typically mounted in addition to other guns.

Rheinmetall-Borsig 30mm MK 108

Of the many maschinenkanone operated by Germany, the MK 108 is unique insofar as it is short-barrelled, which means that while it is lethal in its own right, it suffers at range. Developed separately from other similar cannons, the MK 108 performs utterly unlike them. A potential descriptor for it would be the ‘shotgun of the skies’ as it doesn’t seem to ever fire perfectly in a line, but creates an area of space filled with high explosive rounds, particularly useful for its intended role. As it was purpose-built as a bomber hunting cannon, the MK 108 is also unique in having zero armour piercing options, the belts containing only HEF, HEI, and I in various configurations. As a result, the MK 108 excels in blowing enemy aircraft to bits, dismantling targets often before the first burst has even fully impacted. Because of their overall inaccuracy, they are often mounted in groups—most notably in a group of four as the standard armament option on the Me 262s—but their weight counteracts any potential turnfighting advantage (which is also why it is not recommended to use the MK 108 gun pods on the late Bf 109 Gs unless energy fighting).

Rheinmetall-Borsig 37mm BK 3,7

Infamous for its presence on the Ju 87 G-series but available as suspended armament on several other aircraft, the BK 3,7 is less capable in the ground attack role than its larger successors, but is present at such a low battle rating that that issue is nullified. Against light armour, the BK 3,7 is absolutely lethal, though in single mountings still requires one to aim; a single hit from a BK 3,7 is not enough to kill unless well-placed. Its HEI rounds are unimpressive compared to 30mm minengeshoß—not even considering that HEI is near useless except against open-topped vehicles—so it is best to use HVAP belts in basically all circumstances so as to not use up all of its very limited ammunition. There is very little else to say about the BK 3,7 as it is not altogether that special, and the Ju 87 it is most used on is equally unspectacular, but in a Ground RB CAS or Air RB ticket-bleeding role it shines.

Rheinmetall 50mm BK 5

Equipped with two versions of the Me 410, the BK 5 is one of Rheinmetall's largest answers to the bomber-hunting question. Like with other aircraft cannons intended to be used against bombers, its most useful belt is made up entirely of HEI, but it also comes equipped with the option for HVAP for taking out engine nacelles or against ground targets. One advantage to the BK 5 is that the aircraft it is mounted on is very capable, and it is possible to use the BK 5 in an expanded air-to-air role beyond just its anti-bomber role. The long barrel on the cannon allows for high muzzle velocities and surprising range, and when used properly against bombers provides assuredly positive results.

Mauser 50mm MK 214A

Erroneously titled in-game as the 'Mk.214a' in British post-war styling, the MK 214A is only equipped aboard the Me 262 A-1/U4. Its extremely long barrel allows for precision shots at range, and, considering the bomber hunting intention of the Pulkzerstörer, is favourable for those who wish to stay out of the range of bomber defence suites. With its slow fire rate, the MK 214A is extremely hard to overheat—though in real life it was over-complicated and jammed easily—allowing for full use of its ammunition without pause. The cannon comes with an even spread of belts, its HVAP rounds offering precise anti-tank capability while its HEI rounds blow wings clean off of the heaviest bombers with ease. The main obstacle to using the MK 214A effectively is the Me 262 platform itself; even with airspawn, the added weight of the enormous cannon on a stock 262 entirely takes away its ability to do anything except straight-line combat.

Rheinmetall-Borsig 75mm BK 7,5

Available only aboard the tank-busting Hs 129 B-3, the BK 7,5 is Germany's ultimate aircraft cannon. While the aircraft is sluggish and only more so with the 7,5 equipped, it makes up for it with its sheer damage output. On the German tech tree the BK 7,5 is unparalleled in its capability against ground targets, equipped with APHE, HVAP, or HEI rounds to eliminate various types of targets with ease. While the Hs 129's downsides are accentuated with the cannon, its rugged airframe and low stall speed allow for the Hs 129 to engage ground targets even after taking considerable damage, making the BK 7,5 a hidden gem overlooked on the tech tree because of the initial mediocreness the player is confronted with of the aircraft it is mounted on.

Armament and Payload - Part III - Bombs

SD 10 C

Present only on the He 51 B-2/H and He 51 Cs at the very beginning of the tech tree, the SD 10 C is seldom used in-game and rarely used in real life outside of cluster bombs. The SD 10 C is a fragmentation bomb, only useful against open or light armoured targets and utterly useless against anything more powerful. Against AI targets it will fail to kill medium tanks or light pillboxes and will have trouble even destroying AAA trucks and light tanks, whereas in Ground RB it may have moderately more success. The main advantage to the SD 10 C is that they are mounted on the He 51 platform, extremely capable at its tier and certainly able to manoeuvre the bombs onto whichever chosen target with extreme precision due to the ability biplanes have to pull up suddenly. The bomb by itself is vastly unimpressive, especially considering infantry is absent from the game as air-to-ground targets, and considering how the He 51 excels at air-to-air combat it’s advised just to leave the bombs and save the weight.

SC 50 Ja

The SC 50 Ja is one of the most numerous bombs on the tech tree, used as the secondary bombs in pairs on light fighters and as the smallest option on light and medium bombers. It is common on the tech tree, yet by itself not entirely useful; on something like the Ar 196 A-3, where its entire bomb complement is two SC 50s, you will find that you will be destroying very little. The SC 50 Ja is a high explosive bomb, meant for explosive mass over fragmentation or armour penetration, meaning in an Air RB aspect it’s best used for bases or light vehicles and in Ground RB to attack only open-top and light armoured targets. With its frequency the player will become acquainted with the SC 50 Ja, but it is not going to be the one scoring all of the kills.

SC 250 Ja

Mounted either as the primary fighter and attacker bomb or as the medium-sized ordnance on bombers, the SC 250 Ja is another one of the bombs the player will be well-acquainted with by the time they reach jets. Significantly more powerful than its 50 kg counterpart, the SC 250 Ja is a bomb that will see its purpose change as one goes down the tech tree. On something like the Hs 123 A-1, the centreline SC 250 Ja and its secondary bombs will be enough to destroy a base, but on the Bf 109 G-2/trop it will do functionally nothing to a base. In a ground attack role that same idea is reflected as armour gets better and, as a high explosive bomb, its limitations outside of explosive mass and overpressure show—its real-life mechanics of armour penetration are negligible in practical use, and while it may be better than some of its competitors at penetration it seldom will make a significant difference as 250 kg of explosive is usually enough to destroy whatever the target is if it is a direct hit.

SC 500 K

For most attackers, the SC 500 K is the primary ‘large’ bomb, and on bombers it acts as either the choice secondary bomb or, in volume, the primary payload. The SC 500 K is a formidable high explosive bomb capable of levelling a battlefield if deployed in significant amounts or eliminating a specific target with extreme prejudice. Because of its common appearances aboard almost all of Germany’s medium and heavy bombers, the SC 500 K is a weapon worth learning and most certainly worth using. On an aircraft like the Fw 190 A-5/U2 it offers a significant air-to-ground load (useful, considering the ground attack Umrüst-Bausatz designation in its name) and the ability to go directly from bombing to fighter duties in an instant, whereas on something like the He 177 A-5 it offers a formidable payload more than enough to end a base.

SC 1000 L2

Germany’s essential ‘big bomb’, the SC 1000 L2 is the standard primary payload option for the Luftwaffe’s largest bombers, yet somehow still features on small aircraft at low battle ratings. The Fw 190 F-8 has one mounted centreline with additional bombs on the wings, making it easily the largest bomb load available to single-engine aircraft on the German tech tree; likewise, the Ju 87 R-2 all the way back at 1.3 has a single SC 1000 L2 as its largest payload. In a close air support space, the SC 1000 L2 is enough to eliminate multiple enemies in close proximity and spread damage even further; in a level bombing space, the SC 1000 L2 is, at low battle ratings, enough to destroy a base, and in high battle ratings only a couple are needed—the only real downside to it is that it is, by definition, heavier than its smaller counterparts, and that can take a toll on some already heavy aircraft that carry it into battle, the Fw 200 C-1 for instance.

PC 1400 X

Of all of Germany’s payload options, the PC 1400 X (or Fritz X, as it is colloquially known) is the earliest available guided bomb in the game. Equipped on the He 111 H-6 and He 177 A-5 (although it should also be available on the Do 217, the Do 217 K-2 it was used on is not in the game [and the Fritz X is not researchable as a K-2 module on the Do 217 K-1 for whatever reason]), the Fritz X is not the most intuitive weapon to learn, but with some time (and some luck) the bomb can be quite effective. Designed specifically for anti-ship use, it excels at that and will immediately commit to the sea most ships smaller than a cruiser, as well as most light cruisers; because of its guided nature, it becomes yet easier to ensure success as one can aim for a specific portion of the ship rather than hoping the bomb stays on target in freefall. As with most things in-game that are manually guided via the keyboard (for PC players), it is extremely difficult to get it perfectly on target by default, but with some tweaking (or a controller) it can work just fine.

SC 1800 B

There is no downside to the SC 1800 B, that much can be said with assurance. Carried on all of Germany’s most powerful bombers, the SC 1800 B alone can end a base on a three-stack map and two will annihilate one on a four-stack. Against ground forces, the SC 1800 B is extremely lethal, providing the ability to clear out a capture point and its surroundings with a single drop. The issue of fragmentation versus explosive mass is made null with bombs this big, as they will achieve victory regardless. There remains little to say about the SC 1800 B except this: use it as soon as you can and use it often.

SC 2500

The largest available bomb on the German tech tree, the SC 2500 is also the largest high explosive bomb the Luftwaffe fielded during the war. Available in-game only on the He 111 H-16, it is absolutely devastating when used effectively. While the He 111 platform in general is slow on take-off, it can be used for schnellbombing quite well and, using the SC 2500’s immense weight as a diving incentive, speed is of no concern. Take care in using it at any sort of low altitude, since its explosion radius has the distinct potential not only to damage your aircraft but completely destroy it if one finds themselves too low. However, that same immense power is its strength; like its 1800 kg counterpart, the SC 2500 will end any target in its explosion radius almost without exception, be it ships, tanks, pillboxes, or the unfortunate aircraft that chose to intercept a low-flying bomber. The only downside to it applies to Air RB specifically: when using the He 111 H-16, the SC 2500 is the only bomb one can take on that payload option, making it a one-and-done style of gameplay that necessitates frequent returns to the airfield.

Armament and Payload - Part IV - Rockets

Heber R4M

As an air-to-air rocket, the 55mm R4M was made with devastating explosive force in mind. The R4M is equipped with a mine warhead functionally identical to the minengeschoß of smaller gun armaments. Intended for anti-bomber duty and typically fired in full salvos, enemy bombers will go down after a couple hits. The R4M is basically useless against ground targets save for ones that are open-top or lightly-armoured, and considering the R4M only appears on early Me 262s that will rarely be the case. In War Thunder they aren't the most useful, and it's better to just save the weight and use the main calibre armament.

Rheinmetall-Borsig RZ 65

The RZ 65 is the only armament on this entire list that I can firmly say to not use. Intended for air-to-air duties and mounted within the wing of the carrier aircraft, the RZ 65 not only has a miniscule warhead but abysmal speed and, while it may be spin-stabilised, will rarely—if ever—reach the target in the time it takes for the player to be within regular gun range. Against tanks it is useless except the most exposed open-tops, as even against light armour it fails to penetrate. Some have found success against medium bombers and unlucky fighters, but the added weight is unnecessary when the same aircraft are also mounted with cannons.

Heber Panzerblitz II

Appearing erroneously aboard the Fw 190 F-8 (if anyone has any sources that can point me to the Pb. II being mounted on the F-8, please link me) and equally strangely titled the 'Pb2', the 88mm Panzerblitz II is a dedicated anti-tank rocket with the ability to eliminate targets with a couple hits. Based upon the R4M, the Panzerblitz II uses a shaped HEAT warhead instead of the mine head on its predecessor. Because of this, it is limited to exclusively air-to-ground duties, but considering the absolute unit that is the Fw 190 F-8 that isn't an issue.

Rheinmetall-Borsig BR 21

Entitled in-game by its unofficial designation, Wfr. Gr. 21, the 210mm BR 21 is an enormous rocket found on numerous strike aircraft throughout the German tech tree. The BR 21 was an attempt to replace the R4Ms by increasing the explosive mass available with each rocket, but is severely limited not only by the increase in weight, but by the enormous increase in drag caused by the underslung rocket pods that replaced the R4M's conforming rocket unit. While the rocket guarantees a kill upon a successful hit, getting the rocket onto the target in the first place is the hardest part. Rockets themselves are already hard to aim, a slow 210mm rocket is even harder, especially aboard aircraft like the Bf 110 G-4 that have more favourable armament options in other departments.

Schräge Musik

One of the most peculiar arrangements for armament, Schräge Musik (tr. Strange Music) is an option aboard several heavy fighters in service with the Luftwaffe (and across the world in Japan, but that's for another guide) that involves mounting cannons in an upward-firing position to attack bombers from the underside.

While this was an extremely effective strategy when applied in real life, in War Thunder it is far less useful. For Sim players this doesn't apply, but the spotting system in-game functionally makes Schräge Musik aircraft null, as any sense of surprise from under is rendered useless as gunners immediately spot and open fire—not to mention that Schräge Musik was intended to be used in night fighting, and night air maps were removed from rotation back sometime before 2020; other weather conditions that similarly mask fighters are so rare they can barely be counted as 'in rotation'.

Schräge Musik itself is interesting and, if learned to a more exact degree, can be used in turn fighting to effectively fire well within an enemy's turning radius, but its successes are few and far between in-game.

The Bf 109 Family

One of the most iconic aircraft not only in the German arsenal but in aviation history as a whole, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 filled nearly every possible role in the Luftwaffe. At its inception it stunned the world with its performance, and even until the end of its lifetime it continued to receive upgrades and modifications. Outside of German service, the Bf 109 in its many forms remained in many air forces globally, namely with Spain re-engined with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 500/45 as the Hispano HA-1112 Buchon (not yet in-game for some reason) and Czechoslovakia re-engined with a Junkers Jumo 211F as the Avia S-199 (only in-game in Israeli service). Its longevity is not without reason, as the Bf 109 pattern is small, nimble, and fast, in addition to being an airframe used to modifications; particularly useful to nations in need of an air force quickly like Israel and Czechoslovakia.

While small in size, it offers surprising survivability in-game as well as stopping power equal to that of some heavy fighters. At the very start of the tech tree, the Bf 109 B-1 gives extremely good energy performance at a tier where very little can match and is paired with two dorsal nose-mounted MG 17s for precision deconstruction of enemy biplanes. At the very end of the tech tree is the Bf 109 K-4, a premier energy fighter capable of fighting even post-war props and early jets with favourable performance (though beware of the K-4's abysmal stock performance, its spaded performance is absolutely fantastic).

Utilising its small profile and using flaps at proper moments (its flaps are quite slow to deploy, but effective once out), one can stay behind most aircraft at the same tier. Keep in mind its limitations though: the Bf 109 fails to perform whatsoever in a sharp dive and will rip its wings soon after hitting the red line; likewise, it compresses easily, limiting the late 109s to high speed energy fighting or low speed turn fighting with very little in-between options. For its armament, its cannons—whether the engine-mounted main gun or underslung gun pods—will run out of ammunition, often forcing the player to use machine guns to achieve victory. This is not inherently an issue, but forces the player to learn machine guns properly.

Highlights

Along the German tech tree are several aircraft that stand out in particular both when facing them and when playing them. This section will illustrate several recommendations and outline in generality just why they stand out like they do.

Heinkel He 100 D-1

The He 100 D-1 is a special aircraft because of its versatility. At its proper battle rating of 1.7 it often is down-tiered to reserve and uses its racing plane capabilities to energy fight everything with absolutely no competition. In an up-tier it still faces little competition, then because of its turn rate and its sheer speed limit (over 800 km/h in some situations at some altitudes [yes, I have personally gone to 810 km/h in the He 100 D-1). Its armament is three MG 17s, but while it may seem lacklustre, they are grouped tightly at the centre of the airframe, creating a concentrated beam of fire unmatched in its accuracy.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 C-7

This is another aircraft that uses its battle rating to its advantage. Sitting at 2.7, the Bf 110 C-7 is useful both in an up- and down-tier. Its armament is formidable regardless, but its speed and manoeuvrability are its highlights. Unlike its other Messerschmitt compatriots, the Bf 110 C-7 is particularly hard to compress when engaging (except near its red line speeds) and turns extraordinarily well for a European twin-engine fighter. While its rear armament is poor compared to later modifications of the Bf 110 pattern, the C-7 is capable of countering that simply by either escaping or out-turning the competition.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4

As well as the Bf 109 F-4/trop in the same group as it, the Bf 109 F-4 is the last turn fighter of the aircraft pattern. With appropriate flap usage it counters enemy light fighters with ease save for dedicated turn fighters like the A6M and Spitfire. Unlike the Bf 109 F-2 which shares many of its characteristics, the F-4 comes equipped with 20mm MG 151s whereas the F-2 has the lighter 15mm variant. It can be used for a good combination of turn fighting and energy fighting and is much more readily down-tiered compared to its 4.3 compatriot the Bf 109 G-2/trop.

Dornier Do 335 A-1

Specifically recommended over the Do 335 A-0 because of its lower battle rating, the Do 335 A-1 is a unique combination between heavy fighter and schnellbomber. Powered by two tandem-mounted engines, the Do 335 A-1's ability to dive an out-speed the enemy is extreme, made better yet by its low battle rating and common down-tiered matches. Surprisingly, it carries bombs in an internal bomb bay, not enough to destroy a base by itself but enough to make it worthwhile to restock and come back to end it. The Do 335 A-1 is able to switch immediately from bomber to fighter or vice versa at a moment's notice, and its late-war power at a mid-war battle rating is apparent.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 K-4

Whereas the Bf 109 F-4 is the last of the 109 turn fighters, the K-4 is the ultimate 109 energy fighter. It cannot turn with many of its contemporaries, but it makes up for it in its sheer ability to climb even with gun pods equipped. The Bf 109 K-4 has larger guns than its predecessors, packing a larger punch on the same tiny frame, even more important in superprops as the small profile means one will be able to dodge past the hailstorm of fire from the Allied opposition. The Bf 109 K-4 is terrible on stock, but once spaded it is easily one of the best aircraft on the German tree even as it is often overlooked.

Heinkel He 177 A-5

One of the Luftwaffe's last schnellbombers, the He 177 A-5 combines the best of Germany's medium-heavy bombers with the most powerful propeller engines available. Powered by twin DB 610s (two DB 605s coupled together to drive a single prop) and with overwhelming defensive armament as well as an enormous bomb load, the He 177 A-5 is unmatched by any German tech tree bomber at the tier. Take the bomber spawn and dive slowly, gaining speed until over the target, drop bombs, and then turn for home with an excess of energy.

Focke-Wulf Ta 152 C-3

The final development pattern of the Fw 190, the Ta 152 C-3 is the low-to-mid altitude variant of an excellent aircraft. Armed as heavily as the Fw 190 D-series but with superior performance overall, the Ta 152 C-3 needs very little to be good. Previously the scourge of high tier props before some balancing changes, the Ta 152 is at the battle rating it holds for a reason. Use it, the repair cost will offset itself.

Arado Ar 234 B-1

The twin-engined, unarmed version of the Ar 234 at a significantly lower battle rating than its successor, the Ar 234 B-1 is the absolute definition of a schnellbomber. It gets bomber spawn with jet engines at a prop tier, allowing it to get its payload off and return to base in the time it takes for the enemy aircraft to even get halfway across the map. While none of its payload options are enough to destroy a four-stack base in one go, its rocket-assisted takeoff and good acceleration characteristics (for early jets) allow it to return to the bomb target while simultaneously out-speeding the competition. It is one of the best challenge aircraft for those who appreciate bombing.

Horten Ho 229 V3

Easily one of the most unique aircraft in the game, the flying wing Ho 229 V3 is quite literally the best jet turn fighter. What it inherently lacks in roll rate due to its design it makes up for in a single-point turn, going in circles around what are typically the kings of jet turn fights like the MiG-15. Armed with a pair of MK 103s, aiming the Ho 229 on stock is tricky, but once upgraded and especially after being spaded the Ho 229 is a terrifyingly effective aircraft in close engagements. Really, though, don't use it in rolling manoeuvres, it just won't work.

Messerschmitt Me 163 B

Not to be confused with the Me 163 B-0, which is 0.7 battle rating higher, the Me 163 B is an 8.0 rocket plane that, like any aircraft of that archetype, is unique and fun to fly. The Me 163 pattern is the highest battle rating indigenous German aircraft on the tech tree (for now) other than the Panavia Tornado, which deserves its own guide in and of itself. As always, keep the throttle low unless intercepting, and use its turn rate effectively in pairing with that. When used in its intended purpose of bomber hunting, its large cannons are extremely effective and are backed up by the tiny frame that makes enemy guns very easy to dodge. Against fighters it, like the Ho 229, turns circles around a grand majority of them, and that is one of its greatest strengths. Just, well, be careful not to tip-drag into a flip when you land on its ski.

Common Opponents

There are several common opponents one will come to know when going through the German aviation tech tree. Among them are some key units that can be used to derive methods to fight others and, in the case of War Thunder, offer some match-ups that would never have occurred in real life.

Supermarine Spitfire F Mk.IX

Of all the aircraft in the game, one of the most dangerous to German aircraft as a whole is the Spitfire F Mk.IX regardless of the nation it is fighting on. Armed with two 20mm Hispano Mk.IIs and four 7.7mm Browning machine guns and with an airframe that will easily out-turn comparable German fighters at almost every energy state, the Spitfire F Mk.IX (and, indeed, every Spitfire before and after it) are extremely dangerous. They suffer from the same difficulties as the Bf 109 pattern in a dive, but by the time that advantage shows itself one will have oversped. This is not an order not to fight Spitfires, quite the contrary, often German aircraft excel against them if used properly, but it is necessary to act with caution as, if given the upper hand, a Spitfire F Mk.IX will tear anything in front of its guns apart.

North American P-51 / Mustang Mk.Ia

While this advice extends to the P-51 pattern as a whole, the early cannon-armed variants of the Mustang are some of the most lethal because they are often underestimated or countered wrong. Unlike much later versions of the Mustang like the P-51H-5 that allow for limited turn fighting, the Mustang Mk.Ia is a pure energy fighter and, if allowed to properly engage using its energy, is nearly unbeatable by most comparable German aircraft. It is not infallible. Allow the Mustang to keep its high energy state and use quick turns to counter it; beware, though, to not allow it to get to a low energy state, as the Mustang Mk.Ia performs surprisingly well at low speeds and has enough rudder authority to quickly get out of stalls and redirect fire back to you.

Focke-Wulf Fw 190 F-8

Ironically, one of the most common aircraft one will fight will be from Germany itself. The Fw 190 pattern as a whole is not to be trifled with, but they are far from invincible. In the case of the F-8 variant, it carries enough firepower to quite literally dismantle an aircraft in a blink of an eye. However, while bringing the very same armament that makes it so powerful, it limits its already terrible elevator performance. Bring it into a dive and use one's presumably higher turn rate to bleed its energy out and come back around on it. If they take that bait, they're already dead.

Mitsubishi A6M2b Type 0 Model 21

From ally to enemy, War Thunder spares no country from facing another. The star of the Pacific, like the aforementioned Spitfire, will utterly out-turn any German aircraft it comes across save for the biplanes, which it will seldom face. The only real solution to fighting the Type 0 is to energy fight it and, if possible, run. The Type 0's maximum speed is below most things except bombers, and it is often possible to simply turn away and outrun it and regain a favourable energy state away from its guns.

Grumman XP-50

This needs no introduction, its reputation precedes it. Avoid it unless in an aircraft that can turn. Disengage as soon as possible if not.

Strategy

Strategy on Germany is different than many other tech trees when going above roughly 3.3 battle rating. Turn fighting is rarely the way to win past that point save for a few choice examples (Bf 110s, Bf 109 F-4s, et cetera). Because of that, properly learning how energy fighting and relative energy states work is essential for succeeding with Germany both in props and in preparing for how jet combat works. Strategies for just how to use this energy differs, however, from plane to plane and archetype to archetype. The best way to quickly summarise the German tech tree's various strategies is to go down each subtree and outline why they are divided as such.

On the far left is the mainline fighters and West German fighters (starting with the Bf 109 B-1 and ending with the F-4F) which contains every single tech tree Bf 109 and fighter variant Me 262 on Germany. This tree is essential to playing Germany not only because many of the available aircraft are useful to grind, but because the Bf 109 and Me 262 are essential to the experience of flying for the Luftwaffe. The second tree is also mainline fighters, but contains the East German fighters as well (starting with the He 51 A-1 and ending with the MiG-23MLA), most important because it contains every tech tree variant of the Fw 190 and the only tech tree He 162. Like the first tree, the second is essential to experiencing German aviation and is even better if used for the recommended energy fighting strategy; they are all energy fighters from the Fw 190 A-1 to the He 162 A-2. The third tree contains a mix of Germany's heavy fighters and attackers (starting with the Do 17 Z-7 and ending with the Tornado IDS ASSTA1), which contains every tech tree variant of the Bf 110 and every fighter variant of the Me 410. While not as essential to completing the tech tree as the previous two, the third subtree has some very good grinding options (see: Highlights) and are generally useful to have around—many of the options on the third subtree excel in Sim. On the fourth tree are the dive bombers and the rest of the attackers (starting with the Hs 123 A-1 and ending with the Su-22UM3K), most notable for containing every tech tree model of the Ju 87; the Ju 87 needs no introduction, get at least up to the Ju 87 D-5. Finally, the fifth subtree contains all of Germany's medium and heavy bombers (starting with the Do 17 E-1 and ending with the MiG-23BN). If bombing is one's preferred technique of play, the fifth subtree has some superb options, ranging from fast attack schnellbombers to the heaviest payloads available to the Luftwaffe—definitely go down this tree.

Many aircraft can operate outside their archetype, and that is a major strength on Germany. The Ju 87 D-5, for example, can mount a staggering amount of gun pods and, because it gets bomber spawn, will act as a heavy fighter with ease. Bombers like the BV 138 C-1 and the Me 264 can act as gunships once their payload is expended, their defensive guns more than enough to inflict fatal blows to enemies. The Ta 152 C-3, the low-to-mid altitude horror, is capable of intercepting bombers at extreme altitudes alongside its purpose-built high altitude H-1 brother. This happens throughout the German tech tree to a much more significant degree than some others, so always feel free to experiment—the Luftwaffe definitely did, anyways.

Jets

Jets on Germany are an interesting subject as there are three distinct divisions present on the tech tree. Early on after the end of props are the World War II-era jets like the Me 262, He 162, Ar 234, and the Ho 229, all of which offer an entirely unique experience compared to other tech trees; after all, the aforementioned jets were made in an era of extreme aeronautical experimentation. Further down comes the post-war divide between East and West Germany and their respective aircraft built up to defend both sides of the Iron Curtain.

The German aviation tech tree offers a unique selection of foreign aircraft, either by modifications specific to German service or variants of aircraft that aren't in the rest of the tech trees (like the Lim-5, which should also be on the Soviet tree with the rest of that era's Polish jets). While on the face of it the higher tiers of Germany seem repetitive if one has already gone down the US, Soviet, and Italian tech trees, do not judge a book by its cover. From the MiG-23BN to the F-4F to the Tornado IDS ASSTA1, Germany is equipped with a wide range of jets (and rockets) that will propel the player easily into high tier. The best part about the German jet tree is that it gives a good opportunity to sample other nations' aircraft while still being unique, keeping the other versions of them fresh if one were to transfer over; a MiG-23BN's per-round performance is going to be very different from, say, a MiG-27K. If fighting against the Germans, take extreme caution and do not grow complacent: weapons from all over the globe are pointed at their enemies.

Missiles

For detailed overview and analysis on missiles, since most of the ones on Germany are not indigenously designed, please refer to other more specialised guides. While I am deferring away from listing all of the variations on the AIM-9, R-60, and others, I shall instead highlight one of the newest additions to the German tree and one that is entirely of German design: the AS.34 Kormoran.

While it should also be mounted on the West German F-104G in-game, as of right now it is only present on the Tornado IDS Marineflieger, the most recent event aircraft from Winter Quest 2022. In real life, the AS.34 acted as one of the primary anti-ship missiles on aircraft in service with the Bundesmarine (and, of course, the Deutsche Marine after 1990). Its radar homing is very good in real life, but in-game it was terribly nerfed and right now the AS.34 is functionally useless even in its intended anti-ship role; not even mentioning that ships themselves offer basically no money for their destruction in Air RB (something that needs to change ASAP, destroying an entire cruiser is worth less than destroying a single pillbox???) and there is no naval BR bracket that the Tornado would find itself at. If it were to mirror real life, the Marineflieger would be an extremely capable aircraft with the ability to wipe out a battle group on a couple of runs, but as it stands right now the only indigenously-made German missile in the game is easily skipped over in favour of options with more air-to-air missiles.

Summary

It is with my best hopes that this will be useful to any player seeking to go through the German aviation tech tree from reserve to jets, progressing from plane to plane but appreciating each one. As is my motto: there is no bad plane, everything can be learned (see: He 162 A-2); do not pass that advice up. If a plane looks fun, use it—if an earnable skin looks cool, get it—if a gun looks fun, shoot it! The German tree is favourable to those who persevere with ample tools to back it up. Victory is just a minengeschoß away, so let the enemy's wing know that you intend to win.

There are still numerous aircraft absent from the German tech tree that should be there (for example, the Focke-Wulf Fw 57, the Dornier Alpha Jet, the Messerschmitt Me 262 B-1a/U1, among many, many others), so there is a lot to look forward to from reserve to the highest jets—the German aviation tech tree is and will be evolving, so get into it now to make sure that the next Wunderwaffe is yours to fly as quickly as possible.

Fair winds and safe flying, pilots.

[Sinisterisrandom]

It's a Bird,!ts a plane, its a German over engineering.

[Aquilae Mira]

Cheers mate!

[kilo476689]

i like Germany as a aviation nation but hate the tanks this guide is my favorite in a long time

[🅾️rder💲]

nice

[Aquilae Mira]

Fair, then. Thank you!

[UhtredSonOfGod]

To give this post a boost so more people will see it :)

[Aquilae Mira]

Why did you comment then lol

[UhtredSonOfGod]

I aint reading allat