How to use the YAK-1

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by SEE

I cannot say how historically accurate the combat tactics are in IL1946, but I am currently flying the YAK 1 in the final stages of the war from the Russian perspective and noticed that the squadron frequently fly at low altitude (approx. 5000 ft) with cover provided by high altitude LA's or another group of Yaks. The German FW's -BF's, etc, use their better climb rate to escape horizontal turning fights and are bounced by the group above. Rockets are used by the squadron when engaging Bombers including JU87's (and quite effectively).

Yeah, '46 is pretty accurate with it's combat tactics and formations. In reality, Soviet tactics were like that. Have the weaker plane down low to be "jumped" and have either La's or Yak's fly cover. When the Yak-3 came out, it actually replaced most of the La's on the Eastern Front as a top cover plane. The La's were reverted to attacking bombers mostly since they had the fire power to do so. But by the end of the war, the Soviet Union already had air supremacy, so most of the planes weren't attached with rockets unless obviously used against ground targets.

But '46 also uses experimental tactics, that weren't put to so much use, or were just ideas that were leaked out from some where.