Yakovlev Yak-7 – The Soviet Über-Zero

If you’re a fan of the Soviet tech tree, or if you just like fighters in general, then you absolutely have to give the Yakovlev Yak-7 a try! This compact little aircraft is a revelation among its peers, combining all attributes that make a good fighter: incredible agility, blazing speed, supreme handling and incredible firepower. Learn how to use this unique gem of an aircraft properly with our in-depth review and you’ll be raking in the frags more easily and more consistently than with any other plane in your hangar. 

TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESSION

The Yakovlev Yak-7 can be found on Tier V of the Soviet tech tree in-between the Yakovlev and the Lavochkin fighter branch. It comes at the low price of only 12,700 XP and 329,000 Credits: a deal worth getting even when it’s not on sale! It is recommended to unlock the plane from the Yak-1, since this option allows you to re-use most of the predecessor’s modules and makes it easier to learn the plane’s style due to the familiar basics of the Yakovlev fighter line.

PROFILE ANALYSIS

TThe Yak-7 is often overlooked and doesn’t get the credit that it deserves due to its position in the tech tree where it follows the rather unremarkable Yak-1. However, you would be wrong believing that the Yak-7 is only a marginal improvement on its predecessor. In fact, although the two share the same tier, the Yak-7’s characteristics are a major step upwards in the Yakovlev line, giving the aircraft the feeling of having jumped not one, but two levels.               

In its stock configuration the plane features one of the highest manoeuvrability values of its tier (341), combined with an above-average airspeed (472) and firepower (82). If you look closely at its characteristics, it will inevitably remind you of the Japanese A6M Zero which features a similar profile. Both planes are highly manoeuvrable, offering amazing controllability of around 100 points. They also both possess very strong armaments thanks to a capable 20mm cannon that’s available in the planes’ stock modules.  Lastly, both aircraft excel at low altitude (1000-1050m) where they reach speeds of 525-550km/h respectively.

One could stop the comparison here, thinking that the Yak-7 is just a Soviet version of the Zero. However, to do this would mean ignoring three amazing advantages that the Yak has on its Japanese competitor. What makes the Yak-7 truly great is its mountable 37mm cannon that gives it a ridiculous heavy-fighter-like 174 firepower; a durable hull that’s upgradable to 200 HP and the ability to carry fighter-appropriate rockets that only improve, rather than take away, from its performance. With a profile like this, the only downside to this near-perfect combination of fighter capabilities is the Yak’s low rate of climb (16.4m/s max). Even so, if you use the plane properly, this won’t be a problem, as you’ll see in the following tactics section.

TACTICS REVIEW

There are really only two ways to play the Yak-7: one is without the 37mm cannon and one is with the 37mm cannon equipped. However, before we get to that, let’s recap what rules apply regardless of which setup you’re strutting. Remember your strengths and your (one) weakness: the Yak is incredibly agile and thus perfectly fitted for tight turn-and-burn dogfights. Don’t attempt to fly it like you would a German fighter – its low rate of climb and optimum altitude make for a bad ‘Boom & Zoomer’. Close to the ground is where you should be making your living! Don’t ever go higher than 1,500m (not even during your initial ascent) because you’ll lose too much time climbing, as well as diving down on your enemies, due to one of the lowest diving speeds of your tier (610km/h).

Instead, stay low at all times and pick your foes accordingly. Don’t engage high-flying heavy fighters or high-risers such as the P-51 or Bf 109s. Lure your enemies to the ground, by initiating evasive manoeuvers when you take fire from above or by acting as bait for supporting planes when you attack low-flying, ground-attack aircraft. As soon as you take heat, bank off to either side, using your superior time to turn and position yourself on your enemy’s six. On the stock guns (and even more so with the long-range 12.7mm BS (S)) you can attack foes at greater distances (500m+). Should you not take out your opponents from far enough, try getting as close as possible and out-turning them in prolonged circle-and-fire.

Once you load the 37mm cannon, switch up your playstyle! Do not be tempted to open fire as soon as the lead-aim-indicator shows the first circle! Get closer to at least 250m and use your Tier VI monster gun instead. Be mindful of the fact that this kind of supreme firepower comes at the expense of a brief firing time, so only use it in short bursts and only when you’re sure to hit. At this point, you won’t need to rely on the Yak’s manoeuvrability as much (although it will stay great even with the upgrade). Concentrate on aiming well and don’t engage in dogfights as much. Rather, try the straight-forward approach, firing into a dogfight from the outside, quickly taking out enemies with only a couple of rounds and then switching to the next target.

Always neutralise more manoeuvrable fighters first! Even if it’s tempting to shoot down a ground attack aircraft in your little fighter (you’ll certainly have the firepower for that), you should always take out surrounding fighters first. Zeroes are your nemesis and you most likely won’t survive a dogfight against them in a 1-vs-1 situation. Take them out as they approach head-on before they can cause trouble, then switch to whatever else remains in the vicinity.

Wingman Tip #1: If you choose to stay with the 20mm cannon instead of the 37mm “Über-Bazooka” (i.e. because you find that it works well enough for you) then we suggest that you go for Armour-Piercing Incendiary Ammunition. It’ll cost you 3 gold each time (or 1200 credits) but you will feel a noticeable impact that will do wonders for your performance. However, should upgrade to the bigger 37mm calibre cannon then the use of the same ammunition becomes optional. In fact, you might be better off sticking with the regular Armour-Piercing bullets – your damage will be high enough anyway with the bigger cannon and you’ll get to save 9 gold each game (which can become quite expensive if you play the Yak-7 for a while). 

UPGRADES

If you’ve previously maxed out the Yak-1, then grinding through the Yak-7 will be a breeze because you’ll already have unlocked most of its modules from the beginning. The only real acquisition that’ll be left to make will be the coveted 37mm cannon. This means that you’ll have your Yak-7 ready for primetime in a flash - another merit of this already great Soviet fighter. 

AIRFRAME

The Yak-7B airframe will be one of the few modules that you’ll actually have to grind on this aircraft. Getting this upgrade has nothing but advantages because it will give you a much-appreciated HP boost, increase your rather low diving speed and shave another half a second off your average time to turn. 

Oh, did I one-shot you again? Next time, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight, rookie! 

ENGINE

If you’ve followed our advice to reach the Yak-7 from its Yak-1 precursor, then you won’t need to grind any engines at all! All motors will be available from the start, so that all you’ll have to do is install them. Go immediately for the strongest M-105PF model which will give you the biggest boost to your airspeed and, more importantly, counter your weak rate of climb (+3.1m/s), all while costing you virtually nothing in terms of manoeuvrability. 

WEAPONS

Again, having maxed-out the Yak-1 will help you mount the better guns on the Yak-7 too. In terms of your synchronised machine gun, there is no question that you should upgrade to the already unlocked 12.7mm BS (S) version. This gun will add 26 points to your firepower score and extend your firing range by at least another 150m, pushing it all the way to 800m – which is very far for a fighter! With this weapon installed, you’ll basically be able to take out any competition of the same tier – be it a fellow fighter, a heavy fighter or even an attack aircraft. Hence this gun is perfectly fine and might already be enough for you, especially if you’re looking to preserve the Yak-7’s agility. However, if you want to be safe even in battles where you’re the lowest tier, then you should think about upgrading your hub-mounted weapon too. 

Mistaken for a dragon since 1941: the fire-spitting Yakovlev Yak-7.   

The 37mm Sh-37 (H) is truly what sets this plane apart! This Tier VI-gun is not only ridiculously powerful on a fighter but would also make any heavy fighter pilot go green with envy. Of course you’ll have to switch up your playstyle a bit (see tactics above) and of course the extra-punch comes at the expense of your speed (-30km/h), rate of climb (-2m/s) and manoeuvrability (+1.4s) However, all of these things can’t take away from the fact that the gun’s additional 70 points of damage give the plane supreme, all-owning offensive capabilities which just have to be experienced to be believed! Bear in mind that your new-found favourite weapon overheats in just 5 seconds and that it’s only really effective at under 250m. At the same time, this will be plenty for most occasions. So don’t be surprised if your teammates start calling your ‘One-Shot Wonder’ for all the ‘One Shot – One Kill’ takedowns that you’ll be scoring.

Wingman Tip #2: In order to preserve your fire for when it really counts, you should assign each weapons group to a different button on your input device. That way you’ll be able to use the long-range low-calibre guns only for sniping and can keep your 37mm catapult ready (without overheating) for when the enemy gets close!  It will require additional coordination at first but once you get the hang of it this technique will prove priceless on more than one occasion!

BOMBS & ROCKETS

The RS-82 rockets are part of many Soviet low-tier aircrafts’ arsenals and thus will most likely be already unlocked when you first lay hands on your Yak-7. Since these ‘bad boys’ are only Tier II, they don’t weigh too much which makes them a viable option for light fighters. Strap them on if you’re looking to take out some ground targets during your sorties. Just make sure that you’ve gotten rid of all of them when you head into dogfights so as not to be slowed down unnecessarily.

Wingman Tip #3: Only use the rockets in combination with the 20mm cannon! They are good for taking out 1-2 light ground targets fast so that you can quickly go back to hunting planes again. If you carry the 37mm cannon, you won’t need the rockets because the gun itself has enough penetration value to take out ground targets. This will save you from having to strap on the additional payload. Just be careful not to stay in the enemy’s anti-aircraft fire for too long – you’re still a fighter after all! 

What are you doing? Don’t run! I’ve got a rocket with your name on it!

EQUIPMENT & CONSUMABLES

Here’s our recommendation for equipment to further boost the plane’s performance:

Make sure to bring the following consumables for your sorties:

Put the Yak-7 to the test! Do not miss out on this unique fighter-experience, pilots!