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[J311yfish]

For aircraft details scroll down. // Production // Production locations

 

A word about swastikas on Finnish aircraft -- please read

 

The Finnish Air Force adopted a blue swastika on white background as their official insignia in 1918.  

 

The German Nazi party adopted a black swastika on white background as their symbol in 1920.

 

                                           They do not share the same ideology.

 

The symbol has actually been used by many civilizations and for thousands of years.  To the Finns it was known as a Hakaristi ("Broken Cross"), a symbol of good luck.

 

The Finnish Air Force later changed their roundel to alternating blue/white circles starting April 1945 to avoid the association.                                        

 

Most of the photos below are before the roundel change, in black & white, so they might look like they are Nazi aircraft, but they're really not.

 

Rather than try to photoshop every image, or to choose pictures with uninformative viewing angles, I instead ask you to understand the distinction.  

 

The goal of this project is simply to look closely at Finnish aircraft designs in order to understand how they might be portrayed in-game.  

 

If you do not understand the distinction, or you think you might be easily offended, consider yourself warned and go do something else!

 

 

In order to avoid this kind of confusion, the roundel to be used in game would probably be the alternating blue/white circles used after 1946:

 

Spoiler

 

 

 

Premiums, alternates, gift planes (tiers approx):

 

Tier	Alternate	Alternate	Alternate	Alternate	Omissions
I	IVL Haukka I/II				see here
II				Hawker Hart Westland Lysander	see here
III				Blackburn Roc	Dornier Do 17Z1/2/3
IV		Fiat G.50 Hawker Hurricane	Caudron C.714	Tupolev SB	Ilyushin DB-3M Ilyushin IL-4
V
VI	Valmet Puuska Curtiss P-40M Focke-Wulf Fw 190			Junkers Ju 87 Focke-Wulf Fw 190
VII
VIII
IX					Vampire DH.115 T.55 MiG-15 UTI Fouga Magister
X					MiG-21 Ilyushin IL-28

 

 

 

Sources:

 

General

Finnish Air Force Aircraft Codes -- quick overview and general accountability; if it was issued a designation it should show up here

Finnish Air Force 1918-1968, by Christopher Shores (Aircram Aviation Series No. S2) -- close history and accountability at the squadron level

Finnish Air Force 1939-1945, by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman (1998 Squadron Signal Publications)

Finnish Aces of World War Two, by Kalevi Keskinen and Kari Stenman (1998 Osprey Publishing)

The Complete Book of Fighters, by William Green and Gordon Swanborough (2001 Salamander Books) -- good overall details of materialized fighter types

Fighters Between the Wars 1919-1939, by Kenneth Munson (1970 Blandford)

Combat Aircraft of World War Two, by Elke C. Weal, John A. Weal, and Richard F. Barker (1977 Macmillan Publishing Co.) -- WW2 order of battle and configuration details

Gloster Aircraft Since 1917, by Derek N. James (1971 Putnam)

Fokker - The Man And His Aircraft, by Henri Hegener (1961 Aero Publishers)

Biplanes, Triplanes, and Seaplanes, by Michael Sharpe (2000 Amber)

Wikipedia -- for quick inquiry and to identify primary sources

websites where noted

Flying Guns of World War II, by Anthony G. Williams & Dr. Emmanuel Gustin (2003 Airlife Publishing, an imprint of The Crowood Press Ltd)

 

Specific

U.S. Naval Fighters, by Lloyd S. Jones (1977 Aero Publishers) -- Buffalo B-239 details

Westland Aircraft Since 1915, by Derek N. James (1991 Putnam Aeronautical) -- Westland Lysander and designer Teddy Petter

The Fokker G.I (Profile Publications 134)

Dornier Aircraft, by Karl Kössler -- Dornier Do 22 details

Dornier Fly-Past Reference Library, by Bob Ogden (1983 Key Publishing) -- Dornier Do 22 details

Soviet Aircraft and Aviation 1917-1941, by Lennart Andersson (1994 Putnam Aeronautical) -- Petlyakov Pe-2/3 details

Curtiss P-40: Long-nosed Tomahawks, by Carl Molesworth (2013 Osprey) -- Hawk 75 export specs (sent to France, but not necessarily the same used by Finland)

Fighters of the Fifties, by Bill Gunston (1981 Specialty Press) -- De Havilland Vampire, Folland Gnat

From Lysander to Lightning: Teddy Petter, Aircraft Designer, by Glyn Davies (source) -- very detailed account of Folland Gnat flight testing and development

MiG: Fifty Years of Secret Aircraft Design, by R. A. Beliakov -- MiG-15 UTI details

 

 

Older versions:

 

Version 1.06 -- current -- revised based on Gloster Gladiator placement for United Kingdom

Version 1.05 -- rough draft

 

 

old notes:

 

Inventory + Rough placement

 

Tier	"Allied" origin	Finland	"Axis" origin
I	Gloster Gamecock II Blackburn Ripon IIF -- two-seat Koolhoven F.K.31	I.V.L C.24 I.V.L C.25 I.V.L. D.26 Haukka I.V.L. D.27 Haukka II VL Pyry II	Jaktfalken
II	Gloster Gladiator II [also used by Sweden] (414 km/h @ 4450m) Gloster Gauntlet II (370 km/h @ 4815m) Bristol Bulldog IVA [also used by Sweden] (delivered 1933-1935) Westland Lysander I/III (1940) I-15bis Fokker C.X -- two-seat Koolhoven FK.52 -- two-seat	VL Kotka -- two-seat
III	I-153 / I-16 /  Fokker G.1B -- twin-engine twin-boom heavy fighter	VL (Fokker) D.XXI (bought 1937; see also projects)
IV	Brewster B-239 Buffalo  Curtiss Hawk 75A-3 (1940; captured from France by Germans)  Curtiss Hawk 75A-6 (1940; captured from Norway by Germans)  Hawker Hurricane I (1940)  Bristol Blenheim I/IV (ordered 1936; license 1938)  I-16 /  Ilyushin DB-3/3F /  Tupolev SB-2/2bis  MS.406/410  Mörkö-Morane (1944; used captured Russian engine/armament) Caudron C.714 (05/1940)	VL Humu (Buffalo copy)	Dornier Do 17 Z-1/2/3 (1942) Fiat G.50 /
V	LaGG-3 (1942; captured from USSR by Germans) Petlyakov Pe-2 (1942; captured from USSR by Germans) Petlyakov Pe-3 (1943; captured from USSR by Germans)	VL Myrsky I/II (1942/1944)
VI	Curtiss P-40M (captured from USSR)	VL Pyörremyrsky (11/1945) Valmet Puuska Valmet Vihuri I (1946 Mosquito w/ DB605's planned but not built)	Junkers Ju 88 A-4 Focke-Wulf Fw190 Junkers Ju87D
VII			Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 (03/1943) Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 (04/1944)
VIII	De Havilland Vampire FB.52 (1953-1962)
IX
X	Folland FO 145 Gnat (1958-1972)

Country of origin:  USA / UK / Germany / Italy / France / Sweden  / U.S.S.R. salvaged/captured / Norway

 

key = (first flight) [horsepower] {Production}

 

Lower interest (bombers, floatplanes, etc.) / omit

Tier	Aircraft
I	Aero A.32 / Hansa A.22 / Junkers K.34 / Gourdou-Lesseurre GL-21 / more
II	Douglas DC-2 converted to bomber ("Hanssin Jukka") / Fokker T.VIII / Høver M.F.11 / more, see Fall of Norway / Dornier Do 22 / Heinkel He 59 / more
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII	jet trainers
IX
X	Ilyushin IL-28 (~1962) [also used by China] / MiG-15 UTI / MiG-21F

 

Investigate

-- floatplanes = most aircraft before mid 1930's

 

Raw data

 

Order of Battle – November 1939 (from Elke C. Weal’s Combat Aircraft of World War Two):

Fokker C.X -- two-seat light bomber/recon
Fokker C.V-E -- two-seat light bomber/recon
Fieseler Fi 156C Storch -- recon
Blackburn Ripon IIF -- two-seat recon/torpedo bomber
Junkers K 43 -- militarized transport
VL Saaski -- two-seat trainer/recon
VL Kotka -- two-seat patrol
De Havilland Moth -- trainer

Fokker D.XXI
Bristol Bulldog IVA
Bristol Blenheim I

 

Timeline

 

1918  Finnish Civil War

1939  Winter War

1941  Continuation War

1947  Paris Peace treaty -- limitations

 

 

Designers/Personalities

 

Torsti Verkkola 

-- VL Myrsky (Tier IV)

-- VL Pyorremyrsky (Tier VI)

 

Teddy Petter

-- Westland Lysander (Tier II)

-- Folland Gnat (VIII-X)

 

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 June 2017 - 05:11 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier I

 

Gloster/VL Kukko ("Gamecock") (1928)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 (begun 07/1924)	Gamecock prototype	Bristol Jupiter IV 398hp
60 (1925-1927)	Gamecock I	Bristol Jupiter VI 425hp	233 km/h @ 3048m	2x7.7mm Vickers Mk.I
2 + 15 built by VL (1928-1935)	Gamecock II ("Kukko")	Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9Ab 420hp Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9Ak 420hp Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9Ag 480hp	252 km/h @ 1524m	2x7.7mm Vickers Mk.I

*United Kingdom development in gray

 

Notes:

-- design begun July 1924 by Gloucestershire Aircraft ... to be powered by the Bristol Jupiter IV 398hp ... of wooden construction with fabric skinning and retaining the then-standard armament of two synchronized 7.7mm Vickers ... prototype delivered to Martlesham Heath February 20 1925 ... order placed on behalf of Royal Air Force for 30 Gamecock I's ... to be powered by Jupiter VI 425hp ... total of 60 built 1925-1927 ... one of these unofficially named Gamecock III at one time flying with a lengthened fuselage ... enlarged fin-and-rudder assembly and narrow-chord ailerons.  A developed version, the Gamecock II, with a steel-tube upper wing center section, narrow-chord ailerons and a larger rudder, appeared in 1928.  This was adopted by Finland, two pattern aircraft and manufacturing license acquired.  15 Gamecock II's built by the State Aircraft Factory, VL (Valtion Lentokonenetehdas), these having the lengthened fuselage of the Gamecock III ... initially powered by the Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9Ab or 9Ak 420hp ... later Jupiter IV 9Ag 480hp.  Gamecock II remained first-line Finnish equipment until 1935." (Green, 243-244)

-- "A developed version, the Gamecock II, did not gain RAF acceptance, but after a demonstration by one of the two prototypes the Finnish government became interested in this version.  As a result, two Mk II pattern aircraft were delivered to Finland in November 1927, and license manufacture of this model began at Helsinki early the following year [1928].  The Finnish Gamecock II's were powered by Gnome-Rhone-built Jupiter VI engines and had interchangeable wheel or ski landing gear." (Munson, 113)

-- "...first production aircraft flown [in England] March 1926 ... used until July 1931 ... replaced by Bristol Bulldogs [in England] ..." (James, 113)

-- "In service with the Finnish Air Force, the Gamecocks equipped Fighter Squadron 24, based at Utti, from 1929 until 1935 when they were relegated to fighter training duties." (James, 122)

-- "The first pattern aircraft ... was scrapped October 11 1941 ... at least one Gamecock remained in service until September 1944." (James, 122)

-- "Despite their paucity in numbers, Finnish fighter pilots were highly trained individuals who had been well indoctrinated in modern tactics by Richard Lorentz.  As early as 1934, then Maj Lorentz had discovered (flying Gamecocks at LLv 24) that the traditional fighter formation of a lead aicraft and two wingmen was less suited to aerial combat than was a pair of aircraft."  (Stenman, 8)

-- "The Gamecock [was part of a long line of] R.A.F. fighters designed by Mr. H.P. Folland [continuity with Folland Gnat at Tier IX and X]... maiden flight February 1925 [England] ... 82 total built for R.A.F. ... the last biplane fighter of wooden construction to serve with the R.A.F. ... the Gamecock is best remembered for its aerobatic prowess ... During the course of test flights, ... a Gamecock survived a 275 mph dive and 22 turns of a spin ... the Gamecock was immensely popular with R.A.F. pilots ... the Gamecock had a personality all its own and will always be remembered with affection by those who flew it and those who witnessed its thrilling aerobatic performances." (Thetford, 262)

 

 

 

Alternate

 

IVL Haukka ("Hawk") (1927/1928)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 (FF 03/1927)	I.V.L. D.26 Haukka	Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9AC 414hp	249 km/h
2 (delivered 06/1928-08/1928)	I.V.L. D.27 Haukka II	Gnome-Rhone Jupiter 9Ac 473hp Gnome-Rhone Jupiter 9Ag 473hp	240 km/h @ SL	2x Vickers

 

Notes:

I.V.L. D.26 Haukka

-- "The Haukka ('Hawk') single-seat fighter biplane was designed by Ing K W Berger and built at the I.V.L. at Suomenlinna, one example having been ordered on September 14 1926.  A single-bay, unequal-span staggered biplane with the upper wing faired into the forward fuselage decking, Gnome-Rhone Jupiter IV 9AC 414hp ... interchangeable wheel/ski undercarriage ... first flown March 17 1927 ... official trials ... flat spin October 7 from which the test pilot barely recovered ... pronounced unsuited for use as a fighter because of structural faults, inadequate visibility ... tendency to enter a flat spin from which recovery was difficult ... placed in storage at Utti air base until January 21 1931 ... later stored at I.V.L." (Green, 310)

-- optional ski undercarriage (Green, 310)

I.V.L. D.27 Haukka II

-- "... an attempt to rectify one of the principal shortcomings of the original Haukka, inadequate cockpit vision ... differed in having a cabane structure raising the upper wing and increasing the gap ... structure similar to that of the preceding fighter, the front fuselage being a plywood monocoque mated to a steel-tube rear fuselage and the wings being of wooden construction with plywood skinning.  Two examples ordered September 22 1927, one powered by a Gnome-Rhone Jupiter 9Ac and the other by a Jupiter 9Ag, both rated at 473hp, and both armed with two Vickers machine guns ... delivered in June and August 1928 ... extensively test flown.  The Haukka II was considered to compare favourably with the Kukko (license-built Gloster Gamecock) in speed and climb, but was inferior in pilot visibility and gun installation ... both placed in storage December 1931 ... officially decommissioned July 1 1933 ... pronounced that they 'suffered from structural weaknesses, their tail construction was unsatisfactory and repairs would be too expensive and not necessarily successful." (Green, 310)

 

 

 

Omitted

 

Koolhoven F.K.31 (1923) -- two-seat recon/fighter

 

Bristol Jupiter IV 420hp   235 km/h   2x7.7mm

 

-- "12 used by Finland 1925-1927 ... worst aircraft of the FAF ... flown less than 6 hours"

-- top-tail view

 

 

Blackburn/VL Ripon IIF (1926) -- two-seat recon/bomber

 

 Notes:

-- 1 to Finland + 25 produced under license

Bristol Jupiter VII 530hp

Gnome-Rhone Jupiter VI 480hp

Armstrong Siddeley Panther 535hp

Bristol Pegasus 580hp

 

 

Fokker C.V (09/1927) -- two-seat recon/bomber

 

C.V-D

C.V-E

 

 

VL Kotka ("Eagle") (1931-1944) -- two-seat maritime reconnaissance / light day-bomber

 

1 Kotka I prototype

-- Bristol Jupiter

-- wheels, skis, or floats

6 Kotka II production

-- Wright R-1820-E Cyclone 575hp  225 km/h

-- 1 fixed forward-firing machine gun, 1 flexible rear; up to 300kg of bombs underwing

-- first flight September 1930; 5 produced 1931; used until 1944

-- entered service 1931, remained in service throughout Winter War, Continuation War; relegated to second-line duties including trainer, target-tug; withdrawn 1945

 

 

Svenska Aero Jaktfalken ("Fighting Falcon") (1939)

 

-- 3 donated to Finland by Sweden, see here

 

 

VL Pyry II ("Thunderstorm") (1939) -- monoplane trainer

 

Wright Whirlwind 420hp  330 km/h (Weal, 85)

1x7.7mm forward fixed KSP machine-gun in upper cowling (Weal, 85)

 

1 Pyry I prototype (Weal, 85)

-- two-seat advanced training low-wing monoplane (Weal, 85)

-- prototype first flight 1939 (Weal, 85)

40 Pyry II production (Weal, 85)

-- modifiedy Pyry I; revised cockpit canopy/tail bracing; alternate wheel/ski undercarriage (Weal, 85)

-- remained in service until 1962; employed throughout Winter War and Continuation War as advanced trainer and in variety liaison and ancillary roles (Weal, 85)

-- "...very similar in appearance to D.XXI ..." (Shores, 10)

 

 

Polikarpov R-5 (~1940)

 

-- "none taken into operational service" yet a designation exists

 

 

Heinkel He 59 (1943)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 03 July 2015 - 06:27 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier II 

 

Bristol Bulldog (delivered by early 1935) -- reference: Bristol Bulldog (II)

Mercury VIS2

 

 Notes:

-- "On November 30 1939 some 36 D.XXI's were available for combat ... the remainder of the fighter force consisted of ten obsolete Bristol Bulldog IVA's ... their use being limited to the defense of area to the rear of the frontline and vulnerable towns and ports." (Stenman, 7)

-- currently in-game for United Kingdom; also used by Sweden

-- may have used IIA and IVA models (source)

-- 18 built by Bristol, 17 sold to Finland

 

resolve details

 

 

Polikarpov I-15bis-- reference: I-15 (II)

 

-- captured prior to November 1941 (Shores, 10)

 

 

Fokker C.X (~1934-1958)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
36 built in Holland, 4 purchased by Finland		Rolls-Royce Kestrel V 830hp	320 km/h	2x7.9mm forward  1x7.9mm flexible rear	up to 400kg
35 license-built in Finland		Bristol Pegasus XXI 835hp	340 km/h	2x7.9mm forward  1x flexible rear	4x100kg or 2x175kg (W)
1 in Holland*		Hispano-Suiza 12Tcrs 925hp		equipped with motor cannon

 

 Notes:

-- "...played the main army co-operation role during the Winter War." (Keskinen, 8)

-- "...served Finnish Air Force throughout Winter and Continuation Wars, last machine written off 1958." (Weal, 179)

-- "All Fokker C.X's were flown with skis during the 4-5 month long winters." (Keskinen, 9)

-- "Intended as C.V successor, prototype C.X first flown 1934 [Holland]" (Weal, 179)

-- image 1 / 

 

 

 

Alternates

 

Hawker Hart (12/1939) -- two-seat light bomber; Winter War assistance from Sweden

Tier II Attack -- Hawker Hart

Production*	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
3 purchased	B4	Bristol Mercury VII 580hp		1x8mm front   1x8mm m/22 rear	4x50kg**
40	B4A	Nohab Mercury VIIA 675hp	"260 km/h"	1x8mm front   1x8mm m/22 rear	4x50kg
2	B4B	Bristol Perseus XI 755hp		1x8mm front   1x8mm m/22 rear	4x50kg

*3 purchased, 42 built under license (source); "43 Harts built in Sweden" (Andersson, 17)

** 4x50kg or 12 smaller bombs (source)

 

Notes:

-- Swedish-built Nohab Mercury VIIA  675hp (produced by ASJA for B4A in 1936); total of 43 built
-- some built by Gotaverken (GV) in 1935 (Andersson, 20)

-- "12 Gladiators and five Harts" sent to aid Finland (Andersson, 22)  [see also Winter War and Swedish pilots]

-- Hawker Hart in Detail (detailed photos and discussion from museum in Sweden)

-- camo / image 1 / image 2

-- “Four Hawker Ospreys with Swedish-built Bristol Mercury engines were supplied to Sweden in 1934-1935” (Green, 283) ['Osprey' = floatplane variant of Hart, powerd by Nohab Bristol Mercury; given designation S9] (Wikipedia)

-- Hawker Osprey: Nohab/Bristol Mercury VI 600hp (a.k.a. Bristol Pegasus I)  230 km/h; [this means a fourth engine could be added, starting with the Hawker Osprey (S9) and additional airframe ditching the floats for wheels, if necessary]

-- for Swedish counterpart see here

 

 

Westland Lysander I/III (1940) -- light bomber/scout

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
9 + 8 to Finland**	Lysander Mk.I	Bristol Mercury XII 890hp @1830m (1937) Mercury XV 825hp (1938)	340 km/h @ SL 346 km/h @ 1524m 352 km/h @ 3048m	2x7.7mm Browning forward and 1x7.7mm Lewis or Vickers	up to 227kg
0 to Finland	Lysander Mk.II	Bristol Perseus XII 905hp	332 km/h @ 356 km/h @ 1524m 370 km/h @ 3048m	2x7.7mm Browning forward and 2x7.7mm Lewis rear flex	up to 227kg
9 to Finland	Lysander Mk.III	Bristol Mercury XX 870hp (1940) Bristol Mercury Mk.30 (1941)	336 km/h @ SL 341 km/h @ 1524m 333 km/h @ 3048m	2x7.7mm Browning forward and 2x7.7mm Lewis rear flex	up to 227kg

*U.K. development in gray

** official order signed February 1940, though speculation that they may have been delivered summer 1939 (James, 246-247)

 

Notes:

-- "... used as a scout and light bomber." (Keskinen, 32)

-- design by Teddy Petter, the same designer as the Folland Gnat [see Tier VIII, IX, X below]

-- in-game outside premium hangar, in the distance / skis and weapons mounted to skis

 

confirm

 

 

 

Omitted

 

Gloster Gauntlet II (1940) -- used as advanced trainer  

 

II Mercury VIS2 645hp -- engine in-game for Bristol Bulldog Tier II

370 km/h @ 4815m

2xVickers

 

 Notes:

-- 25 ex-RAF machines supplied by South Africa to Finland 1940 for use in Winter War; obsolete, used as advanced trainers

 

 

Koolhoven FK.52 (1940) -- escort fighter

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1	FK.52 prototype	III  Bristol Mercury VI-S 645hp
5 built; 2 to Finland	FK.52	III  Bristol Mercury VIII 840hp	308 km/h @ SL 370 km/h @ 4750m	provision for 2x20mm in upper wing, and 1x flexible rear	up to 115kg (F)

 

 Notes:

-- "Intended as potential C.V-D replacement [Holland], prototype first flight February 1937; failure to gain official Netherlands Air Force order allowed private purchase of two examples for donation to Finnish Air Force 1940; employed Winter and Continuation Wars in training, liaison, and ancillary roles." (Weal, 181)

-- first flight February 9 1937; obsolete by 1938 but ordered anyway; production halted due to German invasion

-- 6 produced; 2 purchased by Sweden and given to Finland; delivered January 18 1940; both destroyed during the Continuation War [June 25 1941 -- September 19 1944]

-- In Finland, may have used this armament:  2x7.7mm front   1x7.62mm L-33/34 rear   up to 150kg of bombs

 

 

Fokker T.VIII (~1940)

 

-- ordered but never delivered

 

 

Heinkel He 115 (1940)

 

-- 1

 

 

Hanriot H.232.2 (~1940)

 

--3

-- Renault engines

 

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 03 November 2016 - 10:49 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier III

 

Gloster Gladiator II (delivered 12/1939+)

Production*	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
*	Mk. I	Bristol Mercury VI S2 645hp		2x8mm (S)  2x8mm (W)	yes
20 + 10 + 12 for Finland*	Mk. II	III  Bristol Mercury VIII S3 840hp	414 km/h @ 4450m	2x8mm (S)  2x8mm (W)	yes

*[sidenote: as Sweden operated both Mk.I and Mk.II, and assisted Finland with no distinction made between Mk.I and Mk.II, perhaps modules for both are reasonable]

 

Notes:

-- The Gloster Gladiator began as a private venture [in the United Kingdom] derived from the Gauntlet; first flown January 1937 using Mercury IV 530hp engine (Green, 247)

-- "The last and most advanced of the Royal Air Force's biplane fighters.  Cast in the classic Folland mould, it epitomized this class of aeroplane built between the wars, yet it was almost outdated by the time it entered squadron service.  Nevertheless, the Gladiator bridged the gap between the conventional open-cockpit two-gun fighters and the more sophisticated multi-gun monoplanes which so quickly succeeded it.  Clearly development of the Gauntlet ..." (James, 214)

-- 378 Mk.I's built [in the United Kingdom], and 270 Mk. II's, of which Sweden was the largest customer (Green, 247)

-- purchased from Britain, rapidly assembled at Malmslätt, Sweden, for the defense of Finland against USSR [see also Winter War and Swedish pilots]; the first 30 arrived in January 1940 (Andersson, 22) 

-- "12 Gladiators and five Harts" sent from Sweden to aid Finland (Andersson, 22); equipped with Swedish skis (Andersson, 22)

-- 10 donated and 20 purchased from Britain Dec 1939--Feb 1940; another 12 flown by Swedish pilots with Finnish nationality markings

-- "Although initially liked by the pilots [Finnish] pilots due to their handing qualities, the Gladiator lacked armor protection and self-sealing tanks, and when in action against the I-16's and I-153's were soon in trouble, 13 being lost by the end of February." (Shores, 9)

-- Gloster Gladiator in detail / image 1 / image 2

-- for Swedish counterpart see here

 

 

Fokker/V.L. D.XXI (1937/1940+) 

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
7 by Fokker 35 by VL	Fokker D.XXI	III Bristol Mercury VIII 825hp III PZL- or Tampella-built Mercury VII 840hp	460 km/h @ 5100m ___ km/h @ ____m	4x7.9mm FN-Browning M.36 (W)  or 2x7.7mm Browning (F) + 2x7.7mm Browning (W)
55 by VL	VL D.XXI	III Pratt & Whitney R-1535-SB4-C/G Twin Wasp Jr 825hp	434 km/h @ 2745m	4x7.7mm (W)

 

 

Notes:

Fokker D.XXI

-- design team led by Dr-Ir Erich Schatzki for specification issued by KNIL [aviation element of Royal Netherlands Indies Army]; first flight [02/27/1936]. (Green, 231)

-- license for manufacture acquired by Finnish government ... 7 built by Fokker, delivery beginning [08/27/1937]; further 35 license-built by VL (Green, 231-232)

-- "The first air action took place on [12/01/1939] ... [D.XXI intercepted Tupolev SB-2] (Shores, 7)

-- last VL-produced Mercury-engined D.XXI tested [06/19/1941] with retractable undercarriage; restored to fixed landing gear after landing accident (Green, 232)

-- fixed landing gear; also used with skis [pictured above]

VL D.XXI

-- produced at Finland's State Aircraft Factory (Valtion Lentokonetehdas; VL for short) beginning 1940 (Green, 582)

-- first flown with Pratt & Whitney R-1535 825hp engine January 1941; slower and less maneuverable than Mercury-engined model; the last of 55 built was modified to have retractable landing gear; increased max speed by 14.5 k/h but reduced climb and maneuverability (Green, 582-583)

-- Changes by VL to Fokker design:

   1) American engine so that Mercury engines could be used for Blenheims;

   2) 4x7.7mm mounted in the wings;

   3) vertical tail surfaces enlarged;

   4) revised cockpit canopy to extend transparent areas aft (Green, 582)

-- "... the D.XXI lacked the maneuverability to turn with the Soviet I-15bis, I-16's, and I-153's.  However, it was more than suited to the role of bomber interceptor, and even if lacking outright speed, it had a good rate of climb and could always be pulled away in a dive." (Stenman, 9)

-- "Valtion Lentokonetehdas (The State Aircraft Factory) -- Works: Tampere; Chairman of the Board of Directors: Prof. Martti Levon; Vice Chairmain: Mr. K. Heinonen; Managing Director: Engineer-Lieut.-Col. E. Makinen; Chief Designer: Dipl. Engineer A. Ylinen; Works Manager: Engineer-Major A. Airola; Secretary: V. Kivenheimo. // This factory supplies the Air Force with various types of military aircraft, some of which are built under license.  During the past year [as of 1938] the Factory has built a number of Fokker C.X two-seat reconnaissance biplanes and Fokker D.XXI single-seat monoplanes under license and the Factory designed 'Tuisku' training biplane has been produced in quantity for the Air Force.  Its latest production is the 'Viima' school biplane. // All reconditioning of aircraft and aero-engines for the Finnish Air Force is done at the Factory, which also supplies aeroplanes and aero accessories to the Finnish Light Aeroplane Clubs and private owners. // Considerable attention has been devoted to the investigation of the qualities of home produced materials, particularly timber.  Finnish pine has proved to be eminently suitable for aircraft use as the result of tests made in the Factory's laboratories show.  Finnish bakelite-glued plywood floats, which are largely in use in Finland, have proved themselves to be strong, light, economical and resistant to deterioration. // Another development is the design and production of skis, which have been widely used in Finland and the Arctic. // During the past year the Factory has produced adjustable airscrews of bakelite-glued plywood." (Jane's 1938, 100c)

 

-- preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at Tikkakoski

-- camouflage

 

 

Polikarpov I-153 (captured 1939-1940) -- reference: I-15 (II), I-16 (III / IV)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs/Rockets
	I-15	II Shvetsov M-22 473hp	350 km/h	4x7.62mm PV-1 or 2x12.7mm [edited]
289 delivered	I-15bis	II Shvetsov M-25 700hp	367 km/h @3000m	4x7.62mm ShKAS
30 adapted	Chung 28B	IV Wright SR-1820-F53 Cyclone 745hp
22 purchased/captured	I-153	IV Shvetsov M-62 1000hp	444 km/h	4x12.7mm ShKAS (cannon variants)	up to 200kg

*Information from China's I-15's are in gray; I-153 used by Finland in maritime reconnaissance role

Data:  Sharpe (does not necessarily match use by Finland)

 

Notes:

-- this is not simply copy/paste of the I-15 from the Soviet tech tree.  The engines used by the I-15 in game are:

     Shvetsov M-22 480hp -- same
     Shvetsov M-25 625hp -- same
     Shvetsov M-25E 710hp -- different

-- therefore the Chinese variants and adaptations above indicate a slightly faster I-15 can be expected with the Hawk III engine mod (Chung 28B)

-- the prototype for the I-15 flown in October 1933 actually used a Wright SGR-1820-F-3 Cyclone 715hp (Green, 473)

-- the Shvetsov M-62 used by the I-153 variant is currently in-game for the Tier IV I-16 (late mod).  I-153 is also made faster due to retractable landing gear.

-- "Finland captured 8 I-153's during the Winter War, 3 during the Continuation War, and in 1942 purchased 10 more from Germany [21 total, though Keskinen's appendix lists 22]" (Keskinen, 16)

-- "Otherwise known as the I-15ter, the I-153 was first flown in 1938 [Russia] as an attempt to modernize the I-15bis by reducing drag.  In this capacity the two most important changes were a reversion to the type of gulled upper wing used on the I-15, and the introduction of manually operated retractable main landing gear units.  Some 3437 aircraft of this type were constructed and entered service in time for participation in the border incident with Japan in the summer of 1939.  The type was also heavily invovled in the Russo-Fihhish 'Winter War' of 1939-1940, and in the first part of the German invasion of the USSR from June 1941.  The surviving I-143 were relegated to training service from the middle of 1943, although Finland used captured aircraft as first-line fighters into 1944.  The aircraft was flown with some degree of success by experienced pilots, but for less experienced aviators it could sometimes be a handful." (Sharpe, 260)

-- image

 

 

Dornier Do 22 (09/1941)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
~4 acquired	Do 22 KI Do 22 KL	Hispano-Suiza 12Y21 860hp (3-blade 3.4m prop)	320 km/h* "360 km/h"	2x7.92mm MG 15   and  2x7.92mm MH 15 rear	4x50kg

*this speed is from data assumed to correspond to the original floatplane, before transfer to Finnish Air Force

 

Notes:

-- first flight [07/15/1938 Germany] (Kössler, 87); "not used by Germany ... acquired from Germany 09/1941 along with MS.406's captured from France"

-- [designed as a floatplane, modified to use wheels and skis]

-- "Three cockpits were inline with the pilot in front, observer in the center, and gunner in the rear ... powered by Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs." (Ogden, 43)

-- "...braced high-wing monoplane ... two-spar wing with fabric covering ... two wing halves connected to the cabane over the fuselage and supported against the float structure by two struts each; the wing had rounded tips, was swept back with a slight dihedral and parallel leading and trailing edges; the ailerons were equipped for landing flap setting.  Duraluminum spars and longitudinal profiles carrying the fabric or metal skin were welded to the steel tube airframe.  The engine fairing, the fuel tank, the access openings for the crew were covered with smooth metal sheets.  The pilot, the observer and the gunner were seated one behind the other.  A steel-tube structure connected the fuselage with the two floats, which were subdivided by several bulkheads ... Fuel carried between bulkheads in front of the pilot and the tank had a jettison gear.  Additional fuel was carried in the floats and in the wing halves, if necessary.  The horizontal stabilizer was carried through the horizontal tail surface and braced against the fuselage by means of two steel tube struts.  The support against the vertical fin was by means of wires.  The horizontal stabilizer was adjustable in flight and had a tab on its top to balance the elevator." (Kössler, 87)

 

 

Fokker G.I (ordered 1940)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 ~36	G.IA prototype G.IA	2x Hispano-Suiza 80-02 750hp 2x Bristol Mercury VIII 830hp	___ km/h @ ____m 475 km/h @ 2750m**	2x20mm Madsen  and 3x7.9mm 8x7.9mm FN-Browning (N)   1x7.9mm FN-Browning M.36 rear	up to 400kg up to 400kg
26 ordered by Finland 18 ordered by Sweden 12 ordered by Spain 0 delivered	G.IB export	2x Pratt & Whitney SB4G Twin Wasp Jr 825hp	443 km/h @ 3350m	4x7.9mm FN-Browning M.36 (Nose) temporary 2x20mm and 2x7.9mm (Nose) planned	up to 400kg

*Total produced approximately 62 (Weal, 180)

** Green instead claims 475 km/h @ 4100m (Green, 233)

*** the 20mm cannons were not available [so they were instead fitted with 4x7.9mm, see note below]

 

Notes:

-- "... if the Second World War had not intervened the G-1B would without doubt have been one of the most successful types of Fokker aircraft." (Profile, 8)

-- 26 G.IB's ordered by Finland; many completed, but instead captured by Germans and used as fighter trainers (Profile, 9)

-- "One of relatively few twin-boom configuration operational aircraft of WWII, prototype G.I flew in [03/1937]; 23 operational G.IA's in Netherlands Air Force at the time of German invasion [05/10/1940]; all but one destroyed by close of 'five-day war'; 3 of export G.IB's also pressed into service; remainder of G.IB production completed for Germany; employed by Luftwaffe fighter-training role." (Weal, 180)

-- Designed by Dr-I Erich Schatzki (Green, 233)

-- "Of mixed construction, the prototype was a two-seater powered by [2xHispano-Suiza 14Ab 680hp] ... first flown [03/16/1937]." (Green, 233)

-- Spain was interested in the prototype but asked for a Pratt & Whitney powered model [G.IB]; first flown in this configuration [09/03/1938], but a ban on sale of military hardware to Spain instead led to an order by Estonia [01/1938]; six completed by [10/09/1939] when an embargo prevented export.  Many were completed but without armament when Germany captured them, except for three that were fitted with 4x7.9mm FN-Browning M.36 in the nose.  Germany ordered them back into production and used them as advanced trainers. (Green, 233)

-- The production-model G.IA was a re-engined three-seat derivative of the G.IA prototype ... 36 ordered [by Holland] [10/21/1937] .. only the first four were delivered as three-seaters, the remainder as two-seaters (Green, 233)

-- Order placed by Sweden [03/30/1940] [not clear if they requested G.IA's or G.IB's]...none delivered. (Green, 233-234)

-- The designations "G.IA" and "G.IB" were not used at the time but are instead retro-designations. (Green, 233)

 

Development timeline -- verify

1936 ___ __ -- G.I designed as private venture

1937 Mar 16 -- G.I prototype first flight with Hispano-Suiza engine

1937 Oct 21 -- G.I ordered into production [Netherlands]

1938 Jan __ -- G.I. order to Spain cancelled; order instead for Estonia)

1938 Sep 03 -- G.I flown with Twin Wasp engine (based on cancelled Spanish order)

1939 Oct 09 -- G.I order to Spain cancelled

1940 Mar 30 -- G.I order placed by Sweden

1940 Apr __ -- G.I order placed by Finland (26) -- verify

1940 May 10 -- Battle of Netherlands start; 23 G.I's operational in Dutch service; all but one destroyed by Germans

1940 May 17 -- Battle of Netherlands end; G.I's ordered back into production to be used by Germans as advanced trainers

 

 

 

Alternate

 

Blackburn Roc (~1939)

 

Bristol Perseus XII 890hp

359 km/h @ 3050m

4x7.7mm Browning rear

8x14kg bombs

 

-- Blackburn Skua derivative

-- first flight December 23 1938

-- intercepted Junkers Ju 88's May 28 1940

-- "ordered but not delivered"

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 November 2016 - 12:04 AM.

[J311yfish]

Tier IV

 

Brewster B-239 Buffalo (02/1940) -- reference: F2A Buffalo (IV)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
	XF2A-1 (B-139)	Wright R-1820-22 Cyclone 950hp	489 km/h @ 5182m
	III  F2A-1 (B-239) --> Finland		484 km/h @ 5182m	2x7.62mm (N) and 2x12.7mm (N) + provision for 2x12.7mm (W)
43 delivered	III  B-239	IV Wright R-1820-34 Cyclone 940hp	484 km/h @ 5182m	initially:   3x12.7mm (1F + 2W)  and 1x7.7mm (F) later:      4x12.7mm (2F + 2W)
1 (~06/1943)	Humu (unlicensed copy)	IV Shvetsov M-63 930hp (Wright Cyclone derivative)	430 km/h @ 4600m	3x12.7mm
	IV  F2A-2	V  Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone 1200hp	520 km/h @ 5029m	4x12.7mm (N) + provision for 2x12.7mm (W)
	F2A-3	V  Wright R-1820-40 Cyclone 1200hp	517 km/h @ 5029m	4x12.7mm (N) + provision for 2x12.7mm (W)
	XF2A-4

* U.S. development shown in gray

 

Notes:

-- designed by Dayton T Brown and R D MacCart of the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation starting in 1936 (Green, 90)

-- U.S. Navy's first operational monoplane fighter; XF2A-1 prototype completed June 23 1936 ... to use Wright R-1820-22, to have hydraulic landing gear, all-metal stressed skin, flush-riveted construction; prototype first flight December 1937; first time in the United States that a full-size aircraft was wind-tunnel tested .. [refinement improved speed from 277.5mph @ 15200' to 304mph @ 17000'] .. first production aircraft completed July 1939 (Jones, 149-151)

-- "While the F2A-2 production was getting underway, the remaining 43 F2A-1's were completed as Brewster Model B-239's and sold to Finland.  This group of Buffalos was to prove the most successful of the type, as the stubby fighter was ideally suited to the conditions under which they were operated in Europe." (Jones, 151)

-- F2A-3 moved engine forward for CG purposes and added greater fuel capacity (Jones, 154)

-- XF2A-4 tested pressuized cabin but did not proceed (Jones, 154)

-- A total of 162 produced for U.S. Navy; 346 produced for export; single model survives today in Finnish musuem (Jones, 152)

-- "In Finland it was a popular weapon against the Russian invaders, where it was operated for three years before being replaced with Messerschmitt Bf 109's. (Jones, 152)

-- "[Up until the arrival of 16 Bf 109G-2's in January 1943], the Brewster B-239 had proved to be the supreme fighter at the front ... possessing far greater sensitivity of control and maneuverability than the later models which had such a disastrous career with the British, Dutch, and Americans in the Pacific [facing Zeros].  Possibly a good deal of this success was due to the fact that the pilots ... were the most experienced in the air force at the start of the Continuation War [June 25 1941 -- September 19 1944], having the whole of the Winter War [November 30 1939 -- March 13 1940] fighting on D.XXI's behind them to draw upon." (Shores, 11)

-- "In Finnish service, the B-239 fighters eventually had the single 0.3" weapon replaced by a fourth 0.5" gun, and remained in the first-line inventory for more than eight years, the last flight of a Finnish B-239 taking place on September 14 1948 (Green, 90)

-- [sidenote: weak landing gear ... look for modifications made by Finns, including skis]

-- initial climb 15.54 m/s; empty 1717 kg; loaded 2293 kg (Green, 90)

 

VL Humu ("Reckless") (06/1943) -- unlicensed Buffalo copy

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 (~06/1943)	Humu	IV Shvetsov M-63 930hp (Wright Cyclone derivative)	430 km/h @ 4600m	3x12.7mm

 

Notes:

-- "One of the most extraordinary fighters built and flown during World War II ... produced by Valtion Lentokonetehdas ... copy of a seven-year-old American design adapted to make use of locally-available materials and captured equipment, and built without benefit of licence or assistance from the parent manufacturer ... proposal made in 1942 to remedy a shortfall of Buffalo B-239 fighters by producing a copy ... this was to make as much use as possible of wood and to embody so-called "war booty" instrumentation and power plant -- equipment captured from the Soviet forces by the Finns themselves and similar equipment captured by the Wehrmacht and sold to the Finns." (Green, 583-584)

-- project led by M T Vainio; four prototypes ordered October 1942, intention to build 90; first flown June 5 1943 with Shvetsov M-63 engine; orders confirmed September 1943 for 5 prototypes and 55 production aircraft; wooden wing added 250kg to frame weight, so fuel tanks were moved from wings to after fuselage, which shifted the center of gravity, adversely affecting maneuverability ... program terminated summer 1944 after concluding that combat capability would be inadequate by the time it would achieve service; the single prototype was placed in storage in 1945 [after nearly 20 hours of test flights]. (Green, 584)

-- [the Shvetsov M-63 engine is currently in-game for the I-16 at Tier IV]

-- preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at Tikkakoski

 

 

 

Curtiss Hawk 75A (06/1941+) -- reference: Hawk 75M (III), P-36 (IV)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
100 (12/1938)	H75A-1	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp 950hp	504 km/h @ 3048m	4x7.5mm Browning (2F + 2W)
100 (05/1939)	H75A-2	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp 1050hp	504 km/h @ 3048m	6x7.5mm Browning (2F + 4W)
135 (02/1940)	H75A-3	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G Twin Wasp 1050hp @ 2286m	501 km/h @ 3048m	6x7.5mm Browning (2F + 4W)
284 (04/1939)	H75A-4	Wright GR-1820-G205A (R-1820-87) Cyclone 1100hp @ 1554m	501 km/h @ 3048m 520 km/h @ 4600m
1 + 54 to China	H75A-5
12 to Norway 12 to RAF	H75A-6	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G Twin Wasp 1050hp @ 2286m	501 km/h @ 3048m	4x7.9mm
20 to Netherlands	H75A-7	Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone  1050hp @ 2286m	501 km/h @ 3048m
36 to Norway in Canada	H75A-8
10 to RAF	H75A-9	Wright Cyclone

*Default production in gray; research needed to see what the Finns actually used

 

75A-1, 2, 3, 4, 6

 

Notes:

-- 44 to Finland after capture by Germans, delivery 06/1941 -- 01/1944

-- "In total, 44 captured aircraft of five subtypes were sold to Finland with three deliveries from 23 June 1941 – 5 January 1944"

-- some 75A's were converted from Wright Cyclone (R-1820) to Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp (R-1830). (Keskinen, ~48)

-- [sidenote:  The unlicensed copy of the Twin Wasp built in Sweden might show up here; see FFVS 22]

 

 

Morane-Saulnier MS.406/410 (12/1939+)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
30 + 87 + 2	MS.406	Hispano-Suiza 12Y31 860hp	486 km/h @ 5000m	2x7.5mm MAC 1934 (W)   1x20mm H-S S9 (E)  ***
10	MS.410		509 km/h @ 4000m	4x7.5mm MAC 1934 (W)   1x20mm (E)
41 total (entered service 1943)	MS.406 Mörkö MS.410 Mörkö	V  Klimov M-105P 1100hp V  Klimov M-105P 1100hp (Hispano-Suiza 12Y derivative)	525 km/h @ 4000m	2x7.5mm MAC 1934 (W)   and   1xMG 151 (E) or 1x12.7mm Berezina UB or HS.404 4x7.5mm MAC 1934 (W)   and   1xMG 151 (E) or 1x12.7mm Berezina UB or HS.404

***later replaced by H-S 404 w/ higher firing rate [France]

Data: Williams & Gustin​

 

Notes:

MS.406/410

-- "Numerically the most important fighter at the commencement of World War II" [for France] (Green, 418)

-- “half of the sorties [10,119] flown during the ‘Phony War’ were by MS.406’s" [by France]

-- "... claimed 175 confirmed kills for loss of over 400 of own number" (Weal, 97) [by France]

-- for French counterpart see here

-- 30 from France to Finland (Dec 1939), 30 to Turkey (Feb 1940), additional 87 to Finland (1940-1942); German-occupied Vichy France ordered 2 more to Finland, 44 to Croat Air Force, 52 to Italy (Green, 418)

-- MS.406 retractable radiator [seen in picture above]; MS.410 fixed radiator

-- "The Morane 406, though giving some trouble with its electrical systems, and although used to a large extent for ground attack work, had nevertheless given a good account of itself, proving superior to the I-16 and able to outmaneuver the Lagg-3."  (Shores, 11)

-- "... the cannon armament of the Moranes making them particularly suitable for 'train busting,' a task in which they were joined by the Blenheims ..." (Shores, 10)

Mörkö-Moraani

-- "The increasing obsolescence of the MS.406 led the Finnish Air Force to order, on October 22, 1942, the installation of a Klimov M-105P in an MS.406 airframe.  The M-105P, derived from the Hispano-Suiza 12Y, afforded 1100hp for take-off, and a substantial quantity of this power plant, together with suitable VISh-61P  propellers, had been captured by the Wehrmacht and was available to the Finns.  A 20mm MG 151 cannon was mounted between the banks, a Bf 109G oil cooler was adopted, an aerodynamically-improved cowling was introduced, and with some local structural strengthening, the prototype conversion was flown on February 3 1943 as the Mörkö ("Ghost") or Mörkö-Moraani.  Successful trials resulted in the decision to bring all surviving MS.406 and MS.410 fighters to Mörkö standard, but only two more were completed before termination of the Finnish-Soviet conflict.  Nevertheless, the conversion programme continued, and by November 21 1945, the remaining Morane-Saulnier fighters had been modified, bringing the total number of Mörkös delivered into the Finnish inventory to 41 aircraft." (Green, 420)

-- "... retained two or four (in the case of the MS.410 conversion) wing-mounted 7.5mm ... shortages of the MG 151 cannon necessitated this engine-mounted weapon being replaced by a 12.7mm Berezina UB machine gun in some aircraft.  The Mörkö remained in service until September 11 1948, when the survivors were placed in storage, being scrapped four years later." (Green, 420)

-- initial climb 25m/s; empty 2106kg; loaded 2849kg; dimensions same as MS.405 except for length 8.38m (Green, 420)

-- [Klimov M-105P engine is used by LaGG-3 in-game at Tier V]

-- "Modification of the Morane-Saulnier MS.406 or MS.410 with captured Soviet engines.  They retained their two or four wing guns, respectively.  The engine cannon was replaced by the MG 151/20 or, as this was in short supply, by the Berezin UB or HS.404." (Williams & Gustin, 253)

 

 

Polikarpov I-16 (captured 03/1942) -- reference: I-16 (III / IV)

 

Notes:

-- [sidenote: including the captured Polikarpov I-16 provides technological progression for the V.L. Humu and Mörkö-Moraani]

-- "During the Winter War and the Continuation War, the Finns captured six I-16s and one I-16UTI. Two of the captured I-16s and I-16UTIs were put back into flying condition and flight tested"

-- skis

 

 

Bristol/VL Blenheim (1936+) -- reference: Blenheim F (IV)

Blenheim I

Blenheim II

Blenheim IV

 

Notes:

-- image 1 / image 2 / image 3 / image 4 / image 5 / image 6

-- fixed skis / retractable skis

 

 

 

Alternates

 

From a technology standpoint these do not appear to fit well with the tree, and are limited in modules anyway -- these could be excellent premium candidates:

 

Fiat G.50 (late 1939)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
35 purchased from Italy by Finland	G.50	Fiat A 74 RC 38 radial 870hp	473 km/h @ 6000m	2x12.7mm Breda-SAFAT
249 + 97	G.50bis
(a few examples)	G.50V	DB601A 1175hp

*further development by Italy in gray

 

Notes:

-- "The least successful of the main fighter types had been the Fiat G-50's, which had given much trouble during the winter cold, and which were somewhat under-armed.  Despite this, in Spring 1943 Oiva Tuominen had gained 22 victories on this type to add to the 8 he had claimed in 1940 while flying Gladiators, to equal Juutilainen's score of 30, and make him one of Finland's two top aces at this stage.  He had also been the first fighter pilot to receive the Mannerheim Cross, which he was awarded for shooting down 4 bombers in 4 minutes on August 17 1941.  Risto Puhakka also did well on the Fiat before he and Tuominen joined HLeLv 34, and so did Klaus Alakoski, while Lauri Lantamaki and J. Hamalainen stayed with the squadron until the end, claiming 5 each." (Shores, 11-12)

-- "Designed by Giuseppe Gabrielli, the G.50 Freccia ('Arrow') was the first all-metal single-seat fighter monoplane with a retractable undercarriage produced in Italy ... prototype first flight February 26 1937 ... 45 built by Fiat's subsidiary CMASA between October 1938 and July 1939 ... 12 to Spain .... 35 purchased by Finland." (Green, 209)

-- "... powered by a Fiat A 74 RC 38 radial 870hp take-off, 840hp @ 3800m ... 2x12.7mm Breda-SAFAT machine guns" ... [Further developed in Italy as the] G.50bis ... increased internal fuel, new undercarriage, extended tailcone ... 349 produced by Fiat, 97 by CMASA ... additional 100 two-seat G.50B trainer variant produced by CMASA ... [a few] examples of the G.50V flown with DB601A 1175hp engine August 25 1942 ... G.50bis/A two-seat shipboard fighter-bomber October 3 1942. (Green, 209)

-- 3.17min to 3000m (Green, 209)

-- "35 to Finland ... served with distinction ... arrived spring 1940"

 

 

Hawker Hurricane (1939-1940) -- reference; Hurricane IID (V)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
12	Hawker Hurricane I	Rolls-Royce Merlin	508 km/h @ 5410m
3	Hawker Hurricane IIB	Rolls-Royce Merlin

 

Notes:

-- 12 Hawker Hurricane I to Finland 1939-1940; 508 km/h @ 5410m (Green, 284)   

-- "... did not see action in the Winter War." (Keskinen, 15)

-- "...by [November 1941] ... the Hurricane I's were reduced by attrition to only 6 aircraft ... these were released for home defense duties, their place being taken in one flight ... by the I-153's." (Shores, 10)

-- Hawker Hurricane restoration project

 

-- 24 assembled + 15 crated to Finland 08/1941

-- "1 Hawker Hurricane IIA captured from the Soviets, but never flown"

-- "1 Hawker Hurricane IIB captured from the Soviets and flown"  "3"

 

 

Caudron C.714 (05/1940) -- reference: C.714 (IV)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
	C.714	Renault

 

Notes:

-- 6 to Finland ~1940 Winter War

 

Tupolev SB (captured 1940+)

 

 

-- "Finnish Air Force operated 24 SB bombers. The first eight aircraft (seven powered by M-103 engines, one by M-100 engines) were captured during the Winter War, another 16 aircraft were converted from German-captured material from 5 November 1941-27 August 1942. All aircraft were refitted with M-103 engines and were used as anti-submarine aircraft in the LeLv 6 squadron. Two aircraft were rebuilt and were used as trainers. The Finnish Air Force withdrew all SB aircraft in 1945, and all were scrapped in 1950" (source)

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 June 2017 - 05:09 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier V

 

V.L. Myrsky ("Storm") (1943) -- reference: CAC CA-12 Boomerang (V), ​FFVS J 22 (Sweden)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1  (12/1941)	Myrsky prototype	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-SC3-G Twin Wasp 1115hp		2x12.7mm and 4x7.7mm
3  (04/1943)	Myrsky I			3x12.7mm or 4x12.7mm
47 (07/1944)	Myrsky II	SFA-built Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G Twin Wasp 1065hp	470 km/h @ SL 535 km/h @ 3400m	4x12.7mm LKK/42*
10 incomplete	Myrsky III

*Weal claims 4x12.7mm Browning MG 53 in upper cowling (Weal, 85)

Data: Williams & Gustin

 

Notes:

-- "The only indigenous Finnish fighter to see World War II combat ... entered service 1943 ... employed post-Sept 1944 Armistice in close-support role against retiring German ground forces." (Weal, 85)

-- Chief designer Dipl Ing A Ylinen, assisted by T Verkkola and M Vainio (Green, 583)

-- "A conventional low-wing cantilever monoplane, the Myrsky had a plywood-skinned two-spar wooden wing and a welded steel-tube fuselage covered by dural panels forward and fabric aft ... [three developmental aircraft] ... numerous detail structural and other changes, these including ... increase in wing area of 14 sq ft (1.3 m²); change in armament from 2x12.7mm and 4x7.7mm ... to 3x12.7mm (aircraft 1 and 2) or 4x12.7mm (aircraft 3).  (Green, 583) 

-- "... flown operationally over Lapland against the Wehrmacht under the terms of the Finnish-Soviet agreement, but Ilmavoimat flew this fighter only to a limited extent [due to] doubts as to its durability and sturdiness ..." (Green, 583)

-- contract received by VL (Valtion Lentokonetehdas) from Ministry of Defense [06/08/1939]; prototype flown [12/23/1941]; contract for three development aircraft [05/30/1942] [changes noted below]; first follow-on development completed [04/30/1943] (Green, 583); aircraft 1 and 2 crashed; aircraft 3 lost both wings in a dive on [03/17/1944] ... [in the meantime Myrsky II under development] ... [47 Myrsky II's delivered between [07/23/1944-12/20/1944] ... all aircraft of this type grounded on [05/09/1947] after a Myrsky broke up in a dive]." (Green, 583)

-- Weal claims that the Pyörremyrsky [see Tier VI below] is a further development of Myrsky (Weal, 85)

-- Myrsky restoration project

-- Reference:  Commonwealth Boomerang (V), FFVS J22 (Sweden)

 

 

Mörkö-Moraani (1943)

 

see progression from MS.406/410 at Tier IV

 

 

LaGG-3 (captured 1942) -- reference: LaGG-3 (V)

 

Notes:

-- [engines used by LaGG-3 are also used in the Mörkö-Moraani conversion of MS.406/410]

-- "3 captured and operated by Finnish Air Force"

 

 

Petlyakov Pe-2/3 (purchased/captured 1941+)

Production*	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
2+ (12/1939)	Samolet 100 prototype	2x Klimov M-105 1100hp w/ TK-3 turbo-superchargers	535 km/h @ 6000 620 km/h @ 10000m est
	Pe-2		540 km/h
	Pe-2M	2x M-107 1650hp planned but didn't happen			up to 500kg ext.
	Pe-2Sh ground attack
	Pe-2FT
	Pe-2UT trainer
(08/1941)	Pe-3			1 × 20 mm ShVAK (N) forward 1 × 12.7 mm UBK (F) forward 1 × 7.62 mm ShKAS
	Pe-3bis	2x Klimov M-105 1100hp (3-bladed prop)	530 km/h @ 5050m	1 × 20 mm ShVAK (N) forward 2 × 12.7 mm UBK (F) forward 1 × 12.7 mm UBT dorsal turret 1 × 7.62 mm ShKAS tail	up to 700kg ext.

*11,000+ total produced by USSR (Andersson, 187)

 

Notes:

Pe-2

-- "During the first days of Operation BARBAROSA (Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union), the German Luftwaffe had captured several intact Pe-2 series 1 aircraft.  Some of these Petlyakovs were evaluated at various Luftwaffe organizations.  The Germans had captured so many operational Pe-2 Series 1's that six of the bombers were sold to Finland.  It was originally intended that Finnish pilots should ferry the Pe-2 from the storage depot at Pinsk in eastern Poland (now Belarus) to Finland.  When the Finnish specialists arrived to inspect the aircraft, it became clear that the Soviet bombers first needed a general overhaul.  For this reason, all six Pe-3 were dismantled at Pinsk and shipped to Finland on December 19 1941." (Stapfer, 9)

-- 6 Pe-2's purchased from Germany in 1941; 2 more captured later (Keskinen, 43)

-- "An alleged total of over 11,000 was eventually built [in USSR], which gave the Petlyakov Pe-2 the distinction of being produced in larger quantity than any other Soviet twin-engined bomber ever." (Andersson, 187)

-- Samolet 100 prototype first flight December 22 1939; project changed from high-altitude interceptor to dive bomber May 1940; ordered into production June 23 1940; Pe-2 complete late 1940 ... 458 complete first half of 1941; Pe-2M first flight October 16 1941; Pe-2Sh tested 1941; 23 Pe-3's built in 1941; Pe-3bis trials complete August 1941 ... 196 built by end of 1941. (Andersson, 185-187)

Pe-3, Pe-3bis

-- "One Pe-3bis was damaged during a convoy protection mission and force landed in Finnish territory on November 28 1942.  The pilot walked away and safely reached Soviet lines, however the navigator was killed in the crash landing.  The Finns repaired this Pe-3bis and allocated it the serial number PE-301.  It served with PLeLv 48 until July 2 1944, when it was destroyed by a Soviet Pe-2 raid on Lappeenranta, Finland." (Stapfer, 36)

-- "On August 2 1941, the GKO ordered the Petlyakov OKB to develop a fighter variant of the Pe-2 ... A standard production Pe-2 was modified to serve as the prototype of the Pe-3 fighter, which mad its first flight on August 7 1941 ... featured several design changes from the Pe-2 dive bomber.  The nose glazing was completely deleted and replaced by a solid nose.  This nose housed one 20mm ShVAK cannon ... along with one 12.7mm UBK machine gun ... and one 7.62mm ShKAS machine gun ... Two gun access hatches were added to the port nose side.  The two-man crew of pilot and navigator ... were housed in the front cockpit.  This reduction in crew from the Pe-2's three men resulted [removal of communication equipment] ... The radio operator's station was removed on the Pe-3, along with the ventral MB-2 gun position and its lower fuselage gondola.  A 225 L fuel tank was put in this space.  Bomb racks were removed from the Pe-2 bomb bay and a 250 L fuel tank installed.  The wing-mounted dive brakes were also removed, along with the large fuselage waist windows ... The Pe-3 fighter had the same dimensions as the Pe-2 ... [details]." (Stapfer, 34)

-- Pe-3 state acceptance trials August 1941 ... 530 km/h max speed ... ceiling 9000m ... 16 Pe-3 fighters complete by August 1941 ... 98 by end of September." (Stapfer, 34)

-- "Pe-3 and Pe-3bis production at GAZ 39 ended in March 1943, after 134 aircraft were built." (Stapfer, 36)

 

unverified info:

-- "Six captured Pe-2s were also transferred from the Germans to the Finnish Air Force during the Continuation War [June 25 1941 -- September 19 1944], with the serial code PE- and the unofficial nickname Pekka-Eemeli."

-- "7 Pe-2, 1 Pe-3"

 

configuration details needed

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 June 2017 - 05:12 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier VI

 

V.L. Pyörremyrsky ("Whirlwind") (1944+)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 (1945)	PM-1 Pyörremyrsky	VI  Daimler-Benz DB605AC 1475hp	522 km/h @ SL 620 km/h @ 6400m	1x20mm MG 151 (E)  and 2x12.7mm LKK/42	2x200kg (W)

Data: Williams & Gustin

 

Notes:

-- single prototype designed by Dipl-Ing Torsti R. Verkkola (Green, 584)

-- "Conceived to make maximum use of indigenous materials with emphasis on suitability for operation from small Finnish frontline airfields under the most severe climatic conditions" ... single-spar wooden wing with plywood skinning and a fuselage of steel-tube construction with detachable metal panels forward and a wooden ply-covered monocoque aft.(Green, 584)

-- Powered by a DB605AC removed from a Bf 109G ... Pyörremyrsky could outclimb the Bf 109G-6 and was more maneuverable, but, as no funds were available for the purchase of new aircraft ... and sufficient Bf 109G's remained to equip the Ilmavoimien fighter force that was permitted under the Armistice terms ... prototype grounded after 30 flight hours ... program terminated. (Green, 584)

-- construction of the prototype began prior to September 1944, but was stalled by the Finnish-Soviet Armistice on September 4 1944; resumed January 1945; first flight November 21 1945 (Green, 584)

-- preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at Tikkakoski

-- [sidenote: in-game the DB605AC represents the 1st engine for Bf 109G and is designated a Tier VI engine]

 

 

Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-6 / Fw 190F-8 (06/1944) -- reference: Fw 190 A-5 (VI)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
*	Fw 190A-6	VI  BMW 801D-2
*	Fw 190F-3 (based on A-6)	VI  BMW 801D-2	550 km/h @ SL 645 km/h @ 5500m		bomb racks removed, instead: 2x30mm MK 103 (W)
*	Fw 190F-8 (based on A-8)	VI  BMW 801D-2	571 km/h @ SL ** 647 km/h @ 5500m **

* 30 total Fw 190's  /  ** Data for A-8 until I find better

 

Notes:

-- 30 total Fw 190 sent to assist Finland against the Soviet advance in June 1944 (Detachment "Kuhlmey") (Keskinen, ~58)

-- [images here confirm Fw 190's at Immola June 17 and June 27 1944; Immola Airfield is near the border between Finland and Russia (~270km from Helsinki, ~210km from St. Petersburg, ~1600km from Berlin).

-- [The above data is not a progression, just a look at modules for comparison to in-game Fw 190A-5.  The primary difference appears to be the 2x30mm MK 103's mounted under the wings]

-- [relationship from Mörkö-Moraani via MG 151 cannons and/or attack role; relationship to Bf 109G via MG 151]

 

 

Valmet Vihuri ("Squall") -- (1946+) investigate ​-- reference: Mosquito (VI), Mosquito FB 26 (VI)

 

Notes:

-- a plan to use DB605 engines in a Mosquito copy, to be started in 1946; prototype may have been completed (source)

-- "to resemble Mosquito B IV [which entered service for UK May 1942]"

-- may have been part of a plan to receive 2 Mosquitos captured intact by Germany

-- [other details here; see ISBN 951-96866-2-2]

-- [for comparable specs see Mosquito in-game for United Kingdom, and Saab 18 here for Sweden which used 2xDB605 engines in June 1944]

 

 

 

Alternate

 

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 (12/1942+) -- reference: MiG-3 (VI)

 

-- "22 captured by Germans to be delivered to Finland (ordered December 12 1942, if legit), none delivered"

-- claim:  "destroyed by Allied bombing prior to delivery"

-- prototype first flight October 29 1940; 

 

 

Curtiss P-40M-1-CU Warhawk (captured from USSR 12/1943) -- reference: P-40 (V), Tomahawk IIb (V)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1 captured from USSR 12/1943	P-40M-1-CU	VI Allison V-1710-81 1200hp

 

Notes:

-- for comparable Flying Tiger P-40's used in China see here

 

 

Junkers Ju 87D-5 (06/1944) -- reference: Ju 87 G (VI)

 

 

-- 25 Junkers Ju 87D-5 sent to assist Finland against the Soviet advance in June 1944 (Detachment "Kuhlmey") (Keskinen, ~58)

-- may have been flown by Finnish pilots despite German paint markings, investigate

 

 

Valmet Puuska ("Gust") (1946+)

 

 

-- DB605-powered interceptor plan; emphasis on small size and low weight; 720 km/h estimated; only 1x20mm (source)

-- 3-view

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 June 2017 - 05:14 PM.

[J311yfish]

Tier VII

 

Messerschmitt Bf 109G (03/1943-1954) -- reference: Bf 109 G (VII)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
	Bf 109G-2
	Bf 109G-6
	Bf 109G-8

 

Notes:

-- [Finland known to have used Bf 109G2, G6, G8, accounted for with the modules in-game at Tier VII]

-- received from Germany 03/1943; remained in service until 1954

-- 80 additional Bf 109G-6's supplied by Germany to assist against Soviet advance in June 1944 (Keskinen, ~58)

-- preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at Tikkakoski

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 04 November 2016 - 12:17 AM.

[J311yfish]

Tier VIII

 

De Havilland Vampire FB.52 (delivered 1953)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs/Rockets
"6 to Finland"	Vampire FB.52	de Havilland Goblin 3  3350 lbf	882 km/h	4x20mm Hispano Mk.V	2x225kg bombs or 8x76mm RP-3 rockets

 

Notes:

-- If the Rolls-Royce Nene is a Tier VIII engine (as indicated by in-game Supermarine Attacker), then the Vampire's Goblin 3 engine is also an VIII because it is upgraded to Nene in the the French SE.530 Mistral (here)

-- one preserved at Finnish Aviation Museum near Helsinki airport

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 08 July 2014 - 02:17 AM.

[J311yfish]

Tier IX and X

 

Folland Gnat   (first flight 08/1954, delivered 07/1958)

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
1	G-39-1 prototype (Fo.139) "Midge"	Armstrong Siddeley Viper 101 (ASV.5) 1640 lbf / 744 kgf		2x30mm
1	G-39-2 prototype	Bristol Orpheus BOr.1 3285 lbf / 1490 kgf
6 trial aircraft**	XK724, XK739, XK740, XK741, XK767, KX786	Bristol Orpheus BOr.2 4520 lbf / 2050 kgf
13 to Finland + 215 to India	Fo.145 production	Bristol Orpheus 701-01 4705 lbf / 2134 kgp	____ km/h @ SL ** 1149 km/h @ 5486m	2x30mm ADEN Mk 4	2x227kg   or 18x76mm rockets

** tested different concepts (see Gunston p.79)

*** Green instead claims 1118 km/h @ 6100m; both Green and Gunston claim 101.60 m/s initial climb rate [20,000'/min] (Green, 234)

^ The data above is for development in the United Kingdom and does not necessarily account for follow-on developments in Finland.

 

Notes:

-- "World's lightest fighter ... 1/2 the size and 1/3 the weight of a standard fighter" (source) ... "...1/3 the cost and 1/5 the production time." (source)

-- designed by W.E.W. 'Teddy' Petter, former chief engineer at English Electric [also designed Westland Lysander].  Petter believed that fighters were becoming too complicated/expensive, and that the answer to the problem was to produce simpler/lighter/cheaper fighters that could instead be brought to the field in greater number [sidenote: similar conversation going on in France around the same time].  He joined Folland to pursue the idea further (despite ridicule).  (Gunston, 77)

-- A plan to use the Bristol BE.22 Saturn 3750 lbf engine did not materialize because officials terminated the Saturn program when they learned of Petter's intentions.  Petter instead settled on the Bristol BE.26 Orpheus to be the definitive engine, and chose an Armstrong Siddely Viper 101 1640 lbf to proceed with a prototype. Fo.139 prototype first flight August 11, 1954 (Gunston, 77-78)

-- "...immediately clear that W.E.W. 'Teddy' Petter had created a masterpiece.  Handling was splendid from the start, and performance on such low thrust extraordinary; level speed exceeded 600 mph, and Mach 1 could be exceeded in a dive.  The 40-degree swept wing was made in one piece, dropped on the slim but broad fuselage from above.  The pilot sat in a reclining position in the nose under a one-piece canopy hinged at the front (an idea copied exactly for the MiG-21), in a lightweight ejection seat designed by Folland.  The engine was fed by deep lateral ducts alongside which in the fighter were to be two 30mm Aden guns, and also the main gears whose fairings served as all-speed airbrakes, cunningly arranged to cause no trim-change under any conditions.  Flight controls included a trimming tailplane with Hobson-powered elevators, and powered inboard ailerons which drooped to act as plain flaps (the original wing, used until January 1955, had outboard ailerons and plain flaps)." (Gunston, 78)

-- "To the embarassment of the officials and Air Staff, the A&AEE test pilots described overall handling as 'superior to that of any existing aircraft in service' ..." (Gunston, 78)

-- "With SBAC registration G-39-1 the Midge was a brilliant performer, and nobody who saw [test pilot E.A. Tennant]'s almost 'square' turns at over Mach 0.9 following dives to airfield level will ever forget them." (Gunston, 78)

-- "G-39-2 prototype...appeared to differ only in having a bigger jetpipe and two guns, though actually it had a larger wing and broader fuselage ... first flight July 18 1955." (Gunston, 78-79)

-- 6 aircraft purchased for trial purposes [Gunston thinks it was so that they might save face after embarassment], designated XK724, XK739, XK740, XK741, XK767, KX786 ... KX786 sent to India and redesignated IE1059 following conclusion of a license agreement ... Indian deal specified supply of 43 Folland-built machines [23 assembled, 20 in parts] ... 215 total by 1975. (Gunston, 79)

-- "...exciting air-combat potential and sweet handling ... Combat record of the Gnat was outstanding." (Gunston, 79)

-- 13 Folland Gnats delivered to Finland starting July 1958; served until 1973, two in a reconnaissance role fitted with 70mm Vinten cameras (Gunston, 79)

-- initial climb 20,000'/min [101.6 m/s] (Gunston, 79)

-- service ceiling 50,000' [15240m] (Gunston, 79)

-- 1 Folland Gnat is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford; another preserved at the Aviation Museum of Central Finland at Tikkakoski; another at Finnish Aviation Museum near Helsinki airport

-- Flight Magazine 10/1954 article claims the Midge prototype was also to be armed with 2x30mm (source); Flight Magazine 10/1954 article (source); Flying Magazine 06/1955 article (source)

-- image

-- "In Finnish service the Gnat was indeed modified repeatedly ..." (source)

 

Folland Gnat developments -- work in progress

 

13 to Finland, 2 modified for recon, what else?

 

GN-101

GN-102 -- destroyed August 26 1958 due to technical fault

GN-103

GN-104

GN-105

GN-106

GN-107

GN-108

GN-109

GN-110

GN-111

GN-112 -- adapted for reconnaissance (FR.1)

GN-113 -- adapted for reconnaissance (FR.1)

 

 

 

Replaced by MiG-21F in 1967; used as trainers until 1974

 

Sources:

Previous books and

Folland Gnat in Finland

101, 105, 106 pictured here

Kreivi von Rosen

 

 

 

 

 

Omitted

 

De Havilland Vampire DH.115 T.55

 

-- "9 Vampire trainers to Finland"

 

 

MiG-15 UTI

Production	Airframe	Engine	Speed	Armament	Bombs
	MiG-15 UTI	RD-45F	1015 km/h @ 3000m 720 km/h @ 13000m	1x23mm NR-23  and 1x12.7mm UBK-E

 

Rate of Climb

time	to alt	avg
1.5min	3000m	33.3 m/s
2.6min	5000m	32.1 m/s
6.8min	10000m	24.5 m/s
celing	14625m

 

-- Yes, it's a trainer; it's just here to show that the only other alternative is to give Finland credit for developing the Folland Gnat (Folland Midge and/or pre-production aircraft) under the premise that a license agreement was planned.

-- MiG-15 UTI is slightly weaker than the MiG-15bis / Shenyang J-2 expected for China at Tier X

 

 

Fouga Magister

 

-- first flight 07/1952; purchased from France 1958

 

 

MiG-21F

 

-- first flight 02/1956

 

 

 

Edited by J311yfish, 03 July 2015 - 06:41 PM.

[Wolcott]

Couple of problems which could make this impossible: WG will never accept the blue swastika roundel, Nazi or not. And China is the better choice when it comes to money. But between a Chinese or Finnish tech tree, I'd choose the latter. The Finns have better aircraft variety (Italian, American, French, British, German, Soviet etc). And I can't refuse another Buffalo variant, or "Sky Pearl" as it was nicknamed. =)

[Lego1157]

<(-_-)7 J311yfish. I hate flying against you. I love flying with you. But I really love the tech trees that you make. 

[Demon93IT]

The G.50 is a bit too fast at tier III since it had a maximum speed of about 470 km/h, 20 km/h more than any tier III elite currently available. Moreover it won't be that different from the Italian counterpart

[J311yfish]

Wolcott, on 02 July 2014 - 02:32 AM, said:

Couple of problems which could make this impossible: WG will never accept the blue swastika roundel, Nazi or not. And China is the better choice when it comes to money. But between a Chinese or Finnish tech tree, I'd choose the latter. The Finns have better aircraft variety (Italian, American, French, British, German, Soviet etc). And I can't refuse another Buffalo variant, or "Sky Pearl" as it was nicknamed. =)

 

Definitely variety!  I can already tell it is going to be tricky.  For the roundels, I will try to photoshop them to the 1946 (non-swastika) version, or else leave them blank.

 

1946 roundel

 

 

Lego1157, on 02 July 2014 - 06:35 AM, said:

<(-_-)7 J311yfish. I hate flying against you. I love flying with you. But I really love the tech trees that you make. 

 

Thanks! o7

 

Demon93IT, on 02 July 2014 - 12:06 PM, said:

The G.50 is a bit too fast at tier III since it had a maximum speed of about 470 km/h, 20 km/h more than any tier III elite currently available. Moreover it won't be that different from the Italian counterpart

 

You've got an eagle eye!  Updated, thanks!

[Demon93IT]

J311yfish, on 02 July 2014 - 12:46 PM, said:

 

Definitely variety!  I can already tell it is going to be tricky.  For the roundels, I will try to photoshop them to the 1946 (non-swastika) version, or else leave them blank.

 

1946 roundel

 

 

 

Thanks! o7

 

 

You've got an eagle eye!  Updated, thanks!

Well i have the Italian planes covered so it was easy to spot :). You're welcome anyway!

[Wolcott]

J311yfish, on 02 July 2014 - 07:46 PM, said:

 

Definitely variety!  I can already tell it is going to be tricky.  For the roundels, I will try to photoshop them to the 1946 (non-swastika) version, or else leave them blank.

 

1946 roundel

 

 

You could try putting a disclaimer in your post. I did that with another game and the mods said it was acceptable so long as it was for historical purposes.

 

Btw, the Buffalo is American, not UK. Might wanna add the B-239 designation in the middle so that viewers will not assume it's just another copy/paste aircraft. =)

[J311yfish]

Wolcott, on 02 July 2014 - 02:06 PM, said:

 

You could try putting a disclaimer in your post. I did that with another game and the mods said it was acceptable so long as it was for historical purposes.

 

Btw, the Buffalo is American, not UK. Might wanna add the B-239 designation in the middle so that viewers will not assume it's just another copy/paste aircraft. =)

 

Good point, will try that first.  Everything hidden in spoiler tags too.

 

You guys are great wingmen.  I know I'm missing some aircraft yet but I hope to have a proper inventory done by end of today.

[Wolcott]

Any room for captured aircraft like the I-153 and Pe-3?

[J311yfish]

Wolcott, on 02 July 2014 - 04:09 PM, said:

Any room for captured aircraft like the I-153 and Pe-3?

 

I am still early in this, but it looks like a line of captured/refurbished Soviet fighters might be possible leading up to Mörkö-Morane, an adaptation of MS.406 that relied on Soviet engines/armament.  It would certainly explain where the technology comes from, rather than just having it appear.  Mörkö-Morane so far looks like a Tier V linchpin ... but I won't know for sure until I get dirty with details.

[Wolcott]

Great idea! The variety is so immense that it's almost as good as an EU tech tree. Pity the G.50 was the only Italian fighter they had.

 

And thanks for the swastika disclaimer. But don't you mean, "They do not share [the same] ideology"? Might also want to make it clear to viewers that to the Finns, the symbol represented good luck (and rightfully so considering they survived three bloody wars, two against the Soviets and one against the Germans), and is in no way affiliated with Nazism.