Brewster vs the P-39D/P-40

[humble]

What are the historical realities here. The 39D was a late 42/early 43 bird. I do know that the P-40 was in service in 1942 in VVS. Did either have any significant interaction vs the 239 IRL?

[Ponyace]

Im not entirely sure, but Im willing to bet that the P-39 and P-40 both fought the 239.

I have a book about the P-39, and I will see if I can find out. If I remember correctly, the P-39 origionally fought on the Northern and Southern fronts first before being assigned to units on the central front, so it is possible that such an encounter could happen.

Again, I will try to find out more info.

[Grendel]

Both P-40 and P-39 were common opponents to the Finnish Brewsters. Both types were imported in large numbers through Murmansk and Argankel ports, and used by the squads operating in Northern front.

For example at one time during 1942 the new P-40s had made life so difficult to the Finnish Dokker D.XXIs and Morane Saulniers at eastern Karelia, that a flight of Brewsters was posted there to counter the new Soviet planes. In few months the Brewster flight neutralized the Soviet aerial superiority and made the air situation again more or less neutral.

Also Hurricanes were regular opponents at eastern Karelia at the time, when the "early war" Soviet planes were being phased out.

[Krusty]

Considering the Finns captured a P-40, that implies they were fighting against them! 

[Squire]

The Airacobra I (P-39D) was in service with the VVS in early 1942. The initial batch coming from the RAF and the cancelled RAF order from the USA, and of course they got many more through the war. Same with the P-40 series. Both a/c are very "historical" counterparts to a B-239, and of course the I-16 is as well as the Hurricane.

[Angus]

All makes the FINRUS scenarios more interesting!

[Letalis]

Yes the P39 saw action against the Finnish Brewters. I highly recommend the book Fighter Over Finland by the Finnish ace Eino Luukkanen.  He flew Fokkers, I-153s and 109s against the Russians. Great read.
Another book of the same series is even better- "Samurai!" by Saburo Sakai gives details of combat vs P39s as well.  He gives one account of hitting a P39 with a single 20mm round and watching it split in two! Both the American designs seemed to get waxed alot in these books...

[Grendel]

FYI...

Finnish fighter tactics lectures 1943...

**

During the grouping-up everyone must keep their eyes open, so that the enemy fighters that could be lurking around over the airfield or nearby cannot surprise you. For example, at Hirvas Air Base in the summer of 1942, four Tomahawk (P-40C) fighters surprised a Brewster flight taking off. The Brewster pilots should thank only the poor shooting by the enemy for their survival. The Russkies had been waiting for a good opportunity to bounce in the low clouds and couldn't have got a better one. For example, one Tomahawk shot at a Brewster taxiing on the ground, but shot so poorly that the plane didn't suffer a single hit.

**

The  LaGG-3  is not especially agile in dogfight. It usually tries an outflanking approach from up and behind, shoots and pulls up. Likes head-on shooting. The tail has a heavy armour. When attacked it tries to evade with a quick half aileron roll to either side. The most vulnerable points are the engine and the radiator below the aircraft.

The LA-5 is an extremely agile and fast fighter. Similar hooking tactics as LaGG-3 thanks to its good climb performance. The method of fighting: usually an attack in sections from above; the flight leader fires first and his wingman when the target is evading.

In addition to aforementioned planes the enemy uses American types, such as the Tomahawk and Kittyhawk, which are not as good as the LA-5. They are about on a par with LaGG-3 but more vulnerable.

 

Source: http://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/WW2History-CaptainWindsAirCombatTacticsLecture.html