The Soviet set

[Tilt]

mid 1944: La-7, Yak-3, Yak-9U (M-107)

Whilst it wouild be fair to say that the Yak3 was in a steady state of delivery to front line units from early summer 44 it would not be so of the La7 and Yak 9U IMO.

176 GIAP did have La7's as early as  mid June 44 but the next regiment to be equipped  was active only in late August (63GIAP) and serious roll out only began there after in Sept 44.

Equally the Yak 9U (VK107)whilst committed to production at virtually the same time as the La7 did not become active until Mid August 44 due to protracted problems with the engine.

[Squire]

The I-16 was the backbone of the VVS's fighters in 1941, with close to 1/2 of VVS Fighter Regiments equipped with it in June 1941. The rest filled in the gaps. The combined strength of LaGG, MiG-3, and Yaks numbered 2030 total at this time, and it took time to get the Red Air Force properly modernised, especially after the invasion. The MiG-3 was certainly the backbone of the "better fighters", sure.

Lend-Lease #s for info:

16,661 a/c shipped to the USSR from 1941-45, of these:

5062 P-39s
2555 P-40s
3072 Hurricanes

[Rich46yo]

There was a small number of P-47s as well if memory serves.

Offhand I cant remember how many, less then 200 or 300, nor can I remember which version Jug.

P-40s too right? A-20s as well. B-25s, B-26s. Again Im going from memory here.

[-aper-]

The I-16 was the backbone of the VVS's fighters in 1941, with close to 1/2 of VVS Fighter Regiments equipped with it in June 1941. The rest filled in the gaps. The combined strength of LaGG, MiG-3, and Yaks numbered 2030 total at this time, and it took time to get the Red Air Force properly modernised, especially after the invasion. The MiG-3 was certainly the backbone of the "better fighters", sure.

I-16 was a backbone for a very short period of time due to the very heavy losses of VVS in June-July 1941. While the losses of I-16 could not be recovered the production of MiG-3 reached it peak in summer 1941. (496 MiG-3 were built in July, 562 (!) in August).

[Nemisis]

I think the Red Air Force in AH is 2 airplanes short from being a very formidable set.
The first needed is the TU-2s and the Yak-3p. You can then just skin the B-25s, B-26s, P-39s, A-20s, P-40s, heck even P-47s. No doubt we sent them gonies so skin them too.

But a set needs a good representation of home made iron. We get those two planes and I'd be ready to say I'd never fly anything the commies didnt. Well...maybe.

But the TU-2s and Yak-3 would really solidify the Russian set as a major player in the game.

I say good, but add the Il-4.

[Wmaker]

The first needed is the TU-2s and the Yak-3p.

Something I forgot to mention earlier...

Yak-3P's production was starting when the war in Europe was ending. It saw no combat in WWII or in any other war for that matter.

[Squire]

Hmm, well I do enjoy a good WW2 a/c debate, and respectfully disagree re: the MiG-3.

There were @ 12,000 fighters in the VVS at the time of the invasion, @ 6000 of those were I-16s. There were 1200 MiG-3s in service, with another 1900 built by the end of 1941 beg of 42. 3260 total, using your data.

The I-16 didnt need replacements to stay numerically top dog, as the MiG-3s were also being lost in the fighting. By no means was it just the more obsolote types being lost, and the MiG-3 shared that burden.

That and I have seen several quotes indicating that more than 1/2 the I-16s produced were still in service by 1943. I just dont see the MiG-3 ever being the most numerical VVS fighter, it was dwarfed by the I-16s #s in 1941, and after that year, it stopped production, to be outproduced by the LaGG and Yaks. The "sweet spot" for the MiG-3 would have been right at the end of 1941, where it was probably the second most numerical type, for a few months.

Also, it has to be said that there were many I-16s that were not stationed in the West, facing the invasion, but in the East, facing the Japanese, and in other quiet sectors where many of them would have escaped the cauldron of the fighting, thereby giving it a bit of a cushion #s wise.  I-16s were transferred to the Soviet Naval Air Forces as newer types were brought on line in VVS units, rather than be just retired.

"Soviet Aces of WW2" by H. Morgan is a good source.

 

[-aper-]

There were @ 12,000 fighters in the VVS at the time of the invasion, @ 6000 of those were I-16s. There were 1200 MiG-3s in service, with another 1900 built by the end of 1941 beg of 42. 3260 total, using your data.

According to VVS reports the numbers of soviet fighters in service on the 22nd of June 1941 are:
I-16 - 2089
I-153- 1557
MiG-3 - 903
Yak-1 - 102
LaGG-3 - 0

That and I have seen several quotes indicating that more than 1/2 the I-16s produced were still in service by 1943.

Official VVS reports indicate that on the 30th of June 1941  837 I-16 left in service. In the end of 1941 - 240

[Squire]

I think your looking at an OOB for a particular Military District (my guess is the one facing 'Barbarossa' directly), not Soviet combat a/c total (all fronts, VVS, PVO, Naval). Those #s are way too small.

The #s I have for the LaGG are 322 at the time of the invasion, Mig-3s at 1289 and 419 Yaks-1s. The fact that your OOB has no LaGGs at all, when we know it was in service, indicates a problem. It most certainly was not 0.

Losses to the USSR by the end of the first week of fighting alone was 4017 aircraft.   

[-aper-]

The #s I have for the LaGG are 322 at the time of the invasion, Mig-3s at 1289 and 419 Yaks-1s. The fact that your OOB has no LaGGs at all, when we know it was in service, indicates a problem. It most certainly was not 0.

Your numbers are correct, but they are production numbers. All LaGGs on the 22 July 1942 required urgent fixes before they could be brought into action. Some MiGs and Yaks were built but still not delivered to squads. That's why official reports indicate 903 MiGs and 102 Yaks only available on this date.

[Grendel]

Official VVS reports indicate that on the 30th of June 1941  837 I-16 left in service. In the end of 1941 - 240

Are Soviet Navy Air Force numbers counted in those reports, by the way?

[Tilt]

Yak-3P's production was starting when the war in Europe was ending. It saw no combat in WWII or in any other war for that matter.

Agreed and the only difference was armament the Yak 3P was basically a standard Yak 3 with 3 x B20 cannon instead of the standard 1 x Shvak20 + 2 x 12.7 UBS.

Early Yak 3's only has 1 x Shvak + 1 x 12.7 UBS. They were a little lighter. This could be a loadout option.

[-aper-]

Are Soviet Navy Air Force numbers counted in those reports, by the way?

Yes, for the report on the 22 of June 1941. I am not sure about other reports as they are worded "on the front lines".
The exact number "navy" (Northern Fleet + Baltic Fleet + Black Sea Fleet) I-16 on the 1st of May 1942 is 91 including 27 required repairs.

[fudgums]

I have something about a soviet P51 being shot down. I don't believe its true but just wondering if it could've been.

[LLv34_Snefens]

I have a picture of a Mustang with the red stars on it, so they had some.