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Hello everyone, and welcome to this new suggestion.
Today, I’m presenting another aircraft used by French forces in the post-war era: the de Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI.
At the end of the Second World War, France was faced with the enormous task of rebuilding its armed forces. French aircraft production had been severely disrupted by the German occupation, and the country lacked the industrial capacity to rapidly develop and manufacture a new generation of combat aircraft. As a result, the French government turned to its Allies to acquire modern aircraft that could quickly equip the newly reconstituted Air Force.
Among the aircraft selected was the de Havilland Mosquito, one of the most successful British aircraft of the Second World War… France acquired several variants of the aircraft, including the FB Mk.VI, the fighter-bomber version designed primarily for low-level ground-attack missions.
France ordered a total of 139 Mosquito FB Mk.VIs, with the first aircraft being delivered in 1945. French crews initially used them for training and familiarization before the aircraft gradually entered operational service. From 1947 onwards, French Mosquitoes saw combat in Indochina, where France was engaged in a major conflict against the Viet Minh. Aircraft of the 2e Escadre de Chasse were deployed to the theater and carried out numerous ground-attack and close-support missions.
However, the Mosquito’s career in France coincided with a period of extremely rapid technological change. By the beginning of the 1950s, the first generation of French and foreign jet aircraft was entering service, offering performances that piston-engine aircraft could no longer match. As a result, the Mosquito was progressively withdrawn from frontline service. French Mosquito FB Mk.VIs remained in service until 1953, less than a decade after their arrival in France.
Characteristics
Length : 13.57 m
Width : 16.52 m
Height : 5.30 m
Mass :
- Empty : 6 490 kg
- Full : 11 000 kg
The aircraft is powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, each producing 1,710 hp, allowing it to reach a top speed of 610 km/h and a service ceiling of 8,800 m. It has a range of 2,100 km.
The crew consists of a pilot and a co-pilot.
Weapons
The aircraft’s armament is already well-known to players of the game; indeed, its forward-firing weaponry is devastating, to say the least. It features the following armament:
Guns:
- 4 x 20mm Hispano Mk.II cannons
- 4 x 7.7mm Browning machine guns
Bombs:
- 2 x GP 250lb Mk.IV bombs
- 2 x GP 500lb Mk.IV bombs
Rockets:
- 8 x RP-3 rockets
- 2 x Uncle Tom rockets
In-game, this aircraft would be a fascinating addition to the French tech tree, complementing the existing heavy fighter line.
Pictures
