De Havilland Mosquito FB Mk.VI

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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 As a result, the Mosquito was progressively withdrawn from frontline service.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.

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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.

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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

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Sources
4 Likes
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-1
while it’s well written, i dont really think we need more copy paste. Especially for france - where this mosquito would most likely take up a spot where an indigeonous 3.7 could sit instead

3 Likes
3

A tentative +1 from me. France was a major operator of the Mosquito and all, so I don’t see any reason they should be denied one.

I mean, come to think of it, does France even have a 3.7 candidate that would provide the same capabilities as the Mosquito? Considering they didn’t really develop anything in the 40s for obvious reasons, the Mosquitio might actually be a decent choice.

4

I mean, come to think of it, does France even have a 3.7 candidate that would provide the same capabilities as the Mosquito?

maybe, i can think of the NC.600 (mathll also did this one) and of the SE.100, maybe not quite as fast or strong as a DH Mosquito (its almost uniquely british in that way), but both heavy fighters in their own rights

1 Like
5

Imo neither the NC600 or SE100 are true alternatives to the Mosquito. Slower, less firepower, lighter loadout would result in a lower BR. Adding the Mozzie would not make these any less likely if they filled a different gap.

French designs simply stopped improving for several years for obvious and it’s unavoidable that foreign types are required to fill out the mid! late war period.

It was an important type in rebuilding postwar so yes they should get it, despite my reservations about adding what would be the 4th FB.VI nation.

6

as far as copies are concerned, if there’s a true gap or need to be filled and there’s nothing else for it, then sure.
elsewise, i’d rather not.

also, you could argue that the VB.10 is the true alternative to the Mozzie (twin-engine, of similar horsepower, four 20mm canons, ~3.7 BR) even if the airframe architechture is not the same at all (and it’s been here since “vive la france” in 2017)

7

The VB.10 isn’t an attacker, and is limited to the cannons only. Also whilst the same 3.7 in Arcade and sim it raises to 4.0 in realistic where many will play it.

So not a 1 for 1 comparison any more than saying Mosquitos are needed in the British tree becuase the Whirlwind exists.

8

The VB.10 isn’t an attacker, and is limited to the cannons only

then if its attackers to replace the mosquito, then we might arguably be talking about the SE.117 “Voltigeur”

but then you could also argue the Voltigeur would likely be higher BR and not work the heavy fighter role as well, but dare i say…

So not a 1 for 1 comparison

that’s the point of nationally-divided tech trees.

…of not just giving everybody the exact same stuff.

because otherwise : why not give germany their “beute-mosquito” too?
they don’t have a “1-to-1 comparison” either.
the Bf.110 doesn’t fly as well or as fast for 3.7
the Ta.154 “moskito” is higher BR and also not an attacker

9

Surely Trees should be based on what the Defence Forces used not exclusively what the countries manufactured. (excluding prototypes/projects).

‘Copy Paste’ is thrown around too often as an excuse not to add vehicles. If a type was in wide spread service - the French had 100+ Mosquitos - then it should be treated in the same manner as any other vehicle, foreign or domestic origin.

2 Likes
10

Surely Trees should be based on what the Defence Forces used not exclusively what the countries manufactured. (excluding prototypes/projects).

‘Copy Paste’ is thrown around too often as an excuse not to add vehicles.

the excepted end result of this line of logic is : every single tech tree looking almost the exact same, with the parts that aren’t, likely not showing up in the matchmaker because they aren’t “meta”

at that point, you might as well not bother with ARB’s matchmaker as a concept, and the only time you’ll ever get a historical/realistic/immersive matchmaker is special events

i already see this as an issue that we have in war thunder, in large part because it wasn’t built around this concept and certainly wasn’t what drew me to WT, and i’d genuinely hate to make it worse.

11

If that’s what real life is then that’s should be represented.

This isn’t about a niche vehicle in small numbers that would be a prone candidate for premium or event status. 139 airframes is not a small scale servce. Denying a country a vehicle that saw widespread multi year service is nonsensical, and frankly a ship long sailed.

1 Like
12

If that’s what real life is then that’s should be represented.

in a game like Wargame, it works well enough, in a game like War Thunder, its doesn’t.
if every single one of your “factions” is the same, what was the point of dividing them in the first place?

This isn’t about a niche vehicle in small numbers that would be a prone candidate for premium or event status

that’s not the point, and i frankly couldn’t care less if france had used 2 or 2000
the point is : i don’t play france to fly british aircraft, and vice-versa

Denying a country a vehicle that saw widespread multi year service is nonsensical

then so be it, i’ll stop making sense, lords above and below know WT already doesn’t.

13

Give it all! Nobody dared to make these lend lease for the french, but now gib!

14

Which indigenous 3.7 would that be?

And is there any particular reason there can’t be 2 at that BR?

3 Likes
15

+1 more mossies are good.

Large number and decent service length? Should be here. War Thunder has always been a game of who used it. And in this case, the French use it; the French should get it.

1 Like
16

So i take it you want the US ones gone too?No Hawk 75, F-84/86/100 etc, as well as the entire Tier I air lineup, and numerous others.

As shown thee Mosquito is in no way the only foreign design the French flew. In fact they had more than the F-8(FN) (42) and Lancaster (52) combined.

1 Like
17

So i take it you want the US ones gone too?

ideally, yes. though it’s admittedly hard to find a suitable replacement for the F-84G, the Helldiver, Hellcats, or the Corsair

the rest i could honestly do without. i could just go play them in their respective TTs. and specially the Curtiss Hawks and the Sea Fury

1 Like
18

So you merely want to cherry pick.

You either want foreign designs or not.

19

ideally not, but if its there to fill a gap in capability that can’t be filled otherwise, then i’ll tolerate it.

which, circling back to the Mosquito FB VI, i’d argue, would not fill a gap in capability, neither as a heavy fighter, nor as an attacker

1 Like
20

Personal opinion aside, this argument appears to focus primarily on personal preference rather than the broader historical context of the French Air Force’s aircraft inventory. The French Air Force operated hundreds of foreign-designed aircraft throughout its history, and it has been stated multiple times that tech trees are not limited solely to domestically produced vehicles. Imported, leased, and otherwise foreign-produced aircraft operated in national service are also valid additions where they contribute to the overall identity and historical representation of a tree.

It is my personal opinion that many notable and lesser-known French pilots flew these aircraft while serving under the French flag, meaning these vehicles still hold historical significance and a place within the French tech tree beyond their country of origin. Their inclusion is therefore not simply about adding “foreign planes”, but about accurately representing the aircraft that formed part of French aviation history.

Not every vehicle added to a tech tree has to exist solely to fill a capability gap. Historical relevance, variety, and representation of a nation’s actual aircraft inventory are also valid reasons for inclusion. A vehicle does not become unsuitable simply because another aircraft could already fulfil a similar gameplay role.

Some lend-lease or niche aircraft like this one may be better suited as a skin, foldered vehicle, or Battle Pass/event rewards, especially when they offer little distinction from an already existing aircraft.

Anyway, +1, could be nice to folder behind some of the other heavy attackers around 3.7.

3 Likes