The Douglas DC-2, with the name standing for Douglas Commercial 2, is a plane not known for military aviation. Especially not with “commercial” in the name. However, the DC-2 has actually been used in combat by the Finnish Air Force.
It all began with a man named Carl Gustav Von Rosen. He was a Swedish count and pilot and later, a humanitarian hero. Funnily enough, he was also the nephew of Hermann Göring. When the Soviet invasion of Finland - also known as the Winter War was initiated, Carl Gustav Von Rosen gifted the Finnish Air Force three planes. Two Koolhoven FK.52 light attack / reconnaissance aircraft and one Douglas DC-2.
The Douglas DC-2 was one of the most important transitional aircraft in aviation history. Introduced in 1934, it marked a decisive break from the fragile, fabric-covered biplanes of the early 1930s and helped define what a modern airliner should be. While it is often overshadowed by its legendary (and very similar) successor, the DC-3, the DC-2 was the aircraft that proved the concept first.
Designed as an all-metal, low-wing monoplane with retractable landing gear, the DC-2 was advanced for its time. It typically carried 14 passengers and was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines, giving it impressive speed, range, and reliability compared to earlier airliners. Airlines quickly realized that this aircraft could operate profitably, comfortably, and safely, even on long routes and in poor weather conditions. That realization changed commercial aviation forever.
The DC-2 also made headlines in international competition. During the 1934 MacRobertson Air Race from England to Australia, a KLM DC-2 finished second overall and first in the handicap category, despite carrying passengers and cargo the entire way.
Von Rosen’s DC-2 was built in California in January 1935. It was originally owned by KLM, and was therefore shipped to the Netherlands where it served KLM as a commercial passanger aircraft where it was named ‘De Haan’ - The Rooster.🐔
De Haan served KLM for 5 072 flight hours but was sold when the DC-3 was selected as the prefered standard. The DC-2 was then acquired by Von Rosen. It was flown from Holland to Stockholm and later to Finland by volunteering Swedish pilots.
Before it arrived in Finland, it was converted by Saab and by factories in Trollhättan, Sweden, into a defended bomber, featuring one dorsal turret and a fixed nose-mounted machine gun. Bomb racks were additionally installed on the belly and the wings. The passanger plane had now become a decently potent bomber.
In february 1940, it was officially handed over to the Finnish Air Force and recieved the Name Hassin-Jukka - based on local folk lore.
During its time in service, it was mainly used for various transport missions. It also served as a medevac aircraft. Hassin-Jukka did actually get to take part in a bombing mission, the 1st of Mars 1940 - in fact, the only bombing mission during the whole Winter war from the Finnish side, with Carl Gustav Von Rosen himself behind the controlls. The result isn’t known, but after this single mission, the plane was rarely ever doing other tasks than transport missions.
After the war, it flew transport missions for the Finns until its last flight 1955. After this very last flight, it was decided that the plane would be scrapped. However, this was stopped by Osmo Rantala, an ex-pilot. He purchased the plane, becoming its fifth owner. He had the plan of turning the aircraft into a café. The plane was transported in parts to Hämeenlinna 1959 and was assembeled again. The café was open until 1981.
It was later bought and restored by partial financing through a museum where it sits today.
Crew: 2-3: Pilot, navigator/bombardier/scout and machine gunner
Passenger capacity: 14
Length: 18.9m
Wingspan: 25.9m
Height: 5m
Wing aera 87.2m2
Empty weight: 5.628 kg
Gross weight: 8.419 kg
MTOW: 8.422 kg
Engines: 2 x Wright GR-1820-F52 Cyclone 9 cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines - 920 hp each, combined with 3-bladed variable-pitch metal propellers.
Max speed: 340 km/h
Range: 1.600km
Service ceiling: 6.840m
Climb rate: 5.1 m/s
Wing loading: 97 kg/m2
Power/mass 0.135 kW/kg
Armament
- Dorsal turret: 1 x Lahti L-33/36 machine gun (7.62mm) rotation believed to be 315°
- Nose mounted, Pilot controlled MG: 1 x Believed to be a Lahti L-33/36 (7.62mm) or more likely, a Browning 7.7mm machine gun
- Bombs: Up to 300 kg of bombs in the configuration of 24 RMS racks for 12.5 kg bombs
Credits
The Hassin Jukka would likely be placed at an ARB BR of 1.0 and would be the second aircraft in War Thunder of the legendary DC-family, after the B-18 Bolo. It would be placed in the Swedish tech tree under Finland. While it certainly has the characteristics and potential of an event, free battle pass or a premium vehicle, it would fit the role best as a free - standard tech tree vehicle. Compared to the B-18 Bolo, it is both worse and better. Since the Hassin-Jukka is lighter and more agile and has offensive armament. The B-18 on the other hand, has slightly better defensive capabilities but no offensive armament, but more importantly a better bomb load. This justifies the BR of 1.0 for the Hassin-Jukka.
- Yes!
- No.
Sources
Hanssin-Jukka | Yle Arenan
https://www.geocities.ws/finnmilpge/fmp_faf_searecon.html
https://forum.axishistory.com/search.php?keywords=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.axishistory.com%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D59%26t%3D163733%26__cf_chl_tk%3DNJ_3XJQ1GIcoT1nRemukcjXy9afQdqAy5hW.n7dJo3o-1770059944-1.0
https://www.virtualpilots.fi/hist/ukraina/lundelin/kuvat/hanssinjukkamotissa.jpg
Hanssin-Jukka - Teknos
https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=163733&__cf_chl_tk=NJ_3XJQ1GIcoT1nRemukcjXy9afQdqAy5hW.n7dJo3o-1770059944-1.0.1.1-2NruFvz66MwYhAxTrPxPO4EIG1HXEs0BeVeOAKQrtss
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_B-18_Boloa
• Lahti L-33/36 MG - Google Zoeken
FINNISH ARMY 1918 - 1945: ANTIAIRCRAFT machine gunS
https://www.airhistory.net/photo/552449/DC-1
Douglas DC-2 - Wikipedia
Hanssin-Jukka – Wikipedia
Carl Gustaf von Rosen – Wikipedia
