- Yes
- No
Japanese LaGG-3 serie 8 (with VYa-23)
In 1942, a sergeant major from the USSR Air Force Far East Unit escaped to Manchuria in a LaGG-3 Series 8 aircraft. This plane made an emergency landing and was recovered by the Japanese. It was tested by the Japanese army.
History
In the spring of 1942, a Soviet sergeant-major (name unknown) from the USSR’s Far Eastern Air Force Unit decided to flee the USSR to Japan because of the persecution of his family and Japanese propaganda. He decided to take the latest Soviet aircraft with him to have a bargaining chip to negotiate with the Japanese (as did Viktor Ivanovich Belenko 34 years later). After taking off from the Soviet airport, the pilot headed towards the Japanese-Soviet border, where, flying at a low altitude (about 700 m), he headed for the airport near Jiamusi. However, near the airport, his plane was fired upon by ground defenses, which meant that he had to make an emergency landing in a field. Shortly after landing, Japanese soldiers arrived at the scene and arrested the pilot. The aircraft was also immediately packed onto a truck and sent to the Field Aviation Arsenal (unit 8372) in Pingfang on the outskirts of Harbin. There, engineers from the Experimental Department and Air Force Arsenal in Manchuria took care of the aircraft. The plane had a damaged propeller, radiators and the bottom part of the fuselage. During the repair work, strange movements were happening in the vicinity of the airport, so the Japanese increased the safety of aircraft (probably the Russians or the Chinese wanted to destroy this valuable Japanese prey). Japanese engineers were amazed that although it is a wooden plane, it is made in great detail and accuracy. The Japanese have very positively assessed the quality of the design, but have not yet tested the aircraft in flight. This did not happen until September 27, 1942, when the LaGG-3 took to the air again. The test pilots were Maj. Goro Yamamoto (commander of the 85th Air Squadron) and Sergeant Major Yoshida (Flight Experiments Division). The tests lasted until October 20 and during them problems with engine cooling (the radiator was not fully repaired) and with vibrations of the aircraft propeller were noticed, and the control stick was even heavier than that of the I-16 (captured in 1939). However, the aircraft showed high speed in level and dive flight. The aircraft was then sent to Mudanjiang where it was compared with the Ki-27, Ki-43 and Ki-44 aircraft. These tests showed that the aircraft did not pose any threat in maneuvering combat. Then, in November, it was decided to send the plane to Japan by air (probably to compare it with other Allied aircraft). When the plane reached Fukuoka Air Force Base, a tire burst in one of the wheels during landing. Japanese technicians from the Fukuoka base decided to repair the LaGG-3 defect using a wheel from the Ki-51 aircraft. After a successful repair, the plane was to take off from the airport in the direction of Tokyo. However, during take-off, the second tire of the main landing gear burst, which led to the aircraft turning around, breaking the landing gear and further damage to the aircraft. After this accident, it was found that the plane was not repairable and was scrapped.
Construction description
The Japanese LaGG-3 series 8 is similar to the LaGG-3 series 8 from the game, but there are a few differences between them, which I will describe here.
- Instead of a 20 mm ShVAK cannon, the aircraft has a 23 mm VYa-23 cannon in the nose.
- The Wingroot boost inlets have been modified, possibly due to the use of non-original components during repair; Their profile is different and longer than usual
- There are small indentations on the sides of the motor cover in front of the compressor air inlets
- Removed part of the wheel cover
- One wheel comes from the Ki-51 aircraft
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 8,81 m
- Wingspan: 9,81 m
- Height: 3,06 m
- Wing area: 17.4 m2
- Empty weight: 2,610 kg
- Gross weight: 3,280 kg
- Powerplant: 1 × Klimov VK-105PA liquid-cooled V12 engine with power 750 kW (1,020 hp)
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 549 km/h
- Range: 870 km
- Service ceiling: 9300 m
- Rate of climb: 9,80 m/s
Armament
- 1 x 12.7 mm UBS machine gun (220 rounds ) in the nose
- 1 x VYa-23 23mm Cannon (81 rounds)
Armour
- 8 mm thick armor plate behind the pilot
Special thanks
@Laurelix
Summary
The Japanese LaGG-3 is an interesting aircraft for Japan in War Thunder. Information for those interested, this is not a Copy-Paste plane, so do not complain in the comments. This aircraft has an interesting history behind it and will give Japanese airmen a well-armed low-tier aircraft. This aircraft is ideal for a premium or event. I encourage you to discuss in the comments and to share your own knowledge on this subject.
Finally, I apologize for the linguistic and logical errors because unfortunately English is not my main language and I had to use google translator.
Internet sources
LaGG-3 (航空機) - Wikipedia
Ławoczkin-Gorbunow-Gudkow ŁaGG-3 – Wikipedia, wolna encyklopedia
Captured Lagg-3 (j-aircraft.com)
WTF? — Captured Enemy Aircraft — Vintage Wings of Canada
ŁaGG-3 (tripod.com)
LaGG-3-8 (with VYa-23) captured by Japanese - Premium Plane - Passed for Consideration - War Thunder - Official Forum
The Japanese LaGG-3 - Japan - War Thunder - Official Forum
LaGG-3 captured by Japaneses (massimotessitori.altervista.org)
LaGG-3 on Japan Air Force. | Aircraft of World War II - WW2Aircraft.net Forums
Russian LaGG-3-8 fighter captured by the Japanese in Manchuria : r/CapturedWeapons (reddit.com)
Asisbiz IJAAF LaGG 3 ser 8 aircraft being tested after it defected to Japanese held Mutanchiang AB Manchuria 1942 02
Уголок неба ¦ Лавочкин, Горбунов, Гудков ЛаГГ-3 (4-8 серии) (airwar.ru)
Lavočkin LaGG-3 (4. - 8. série) : Lavočkin (valka.cz)
Book sources
- LaGG Fighter in action /Aicraft number 163 page 29
Pub Lagg Fighters in Action Aircraft No 163 | PDF (scribd.com) - 日本軍鹵獲機秘録 (Secret records of captured aircraft of the Japan army) page 116-119
- Lotnictwo numer specjalny 2 ( Aviation Special Issue 2) page 22-33
Thank you for reading the suggestion, see you in the next one. Good luck pilots
