Quote:
Originally Posted by Mysticpuma
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Salute
The planes used at Murmansk were Hurricane II's.
Lot's of differences, both in the cockpit and outside.
Would require a re-do of the cockpit and exterior.
On a related note:
During the dark summer and fall of 1942, the Hurricane II was one of the most numerous aircraft in the Soviet Fighter arsenal, especially in the Southern Front in and around Stalingrad. Although the initial Hurricanes came in through Murmansk, the difficulties encountered with German U-Boats and Anti-shipping aircraft led the British to change their main shipping route to one via Iran. Many of these aircraft were well used retreads from the Desert airforce, as the British were re-equipping their Squadrons there with Spitfires and P-40's, and had many surplus. This fact, as well as the fact they were forced to run on the Soviet 87 octane fuel instead of their required 100 octane, meant they could not use full boost levels and their performance was not up normal Spec. In addition, Soviet oil was not of the same quality, and engine life was shortened. This is likely the reason we continually hear from the Soviets as to how inadequate an aircraft the Hurricane was, and perhaps a reason the Hurricane seems to be always undermodelled in IL-2 and CoD, even when it is in Western use with Western fuel. As well as the retreads, there were quite a number supplied new from Canada, in fact most of the Canadian manufacturing output was sent to the Soviets.
Despite the fact the Hurricane was not at its best in its Soviet service, the Russians were glad to have them, as their own aircraft were in extremely short supply, partly as a result of the huge losses during 1941, as well as the fact many of the factories manufacturing Yaks, LaGG's etc. had been forced to relocate to the Urals, with the subsequent dislocation and delay of manufacturing. The Soviets also liked the excellent pilot radios, most Soviet planes did not have them, and often when a Hurricane was lost in Friendly territory, the radios would be scrounged for use in Soviet aircraft.
The Hurricanes were superceded by the P-39 and P-40, which the Soviets much preferred. These planes, with their lower boost Allison engines, ran much better on Soviet fuel.