B-239 (Sweden)

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Rank 7 USA
F-5C Pack
b_239_finland.png
GarageImage B-239 (Sweden).jpg
ArtImage B-239 (Sweden).png
▄B-239
Research:7 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:10 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

The ▄Brewster Model 239 is a denavalized version of the F2A-1 Buffalo, ordered by Finland in 1939 as a means of acquiring a modern fighter plane. Unlike the US Navy F2A-1, the plane had better performance due to being stripped of arresting gear and all other equipment necessary for carrier landings, together with a more powerful Wright R-1820-G5 engine producing 10 hp more compared to the US Navy Buffalos. Another difference was mountings for four machine guns with two in the engine cowling and two in wings. The planes themselves arrived too late to participate in the Winter War, but were used extensively in the Continuation War all the way to late 1944 when they were withdrawn from service. Finnish pilots regarded the plane as very manoeuvrable, easy to fly, and also not requiring extensive maintenance. LeLV 24 had a score of 26:1 using B-239 as they claimed 477 Soviet planes shot down for a loss of just 19 B-239s.

Introduced in Update "Fire and Ice", the B-239 has big potential even in the hands of a not so skilled pilot. Its manoeuvrability, armament, and speed compared to contemporaries make it a very dangerous foe. The B-239 is best utilized in a role similar to the Bf 109 as a boom and zoom fighter, although the ability to turnfight not only at high speed is better when compared to the Messerschmitt.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 5 400 m460 km/h
Turn time16 s
Max altitude9 900 m
EngineWright R-1820-G5
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight3 t
Characteristics Max speed
(km/h at 5,400 m)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 438 421 9900 16.7 17.2 10.5 10.5 130
Upgraded 484 460 15.8 16.0 19.1 14.2

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
761 280 425 380 240 ~12 ~4
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< ~300 < ~320 < ~350 > ___

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear280 km/h
Armour
  • 8.5 mm steel - Pilot seat
Survivability
  • Self-sealing wing tanks
  • Exposed engine and oil cooling system, prone to damage

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB333 → 447 Sl icon.png
RB683 → 917 Sl icon.png
SB896 → 1 204 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications6 930 Rp icon.png
6 770 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost530 Ge icon.png
Crew training3 000 Sl icon.png
Experts10 000 Sl icon.png
Aces125 Ge icon.png
Research Aces160 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
20 / 60 / 120 % Sl icon.png
112 / 112 / 112 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mods radiator.png
Radiator
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
850 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Research:
870 Rp icon.png
Cost:
850 Sl icon.png
130 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods metanol.png
Engine injection
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods engine extinguisher.png
EFS
Research:
750 Rp icon.png
Cost:
730 Sl icon.png
110 Ge icon.png
Mods ammo.png
LKk_42_belt_pack
Research:
460 Rp icon.png
Cost:
450 Sl icon.png
65 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
LKk_42_new_gun
Research:
520 Rp icon.png
Cost:
510 Sl icon.png
75 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Offensive armament

Weapon 14 x 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine gun
Ammunition1 300 rounds
Fire rate1 100 shots/min
Main article: LKk/42 (12.7 mm)

The B-239 (Sweden) is armed with:

  • 2 x 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns, nose-mounted (250 rpg = 500 total)
  • 2 x 12.7 mm LKk/42 machine guns, wing-mounted (400 rpg = 800 total)

Usage in battles

You are pretty manoeuvrable and can win a dogfight against most enemies, the exception being Spitfires and Japanese single engine fighters. Be wary of you poor energy retention though, this leads you to gain an advantage in the first couple of turns in your dogfight but you should try to avoid longer fights, by any means. You can use flaps to get the maximal turn rate possible. You can also climb at the beginning of a match, get to 3-4 km while climbing at 220 km/h IAS. Once you see enemy fighters, level out and stay above 280-300 km/h, this ensures you can at least follow one or two turns, to get a good shot in. If this fails, dive away and reposition.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer Pitch Radiator Supercharger Turbocharger
Oil Water Type
Controllable Controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Not controllable
Not auto controlled
Separate Controllable
2 gears
Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Very manoeuvrable
  • Effective weaponry
  • Above average climb rate

Cons:

  • Quite slow
  • Vital components not protected by armour

History

At the beginning of 1939, Finland was looking to purchase modern fighter aircraft. They contacted the USA with the only demand being that the plane was already in service and had the ability to use 87-octane fuel. 44 F2A-1 Buffalo fighters intended originally for the US Navy were sold to Finland after the USN agreed to wait for the F2A-2 variant instead. Model B-239E was built with a more powerful Wright R-1820-G5 engine producing 950 hp as opposed to the 940 hp Wright R-1820-34 engine used in USN planes and featured mountings allowing installation of four machine guns instead of two on the American counterpart. The planes were also de-navalised, which meant they weighed less while having better performance.

The planes were delivered in January and February 1940 to Bergen, Norway, then sent by railway to Sweden where they were assembled in SAAB factory at Trollhättan. There, they were equipped with armoured backrests, metric flight instruments, a domestic Väisälä T.h.m.40 gunsight, and four 12.7 mm machine guns. Unimpressed with the plane at first, the Finnish view on it changed drastically after a Brewster company test pilot demonstrated that the B-239E was able to out-turn the Fiat G.50 Freccia fighter, although it was slower in level flight than the G.50. None of the B-239s saw combat during the Winter War.

Finnish pilots regarded the B-239 as an easy to fly plane, while its relatively long range and easy maintenance allowed to keep them operational without much effort. It earned a reputation as one of the best Finnish fighters alongside the Fiat G.50 which had a kill-loss ratio of 33:1, while Lentolaivue 24 (Fighter Squadron 24) managed to score 26:1 ratio with 477 Soviet planes claimed destroyed with loss of only 19 B-239s. Finnish B-239s were in service from 1940 all the way to 1948 with the last eight remaining since the end of war in Lapland. The last victory of a B-239 over Soviet aircraft was claimed on 17th June 1944 near the Karelian Isthmus, while the last victory of a B-239 in WWII was achieved on 3rd October 1944 when HLeLV 26 intercepted German Ju-87 Stuka dive bombers and claimed two shot down.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development

External links

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

  • topic on the official game forum;
  • other literature.


Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
Fighters  F2A-1 · Thach's F2A-1 · F2A-3
Export  ▄B-239

Sweden fighters
ASJA  J6B
Saab  J21A-1 · J21A-2 · A21A-3
FFVS  J22-A · J22-B
Foreign Import  J8A · Iacobi's J8A · J9 Early · J11 · J20 · J26 David · J26
Finland 
VL  Mörkö-Morane · VL Myrsky II · VL Pyörremyrsky
(NL) Fokker  ▄Fokker D.XXI-3 · ▄Fokker D.XXI
(DE) Messerschmitt  ▄Bf 109 G-2 · ▄Bf 109 G-6 Erla · ▄Bf 109 G-6
Other  ▄B-239 · ▄Hurricane Mk I/L