Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi. 1942.08.12

Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi. 1942.08.12

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Finnish minelayer Ruotsinsalmi

Ruotsinsalmi was a minelayer of the Finnish Navy and the namesake of her class. Ruotsinsalmi was commissioned in 1940 and remained in service until 1975. The vessel was named after the battle of Ruotsinsalmi, which was fought between Sweden and Russia in 1790.

T-38 : Niinisalo HK 1942.07.01

Niinisalo HK 1942.07.01

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The T-38 amphibious scout tank was a Soviet amphibious light tank that saw service in World War II.

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 MT-212

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Letov Š-18 (Smolik) : Kokkola-Kauhava 1943.07.22

Letov Š-18 (Smolik) : Kokkola-Kauhava 1943.07.22

Letov Š-18

The Letov Š-18 was a Czechoslovak single-engined, two-seat biplane trainer. It was designed by Alois Smolík at Letov Kbely. Š-18 first flew in 1925.

The aircraft was quite successful and sold well both to private pilots and to flight clubs. Apart from the basic variant there was also still the type Š-118, which was equipped with a Walter NZ-85 engine (85 hp, 63 KW). Some machines were exported to Bulgaria. The Czechoslovakian Air Force used the type 1925 to 1930 as a beginner trainer aircraft.

A complete reconstruction of the fuselage led to the Š-218, which had a steel tube frame and was equipped with a Walter NZ-120 engine (120 hp, 88 KW). The first flight of this type took place in 1926.

In 1929, one Š-218 Smolik was presented at Helsinki International Air Show. The Finnish Air Force showed interest in the type and purchased it in March, 1930, in order to test it. Nine more were soon ordered along with the manufacturing license. The nine aircraft ordered from Czechoslovakia arrived to Kauhava Aviation School in May–June, 1931. The Finnish State Aircraft Factory manufactured 29 slightly modified aircraft in three series. The first ten were ready in 1933, the second series of ten aircraft were ready in 1935, and nine more in 1936. The Finnish version, which was equipped with a Bramo radial engine of 145 hp (110 kW) could develop a maximum speed of 155 km/h (83 knots, 96 mph). The type was in service with the Finnish Air Force as a primary trainer between 1930 - 1945. One aircraft is still preserved at the Finnish Aviation museum in Vantaa and one replica is being built in Finland (as of 2005).

StuG III : Kilpeenjoki 1944.07.02

StuG III : Kilpeenjoki 1944.07.02

Going attack

Panzer IV : Oulu 1944.11.12

Panzer IV : Oulu 1944.11.12

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building a service road n the wilderness :Lutto 1942.07.21

Lutto 1942.07.21

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Lutto 1942.07.21

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Lutto 1942.07.21

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Lutto 1942.07.21

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Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 MT-211

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Attack Hiisjärvi 1942.07.29

Attack Hiisjärvi 1942.07.29
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Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 : Petroskoi, Viitana 1942.03.17

Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 : 

Petroskoi, Viitana 1942.03.17

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Fiat G.50 : little nap

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Fiat G.50 is a single seat all metal construction fighter plane. It's powered by a 14 cylinder Fiat radial engine. Armament consists of 2 12.7 (.50cal) Breda-SAFAT MG's

Top speed was approximately 260mph at 16 500 ft altitude

The Finnish Air Force operated 33 Fiat G.50 aircraft - the first ones were operational already during the Winter War. 11 kills were achieved by LeLv 26 during the Winter War, and 88 additional kills were achieved during the Continuation War. Last kill on Feb 13 1944

Fokker D.XXI : Nurmoila's airfield 1943.10.18

Fokker D.XXI :  Nurmoila's airfield 1943.10.18

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 Fokker D.XXI

The Fokker D.XXI performed better and for much longer in the Finnish Air Force, which had acquired a number of licence-built fighters prior to the start of the Winter War. Against the aircraft of the Soviet Air Force, the Fokker was more evenly matched, and its rugged design with a radial engine and fixed undercarriage made it very suitable for Finnish conditions. Later in the war, as newer models of Soviet fighters appeared, the Fokker D.XXI was underpowered and too lightly armed (with only four 7.92 mm/.312 in machine guns) to compete. Plans to arm the Fokkers with 20 mm cannons were dropped and only one fighter was armed as such (two 20 mm cannons and two 7.92 mm/.312 in machine guns). Another fighter was equipped with retractable landing gear, but due to less than anticipated performance improvement, wasn't continued in the series. During the Continuation War (1941–44) the Finnish State Aircraft Factory (Valtion Lentokonetehdas, VL) also built some 50 D.XXIs with the Swedish-built Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior as the Bristol Mercury was in short supply. These can be identified by their longer cockpit glazing, smooth cowl, and large ventral air intake under the cowl. The fixed undercarriage lent itself to both unimproved runways and conversion to skis for winter use, both of which were advantages in the Finnish theater.

Several Finnish Air Force pilots became fighter aces with the Fokker D.XXI. The top scoring Fokker ace was Jorma Sarvanto who obtained 12 5/6 victories with the type. Many other future aces scored at least one victory with the Fokker. The highest scoring airframe was FK-110, with 10 victories. This aircraft survived the war and is on display at the Central Finland Aviation Museum.

Curtiss P-36 Hawk : 1943.10.18

Curtiss P-36 Hawk : 1943.10.18

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 Curtiss P-36 Hawk : 1943.10.18

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 Curtiss P-36 Hawk : 1943.10.18

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 Curtiss P-36 Hawk : 1943.10.18

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Curtiss P-36 Hawk  Finland service

After the fall of France, Germany agreed to sell captured Curtiss Hawk fighters to Finland in October 1940. In total, 44 captured aircraft of five subtypes were sold to Finland with three deliveries from 23 June 1941 – 5 January 1944. Not all were from the French stocks, 13 were initially sold to Norway and captured when the Germans conquered that country. The aircraft were given serial codes CU-501 to CU-507 (A-4 submodel with Cyclone) and CU-551 to CU-587 (all other submodels with Twin Wasp).

In Finnish service, the Hawk was well liked, affectionately called Sussu ("Sweetheart"). The Finnish Air Force enjoyed success with the type, credited with 190⅓ kills by 58 pilots, between 16 July 1941 and 27 July 1944, for the loss of 15 of their own.Finnish ace Kyösti Karhila scored 12¼ of his 32¼ victories in the Hawk, while the top Hawk ace K. Tervo scored 14¼ victories.

The Finnish Hawks were initially armed with either four or six 7.5mm machine guns. While sufficient during the early phase of the Continuation War, the increasing speeds and armor of Soviet aircraft soon showed this armament was not powerful enough. From 1942, the State Aircraft Factory replaced the fuselage machine guns with either one or two .50 in (12.7 mm) Colt machine guns and installed two or four .303 in (7.7 mm) Browning machine guns in each wing. The 12.7mm Berezin UB or LKk/42 heavy machine guns were also used. The installation of heavier armament did not change the very good flying characteristics of the fighter, but the armament was much more effective against Soviet aircraft. The Finnish Hawks were also equipped with Revi 3D or C/12D gunsight.

Surviving Finnish aircraft remained in service with the FAF aviation units HLeLv 13, HLeLv 11 and LeSK until 30 August 1948, when the last operational Finnsh Hawks were put into storage. In 1953, the stored aircraft were scrapped

KV-1 Petroskoi :1943.09.24

KV-1 Petroskoi :1943.09.24

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Winter : Komlevo 1942.03.15

Komlevo 1942.03.15
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BA-10: Nurmoila 1942.02.13

BA-10: Nurmoila 1942.02.13

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BA-10 photo gallery

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 MT-210

Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-2 MT-210  : Malmi