What planes were in this conflict?

[kov1985]

Pretty sure there were also a few fw200 condors there aswell. They flew a few of the supply missions to the encircled troops, to make sure the hungry freezing demoralized troops were stocked up on things like contraceptives. Not so much food or ammo though...

[JG13_opcode]

Ugh, please no Pacific theatre. I can't think of a more boring scenario.

 

As for the VVS set, I think the Red team ought to be getting what is now called the Yak-1b, aka the bubble canopy, internally-sealed fuselage, retractable tailwheel, new fairings, 1x UBS instead of 2x ShKAS in the nose, and VK-105PF making almost 1300 hp on an airframe weighing only ~2800 kg fully loaded.

 

It's a formidable aircraft. I would certainly think twice before engaging one at co-e.

 

Coupled with the almost universally-lauded La-5 I don't think it will be a turkey shoot. A lot of the VVS failures have to be attributed to the absolutely abysmal Soviet pilot training. We've got people who have stick time into the thousands of hours.

Edited April 19, 2013 by JG13Doggles

[csThor]

Actually the Yak-1b is much more of a 1943 aircraft (spring/summer) ... the really relevant Yak-1 is the Model 1942. Yak-1b, Yak-9 ... all of them debuted towards the end of the Stalingrad operation but were not numerically that significant, yet.

[707shap_Srbin]

Yak-1b - only 2 regiments in january (176iap - at Stalingrad, 32giap - at Kalinin fronts).

 

Yak-9 - went to fron first time at Kalinin front in late february (again in 32 giap).

 

Main fighter over Stalingrad in autumn-winter 42/43 - was Yak-1 and Yak-7. There were also a lots of La-5, and only 3 regiments (2 after december) on LaGG-3 (one of it had 37mm version of LaGG-3).