Рыбин, Ю. В. Советские асы на Харрикейнах в годы Второй Мировой Войны / Юрий Рыбин . – [Б. м. ] : Osprey Publishing, 2012. – 97 с. : ил., портр. – Англ. яз.

format as part of 259th IAD and re-deployed to Kandalaksha with a single mission —to protect the local railway line from attacks by Ju 87s of 4./StG 5. The dive-bombers were escorted by the experienced fighter pilots of II./JG 5 Eismeer, which was equipped with Bf 109Fs and Gs. The ‘Gustavs’ were distinguished by their heavier armament. A pair of 20 mm MG 151 cannon were mounted in underwing pods, these weapons supplementing the standard armament of a MG 151 firing through the propeller hub and a pair of 7.92 mm MG 17 machine guns fitted above the engine. As a result, the new Bf 109G-2/R6 was able to deliver a weight of fire of 5.05 kg (11 lb) per second, which was considerably superior to 152nd IAP’s Soviet-modified Hurricanes, which mounted two 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 12.7 mm UB heavy machine guns that were able to deliver a weight of fire of 3.84 kg (8.5 lb) per second. With the introduction of the Bf 109G, the advantage in the head-on attacks that started most air battles began to swing towards the Luftwaffe pilots. This left their Soviet counterparts in a difficult position, as the sole tactical advantage they had enjoyed with the Hurricane had been lost. For 152nd IAP a new chapter in the air war had commenced. The German pilots in their Bf109Gs represented a considerably stronger and more deadly foe than the Finns with their mostly obsolete equipment. In early March 1943, at its new base at Gremyakha airfield, 152nd IAP received a further 15 Hurricane IICs drawn from other units to supplement their worn-out Wearing full-length leather coats, pilots from 609th IAP of the Karelian Front Air Force await the call to scramble. Note the parachute forward of the cockpit. During the first half of 1942 pilots from this regiment flew Hurricane IIs and LaGG-3s. Although both types were available in equal numbers, the Hurricanes flew more missions due to their better serviceability rates The issuing of heavily armed Bf 109G-2/R6s to JG 5 in 1943 further negated the advantage previously enjoyed by Soviet- modified Hurricanes in head-on attacks 31 © Osprey Publishing • www.ospreypublishing.com ON THE K AR E LIA N FRONT