Soviet Union's Lavochkin LaGG-3 fighter

Photos

Lavochkin LaGG-3 fighter captured by the Finns:

Lavochkin LaGG-3-2 VRD, fighter:

Design

Designed by Semyon Alekseievich Lavochkin, V. Gorbunov, and M. Gudkov.^1,3,4,5

Construction

The LaGG-3 and LaGG-1 were produced primarily out of wood.^1,2,3,4,5 The control surfaces were light alloy with a fabric cover.^1,2,3 Flaps were all metal to be as strong as possible.¹

LaGG-1 Deficiencies

Pilots complained that the controls felt heavy and didn't climb very well.³

Engine

There engine was started by a Hucks starter.¹ The propeller was constant speed.^2,3 The liquid cooled engine lead to difficulties maintaining it in the field.²

Wing

The wing had birch plywood skinning that was impregnated and bonded with phenolformaldehyde resin.¹

Cockpit

The cockpit didn't have a very good view for the pilot.¹

Tail wheel

The tail wheel was retractable.⁴

Landing Gear

The landing gear on the LaGG-3 was retractable.⁵

Prototype

The I-22 prototype first flew on March 30, 1939^1,2,3,5 / March 30, 1940⁴.

The LaGG-1 was found to have handling and performance problems.⁴

The LaGG-1 prototype, the I-22, was modified as the I-301 which lead to the LaGG-3.^1,3

The I-301 prototype first flew on June 14, 1940.⁴

Production

The LaGG-1 started production in 1940.³ Production of the LaGG-3 ended in June 1942.⁴

• Lavochkin LaGG-1: 1⁴, Several hundred²
• Lavochkin LaGG-3: 6,527⁴
• Total: 1,200², 6,528^1,3
  • Manufacturer: State Industries⁵

Variants

• Lavochkin I-22: Prototype of LaGG-1.^1,3
• Lavochkin I-301: Prototype of LaGG-3.^3,5
• Lavochkin LaGG-1:
• Lavochkin LaGG-3: Weight was reduced.⁴ Fixed wing slats.⁴ Revised armament.⁴ New outer wing.⁴ More fuel tanks.⁴
• Lavochkin LaGG-3K-37: Experimental variant.⁴ Had 37 mm cannon.⁴
• Lavochkin LaGG-3 ??: Experimental variant.⁴ Had Klimov M-107A engine (1,650 HP).⁴
• Lavochkin LaGG-3 ??: Late models were able to carry drop tanks.¹

Usage

Invasion of the Soviet Union

Two regiments had the LaGG-1.³ There were 300 LaGG-3s available in June 1941.¹

Escorts

The LaGG-3s were relegated to being escorts for the Ilyushin Il-2s.^3,5

Captured by Finland

At least two were captured and used by Finland.¹

Captured by Japan

The Japanese had at least one LaGG-3.¹

Specifications

	Lavochkin LaGG-11,2,3	Lavochkin LaGG-31,2,3,4,5
Type		Fighter1,2,3,4,5
Crew		11,2,3,5
Engine (Type)	Klimov M1052,3,4	Klimov M-106P5 Klimov M-105PF-11 Klimov M-105PF piston2,3,4
Cylinders	V 123	V 121,3,4,5, Inline2
Cooling		Liquid1,5
HP	1,0503, 1,1004	P: 1,1005 PF: 1,2401,2,3,4
Propeller blades		31,4, 3 metal variable pitch5
Fuel capacity
Dimensions
Span		32' 1.75"2,3, 32' 2"1,4,5 9.8 m1,2,3,4
Length		28' 11"3, 29' 1"5, 29' 1.25"2, 29' 2"1, 29' 2.5"4 8.81 m3, 8.87 m2, 8.9 m1,4
Height		8' 10"2,3,4,5, 14' 5"1 2.69 m4, 2.7 m2,3, 3.3 m1
Wing area		188 ft2 1, 188.4 ft2 2, 188.5 ft2 3 17.5 m2 1,2, 17.51 m2 3
Weight
Empty		5,776 lb1,3,4 2,620 kg1,3,4
Loaded		7,032 lb5, 7,231 lb1,4, 7,275 lb3 3,280 kg1,4, 3,300 kg3
Performance
Speed	373 mph2, 376 mph3 600 kph2, 605 kph3
Speed at sea level		307 mph4 494 kph4
Speed @ 11,975' / 3,650 m		348 mph2 560 kph2
Speed @ 16,400' / 5,000 m		348 mph1,5 560 kph1
Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m		348 mph4, 357 mph3 560 kph4, 575 kph3
Climb		2,950'/minute2,3,4 900 m/minute2,3,4
Climb to 16,400' / 5,000 m		5.85 minutes1
Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m		5.9 minutes4
Service ceiling		29,500'5, 29,530'2, 31,495'4, 31,500'1, 31,825'3 9,000 m2, 9,600 m1,4, 9,700 m3
Range		404 miles1,2,3,5 650 km1,2,3
Armament	1: 20 mm2,3 2: 12.7 mm2,3	1: 20 mm5 3: MG5 2: 12.7 mm UBS2,3 2: 7.62 ShKAS MG2,3
Propeller hub		1: 20 mm4 1: 20 mm ShVAK1,2,3 120 rounds1
OR		1: 23 mm4
Above engine		2: 12.7 mm4 2: 12.7 mm BS1 220 rounds each1
OR		2: 7.62 mm MG4
Rockets		6: 3.23"2,3 6: 82 mm1,2,3,4
OR
Bombs - under wings		441 lb4 2: 220 lb1 4: 110 lb2,3 200 kg4 2: 100 kg1 4: 50 kg2,3
Bombs		440 lb5