The B-239 (Sweden) 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in the Winter War, but were used extensively in the Continuation War all the way to late 1944 when they were withdrawn from service.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 and armament 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.
flaps
flaps
flaps
brake
Belt | Belt filling | Armor penetration (mm) at a distance: | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10 m | 100 m | 500 m | 1000 m | 1500 m | 2000 m | ||
AP-T/AP/I | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
AP-T/AP-T/I | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
AP-T/AP/AP-T/AP | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
AP-T/I/I/I | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
AP-T/AP-T/AP-T/AP-T | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 | |
AP/I/AP/I | 28 | 26 | 19 | 13 | 8 | 6 |
Flight performance | |
---|---|
Survivability |
---|
Weaponry |
---|