World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe LaGG-3 (ЛаГГ-3) fighters were designed on the basis that Russia needed new fighters to supplement or replace the underpowered fighters she commonly used. An attempt with an alternative engine, the Klimov M-105, did not yield results that met expectations, so the power was increased from a different angle; power was attained by means of weight reduction. The new design replaced LaGG-1 fighters immediately, but not all pilots liked the new fighters, citing that the laminated wood body shattered when hit by explosive rounds. The design was continuously improved during the war, however, resulting in 66 minor variants in the 6,258 that were built.

SPECIFICATIONS

Series 66

Machinery	One Klimov M-105PF V-12 liquid-cooled engine rated at 1,260hp
Armament	2x12.7mm Berezin BS machine guns, 1x20mm ShVAK cannon, 6xRS-82 or RS-132 rockets total 200kg
Span	9.80 m
Length	8.81 m
Height	2.54 m
Wing Area	17.40 m²
Weight, Empty	2,620 kg
Weight, Maximum	3,190 kg
Speed, Maximum	575 km/h
Rate of Climb	14.90 m/s
Service Ceiling	9,700 m
Range, Normal	621 km

Series 1-3

Machinery	One Klimov M-105P liquid-cooled V12 engine rated at 1,050hp
Armament	3x12.7mm UB(S) machine guns, 2x7.62mm ShKAS cannons
Span	9.80 m
Length	8.81 m
Height	4.40 m
Wing Area	17.62 m²
Weight, Empty	2,680 kg
Weight, Maximum	2,990 kg
Speed, Maximum	575 km/h
Service Ceiling	9,500 m
Range, Normal	1,100 km

Photographs