Let Let Let – Warplanes

In the mid of thirties Yugoslav aviation operated with the modern airplane of the period but it’s time were slowly running out. All other foreigner air forces was similarly equipped with biplanes but they looking forward for their replacement in close future with all metal monoplanes with retractable undercarriage. A plan for modernization of VV KJ was made in 1935 by commander of aviation general Milan Nedic and his plane include providing of new 495 airplanes of those 114 bombers, 212 fighters and 169 reconnaissance’s. As well permitted financial support was symbolical; equipment in the 1937 remained the same as some years before. That year Yugoslav Kingdom had operational 247 Breguet XIX, 3 Dornier Do Y, 2 Avia Fokker 39, one Junkers G.24, 20 Avia BH33, 8 Hawker Fury, 143 Potez XXV. Actual number was slightly larger as well in the moment of report [ 18.08.1937] a number of planes was not serviceable and was on repairs or on overhauls and did not enter in the total number. Any way, there were 130 bombers instead of requested 258 and most of them should be replaced in service from 1939 to 1940. Fighters force should had operational 186 planes and they have 28 only, with instance that Avia fighters enter in service from 1929 up to 1932 and they have to be replaced two years later and Fury fighters should last in service up to the 1942. Most of the reconnaissance forces were consisted of 103 Breguet XIX and 143 Potez XXV. Aviation should have by peacetime formation 243 reconnaissance planes.

Aeronautical centre, schools and aeronautical facility escadrille had 215 trainers instead of 420. There were 127 Fizir of various types, 14 SiM PVT, 55 Hanriot trainers, 13 Gourdou Lesseire and six Dewoitine [formerly fighter’s planes]. Project was to retire all foreigner types until 1938 and domestic type until 1940, while PVT would be in service till the 1942. as well in operational and reserve aviation was 619 serviceable airplanes, instead of 1107 planes by the plane of the peacetime order.

New project of modernization had done in 1939 [order Str.Pov.V.D.Br.389/37] by new commander of aviation, General Dusan Simovic. Plan was similar to the previous but with instance that more 42 bombers and 38 fighters were requested. That plan could cost the country 312.800.000 dinars. Again financial present ultimate problem but the first result of the proposed plans for modernization appeared. In the October 1937 begun to arrive from Germany modern twin engine medium bomber Dornier Do17K and a month later first Blenheim was delivered from the UK. The Dornier Do17 was used in combat in Spain and performance was satisfactory with defense weakness. Yugoslav version Do17K delivered from Germany had two to four machine guns and bomb load from 800 up to 1250 kg which was two to three times mote than Yugoslav massive bomber Breguet XIX and identical to the three motor bombers in service. Action radius was also larger then on the Breguet planes.

Process of modernization continued in 1940 but not in satisfactory level. Fuel accumulation was for 25 day’s of combat activities and aviation had only 25% in quantity of the proposed order. Only a credit of 200.000.000 dinars was permitted and aviation staff was looking for solution to provide more financial support in effort to organize technical minimum for peacetime formation and possible expanding in the event of war. That was 57 escadrille in the peacetime and in the war confrontation this number should be at least raised on 125 escadrille capable to oppose invader. Even this reduced number of planes requested 2.135.000.000 dinars. If there add bombs, 270 spare powerplants, 2049 machine guns and cannons [ with ammunition] this sum is as high 3.365.814.000 dinars, an amount which staff of aviation could only to dream on.

Except of financial problems, Yugoslav Kingdom had the political problems in providing of foreigner planes. Yugoslavia could not get modern version of Dornier Do17 from Germany and most of the second ordered batch was older versions. Even this delivery was extended up to the early 1939. Better situation was with Great Britain, who delivers twelve fighters hawker Hurricane in December 1938. This plane was more advanced project in compare with Fury, as well that was monoplane with retractable landing gear, with four more machine guns much higher speed, climb ceiling and combat radius.

But two months before, fighter of domestic industry, Ikarus IK-2 became operational. Project of that plane was made in 1934-36 and the plane performs excellent performance. This was maybe the first plane with central armament, cannon firing thought engine shaft and in many trials outclass its main competitor, British Fury.

Modernization was planed to be done in three steps. In first should be provided 500 of planes. Second include providing of 250 planes and after releasing of two first steps and in regard to the political and military situation would be released more 250 of airplanes. Foreigner delivery presents one of the major problems. In the July 1939 was signing a contract of delivery of aircraft from Germany. But from the large order of fighters, bomber and trainers only 39 Bf109 were delivered until the end of the year while one hundred were ordered. In the time that was very modern and very best world fighter and was leading edge of Yugoslav defense as well that was the best plane in service and the most numbered. Only order which was released was delivery of Do17K. From UK was promised twelve Hurricanes, twenty Blenheim and one hundred of Merlin and Mercury engines but this batch was never released.

By the end of the year from Italy begun delivery of tri engine bombers Savoia Marcheti SM.79. That plane had very good capabilities and performance and its appearance gave visible strength to the bomber units of Yugoslav aviation, which was weak in a reason of British non delivery of Blenheim and hesitate of German side to deliver modern combat planes. Domestic industry tries to oppose to this problem. From March 1939 Ikarus had begun delivery of license built Blenheim bombers. Until the releasing of documentation and blueprints, factory spent ten months only to release of the first production sample. That bomber carried the same amount of bombs as the retreating Breguet XIX but was more advanced in design and performance. Aviation ordered forty planes. In a reason of the British delay in delivery of material, factory delivered 18 planes only until the end of the year. But that could be solved with other solutions as well Blenheim was capable to be powered by Italian engine, as well Polish Mercury engine and so far that K-14 Yugoslav built radials could be used. More problematical was replacement of the powerplant for the Hurricane, which presented technically more complicated problem. In this way in 1940 was tested one conversion of Hurricane with DB engine [same as on the Bf109E] and that late was known as a LTV-1. The same production of Hurricanes presented the problem and Zmaj factory had finished successfully production of Fury biplanes. No matter that Fury presented one of the top biplanes, he could not be matched with more advanced monoplanes which became prime equipment of the modern air forces. Yugoslavia had by the end of 1939 only 60 modern monoplanes so Fury was temporary important.

Related posts:

1. Camouflage and markings of Yugoslav Kingdom warplanes
2. Vazduhoplovstvo Vojno units
3. Breguet XIX in Yugoslav service
4. Vazduhoplovstvo Vojno Organization
5. Early Yugoslav Jets

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