La5FN & earlier models - numbers

[yogybär]

I published an article concerning this topic on my website and hope to get some new information / feedback from you experts here...

Enjoy reading!

[kolya1]

- I wouldn't dare to call myself an expert, but I'd like to give additionnal info about the losses (seemingly including all branches of service, because figures are slightly higher than those given separately for VVS KA only) : in 1944, 703 La-5s of all types (217 La-5s, 373 La-5Fs and 113 La-5FNs) were lost because they were considered as "weared", and 736 others (61 La-5s, 426 La-5Fs and 249 La-5FNs) were lost in accidents (no distinction is made, as far as I know, between training and operational ones).

Which indicates that a total of 58 % of all La-5 losses (2446) that year were non-combat ones, and that may explain seemingly high loss rates resulting from stock levels.

- As far as the stocks are concerned, if I'm not mistaken, your figures are the ones for Front VVS only. Therefore, I think PVO and VMF numbers should be added to those. Unfortunately, the VMF figures I have do not make distinctions between LaGG-3, La-5 and La-7 types, so that I can't say what are specifically La-5 figures. As for the PVO, the La-5 strength was the following : 20/11/1942 : 7 (2 unserviceable), 01/07/1943 : 98 (17 unserviceable), 01/01/1944 : 229 (32 unserviceable), 01/06/1944 : 400 (39 unserviceable), 01/01/1945 : 565 (58 unserviceable), 01/05/1945 : 423 (50 unserviceable).

I hope that can help you.

[yogybär]

The PVO-figuires alone alter the picture pretty much concenring absolute numbers. In 1945, if PVO is added, the number of La5 is 1.6 fold as high as if one only takes VVS-RKA. That means the assumed loss figures can be reduced - I had the "feeling" that they are too high.

Thanks, Kolya!

[kolya1]

A small correction to add about PVO figures : the figures quoted above are designated as La-5 but the 01/01/1945 and 09/05/1945 numbers also include La-7s, so the the real number of La-5 in PVO inventory at these two dates is respectively 519 (+ 46 La-7s) and 327 (+ 96 La-7s).

Sorry for the confusion...