La-11 Fang – PDF

The Lavochkin La-11 “Fang” was developed in the immediate aftermath of World War II as a long-range derivative of the La-9 fighter. Designed by the Lavochkin bureau, the La-11 sacrificed some armament and performance in exchange for greater fuel capacity and endurance. The result was a fighter capable of operating across the enormous distances of the Soviet Union and providing longer-range escort and interception capability at a time when jet fighters were only beginning to enter widespread service.

Entering Soviet service in 1947, the La-11 was used primarily by air-defense and fighter units. Its range made it particularly useful in remote regions of the Soviet Union, including the Far East and Arctic. La-11s were employed to intercept foreign aircraft approaching or entering Soviet-controlled airspace, and the type participated in several confrontations during the increasingly tense opening years of the Cold War.

The La-11 was also supplied to the People’s Republic of China and North Korea. Chinese La-11s saw combat during the early 1950s, including operations connected with the defense of Chinese airspace and opposition to Nationalist Chinese aircraft. The type was also present during the Korean War, where piston-engine fighters operated alongside the rapidly growing numbers of Soviet-designed jet fighters. Although increasingly outclassed by jets, the La-11 remained useful for missions where endurance and range were more important than maximum speed.

The La-11 was one of the last piston-engine fighters to enter large-scale Soviet service. Its career came during a brief transitional period between the propeller-driven fighters of World War II and the MiG jet fighters that would soon dominate Soviet fighter aviation. This combination of early Cold War service, international use, and Korean War-era operations makes the NATO-designated “Fang” particularly useful for gaming the transition from piston to jet air warfare.

Service Branch: Soviet Air Forces; People’s Liberation Army Air Force; North Korean Air Force
Soviet Service: 1947–1950s
Number Built: 1,182

What’s Included:

For both the USSR and North Korean versions

• 12 1.5” square counter images
• 24 1” square counter images
• 35 .75” square counter images
• 40 .625” square counter images
• Numbered Images to assist with game organization and tracking
• Printable PDF format for personal gaming use

Each image size is contained on a ½ sheet.

• Enables users to save paper and print 2 types of aircraft on the same page.
• Print one set of aircraft images then reverse the page in the printer and print a second type of your choice on the same page.