The Il-2 aircraft, restored these days. Battlefield aircraft, which are called attack aircraft, are a special part of military aviation. They have to fly in conditions of maximum opposition from the enemy. It is not always possible to evade enemy fire, and the pilot can only rely on the on-board armor and the survivability of his own vehicle. One of the first large-scale aircraft designed to conduct combat operations in such harsh conditions was the Soviet Il 2, an attack aircraft for direct support of troops. It was created in a hurry because war was approaching, during which this machine turned out to be one of the most effective tools used by the Red Army against the Wehrmacht.
The history of the creation of the Il-2 armored attack aircraft
In the second half of the 30s of the last century, the Soviet air force had the opportunity to evaluate their aircraft in real combat conditions in Spain. The experience gained led to the conclusion that if the enemy has a sufficiently strong air defense, attempts to use fighters to support ground forces lead to significant losses. Speed no longer saved planes from enemy anti-aircraft fire; it was necessary to think about using armor.
In February 1938, addressed to I.V. Stalin received a memo from S.V. Ilyushin - head of the Experimental Design Bureau of Plant No. 39. In this document, a copy of which was received by A.D. Loktionov, head of the Red Army Air Force, said that all types of attack aircraft developed in the USSR were too vulnerable to fire from the ground. In this regard, Ilyushin proposed creating a new, well-armored aircraft, the design of which he had already prepared.
TsKB-55 is the first prototype of the IL-2. Two-seater aircraft, the navigator's cabin is included in the armored hull
It was assumed that this vehicle would be armed with four wing-mounted ShKAS machine guns and bombs with a total weight of 200 kilograms. The speed of the future attack aircraft near the ground was estimated by Ilyushin at approximately 400 km/h with a combat radius of 300-400 kilometers. To protect the rear hemisphere, it was planned to install another ShKAS machine gun on a turret, in a separate cabin. The power plant was to be the Mikulin engine - AM-34FRN.
The main difference between this project and all other options was the use of a load-bearing armored hull. To protect particularly important or vulnerable structural elements, it was planned to place separate armored capsules inside the hull, covering the radiators, bomb bay, engine, gas tank and cabin.
This project, which Ilyushin himself called a “flying tank,” was almost immediately approved at the level of the Council of People’s Commissars. The initial official designation of the aircraft was the abbreviation BSh-2 (armored attack aircraft). The factory name of this machine is TsKB-55.
It was initially planned that the first copy of the new aircraft would enter state tests in November 1938, but in reality, even in January of the following year, 1939, Ilyushin was only able to demonstrate a mock-up of the attack aircraft and a preliminary design. The initial deadlines were obviously impossible for many reasons, in particular, due to the discrepancy between the technical characteristics of the AM-34FRN motor and the requirements.
TsKB-57, the second prototype of the Il-2. Made single
The first flight of TsKB-55 took place on October 2, 1939. The aircraft was equipped with a new AM-35 engine, which had not yet passed the flight test cycle, which caused many problems. The first of these was chronic overheating of the engine. This defect was corrected only after a significant change in the layout of the cooling radiators.
State tests of the attack aircraft began on March 31, 1940. Despite the fact that they showed a clear non-compliance of the aircraft with the parameters of the technical specifications, the final conclusion was positive. Ilyushin was offered to replace the AM-35 engine with a low-altitude AM-38, eliminate a number of identified operational deficiencies and radically strengthen the armament by replacing two wing machine guns with 23 mm aircraft guns.
The “corrected” aircraft with an AM-38 engine took off on October 12, 1940. This prototype had a new factory designation - TsKB-57. It differed not only in its power plant - the attack aircraft became single-seat. Previously, it was often said that such a decision was dictated by military customers, however, this is not true - the alteration took place on Ilyushin’s personal initiative. Representatives of the Air Force actually only approved it, and even then retroactively, recognizing TsKB-57 as an acceptable option.
The designer never spoke about the reasons for his action, but it is not difficult to guess about them. The fact is that replacing the engine alone did not allow achieving the speed and flight range specified in the technical specifications. In addition, the mass of a vehicle with enhanced weapons would inevitably increase, which further complicated the situation. Meanwhile, there were no more reserves for weight loss. For example, the designers abandoned armored capsules during the design process.
Cockpits of the pilot and navigator at TsKB-55. Top - closed, bottom - open
Thus, further work could be greatly delayed. In addition, Ilyushin at that time was busy fine-tuning another aircraft - the DB-3F bomber. Another failure to meet deadlines on two projects at once threatened the designer with loss of trust from management and the end of his career. And this would not just be Ilyushin’s personal tragedy - as a result, the Red Army was left without an attack aircraft, and the need for it was enormous. Under these conditions, it was decided to create a single-seat version of the BSh-2. The abandonment of the second crew member made it possible to increase the fuel supply, increase longitudinal stability, achieve an increase in flight speed and improve a number of other performance characteristics.
In December 1940, the aircraft was given the now well-known name Il-2, and in January 1941 preparations for serial production began. At that time, it was not yet completely clear what kind of guns the attack aircraft would receive. At first it was planned to install MP-6 (caliber - 23 mm), however, Ilyushin, apparently, was skeptical about them. Therefore, the “early” production aircraft were equipped with ShVAK cannons, which were already familiar to pilots, but much weaker.
In the first months of 1941, the attack aircraft's armament was reinforced with rockets. The bomb load increased to 400 kilograms.
On June 22, 1941, the Great Patriotic War began. During the unfolding large-scale hostilities, all the advantages and disadvantages of the Il-2 aircraft showed up very clearly. The main problem immediately turned out to be the lack of a shooter. Given the air dominance of German fighters, the attack aircraft had a hard time - the losses were heavy.
Single-seat Il-2 on a ski chassis. Such aircraft were used in the winter of 1941-42
Despite the fact that pilots repeatedly expressed wishes to install a defensive machine gun on the Il-2, S.V. Ilyushin was extremely negative about this idea, believing that as a result of its implementation the aircraft’s performance characteristics would sharply decrease. Only in September 1942, after the People's Commissariat of the Aviation Industry and the Air Force command came to grips with this problem, two main options for equipping an attack aircraft with a defensive rifle mount were developed. Based on the results of the tests, it was decided to mass produce a two-seat modification, in the rear cabin of which a large-caliber UBT machine gun was installed.
The weight of the aircraft increased by 275 kilograms, which made the car less maneuverable and rather inert - the reaction to the deflection of the rudders did not follow immediately. It was also necessary to reduce the bomb load. In a word, Ilyushin’s fears were largely justified, and the security of the aircraft really increased noticeably. In addition, the Il-2 soon began to be equipped with an AM-38F engine, the power of which made it possible to return to its previous flight characteristics.
Subsequently, the attack aircraft was modernized more than once, however, these changes no longer brought any fundamental changes. Towards the end of the war, a gradual replacement of the Il-2 with more advanced Il-10 aircraft began, but this process could not be completed before May 9, 1945.
From the mill to the grenade launcher
The future designer Alexander Nudelman was born on August 21, 1912 in Odessa. As a child, he surprised everyone with his musical abilities, playing the piano masterfully, then he became interested in drawing. But creativity was especially clearly expressed in invention. One of the first works of the future designer was a hand mill, which helped the family survive the difficult 1920s.
In 1930, Alexander first entered the Odessa Flour Milling Institute, and then moved to the Industrial (now Polytechnic) University. During his student years, he met and began working with his senior student Yakov Taubin. Their first joint project in the field of military design was the creation of a grenade launcher. After studying in Odessa, the young and talented Yakov Taubin headed one of the Moscow design bureaus and invited Alexander Nudelman to work with him.
The government of the country set the design bureau under the leadership of Taubin the task of creating competitive automatic aircraft weapons. The development was completed in a short time, and in November 1940, serial production of the MP-6 aircraft gun began. But soon a tragedy occurred - the leadership of the design bureau was accused of participating in an anti-Soviet conspiracy. Yakov Taubin and some leaders of the military department were arrested. By a happy coincidence, Alexander Nudelman managed to avoid a similar fate. Perhaps it helped that on the eve of the war he was appointed chief designer of the new aircraft gun.
Design features of the attack aircraft
The Il 2 aircraft is a cantilever monoplane of mixed design. The cockpit of the attack aircraft is closed, the landing gear is retractable.
Detailed diagram of the cockpit, instrumentation and controls of the Il-2 aircraft
The fuselage was originally all-metal. Its front part is an armored hull covering the cabin, water radiator, fuel tanks and engine. The thickness of the armor is from 4 to 6 millimeters, both welded and riveted joints are used. The second half of the fuselage on early examples of the Il-2 was made of aluminum alloy, however, starting in 1942, the metal had to be replaced with plywood and veneer.
The two-spar wing consisted of three main elements - a center section and two consoles equipped with ailerons and flaps. The cantilever tail consisted of a keel and a stabilizer. The steering surfaces are made of fabric stretched over a metal frame. Beginning in 1942, the wing consoles and keel were made of wood, and the aileron covering became linen - there was an acute shortage of aluminum in the USSR.
The main feature of the airframe design is the use of an armored hull as a power element that absorbs all the main loads.
The attack aircraft was equipped with one water-cooled piston engine designed by A. Mikulin - AM-38, later AM-38F. The oil radiator is located outside the armored hull, in a separate armored box, and the water radiator is located inside the fuselage.
Attack aircraft weapons
Il-2 carried up to 400 kilograms of bombs of various calibers. Even flight with an overload of up to 600 kg was allowed. Large aerial bombs with a caliber of 100 kg or more were placed on external hardpoints, small ones were loaded into bomb bays located in the center section.
Wing bomb bays of the Il-2KSS attack aircraft
In addition, the aircraft could use airborne devices to hit ground targets using a special incendiary composition.
In 1943, containers with cumulative anti-tank bombs (PTAB) were included in the IL-2 ammunition load. Thanks to this, the attack aircraft has become truly dangerous for any mobile armored targets.
Under the wing of the aircraft, starting in the spring of 1941, there were 8 guides for RS-82 rockets or 4 for RS-132. They were used in the vast majority of cases against ground targets, although there were exceptions.
Small arms consisted of two 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns and two cannons. Early aircraft were equipped with twenty-millimeter ShVAK guns, then the attack aircraft received more powerful guns - VYA-23 (caliber - 23 mm, projectile weight - 200 grams). The ammunition consisted of one and a half thousand cartridges and three hundred shells. About a thousand production Il-2s were equipped with two NS-37 cannons with an ammunition load of 50 or 60 rounds each.
A 12.7 mm Berezin UBT machine gun was used as a defensive weapon. The ammunition load consisted of 150 rounds. In addition, the shooter could use aircraft grenades against enemy fighters.
Aircraft gun VYA-23. It was part of the armament of most Il-2 attack aircraft
Continuing traditions
Alexander Emmanuilovich worked as the head and chief designer of the OKB for more than 43 years. And even after his retirement in 1987, he continued to work as a consultant in his native design bureau. Alexander Nudelman died in Moscow on August 2, 1996 at the age of 84 and was buried at the Kuntsevo cemetery with military honors.
His services were highly appreciated by the state and scientific circles. In addition to receiving numerous state awards, Alexander Emmanuilovich was elected academician of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences and the Academy of Cosmonautics named after K.E. Tsiolkovsky. The design bureau, which he headed for more than 40 years, bears his name.
But, perhaps, the main assessment is a grateful memory. As Alexander Emmanuilovich’s relatives and colleagues note, along with the undeniable talent of an inventor and designer, his inherent exceptional ability to work, he always remained a modest and simple person. In his book “Guns for Combat Aircraft,” Alexander Nudelman writes a lot and with gratitude about his employees and assistants, about ordinary craftsmen.
A.E. Nudelman with department heads
As one of the design bureau employees, Yuri Mironenko, recalled: “After working for the first six months with Nudelman’s people, I could not distinguish an engineer from a worker among them. Everyone is beautifully dressed. Everyone knows what they need to do and does it conscientiously. No instructions, prodding, or disturbances - everyone is busy with a common cause. And if necessary, then around the clock. It seemed that they received tremendous pleasure from communicating with each other. And so on for many years."
In total, over the years of its existence, about 100 samples of military and civilian products were developed within the walls of the design bureau, most of which had no analogues in the country, and some in world practice. More than 1,700 copyright certificates for the invention were received.
Currently, this one of the leading scientific and design teams in the country is part of the High-Precision Complexes holding of the Rostec State Corporation and proudly bears the name of its legendary leader - the Precision Engineering Design Bureau named after. A.E. Nudelman.
Performance characteristics
The Il Sturmovik was produced in several different modifications, which were noticeably different from each other.
Their characteristics were also different:
| IL-2 single seat | Il-2 KSS (double) | IL-2 NS-37 | |
| Takeoff weight | 5.31 tons | 6.16 tons | 6.16 tons |
| Empty weight | 3.99 tons | 4.36 tons | 4.625 tons |
| Aircraft length | 11.6 m | 11.6 m | 11.6 m |
| Height | 4.17 m | 4.17 m | 4.17 m |
| Wingspan | 14.6 m | 14.6 m | 14.6 m |
| Engine power | 1575 hp | 1720 hp | 1720 hp |
| Maximum speed | 450 km/h at altitude, 433 km/h at ground level | 414 km/h at altitude, 403 km/h at ground level | 405 km/h at altitude, 391 km/h at ground level |
| Flight range with load | 638 km | 720 km | 685 km |
| Service ceiling | 7,800 m | 5,500 m | 6,000 m |
| Normal bomb load | 400 kg | 400 kg | 100 kg |
The horizontal maneuverability of the Il-2 was low, especially in the heavier two-seat version. Even without bombs, the plane completed a full turn in 27 seconds.
Pros and cons of the Il-2 attack aircraft
During the Great Patriotic War, the Il 2 attack aircraft fully demonstrated both its advantages and disadvantages.
The first include:
- Comparative simplicity of design. The industry was able to quickly launch mass production of attack aircraft, building more than 36 thousand of these aircraft;
- High level of protection against fire from the ground. The IL-2, of course, could not withstand an anti-aircraft shell, but it was almost impossible to destroy it with conventional small arms;
- Vitality. Having received dozens, sometimes even hundreds of holes from small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery shells, the attack aircraft could safely return to its airfield;
- Quite effective weapon against most targets.
Il-2, heavily damaged in battle, but managed to return to its airfield
Thanks to all these features, the Il-2 became a full-fledged battlefield aircraft, although far from ideal.
Here are just some of the disadvantages of this machine:
- Clumsiness. The heavy aircraft slowly entered a roll, turn and combat turn, and with difficulty gained altitude. This greatly complicated the conduct of defensive air combat;
- Primitive sighting equipment. Only experienced pilots were capable of delivering precise strikes against the enemy. In addition, when the IL 2 approached the target, the attack aircraft could lose sight of it because the view was blocked by the engine;
- Poor rear cabin protection. On the TsKB-55, the second crew member was located in an armored hull and served not only as a gunner, but also as a navigator, as well as a bombardier. In serial two-seat attack aircraft, the rear cockpit was moved outside the armored hull. As a result, for every pilot killed, up to eight gunners were killed in the air;
- High accident rate. Over 11,000 attack aircraft were lost not in battle, but as a result of various flight accidents.
In addition, the directional stability of the IL-2 left much to be desired, and diving at high angles was prohibited. All this reduced the effectiveness of the use of attack aircraft.
At the origins of conversion
In the 50-80s of the last century, the team headed by Nudelman developed fundamentally new types of weapons not only for aviation, but also for the navy and ground forces. Under the leadership of Alexander Nudelman, tank and anti-tank missiles of the Phalanx and Cobra types, capable of penetrating armor up to 250 mm thick at a distance of up to 2.5 km, and the famous Strela anti-aircraft missile systems were created.
But the design bureau, which was headed by Alexander Nudelman for many years, became famous not only for its developments in the field of military equipment. Back in the early 1960s, Alexander Emmanuilovich raised the question of the need to create in his design bureau not only weapons, but also high-tech civilian products. The bureau began research in the field of laser technology and medicine. In particular, the country's first serial laser welding installation, SU-1, was created here, which was demonstrated at the Leipzig fair, where it was the only working model. The design bureau is also responsible for the creation of a laser rangefinder, which made it possible to accurately determine the distance to the Moon and a number of other space objects.
The developments of Nudelman and his employees in the field of creating new medical equipment played a special role. For example, the country's first laser photocoagulator was developed here, with the help of which operations on the retina became possible.
In 1960, the Pravda newspaper published an article by academician Alexander Bakulev with an appeal to domestic engineers to start producing pacemakers. Alexander Nudelman responded to this call. Already in December 1961, an operation was performed to implant the first domestic pacemaker into the patient. At that time, the pacemaker developed at the Nudelman Design Bureau was one of the most reliable and miniature in the world.
In total, the KB created 25 samples of pacemakers. Among them is EKS-445, the installation of which can replace a heart transplant operation. By the way, when mass production of pacemakers was established, Alexander Emmanuilovich achieved the establishment of military acceptance of these products.
Modifications of IL-2
Throughout its “biography,” the armored attack aircraft was repeatedly modernized and rearmed.
Il-2 with NS-37 guns. It was assumed that such an aircraft would be able to effectively destroy tanks
The following modifications of this aircraft are known:
- Single seat Il-2 (TsKB-57). The first production version of the attack aircraft. Some of these aircraft were converted into two-seaters directly by the troops, using artisanal methods;
- Double IL-2. Produced starting in the autumn of 1942. The engine remained the same - AM-38, which caused a significant decrease in the maneuverability of the aircraft. In particular, the turn execution time increased to 49 seconds. The gunner's cockpit and turret caused criticism until the end of the war, however, it turned out to be impossible to improve them without stopping mass production;
- Il-2 AM-38F. Serial production of this modification began in January 1943. The two-seat aircraft is equipped with a souped-up engine, which made it possible to bring its main characteristics to the same level as those of a single-seat attack aircraft;
- Il-2 “wing with arrow”, abbreviated as KSS, sometimes referred to as Il-2 M3. A large-scale modification with a significantly modified wing shape and therefore improved alignment. In addition, the aerodynamic characteristics of the aircraft were improved, and fiber tanks were installed instead of the previous metal tanks. The main advantage of these containers was their ability to self-heal - small holes were repaired with a special composition that hardened upon contact with air;
- IL-2 NS-37. This version of the attack aircraft was equipped with two NS-37 guns with a caliber of 37 mm instead of VYA-23 cannons. The ammunition load was 50 shells per barrel. These guns were quite bulky and heavy, which led to a significant reduction in the bomb load and maximum speed of the attack aircraft. More than a thousand of these Ilovs were built. They tried to use them against German tanks, but practice has shown that the best weapon for destroying armored vehicles is not cannons, but PTAB aerial bombs;
- IL-2KR. This aircraft was equipped with a camera mounted in the rear of the fuselage and a special walkie-talkie, the antenna of which was mounted on the cockpit. The main purpose of the IL-2KR is artillery fire adjustment and photo reconnaissance.
A modern drawing depicting a “hypothetical” non-serial modification of the Il-2T.
There were several non-serial modifications of the attack aircraft:
- IL-2 NS-45. Another attempt to create an “anti-tank aircraft”. Aircraft guns designed by Nudelman and Suraev with a caliber of 45 mm were installed on the wing. Tests have shown that the recoil of this gun is poorly perceived by the aircraft, and aimed shooting is almost impossible;
- Il-2 ShFK-37. The result of a conversion of the original single-seat attack aircraft. The aircraft was armed with two ShFK-37 wing cannons of 37 mm caliber. The attack aircraft received some experience in combat use in December 1942 and January 1943, but did not go into production;
- IL-2I. The model was created in 1943 under the impression of the use of serial Il-2s against German transport aviation, which was trying to create an “air bridge” with an encircled group of German troops near Stalingrad. The plane again became a single-seater, it was made as light as possible, even the wing ShKAS machine guns were removed. But the “fighter-bomber” did not work out - the speed of the car was insufficient;
- IL-2 M-82. An experimental aircraft, on which an M-82 air-cooled engine was installed instead of the AM-38 engine. The characteristics of the attack aircraft generally remained the same, however, this version was not mass-produced;
- IL-2T. There are no documents confirming the very existence of this modification. According to unconfirmed information, the wing cannons were removed from the Il-2 KSS aircraft, and a 45-36AN torpedo was somehow suspended under the fuselage.
“Bomber Fighter” Il-2I
It is also worth mentioning the training modification of the Il-2U. An instructor was located in the rear cockpit of this aircraft, who had the ability to use backup backup control. Such an attack aircraft could carry no more than 200 kg of bombs, two rockets, and only machine guns were left as small arms.
THE MAIN OBJECTIVE IS TO KNOCK TANKS FROM THE ENEMY
EQUIPMENT AND WEAPONS No. 11/2008, pp. 17-31
“THE MAIN OBJECTIVE... IS TO KNOCK TANKS FROM THE ENEMY”
Oleg Rastrenin
Continuation. See the beginning in “TV” No. 5,6
—
9/2008
Combat debut of “tank destroyers”
Of the anti-tank Il-2s with 37-mm cannons ordered by the Air Force, eight aircraft with ShFK-37 arrived at the 688th headquarters
16th VA of the Don Front, and an experimental Il-2 unit with 1Sh guns arrived at the 289th shal of the 1st VA of the Western Front in January 1943.
As follows from the documents, the flight crew of the 289th Shoal assessed the new version of the attack aircraft positively, noting, however, that for the successful use of the aircraft in combat, advanced training in piloting and targeted firing of cannons in short bursts is required. At the same time, the guns themselves showed sufficient operational reliability and survivability. The materials of the report on the armament tests of the experimental Il-2 with 11P cannons, carried out at NIP AB in January-February 1943, generally corresponded to the assessment of the combat pilots.
The opinion of the pilots of the 688th Shoal turned out to be exactly the opposite: “...Il-2 aircraft with the ShFK-37 cannon, when tested for combat use, did not give the required effectiveness due to the imperfection of the guns, the impossibility of conducting aimed fire at targeted targets, the large dispersion of shells and the deterioration of the maneuverability of the aircraft "
It is worth noting here that the conditions for the combat use of the Il-2 with the “big gun” on the Western and Don fronts had significant differences. This circumstance undoubtedly influenced the assessment of the combat properties of the new attack aircraft.
Indeed, if at Stalingrad the crews of the 688th Shoal of the 16th VA acted mainly against aircraft at enemy airfields and vehicles and, in some cases, against firing points on the battlefield, armored vehicles and tanks, then the pilots of the 289th Shoal of the 1st VA in the west they worked mainly on trains at stages and stations. Obviously, the visible effect of attacks on targets with such different degrees of vulnerability from 37 mm shells was very different.
The effect of the Il-2 with 37 mm cannons on railway trains was limited to defeating steam locomotives and cargo on platforms and in wagons. Excellent results were obtained if the train included tanks with fuel. As a rule, after an attack by a flight of attack aircraft, the train stopped - the locomotive broke down, sometimes with a boiler explosion, and two or three cars caught fire. It became possible to quickly destroy the train by attacks from other IL-2 groups.
On the other hand, when shooting at dispersed small targets on the battlefield, the visible effect was not so noticeable, since an accurate hit was practically difficult to ensure. It was even more difficult to visually control the results of cannon firing.
In addition, the pilots of the 289th Air Force received special training for operations at maximum radius and in difficult weather conditions and had significant flight time on the Il-2
and combat experience, while the bulk of the 688th aircrew consisted of military graduate pilot-sergeants. Obviously, this also affected the assessment of the combat capabilities of the IL-2 with “big guns”.
This conclusion is confirmed by materials from range firing from the ShFK-37 with the Il-2 in the air. Five pilots of varying qualifications from the 688th Air Force were involved in the tests. It turned out that the accuracy of cannon fire was quite decent, although the shooting itself was inaccurate. Most of the shells (out of 153 pieces) landed 4-5 m away from the target (a shield in the form of a square with a side of 6 m), the rest - at 12-15 m. Only the regiment commander, Captain Sklyarov, managed to hit the shield with two shells. The second most effective player was captain Kopaev. The low percentage of hits in the shield is explained by long firing distances (the start of shooting is 800-900 m and the end is 500-400 m), as well as “shortcomings in mastering the technique of piloting this aircraft and firing from 37mm caliber guns.”
Presumably, the shooting conditions in a real battle were the same or worse.
In the conclusions of the report, the pilots noted that in order to hit ground targets from the ShFK-37, aimed fire should be opened at a distance of no more than 500 m and fired up to 200-250 m in bursts of 5-7 shots. At the same time, “firing from Il-2 aircraft armed with 37-mm cannons produces a great moral effect,”
and
“using fire from these guns against tanks will give a better effect than aerial bombs.”
As follows from the documents, the main reason for the negative attitude of the pilots of the 688th Shoal towards the anti-tank Il-2 was the unreliable operation of the gun’s automation. Almost every second flight on an Il-2 combat mission with an ShFK-37 was accompanied by the failure of at least one of the guns. This circumstance disrupted the normal combat work of the regiment.
“The large number of breakdowns, delays and failures in the operation of the guns gave the pilots an unpleasant feeling of uncertainty about trouble-free operation, and the pilots were therefore often reluctant to board these aircraft,”
- reported to his management Art. technician of the military representative office of the 18th aircraft plant st. technical lieutenant A.G. Tishevsky.
It should be noted here that the unreliable operation of the guns in the 688th shal is explained not so much by the shortcomings of the ShFK-37 itself, but by the lack of care for the guns before their arrival at the regiment. The fact is that after assembly at aircraft factory No. 18, the planes first arrived at the airfield of the 1st reserve air brigade Kryazh, and then were transported to the Tolkai airfield, where the 5th reserve air regiment of the brigade was based. They planned to equip the 617th Attack Aviation Regiment with these aircraft, which was undergoing reorganization and replenishment of materiel there.
As far as we could establish, at the Kryazh airfield no one was responsible for the planes, and they stood ownerless. Even the planes put on the balance sheet of the 617th shal were not taken care of or looked after by anyone for a month. As a result, by the time the regiment’s flight personnel began training, the guns were in an extremely disrepair: “... the moving parts and bores of the barrels and the outside of the gun were rusty.”
After a “debriefing,” the guns were finally taken care of and brought into proper shape within 10 days.
However, “due to severe rusting, many parts of the guns left irremovable traces of rust and shells.”
When it turned out that the 617th air force was staffed exclusively by young pilots straight from schools, they decided to send the planes to the active regiment near Stalingrad. At the same time, one Il-2 with ShFK-37 (serial number 1129) due to an oil tank leak could not take off with the main group from the Razboishchina airfield and reached the front only on January 18, 1943. The tenth anti-tank Il-2 (serial number 6123) due to complete consumption of fuel, was forced to land in deep snow far from the landing strip of the Markstad airfield. The plane remained at this airfield at least until February 15, 1943. What happened to it subsequently could not be determined.
By the time the military tests of anti-tank variants of the Il-2 were completed, it became known that the enemy was using Pz.VI “Tiger” heavy tanks at the front. Information was received from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Spacecraft about the entry into service of the German army of new models of armored vehicles - the Pz.V "Panther" and Pz.IVH "Tiger" tanks, as well as the Jgd Pz Tiger(P) "Ferdinand" assault gun. All of them had enhanced armor protection and powerful weapons. The massive appearance of these models at the front was expected in the summer of 1943. The question of a sharp increase in the anti-tank capabilities of the spacecraft air force arose with all urgency.
After an exchange of views on the results of military tests of the Il-2 with 37-mm cannons, it was decided to mass-produce a variant with two 1Sh cannons. In addition, the production of the B.G. gun Shpitalny was already discontinued by this time, and instead, by decree of the State Defense Committee of December 30, 1942, the 11P cannon (all NS-37 series) was adopted for service with the Air Force.
According to the GOKO decree of April 8, 1943, serial production of the Il-2 with the NS-37 was launched at the Moscow aircraft plant No. 30. Already in May, the plant was supposed to produce 50 aircraft of this type, in June - 125, in July - 175, and from August switch to producing Il-2 only with large-caliber guns.
Il-2 AM-38f with NS-37 cannons during state tests at the Air Force Research Institute. May 1943
The ammunition load of the NS-37 guns on the Il-2 was set to 50 shells per barrel, the bomb load was 100 kg in the normal version and 200 kg in the overload version. Two ShKAS machine guns in the wing and a UBT machine gun on the gunner were retained, but the rocket guns were removed from the aircraft.
By the end of April, the factory workers managed to build five Il-2 AM-38f with NS-37 cannons, one of which (production number 302349) arrived at the Air Force Research Institute on May 27 for state testing.
Much earlier, on December 25, 1942, A.S. received a similar task. Yakovlev. Instead of the Yak-7-37, it was proposed to build and then introduce into mass production an anti-tank version of the more advanced Yak-9 M-105pf fighter with better flight characteristics than the “seven”. A prototype of such an aircraft (30-32 rounds of ammunition for the cannon) successfully passed field and flight tests from January 10 to March 4, 1943, after which, under the designation Yak-9T (tank), it was put into serial production at aircraft plant No. 153 in Novosibirsk.
In addition, by the end of 1942, the 21st Aircraft Plant built 15 LaGG-3 aircraft with the NS-37 cannon. Military tests of the fighter took place on the Kalinin Front from April 21 to June 5, 1943 as part of the 21st IAP
Major I.M.
Nestoyanova. In 174 sorties, the regiment's pilots conducted 12 air battles and 15 attack missions. Three planes were destroyed in the air, three locomotives and eight cars. The pilots noted that when firing from the NS-37 in the air, the plane sways, and “after
4-5
shots, the aircraft’s guidance is lost.”
The test report concluded that the combat use of the LaGG-3 with 37-mm NS-37 cannons once again confirmed the effectiveness of using fighters armed with large-caliber guns to destroy bombers and other enemy aircraft, as well as for actions against ground targets (railway trains). , steam locomotives, motorized mechanical columns, vehicles, etc.).
| NS-37 cannon mount on the Il-2 AM-38f aircraft. | LaGG-3 fighter with NS-37 cannon |
Having put into service anti-tank versions of Il-2 fighters and attack aircraft, the Soviet command seriously hoped to crush the armored “menagerie” of the Wehrmacht in the summer campaign of 1943. However, the reality turned out to be more than mundane.
Field tests carried out at the Research Institute of AV showed that firing from an Il-2 aircraft from NS-37 cannons could only be carried out in bursts of no more than 3-4 shots, since due to non-synchronization in the operation of the guns and strong recoil, the aircraft was strayed from the aiming line . Correction of aiming was possible only after a short burst of 2-3 shells.
When firing from one cannon, it was possible to hit the target only with the first shot, since the attack aircraft turned towards the firing cannon, and correction of aiming became almost impossible.
The effectiveness of firing in the air from the NS-37 from an Il-2 aircraft at German tanks was characterized by the fact that 52% of shell hits on a medium tank and 73% of hits on a light tank disabled the latter. At the same time, tanks were hit in only 43% of sorties, and the number of hits to spent ammunition was 3%.
Range firing from Il-2 and LaGG-3 aircraft with NS-37 in the air against a heavy German tank Pz.VI, carried out on May 11, 1943 at the tank range of the Research Institute of BT KA in Kubinka, showed the low effectiveness of the shells of this gun against the newest Wehrmacht tank . The test pilots of the Scientific Research Institute of Aviation, captains Kusakin and Kravchenko, flew.
In 35 shots from the LaGG-3, three hits were recorded, of which only one was valid - the shell pierced the roof. Carried out from an Il-2 aircraft 55
shots and received one single hit, recognized as valid (the caterpillar was broken).
| Installation of the NS-37 gun on a Yak-9T aircraft. | Yak-9T fighter, 1943 |
The conclusions of the report based on the results of the shooting indicated that heavy tanks could only be hit in the turret roof and over-engine armor. To do this, it was necessary to attack the heavy Tiger tank at dive angles of 45-50°. It was under these attack conditions that the LaGG-3 pilot managed to hit the armor of a German tank. However, piloting the Il-2 and firing in these modes was very difficult and inaccessible to most combat pilots.
The test pilots who conducted field tests of the Il-2 with the NS-37 especially paid attention to the fact that the flight crew flying these aircraft must undergo special training in conducting aimed fire in short bursts at individual tanks, vehicles, etc. .
As in the case of the ShFK-37, the main problem when installing the NS-37 guns on the Il-2 was ensuring accurate shooting at small targets. The two-seat Il-2 was longitudinally unstable to an even greater extent than the single-seat Il, and because of this, firing from 37 mm cannons affected the aircraft’s flight much more strongly.
In the conclusions of the report on the tests of the Il-2 with the NS-37, approved by the commander of the Air Force of the spacecraft, Marshal A.A. Novikov on July 26, 1943, aircraft plant No. 30 NKAP and OKB-16 NKV were recommended to urgently install a muzzle brake on the gun to reduce the recoil force and ensure synchronization in the operation of the guns. In addition, it was proposed to allocate separate attack air regiments on the Il-2 with 37-mm NS-37 air cannons as anti-tank ones.
Based on the results of field tests and combat experience in the use of anti-tank "Ilov" at the Air Force Research Institute in July-August 1943, "Instructions for the combat use of the Il-2 AM-38f aircraft armed with 37 mm cannons" were developed. These “Instructions...” were temporary and intended for “guidance and verification during military tests.”
For firing at ground targets, two main attack schemes were proposed: from a dive at an angle of 20-30° from a height of 500-600 m and from planning at an angle of 5-10° from a height of 100-150 m from behind or from the side in the direction of movement of the tanks. The opening fire distance in all cases should not have exceeded 400-600 m. One should only aim at an individual tank, regardless of their number.
Limits of penetration of German tank armor when fired by standard aircraft guns of the Red Army.
(according to materials from field tests at NIP AV VVS KA, the through-penetration limit determines the maximum
angle for a fixed range at which armor is penetrated)
The main combat unit of the anti-tank Il-2 was a group of 6-9 aircraft. It was believed that such a group had sufficient impact force and at the same time was flexible enough to control in the air. The groups could be homogeneous or mixed, i.e. with guns NS-37 and VYA-23. In this case, the leading aircraft in a pair must be an aircraft with NS-37 cannons, and the wingman must be with VYa-23 cannons. The task of the wingmen was to suppress air defense fire from tank columns, places where tanks were concentrated, etc., and when repelling attacks by enemy fighters, conduct air combat with them, covering the rest of the aircraft in the group. Fighter cover for Il-2 groups with NS-37 guns should be stronger than generally accepted standards.
It must be said that by the beginning of 1943, the German command was finally convinced of the ineffectiveness of MK101 cannon shells when operating on Soviet T-34 and KV tanks. The operational officer of the Luftwaffe General Staff in his report on the combat use of aviation in the Stalingrad area and on the middle Don.
In addition, the automation of the MK101 gun often failed in the cold. The gun also failed due to snow and dirt getting in on takeoff. When tested on the ground after cleaning and adjustment, the guns fired normally, but in the air after takeoff they fell silent after the first shots. The specialists of the 5th Inspectorate of the Luftwaffe General Staff could only shrug their shoulders.
Having promptly contacted the fighter aviation inspection, the General Staff commission, despite the obvious ineffectiveness of the MK101 guns in combat and their unreadiness for combat use, received a categorical instruction: immediately remove the bomb racks and install the MK101...
Anti-tank Henschels turned out to be completely unsuitable for Russian frosts. The frost caused the rubber on the chassis wheels to burst, the lubricant turned to stone, the oil lines froze, etc. The piston group wore out so quickly that the engines required a complete overhaul and major overhaul after only 40 hours of flight time. At the same time, under normal operating conditions, the Gnome-Rona worked for up to 200 hours.
It is quite obvious that under the current conditions, all attempts by German pilots to hold back the powerful attacks of Soviet tanks were unsuccessful, although in a number of cases, apparently due to inertia, they continued to report the destruction of dozens of Soviet tanks.
The experience of combat use of the Hs 129B in air battles on the Eastern Front clearly demonstrated that the aircraft's reservation system does not provide reliable protection from shells and large-caliber bullets of standard aviation and anti-aircraft small arms and cannon weapons of the Red Army. At the same time, the lack of defensive weapons combined with low flight characteristics (without external suspensions the attack aircraft had a maximum ground speed of 385 km/h, and with a 30-mm cannon and ETC50 pylons - 305 km/h) only aggravated the situation.
In the conclusions of the Air Force Research Institute of Spacecraft, which studied a number of captured samples of the Hs 129B aircraft, Fr.
It was also pointed out that its weak armor makes it very vulnerable to infantry fire.
The German instructions for using this aircraft noted that “... getting into the engine and the bearing surfaces in most cases leads to the loss of the aircraft due to fire,”
and if one engine fails, the aircraft flies in a descent, and landing in this case can only be done with the landing gear retracted .
According to the testimony of captured German pilots, for one Hs 129B-l lost in battle in the summer of 1942, there were about 20 combat missions. And this is in conditions of complete air supremacy of the Luftwaffe. For comparison: the survivability of the Soviet Il-2 attack aircraft at the same time was approximately 15-17 combat sorties per loss.
In the winter of 1942, it became finally clear to the German command that neither the Hs 123, nor the bomber variants of the VI09, nor the special armored Hs 129B were able to fully carry out the tasks of direct air support of troops.
The pure Ju87 dive bomber, which suffered serious losses, could not boast of high performance on the battlefield. Thus, the irretrievable combat losses of Ju87 in the Stalingrad direction in the second half of 1942 from anti-aircraft artillery fire alone amounted to 493 aircraft. By the beginning of November, there were only 43 Ju87s in all five dive bomber air groups of the 1st, 2nd and 77th squadrons.
Increased resistance from fighters and anti-aircraft air defense systems of the Red Army, as well as the inability of Luftwaffe fighters to provide effective cover for air groups in direct support of troops, required a radical revision of the tactics of combat use of the Ju87. The Germans were forced to strike from low and extremely low altitudes. As a result, Ju87 losses from all types of small arms fire increased sharply.
In addition, it became quite obvious that even with a high density of armored vehicles per 1 km of front, the Ju87, even with the most accurate bomb hit, could destroy or disable only one tank, using up the entire supply of bombs. It was necessary to either increase the density of aircraft per km of front, or develop new tactics for using the Ju87. In fact, by January 1943, the “eighty-seventh Junkers” had transformed from classic dive bombers into attack aircraft, which did not best meet the requirements for an aircraft of this class.
Already in December 1942, the German command decided to urgently reorganize all squadrons of direct support for troops and re-equip them with materiel that best meets the requirements of the war and is produced at German aircraft factories in sufficient quantities.
Fw190A-5/U3 fighter-bomber with SC 500 bomb
According to the famous German pilot, commander of II./StG2, Major Kupfer, the main task of an “optimal” attack aircraft should be to fight breakthrough tank groups. To do this, Kupfer proposed destroying not so much the tanks themselves, but rather the columns with fuel, ammunition and spare parts that were more vulnerable to air strikes.
The solution to this problem was entirely within the capabilities of a high-speed attack aircraft armed with 20-mm cannons, which provided the necessary probability of hitting (incapacitating) lightly armored and unarmored targets.
The high-speed attack aircraft had to be small in size, be single-seat (the lack of flight personnel in the Luftwaffe was becoming critical) and have high vertical and horizontal maneuverability. The maximum caliber of aerial bombs should not exceed 250 kg (targets invulnerable to such bombs were to be dealt with by bombers). In addition, it was believed that the speed and maneuverability of the attack aircraft would make it possible to do without fighter escort when performing combat missions.
The best candidate for the role of a high-speed attack aircraft in the conditions of the inability of the German aviation industry to quickly create a special armored high-speed attack aircraft turned out to be the Fw190 fighter. It also played a role that factory modifications U1 and U3 had already been developed, which made it possible to convert a standard fighter into a fighter-bomber.
In accordance with Kupffer’s concept, the first assault Fokker, the Fw190F-l, appeared at the end of 1942, and the F-2 variant appeared in the spring of 1943. Both variants were redesignated Fwl90A-4/U3 and A-5/U3, respectively. Since the summer of 1943, the most popular modification, the F-3, went into production. In March 1944, production of the F-8 version began.
The armament of the Fwl90F consisted of two fuselage MG17 machine guns, two synchronized wing guns MG151/20 and bomb armament consisting of four 50 kg bombs on a fuselage bomb rack ETC 501 with an ER4 adapter and two bombs up to 250 kg on underwing holders. The ETC 501 could carry one 500 kg SC500 bomb. On the F-2, forward-down visibility from the cockpit was slightly improved, the lack of which pilots of the first series complained about, and on the F-3, the ETC 501 holder was adapted to hang an additional gas tank. The F-8 version aircraft differed from their counterparts in the fuselage MG131 machine guns of 13 mm caliber and the installation of four ETC 50 under-wing holders for a 50-kg SC50 bomb.
The armor of the Fw 190F attack aircraft was strengthened in comparison with “pure” fighters: the total weight of armored parts on the aircraft increased to 310 kg (according to the Air Force Research Institute).
In each squadron, the German command planned to have three groups armed with Fw190 fighter-attack aircraft, and one special anti-tank squadron with Hs129B. It was believed that it was this combination of combat forces that would significantly increase the effectiveness of close air support for troops both in defense and on the offensive.
In February 1943, the Hs129B-2, modernized based on the experience of combat use of its predecessor, was successfully tested in Rechlin. The new Henschel was armed with a 30-mm MK103 cannon, which had a higher rate of fire than the MK101 (420 rounds per minute versus 240). The cannon's ammunition load was increased to 100 shells. Due to the increased rate of fire of the MK103, there was a slightly higher probability of hitting ground targets.
GunMKYUZ.
Installation of the MK103 cannon on the Hs129B-2 attack aircraft.
Around the same time, in order to increase the efficiency of shooting at armored vehicles, the Germans tried to use MG151/15 15 mm machine guns on the Hsl29B-2, the ammunition of which included armor-piercing bullets with a tungsten carbon core. It was assumed that installing large-caliber Mausers on the Henschel would provide a significant increase in the probability of hitting tanks in battle compared to the result obtained by guns. The calculation was based on the better armor-piercing properties of a 15-mm armor-piercing bullet (from a distance of 100 m at an angle of contact with armor of 0°, the bullet penetrated an armor plate 49 mm thick), lower recoil when firing in the air and a higher rate of fire of the MG151/15 machine gun. However, judging by the available information, this bullet was still not successful.
The specialized strike version of the Fw190 fighter is the F-8.
Four 50 kg bombs on an ETC 501 fuselage bomb rack with an ER4 adapter
on the Fw190F attack aircraft.
Simultaneously with the new version of the armored Henschel, three Ju87D-3s also arrived at the test center in Rechlin, the main feature of which was the installation under the wing of two 37-mm VK 3.7 cannons with 12 rounds of ammunition. The VK 3.7 was a Flak 18 anti-aircraft gun adapted for installation on an aircraft. Unlike the standard Ju87D-3, the anti-tank Junkers did not have wing machine guns or bomb armament. The thickness of the pilot's rear armored back was increased to 20 mm. The air gunner, center section gas tanks and water radiator were not armored. The attack aircraft was designated Ju87G-1.
In testing, the Ju87G-1 proved to be slow and very clumsy, which, combined with reduced armor and weak defensive weapons, made the vehicle an ideal target for fighters. The maximum speed of the aircraft decreased by 30-40 km/h. The Ju87G-1 no longer dived (although the prototypes that were tested had brake flaps); targets were attacked by gliding at angles of no more than 10-12°. In addition, according to the testimony of captured German pilots, entry into planning was difficult. Aiming was also difficult due to the poor directional stability of the aircraft, caused by the aerodynamic influence of the cannon installations, large spaced masses (the weight of one cannon with a carriage without taking into account the weight of the magazine and shells was 473 kg) and the increased flight weight.
The VK 3.7 guns had a rather low rate of fire and low automatic reliability. According to German data, the gun had a rate of fire of up to 70 rounds per minute. However, as follows from the documents of the Air Force Research Institute of Spacecraft, due to the low reliability of the gun’s automation, its combat rate of fire was limited on average to one shot every two seconds. This led to a very limited number of shots (no more than two) in one attack.
The situation was further aggravated by the strong recoil of the guns when firing. As a result, when firing in the air, the attack aircraft experienced a strong diving moment, and the aircraft swayed in the longitudinal plane. Keeping the line of sight on the target while shooting and making adjustments to the aiming was a very difficult task and almost impossible. Therefore, only the first shot could be aimed.
At the same time, a sub-caliber projectile for the VK 3.7, having an initial speed of about 1170 m/s when fired in the air (according to the Research Institute of the Air Force KA), from a distance of up to 400 m could penetrate Soviet tank armor up to 52 mm thick at an angle of impact 0°. The armor-piercing shell from the ammunition for this gun penetrated only 40 mm armor from a distance of 400 m.
It would seem that the Ju87G-l is an effective means of defeating Soviet T-34s. In reality, this turned out to be not entirely true.
An analysis of the armor scheme of the Soviet T-34-76 tank and the capabilities of the German VK 3.7 cannon shows that at glide angles of the Ju87G-1 of about 5-10°, a sub-caliber projectile to the gun could penetrate the 52-mm armor of the T-34 turret only when fired from distances of no more than 180 m, and the side 40-mm armor - up to 400 m. However, the time for effective firing was 1.3 and 4.4 s, respectively (the minimum permissible height for maneuver at the exit is 15-20 m, the ceasefire distance is about 90 m). That is, only one shell could be “effective” when hitting the tower, and a maximum of two shells when hitting the side. But getting into the vulnerable parts of the tank, given their small areas, even with one shot, is not as easy as it seems. At the same time, one or two hits that penetrate the armor, as is known, are not enough to reliably disable a tank.
The defeat of the T-34-85 tank, which had reinforced armor, when attacked from the side (side - 45 mm, turret - 75 mm) was not ensured at any firing distance. When attacking from behind, defeating the T-34-85 was only possible if a shell hit the rear of the turret (armor thickness 52 mm) from a distance of up to 400 m.
The over-engine armor and turret roof armor of Soviet T-34s of all variants were hit by a sub-caliber projectile for the VK 3.7 cannon when fired from 300 m only at dive angles of at least 30°. At gliding angles of up to 10°, shooting from any distance produced continuous ricochets. Estimates show that in real combat conditions, to guarantee the defeat of the Soviet “thirty-four” on the battlefield, a force of fifty Ju87Gs was required...
That is, the successful use of the Ju87G cannon on the battlefield was possible only in the hands of a highly qualified pilot and in conditions of weak anti-aircraft and fighter counteraction. But, despite a whole “bouquet” of shortcomings of the Ju87G-l, the tests were considered successful, and a conclusion was made about the feasibility of its combat use.
A Ju87D-3 aircraft equipped with 37 mm VK 3.7 cannons.
VK 3.7 cannon equipment.
After completing the tests of the cannon "Junkers", it was decided to form a special anti-tank group Panzerversuchs-kommando to conduct military tests at the front.
According to the testimony of the captured German pilot, Lieutenant Hans Trenkmann, this group had already concentrated on the Bryansk airfield by March 16, consisting of 18 aircraft. Trenkman himself was shot down by Soviet anti-aircraft artillery on March 18 in the Atazh area (20 km south of Lokot) in his second combat mission at the front. Upon exiting the attack at an altitude of 250 m, the wing of his Ju87G-l was hit by an anti-aircraft shell, the plane lost control, hit the ground with its plane and fell on our territory. Trenkman conducted practical shooting at tanks in this sortie from a height of 50-100 m.
During interrogation, Trenkman said that they were taught to attack tanks from the side with a gentle glide, opening fire from a distance of 300-200 m. Firing is carried out with single shots simultaneously from two guns. When aiming, the aircraft yaws a little, but at low flight speeds (about 300-310 km/h), corrections to the aiming are possible. Before being sent to the Eastern Front, Trenkman flew to the training ground twice to practice shooting at tanks.
The captured German pilot explained the use of an outdated type of dive bomber with a new aircraft cannon as a “general lack of material.”
In addition, in his opinion,
“if this gun proves itself, it can be used on the Me-210 aircraft.”
In February 1943, in Khortitsa, as part of the 4th Air Force, a special Weiss anti-tank group was formed, armed only with Hs129B.
In April-May, the Weiss and Panzerversuchskommando groups took part in the battles in the Kuban, where the tactical techniques developed at the training ground for combating Soviet tanks and methods of organizing close cooperation with ground troops were practically tested.
Based on the results of the “work” of anti-tank air groups, it was concluded that, given the low effectiveness of single anti-tank “Junkers” and armored “Henschels”, any real effect on the battlefield can only be achieved with the massive use of these aircraft in narrow sectors of the front. It was decided to create a special anti-tank air group FuPz on the Hs129B, and within each squadron of dive bombers to form separate anti-tank squadrons on the Ju87G. At the same time, FuPz included all available anti-tank squadrons from the 1st and 2nd direct support squadrons.
The conversion of serial Ju87D-3 to the G-1 variant was carried out in combat units and was carried out in such a way that it remained possible to return the vehicles to their original appearance. On all cars, brake flaps were missing, but their mounting brackets remained. In total, about 100 cars were converted in this way.
In addition to the G-1, directly at serial aircraft factories in 1943-1944. An anti-tank modification Ju87G-2 was produced, also with two VKZ guns, 7. The base vehicle for this variant was the Ju87D-5, so the Ju87G-2 differed from the G-1 modification in its increased wingspan. Brake flaps and their mounting brackets were missing on all vehicles. Some vehicles in the G-2 variant retained the 20-mm MG151/20 wing cannons, while others had the cannons removed. The main purpose of the guns was to zero before opening fire from the VK 3.7. A total of 208 aircraft of this type were produced.
In anticipation of major tank battles in the Kursk salient area, FuPz was transferred to the Mikoyanovka airfield, 20 km northwest of Kharkov. On the eve of the German offensive, four squadrons of the anti-tank group had 60 combat-ready Hs129 modifications B-1 and B-2. Anti-tank Ju87G-l were in service with two squadrons - 10.(Pz)/StG2n 10.(Pz)/StGl.
To be continued
Combat use and historical value
Il-2 aircraft were used at the front from the first days of the Great Patriotic War. At first their effectiveness was quite low. The reasons for this were the poor performance of the ShVAK guns, caused by defects in the reloading system, as well as inept use of the vehicle - the tactics were just being created, and the pilots did not have time to master attack aircraft.
During the first two years of the war, the Il-2 often became a victim of enemy fighters, who actively took advantage of the exposed rear hemisphere of the armored aircraft. After the advent of two-seat attack aircraft, the situation improved markedly. True, ironically, already in 1944, Soviet pilots began to often go on missions without a shooter. The fact is that the Luftwaffe had lost air supremacy, so the attack aircraft could always count on fighter cover, and in these conditions the pilots preferred to lighten the plane.
The losses of Il-2 aircraft at the end of the war were enormous - 23,600 aircraft. However, 11,200 of them are the result of various accidents not related to combat operations. Of the 12,400 attack aircraft destroyed by the enemy, more than half were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery. 7,837 pilots and air gunners who fought on Il-2 aircraft were killed.
Tank Pz-V "Panther", destroyed by PTAB bombs dropped from the Il-2
The publication of these sad statistics in the post-Soviet years led to attempts to reassess the contribution of the armored attack aircraft to the victory over Germany. The IL-2 began to be called an ineffective aircraft that could only fight with numbers. The primitive aiming system was ridiculed. At the same time, the German Ju-87 was praised in every possible way, which was supposedly a much more successful battlefield aircraft.
Such “analytics” are very far from reality. IL-2 would never have been produced in such huge quantities if it had no practical value. These planes literally did not allow the enemy to emerge from their shelters, actively interfered with the advance of transport columns in the operational rear, and instilled well-founded confidence in the Soviet troops. Beginning in 1943, armored Ilyas began to use PTAB bombs, because of which German tankers were forced to abandon the use of closed formations, which significantly weakened the attacking power of armored vehicles. The Wehrmacht soldiers who felt the blows of this plane would hardly share the opinion of the authors of the current “revelatory” articles.
Monument to the Il-2 attack aircraft in Samara. During the war years, mass production of such aircraft was organized in this city (then Kuibyshev).
The Il-2 attack aircraft played its role in history, becoming one of the factors thanks to which the Red Army reached Berlin and completely defeated both Nazi Germany and all its allies. To some extent, the flight qualities of this aircraft can be assessed using a modern flight simulator. Of course, even the most advanced program will not allow you to feel what real pilots once experienced, but you can still get a general idea.
