Soviet Union's Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik close support; Bronirovanni Shturmovik (Bsh) "armored attacker"

Photos

Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik close support:	Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik close support:	Ilyushin Il-2M3 Shturmovik close support:
Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik close support:	Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik close support:

Design

Starting in 1938 the Ilyushin Il-2 was designed by Sergei Vladimirovich Ilyushin.^2,4 It's designation started out as the TsKB-55, Bsh-2, or ZKB-55⁴.³ The Su-2 was to meet the same specifications but it wasn't as sturdy as the Il-2.⁴

The Il-2 started out as a single seat plane.¹ In February 1942 the two seater version was introduced.¹ Many of the single seaters were converted in the field to two seaters.¹

Cockpit

The cockpit had bullet proof glass with the windshield being 65 mm thick.⁴

Armored Shell

An integral part of the structure of the Il-2 was the armored shell that protected the crew, engine, and fuel tank.^3,4 It weighed about 1,540 lb / 700 kg.³ The armor was 4 - 8 mm thick and at the rear it was 13 mm.⁴

Engine

There was an armored plate underneath the Il-2's engine protecting it from ground fire.^1,2

Tail wheel

The tail wheel retracted partially into the fuselage.¹

Fuselage

The rear of the fuselage and tail were made out of wood and fabric.¹

Prototype

In spring 1939⁴ / December 30, 1939³ / late 1939 V. Kokkinaki flew the TsKB-57 prototype for the first time.² It was found that the engine wasn't strong enough and there were longitudinal instabilities.⁴

It had an AM-35A engine (1,350 HP).³ This was soon replaced by the AM-38 and the prototype first flew on October 1940⁴ / October 12, 1940.³

Production

Early on there were production difficulties and Premier Josef Stalin cabled the workers at the factory and told them that "The Red Army needs the Il-2 as it needs air and bread. I demand more. This is my last warning."^1,2,4

• Ilyushin Il-2:
  • Production: March 1941 - ?³
• Ilyushin Il-2M:
  • Production: September 1941 - ?³
• Total: >35,000⁴, >36,000¹, 36,136³
  • Manufacturer: State Industries⁴

The production of the Il-2 reached 1,000 per month.¹

Variants

• Ilyushin TsKB-57: Prototype.^2,3
• Ilyushin Il-2: First production model.³
• Ilyushin Il-2M: Due to vulnerability to fighters the rear crewman returned with a MG in the rear turret.³
• Ilyushin Il-2 Type 3 / Ilyushin Il-2m3: Had AM-38A engine.³
• Ilyushin Il-2 Type 3M: 37 mm cannons.³
• Ilyushin Il-2m3: Two seater.^2,4 Appeared in July 1942 ⁴ / August 1942.²
• Ilyushin Il-2m3(mod):
• Ilyushin Il-2??: Had M-82 radial engine installed but never produced.¹
• Ilyushin Il-2T: Built for the Soviet navy that could carry a 21" / 53.3 cm torpedo.^1,2,3
• Ilyushin Il-2U: Conversion to two seat trainer.¹

Usage

Called the Schwarz Tod "Black Death" by the Germans.^1,2

There were some women pilots for the Il-2.¹

Invasion of Soviet Union

There were 249 produced before the Germans invaded in June 1941.²

Kursk

The Il-2m3(mod) was used at the Battle of Kursk.²

Korean War

Used against the UN troops.¹

Specifications

	Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik3	Ilyushin Il-2M3 Shturmovik1,2,3,4
Type	Close support3, Ground attack3	Attack4, Close support1, Ground attack2
Crew	1 or 23	1 or 21, 22,4 Pilot, gunner / radio operator1
Engine (Type)	Mikulin AM-383	Mikulin AM-38F piston1,2,4
OR	Mikulin AM-38F3
Cylinders	V 123	V 124, Inline2
Cooling		Liquid4
HP	AM-38: 1,6003 AM-38F: 1,7203	1,7201, 1,7702,4
Propeller blades	33	31
Fuel capacity
Dimensions
Span	47' 11"3 14.6 m3	48'1, 48' 0.5"2, 48' 1"4 14.6 m1,2
Length	38' 2.5"3 11.65 m3	38'1, 38' 0.5"2, 38' 3"4 11.6 m2, 11.65 m1
Height	11' 2"3 3.4 m3	11'1, 11' 1.5"2, 11' 2"4 3.4 m1,2
Wing area		414 ft2 1, 414.4 ft2 2 38.5 m2 1,2
Weight
Empty		7,150 lb1, 9,590 lb2, 9,976 lb3 3,250 kg1, 4,350 kg2, 4,525 kg3
Loaded		12,136 lb4, 12,920 lb1, 14,021 lb2,3 5,872 kg1, 6,360 kg2,3
Performance
Speed		251 mph4
Speed @ 4,920' / 1,500 m		251 mph2,3 404 kph2,3
Speed @ 22,000' / 6,700 m		267 mph1 430 kph1
Cruising speed
Climb		490'/minute3 149 m/minute3
Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m		12 minutes3
Service ceiling		19,685'2, 19,690'3,4, 31,825'1 6,000 m2,3, 9,700 m1
Service ceiling with bomb load		21,320'1 6,500 m1
Range		373 miles2, 375 miles1,4, 475 miles3 600 km1,2, 764 km3
Armament		3: MG4 2: 23 mm4
Forward firing		2: 23 mm VYa2 2: 7.62 mm ShKAS2
Rear cockpit		1: 12.7 mm MG3 1: 12.7 mm UBT2
Bombs		1,320 lb4
Wings	2: 20 mm3 2: 7.62 mm MG3	2: 20 mm1,3 2: 7.62 mm MG3
AND / OR		2: 37 mm1,3
Outer wings - bombs		1,320 lb1 , 1,321 lb2 600 kg1,2
OR		8: RS-82 rockets1
OR		4: RS-132 rockets1
OR		Rockets2
Bombs - under wings	4: 220 lb3 4: 100 kg3	4: 220 lb3 4: 100 kg3
AND
Rockets - under wings	8: 82 mm3	8: 82 mm3