The name of the planes of the wwii. Soviet aircraft of the second world war. Transport heavy bomber
At the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945), the fascist invaders destroyed almost 900 Soviet aircraft. Most of the aviation equipment, not having time to take off, was burned at airfields as a result of a massive bombardment German army... However, in a very short time, Soviet enterprises became world leaders in the number of aircraft produced and thereby brought the victory of the Soviet Army in World War II closer. Consider which aircraft were in service with the Soviet Union and how they could withstand the aircraft of Hitler's Germany.
Aviation industry of the USSR
Before the start of the war, Soviet aircraft occupied a leading position in the world aircraft industry. The I-15 and I-16 fighters took part in hostilities with Japanese Manchuria, fought in the skies of Spain, and attacked the enemy during the Soviet-Finnish conflict. In addition to fighter aircraft, Soviet aircraft designers paid great attention to bomber technology.
Transport heavy bomber
So, just before the war, the heavy bomber TB-3 was demonstrated to the world. This multi-ton giant was capable of delivering a deadly cargo for thousands of kilometers. At that time, it was the most massive combat aircraft of the Second World War, which was produced in unheard of numbers and was the pride of the USSR Air Force. However, the model of gigantomania did not justify itself in real war conditions. The mass combat aircraft of the Second World War, according to the estimates of modern experts, was significantly inferior to the Luftwaffe assault bombers of the Messerschmitt aircraft manufacturer in terms of speed and number of weapons.
New pre-war aircraft
The war in Spain and on Khalkhin Gol showed that the most important indicators in modern conflicts are the maneuverability and speed of aircraft. The Soviet aircraft designers were tasked with preventing a lag in military equipment and creating new aircraft models that could compete with the best examples of the world aircraft industry. Emergency measures were taken, and by the beginning of the 40s the next generation of competitive aircraft appeared. So, Yak-1, MiG-3, LaGT-3 became the leaders of their class of military aviation equipment, the speed of which at the design flight altitude reached or exceeded 600 km / h.
Start of serial production
In addition to fighter aircraft, high-speed technology was developed in the class of dive and assault bombers (Pe-2, Tu-2, TB-7, Er-2, Il-2) and the Su-2 reconnaissance aircraft. During the two pre-war years, aircraft designers of the USSR created unique and modern attack aircraft, fighters and bombers for those times. All Combat vehicles was tested in various training and combat conditions and recommended for serial production. However, there were not enough construction sites in the country. The rate of industrial growth of aviation technology before the start of the Great Patriotic War lagged significantly behind global manufacturers. On June 22, 1941, the brunt of the war fell on the aircraft of the 30s. Only from the beginning of 1943, the military aviation industry of the Soviet Union reached the required level of production of combat aircraft and achieved an advantage in the airspace of Europe. Consider the best Soviet planes of the Second World War, according to the world's leading aviation experts.
Educational and training base
Many Soviet aces of the Second World War began their path to air aviation with training flights on the legendary U-2 multipurpose biplane, the production of which was mastered in 1927. The legendary plane served the Soviet pilots with faith and truth until the very Victory. By the mid-30s, biplane aviation was somewhat outdated. New combat missions, and the need arose to build a completely new training aircraft that would meet modern requirements. So, on the basis of A.S. Yakovlev's design bureau, a training monoplane Ya-20 was created. The monoplane was created in two modifications:
- with an engine from the French "Renault" in 140 liters. with.;
- with an M-11E aircraft engine.
In 1937, three international records were set on a Soviet-made engine. A car with a Renault engine took part in air competitions on the route Moscow-Sevastopol-Moscow, where it won a prize. Until the very end of the war, young pilots were trained on the aircraft of the A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau.
MBR-2: flying boat of war
Naval aviation during the Great Patriotic War played an important role in combat battles, bringing the long-awaited victory over Nazi Germany closer. So, the second naval reconnaissance aircraft, or MBR-2, a seaplane capable of taking off and landing on the water surface, became a Soviet flying boat. Among the pilots, the aircraft had the nickname "heavenly cow" or "barn". The seaplane made its first flight in the early 30s, and later, until the very victory over Nazi Germany, was in service with the Red Army. Interesting fact: An hour before the German attack on the Soviet Union, the first planes of the Baltic flotilla were destroyed along the entire perimeter of the coastline. German troops destroyed all of the country's naval aviation located in this region. During the war years, naval aviation pilots successfully carried out the tasks assigned to them to evacuate the crews of downed Soviet aircraft, to adjust the enemy's coastal defensive lines, and to provide transport convoys of the country's naval forces.
MiG-3: the main night fighter
The high-altitude Soviet fighter differed from other pre-war aircraft in its high-speed characteristics. At the end of 1941, it was the most massive aircraft of the Second World War, the total number of units of which was more than 1/3 of the entire aviation fleet of the country's air defense. The novelty of aircraft construction was not sufficiently mastered by combat pilots, they had to tame the MiG "third" in combat conditions. Two aviation regiments of the best representatives of Stalin's "falcons" were urgently formed. However, the most massive WWII aircraft was significantly inferior to the fighter fleet of the late 30s. Exceeding in speed characteristics at an altitude of more than 5000 m, at medium and low altitudes, the combat vehicle was inferior to the same I-5 and I-6. Nevertheless, when repelling attacks on rear cities at the beginning of the war, it was the "third" MiGs that were used. Combat vehicles participated in air defense Moscow, Leningrad and other cities of the Soviet Union. Due to the lack of spare parts and the renewal of the aircraft fleet with new aircraft, in June 1944, the massive WWII aircraft was decommissioned from the armament of the USSR Air Force.
Yak-9: air defender of Stalingrad
Before the war, A. Yakovlev's design bureau mainly produced light sports aircraft intended for training and participating in various thematic shows dedicated to the strength and power of Soviet aviation. The Yak-1 possessed excellent flight qualities, serial production which was mastered in 1940. It was this aircraft that had to repulse the first attacks of Nazi Germany at the very beginning of the war. In 1942, a new aircraft from the design bureau of A. Yakovlev, the Yak-9, began to enter service with the Air Force. It is believed that this is the most massive front-line type aircraft during the Second World War. Fighting machine participated in air battles along the entire front line. Retaining all the main dimensions, the Yak-9 was improved with a powerful M-105PF engine with a rated power of 1210 Horse power under flight conditions. exceeding 2500 meters. The mass of the fully equipped combat vehicle was 615 kg. The weight of the aircraft was added by ammunition and metal I-section spars, which were wooden before the war. Also, a fuel tank was converted into the aircraft, increasing the volume of fuel, which affected the flight range. The new development of aircraft manufacturers possessed high maneuverability, which made it possible to conduct active combat operations in close proximity to the enemy at high and low altitudes. During the years of serial production of the military fighter (1942-1948), about 17 thousand combat units were mastered. The Yak-9U, which appeared in service with the USSR Air Force in the fall of 1944, was considered a successful modification. Among combat pilots, the letter "y" meant the word killer.
La-5: air tightrope walker
In 1942, the combat aircraft of the Second World War were supplemented by the La-5 single-engine fighter, created in OKB-21 S.A. Lavochkin. The aircraft was made of classified construction materials, which made it possible to withstand dozens of direct enemy machine-gun hits. The WWII combat aircraft possessed impressive maneuverability and speed qualities, misleading the enemy with its air feints. So, La-5 could freely enter the "tailspin", and just as well get out of it, which in combat conditions made it practically invulnerable. It is believed that this is the most combat aircraft of the Second World War, which played one of the key roles in air battles during the Battle of the Kursk Bulge and military battles in the skies of Stalingrad.
Li-2: cargo carrier
In the 30s of the last century, the main means of air transport was the PS-9 passenger aircraft - a slow-moving machine with an indestructible chassis. However, the level of comfort and performance characteristics of the "air bus" did not meet international requirements. So, in 1942, on the basis of the licensed production of the American air-main transport aircraft Douglas DC-3, the Soviet military transport aircraft Li-2 was created. The car was assembled entirely from American-made units. The aircraft served faithfully until the very end of the war, and in post-war years continued to carry out cargo transportation on the local airlines of the Soviet Union.
Po-2: "night witches" in the sky
Remembering the combat aircraft of the Second World War, it is difficult to ignore one of the most massive workers in combat battles - the U-2 multipurpose biplane, or Po-2, created in the design bureau of Nikolai Polikarpov back in the 20s of the last century. Initially, the aircraft was intended for training purposes and operation as an air transport in agriculture... However, the Great Patriotic War made the "sewing machine" (as the Germans called the Po-2) the most formidable and effective attacking means of night bombardment. One plane could make up to 20 sorties per night, delivering a deadly cargo to enemy combat positions. It should be noted that women pilots mostly fought on such biplanes. During the war years, four female squadrons of 80 pilots were formed. For their bravery and fighting courage, the German invaders called them "night witches". The female air regiment in the Great Patriotic War made more than 23.5 thousand sorties. Many did not return from combat battles. The title of Hero of the Soviet Union was awarded to 23 "witches", most of them posthumously.
IL-2: machine of the great Victory
The Soviet attack aircraft of the design bureau of Sergei Yakovlev is the most popular type of combat air transport during the Great Patriotic War. Aircraft of the Second World War Il-2 took an active part in the theater of military operations. In the entire history of world aircraft construction, the brainchild of S.V. Yakovlev is considered the most massive combat aircraft of its class. In total, more than 36 thousand units of combat air weapons have been commissioned. The planes of the Second World War with the Il-2 logo terrified the German aces of the Luftwaffe and were nicknamed by them “concrete planes”. The main technological feature of the combat vehicle was the inclusion of armor in the power circuit of the aircraft, which was able to withstand a direct hit from an enemy's 7.62-mm armor-piercing bullet from almost zero distance. There were several serial modifications of the aircraft: Il-2 (single), Il-2 (double), Il-2 AM-38F, Il-2 KSS, Il-2 M82 and so on.
Conclusion
In general, air vehicles, created by the hands of Soviet aircraft manufacturers, continued to perform combat missions in the post-war period. So, in service with the Air Force of Mongolia, the Air Force of Bulgaria, the Air Force of Yugoslavia, the Air Force of Czechoslovakia and other states of the post-war socialist camp were for a long time aircrafts USSR, which ensured the protection of the airspace.
Once on the site we held an Air Parade competition timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Victory, where readers were asked to guess the names of some of the most famous aircraft of the Second World War by their silhouettes. The competition has ended, and now we are publishing photos of these combat vehicles. We invite you to remember what the winners and the vanquished fought in the sky.
PM revision
Germany
Messerschmitt Bf.109
In fact, a whole family of German combat vehicles, the total number of which (33,984 pieces) makes the 109th one of the most massive aircraft of the Second World War. It was used as a fighter, fighter-bomber, fighter-interceptor, reconnaissance aircraft. It was as a fighter that the Messer earned a sad reputation among Soviet pilots - at the initial stage of the war, Soviet fighters, such as the I-16 and LaGG, were clearly inferior in technical terms to the Bf.109 and suffered heavy losses. Only the appearance of more advanced aircraft, for example the Yak-9, allowed our pilots to fight with the Messers almost on an equal footing. The most massive modification of the car was the Bf.109G ("Gustav").
Messerschmitt Bf.109
Messerschmitt Me.262
The plane was remembered not for its special role in World War II, but for the fact that it turned out to be the firstborn of jet aircraft on the battlefield. Me.262 began to be designed even before the war, but Hitler's real interest in the project aroused only in 1943, when the Luftwaffe had already lost its combat power. The Me.262 had a speed (about 850 km / h), altitude and rate of climb that were unique for its time, and therefore had serious advantages over any fighter of that time. In reality, for 150 Allied aircraft downed, there were 100 lost Me.262. Low efficiency combat use due to the "dampness" of the design, little experience in the use of jet aircraft and inadequate training of pilots.
Messerschmitt Me.262
Heinkel-111
Heinkel-111
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Produced in several modifications, the Ju 87 dive bomber became a kind of forerunner of the modern precision weapons, since the metal bombs were not from a great height, but from a steep dive, which made it possible to more accurately aim the ammunition. It was very effective against tanks. Due to the specifics of the application in conditions of high overloads, the car was equipped with automatic air brakes to break out of the peak in case of loss of consciousness by the pilot. To enhance the psychological effect, the pilot during the attack turned on the "Jericho Trumpet" - a device that emitted a terrible howl. One of the most famous ace pilots who flew the Stuk was Hans-Ulrich Rudel, who left rather boastful memories of the war on Eastern Front.
Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu
The tactical reconnaissance aircraft Fw 189 Uhu is interesting primarily for its unusual double-boom design, for which Soviet soldiers nicknamed him "Rama". And it was on the Eastern Front that this reconnaissance spotter turned out to be the most useful to the Nazis. Our fighters knew well that after the "Rama" bombers would arrive and strike at reconnoitered targets. But to shoot down this slow-moving aircraft was not so easy because of its high maneuverability and excellent survivability. When Soviet fighters approached, for example, he could begin to describe circles of a small radius, into which high-speed cars simply could not fit.
Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu
Probably the most recognizable bomber of the Luftwaffe was developed in the early 1930s under the guise of a civilian transport aircraft (the Versailles Treaty forbade the creation of the German Air Force). At the beginning of World War II, the Heinkel-111 was the most massive bomber in the Luftwaffe. He became one of the main characters of the Battle of England - it was the result of Hitler's attempt to break the will to resist the British by means of massive bomb raids on the cities of Foggy Albion (1940). Even then it became clear that this medium bomber was morally outdated, lacking speed, maneuverability and protection. Nevertheless, the aircraft continued to be used and produced until 1944.
Allies
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The American "flying fortress" in the course of the war constantly increased its defenses. In addition to excellent survivability (in the form of, for example, the ability to return to base with one whole engine out of four), in the B-17G modification, the heavy bomber received thirteen 12.7 mm machine guns. A tactic was developed in which the "flying fortresses" went over enemy territory in a checkerboard pattern, protecting each other with crossfire. The plane was equipped with the Norden high-tech bombsight at that time, built on the basis of an analog computer. If the British bombed the Third Reich mainly in the dark, then the "flying fortresses" were not afraid to appear over Germany in the daytime.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Avro 683 Lancaster
One of the main participants in the Allied bomber raids on Germany, a British heavy bomber of the Second World War. The Avro 683 Lancaster accounted for ¾ of the total bomb load dropped by the British into the Third Reich. The carrying capacity allowed the four-engine aircraft to take on board "blockbusters" - super-heavy concrete-piercing bombs Tallboy and Grand Slam. Low security implied the use of "Lancaster" as night bombers, but night bombing was not very accurate. During the day, these aircraft suffered significant losses. "Lancaster" actively participated in the most destructive bomb raids of the Second World War - on Hamburg (1943) and Dresden (1945).
Avro 683 Lancaster
North American P-51 Mustang
One of the most iconic fighters of the Second World War, which played an exceptional role in the events on the Western Front. No matter how the Allied heavy bombers defending themselves in raids on Germany, these large, low-maneuverable and relatively slow-moving aircraft suffered heavy losses from German fighter aircraft. The North American company, commissioned by the British government, urgently created a fighter that could not only successfully fight the Messers and Fokkers, but also have a sufficient range (due to the outboard tanks) to accompany the bombers' raids on the continent. When the Mustangs were used in this capacity in 1944, it became clear that the air war in the West was finally lost by the Germans.
North American P-51 Mustang
Supermarine spitfire
The main and most massive fighter of the British Air Force of the wartime, one of the best fighters of the Second World War. Its high-altitude and speed characteristics made it an equal rival to the German Messerschmitt Bf.109, and the skill of the pilots played an important role in the face-to-face battle of these two machines. "Spitfires" proved to be excellent, covering the evacuation of the British from Dunkirk after the success of Hitler's blitzkrieg, and then during the Battle of Britain (July-October 1940), when British fighters had to fight like German bombers He-111, Do-17, Ju 87 and Bf. 109 and Bf. 110.
Supermarine spitfire
Japan
Mitsubishi A6M Raisen
At the beginning of World War II, the Japanese carrier-based fighter A6M Raisen was the best in the world in its class, even though its name contained the Japanese word "Rei-sen", that is, "fighter-zero." Thanks to the outboard tanks, the fighter had a high flight range (3105 km), which made it indispensable for taking part in raids in the ocean theater of operations. Among the planes involved in the attack on Pearl Harbor were 420 A6Ms. The Americans learned their lessons from communication with the nimble, fast-climbing Japanese, and by 1943 their fighter aircraft had surpassed their once-dangerous adversary.
Mitsubishi A6M Raisen
The most massive dive bomber of the USSR began to be produced even before the war, in 1940, and remained in service until the Victory. A low-wing aircraft with two motors and a double tail tail was a very progressive machine for its time. In particular, it provided for a pressurized cabin and fly-by-wire control (which, due to its novelty, became the source of many problems). In reality, the Pe-2 was not used very often, unlike the Ju 87, precisely as a dive bomber. Most often, he inflicted bombing strikes on areas from a horizontal flight or from a gentle, rather than deep dive.
Pe-2
The most massive combat aircraft in history (a total of 36,000 of these "silts" were produced) is considered a true legend of the battlefields. One of its features is the carrying armored hull, which replaced the frame and skin in most of the fuselage. The attack aircraft worked at heights of several hundred meters above the ground, becoming not the most difficult target for ground anti-aircraft weapons and an object of hunting by German fighters. The first versions of the Il-2 were built single-seat, without a gunner, which led to rather high combat losses among aircraft of this type. Nevertheless, the Il-2 played its role in all theaters where our army fought, becoming a powerful means of supporting ground forces in the fight against enemy armored vehicles.
IL-2
The Yak-3 became a development of the Yak-1M fighter, which proved itself well in battle. The wing was shortened and other design changes were made to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics. This light wooden aircraft showed an impressive speed of 650 km / h and had excellent flight characteristics at low altitudes. Trials of the Yak-3 started at the beginning of 1943, and already during the battle on the Kursk Bulge, he entered the battle, where, with the help of a 20-mm ShVAK cannon and two 12.7-mm Berezin machine guns, he successfully resisted the Messerschmites and Fokkers.
Yak-3
One of the best Soviet fighters La-7, which entered service a year before the end of the war, was a development of the LaGG-3 that met the war. All the advantages of the "ancestor" were reduced to two factors - high survivability and the maximum use of wood in the construction instead of scarce metal. However, a weak motor and heavy weight turned the LaGG-3 into an unimportant opponent of the all-metal Messerschmitt Bf.109. From LaGG-3 to OKB-21 Lavochkin made La-5, installing a new ASh-82 engine and improving aerodynamics. The La-5FN modification with a forced engine was already an excellent combat vehicle, surpassing the Bf.109 in a number of parameters. In the La-7, the weight was again reduced, and the armament was also strengthened. The plane has become very good, even while remaining wooden.
La-7
The U-2, or Po-2, created in 1928, by the beginning of the war was undoubtedly a model of outdated technology and was not designed as a combat aircraft at all (the combat training version appeared only in 1932). However, for the sake of victory, this classic biplane had to work as a night bomber. Its undoubted advantages are ease of operation, the ability to land outside airfields and take off from small areas, low noise.
U-2
At low throttle in the dark, the U-2 approached the enemy object, remaining unnoticed almost until the moment of the bombing. Since the bombing was carried out from low altitudes, its accuracy was very high, and the "maize" inflicted serious damage on the enemy.
The article "Air parade of winners and losers" was published in the magazine "Popular Mechanics" (
Russian history
Victory Day is coming soon - one of our favorite holidays! We are starting the publication of a series of articles about the Great Patriotic War: today we recall Soviet aircraft that successfully participated in military operations, and the exploits of pilots. 
Contour maps help in studying Newest history XX - early XXI v. When completing assignments, you can use the textbook and history atlas. It is included in educational and methodological complexes for the lines of history textbooks recommended by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.
 Photo from the site ru.wikipedia.org |
A link of his fighters entered into battle with German bombers in the first minutes of the war. In a battle with another group of Luftwaffe vehicles, Soviet pilots used up all their ammunition, there was barely enough fuel to reach the airfield, but stopping the German vehicles was much more important than surviving. Realizing this, I.I.Ivanov made the first air ram in the history of the Great Patriotic War. |
 Photo from the site pro-warthunder.ru |
The legendary Lavochkin became a real workhorse of Soviet aviation: it was this aircraft that enjoyed the greatest popularity among Soviet aces - the most effective pilots of Russian aviation. Ivan Kozhedub, Nikolay Gulaev, Kirill Evstigneev fought on La-5 - the list goes on for a very long time! The famous Alexei Maresyev flew on this plane - a pilot who lost both legs due to injury, but remained in service. |
The textbook gives an idea about the place of Russia in the world, about the main events of domestic and world history of the XX - early XXI century. It will help schoolchildren learn to analyze the phenomena of the past, compare features historical path Russia and other countries, will acquaint them with new sources and opinions of scientists. The textbook is written in accordance with the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standard of Secondary (Complete) General Education.
 Photo from the site zstg44.narod.ru |
Pe-2 dive bombers, which became the most massive bomber-class aircraft in the USSR, also contributed to the defeat of Nazi Germany. All-metal, nimble and maneuverable, these winged machines became a real disaster for the German ground forces - the accuracy of bomb strikes was extremely high, and thanks to the high speed of the Pe-2, Soviet bombers evaded attacks by German fighter aircraft. Zholudev, Anpilov, Dolina and many more pilots at the helm of their favorite "pawns" - so affectionately nicknamed the Pe-2 - made their huge contribution to the victory of the Soviet army in the Great Patriotic War. |
 Photo from the website aviaru.rf |
Another legendary Soviet aviation bomber, the Il-4, also made a good showing and even became famous during the bombing of Berlin in the summer and autumn of 1941. After the outbreak of the war, in August, the aviation command of the Soviet Baltic Fleet developed a plan to bomb the German capital. After careful reconnaissance, the Air Force formed a special strike group of fifteen Il-4 aircraft. On the night of August 7-8, the flight bombed Berlin. The Nazis were so dumbfounded that they could not react in time and shoot down Soviet bombers with their air defense forces. All Soviet vehicles returned to base intact. |
On the cover of the article there is a frame from the movie "Heavenly Slow Mover" (1945).
The textbook, prepared in accordance with the IKS, covers the period of national history from 1914 to the beginning of the XXI century. The content of the textbook is aimed at development cognitive interests students. The methodology of the textbook is based on the system-activity approach, which contributes to the formation of skills to independently work with information and use it in practice.
After the invention of the first aircraft and structures, they began to be used for military purposes. This is how combat aviation appeared, becoming the main part of the armed forces of all countries of the world. This article describes the most popular and effective Soviet aircraft that made their own special contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders.
The tragedy of the first days of the war
The Il-2 became the first example of a new aircraft design scheme. The Ilyushin design bureau realized that this approach significantly worsens the design and makes it heavier. The new design approach gave new opportunities for more rational use of the aircraft weight. This is how the Ilyushin-2 appeared - an airplane that earned the nickname "flying tank" for its particularly durable armor.
IL-2 created an incredible number of problems for the Germans. The aircraft was initially used as a fighter, but in this role it proved to be not particularly effective. Poor maneuverability and speed did not give the Il-2 the opportunity to fight fast and smashing German fighters. Moreover, the weak rear protection allowed German fighters to attack the Il-2 from behind.
The developers also experienced problems with the aircraft. During the entire period of the Great Patriotic armament The Il-2 was constantly changing, and a place for the co-pilot was also equipped. This threatened that the plane could become completely uncontrollable.
But all these efforts have yielded the desired result. The original 20mm cannons were replaced with large-caliber 37mm cannons. With such powerful weapons, almost all types of ground troops, from infantry to tanks and armored vehicles, have become afraid of the attack aircraft.
According to some recollections of the pilots who fought on the Il-2, firing from the guns of the attack aircraft led to the fact that the plane literally hovered in the air from strong recoil. In the event of an attack by enemy fighters, the tail gunner covered the unprotected part of the Il-2. Thus, the stormtrooper became, in fact, a flying fortress. This thesis is confirmed by the fact that the attack aircraft took on board several bombs.
All these qualities met with great success, and the Ilyushin-2 became simply an irreplaceable aircraft in any battle. He became not only the legendary attack aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, but also broke production records: in total, about 40 thousand copies were produced during the war. Thus, Soviet-era aircraft could compete with the Luftwaffe in all respects.
Bombers
A bomber, from a tactical point of view, is an indispensable part of combat aviation in any battle. Perhaps the most recognizable Soviet bomber during the Great Patriotic War is the Pe-2. It was developed as a tactical super-heavy fighter, but over time it was transformed and made the most dangerous dive bomber.
It should be noted that Soviet bomber-class aircraft made their debut precisely during the Great Patriotic War. The appearance of bombers was determined by many factors, but the main one was the development of the air defense system. Developed immediately special tactics the use of bombers, which implied an approach to the target on high altitude, a sharp drop to the height of the bomb drop, the same sharp departure into the sky. This tactic yielded results.
Pe-2 and Tu-2
A dive bomber drops bombs without following a horizontal line. He literally falls on his target and drops the bomb only when there are some 200 meters to the target. The consequence of this tactical move is impeccable precision. But, as you know, an aircraft at low altitude can be hit by anti-aircraft guns, and this could not but affect the design system of bombers.
Thus, it turned out that the bomber must combine the incompatible. It should be as compact and maneuverable as possible, while still carrying heavy ammunition. In addition, the design of the bomber was supposed to be strong, capable of withstanding the impact of an anti-aircraft gun. Therefore, the Pe-2 plane was very well suited for this role.
The Pe-2 bomber complemented the Tu-2, which was very similar in its parameters. It was a twin-engine dive bomber, which was used according to the above described tactics. The problem with this aircraft was in the minor model orders from aircraft factories. But by the end of the war, the problem was corrected, the Tu-2 was even modernized and successfully used in battles.
Tu-2 performed a wide variety of combat missions. He worked as an attack aircraft, bomber, scout, torpedo bomber and interceptor.
IL-4
The Il-4 tactical bomber has rightly earned the title of the Great Patriotic War, making it difficult to confuse it with any other aircraft. The Ilyushin-4, despite the complicated control, was popular in the Air Force, the plane was even used as a torpedo bomber.
The Il-4 was fixed in history as the plane that carried out the first bombing raids on the capital of the Third Reich - Berlin. And this did not happen in May 1945, but in the fall of 1941. But the bombing did not last long. In winter, the front shifted far to the East, and Berlin was out of reach for Soviet dive bombers.
Pe-8
The Pe-8 bomber during the war years was so rare and unrecognizable that sometimes it was even attacked by its own air defenses. However, it was he who performed the most difficult combat missions.
Although the long-range bomber was produced at the end of the 30s, it was the only aircraft of its class in the USSR. The Pe-8 had the highest travel speed (400 km / h), and the fuel in the tank made it possible to carry the bombs not only to Berlin, but also to return back. The aircraft was equipped with the largest-caliber bombs up to the five-ton FAB-5000. It was Pe-8 that bombed Helsinki, Konigsberg, Berlin at a time when the front line was in the Moscow area. Because of the operating range, the Pe-8 was called a strategic bomber, and in those years this class of aircraft was just being developed. All Soviet aircraft of the Second World War belonged to the class of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance aircraft or transport aircraft, but not to strategic aviation, only the Pe-8 was a kind of exception to the rule.
One of the most important operations performed by the Pe-8 was the transportation of V. Molotov to the USA and Great Britain. The flight took place in the spring of 1942 along a route that passed through Nazi-occupied territories. Molotov traveled in the passenger version of the Pe-8. Only a few of these aircraft were developed.
Today, thanks to technological progress, tens of thousands of passengers are transported daily. But in those distant war days, every flight was a feat, both for pilots and passengers. There was always a high probability of being shot down, and a downed Soviet plane meant the loss of not only valuable lives, but also great damage to the state, which was very difficult to compensate.
Concluding a small review, which describes the most popular Soviet aircraft during the Great Patriotic War, it should be mentioned that all development, construction and air battles took place in conditions of cold, hunger and lack of personnel. However, each new aircraft was an important step in the development of world aviation. The names of Ilyushin, Yakovlev, Lavochkin, Tupolev will forever remain in military history. And not only the heads of design bureaus, but also ordinary engineers and ordinary workers made a huge contribution to the development of Soviet aviation.
During the Great Patriotic War, combat aviation was the main striking force of the Soviet Union. Even taking into account the fact that in the first hours of the attack by the German invaders, about 1000 Soviet aircraft were destroyed, still our country very soon managed to become the leader in the number of aircraft produced. Let's remember the five best planes on which our pilots defeated Nazi Germany.
At altitude: MiG-3
At the beginning of hostilities, these aircraft were much larger than other combat aircraft. But many pilots at that time had not yet mastered the MiG, and the training took some time.
Soon, an overwhelming percentage of testers learned how to fly the plane, which helped to eliminate the problems that arose. At the same time, the MiG in many ways lost to other combat fighters, of which there were a lot at the beginning of the war. Although some aircraft exceeded the speed at an altitude of more than 5 thousand meters.
The MiG-3 is considered a high-altitude aircraft, the main qualities of which are manifested at an altitude of more than 4.5 thousand meters. It has proven itself as a night fighter in the air defense system with a ceiling of up to 12 thousand meters and high speed. Therefore, the MiG-3 was used until 1945, including for the protection of the capital.
07/22/1941 was the very first battle over Moscow, where the MiG-3 pilot Mark Gallay destroyed an enemy plane. The legendary Alexander Pokryshkin also flew on the MiG.
"King" of modifications: Yak-9
During the 1930s of the 20th century, the design bureau of Alexander Yakovlev mainly manufactured sports aircraft. In the 40s, the Yak-1 fighter was launched into mass production, which had excellent flight qualities. When the Second began World War, Yak-1 successfully fought with German fighters.
In 1942, the Yak-9 appeared in the Russian air force. The new aircraft was distinguished by increased maneuverability, through which it was possible to fight the enemy at medium and low altitudes.
This plane turned out to be the most widespread during the Second World War. It was manufactured from 1942 to 1948, more than 17,000 aircraft were produced in total.
The design features of the Yak-9 were also distinguished by the fact that instead of wood, duralumin was used, this made the air machine much lighter than numerous analogues. The Yak-9's ability to perform various upgrades has become one of its most important advantages.
Possessing 22 main modifications, 15 of which were mass-produced, it included the qualities of both a fighter-bomber and a front-line fighter, as well as an escort, an interceptor, a passenger aircraft, a reconnaissance aircraft, and a training flight vehicle. It is believed that the most successful modification of this aircraft, the Yak-9U, appeared in 1944. German pilots called him "the killer."
Reliable soldier: La-5
At the very beginning of the Second World War, German aircraft had a significant advantage in the skies of the Soviet Union. But after the appearance of the La-5, developed in the Lavochkin design bureau, everything changed. Outwardly, it may seem simple, but this is only at first glance. Even though this plane did not have such devices as, for example, the artificial horizon, the Soviet pilots liked the air machine very much.
The strong and reliable design of Lavochkin's newest aircraft did not fall apart even after ten direct hits from an enemy projectile. In addition, the La-5 was impressively maneuverable, with a turn time of 16.5-19 seconds at a speed of 600 km / h.
Another advantage of the La-5 was that it did not perform a corkscrew aerobatics without a direct order from the pilot. If he nevertheless fell into a tailspin, then immediately came out of it. This plane took part in many battles over the Kursk Bulge and Stalingrad, the famous pilots Ivan Kozhedub and Alexey Maresyev fought on it.
Night Bomber: Po-2
The Po-2 (U-2) bomber is considered one of the most widespread biplanes in world aviation. In 1920, it was created as a training aircraft, and its developer Nikolai Polikarpov did not even think that his invention would be applied during the Second World War. During the battle, the U-2 turned into an effective night bomber. While in air force Soviet Union, special aviation regiments appeared, which were armed with U-2. These biplanes carried out over 50% of all combat aircraft sorties during World War II.
The Germans called the U-2 "Sewing Machines", these planes bombed them at night. One U-2 could carry out several sorties per night and, with a load of 100-350 kg, it dropped more ammunition than, for example, a heavy bomber.
The famous 46th Taman Aviation Regiment fought on Polikarpov's planes. Four squadrons included 80 female pilots, 23 of whom have the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. The Germans called these women "Night Witches" for their aviation skills, courage and bravery. 23 672 sorties were made by the Taman air regiment.
11,000 U-2 aircraft were produced during the Second World War. They were manufactured in the Kuban at the aircraft plant number 387. In Ryazan (now the Ryazan State Instrument Plant), airlifts and cockpits for these biplanes were produced.
In 1959, the U-2, which was renamed Po-2 in 1944, completed its brilliant thirty years of service.
Flying tank: IL-2
The most massive combat aircraft in the history of Russia is the Il-2. In total, more than 36,000 of these aircraft were produced. The Germans called the IL-2 "Black Death" for the enormous losses and damage it inflicted. And the Soviet pilots called this plane "Concrete", "Winged tank", "Humpbacked".
Before the war itself, in December 1940, the Il-2 was mass-produced. Vladimir Kokkinaki, the famous test pilot, made his first flight on it. These bombers immediately entered service with the Soviet army.
Soviet aviation, represented by this Il-2, acquired its main strike force. An airplane is a combination of powerful characteristics that provide an airborne vehicle with reliability and durability. This includes armored glass, rockets, rapid-fire aircraft cannons, and a powerful engine.
The best factories of the Soviet Union worked on the manufacture of parts for this aircraft. The main enterprise for the production of ammunition for the Il-2 is the Tula Instrument Design Bureau.
At the Lytkarinsky optical glass plant, armored glass was manufactured for glazing the Il-2 lantern. The engines were assembled at plant number 24 (Kuznetsov enterprise). In Kuibyshev, the Aviaagregat plant produced propellers for the attack aircraft.
With the help of the most modern technologies at that time, this aircraft turned into a true legend. Once, having returned from the battle, the Il-2 counted more than 600 hits of enemy shells. The bomber was repaired and sent back into action.