Ilyushin Il-2 | |
|---|---|
| Country | URSS |
| Type | Ground-attack aircraft |
| First flight | 2 October 1939 |
| Built | 38183 |
The Ilyushin Il-2 (Cyrillic: Илью́шин Ил-2) Sturmovik was a ground-attack aircraft (Cyrillic: Штурмови́к, Šturmovík) produced by the Soviet Union in large numbers during the Second World War. With 36,183 units of the Il-2 produced during the war, and in combination with its successor, the Ilyushin Il-10, a total of 42,330 were built, making it the single most produced military aircraft design in aviation history, as well as one of the most produced piloted aircraft in history along with the American postwar civilian Cessna 172 and the Soviet Union’s own then-contemporary Polikarpov Po-2 Kukuruznik multipurpose biplane.
Source: Wikipedia
| Iliouchine Il-2 | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 36 |
| Ilyushin Il-2M3 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Flying Heritage Collection |
| Photos | 72 |
| Ilyushin Il-2 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 14 |
See also:
| IL-2M3 Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Il-2 production 1944 “wing with arrow”: Referred in West as “Il-2M3” or “Il-2 Type 3”. As more duralumin became available for the Soviet aviation industry, the Il-2 received a set of all-metal wing panels. At the same time, the outer wing planform was swept back, with a straight trailing edge, since the centre of gravity was shifted rearwards after the gunner was added. The wing planform change regained controllability of the two-seat Il-2 back to level of the single-seat Il-2. | |
| Photographers | Sebastian Rios, Martin Sedlacek |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 26 |
Role and Design Concept
The Ilyushin Il-2, known as the Shturmovik (Russian for “Storm Bird”), was the primary Soviet ground-attack aircraft of World War II. It was designed from the outset by Sergey Ilyushin’s bureau to be a low-altitude attack platform, built around a unique protective “armored tub.”
The “Flying Tank”
The most distinctive and vital feature of the Il-2 was its integrated armor protection. The forward section of the fuselage—which encased the engine, cockpit, radiators, and fuel tank—was constructed as a single, welded, armored shell of thick steel plate (up to 12 mm). This heavy protection earned it the German nicknames of “Flying Tank” and “Concrete Plane,” making it famously resistant to small arms fire and light anti-aircraft weapons.
Early models were single-seaters, but high losses from enemy fighters attacking from the rear quickly led to the development of the most common version, the two-seat **Il-2M3**. This variant added a gunner position with a defensive 12.7 mm machine gun, albeit often in a less-protected section of the fuselage. The airframe itself utilized a mix of materials; while the front was steel, the aft fuselage and wings were often constructed with wood due to wartime shortages of strategic metals.
Armament and Impact
The Shturmovik delivered a devastating punch to enemy ground forces. Its typical armament package was designed for maximum destruction of armored columns and troop concentrations:
- Main Guns: Two fixed forward-firing 23 mm VYa-23 cannons and two machine guns. Later versions mounted larger 37 mm cannons for greater anti-tank capability.
- Rockets and Bombs: It carried a load of rockets (RS-82 or RS-132) and high-explosive bombs. Crucially, it was one of the first aircraft to effectively utilize **PTAB anti-tank bomblets**, which, when scattered from low altitude, could strike the thinly armored tops of German tanks.
Its effectiveness in stopping German Panzer (tank) divisions, particularly during pivotal battles like Kursk, led Joseph Stalin to famously state that the aircraft was “as necessary to the Red Army as air or bread.” Its service life extended beyond WWII, continuing in use with various Soviet-allied nations.
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