After the invention of the first lethal devices and structures they began to be used in military purposes.So a combat aircraft, becoming a major part of the armed forces of all countries of the world.This article describes the most popular and effective Soviet planes that have made a special contribution to the victory over the fascist invaders.
tragedy of the first days of the war
Almost all examples of Soviet aircraft were at the front, and therefore were destroyed at the beginning of the fighting, unable to show themselves in aerial battles.However, this deplorable situation has served as a huge incentive for the development and improvement of all classes of aircraft - Soviet engineers had not only to make up for the loss, but also to develop new military and have more modern aircraft of the Soviet Union.Under these circumstances, the critical shortage of resources and time, developers have created a powerful air force that was able not only to resist the "Luftwaffe", but in many ways even surpasses it.
U-2 Biplane
Perhaps the most recognizable, and the first Soviet aircraft, which made a special contribution to the victory - biplane U-2 - was rather primitive and technologically equipped.The reason for it was the original old-fashioned aircraft development as a learning means for piloting.Biplane could not bear any payload because of its size, structure, takeoff weight, weak technical parameters of the motor.But the role of "learning party" U-2 over coped admirably.
And by the way, quite unexpectedly found a very real biplane combat use.The aircraft equipped with silencers and a holder for a small bomb, and thus biplane became agile, stealthy and very dangerous bomber firmly consolidate this new role until the end of World War II.After the first successful experience of application of the U-2 plane established small-bore gun.Prior to that, the pilots had to use only personal firearms.
Fighter aircraft
true researchers Aviation World consider this period of the golden age of fighters.While there was no radar, computer equipment, thermal imagers, and homing missiles.Only play the role of experience, personal skill of the pilot and of course, luck.
In the 30s the Soviet Union took the bar in the production of quality fighters.One of the first fighter planes that came from the factories of the Union, was I-16.He was armed with willows 1941, but resist the might of the Luftwaffe, alas, could not.Soviet aircraft of World War II only after a long modernization gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy in the sky.We began to create a fundamentally different, technologically powerful fighters.
MiG-3 and Yak-9
basis of design of the MiG-3 served as the body of the MiG-1, it was destined to be the storm of Soviet military aviation, a worthy adversary German vultures.The aircraft can accelerate the speed to 600 km / h (not all Soviet aircraft of the Great Patriotic could afford such a speed).MiG-3 free rises to a height of 12 kilometers, it was unrealistic for the previous models.This fact determined the purpose of fighting aircraft.He established himself as a high-altitude fighter, and acted in the air defense system.After the war, many Soviet planes were developed on the basis of MiG.
But against the backdrop of the positive aspects of the MiG-3 had and disadvantages.So, at a height of more than 5 kilometers of the plane lost speed and inferior opponent.Therefore, developers have begun to replace it with this niche Yak-9.Such light combat vehicles as Yakovlev-9 had a very agile and powerful weapons.Pilots literally admired this plane, fly it was an accomplishment.Like the fighter and the French allies of the regiment "Normandy - Neman", having tested several models, they stopped the choice on the Yak-9.
as the MiG-3 and Yak-9 were armed with machine guns, 12.7, or 7.62 millimeters.On some models, installed 20-millimeter cannon.But despite the fact that it was considered powerful weapons, WWII Soviet aircraft needed to improve weapons.
La 5
New from Lavochkin Design Bureau already had this disadvantage, the La-5 is equipped with two guns ShVAK.Also fighter installed air-cooled engine.The motor was a little outdated, but he defended himself, especially when compared to liquid-cooled motors.The fact that the engine cooling fluid, though a compact but very gentle.It was enough for the smallest splinter get into the engine and to kill at least some up, he immediately stops.It is this feature of engineering and forced developers to put on a La-5 large, but reliable air-cooled engine.
Frankly, during the development of the Lavochkin already existed a very powerful and modern engines M-82, later they received the widest dissemination, many Soviet aircraft will be equipped with them.But at the moment the engine has not yet passed the test proper, and could not establish a new La 5.
Despite all the difficulties, the La-5 was solid step forward in terms of development of fighter aircraft.The model is marked not only by Soviet specialists, but the pilots of the Luftwaffe.Lavochkin terrified the German pilots, however, like all other Soviet aircraft of World War II.
IL-2 Sturmovik
Perhaps the most legendary Soviet attack - is IL-2.WWII Soviet aircraft produced by a typical design, a skeleton made of metal or wood.Outside the plane was upholstered shell of plywood or fabric.Inside the structure to install the engine and related weapons.According to this principle monotonous design any Soviet aircraft during the war.
IL-2 was the first example of a new scheme of constructing airplanes.The Ilyushin Design Bureau realized that this approach significantly degrades the structure and its weights.The new design approach has given new opportunities for more efficient use of aircraft weight.So there Ilyushin-2 - a plane that for its particularly strong armor earned the nickname "flying tank".
IL-2 to the Germans created an incredible number of problems.The aircraft initially was used as a fighter, but in this role proved to be a not very effective.Poor maneuverability and speed were not given IL-2 to fight with faster and smashing German fighters.All the more so weak defense allowed back of the plane Il-2 attack German fighters behind.
problems with the aircraft and experienced developers.During the entire period of the Great Patriotic weapons IL-2 is constantly changing, and it was also equipped with a place for the copilot.It is threatened by the fact that the aircraft could become unmanageable at all.
But all these efforts have the desired result.The original 20-millimeter guns were replaced by large-caliber 37-mm.With such powerful weapons attack aircraft became afraid of almost all types of ground troops from infantry to tanks and armored vehicles.
Some recollections of pilots who fought in the IL-2 attack aircraft guns shooting led to the fact that the plane is literally hangs in the air by a strong impact.In the event of an attack by enemy fighters tail gunner covered the unprotected portion of IL-2.Thus, the attack was actually the flying fortress.This thesis is confirmed by the fact that the attack took on board several bombs.
All these qualities have had great success and Ilyushin-2 plane became just indispensable in any battle.Not only was it the legendary attack aircraft of World War II, but also broke records for production: During the period of the war were fired about 40 thousand. Copies.Thus, Soviet-era planes could compete with the Luftwaffe in all respects.
Bombers
bomber, from a tactical point of view, an essential part of military aviation in any battle.Perhaps the most recognizable Soviet bomber of World - a Pe-2.It was developed as a tactical fighter super-heavy, but with time it was transformed and made a dangerous dive bomber.
should be noted that Soviet planes Bomber class debut was during the Great Patriotic War.The appearance of the bombers was conditioned by many factors, but chief among them was the development of air defense systems.Immediately develop special tactics of using bombers, which meant an approach to the target at high altitude, a sharp decline to a height of bomb release, the same abrupt withdrawal in the sky.This tactic gave its results.
Pe-2 and Tu-2
Dive Bomber dropping bombs, not following the horizontal line.It literally falls on its own purpose bomb and resets only if the goal is what some 200 meters.The investigation of such a tactical move - perfect accuracy.But as you know, the plane at low altitude could hurt anti-aircraft guns, and this could not affect the system design bombers.
Thus, it turned out so that the bomber has to combine the non-superimposable.It should be as far as possible the compact and maneuverable, and thus carry heavy ammunition.In addition, the design of the bomber was assumed as a strong, able to withstand the impact of anti-aircraft guns.Therefore, the plane Pe-2 went very well for this role.
Bomber Pe-2 complements very similar in the parameters of the Tu-2.It was a twin-engine dive bomber, which was used for the above-described tactics.The problem with this aircraft was in minor orders at the aircraft factory model.But by the end of the war the problem was corrected, TU-2 even upgraded and successfully used in fights.
Tu-2 perform a variety of combat missions.He worked as an attack aircraft, bomber, reconnaissance, torpedo bomber and interceptor.
IL-4
Tactical bomber Il-4 rightly earned the title of the most beautiful aircraft of World, making it difficult to confuse with any other aircraft.Ilyushin-4, despite the growing complexity of management, has been popular in the Air Force, the aircraft even used as a torpedo bomber.
IL-4 was fixed in the history of the aircraft, which carried out the first bombing of the capital of the Third Reich - Berlin.And it happened not in May 1945, and in the fall of 1941. But the bombing did not last long.In winter, the front has shifted far to the East, and Berlin has become out of reach for Soviet dive-bombers.
Pe-8
bomber Pe-8 during the war was so rare and unrecognizable, sometimes even subjected to attack its defenses.However, it was he who carried out the most complex combat missions.
long-range bombers and although produced in the late 30's, but it was the only aircraft of its class in the USSR.Pe-8 had the highest movement speed (400 km / h) and the amount of fuel in the tank is allowed to bring a bomb, not only to Berlin, but also to come back.The aircraft was equipped with the most large-up to the five-ton bombs FAB-5000.It Pe-8 was bombed Helsinki, Konigsberg, Berlin, at the moment when the front line was in the area of Moscow.Because the working range Pe-8 called strategic bomber, and in those years the class of aircraft under development.All Soviet aircraft of the Second World belonged to the class of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance and transport, but not to the strategic aviation, but Pe-8, was a kind of exception to the rule.
One of the most important operations that are performed Pe-8 - is the transportation of Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov in the US and the UK.The flight took place in the spring of 1942 to the route that passed through Nazi-occupied territory.Molotov was traveling on the passenger version of the Pe-8.Such aircraft were developed only a few pieces.
Today, thanks to technological advances, carrying tens of thousands of passengers daily.But in those early days of the war each flight was a feat, both for pilots and passengers.Always had a good chance of being hit and downed Soviet plane - is not only loss of valuable lives and a lot of damage to the state that it was very difficult to compensate.
Concluding a small survey, which describes the most popular Soviet aircraft of World War II, we should mention the fact that all development, construction and air battles took place under conditions of cold, hunger and lack of personnel.However, each new machine was an important step in the development of world aviation.Names 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 have made a great contribution to the development of Soviet aviation.
