The Sukhoi Su-2 (Russian: Сухой Су-2) was a Sovietreconnaissance and light bomber aircraft used in the early stages of World War II. It was the first airplane designed by Pavel Sukhoi. The basic design received an engine and armament upgrade (Su-4) and was modified for the ground-attack role (ShB).
In 1936, Joseph Stalin released a requirement for a multipurpose combat aircraft. Codenamed Ivanov, the airplane had to be capable of performing reconnaissance and then attacking the targets it located.[1] P. O. Sukhoi was working in the TupolevOKB at the time and designed the "Ivanov" aircraft under the tutelage of Andrei Tupolev. The resulting ANT-51 flew on 25 August 1937 with M. M. Gromov at the controls. Powered by a 610 kW (820 hp) Shvetsov M-62 air-cooled radial engine, the ANT-51 reached 403 km/h (220 kn, 250 mph) at 4,700 m (15,420 ft).[1] This was considered insufficient but since the basic design was sound, it was decided to re-test it with a more powerful engine. Equipped with a 746 kW (1,000 hp) Tumansky M-87 engine, the ANT-51 reached 468 km/h (255 kn, 290 mph) at 5,600 m (18,370 ft) and was accepted into production as BB-1 (Blizhniy Bombardirovschik; Russian: Ближний Бомбардировщик — "short-range bomber").[1] In 1940, the aircraft was renamed Su-2 and the unreliable M-87 engine was replaced with a Tumansky M-88.[1] This lightened version with an M-88B engine reached 512 km/h (275 kn, 320 mph) in testing.
The Su-2 was of mixed construction. The fuselage was semi-monocoque with wood spars and a plywood skin. The wings were of duralumin and steel construction with fabric-covered rod-actuated control surfaces. The pilot and gunner were protected with 9 mm (0.35 in) of armor. The taildragger landing gear was retractable, including the tailwheel.[1]
Operational historyedit
Although 910 Su-2s were built by the time production was discontinued in 1942,[2] the aircraft was obsolete and underarmed by the start of the Great Patriotic War. In combat, the Su-2 ground attack aircraft squadrons suffered heavy losses against the Germans, with some 222 aircraft destroyed. From 1942, the Su-2 was withdrawn from the frontline and replaced by Ilyushin Il-2, Petlyakov Pe-2 and Tupolev Tu-2 bombers. The Su-2 was relegated to a training and reconnaissance role. However, due to a critical shortage of aircraft in early World War II, some Su-2s were used as emergency fighters.[1]
Loss rate comparisonedit
Although the Su-2 has been criticized due to the number of losses it suffered, its loss rate compares favorably with other attack aircraft used by the Soviet Airforce in World War II.
A proposed ground-attack version with an M-88A engine, modified landing gear which rotated 90° before retracting to the rear into the wings (like the American Curtiss P-40). Bombload was increased to 600 kg (1,235 lb). Created in 1940, the aircraft did not enter production due to availability of the Ilyushin Il-2.[1]
Su-4
An upgraded version, originally intended for the Urmin M-90 engine with 1,565 kW (2,100 hp), but later fitted with a Shvetsov M-82 (some Su-2s were also fitted with M-82). Due to a shortage of duralumin, the structural elements of the wings were made of wood with plywood skin. Wing armament was changed from four 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns to two 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine guns.[1] One prototype was built and tested, but this improved version was not placed into production.
^Gordon, Yefim (1998–1999). Soviet combat aircraft of the Second World War. Khazanov, Dmitriĭ. Leicester: Midland. p. 77. ISBN1857800842. OCLC 40494691.
External linksedit
External videos
Союзкиножурнал, выпуск № 100 от 14 октября 1941 год
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sukhoi Su-2.
. Sukhoi Company Museum. Archived from the original on 2006-04-28. Retrieved 2011-07-12.
April 09, 2024
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Su 2 redirects here For other uses see SU2 The Sukhoi Su 2 Russian Suhoj Su 2 was a Soviet reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft used in the early stages of World War II It was the first airplane designed by Pavel Sukhoi The basic design received an engine and armament upgrade Su 4 and was modified for the ground attack role ShB Su 2Su 2 flight crew and ground personnelRole Short range bomberNational origin Soviet UnionManufacturer SukhoiDesigner Pavel SukhoiAndrei TupolevFirst flight 25 August 1937Introduction December 1939Retired 1944Primary user Soviet Air ForcesNumber built 910 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 2 1 Loss rate comparison 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications Su 4 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDevelopment editIn 1936 Joseph Stalin released a requirement for a multipurpose combat aircraft Codenamed Ivanov the airplane had to be capable of performing reconnaissance and then attacking the targets it located 1 P O Sukhoi was working in the Tupolev OKB at the time and designed the Ivanov aircraft under the tutelage of Andrei Tupolev The resulting ANT 51 flew on 25 August 1937 with M M Gromov at the controls Powered by a 610 kW 820 hp Shvetsov M 62 air cooled radial engine the ANT 51 reached 403 km h 220 kn 250 mph at 4 700 m 15 420 ft 1 This was considered insufficient but since the basic design was sound it was decided to re test it with a more powerful engine Equipped with a 746 kW 1 000 hp Tumansky M 87 engine the ANT 51 reached 468 km h 255 kn 290 mph at 5 600 m 18 370 ft and was accepted into production as BB 1 Blizhniy Bombardirovschik Russian Blizhnij Bombardirovshik short range bomber 1 In 1940 the aircraft was renamed Su 2 and the unreliable M 87 engine was replaced with a Tumansky M 88 1 This lightened version with an M 88B engine reached 512 km h 275 kn 320 mph in testing The Su 2 was of mixed construction The fuselage was semi monocoque with wood spars and a plywood skin The wings were of duralumin and steel construction with fabric covered rod actuated control surfaces The pilot and gunner were protected with 9 mm 0 35 in of armor The taildragger landing gear was retractable including the tailwheel 1 Operational history editAlthough 910 Su 2s were built by the time production was discontinued in 1942 2 the aircraft was obsolete and underarmed by the start of the Great Patriotic War In combat the Su 2 ground attack aircraft squadrons suffered heavy losses against the Germans with some 222 aircraft destroyed From 1942 the Su 2 was withdrawn from the frontline and replaced by Ilyushin Il 2 Petlyakov Pe 2 and Tupolev Tu 2 bombers The Su 2 was relegated to a training and reconnaissance role However due to a critical shortage of aircraft in early World War II some Su 2s were used as emergency fighters 1 Loss rate comparison edit Although the Su 2 has been criticized due to the number of losses it suffered its loss rate compares favorably with other attack aircraft used by the Soviet Airforce in World War II Type Average number of missions flown before lossSu 2 80Pe 2 54Il 2 two seat 26A 20 19Il 2 single seat 13 3 Variants editSu 2 Two seat light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft Original designation BB 1 ShB Russian ShB Shturmovik Bombardirovshik Attack aircraft bomber A proposed ground attack version with an M 88A engine modified landing gear which rotated 90 before retracting to the rear into the wings like the American Curtiss P 40 Bombload was increased to 600 kg 1 235 lb Created in 1940 the aircraft did not enter production due to availability of the Ilyushin Il 2 1 Su 4 An upgraded version originally intended for the Urmin M 90 engine with 1 565 kW 2 100 hp but later fitted with a Shvetsov M 82 some Su 2s were also fitted with M 82 Due to a shortage of duralumin the structural elements of the wings were made of wood with plywood skin Wing armament was changed from four 7 62 mm ShKAS machine guns to two 12 7 mm Berezin UB machine guns 1 One prototype was built and tested but this improved version was not placed into production Operators edit nbsp Soviet UnionSoviet Air ForceSpecifications Su 4 editData from Istoriia konstruktskii samoletov v SSSR 1938 1950 1 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 10 46 m 34 ft 4 in Wingspan 14 3 m 46 ft 11 in Height 3 75 m 12 ft 4 in Wing area 29 m2 310 sq ft Empty weight 3 220 kg 7 099 lb Gross weight 4 700 kg 10 362 lb Fuel capacity 1 240 L 330 US gal 270 imp gal Powerplant 1 Shvetsov M 82 14 cylinder two row air cooled radial piston engine 1 000 kW 1 400 hp Performance Maximum speed 485 km h 301 mph 262 kn at altitude Range 1 100 km 680 mi 590 nmi Service ceiling 8 400 m 27 600 ft Time to altitude 5 000 m 16 000 ft in 9 minutes 48 secondsArmament 6 7 62 mm 0 300 in ShKAS machine guns 4 in the wings 1 in rear turret 1 in the hatch in the floor 10 RS 82 rockets 8 RS 82 rockets Up to 600 kg 1 300 lb of bombs in the internal bomb bay and underwing hardpointsSee also editRelated development Sukhoi Su 6Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Douglas SBD Dauntless Fairey Battle Ilyushin Il 2 Junkers Ju 87D Kawasaki Ki 32 Mitsubishi Ki 51Related lists List of aircraft of World War II List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CISReferences edit a b c d e f g h i Shavrov V B 1994 Istoriia konstruktskii samoletov v SSSR 1938 1950 3 izd ed Mashinostroenie ISBN 5 217 00477 0 1 Sukhoi Museum Gordon Yefim 1998 1999 Soviet combat aircraft of the Second World War Khazanov Dmitriĭ Leicester Midland p 77 ISBN 1857800842 OCLC 40494691 External links editExternal videos nbsp Soyuzkinozhurnal vypusk 100 ot 14 oktyabrya 1941 god nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sukhoi Su 2 Su 2 from WINGS PALETTE Archived 2018 10 21 at the Wayback Machine Su 2 from Avia press Archived 2018 10 21 at the Wayback Machine Sukhoi Su 2 Sukhoi Company Museum Archived from the original on 2006 04 28 Retrieved 2011 07 12 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sukhoi Su 2 amp oldid 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