After the invention of the first aircraft and structures, they began to be used for military purposes. This is how military 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, which made their special contribution to the victory over the Nazi invaders.
The tragedy of the first days of the war
Practically all samples of Soviet aviation were at the front, and therefore were destroyed at the very beginning of hostilities, not having time to show themselves in air battles. However, such a deplorable situation served as a huge incentive for the development and improvement of all classes of aviation - Soviet engineers had not only to make up for losses, but also to develop new military and already more modern aircraft of the Soviet Union. In the current critical circumstances of a shortage of resources and time, the developers created a powerful aircraft that was able not only to withstand the Luftwaffe, but even surpassed it in many ways.
Biplane U-2
Perhaps the most recognizable and the first Soviet aircraft that made its special contribution to the victory - the U-2 biplane - was rather primitive and not technologically equipped. The reason for its out-of-dateness was the original development of the aircraft as a training tool for piloting. The biplane could not carry any combat load due to its size, design, takeoff weight, weak technical parameters of the motor. But the U-2 coped with the role of a “training desk” more than perfectly.
And, by the way, quite unexpectedly, the biplane found a very real combat use. The aircraft was equipped with silencers and a holder for small bombs, and thus the biplane became an agile, ste althy and very dangerous bomber, firmly cementing this new role until the end of World War II. After the first successful experiments with the U-2, a small-caliber machine gun was installed on the aircraft. Prior to this, pilots had to use only personal small arms.
Fighter aircraft
Rightly, researchers of World War II aviation consider this period the golden age of fighters. At that time there were no radars, computer equipment, thermal imagers and homing missiles. Only experience, personal skill of the pilot and, of course, luck played a role.
In the 30s, the USSR took the quality bar in the production of fighters. One of the first fighters that came out of the factories of the Union was the I-16. He was in service in 1941, but, alas, he could not resist the power of the Luftwaffe. Soviet aircraft of the Great Patriotic War only afterlong modernization gave a worthy rebuff to the enemy in the sky. Fundamentally different, technologically powerful fighters began to be created.
MiG-3 and Yak-9
The basis of the design of the MiG-3 fighter was the body of the MiG-1, it was he who was destined to become a thunderstorm of the Soviet military aviation, a worthy opponent of the German kites. The plane could accelerate to 600 km / h (not all Soviet aircraft of the Great Patriotic War could afford such a speed). MiG-3 freely rose to a height of 12 kilometers, which was unrealistic for previous models. It was this fact that determined the combat mission of the aircraft. He established himself as a high- altitude fighter and operated in the air defense system. After the war, many Soviet aircraft were developed on the basis of the MiG.
But against the background of the positive aspects of the MiG-3, it also had disadvantages. So, at an altitude of more than 5 kilometers, the aircraft lost speed and was inferior to the enemy. Therefore, the developers began to replace it in this niche with the Yak-9 fighter. Such light fighting vehicles as Yakovlev-9 had agility and very powerful weapons. The pilots literally admired this aircraft, flying on it was the ultimate dream. The French allies from the Normandie-Neman regiment also liked the fighter, having tested several models, they chose the Yak-9.
Both the MiG-3 and the Yak-9 were armed with 12.7 or 7.62 mm machine guns. On some models, a 20 mm gun was installed. But despite the fact that these weapons were considered powerful, Soviet WWII aircraft needed to be improved.weapons.
La-5
The novelty from the Lavochkin Design Bureau no longer had this drawback, the La-5 was equipped with two ShVAK guns. Also, an air-cooled engine was installed on the fighter. The motor was a little outdated, but it paid off, especially compared to liquid-cooled motors. The fact is that the liquid-cooled motor was, although compact, but very gentle. It was enough for the smallest fragment to get into the engine and interrupt at least some tube, it instantly stopped working. It was this design feature that forced the developers to put a large but reliable air-cooled engine on the La-5.
Frankly, during the development of Lavochkin, very powerful and modern M-82 engines already existed, subsequently they became widely used, many Soviet aircraft will be equipped with them. But at that time, the engine had not yet been properly tested, and it could not be installed on the new La-5.
Despite all the difficulties, La-5 was a solid step forward in terms of the development of fighter aircraft. The model was noted not only by Soviet specialists, but also by Luftwaffe pilots. Lavochkin terrified German pilots, however, like all other Soviet aircraft during the Great Patriotic War.
Sturmovik IL-2
Perhaps the most legendary Soviet attack aircraft is the Il-2. Soviet WWII aircraft were manufactured according to a typical design, framemade of metal or even wood. Outside, the aircraft was covered with plywood or fabric skin. An engine and corresponding weapons were installed inside the structure. All Soviet aircraft during the war were designed according to this monotonous principle.
IL-2 became the first example of a new aircraft design scheme. The Ilyushin design bureau realized that such an approach noticeably worsens the design and makes it heavier. The new design approach has given new opportunities for a more rational use of the mass of the aircraft. This is how the Ilyushin-2 appeared - a plane that earned the nickname "flying tank" for its especially strong armor.
IL-2 created an incredible amount of problems for the Germans. The aircraft was initially used as a fighter, but in this role proved to be not particularly effective. Poor maneuverability and speed did not give the IL-2 the ability to fight fast and destructive German fighters. Moreover, the weak protection of the rear of the aircraft made it possible for German fighters to attack the Il-2 from behind.
Problems with the aircraft were also experienced by the developers. During the entire period of the Great Patriotic War, the armament of 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 gave the desired result. The original 20mm cannons were replaced with large caliber 37mm ones. With such powerful weapons, the attack aircraft became afraid of almost all types of ground troops, from infantry to tanks and armored vehicles.
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 aircraft literally hung 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 attack aircraft became actually a flying fortress. This thesis is confirmed by the fact that the attack aircraft took several bombs on board.
All these qualities were a great success, and the Ilyushin-2 became simply an indispensable 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
Bomber, from a tactical point of view, an indispensable part of combat aviation in any battle. Perhaps the most recognizable Soviet bomber from the Great Patriotic War is the Pe-2. It was designed as a tactical super-heavy fighter, but over time it was transformed into a deadly dive bomber.
It should be noted that Soviet bomber-class aircraft made their debut 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. A special tactic for using bombers was immediately developed, which involved approaching the target at high altitude, a sharp descent to the bombing height, and the same sharp departure into the sky. This tactic gave itsresults.
Pe-2 and Tu-2
Dive bomber drops bombs without following a horizontal line. He literally falls on his target himself and drops the bomb only when there are some 200 meters left to the target. The consequence of such a tactical move is impeccable accuracy. 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 durable, able to withstand the impact of an anti-aircraft gun. Therefore, the Pe-2 aircraft fit this role very well.
The Pe-2 bomber complemented the very similar Tu-2. It was a twin-engine dive bomber, which was used according to the tactics described above. The problem of this aircraft was in minor orders for the model at aircraft factories. But by the end of the war, the problem was fixed, the Tu-2 was even modernized and successfully used in battles.
Tu-2 performed a variety of combat missions. He worked as an attack aircraft, bomber, reconnaissance, torpedo bomber and interceptor.
IL-4
The Il-4 tactical bomber rightly earned the title of the most beautiful aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, making it difficult to confuse it with any other aircraft. Ilyushin-4, despite the complicated control, waspopular in the Air Force, the aircraft was even used as a torpedo bomber.
IL-4 is entrenched in history as the aircraft that carried out the first bombing of the capital of the Third Reich - Berlin. And this happened not in May 1945, but in the autumn of 1941. But the bombing did not last long. In winter, the front shifted far to the East, and Berlin became 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 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 speed of movement (400 km / h), and the fuel supply 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 five-ton FAB-5000. It was the Pe-8s that bombed Helsinki, Koenigsberg, Berlin at the moment when the front line was in the Moscow region. Because of the working range, the Pe-8 was called a strategic bomber, and in those years this class of aircraft was only being developed. All Soviet aircraft of the Second World War belonged to the class of fighters, bombers, reconnaissance 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 is the transportation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the USSR V. Molotov to the USA and Great Britain. Flighttook place in the spring of 1942 along a route that passed through the territories occupied by the Nazis. 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, each 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 not only the loss of valuable lives, but also great damage to the state, which was very difficult to compensate.
Completing a short review that describes the most popular Soviet aircraft of the Great Patriotic War, we should mention the fact that all development, construction and air battles took place in conditions of cold, hunger and lack of personnel. However, each new machine 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.
