Il-2 file photo [3103]

Il-2 Shturmovik

CountryRussia
ManufacturerIlyushin
Primary RoleGround Attack Aircraft
Maiden Flight30 December 1939

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe Il-2 Shturmovik ground attack aircraft were designed by Sergey Ilyushin at the Central Design Bureau in 1938, featuring a heavy armor shell that surrounded the crews of two, the engines, the radiators, and the fuel tanks. The shells were designed so they could deflect all small arms fire while the aircraft flew low to the groud. The pilot's windscreen, too, were heavily armored. The prototype took flight on 30 Dec 1939 and won the government contract, but a later requirement led to the design of a single-seater version which took flight on 12 Oct 1940. Production of the single-seater version began in 1941. By the time Germany launched the invasion of Russia with Operation Barbarossa, 249 were available for frontline use.

ww2dbaseThe first combat missions for Il-2 aircraft were with the 4th ShAP (ground attack regiment) over the Berezina River in Jun 1941. Inexperience with this new design led to a high casualty rate of 10 aircraft out of a total of 65 by 10 Jul, but as pilots learned of the strengths and weaknesses of Il-2 aircraft, their reputations grew. Soon, the aircraft were seen all cross the Russian front, flying missions against German armor. Although they were defensively capable enough to shoot down German Bf 109 fighters every so often, in general Il-2 aircraft were vulnerable to German interceptors. As a result, in Feb 1942, the two-seater version was brought back where the rear gunner could alleviate some of the pressures that hostile pursuing fighters exerted. Because armor protection for rear gunners was not introduced until the subsequent model Il-10 in 1944, casualty rate of rear gunners was very high.

ww2dbaseThe anti-tank abilities of Il-2 aircraft were notably demonstrated at the Battle of Kursk on 7 Jul 1943, where they destroyed somewhere between 30 to 70 German armor.

ww2dbaseProduction of Il-2 aircraft was slow when the war broke out with Germany because the factories were being relocated from Moscow region to the east of the Ural Mountains. When the factories were re-established, production grew only slowly, and it took harsh demands from Joseph Stalin for the factory managers to pick up their pace. As a result, by the end of the war, over 30,000 Il-2 aircraft were built, making the design among the most widely produced in military aircraft history.

ww2dbaseAfter the war, Il-2 aircraft were in the service of several Soviet Bloc countries, though the advent of jet engine rendered them obsolete very quickly.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Mar 2007

Il-2 Shturmovik Timeline

12 Oct 1940 The TsKB-57 prototype aircraft of the Soviet Ilyshin Il-2 Shturmovik ground attack aircraft design made its maiden flight.
19 Nov 1943 Senior Lieutenant Koratevitch and Lieutenant Bykov rammed their Ilyuashin Il-2 attack aircraft into a German ship in the Baltic Sea. For this extreme act of bravery both airmen would be awarded the Gold Star.

SPECIFICATIONS

M3
MachineryOne Mikulin AM-38F liquid-cooled V-12 rated at 1,720hp
Armament2x23mm Vya-23 cannons, 2x7.62mm ShKAS machine guns, 1x12.7mm Berezin UBT machine gun, up to 600kg of bombs or 4x RS-82 or RS-132 rockets
Crew2
Span14.60 m
Length11.60 m
Height4.20 m
Wing Area38.20 m²
Weight, Empty4,360 kg
Weight, Loaded6,160 kg
Speed, Maximum414 km/h
Rate of Climb10.40 m/s
Service Ceiling5,500 m
Range, Normal720 km

Photographs

Il-2 aircraft in flight, date unknownIl-2 Sturmovik aircraft resting at an airfield, date unknownA formation of Soviet Il-2 aircraft in flight near Moscow, Russia, 1 Dec 1941Air and ground crew members of an Il-2 Sturmovik aircraft, date unknown
See all 9 photographs of Il-2 Shturmovik Ground Attack Aircraft



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. MSa says:
12 Sep 2007 10:17:47 PM

> armor protection for rear
> gunners was not introduced
> until the subsequent model
> Il-10

This is not true. Even Wikipedia mentions that most IL-2s produced after 1944 had armor for the rear gunner...
2. don says:
18 Sep 2011 03:28:47 AM

I'm fairly certain that no other military 'plane was produced in greater quantities than the IL-2. I believe Bf-109 was second..
3. Anonymous says:
10 May 2016 11:45:48 AM

your really goin gto use wikipedia to disprove this man's work
4. Anonymous says:
20 Aug 2021 10:06:31 AM

whell its true the first il-2s with gunners had armor for them

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Notable Event:
» Battle of Kursk

Il-2 Shturmovik Ground Attack Aircraft Photo Gallery
Il-2 aircraft in flight, date unknown
See all 9 photographs of Il-2 Shturmovik Ground Attack Aircraft


Famous WW2 Quote
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