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Aviation History
1942
1942 - 0242.PDF
* FLIGHT JANUARY 29TH, 1942 RUSSIA'S AIR POWER marine "Spitfire." Powered with a liquid-cooled engine of 1,250 h.p., and armed with six machine- guns and a 20 mm. cannon. Max. speed, 400 m.p.h. New types of aircraft are known to be in service with the Kussian Air Forces. Ground-attack planes armed with six and eight machine guns and a small-calibre cannon firing armour- piercing projectiles are already in use against German Panzer Divisions. Detailed information about these types hsrtC however, not yet reached other countries. BOMBERS: P.2 (BB-22) Light and Dive- bomber. Modern • low-wing mono plane with strongly tapered wings swept forward and fitted with split flaps. Retractable undercarriage. The twin-rudder unit consists of two end plates mounted on the stabilisers which have a slight upward dihedral. Powered with two liquid-cooled engines. S.B.2 (ANT-40), also known as PS-41 as troop-carrier. Various versions powered with Wright Cyclone, or Gnome-Rhone K-14 (or M-85) 800 h.p., or liquid-cooled engines of the type of M-34 830 h.p. or M-100 of 1,000 h.p. j/ Twin machine-guns in the fuselage aufl one machine- gun each in defensive stations mounted in the top and bottom of fuselage. Performance: Maximum speed, 260 274 m.p.h. Climb to 16,400ft. in 9.5 min. Ceiling, 28,000ft. Range (from 600 miles) and bomb load (from 1,700 lb.) vary according to version. The March of the Bomber The initial period of the development of the Russian bomber was marked by the preference for the heavy multi engined type. The " giganto-mania "—as the Russians nicknamed their liking for the " colossal"—was the ex pression of the Russian conception of strategy in future wars. Since 1936 a graduaj replacement of the heavy bomber by the medium ajxG lighter type took place and bomber squadrons are equipped with these new types. The main exponent of the heavy class is the T.B.6, a low-wing monoplane constructed with a metal frame fuselage and wings, covered with corrugated sheet skin. This type was influenced by Prof. Junkers, who was the mentor of the Russian designer. Fitted with a semi- ONE OF THE FAMILY : This picture of the I.26, one of the Red Air Force's modern fighters, shows the probable influence of British design. The lines of the fuselage and fin closely resemble the Spitfire, while the wings and undercarriage suggest the Hurricane. retractable undercarriage, the T.B.6 was powered with four M-34 liquid-cooled engines of 950 h.p. each. Maxi mum speed, 220-250 m.p.h. Climb, 13,000ft. in 24 min. Bomb load, 3 tons. / Of the new trend of development, the followire £ the representative types : — *. Z.K.B.26, powered with two M-100 liquid-cooled 12- cyl. engines of 850 h.p. each or two Wright Cyclone 750 h.p. radials. The prototype became known in a record flight with 2,200 lb. useful load at 202 m.p.h. over a distance of 3,100 miles and with a ceiling of 40,000ft. Derivated from this type is the D.B.-3, powered with two M-87N air-cooled twin-row radials of 950 h.p. each. Crew 3-4. Armament com prises three machine-guns, at least one of which mounted in the rotating fuselage nose turret and one in a cupola mounted in the rear portion^oTthe fuselage underside. The gross weight is 33,000 lb. Bomb load 1,100 lb. Range, 2,500 miles (5,500 lb. bomb load for 750 miles). Maximum speed approximately 250 m.p.h. Climbs to 13,100ft. in 12 minutes. Ceiling 28,000ft. D.B.-3A is the latest version of the above. Has a new wholly transparent nose portion replacing the above. Machine-gun cupola beneath fuselage and retractable. Carries 4,400 lb. at 265 m.p.h. Organisation The period of 1936-39, during which the medium bomber gained predominance, was also marked by important changes in equipment and improvements in organisation of the Russian Air Force. While the Commissariat of the- Navy is in-' charge of the Fleet Air Arm, the People's Commissariat for Defence co-ordinates the Army Air Forces. Army Air Units were divided into autonomous formations and Army Co-operation Units. The auto nomous formations each consisted of one "Heavy Air Corps comprising two Bomber and one Parachutists' Brigade. The Army Co-operation Units embraced fighter, dive-bomber, reconnaissance and general-purpose units. In addition, in the West, fighters were organised into brigades and entrusted with the protection of strategical points and the operations of the heavy units. Basic formation is the "zveno" UP-TO-DATE : Here is the I.61, also known as the I.200, which is one of Russia's very latest single seater fight ers. It is powered by the liquid-cooled AM35A engine which develops 1,200 h.p. Its armament consists of four machine-guns, two heavy types and two of rifle calibre. X
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