Sukhoi Su-2

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-2

The Sukhoi Su-2 (Russian: ????? ??-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).

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. P. O. Sukhoi was
working in the Tupolev OKB at the time and designed (copied the aircraft from a
Lithuanian Antanas Gustaitis; the main aircraft was ANBO-8) 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). 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: ??????? ?????????????? —
"short-range bomber"). In 1940, the aircraft was renamed Su-2 and the unreliable
M-87 engine was replaced with a Tumansky M-88. 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.


Role
Short-range bomber

National origin
Soviet Union

Manufacturer
Sukhoi

Designer
Pavel Sukhoi
Andrei Tupolev

First flight
25 August 1937

Introduction
December 1939

Retired
1944

Primary user
Soviet Air Forces

Number built
910

Although 910 Su-2s were built by the time production was discontinued in 1942,
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withdrawn from the frontline and replaced by Ilyushin Il-2, Petlyakov Pe-2 and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.

Loss rate comparison

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 loss

Su-2 80
Pe-2 54
IL-2 26 (two seat)
A-20 19
IL-2 13 (single seat)

Variants

Su-2
Two-seat light bomber, reconnaissance aircraft. Original designation BB-1.

ShB (Russian: ??)
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.

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. One prototype was
built and tested, but this improved version was not placed into production.

Specifications (Su-4)

General characteristics
Crew: 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 (684 mi; 594 nmi)
Service ceiling: 8,400 m (27,600 ft)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 9 minutes 48 seconds

Armament

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
hardpoints





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