Sukhoi Su-2

Su-2

Picture - Su-2 with M-88B engine

Role: Light bomber
Manufacturer: Sukhoi
Designed by: Pavel Sukhoi Andrei Tupolev
First flight: 25 August 1937
Status: Retired
Primary user: Soviet Air Force
Number built: 800+

The Sukhoi Su-2 (Russian: Сухой Су-2) was a Soviet scout 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).

Development

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 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 an 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 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). In 1940, the aircraft was renamed Su-2 and the unreliable M-87 engine was replaced with a Tumansky M-88.

The Su-2 was of mixed construction. The fuselage was semi-monocoque with wood spars and plywood skin. The wings were of duralumin and steel construction with fabric-covered rod-actuated control surfaces. The pilot and the gunner were protected with 9 mm (0.35 in) of armor. Tail-dragger landing gear was retractable, including the tailwheel.

Operational history

Although over 800 Su-2s and Su-4s were built, the aircraft was obsolete and underarmed by the start of World War II, and was quickly replaced by Petlyakov Pe-2 and Tupolev Tu-2 bombers. Since the lightened version with an M-88B engine reached 512 km/h (275 kn, 320 mph) in testing, some Su-2 were used as emergency fighters in the opening days of the Great Patriotic War due to heavy Soviet Air Force losses and a shortage of aircraft.

Variants

Picture - ShB ground attack prototype

Su-2

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

ShB (Russian: ШБ)

A proposed ground attack version with M-88A engine, modified landing gear which rotated 90° before retracting to the rear into the wings. Bomb load 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-2 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.

Operators

Soviet Union

Soviet Air Force

Specifications (Su-2 with M-82)

Data from

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 3 in)
Wing area: 32cm (312 ft²)
Empty weight: 3,220 kg (7,100 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,700 kg (10,360 lb)
Powerplant: 1x— Shvetsov M-82 radial engine, 1,044 kW (1,400 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 485 km/h (260 kn, 300 mph) at altitude
Range: 1,100 km (595 nmi, 685 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,400 m (27,560 ft)
Rate of climb: 9.8 minutes to 5,000 m (16,405 ft)

Armament

6 x— 7.62 mm (0.30 in) ShKAS machine guns (4 in the wings, 1 in upper turret, 1 in the hatch in the floor)
Up to 400 kg (880 lb) of bombs in the internal bomb bay and underwing hardpoints, or up to 10 x— RS-82 rockets or 8 x— RS-132 rockets.

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Source: WikiPedia