Yakovlev Yak-4

Yak-4

Role: Light bomber
Manufacturer: Yakovlev
Designed by: Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
First flight: 1940?
Introduced: 1941
Retired: 1945
Primary user: VVS
Number built: 90
Developed from: Yakovlev Yak-2

The Yakovlev Yak-4 (Service names Yak-4, BB-22bis ( "Blizhnij Bombardirivschik", "short-range bomber")) was a Soviet light bomber used during World War II. It was developed from the Ya-22/Yak-2.

Design and development

The Yak-4 was an improved version of the Yak-2 with more powerful Klimov M-105 engines and a number of other changes that were made to try and rectify the problems of the Yak-2. Two additional fuel tanks were added in the outer wings to bring the total capacity up to 180 litres (40 imp gal; 48 US gal) and the gunner's canopy was bulged to give him more room to use his 7.62 mm (0.300 in) ShKAS machine gun. The upper fuselage was redesigned to improve the gunner's field of fire and the oil coolers were relocated from the sides of the engine nacelles to the 'chin' position to improve their performance.

Operators

Soviet Union

VVS

Specifications (Yak-4)

Data from Gunston, The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 10.18 m (33 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 14.00 m (45 ft 11 in)
Height: m (ft)
Wing area: 29.4 m² (316 ft²)
Empty weight: 4,560 kg (10,053 lb)
Loaded weight: 6,115 kg (13,481 lb)
Max takeoff weight: kg (lb)
Powerplant: 2x— Klimov M-105 V12 engines, 821 kW (1,100 hp each) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 533 km/h (331 mph)
Range: 925 km (548 miles)
Service ceiling: 9,700 m (31,824 ft)

Armament

2 x— 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns
up to 600 kg (1,300 lb) of bombs

Bibliography

Gordon, Yefim. Soviet Airpower in World War 2. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing, 2008 ISBN 978-1-85780-304-4
Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. London, Osprey, 1995 ISBN 1-85532-405-9

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Source: WikiPedia