Il-2 (M-82), Il-4, S.V.Ilyushin

86k Il-2 with M-82 engine, courtesy of Sergey Andreev

T
his development was initiated after fall of Smolensk to Germans on 16 July 1941 placed Moscow in imminent danger and forced evacuation of Mikulin engine works (producing AM-38 engine) to a location behind the Ural mountains. There was a clear risk of shortages with this engine until production re-started at new location.
But in May 1941 1676hp M-82 production started in Perm (Siberia). This engine was available in large amounts, so S.V.Ilyushin Design Bureau started a project to adapt alternative engine to the Il-2.
M-82 engine mounting was unarmored (due to better survivability of air-cooling engines) and mounted lower to retain aircraft trust line and minimize pilot view restrictions. As a result, aircraft had a distinctive humped nose appearance. Armored gunner position with 12.7mm UBT machine gun was surrounded with a glazed covering. More conical spinner with new propeller were fitted, fuel tank capacity was increased to 724 litres. Aircraft was ready in September 1941, and was presented on State Acceptance trials in February 1942.
Performance of Il-4 were found slightly inferior to Il-2, but at the moment of decision making it became clear that there will be no shortages with AM-38 engine. Plus the M-82 had its optimal performance at altitudes well above those needed for the Stormovik. Project was cancelled and designation Il-4 was allocated to DB-3F long-range bomber;
M-82 engine became a success of its own, and 70,000 engines were built. They were used to power S.A.Lavochkin La-5 and La-7, as well as the A.N.Tupolev Tu-2 bomber.
References:
  • "History of aircraft construction in the USSR" by V.B.Shavrov, Vol.2 p.253;
  • 'Il-2 Stormovik in action' by Squadron/Signal
    		• Technical data
    Type Il-2 (M-82)
    Il-4
    Year 1941
    Crew 2
    Engine Shvetsov 1400/1675hp M-82
    Length 11.6m
    Wingspan 14.6m
    Wing area 38.5m2
    Empty weight 3935kg
    Loaded weight 5655kg
    Wing load 147kg/m2
    Power load 3.4kg/hp
    Speed at 0m 365km/h (382km/h S/S)
    Speed at 2500m 396km/h (421km/h S/S)
    Landing Speed 147km/h
    Landing Roll 515m
    Takeoff Roll 524m
    Range 700km
    Ceiling 7500m
    Climb
    1000m 1.8min
    5000m 10.6min
    Armament
    Guns 2*g20mm ShVAK
    2*mg7.62mm ShKAS
    1*mg12.7mm UBT
    Bombs 400kg
    Rockets 8*RS-132mm
    Modified January 28, 1998
    by Alexandre Savine
    and Sergey Andreev;    		 Back to
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