The "Impossible" Armour Shell Ilyushin Made Into The Il-2's Airframe Itself
The Blueprint Vault
22,734 views
January 27, 1938. Moscow. One designer. One letter to Stalin. A flying tank — every vital part sealed inside steel. Tupolev had said it could not be built. The Americans had given up. The two largest armour works called it an adventure. Seven years later, more than 36,000 had left the factories. What changed? This is not a story about dogfights or ace pilots. This is a forensic audit of a steel shell that became an aeroplane — and the problem nobody before him could solve.
📊 Inside this documentary:
Why the idea was already 21 years old in 1938
How a steel that warped when hot and cracked when cold became a fuselage
Why the engine designer asked how it could possibly work
How a marshal's letter asked for just 10 to 15 aircraft
How German pilots studied a crash-landed wreck to learn where to shoot
Why the "flying tank" survived half as many sorties as a fighter
📚 Sources: Ilyushin's memorandum to Stalin (1938), NII VVS state trials report (1940), NKAP Order No. 748, Stalin telegram (RGASPI, 1941), 3rd Air Army damage analysis (1944).
🔔 Subscribe for more forensic audits of the machines that decided the war in the air.
#WW2 #WWII #Il2 #Sturmovik #Ilyushin #EasternFront #SovietAirForce #RedArmy #MilitaryHistory #Documentary #Aviation #AviationHistory #AttackAircraft #Luftwaffe #WorldWarII #WarProduction
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The Il-2s produced during the war often differed from the standard design. Shakhurin’s memoirs reveal that Il-2s were fitted with wooden fuel tanks instead of self-sealing ones, and iron radiators instead of brass ones, among many other structural changes. It wasn't until 1944 that the aircraft began to match pre-war specifications.
Then there is the myth regarding the necessity of a rear gunner and the high casualty rate among them. Data on rear-gun ammunition consumption shows that, on average, only seven rounds were fired per sortie. Furthermore, the statistic of one pilot lost for every seven gunners lost was derived from a single training engagement and then erroneously applied to all combat operations.
Another myth equates the loss of the aircraft with the loss of the crew; in reality, most "lost" Il-2s were simply beyond repair following emergency landings—but they had already accomplished their combat mission.
The armor itself was also unique; for some reason, it is often treated as homogeneous armor, which is incorrect.
The armored glass was also unusual; upon impact, it didn't shatter into obscuring "streaks" or "spiderwebs" but rather a localized "point," ensuring the pilot's view remained unobstructed.
The primary factor contributing to heavy losses was the carriage of bombs. It was arguably the only true ground-attack aircraft designed to carry a bomb load. The A-26 could also carry bombs, but it was essentially a bomber—and was indeed redesignated the B-26 after the war.
Как итог: штурмовые полки на картонных И-15 несли меньшие потери и были более эффективны по сравнению с полками на бронированных Ил-2. Истребители, привлекавшиеся к штурмовкам - тоже несли меньшие потери По сравнению с Ил-2. Тот же Покрышкин за первый год войны сделал около 150 боевых вылетов. Из них больше сотни - на штурмовку наземных войск... А летчикам Ил-2 в первый год войны за 30 боевых вылетов Героя давали... Если те выживали.....
Russian planes did not fly long distance over seas. And land on carriers.
So overweight was acceptable.
The funny point, that while Soviet claim hundreds and thausands German tanks destroy by IL-2, germans attribute virtually none.
It is a joke that USSR was able to solve problems that others failed. USSR was preparing for mass ground campaigns and went on a programs with dedicated ground attack aircraft, Beside Germany, No other European power was looking for large war..
IL-2 that was very expensive and beside strifing was mediocre in 2 other major tasks - bombing and anti-armor..
Germany:
In 80%, used general fighters Bf-109/FW-190 to harass frontlines with bombs/guns. In remaining 20% they used specialized aircrafts dive bomber Ju-87/88 and He-129. Ju-87/88 dive bombers were by far better to bomb ground targets. The twin engine He-129 was specifically designed to carry 37mm cannon to destroy armor including russia tanks T-34/KV-I,85, IS-2.
The "Impossible" Armour Shell Ilyushin Made Into The Il-2's Airframe Itself
The Blueprint Vault
22,734 views
January 27, 1938. Moscow. One designer. One letter to Stalin. A flying tank — every vital part sealed inside steel. Tupolev had said it could not be built. The Americans had given up. The two largest armour works called it an adventure. Seven years later, more than 36,000 had left the factories. What changed? This is not a story about dogfights or ace pilots. This is a forensic audit of a steel shell that became an aeroplane — and the problem nobody before him could solve.
📊 Inside this documentary:
Why the idea was already 21 years old in 1938
How a steel that warped when hot and cracked when cold became a fuselage
Why the engine designer asked how it could possibly work
How a marshal's letter asked for just 10 to 15 aircraft
How German pilots studied a crash-landed wreck to learn where to shoot
Why the "flying tank" survived half as many sorties as a fighter
📚 Sources: Ilyushin's memorandum to Stalin (1938), NII VVS state trials report (1940), NKAP Order No. 748, Stalin telegram (RGASPI, 1941), 3rd Air Army damage analysis (1944).
🔔 Subscribe for more forensic audits of the machines that decided the war in the air.
#WW2 #WWII #Il2 #Sturmovik #Ilyushin #EasternFront #SovietAirForce #RedArmy #MilitaryHistory #Documentary #Aviation #AviationHistory #AttackAircraft #Luftwaffe #WorldWarII #WarProduction
And who failed with such a simple solution?