Petlyakov Pe-2

Pe-2
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Petlyakov
Designer Vladimir Petlyakov
First flight 22 December 1939
Introduction 1941
Retired 1954 (SFR Yugoslav Air Force)
Primary users Soviet Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
Air Force of the Polish Army
Czechoslovakian Air Force
Number built 11 427[1]
Variants Petlyakov Pe-3

The Petlyakov Pe-2 (Russian: Петляков Пе-2) was a Soviet light bomber used during World War II. It was regarded as one of the best ground attack aircraft of the war[2] and it was successful in the roles of heavy fighter, reconnaissance and night fighter.[3] It was similar in many respects to the British de Havilland Mosquito. Pe-2s were manufactured in greater numbers (11,427 built) during the war than any other twin-engined combat aircraft except for the German Junkers Ju 88 and British Vickers Wellington.[3][4] The Pe-2 was fast, maneuverable and durable. Several Communist nations flew the type after the war, when it became known by the NATO reporting name Buck. Six captured Pe-2s were also transferred from the Germans to the Finnish Air Force during the German invasion to the Soviet Union, with the serial code PE- and the unofficial nickname Pekka-Eemeli.

Design and development

The Pe-2 was designed in a prison design bureau (sharashka); Vladimir Petlyakov had been arrested and imprisoned in 1937 for allegedly deliberately delaying design work on the Tupolev ANT-42 bomber. In the sharashka, Petlyakov was put in charge of a team to develop a high-altitude fighter escort for the ANT-42 under the designation VI-100. The first of two prototypes flew on December 22, 1939 and was a very sophisticated aircraft for its time, featuring a pressurised cabin, all-metal construction, superchargers and many electrically actuated systems. The prototypes proved so pleasing that production was ordered almost immediately. It is said that Petlyakov and his team could see the VI-100 prototype from their prison as it was put through its paces for the crowds watching the annual May Day parade in 1940.[5]

Just as production was ready to begin, the air force ordered a re-design of the aircraft. The value of tactical bombing had just been displayed by the Luftwaffe in the Blitzkrieg, and the need for such an aircraft suddenly became much more important than the need for a high-altitude escort fighter. Petlyakov's team was given 45 days to redesign their aircraft as a dive bomber. Cabin pressurization and superchargers were deleted, dive brakes and a bombardier's position were added, and other aerodynamic refinements. A fuselage bomb-bay was added, along with smaller bays in each engine nacelle. The aircraft was initially designated PB-100, but Joseph Stalin was impressed enough with Petlyakov to free him, and his name was permitted to be used in the aircraft's designation. The first aircraft flew on December 15, 1940, rushed through production without a prototype under severe threats from Stalin if a Pe-2 did not fly by the end of the year. Deliveries to combat units began the following Spring.

While the Pe-2's flying characteristics were generally favorable once it was airborne, it took a good amount of force to pull the elevators up to rotate the plane for takeoff. Russian night bombing missions often flew with female pilots and some of the women were not strong enough to get the airplane airborne by themselves. When such a situation occurred, the procedure was to have the navigator get behind the pilot's seat and wrap her arms around the control wheel and help the pilot pull the wheel back. Once the aircraft was airborne, the navigator returned to her duties and the pilot continued to fly the plane without assistance.[6] Its armament was great, and the aircraft was ahead of its time. The dorsal ShKAS machine gun had a very high rate of fire; but its 7.62 mm rounds began to become slightly less effective against the heavy armor protection seen on a few rare modern fighters as the war progressed, but was still quite effective, when armor-piercing rounds became standard, and had better armor-piercing capabilities than a larger-caliber gun. The mounting for the ventral Berezin UB had a somewhat limited field of view. To give more protection, another ShKAS was added that could be moved between sockets on both sides of the fuselage and, in an emergency, the gunner could fire upwards, but in this case he had to be quite strong to keep it in his arms, though this was never a huge concern for the Russian gunners. To improve the bomber's defences, a dorsal Berezin UBT 12,7 mm was mounted. This modification was reported to increase the life expectancy of a Pe-2 greatly.[7]

Operational service

Soviet pilots and ground crew pose in front of a Pe-2 light bomber at Poltava, June 1944.

The aircraft did not show its true potential until the end of 1941, after the Soviet Air Force had a chance to regroup after the German onslaught during the Winter. The Pe-2 quickly proved itself to be a highly capable aircraft, able to elude the Luftwaffe's interceptors and allowing their crews to develop great accuracy with their bombing.

The records of the 16th and 39th BAPs of the Western Front Air Force note that the Pe-2s crews had the greatest success in repelling the attacks of enemy fighters in June and July 1941. On 1 July, for example, six Pe-2s fended off attacks by four Messerschmitt Bf 109s, shooting down two of them. A week later a group of Pe-2s was attacked by four Bf 109 and again brought down two of the attackers. On both occasions the Petlyakovs suffered no losses. On the southern front, a bombing mission against Ploiești, in Romania, by six Pe-2s, led by Capt. A. Tsurtsulin, was a great success: 552,150 lb of petroleum were burnt in the raid. The Romanian information agency claimed that at least 100 Soviet planes had bombed Ploiești. A German pilot shot down by a Petlyakov over Bobruysk, Maj. A. Mudin of JG 51, affirmed that the Pe-2 was one of the many great Soviet aircraft: "It is a fast aircraft, with good armament, and it is dangerous to enemy fighters." [8] The Pe-2 regiments' operations were not always successful and crews complained about insufficient defensive armament and survivability: there was a great risk of fire and insufficient armour protection, especially for the navigators and gunners. [9] German pilots soon discovered the limited sighting angles of the ventral gun mounting.[10] The navigator and the radio operator were poorly protected. On average, ten Pe-2 gunners were wounded for every pilot, and two or three were killed for the loss of one pilot.[10] Throughout 1942 the design was steadily refined and improved, in direct consultation with pilots who were actually flying them in combat. Improved armour protection and a fifth ShKAS machine-gun were installed and fuel tanks modified.[10] Pe-2s were a daylight bomber, and sometimes took significant losses, but generally fared quite well when well protected by fighters. In December 1942 General Turkel of the Soviet Air Force estimated the life expectancy of a Pe-2 was 30 combat flights, however, most of these aircraft and crewmen survived much longer. Most of the losses were at the hands of the very well equipped German fighter groups, which, however, were only able to inflict minor damage most of the time, while suffering huge losses.[11] Western sources use mark Pe-2FT for production series after 83 (where FT stands for Frontovoe Trebovanie (Frontline Request)), although Soviet documents do not use this identification.

Finnish Air Force

In 1941, after the outbreak of Continuation War Finland purchased six war booty Pe-2 aircraft from Germany, because it was a highly valued and effective aircraft, especially when it was seen in the hands of the skilled soviet pilots. These arrived at State Aircraft Factory facilities at Härmälä in January 1942, where the airframes were overhauled and given Finnish serial numbers. The seventh Pe-2 was bought from the Germans in January 1944, and it was flown to Finland at the end of the month.

It was initially planned to use these planes as dive bombers in the 1st flight of LeLv 48, which began to receive its aircraft in July 1942, but during the training it was decided that the aircraft were too valuable to risk in such a role. Thus, the role of Pe-2s was changed to fly long-range photographic and visual reconnaissance missions for the Army General Headquarters. These sorties began in late 1942, and were often flown with two 250 kg (551 lb) bombs for harassment bombing and in order to cover the true purpose of missions.

By the time the Soviet Fourth strategic offensive started in June 1944, the secondary bombing role had already ended and the surviving Pe-2s began to be used solely at Karelian Isthmus in escorted (normally by four FiAF Bf-109 Gs) photographic reconnaissance flights in order to find out enemy troop concentrations. These vital missions were flown successfully, allowing artillery and Finnish Air Force and Luftwaffe's Gefechtsverband Kuhlmey's bombers to make their strikes against the formations preparing for attack, which had an important impact on the outcome of the Battle of Tali-Ihantala, where the Soviet advance was halted, clearly showing that the aircraft was a successful one, even in their hands.

During the Continuation War, five Pe-2s were shot down by Soviet fighters and one went missing in action. In the Lapland War the only remaining machine flew a single reconnaissance sortie in October 1944. However, these aircraft were used very sparingly due to difficulties with obtaining spare parts.

PE-301 and PE-215 were destroyed when Soviet aircraft bombed the Lappenranta airfield on 2 July 1944. PE-212 was shot down in 1943, PE-213 was destroyed in an emergency landing caused by soviet fire in 1942. PE-214 was destroyed in a failed take-off attempt at Härmälä on 21 May 1942: Soviet fighters shot the plane as it was in a futile attempt to take off and counter the soviet fighters. PE-217 along with fighter support managed to shoot down a lone Soviet fighter that was already heavily damaged in 1944, the pilot escaped unharmed. PE-216 was destroyed in a forced landing due to crippling fire from soviet aircraft in 1944. PE-211 survived the war and was removed from FAF lists in 1946. It was still standing beside the Kauhava airfield in 1952, but further information on its fate is unknown.[12][13]

Variants

Top view of an early production prototype Pe-2.

In total, around 11,400 Pe-2s were built; a large number of minor variants were also developed.

PB-100
Prototype of the Pe-2 modified from the VI-100 in 1940.
Pe-2
First production variant.
Top view of a Production Prototype Pe-2.
Pe-2B
Top View of a Pe-2 with the M-82FN engines.
Standard bomber version from 1944.
Pe-2D
Three-seat bomber version, powered by two VK-107A piston engines.
Pe-2FT
Main production variant. In Czechoslovakia known as the B-32. Improved defensive armament (7.62 mm machine gun in dorsal turret), removal of the dive brakes, and an uprated engine. Nose glazing was also reduced.
Pe-2FZ
Built in small numbers.
Pe-2I
Improved version designed by Vladimir Myasishchev. VK-107 engines; revised wing profile; remote-controlled tail gun. Top speed 656 km/h (408 mph). Could carry 1,000 kg (2,204 lb) bombs. Five examples built.
Pe-2K
Radial-engined version, small number built.
Pe-2K RD-1
One Pe-2K equipped with additional RD-1 rocket engine. The 300 kg (661 lb) Glushko RD-1 rocket engine was installed in the tail of the aircraft.
Pe-2M
Variant of Pe-2I with heavier armament.
Pe-2MV
This version was armed with 20 mm ShVAK cannons and two 12.7 mm (0.5 in) in an underfuselage gondola, it also had one 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machine gun in the dorsal turret.
Pe-2R
Three-seat photo reconnaissance version, with a larger fuel tanks and extended range. small number built.
Pe-2S
Two-seat training version.
Pe-2Sh
The PB-100 prototype was fitted with two 20 mm ShVAK cannons, and a single 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun was fitted beneath the fuselage.
Pe-2VI
High altitude fighter version.
Pe-2UTI (UPe-2)
Dedicated trainer version, small number built. In Czechoslovakia known as the CB-32.
Pe-2 Paravan
Anti-barrage balloon version.
Pe-3
Long-range night fighter version.
Pe-4
As Pe-2 except with Klimov VK-105PF engines.

Operators

World War II
 Czechoslovakia
 Finland
 Soviet Union
Postwar
 Bulgaria
 People's Republic of China
 Czechoslovakia
 Hungary
 Poland
Pe-2
 Soviet Union
 Yugoslavia

In museums

Specifications (Petlyakov Pe-2)

Data from

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Mark Solonin – "Разгром 1941. На мирно спящих аэродромах", ISBN 978-5-699-37348-2.
  2. ↑ Ethell 1996, pp. 152–153.
  3. 1 2 Angelucci and Matricardi 1978, p. 234.
  4. ↑ Guston 1980, p. 173.
  5. ↑ Pe-2 Guards Units of World War 2, Dmitriy Khazanov, Andrey Yurgenson, Aleksander Medved page 7
  6. ↑ "Interview with L. L. Popova, Navigator of the 125th Guards Bomb Air Regiment" (in Russian). Retrieved 2008-09-12.
  7. ↑ http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail-page-2.asp?aircraft_id=298
  8. ↑ Gordon 2006, p. 368.
  9. ↑ Gordon 2006, pp. 368–369.
  10. 1 2 3 Gordon 2006, p. 369.
  11. ↑ http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail-page-2.asp?aircraft_id=298
  12. ↑ Jukka Raunio: Lentäjän näkökulma IV. Forssan kirjapaino Oy, 1998. ISBN 951-96866-2-2.
  13. ↑ http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=298
  14. ↑ Archived 19 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  15. ↑ switching between the mountings was accomplished in flight in less than a minute

Bibliography

  • And'al, Jozef, Hans-Heiri Stapfer & Peter Novorol'ník. Petljakov Pe-2 a Pe-3 (HT Model Speciál no.911) (in Slovak with four-page English summary sheet). Bratislava, Slovakia: Magnet Press s.r.o., 2005. ISSN 1335-3667.
  • Angelucci, Enzo and Paolo Matricardi. World Aircraft: World War II, Volume II (Sampson Low Guides). Maidenhead, UK: Sampson Low, 1978. ISBN 0-562-00096-8.
  • "From Sotka to Peshka:The Story of Petlyakov's Pe-2, Its Origins and its Derivatives". Air International. August 1979, Vol. 17 No. 2. pp. 76–83, 93–94.
  • Drabkin, Artem. The Red Air Force at War: Barbarossa and the Retreat to Moscow – Recollections of Fighter Pilots on the Eastern Front. Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK: Pen & Sword Military, 2007. ISBN 1-84415-563-3.
  • Gordon, Yefim and Khazanov, Dmitri. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Volume 2: Twin-Engined Fighters, Attack Aircraft and Bombers. Earl Shilton, UK: Midland Publishing Ltd., 2006. ISBN 1-85780-084-2.
  • Gunston, Bill. Aircraft of World War 2. London, Octopus book limited, 1980. ISBN 0-7064-1287-7.
  • Gustin, Emmanuel and Anthony G. Williams. Flying guns: The development of aircraft guns, ammunition and installations 1933–45. Ramsbury (MA), Airlife, 2003. ISBN 978-1-84037-227-4.
  • Jackson, Robert. Aircraft of World War II – Development – Weaponry – Specifications Enderby Le, Silverdale Books, 2003. ISBN 1-85605-751-8.
  • Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari and Niska, Klaus. Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 9, Venäläiset Pommittajat (Soviet Bombers) (in Finnish with English summary). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteos, 1982. ISBN 952-99432-7-X.
  • Karhunen, Joppe. Taistelulentäjien Jatkosota (in Finnish). Tammi, Finland: Kirjat, 1994. ISBN 951-31-0132-0.
  • Khazanov, Dimitry; Vladimir Kotelnikov and Aleksandr Medved. Le Petlyakov Pe-2 (in French). Outreau, France: Lela Presse, 2007. ISBN 2-914017-38-3.
  • Medved, Aleksandr Nikolaevich. Pikiruiushchii bombardirovshchik Pe-2: "Peshka", stavshaia ferzem (in Russian). Moskva, 2007. ISBN 978-5-699-24361-7.
  • Medved, Aleksandr Nikolaevich and Dmitrij B. Khazanov. Pe-2, part 1 (Armada no.13) (in Russian). M-Hobby Publishing, 1999.
  • Medved, Aleksandr Nikolaevich and Dmitrij B. Khazanov. Pe-2, part 2 (Armada no.18) (in Russian). M-Hobby Publishing, 2000.
  • Passingham, Malcolm and Klepacki, Waclaw. Petlyakov Pe-2 and Variants (Aircraft in Profile No. 216). Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1971.
  • Smith, Peter C. Petlyakov Pe-2 'Peshka'. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press, 2003. ISBN 1-86126-588-3.
  • Stapfer, Hans-Heiri. Petlyakov Pe-2 in Action (Aircraft number 181). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-89747-439-2.
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