The "Russian Mosquito" was a twin-engine, twin-rudder bomber and
recon plane. It was originally designed to be a high-altitude escort
fighter (the VI-100), but as the plane was about to enter production,
it was decided that a dive bomber was more useful to Russia so the
plane was redesigned in a matter of months. Dive brakes, bomb bays and
a bombardier position were added, the superchargers and cabin
pressurization gear were removed, and some changes were made to the
streamlining. The fuselage bay could hold four 220kg or 100kg bombs and
the engine nacelle bays a single bomb in each. Four additional bombs
could be carried under the inner wings.
The Pe-2 had one unusual defensive feature -- a DAG-10 launcher wuth
ten AG-2 aerial grenades in the tail. When jettisoned, these would
explode some 3-4 seconds (90 yards) behind the Pe-2 and hopefully
disable any pursuer. Soviet sources claim that 20% of the aircraft
killed by Pe-2 crews were via this weapon.
The Pe-2 proved to be very successful, with over 11,000 examples
built (although only a small number were in service in June 1941). The
Pe-2 did have some problems: The pilot yoke wasn't power assisted,
which required some strength to pull back for takeoffs (reportedly,
this was a problem with some female crews who used the Pe-2 for night
bombing, requiring a second crewwoman to help pull back the yoke). The
plane also had poor low-speed handling, so a -2 penalty to Pilot
(Twin-engine plane) on takeoffs and landings is justifiable. The feed
system for the ventral gun (which aimed by periscope and aimed
remoteely) was highly unreliable (Malf 15) on early Pe-2's, but was
quickly fixed.
The Pe-2 has a crew of three: Pilot (who also fired the fixed nose
ShKASs), bombardier/dorsal gunner,
and radio operator/ventral gunner. The Pe-2 uses 82 gallons of aviation
gas
per
hour at routine
usage.
Subassemblies: Light Fighter-Bomber chassis with Good
streamlining +3, Medium
Fighter-Bomber
Wings +3, 2xLarge AFV Engine Pods +3, three retractable wheels +1.
Powertrain: 2x820-kW aerial HP gasoline
engines [Pods] with 2x820-kW props, and 330-gallon self-sealing
fuel tanks [Wings], 8,000-kw batteries
Occupancy: 4 CS Cargo: none.
Weaponry
2xAircraft LMG/ShKAS [Body:F] (500 each)
Aircraft LMG/ShKAS [Body:B] (900)
Aircraft LMG/ShKAS [Body:B] (900)
Equipment
Body: Large radio receiver and transmitter, navigation
instruments,
autopilot, 2xbombsight (level for bombardier, dive for pilot), recon
camera 1,760-lb bomb bay. Pods:
240-lb bomb bay each. Wings:
4x1,100-lb hardpoints
Statistics
| Size: 45'x56'x12' | Payload: 3.12 tons | Lwt: 9.3 tons |
| Volume: 312 |
Maint.: 30 hours | Price: $44,500 |
HT: 9.
HP: 330 [body], 330 [each wing], 225 [each pod], 30 [each wheel]
| aSpeed: 336 |
aAccel: 2 |
aDecel: 25 |
aMR: 6.25 |
aSR: 2 |
Stall: 88. -2 mph per loaded hardpoint.
Design Notes
Design speed was 339 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well
as the actual wing area (436 square feet). Chassis cost, wt and HP were
multiplied by two to better reflect the historical toughness of the
airplane. Loaded weight was reduced by 6.5%. Loaded weght is maximum
takeoff weight.
The Pe-2 has four crew positions but only three crewmen. The dorsal
gunner moved to the bombardier position during level bombing attacks
but remained at the dorsal gun in dive bombing attacks.
Loaded weight and stall sped assume a 2,600 lb bombload, which was
normally the maximum carried. However, aSpeed does not reflect loaded
hardpoints.
Some replaced one forward-firing ShKAS and the dorsal one with a
12.7mm Berezin UB (Long Aircraft HMG) in each location (with 150 and
300 rpg respectively). Like most Soviet combat aircraft, multiple RS-82
rockets could be fitted under the outer wings.
The AG-2 grenade does 5dx2 [4d]. The DAG-10 was originally designed
for the Il-2.