Ilyushin DB-3
The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder. Template:Infobox Aircraft The Ilyushin DB-3 was a Soviet bomber aircraft of World War II.
Design and development
Ilyushin DB-3 (for Дальний бомбардировщик - Dalniy Bombardirovschik - "long-range bomber") was a twin-engined, low-wing monoplane that first flew in 1935. It was the precursor of the Ilyushin Il-4 (originally named DB-3f). 1,528 were built. The names TsKB-30 and DB-3 were used in 1936-1938. Later aircraft were named DB-3b.
A modified aircraft, (TsKB-30 "Moskva") flew from Moscow to Spassk-Dalny (7,580 km) in 24 h 36 min (an average speed of 307 km/h) mostly at 7,000 m under control of Vladimir K. Kokkinaki and A. M. Berdyanskij, then from Moscow to Miscou Island (New Brunswick, Canada) in 22 h 56 min. covering 8,000 km with 348 km/h average airspeed (Kokkinaki and Mikhail Gordienko).
Four types of engine were installed on different versions of DB-3 bombers: M-85, M-86, M-87 and M-87A.
Operational history
On the night of August 8, 1941 fifteen DB-3T torpedo bombers of the Baltic Fleet dropped the first Soviet bombs on Berlin. From August 11, DB-3fs of the VVS resumed bombing.
In 1939, 30 DB-3 were supplied to the Republic of China Air Force and they saw heavy actions against targets in Wuhan region from their bases in Sichuan (mostly used by the 8th Group), before being replaced by B-24 Liberator in 1943.
The Finns captured five force-landed DB-3Ms during the Winter War and during 1941 they purchased a further six DB-3Ms and four DB-3f/Il-4s from German surplus stocks.[1]
Variants
- TsKB-26
- Prototype.
- DB-3T
- Torpedo bomber built in 1938, armed with torpedoes 45-36-AN or 45-36-AV.
- DB-3TP
- Seaplane torpedo bomber built in 1938. No production.
- DB-3M
- First major upgrade powered by two M-87B or M-88 engines.
- DB-3f
- Replaced DB-3 in 1940-1944, see Il-4.
- TsKB-56 / DB-4
- Bigger variant from 1940 with changed configuration (high-winger, twin-tail) and powered by two AM-37 engines. Cancelled, Er-2 preferred.
- Il-6
Survivors
The only known surviving DB-3 is currently displayed at the Central Museum of the Air Forces in Monino, Russia.
The aircraft was found in taiga forests, 120 km from Komsomolsk-on-Amur. It was recovered in September 1988 and brought to the Irkutsk Aircraft Industrial Association (IAIA) factory on board an Ilyushin Il-76 transport. After over a year of restoration, the aircraft was delivered to Monino on board an Antonov An-22. On 22 December 1989, representatives of IAIA, headed by V.P. Zelenkov, handed over the DB-3 to museum officials.
This aircraft shouldn't be mistaken with Ilyushin Il-4 (cn 17404) exhibited in Victory Park collection of the Central museum of Great Patriotic War, Moscow.
Operators
- Republic of China Air Force
Specifications (DB-3B, late production)
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General characteristics
- Crew: three
Performance
Armament
- 3 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns
- 1 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon (not always fitted)
- Up to 2,500 kg (5,500 lb) of bombs
References
Notes
Bibliography
- 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.
- Keskinen, Kalevi; Stenman, Kari and Niska, Klaus. Suomen Ilmavoimien Historia 9, Venäläiset Pommittajat (Soviet Bombers). Espoo, Finland: Tietoteos, 1982. ISBN 952-99432-7-X.
- Nowarra, Heinz J. and Duval, G.R. Russian Civil and Military Aircraft, 1884-1969. London: Fountain Press Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-852-42460-4.
- Stapfer, Hans-Heiri. Ilyushin Il-4 in Action (aircraft number 192). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2004. ISBN 0-89747-471-6.
External links
See also
Related development Ilyushin DB-4 - Ilyushin Il-4 - Ilyushin Il-6 Related lists