Beriev MBR-2

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The Beriev MBR-2 was a reconnaissance flying boat which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1935.

The MBR-2 (Morskoi Blizhnii Razvedchik/Naval Short Range Reconnaissance) was designed by Georgi Beriev and first flew in 1931, powered by an imported 500 hp BMW VI.Z engine. Production models, which arrived in 1934, used a licence-built version of this engine, the M17 of 680 hp, and could be fitted with a fixed wheel or ski undercarriage.

Beriev also designed a commercial airliner derivation, the MP-1, which entered airline service in 1934 and a freighter version, which followed in 1936.

In 1935, an improved version was developed, the MBR-2bis, powered by the Mikulin AM-34N engine. and fitted with an enclosed cockpit, dorsal gun-turret and enlarged vertical tail. In this configuration, the machine remained in production until 1941. As with the MBR-2, the bis spawned a commercial derivative and the MP-1bis entered service in 1937.

[edit] Specifications (MBR-2bis)

General characteristics

Crew: 4-5
Length: 13.50 m (44 ft 3½ in)
Wingspan: 19.00 m (62 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.40 m (14 ft 9 in)
Empty weight: 2,718 kg (5,990 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,245 kg (9,359 lb)
Powerplant: 1× Mikulin AM-34N V12 engine, 559 kW (750 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 275 km/h (171 mph)
Range: 1,500 km (932 mi)
Service ceiling: 4,900 m (16,080 ft)
Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)

Armament

1× 7.62mm PV-1 machine gun in bow
1× 7.62mm ShKAS machine gun in dorsal turret
up to 300 kg (661 lb) of bombs, mines, and depth charges carried beneath the wings