Ilyushin DB-3

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Ilyushin DB-3

DB-3M at Monino aviation museum

Type Bomber, torpedo-bomber
Manufacturer Ilyushin
Maiden flight 1935
Primary user Soviet Air Force
Produced 1936-1939
Number built 1,528
Variants Ilyushin Il-4

The Ilyushin DB-3 was a Soviet bomber aircraft of World War II.

Contents

[edit] 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.

[edit] Operational history

DB-3 bomber at Monino museum
DB-3 bomber at Monino museum

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]

[edit] 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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Operators

DB-3M in Finnish markings
DB-3M in Finnish markings
Flag of the Republic of China China
  • Republic of China Air Force
Flag of Finland Finland
Lentolaivue 46
Lentolaivue 48
Flag of Germany Germany
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union

[edit] Specifications (DB-3B, late production)

General characteristics

  • Crew: three
  • Length: 14.22 m (46 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 21.44 m (70 ft 4 in)
  • Height: 4.19 m (13 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 65.6 m² (706 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 5,030 kg (11,066 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 7,745 kg (17,039 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 9,450 kg (20,790 lb)
  • Powerplant:Nazarov M-87 radial engines, 709 kW (950 hp) each

Performance

Armament

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also


Related development Ilyushin DB-4 - Ilyushin Il-4 - Ilyushin Il-6

Related lists