Petlyakov Pe-3
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| Pe-3 | |
|---|---|
 The VI-100 high-altitude fighter prototype, of which the Pe-3 was a derrivative. |
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| Type | Heavy fighter |
| Manufacturer | Petlyakov |
| Designed by | Vladimir Petlyakov |
| Maiden flight | 1941 |
| Introduction | 1941 |
| Primary users | Soviet Air Force Finnish Air Force |
| Number built | about 1,300 |
The Petlyakov Pe-3 was the long range heavy fighter version of the successful Petlyakov Pe-2 tactical bomber, the Soviet enactment of the same development path the Germans took with the Junkers Ju 88 and the British with the De Havilland Mosquito. Some sources believe that the Pe-3 was created before the German invasion, and indeed work on the VI-100 high-altitude prototype, from which both the Pe-2 and Pe-3 were developed, was begun in mid-1938[1].
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[edit] Development
In early 1941 a modified Pe-2 fighter bomber was given the designation Pe-3. It had a two man crew (compared to three for the bomber) which sat back to back with the rear gunner facing backwards. Additional fuel replaced the main bomb bay. Only 23 Pe-3 were made before Germany invaded and production ceased until the summer of 1941 when every second Pe-3 on the production line was modified to the Pe-3bis. Around 1,300 were built of all versions and some were specially constructed as night fighters.
[edit] Variants
- Pe-3bis : Two-seat night-fighter version. 300 built.
- Pe-3M : Two-seat fighter version, powered by two 1,260-hp (940-kW) klimov VK-105PF piston engines. The Pe-3M was aimed with two 20-mm shVAK cannons, three 12.7-mm (0.5-inch) machine guns and bombload of up to 1,543-lb (700-kg).
- Pe-3R : Two-seat reconnaissance fighter version.
[edit] Operators
- Finnish Air Force operated one captured aircraft (PE-301).
[edit] Specifications (Petlyakov Pe-2)
Data from Crosby, Francis: Fighter Aircraft of World Wars One and Two, first published 2004 by Hermes House
General characteristics
- Crew: 2: pilot, rear gunner
- Length: 12.6 m (41 ft 4.5 in)
- Wingspan: 17.16 m (56 ft 3.6 in)
- Height: 3.42 m (11 ft 2.6 in)
- Wing area: m² (ft²)
- Empty weight: 5,870 kg (12,941 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,040 kg (17,725 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Klimov M-105PF liquid-cooled V-12, 903 kW (1,210 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 530 km/h (329 mph)
- Range: 1,700 km (1,056 miles)
- Service ceiling 8,800 m (28,700 ft)
- Rate of climb: 8.3 m/s (1,608 ft/min)
Armament
- 2x 7.62 mm machine guns (outer starboard wing)
- 2x 20 mm cannons
- 1x 12.7 mm machine gun in rear turret
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Stapfer 2002, p. 4.
[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.
- Stapfer, Hans-Heiri. Petlyakov Pe-2 in Action (Aircraft number 181). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2002. ISBN 0-89747-439-2.
[edit] External links
[edit] See also
Related development
- Pe-2
- Pe-4
Comparable aircraft
Related lists List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union and the CIS - List of bomber aircraft
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