Beriev MBR-2

The Beriev MBR-2^[1] was a reconnaissance flying boat which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1935.

Design

The MBR-2 was designed by Georgy Mikhailovich Beriev and first flew in 1931, powered by an imported 373 kW (500 hp) BMW VI.Z engine. Production models, which arrived in 1934, used a licence-built version of this engine, the Mikulin M-17 of 508 kW (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.

Variants

• MBR-2M-17 : Short-range maritime reconnaissance, bombing flying-boat, powered by a 508 kW (680 hp) Mikulin M-17B piston engine.
• MBR-2AM-34 or MBR-2bis : Improved version, powered by a Mikulin AM-34N engine.
• MBR-2M-103 : One MBR-2AM-34 was fitted with the more powerful M-103 engine. One prototype only.
• MP-1 : Civil version of the MBR-2M-17 flying-boat for Aeroflot. It could carry six passengers in an enclosed cabin.
• MP-1bis : Civil version of the MBR-2AM-34 flying-boat for Aeroflot.
• MP-1T : Freight transport conversion of MBR-2.

Operators

 Finland

• The Finnish Air Force operated five captured aircraft from 1941.

 Soviet Union

• Aeroflot
• Soviet Naval Aviation

 North Korea

• North Korean Air Force

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 (148 knots, 171 mph)
• Range: 1,500 km (810 nm, 930 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,900 m (16,080 ft)

• Guns:
  
  • 1× 7.62 mm (0.30 in) PV-1 machine gun in bow
  • 1× 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun in dorsal turret
• Bombs: 300 kg (660 lb) of bombs, mines, and depth charges carried underwing

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Supermarine Walrus

Related lists

• List of Interwar military aircraft
• List of aircraft of World War II

References

• Munson, Kenneth (1969). Bombers, Patrol and Transport Aircraft 1939-45. Blandford. ISBN 0-7137-0379-2. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beriev MBR-2.

• Beriev MBR-2 at aeroflight.co.uk
• Century of Flight
• Beriev MBR-2, TsKB-25 (project and prototype) at Russian Aviation Museum
• MBR-2 series with M-17 engine at Russian Aviation Museum
• Beriev MP-1, MP-1bis, MP-1T (civilian variant) at Russian Aviation Museum