IL-2 (1942)

This page is about the Soviet strike aircraft IL-2 (1942). For the captured German version, see IL-2 (1942) (Germany). For other versions, see IL-2 (Family).

IL-2 (1942)

IL-2 (1941)

IL-2-37

IL-2 (1942)

IL-2 (1941)

IL-2-37

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	3.0	2.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:9 200

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

Description

The IL-2 (1942) is a rank II Soviet strike aircraft with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/RB) and 2.7 (SB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

The IL-2 (1942) is a modification of the IL-2 (1941). As a strike aircraft, it is best used against ground targets and has many payload options including bombs, unguided rockets or both. It also features armour plates around the cockpit.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 2 500 m423 km/h

Turn time25 s

Max altitude9 500 m

EngineMikulin AM-38

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight6 t

Characteristics	Max Speed (km/h at 2,500 m)		Max altitude (metres)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (metres/second)		Take-off run (metres)
	AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
Stock	406	391	9500	25.9	26.7	6.2	6.2	450
Upgraded	447	426		24.1	24.9	11.1	8.6

Details

Features
Combat flaps	Take-off flaps	Landing flaps	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
X	X	✓	X	X

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
620	320	N/A	N/A	270	~15	~15

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 320	< 320	< 370	> 360

Survivability and armour

Crew1 person

Speed of destruction

Structural620 km/h

Gear320 km/h

• 4 mm steel surrounding engine and frontal cooling systems and frontal fuel tank
• 6 mm steel behind propeller hub
• 6 mm steel underneath bottom oil cooling system
• 6 mm steel surrounding pilot
• 6 mm steel behind and above pilot's head
• 12 mm steel behind rear fuel tank
• 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
• Self sealing fuel tanks with neutral gas pressurization system (1 underneath pilot, 1 in front of pilot, 1 behind pilot)

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB464 → 706

RB657 → 999

SB1 361 → 2 071

Total cost of modifications8 440

9 510

Talisman cost640

Crew training4 500

Experts16 000

Aces180

Research Aces190 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

30 / 60 / 140 %

118 / 118 / 118 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 420 Cost: 470 85 Radiator Research: 420 Cost: 470 85 Airframe Research: 630 Cost: 710 125 Compressor Research: 630 Cost: 710 125 Wings repair Research: 530 Cost: 600 105 Engine Research: 530 Cost: 600 105 Cover Research: 550 Cost: 620 110 Engine injection Research: 550 Cost: 620 110 95 octane fuel usage Research: 550 Cost: 620 110		shkas_belt_pack Research: 420 Cost: 470 85 RO-82 Research: 420 Cost: 470 85 shkas_new_gun Research: 630 Cost: 710 125 vya_belt_pack Research: 530 Cost: 600 105 Der-21 Research: 530 Cost: 600 105 vya_new_gun Research: 550 Cost: 620 110 RO-132 Research: 550 Cost: 620 110

Armaments

Offensive armament

The IL-2 (1942) is armed with:

• 2 x 23 mm VYa-23 cannons, wing-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

Suspended armament

The IL-2 (1942) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

	1	2	3	4	5	6
25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs			6*	6*
50 kg FAB-50sv bombs		1*	2*	2*	1*
100 kg FAB-100sv bombs		1*	2*	2*	1*
250 kg FAB-250sv bombs		1*			1*
ROS-82 rockets	2					2
RBS-82 rockets	2					2
ROS-132 rockets	2					2
ROFS-132 rockets	2					2
RBS-132 rockets	2					2
Maximum permissible loadout weight: 625 kg
* Bombs on hardpoints 2/5 cannot be equipped in conjunction with bombs on hardpoints 3/4 respectively

Default weapon presets
Without load 4 x ROS-82 rockets 4 x RBS-82 rockets 4 x ROFS-132 rockets 4 x RBS-132 rockets 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs (300 kg total) 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (200 kg total) 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (400 kg total) 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total) 4 x ROFS-132 rockets + 4 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (400 kg total)

Usage in battles

The IL-2 is an attacker which excels at low altitude. You'll be flying close to the ground in order to hit your targets with your cannons and machine guns, so watch for obstacles and use the IL-2's phenomenal low-speed performance and tight turning circle to get out of harm's way, though beware of the mediocre roll rate and the weak acceleration. Give yourself time to build up a good amount of speed before going for another attack, otherwise, you'll struggle to climb away. Make note of what targets you can eliminate: light pillboxes can be destroyed by your cannons, and even extended MG fire from your 7.62 mm guns, but other pillboxes will be impossible to destroy with your guns, and bombs will need a direct hit. Likewise, light tanks and armoured cars can be destroyed with your guns, but medium tanks will need to be hit from the top or rear to penetrate the thicker armour, and heavy tanks are invulnerable unless you land a direct bomb or rocket hit.

Your bombs and rockets are best used for tougher targets, like pillboxes and medium/heavy tanks. You lack any sort of bombing reticule in Realistic Battles, so aim carefully and get used to how your rockets fall and their velocity. Overall, your load is still very strong. Direct bomb hits will destroy any sized tank, and your rockets can be devastating against ground convoys, especially with your 4 x RBS-132 rockets.

Another way to play is to select the loadout with the 2 x 250 kg bombs which are a lot more powerful and easier to use than the 100 kg bombs. After dropping your bombs gain some altitude and attack with your guns from a high angle to increase your chances of penetrating the target. This loadout has much less damage potential but takes much less skill.

The armoured cockpit keeps your pilot safe from harm, and while your engine does have a tendency to take damage, you should still be safe from anti-aircraft artillery unless you're exposed to it for too long. The biggest threat posed to the IL-2 is enemy fighters since you're slower and less manoeuvrable than any fighter at this rank. Unlike the later Shturmovik models, you lack any form of defensive armament, so once an interceptor is on you, typically your outlook is grim. Keep an eye on the movement of enemy fighters and use terrain to hide your movements to and from targets if you can. Once intercepted, make use of the IL-2's slow speed to force overshoots, and use the adequate turning capabilities to dodge fire and get around the fighters. If you have a shot, take it: the 23 mm cannons will shred even large heavy fighters with ease.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Auto control available	Controllable Auto control available	Separate	Not controllable 1 gear	Not controllable

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Numerous payload arrangements (23) including bombs and rockets of varying size, flexible ground attack options
• Powerful pair 23 mm VYa cannons, increased firepower over its predecessor, ample ammo capacity
• Strong protection surrounds the pilot and engine
• Can be used as a makeshift fighter at higher speeds
• Great turn rate at higher speeds, can out turn Bf 109 series and even C.205s

Cons:

• Lacks defensive armament
• Heavy plane
• Can't carry bombs larger than 250 kg, difficult to destroy more than one target
• Restricted visibility from the cockpit in Simulator Battles due to protective armour
• Higher battle rating
• Slow acceleration
• Bad energy retention
• Sluggish at low speeds

History

Archive of the in-game description

The famous IL-2 Sturmovik was a Soviet WWII-era attack aircraft created by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and nicknamed "Hunchback" by Red Army troops due to the distinct fuselage shape. The designers nicknamed their aircraft the "Flying Tank". Luftwaffe pilots, due to the IL-2's incredible ability to withstand battle damage, called it the "Betonflugzeug" or "Concrete Plane". German ground troops, conversely, despised and feared the IL-2, giving it a slew of unpleasant nicknames, such as "Schlachter" (Butcher); "Fleischwulf" (Meatgrinder); "Eiserner Gustav" (Iron Gustav) and "Schwarzer Tod" (the Black Death). Some historians believe that the "Black Death" was actually a successful invention of the Soviet propaganda machine that caught on with the Germans. The IL-2 was the most mass-produced military aircraft in history. However, early in the war German air superiority coupled with the absence of rear gunners on early variants and poorly organized Soviet fighter escorts led to high rates of losses for the type. A favorite attack tactic for IL-2 pilots was a low-level attack run, first letting loose with rockets at 600-700 meters, then firing on-board armament from a distance of 400 to 600 meters. Bombs would be dropped in subsequent passes from an altitude of 100-200 meters, using an impact fuse. The recommended tactic for attacking concentrations of soft targets was a strafing run in a shallow dive from 100-200 meters and a subsequent dropping of bombs at low level when exiting the dive.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the IL-2 (1942) from live.warthunder.com.

See also

Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:

• reference to the series of the aircraft;
• links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance

Ilyushin Design Bureau (Илью́шинa Опытное конструкторское бюро)
Bombers	DB-3B · IL-4
Jet Bombers	IL-28* · IL-28Sh
Strike Aircraft	IL-8 (1944)
Il-2	IL-2 (1941) · IL-2 (1942) · IL-2M type 3 · IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2M (1943) · IL-2-37 · IL-2 M-82
Il-10	IL-10 · IL-10 (1946)
Export/Captured
Bombers	␗DB-3A · ◊IL-28 · ◔IL-28
Strike Aircraft	▀IL-2 (1942) · ␗IL-10 (1946) · ◔IL-10
	* The Chinese Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation built unlicensed copies of the Il-28 known as the H-5.