IL-2 (1942)

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

This page is about the Russian attacker IL-2 (1942). For the captured German version, see IL-2 (1942) (Germany). For other uses, see IL-2 (Family).

Description

The IL-2 (1942) is a rank II Russian attacker 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.

General info

Flight Performance

Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.

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

Details

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

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flaps (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
		470	~15	~15

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

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,750 m	1,500 hp	1,593 hp

Survivability and armour

Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.

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:

• Without load
• 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs (300 kg total)
• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (200 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (400 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M43 bombs (500 kg total)
• 8 x RS-82 rockets
• 8 x RBS-82 rockets
• 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (300 kg total)
• 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (300 kg total)
• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (200 kg total)
• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (200 kg total)
• 8 x RS-132 rockets
• 8 x RBS-132 rockets
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
• 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (300 kg total)
• 12 x 25 kg AO-25M-1 bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (300 kg total)
• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (200 kg total)
• 4 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (200 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 4 x RS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 4 x RBS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RS-132 rockets (400 kg total)
• 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RBS-132 rockets (400 kg total)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using vehicles in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).

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

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Offensive 7 mm	RO-82
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs
III	Wings repair	Engine		Offensive 23 mm	Der-21
IV	95 octane fuel usage	Engine injection	Cover	New 23 mm cannons	RO-132

Pros and cons

Pros:

• 23 different payload arrangements including bombs and rockets of varying size, flexible ground attack options
• Powerful pair 23 mm VYa canons, increased firepower, ample ammo capacity
• Strong protection surrounds the pilot and engine
• Can be used as a makeshift fighter

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

History

Describe the history of the creation and combat usage of the aircraft in more detail than in the introduction. If the historical reference turns out to be too long, take it to a separate article, taking a link to the article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ History" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History) and add a link to it here using the main template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <ref></ref>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <references />. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under === In-game description ===, also if applicable).

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); "Fleischwolf" (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

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

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

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• encyclopedia page on the aircraft;
• other literature.