IL-4

IL-4

DB-3B

Pe-2-1

IL-4

DB-3B

Pe-2-1

USSR

II Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.0	2.7	3.0

Class:

Bomber

Frontline bomber

Torpedo bomber

Research:4 600

Purchase:16 000

Show in game

Description

The IL-4 is a rank II Russian bomber with a battle rating of 3.0 (AB/SB) and 2.7 (RB). It has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27.

General info

Flight performance

The IL-4, being a development of the previous DB-3B, has similar flight characteristics as it's predecessor. The aircraft has decidedly mediocre maneuverability and overall flight performance, which is to be expected considering it's bomber role. The aircraft has a low top speed of ~400 km/h at higher altitudes, and absolutely horrible acceleration to go with it. The aircraft's climb rate is also mediocre, and will suffer greatly when carrying larger loads. On the plus side, the aircraft's engines don't have major overheating issues, and can use WEP power continuously for long periods of time.

The aircraft's maneuverability on a whole is rather undesirable. The control surfaces are sluggish, which is to be expected due to the aircraft's role. As well, note that the aircraft's control surfaces experience severe lockup at high speeds - above ~500 km/h (a speed you will only ever obtain in dives), the elevator loses most of it's deflection ability which could prevent you from pulling out of a dive. One plus is that the aircraft's wings break at a relatively high speed of 600 km/h IAS - this is a speed you'll never obtain unless you're in a steep dive, and in that case your elevator lockup will prevent you from getting out of it anyways.

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
389	375	9400	35.0	35.9	7	7	326
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
428	409	9400	33.0	33.8	12.7	9.7	326

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
			+	-
600	320	480	~5	~2

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 280	< 240	< 300	> 270

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,000 m	1,100 hp	1,274 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
6,000 m	1,000 hp	1,158 hp

Survivability and armour

• 6mm steel behind pilot
• 6mm Steel plate in the tail
• Self-sealing fuel tanks, with neutral gas pressurization system (3 in each wing)

Armaments

Suspended armament

The IL-4 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• 10 x 50 kg FAB-50 bombs (500 kg total)
• 10 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M43 bombs (500 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M43 bombs + 10 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs (1,500 kg total)
• 2 x 500 kg FAB-500 bombs (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bomb (1,000 kg total)
• 1 x 1,000 kg FAB-1000 bomb + 2 x 500 kg FAB-500 bombs (2,000 kg total)
• 1 x 45-36AN torpedo

Defensive armament

The IL-4 is defended by:

• 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (200 rpg)
• 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, nose turret (1,000 rpg)
• 1 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine gun, ventral turret (500 rpg)

Usage in battles

The IL-4 should be played similarly to it's predecessor, the DB-3B. The aircraft's main advantage is it's large collection of suspended armaments, meaning that it can be used quite effectively in multiple roles. In Air Battles, the IL-4 should be used as a fast bomber, delivering it's payload to bases then retreating to avoid interception. The aircraft could also be used, in a niche role, as a torpedo bomber - as one of the few Soviet aircraft capable of carrying torpedoes, the IL-4 can easily destroy naval vessels in both Air and Naval battles.

The IL-4 can be used as an effective bomber in Air battles. In this role, the most effective load is the 1000kg + 2 x 500kg bomb load. This load will allow you to take out at least one base, and potentially damage another. At the start of each battle, simply fly straight towards the enemy bases - you could side climb too, but it isn't advised as the bomb load will make the IL-4's climb rate almost completely nonexistent. After dropping bombs, immediately fly back towards friendly airspace, potentially in a slight dive. This ensures that the IL-4 won't be intercepted by pursueing fighters, most of which can tear it's airframe to bits.

The IL-4 is unique in that it is the only USSR tech-tree aircraft that is capable of carrying a torpedo - that is, the Soviet 450mm 45-36AN torpedo. However useful the load may be, the Torpedo's effectiveness is severely limited by it's slow drop speed. In naval battles, this torpedo is best used against early destroyers, which are large, bulky and (for the most part) lack effective anti-aircraft armament. Make sure to slow to the torpedo drop speed of 248 km/h, lead the target and drop the torpedo. Keep in mind that the IL-4 is a large bulky target; it may be wise to drop the torpedo early, to ensure survival.

If being pursued by enemy fighters, the best strategy is to simply run towards friendly airspace. The IL-4 lacks an effective defensive armament suite, and also cannot outspeed most fighters at it's BR. If an engagement cannot be avoided, bait the fighters to your tail, and slightly above; this is where the aircraft's only 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun is located. Despite being of a lower calibre, the machine gun is accurate and highly effective, capable of setting enemy aircraft's engines on fire. You may even get some pilot-snipes, with enough accuracy.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Controllable Not auto controlled	Separate	Controllable 2 gears	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage repair	Radiator		Turret 7 mm
II		Compressor	Airframe	New 7 mm MGs (turret)	Der-19
III	Wings repair	Engine		Turret 12 mm	Der-20
IV	95 octane fuel usage	Engine injection	Cover	New 12 mm MGs (turret)	T-18

Pros and cons

Pros:

• The only researchable propeller torpedo bomber in the USSR tech tree
• Decent payload options, including bombs of up to 1000 kilograms
• Gets a bomber airspawn allowing it to reach the battlefield faster
• Engines are reliable and don't overheat much in RB

Cons:

• The torpedo's drop requirements and performance is poor compared to other nations' torpedoes
• Defensive armament is lacklustre when compared to contemporaries such as the B-34 (which actually gets twice as many guns!)
• Lacklustre top speed and acceleration, will be outspeeded and outmaneuvered by most fighter at it's BR

History

In-game description

The IL-4 long-range bomber was one of the most famous Soviet bombers of WWII. With thousands of IL-4s built, the aircraft took part in all the important battles of the Eastern Front, including long-range bombing raids of Axis industrial targets. A large number of books, including both memoirs and technical publications, focus on the IL-4.

It was a twin-engine long-range bomber, a further development of the Ilyushin DB-3 bomber, with a redesigned cockpit, redesigned wings, pneumatic landing gear and a new fuselage designed for faster mass production, based on DC-3 / Li-2 production methods. The aircraft was designated IL-4 in March 1942. Combined with the DB-3, over 6,800 bombers of the DB-3/IL-4 family were built, 5,256 of them the IL-4. One of the most celebrated accomplishments for the type was a long-range bombing raid on Berlin in 1941.

See also

Related Development

• DB-3B
• DB-3A

Aircraft of a similar role, configuration or era

• B-34
• Ju 88 A-4
• Wellington

External links

• Wikipedia page

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.