IL-4
Contents
Description
The IL-4 was a Soviet twin-engined bomber designed with the intent of being deployed as a medium bomber. It was developed in the 1930s by the Ilyushin Design Bureau and entered service in 1941. It was operated by both the Soviet Air Force, which mostly utilized it for frontline bombing, and the Navy, which made extensive use of it for torpedo bombing missions throughout World War II, incorporating 45-36AN torpedoes into their variant. With a top speed of 400 km/h and a range of over 2,000 kilometers, the IL-4 was also sporadically used as a strategic bomber. It had a crew of four and could carry a remarkable payload of up to 2,000 kg of bombs. Subsequent efforts to enhance its capabilities led to the development of the IL-6. Despite the promising advances, the project was eventually canceled, leaving the IL-4 as the final bomber in its family. By 1949, it had been entirely phased out.
The IL-4 has been in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.27. It mostly plays like its predecessor, the DB-3B, with differences in engines and defensive armament. Due to its flexible payload options, it can be used in ground, air, and even naval battles. It should be noted, however, that compared to dedicated fighters or light bombers, its top speed and manoeuvrability are constrained.
General info
Flight performance
The IL-4, being a development of the previous DB-3B, has similar flight characteristics as its predecessor. The aircraft has decidedly mediocre manoeuvrability and overall flight performance, which is to be expected considering its 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 manoeuvrability 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 lock-up at high speeds - above ~500 km/h (a speed you will only ever obtain in dives), the elevator loses most of its 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 lock-up will prevent you from getting out of it anyways.
| Characteristics | Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 389 | 375 | 9400 | 35.0 | 35.9 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 326 |
| Upgraded | 428 | 409 | 33.0 | 33.8 | 12.7 | 9.7 | ||
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 | + | - | ||
| 600 | 320 | N/A | N/A | 280 | ~6 | ~3 |
| Optimal velocities (km/h) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ailerons | Rudder | Elevators | Radiator |
| < 280 | < 240 | < 300 | > 270 |
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)
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
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Armaments
Suspended armament
The IL-4 can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
- 10 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (500 kg total)
- 10 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (1,000 kg total)
- 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs (500 kg total)
- 2 x 250 kg FAB-250sv bombs + 10 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (1,500 kg total)
- 2 x 500 kg FAB-500sv 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-500sv bombs (2,000 kg total)
- 1 x 450 mm 45-36AN torpedo
Defensive armament
The IL-4 is defended by:
- 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (230 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 its predecessor, the DB-3B. The aircraft's main advantage is its 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 its 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 1,000 kg + 2 x 500 kg 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 pursuing fighters, most of which can tear its airframe to bits.
The IL-4 is unique in that it is one of very few USSR tech-tree aircraft that is capable of carrying a torpedo - that is, the Soviet 450 mm 45-36AN torpedo. However useful the load may be, the Torpedo's effectiveness is severely limited by its 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 its 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 |
Pros and cons
Pros:
- The only researchable propeller torpedo bomber in the USSR tech tree
- Decent payload options, including bombs of up to 1,000 kg
- 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 outsped and outmanoeuvred by most fighter at its BR
History
Although the IL-4 was designed as a medium bomber, its range allowed it to serve sporadically as a strategic bomber.
On June 23, 1941, namely the second day of Operation Barbarossa, the Red and Soviet naval aviation used the IL-4 series to perform night raids on key strategic targets close to the border. However, early bombing raids had poor results, as the lack of centralised air command meant that bombers often flew without fighter cover and were easily shot down.
The IL-4 is most well known for a series of long-range bombing raids on Berlin in 1941. On August 27, August 30, and September 10, IL-4s bombed Berlin in 212 sorties, dropping 51 tons of bombs; bombed Budapest on September 5 and 10; bombed Bucharest on September 14. In addition, military targets were bombed in Warsaw, Königsberg, Veczin, Ployeshti, and other places. These attacks had little military effect, but they did a great deal to boost the morale of Soviet troops and civilians.
During most of the war, the IL-4 was used for medium-range bombing missions, so it became standard to have 1,000 kg bombs suspended under the wings, in addition to the internal 2,500 kg bombs.
In addition to its primary role, the IL-4 was used for transport, towing gliders, and strategic reconnaissance (the bomb bay could be equipped with a camera). About 5,000 were produced by the time it was discontinued in 1944. It served in the Navy until 1949.
| Archive of the in-game description | |
|---|---|
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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. | |
Media
- Skins
See also
- Aircraft of a similar role, configuration or era
External links
| 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. | |
| USSR bombers | |
|---|---|
| SB and Ar | SB 2M-100 · SB 2M-103 · SB 2M-103 MV-3 · SB 2M-103U · SB 2M-103U MV-3 · SB 2M-105 · Ar-2 |
| Yer-2 (petrol) | Yer-2 (M-105) · Yer-2 (M-105) TAT · Yer-2 (M-105R) TAT · Yer-2 (M-105R) LU |
| Yer-2 (diesel) | Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (e) · Yer-2 (ACh-30B) (l) |
| Tu | Tu-2 · Tu-2S · Tu-2S-44 · Tu-2S-59 · Tu-4 |
| Pe | Pe-2-1 · Pe-2-31 · Pe-2-83 · Pe-2-110 · Pe-2-205 · Pe-2-359 · Pe-8 |
| IL | DB-3B · IL-4 |
| Po | Po-2 · Po-2M |
| Other | MBR-2-M-34 · TB-3M-17-32 · Yak-4 · Be-6 |
| Lend-Lease | ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · ▂A-20G-30 · ▂B-25J-30 |
