IL-2M (1943)

This page is about the Soviet strike aircraft IL-2M (1943). For other variants, see IL-2 (Family).

IL-2M (1943)

Pe-3bis

IL-2M type 3

IL-2M (1943)

Pe-3bis

IL-2M type 3

USSR

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
3.3	3.3	3.7

Class:

Strike aircraft

Research:18 000

Purchase:47 000

Show in game

Description

The IL-2M (1943), also referred to as “IL-2 production of 1943”, was a variant of the IL-2 family. It was produced from November 1942 to December 1943 and units began receiving this variant in the early months of 1943. Main differences between the IL-2M (1943) and earlier Il-2s included an improved AM-38F engine which allowed a return to the relatively high bomb load capacity of around 600 kg. The AM-38F ran at a higher RPM and included a 10-minute-long nominal power setting called forsazh. It also featured a stronger engine block and camshafts. However, it didn’t escape the earlier AM-38 and even earlier AM-35A’s tendency to overheat and also had reduced compression. Nonetheless, the AM-38F significantly increased the Il-2’s capability.

The IL-2M (1943) was introduced with Update 1.49 "Weapons of Victory". It features two 23 mm VYa-23 cannons with 150 rpg and 2 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns with 750 rpg. The VYa cannons have access to a handful of ammunition belts. The armoured target belt has AP rounds that can penetrate up to an impressive 46 mm of armour. There is also a 12.7 mm machine gun behind the pilot which has limited firing angles especially when firing at targets below the aircraft. The IL-2M (1943) has a good variety of ordnance and players will be satisfied with its capability against ground targets.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed

at 2 500 m397 km/h

Turn time35 s

Max altitude6 500 m

EngineMikulin AM-38F

TypeInline

Cooling systemWater

Take-off weight6 t

Although the IL-2M (1943) features the improved version of the AM-38 engine, its overall performance is still lackluster. The sustained turn performance is inferior to many aircraft, and it struggles at higher altitudes due to the lack of a usable supercharger gear. Moreover, the IL-2M (1943) has a very low top speed of only 400 km/h (250 mph,) so many fighters will be able to catch up and set themselves into an advantageous position for an attack. However, the big wings of the IL-2 help it turn quite well for a few turns, and it can put up a good fight provided it’s going fast and has significant altitude to play with.

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	379	363	6500	36.2	37.4	6.2	6.1	450
Upgraded	420	400		33.8	34.8	11.3	8.6

Details

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

Limits
Wings (km/h)	Gear (km/h)	Flaps (km/h)			Max Static G
		Combat	Take-off	Landing	+	-
620	320	N/A	418	270	~13	~13

Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons	Rudder	Elevators	Radiator
< 320	< 300	< 370	> 329

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people

Speed of destruction

Structural0 km/h

Gear320 km/h

IL-2M (1943)'s armor

The IL-2M (1943) does a few things very well and one of those is crew protection. The IL-2M has an immense amount of armour surrounding the pilot, gunner, engine, and vital systems like the oil cooler. Furthermore, the self-sealing fuel tanks are mounted in the center of the aircraft which is also protected by armour. The Il-2’s design doesn’t necessarily have armour plates. The armour is actually a part of the aircraft’s structure which keeps the weight down relative to if it had armour plates added on. This is what allowed the designers to protect so much of the aircraft’s systems and crewmen.

• 4 mm steel surrounding engine and frontal fuel tank
• 4 mm steel above pilot
• 5 mm steel underneath rear fuel tanks
• 6 mm steel surrounding pilot
• 6 mm steel underneath belly oil cooling system
• 6 mm steel in front of gunner*
• 6 mm steel disc behind propeller spinner
• 12 mm steel behind gunner*
• 64 mm bulletproof glass in front of pilot
• Self-sealing fuel tanks, with neutral gas pressurization system (1 in front of pilot's feet, 1 under pilot, 1 behind gunner*)

*Note that the gunner is rear-facing

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference

AB815 → 1 259

RB1 137 → 1 756

SB2 696 → 4 165

Total cost of modifications19 710

32 400

Talisman cost980

Crew training13 000

Experts47 000

Aces400

Research Aces280 000

Reward for battleAB / RB / SB

60 / 110 / 220 %

136 / 136 / 136 %

Modifications

Flight performance	Survivability	Weaponry
Fuselage repair Research: 990 Cost: 1 600 135 Radiator Research: 990 Cost: 1 600 135 Airframe Research: 890 Cost: 1 500 120 Compressor Research: 890 Cost: 1 500 120 Wings repair Research: 1 200 Cost: 2 000 165 Engine Research: 1 200 Cost: 2 000 165 Cover Research: 1 300 Cost: 2 100 180 Engine injection Research: 1 300 Cost: 2 100 180 95 octane fuel usage Research: 1 300 Cost: 2 100 180		ub_turret_belt_pack Research: 990 Cost: 1 600 135 shkas_belt_pack Research: 990 Cost: 1 600 135 ub_turret_new_gun Research: 890 Cost: 1 500 120 shkas_new_gun Research: 890 Cost: 1 500 120 RO-82 Research: 890 Cost: 1 500 120 vya_belt_pack Research: 1 200 Cost: 2 000 165 MDZ-42 Research: 1 200 Cost: 2 000 165 vya_new_gun Research: 1 300 Cost: 2 100 180 RO-132 Research: 1 300 Cost: 2 100 180

Players should begin researching the radiator module to reduce the overheating nature of the AM-38F. The 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm ammo belts should not be a focus at this point. This will open tier 2 modifications and players can choose between more armament options like rockets or stick to performance modules. The IL-2 already has access to 4 100 kg bombs stock so going for performance modules first is a good option. Once tier 3 is open, players should immediately begin researching the 23 mm ammunition belts. The stock VYa-23 belt is weak against ground targets (50% FI-T, 50% AP-I). With the ammo belt researched, this will unlock the armoured target belt which is 75% AP-I and 25% FI-T. After, players can go back to research more weapons or performance mods but once tier 4 is open, immediately start researching the new VYa-23 cannon module. The VYa-23s have an abysmal amount of dispersion when stock which greatly reduces the effectiveness of the cannons. Once researched, the rest of the performance modules should be researched, then the new rockets/bombs, and finally the 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm guns.

Armaments

Offensive armament

The IL-2M (1943) 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-2M (1943) 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-100M-43 bombs		1*	2*	2*	1*
250 kg FAB-250M-43 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-100M-43 bombs (400 kg total) 2 x 250 kg FAB-250M-43 bombs (500 kg total)

Defensive armament

The IL-2M (1943) is defended by:

• 1 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine gun, dorsal turret (150 rpg)

Usage in battles

The IL-2M (1943) is mainly limited to attacking ground targets. The 23 mm VYa-23 cannons can easily attack light and medium tanks as well as light pillboxes. However, light pillboxes take a significant amount of ammunition and the IL-2M only has 300 rounds of 23 mm ammunition. The cannons can easily penetrate the engine decks of many tanks at its battle rating so in ground battles the Il-2M (1943) is very potent. However, the 7.62 mm machine guns are ineffective against many ground targets although they can attack and destroy soft ground targets like anti-air positions or open-top vehicles. The bombs and rockets should be used against relatively stronger targets like light pillboxes or heavy tanks.

Fighter cover is incredibly important and it’s vital that IL-2M pilots stay on their toes if friendly fighters are nowhere nearby. If an IL-2M pilot has a bandit chasing, hug the ground to make sure the enemy pilot can’t sit in the gunner’s dead zone beneath the aircraft. Also, use the turret sparingly as it only has 150 rounds. The IL-2M has airspawn in air realistic battles, but it is very difficult to get into an advantageous position against enemy fighters. IL-2M pilots can attack enemy aircraft by partaking in head-ons. The exceptional amount of armor and good guns make it a dangerous aircraft in this scenario: although pilots should do this as a last-ditch effort. Enemy attackers can be attacked relatively easily since they can not easily exploit the IL-2M.

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:

• Retains the flexible payload options of its predecessors
• Features a single 12.7 mm Berezin machine gun in a rear-facing defensive position
• Well armoured
• Strong cannons which can penetrate up to 46 mm of armour
• Internal bomb bay

Cons:

• Plane is less agile than previous versions (heavier)
• Gunner doesn't benefit from the same level of protection as the pilot
• Weak energy retention
• Overheats often if on WEP
• Poor climb rate and top speed

History

The IL-2M (1943) was one of many variants designed and produced by Iluyshin. The 1943 production series of aircraft was intended to have the upgraded AM-38F engine armed with the 23 mm VYa-23 cannons. During 1943, 20 mm armed IL-2s were slowly phased out and soon 23 mm armed IL-2s were dominant. The Il-2M (1943) was largely unchanged from early variants other than the engine, cannons, and the crucial addition of a rear gunner. VVS (Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily) units began receiving the IL-2M (1943) in early 1943.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the IL-2M (1943) from live.warthunder.com.

Videos

IL-2M (1943) vs Ju 87 D-5 - War Thunder Official Channel

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.