Difference between revisions of "IL-2 (1941)"

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{{Specs-Card|code=il_2_1941}}
 
{{Specs-Card|code=il_2_1941}}
−
{{Notice|''This page is about the aircraft '''{{PAGENAME}}'''. For other uses, see [[IL-2_(Disambiguation)|IL-2 (Disambiguation)]]''}}== Description ==
+
{{About
−
''In the description, the first part needs to be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert screenshot of the vehicle. If the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle it is talking about.''
+
| about = Russian attacker '''{{PAGENAME}}'''
 +
| usage = other versions
 +
| link = IL-2 (Family)
 +
}}
  
 +
== Description ==
 +
<!-- ''In the description, the first part should be about the history of and the creation and combat usage of the aircraft, as well as its key features. In the second part, tell the reader about the aircraft in the game. Insert a screenshot of the vehicle, so that if the novice player does not remember the vehicle by name, he will immediately understand what kind of vehicle the article is talking about.'' -->
 +
[[File:GarageImage_IL-2_1941.jpg|420px|thumb|left]]
 +
{{break}}
 +
The '''{{Specs|name}}''' is a rank {{Specs|rank}} Russian attacker {{Battle-rating}}. It was introduced in [[Update 1.47 "Big Guns"]].
 +
 +
The IL-2 1941 is the first [[IL-2 (Family)|IL-type attacker]] a pilot will get in the Soviet aircraft tree. Players will quickly find out that this plane is very durable, but somewhat slow and unwieldy... although with some skill this plane can surprise attacking enemies. Players should research bombs and rockets as soon as they can, followed by ammo belts to augment your ground-attack role. This plane, as well as the following IL-type aircraft, have roughly the same base attributes you will find in the Pros and Cons below, with a few minor differences between models.
 
== General info ==
 
== General info ==
−
=== Flight Performance ===
+
=== Flight performance ===
−
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Maximum speed, maneuverability, speed and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | Characteristics
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Stock''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,500 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
| 405 || 390 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 25.9 || 26.7 || 6.1 || 6.1 || 450
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="8" | ''Upgraded''
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Speed<br>(km/h at 2,500 m)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Max altitude<br>(meters)
 +
! colspan="2" | Turn time<br>(seconds)
 +
! colspan="2" | Rate of climb<br>(meters/second)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Take-off run<br>(meters)
 +
|-
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
! AB
 +
! RB
 +
|-
 +
| 447 || 425 || {{Specs|ceiling}} || 24.1 || 24.9 || 11.3 || 8.6 || 450
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
==== Details ====
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Features
 +
|-
 +
! Combat flaps
 +
! Take-off flaps
 +
! Landing flaps
 +
! Air brakes
 +
! Arrestor gear
 +
|-
 +
| X || X || ✓ || X || X    <!-- ✓ -->
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="5" | Limits
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Wing-break speed<br>(km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Gear limit<br>(km/h)
 +
! rowspan="2" | Combat flaps<br>(km/h)
 +
! colspan="2" | Max Static G
 +
|-
 +
! +
 +
! -
 +
|-
 +
| {{Specs|destruction|constructions}} || {{Specs|destruction|chassis}} || 470 || ~15 || ~15
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="4" | Optimal velocities
 +
|-
 +
! Ailerons<br>(km/h)
 +
! Rudder<br>(km/h)
 +
! Elevators<br>(km/h)
 +
! Radiator<br>(km/h)
 +
|-
 +
| < 320 || < 320 || < 370 || > 360
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Compressor (RB/SB)
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="3" | Setting 1
 +
|-
 +
! Optimal altitude
 +
! 100% Engine power
 +
! WEP Engine power
 +
|-
 +
| 1,750 m || 1,500 hp || 1,593 hp
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Survivability and armour ===
 
=== 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. Describe the armour, if there is any, also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
''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 ==
 
== Armaments ==
 
=== Offensive armament ===
 
=== Offensive armament ===
−
''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.''
+
<!-- ''Describe the offensive armament of the aircraft, if any. Describe how effective the cannons and machine guns are in a battle, and also what belts or drums are better to use. If there is no offensive weaponry, delete this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|ShVAK (20 mm)|ShKAS (7.62 mm)}}
 +
 
 +
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' is armed with:
 +
* 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, wing-mounted (210 rpg = 420 total)
 +
* 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
−
''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.''
+
<!-- ''Describe the aircraft's suspended armament: additional cannons under the wings, bombs, rockets and torpedoes. This section is especially important for bombers and attackers. If there is no suspended weaponry remove this subsection.'' -->
 +
{{main|AO-25M-1 (25 kg)|FAB-50 (50 kg)|FAB-100 (100 kg)|FAB-250M43 (250 kg)}}
 +
{{main|RS-82|RBS-82|RS-132|RBS-132}}
  
−
=== Defensive armament ===
+
The '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' can be outfitted with the following ordnance:
−
''Defensive armament with turret machine guns or cannons, crewed by gunners. Examine the number of gunners and what belts or drums are better to use. If defensive weaponry is not available remove this subsection.''
+
* 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
 +
* 8 x RS-132 rockets
 +
* 8 x RBS-132 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)
 +
* 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 + 8 x RS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
 +
* 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (400 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 the battles ==
+
== 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 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).''
+
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in an aircraft, the features of using aircraft 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).'' -->
 +
For tactics, IL-2s are built to be close to the ground. Fly very low for IL-2 pilots in reality were known to skim treetops. Further try to stay out of sight of enemy planes. As tough as you are, you cannot take concentrated fire from enemy fighters, especially heavy fighters. As you near your target (about 3 km away) go into a slight climb, then nose down into a moderate dive toward your target. Imagine yourself gliding in, not diving. It is generally recommended that you use bombs first, as this will immediately lighten the plane and make you more maneuverable. Because the IL-2 flies so close to the ground, some pilots have destroyed themselves by bombing targets right under them. To avoid this, set the bomb fuses to around 2 seconds.
 +
 
 +
Use bombs against tanks and pillboxes, rockets against groups of light armored vehicles (and occasionally enemy aircraft), and use your MGs/Cannons for AAA, Artillery, Armoured cars, and enemy aircraft. If you equip certain ammo belts, you may also be able to destroy pillboxes and light tanks with your primary guns alone! Experience gained with this aircraft will be invaluable for later models, who get larger cannons, rear gunners, and other handy upgrades.
 +
 
 +
Lastly, due to the extraordinary low-altitude style of the IL-2 line of planes, equipping a camouflage that matches the map actually helps in the Realistic/Simulator modes, as you need to get close to enemy planes before they become "spotted". Equipping a white camo on a winter map, then flying very low as the IL-2 is made to do, can help keep players from spotting you. Remember that player-made skins are not seen by other players, so you have to choose between the ingame skins.
 +
=== Manual Engine Control ===
 +
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
 +
|-
 +
! colspan="7" | MEC elements
 +
|-
 +
! rowspan="2" | Mixer
 +
! rowspan="2" | Pitch
 +
! colspan="3" | Radiator
 +
! rowspan="2" | Supercharger
 +
! rowspan="2" | Turbocharger
 +
|-
 +
! Oil
 +
! Water
 +
! Type
 +
|-
 +
| Controllable || rowspan="2" | Controllable<br>Not auto controlled || rowspan="2" | Controllable<br>Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Controllable<br>Auto control available || rowspan="2" | Separate || rowspan="2" | Not controllable<br>1 gear || rowspan="2" | Not controllable
 +
|-
 +
|}
 +
 
 +
=== Modules ===
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! colspan="1" | Tier
 +
! colspan="2" | Flight performance
 +
! colspan="1" | Survivability
 +
! colspan="2" | Weaponry
 +
|-
 +
| I
 +
| Fuselage repair
 +
| Radiator
 +
|
 +
| Offensive 7 mm
 +
|
 +
|-
 +
| II
 +
|
 +
| Compressor
 +
| Airframe
 +
| New 7 mm MGs
 +
| RO-82
 +
|-
 +
| III
 +
| Wings repair
 +
| Engine
 +
|
 +
| Offensive 20 mm
 +
| Der-21
 +
|-
 +
| IV
 +
|
 +
| Engine injection
 +
| Cover
 +
| New 20 mm cannons
 +
| RO-132
 +
|-
 +
|}
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
''Summarize and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Do not use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - they have a substitution in the form of softer "inadequate", "effective".''
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
  
 
'''Pros:'''
 
'''Pros:'''
−
*
+
* Heavily armed with large ammo pool
 +
* Armoured & tough
 +
* Surprisingly manoeuvrable with flaps and WEP
 +
* Diverse payload options - allows for varied playstyles
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
−
*
+
 
 +
* Slow
 +
* No rear gunner
 +
* Somewhat a big target
 +
* Priority target for the enemy team in "Ground Strike" maps
 +
* ShVAK cannons lack the AP penetration of later YVA-23 (cannot harm Medium Tanks)
 +
* Limited view from cockpit due to armour plates
 +
* Large drop in performance compared to [[Yak-2 KABB|Yak-2]]
  
 
== History ==
 
== 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 big, take it to a separate article, taking a link to an article about the vehicle and adding a block "/ historical reference" (example: https://wiki.warthunder.com/Name-vehicles/historical reference) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to include links to sources at the end of the article.''
+
<!-- ''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: <nowiki>https://wiki.warthunder.com/(Vehicle-name)/History</nowiki>) and add a link to it here using the <code>main</code> template. Be sure to reference text and sources by using <code><nowiki><ref></ref></nowiki></code>, as well as adding them at the end of the article with <code><nowiki><references /></nowiki></code>. This section may also include the vehicle's dev blog entry (if applicable) and the in-game encyclopedia description (under <code><nowiki>=== In-game description ===</nowiki></code>, also if applicable).'' -->
 +
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. While the designers nicknamed their aircraft the ''Flying Tank'', Luftwaffe pilots, due to the IL-2's incredible ability to withstand battle damage, instead called it the ''Betonflugzeug'' (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 favourite 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 a low level when exiting the dive.
  
 
== Media ==
 
== Media ==
−
''An excellent addition to the article will be video guides, as well as screenshots from the game and photos.''
+
''Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.''
  
−
== Read also ==
+
== See also ==
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example,''
+
<!-- ''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;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
+
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''ETC.''
+
* [[IL-2_(1942)|IL-2 (1942)]] succeeding model
 +
* [[Ju 87 D-5]]
 +
* [[Hs 129B-2]]
 +
* [[A-36]]
 +
== External links ==
 +
<!--''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 +
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 +
* ''encyclopedia page on the aircraft;''
 +
* ''other literature.''-->
  
−
== Sources ==
+
* [https://warthunder.com/en/devblog/current/745 <nowiki>[</nowiki>War Thunder Mainpage<nowiki>]</nowiki> IL-2 AM-38 1941 and Pz.Kpfw. VI Ausf. E Tiger - Development blog]
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
+
 
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
+
{{USSR attackers}}
−
* ''page on aircraft encyclopedia;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 

Revision as of 08:34, 14 November 2019

RANK 4 FRANCE
Somua SM PACK
IL-2 (1941)
il_2_1941.png
IL-2 (1941)
USSR flag.png USSR
II Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
2.7 2.3 2.3
Class:
Research:7 900 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:10 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game
This page is about the Russian attacker IL-2 (1941). For other versions, see IL-2 (Family).

Description

GarageImage IL-2 (1941).jpg


The IL-2 (1941) is a rank II Russian attacker with a battle rating of 2.7 (AB) and 2.3 (RB/SB). It was introduced in Update 1.47 "Big Guns".

The IL-2 1941 is the first IL-type attacker a pilot will get in the Soviet aircraft tree. Players will quickly find out that this plane is very durable, but somewhat slow and unwieldy... although with some skill this plane can surprise attacking enemies. Players should research bombs and rockets as soon as they can, followed by ammo belts to augment your ground-attack role. This plane, as well as the following IL-type aircraft, have roughly the same base attributes you will find in the Pros and Cons below, with a few minor differences between models.

General info

Flight performance

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
405 390 9500 25.9 26.7 6.1 6.1 450
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
447 425 9500 24.1 24.9 11.3 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

Main articles: ShVAK (20 mm), ShKAS (7.62 mm)

The IL-2 (1941) is armed with:

  • 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, wing-mounted (210 rpg = 420 total)
  • 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

Suspended armament

Main articles: AO-25M-1 (25 kg), FAB-50 (50 kg), FAB-100 (100 kg), FAB-250M43 (250 kg)
Main articles: RS-82, RBS-82, RS-132, RBS-132

The IL-2 (1941) 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
  • 8 x RS-132 rockets
  • 8 x RBS-132 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)
  • 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 + 8 x RS-82 rockets (400 kg total)
  • 4 x 100 kg FAB-100 bombs + 8 x RBS-82 rockets (400 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

For tactics, IL-2s are built to be close to the ground. Fly very low for IL-2 pilots in reality were known to skim treetops. Further try to stay out of sight of enemy planes. As tough as you are, you cannot take concentrated fire from enemy fighters, especially heavy fighters. As you near your target (about 3 km away) go into a slight climb, then nose down into a moderate dive toward your target. Imagine yourself gliding in, not diving. It is generally recommended that you use bombs first, as this will immediately lighten the plane and make you more maneuverable. Because the IL-2 flies so close to the ground, some pilots have destroyed themselves by bombing targets right under them. To avoid this, set the bomb fuses to around 2 seconds.

Use bombs against tanks and pillboxes, rockets against groups of light armored vehicles (and occasionally enemy aircraft), and use your MGs/Cannons for AAA, Artillery, Armoured cars, and enemy aircraft. If you equip certain ammo belts, you may also be able to destroy pillboxes and light tanks with your primary guns alone! Experience gained with this aircraft will be invaluable for later models, who get larger cannons, rear gunners, and other handy upgrades.

Lastly, due to the extraordinary low-altitude style of the IL-2 line of planes, equipping a camouflage that matches the map actually helps in the Realistic/Simulator modes, as you need to get close to enemy planes before they become "spotted". Equipping a white camo on a winter map, then flying very low as the IL-2 is made to do, can help keep players from spotting you. Remember that player-made skins are not seen by other players, so you have to choose between the ingame skins.

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
II Compressor Airframe New 7 mm MGs RO-82
III Wings repair Engine Offensive 20 mm Der-21
IV Engine injection Cover New 20 mm cannons RO-132

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Heavily armed with large ammo pool
  • Armoured & tough
  • Surprisingly manoeuvrable with flaps and WEP
  • Diverse payload options - allows for varied playstyles

Cons:

  • Slow
  • No rear gunner
  • Somewhat a big target
  • Priority target for the enemy team in "Ground Strike" maps
  • ShVAK cannons lack the AP penetration of later YVA-23 (cannot harm Medium Tanks)
  • Limited view from cockpit due to armour plates
  • Large drop in performance compared to Yak-2

History

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. While the designers nicknamed their aircraft the Flying Tank, Luftwaffe pilots, due to the IL-2's incredible ability to withstand battle damage, instead called it the Betonflugzeug (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 favourite 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 a low level when exiting the dive.

Media

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

See also

External links


USSR strike aircraft
IL-2  IL-2 (1941) · IL-2 (1942) · IL-2M (1943) · IL-2M type 3 · IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2-37 · IL-2 M-82
IL-8  IL-8 (1944)
IL-10  IL-10 · IL-10 (1946)
Pe-3  Pe-3 (e) · Pe-3 · Pe-3bis
Su-2  BB-1 · Su-2 MV-5 · Su-2 TSS-1 · Su-2 (M-82)
Su-6  Su-6 · Su-6 (AM-42) · Su-6 (M-71F)
Su-8  Su-8
Tandem MAI  Tandem MAI
TIS MA  TIS MA
Tu-1  Tu-1
Yak-2  Yak-2 KABB

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