Po-2M

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This page is about the premium Soviet bomber Po-2M. For the gift version, see Po-2. For the race event version, see Po-2 Night Witch.
Po-2M
po-2m.png
GarageImage Po-2M.jpg
ArtImage Po-2M.jpg
Po-2M
Show in game
MARKET

Description

The Po-2M (or Po-2P) was a proposed Soviet biplane intended to be used as a floatplane version of the Po-2. It was developed in the 1940s and was successfully tested at the Khimki water reservoir near Moscow. Due to the requirement to mount a bomb load beneath the lower wings, it was created using a single-float scheme. Apart from that, there were only a few minor differences between it and the land-based version, such as the addition of a spinner to the propeller, hiding the rudder control cables in the fuselage, and a trimming glacis to the elevator. Despite positive test results, it was never put into production. It's very likely that biplane designs were simply considered out of favour at the time, and thus the aircraft never stood a chance.

The Po-2M was introduced during Update "Drone Age" as a reward for the 2022 Project "Overpowered" event. It essentially plays the same as the Po-2 but with some minor improvements. Unfortunately, its status as the slowest plane in the game remains unchanged, but its payload options remain impressive. In comparison to the Po-2, it trades two 50 kg bombs for the ability to carry four more rockets of each type, and even incendiary bombs. The defensive machine gun was also changed to a 7.62 mm DA.

General info

Flight performance

Max speed
at 0 m134 km/h
Turn time30 s
Max altitude1 500 m
EngineShvetsov M-11D
TypeRadial
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight1 t
Characteristics Max speed
(km/h at 0 m - sea level)
Max altitude
(metres)
Turn time
(seconds)
Rate of climb
(metres/second)
Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock 130 126 1500 30.6 31.7 1.8 1.7 258
Upgraded 139 134 29.5 30.0 2.8 2.3

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear
X X X X X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
190 450 N/A N/A N/A ~5 ~3
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< 200 < 200 < 200 > 295

Survivability and armour

Crew2 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear450 km/h

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.

Modifications and economy

Repair cost
AB1 161 Sl icon.png
RB1 411 Sl icon.png
SB2 184 Sl icon.png
Crew training450 Sl icon.png
Experts3 000 Sl icon.png
Aces45 Ge icon.png
Research Aces220 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
Talisman.png 2 × 50 / 100 / 90 % Sl icon.png
Talisman.png 2 × 100 / 100 / 100 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Mods new engine.png
Engine
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Mods ammo.png
shkas_turret_belt_pack
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods turret gun.png
shkas_turret_new_gun
Mods pilon rocket.png
RO-82
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods pilon rocket.png
ROS-132

Armaments

Suspended armament

The Po-2M can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

1 2 3 4 5 6
50 kg FAB-50sv bombs 1 1 1 1
100 kg FAB-100sv bombs 1 1
ZAB-50FP incendiary bombs 1 1 1 1
RBS-82 rockets 4 4
ROS-82 rockets 4 4
ROS-132 rockets 4 4
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 100 kg
* Bombs and rockets cannot be equipped simultaneously
Default weapon presets
  • 4 x 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs (200 kg total)
  • 2 x 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs (200 kg total)
  • 4 x ZAB-50FP incendiary bombs
  • 8 x ROS-82 rockets
  • 8 x RBS-82 rockets
  • 8 x ROS-132 rockets

Defensive armament

Main article: DA (7.62 mm)

The Po-2M is defended by:

  • 1 x 7.62 mm DA machine gun, dorsal turret (315 rpg)

Usage in battles

Describe the tactics of playing in the 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).

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Various payload options
    • Access to incendiary bombs at reserve BR
    • Rockets are effective against ground targets
  • Can destroy up to 4 bases in realistic battles
  • Able to land on water

Cons:

  • Its slow speed makes it an easy target for fighters
  • Wing break speed is low
  • Lacks any offensive armament
  • Low engine power
  • Poor defensive armament
  • Ineffective rudder making it hard to aim rockets

History

Early work on the U-2M, or Po-2M happened at Factory No 25 in Moscow under the supervision of Sergey Kocherigin. The Po-2M, at the time was designated MU-2 or U-2M, had one central floats, and 2 smaller secondary floats for lateral stability.

Tests of the Po-2M were conducted on the Moscow river in spring of 1931, where it was found the main disadvantage of the Po-2M was starting the engine. It was extremely uncomfortable to start the engine manually, because there was no other way of starting the engine at the time, while standing on one side of the floats. After the appearance of the Sh-2 flying boat, the USSR didn't have need for any more floatplanes. So the conversion of the U-2 (Po-2) into a floatplane was temporarily stopped.

The conversion continued nine years later, with the appearance of a more powerful M-11D engine with 127 HP and featured a pneumatic self-starter. At the same time, the Central Aerohydrodynamic Institute conducted an extensive investigation into floats for aircraft of different gross weights, speeds and roles. For the U-2, they selected the Model 10 twin float design, as they were intended to have a high lift-drag ratio at low speeds.

The single-float Po-2M that we know and love was made at factory No 51 under the supervision of Nikolai Polikarpov, while the dual float U-2M was made at factory No 23. Based on his wartime experience, Polikarpov decided to make a special-purpose combat aircraft to carry out military operations in area's that have lakes and rivers. So that the new float aircraft could put bombs under the wings, he chose a single float design with two secondary floats. Armament included 2 100 kg FAB-100sv bombs, 4 50 kg FAB-50sv bombs, 4 ZAB-50FP bombs, 8 rockets (ROS-132, RBS-82, and ROS-82), and a single rear-mounted 7.62 mm DA machine gun. A new NP-Po-2 Night bombing sight was used as well.

Media

Skins

See also

Related development
Aircraft of a similar role, configuration or era

External links


Polikarpov Design Bureau (Опытное конструкторское бюро Поликарпова)
I-15  I-15 WR · I-15 M-22 · I-15 M-25 · I-15bis · Krasnolutsky's I-15bis
I-153  I-153 M-62 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P
I-16  I-16 type 5 · I-16 type 10 · I-16 type 18 · I-16 type 24 · I-16 type 27 · I-16 type 28
I-180  I-180S · I-185 (M-71) · I-185 (M-82)
ITP  ITP (M-1)
Twin-engine fighters  TIS MA
Bombers  Po-2 · Po-2M
Export  ␗I-15bis · ␗I-153 M-62 · ␗I-16 type 5 · ␗I-16 type 10 · ␗I-16 type 17 · ␗I-16 Chung 28

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

USSR premium aircraft
Fighters  Krasnolutsky's I-15bis · I-16 type 28 · Zhukovsky's I-153-M62 · I-153P · I-180S · I-301 · ITP (M-1)
  LaGG-3-4 · LaGG-3-23 · LaGG-3-34 · Dolgushin's La-7 · La-11
  Eremin's Yak-3(e) · Yak-3 (VK-107) · Yak-3T · Golovachev's Yak-9M
  ▂P-39K-1 · ▂Pokryshkin's P-39N-0 · ▂P-39Q-15 · ▂P-40E-1 · ▂P-47D-27 · ▂P-63A-5 · ▂P-63A-10 · ▂P-63C-5
  ▂Hurricane Mk IIB · ▂Spitfire Mk IXc · ▂Fw 190 D-9
Twin-engine fighters  I-29
Jet fighters  Su-11 · MiG-15bis ISh · MiG-17AS · MiG-21S (R-13-300) · MiG-23ML
Strike aircraft  IL-2M "Avenger" · IL-2 M-82 · IL-8 (1944) · Su-6 · Tandem MAI · TIS MA · Su-8 · Tu-1
  Yak-38 · Su-7BMK · Su-25K · Su-39
Bombers  Po-2M · Be-6 · MBR-2-M-34 · Pe-2-205 · TB-3M-17-32
  ▂PBY-5A Catalina · ▂Hampden TB Mk I · ▂A-20G-30 · ▂B-25J-30