I hadn't noticed any thread on this forum dedicated to the Pe-2, or, in fact, any Soviet dive bombers at all. The 'Peshka' (or 'pawn') was practically the Soviet alternative to the JU-88, and is also compared to the De Havilland Mosquito. A pretty iconic plane for the Soviet Air Force, it has to be said. It was designed by a convict, actually Vladimir Petlyakov. Vladimir Petlyakov - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia He designed it from the confines of his prison, or 'sharashka'. Initially planned as an escort aircraft for the ANT-42 bomber, a redesign was called due to the absence of a tactical dive bomber in the Soviet air fleet. And so the Pe-2 was born. It was pretty sophisticated for its time, Stalin was impressed, and freed Petlyakov. He also permitted Petlyakov's name to be used in the plane's title (the Petlyakov-2), as it was previously known as the PB-100. It wasn't successful straight off the bat, however, only in the end of 1941 did it begin to prove itself as a sturdy and reliable machine, capable of eluding enemy fighters and bombing with great accuracy. It was also used as a reconaissance aircraft, flying missions to retrieve information about enemy positions and take invaluable aerial photographs. All in all, one of the planes that was there from start to finish, a highly loved plane among veterans, a legendary aircraft that cannot be removed from GPW or WWII history. The Petlyakov Pe-2 What are your opinions of the Pe-2? Designwise? And was it a successful alternative to the Junkers? http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/21/gennadiy-spb.3/0_f2de_ee7d8186_XL
Actually Tov, I am! Sorry for not posting earlier but did enjoy your photos that were put up. The Sturmovik tends to overshadow most other Soviet aircraft design so this type of thread is most welcome!!
I think that these two versions would have been popular as a fast heavy Fighter. Pe-2MV This version was armed with 20 mm ShVAK cannons and two 12.7 mm (0.5 in) in an underfuselage gondola, it also had one 7.62 mm (0.3 in) machine gun in the dorsal turret. Pe-2Sh The PB-100 prototype was fitted with two 20 mm ShVAK cannons, and a single 12.7 mm (0.5 in) machine gun was fitted beneath the fuselage. Just to compare the Pe-2 to the Bf 110 Pe-2 Bf 110 Wingspan 17.16 m 16.3 m Length 12.66 m 12.3 m Approx Max Speed 580 km/h 560 km/h 360 mph 348 mph I have never compared the two before but the end result is interesting to say the least. Regards Tom
Tovarisch, No one here is trying erase the existence of soviet aircraft, actually enjoying your threads. keep going. Kev
The Sturmovik tends to overshadow most other Soviet aircraft design. Sadly, the IL-2 does exactly that, well pointed out. Apart from a couple of MiGs and Yaks, it's as if the IL was the only plane in the SAF (Soviet Air Force). Some may disagree, but on a general-knowledge level, I think that most people will recognise the IL-2, and scratch their heads at the sights of any other Soviet plane I guess I'll do my part in bringing the SAF it's former glory back Well, here on WW2T at least.
Sadly, George the Tov, those pesky commie planes didn't have sexy paint schemes like their nazi buddies...
Buddies? Who's calling the Germans buddies Sexy paint schemes...hmm..yes, rather The Soviets weren't too bothered with the artistic look so much, apart from a select few planes of theirs. Like this lovely La-5. I absolutely adore this plane. I've probably said this before, but I live near the Central GPW Museum in Moscow, and tend to go there quite a lot, and they've got this brilliant outdoor SAF exhibition. When I was oh, around 5 or 6, my parents used to take me on long walks round Victory Park, and we used to stroll into the SAF exhibition out of nothing to do, and as soon as I saw that La-5 with the shark teeth on it, it was bleedin' love at first sight It might be a bit on the green side, but this is a military plane, not an Aeroflot Boeing 747, if you know what I mean The teeth do all the work in this case :p
Look, the third plane in your post has your name on it, Miguel As goes for overall Soviet style, I think we all know what that was all about, and it applied to the aircraft paint schemes as well as it did to the army uniforms and city architecture etc. Some of the later planes were absolutely fab though. Anyhow, back to the Pe-2 It too was boringly army green with the irremovable pointy commie red star on the tailwing. It did its duty in bombing Wehrmacht supply lines and machinery though, causing enough damage to last a lifetime.
Tovarisch Reference you comment of 15.03.10 "Nobody interested in PE2" - not true, some of us have been interested in the S.A.F. for many years and we do appreciate you high lighting the interesting developments in design and I personally will always be grateful for the sacrifices of the people of the U..S.S.R. in removing the Fascist regime from Germany. A big effort, a big sacrifice and the Russian demographics show that there are still long term consequences in terms of the size of your population, now some 70 years later. As long as people like you keep the memory and remembrance of the G.P.W. going they will not be forgotten. They should not be forgotten. Simon Beck.
