Soviet Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber^1,2,3

Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber³:	Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber:	Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber:
Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber:	Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber:

Design

The Petlyakov Pe-2 was originally designed by Vladimir M. Petlyakov to be a high altitude fighter but it came into service as a dive-bomber.^1,3

The Pe-2 was often a test bed for new equipment such as ejection seats, rocket motors, and heavy cannons.¹

Crew Compartment

The radio operator sat back to back with the pilot.¹ He could then crawl under the pilot seat to the bomb aimer position.¹ The cockpit had excellent views for the crew.¹

Some high altitude versions had pressurized cabins.¹

The rear gunner used a hand held MG.¹

Undercarriage

The undercarriage was wide allowing for use on rough airstrips.¹ Although, the Pe-2 was sometimes known for heavy bouncing on landings.¹

In the winter skis could be used.¹

Tail

The tail of the Pe-2 was of metal construction with fabric covering control surfaces.¹

Engine

The Pe-2's engines had electrical two speed superchargers.¹

Wings

There were eleven fuel tanks in the wings of the Pe-2.¹ These would feed header tanks above each of the engines.¹ Inert exhaust gases were fed to the tanks for fire suppression.¹

Prototype

The VI-100 prototype first flew in 1939.^2,3 The Pe-2 first flew in June 1940.³

In the 1940 May Day fly past, the prototype Pe-2 made its first public appearance.¹

Production

Was ordered into production in 1940 as a light bomber.¹

Production started in June 1940.² It ended in 1945.³

Pe-3bis: ~300³
Total: 11,400^1,2, 11,427³

Variants

VI-100: Prototype.² Had Hispano-Suiza copied engines.²
PB-100: New designation for the VI-100.³
Pe-2: Dive brakes were added to allow for shallow dive bombing.²
Pe-2l: Fighter bomber.³ Had VK-107 engines (1,620 HP).³
Pe-2M: Fighter bomber.³ Two seat.³
Pe-2Sh: Ground attack with oblique firing guns.¹
Pe-2R: Long range reconnaissance.^1,2,3 Had extra fuel.^1,3 No bombs, and only 3 MGs.¹
Pe-2RD: Experimental rocket booster in tail.³
Pe-2Sh: Heavy ground attack.³ Experimental.³
Pe-2U: Training version.^1,2 Had second cockpit.¹
Pe-2UT: Trainer.³ Dual controls.³
Pe-2VI: High altitude fighter version.¹
Pe-3: Bomber intercepter.³ Had dive brakes.³ Dorsal turret.³
Pe-3bis: Maneuver flaps.³
Pe-21: Heavy fighter.²

Usage

The Pe-2 was used by the Soviet Union and captured ones were used by Finland.³

The Pe-2 entered service in August 1940.³

Vladimir M. Petlyakov

The bureau chief Vladimir M. Petlyakov died in a test flight of the Pe-2 on January 12, 1942.¹

Against the Germans

If enemy fighters caught up to a lightly loaded Pe-2 it could sometimes maneuver away from them because of it's nimbleness.¹

Against the Japanese

A few Pe-2s saw service against Japan at the end of the war.³

Finland

Finland used seven Pe-2s, that were from German captured equipment, and one Pe-3bis that was captured.³

After World War II

Experimental versions mounted several rocket engines and German pulse jets.¹

In the late 1950s NATO gave it the name "Buck."¹

Czechoslovakia (called B-32), Poland, and Yugoslavia were supplied with Pe-2s.³

	Petlyakov Pe-2^1,2,3	Petlyakov Pe-3bis³
Type	Bomber^1,2,3 Ground attack³ Reconnaissance³ Fighter bomber³	Reconnaissance fighter¹
Crew	3^1,2, 3 or 4³
Engine (Type)	2: Klimov VK-105PF piston^1,2,3	2: M-107A³
OR	2: Klimov VK-105R³
Cylinders	PF: V 12^1,3 R: V 12³
Cooling	PF: Liquid¹
HP	PF: 1,260 each^1,2,3 R: 1,100 each³	1,600 each³
Propeller blades	3 each^1,3
Fuel capacity
Dimensions
Span	56' 3.5"^2,3, 58' 2"¹ 17.11 m¹, 17.16 m^2,3
Length	41' 6.5"^2,3, 41' 11"¹ 12.66 m^2,3, 12.78 m¹
Height	11' 3"¹, 11' 6"^2,3 3.42 m¹, 3.5 m^2,3
Wing area	436 ft² ^1,2 40.5 m² ^1,2
Weight
Empty	12,943 lb³, 13,640 lb¹ 5,871 kg³, 6,200 kg¹
Loaded	18,730 lb³, 18,744 lb¹ 8,496 kg³, 8,520 kg¹
Performance
Speed	278 mph¹ 449 kph¹
Speed @ 9,845' / 3,000 m	360 mph² 580 kph²
Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m	336 mph³ 541 kph³
Cruising speed	266 mph³ 428 kph³
Climb	1,410'/minute², 1,430'/minute³ 430 m/minute², 435 m/minute³
Service ceiling	28,870'^2,3, 28,900'¹ 8,800 m^1,2,3
Range	721 miles², 815 miles¹, 932 miles³ 1,160 km², 1,315 km¹, 1,500 km³
Armament
Nose	2: 7.62 mm MG³ 2: 7.62 mm ShKAS MG¹ 2: 12.7 mm UBS²	2: 12.7 mm MG³ 2: 20 mm³
OR	2: 12.7 mm MG³
Dorsal turret	1: 7.62 mm MG³ 1: 12.7 mm UBT^1,2
OR	1: 12.7 mm MG³
Ventral	1: 7.62 mm MG³ 1: 7.62 mm ShKAS MG¹ 1: 12.7 mm UBT²
OR	1: 12.7 mm MG³
Rear beam	1: 7.62 mm ShKAS MG¹ 2: 7.62 mm ShKRS MG²
Bomb bay	4: 220 lb bombs¹ 4: 100 kg bombs¹
Rear of engine	2: 220 lb bombs¹ 2: 100 kg bombs¹
Under fuselage	4: 550 lb bombs¹ 4: 250 kg bombs¹
Bombs - total	2,205 lb³, 2,205 - 6,614 lb² 1,000 kg³, 1,000 kg - 3,000 kg²
Under wing		132 mm rockets³

Sources:

Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998

Soviet Petlyakov Pe-2 bomber1,2,3