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Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter1,2,3,4
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter:
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter4:
Design
Artem Mikoyan, half of the team that designed the MiGs was an Armenian that continued to design fighters from 1940 to 1970.1
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 was an improved design to replace the inadequate MiG-1.4 The MiG-3 had the engine move forward, the dihedral on the outer wings was increased, the rear fuselage was cut down, additional fuel was added, more armor, and hard points under the wings were added.4
Fuselage
The front of the fuselage was made from steel tubing with an alloy stressed skin.1 The skin of the rear fuselage was made from Bakelite plywood that was bonded with glue.1
Engine
The engine was the Mikulin AM-35A (1,350 HP).2 It drove a constant speed propeller.2,3
The engine alone weighed 1,826 lb / 830 kg.1 The exhausts were made of EYa1-TL-1 heat resistant steel.1
With the Ilyushin Il-2 Shturmovik using the same engine as the MiG-3, priority was given to the Il-2 by Stalin.1
Cockpit
The cockpit of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 had only 13 instruments, none being a radio.1 The pilot used a PBP-1 gunsight.1 The canopy could slide.3
Prototype
The MiG-3 prototype was the first to be tested in the Soviet Union's first full scale wind tunnel.4
The I-61 prototype first flew in the spring of 1940.3
The MiG-3 prototype first flew in December 1940.4
The test pilot, Yekatov, was killed when a supercharger exploded.1
Production
From December 1940 to December 1941 3,120 MIG-3s were built.1 By the middle of 1941, 25 MiG-3s a day were leaving the production line.4
- MiG-3: 3,3223
- Total: 1,900 estimated.2 , 3,1201,4, 3,4223
Variants
- I-61: Prototype.3 Had a Mikulin AM-35 V-12 engine (1,200 HP).3
- I-211: Prototype with a M-82 engines on a revised MiG-3.1 Was successful but the La-5 required the engines and got the priority.1
- I-231: Prototype with the AM-39 engine on a revised MiG-3.1
- MiG-3: Entered service in April 1941.4
Usage
The MiG-3 performed better at higher altitudes than most of the Soviet fighters.1,4 At altitudes below 5,000 m the MiG-3 wasn't able to keep up with the Bf 109 and Fw 190.1,3
401st Fighter Squadron
The 401st Fighter Squadron was the first unit to receive the MiG-3.1 The unit included the ace Stepan Surprun.1
Alexandr Pokryshkin
On June 23, 1941, Alexandr Pokryshkin made his first kill of a Bf 109E of Jagdgeschwader 77 in a MiG-3.1
Removed From Front Line
By 1943 the MiG-3 was removed from front line service and used for reconnaissance.4
| Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-31,2,3,4 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Fighter1,2,3,4 |
| Crew | 11,2,3,4 |
| Engine (Type) | Mikulin AM-35A piston1,2,3,4 |
| Cylinders | Inline2,4 V 121,3,4 |
| Cooling | |
| HP | 1,3501,2,3,4 |
| Propeller blades | 31,2,4 |
| Fuel capacity | 2: 29 gallon tanks1 2: 110 liter tanks1 |
| Dimensions | |
| Span | 33' 9"1, 33' 9.5"2,3,4 10.2 m1, 10.3 m2,3,4 |
| Length | 20' 9"1, 26' 9"2,3,4 8.15 m2,3,4, 8.25 m1 |
| Height | 8' 8"4, 8' 9"2,3, 11' 6"1 2.64 m4, 2.67 m2,3, 3.5 m1 |
| Wing area | 187.7 ft2 2,3, 188 ft2 1 17.44 m2 1,2,3 |
| Weight | |
| Empty | 5,709 lb1, 5,721 lb3, 5,952 lb4, 5,996 lb2 2,595 kg1,3, 2,700 kg4, 2,720 kg2 |
| Loaded | 7,370 lb1, 7,385 lb3,4, 7,694 lb2 3,350 kg1,3,4, 3,490 kg2 |
| Performance | |
| Speed at sea level | 314 mph4 505 kph4 |
| Speed @ 12,880' / 3,925 m |
398 mph2 640 kph2 |
| Speed @ 22,965' / 7,000 m |
398 mph3 640 kph3 |
| Speed @ 25,590' / 7,800 m |
398 mph4 640 kph4 |
| Speed @ 25,600' / 7,800 m |
397 mph1 640 kph1 |
| Climb | 3,935'/minute2,3 1,200 m/minute2,3 |
| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
5.7 minutes4 |
| Service ceiling | 39,370'2,3,4, 39,400'1 12,000 m1,2,3,4 |
| Range | 510 miles4, 743 miles1, 777 miles2,3 820 km4, 1,195 km1, 1,250 km2,3 |
| Armament | |
| Above engine | 1: 12.7 mm MG4 1: 12.7 mm Beresin1,2,3, 300 rounds1 2: 7.62 mm MG4 2: 7.62 mm ShKAS MG1,2,3, 375 rounds each1 |
| Under wings or in wings | 2: 12.7 mm MG4 |
| Under wings - later models | 2: 12.7 mm2,3 |
| Under wings - bombs | 440 lb1, 485 lb4 2: 220 lb3 200 kg1, 220 kg4 2: 100 kg3 |
| OR | 6: RS-82 Rockets1,2 6: Rockets3 6: 82 mm rockets4 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
