Polikarpov R-5
| R-5 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Reconnaissance/light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Polikarpov |
| First flight | Autumn 1928 |
| Introduction | 1930 |
| Retired | 1944 |
| Primary user | Soviet Air Force |
| Number built | ~7000 |
| Variants | Polikarpov R-Z |
ThePolikarpov R-5(Russian:Р-5) was aSovietreconnaissance bomber aircraft of the 1930s. It was the standard light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft of theSoviet Air Forcefor much of the 1930s, while also being used heavily as a civilian light transport, some 7,000 being built in total.
Development and design
[edit]TheR-5was developed by the design bureau led byNikolai Nikolaevich Polikarpov[1]as a replacement for the R-1(an unlicensed version of theDH.9Abuilt in Russia) which served as the standard reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft with theSoviet Air Force.
The prototype first flew in autumn 1928,[2]powered by an importedGermanBMW VIV-12 engine. It was an unequal-spansingle-baybiplane of mainly wooden construction.
After extensive evaluation, the R-5 entered production in 1930, powered by theMikulin M-17,a licence-built copy of the BMW-VI, as a reconnaissance bomber.[3]Further modified versions were produced to serve as floatplanes, ground-attack aircraft and civil transports.
TheR-5SSS,an improved reconnaissance bomber with improved streamlining, served as the basis for thePolikarpov R-Z,which succeeded the R-5 in production.
Operational history
[edit]
The aircraft R-5 was designed by Nikolai Polikarpov in 1928. The aircraft was taken into the Soviet Air Force's use in 1931. They operated 5,000 aircraft R-5.[citation needed]Over 1,000 aircraft simplified for civilian needs were manufactured forAeroflotunder the designation P-5 (Russian: П-5).[4]
The R-5 became the standard reconnaissance and attack aircraft with the Soviet Air Force, being used in large numbers, with over 100 regiments equipped with the R-5.[3]R-5s served with the Soviet Air Force andMongolian People's Air Forceduring the 1939Battle of Khalkhin Golagainst theJapaneseThey took active part in theSoviet invasion of Poland (1939),and in the 1939-40Winter WaragainstFinland,where they were known as thehermosaha( "nerve saw" ). The Finns downed and captured several R-5s, but none were taken into operational service. They remained in service during thewar against Germany in 1941-45,where they were mainly used as night bombers and liaison aircraft, serving until 1944.[5]
The Chinese province ofXinjiangreceived a number of R-5s in 1933, and whena rebellionthreatened to overthrow the pro-Moscow governor of Xinjiang,Sheng Shicai,the Soviet Union intervened,with Soviet-flown R-5s bombing rebels nearÜrümqi.R-5s remained in use for training purposes in Xinjiang in 1938.[6]
R-5s were also used by theSpanish Republican Air Forcein theSpanish Civil War,31 being sold to Spain. These arrived in November 1936, and were quickly deployed on combat operations. But they were found to be slow and were relegated to night bombing.[7]Seven R-5s remained in good condition in March 1939. The aircraft was known as the "Rasante"(roughly translated as" Low flying ") in the Spanish Republican Air Force.
Civil versions of the R-5 were used in large numbers, mainly by Aeroflot. They carried up to 400 kg (882 lb) of freight. Many were fitted with an enlarged rear cockpit to carry two passengers. Other aircraft were fitted with enclosed cabins for passengers. P-5s could also carry underwing containers (orKasseta) for freight or passengers. One P-5 could carrying 16 adults, including seven in eachKasseta.[3][8]Ski-equipped P-5s withKassetas played a key role in the rescue of the crew of the icebound Soviet steamshipChelyuskinin 1934.[3]Civil R-5s remained in service until after the end of theWorld War II.[5]
Variants
[edit]- R-5
- Main production reconnaissance bomber. Initial production powered by M-17B engine, M-17F from 1933. 4,914 produced.[3]
- R-5Sh
- Shturmovik( "ground-attack" ). Ground attack variant. Additional gun armament consisting of four wing-mountedPV-1 machine guns.[9]These were used in theBattles of Khalkhin Gol.[10]
- R-5a
- Twin-float, reconnaissanceseaplane.Also known asMR-5,MR-5bisorSamolet 10.111 built 1934-35.[3]
- R-5D
- Long-range version. One built.
- R-5 Jumo
- Experimental engine testbed, fitted with an enlarged rear cockpit to accommodate two observers. Also known as theED-1.
- R-5M-34
- This experimental version was fitted with a M-34 engine.
- R-5T
- Single-seat torpedo bomber with divided undercarriage to allow a torpedo or 250-500 kg bomb to be carried under fuselage. Flown in 1934, a series of 50 built by 1935. Two-men crew for reconnaissance tasks.[11]
- R5-SSS
- Improved version with reduced drag and increased gun armament. Also known simply asSSS.Increased performance. Over 100 built 1935-36.[2]
- P-5
- Light transport version forAeroflot.M-17B engine. Approximately 1000 produced by 1940.[3]
- P-5a
- Twin-float version of P-5 - built in small numbers.
- R-5L
- Limuzin( "limousine" ). Passenger version with cabin for two passengers. Built in small numbers in 1931.
- P-5L
- Revised passenger transport. Several built in 1933.
- Rafaelyants PR-5
- Final modernised transport version. New semi-monocoquefuselage with enclosed cabin for four passengers. 210 converted for use by Aeroflot.
- Rafaelyants PR-12
- Passenger monoplane based on PR-5. One built in 1938.
- ARK-5
- Arctic exploration version with enclosed, heated cockpit and streamlined containers for payload faired into lower wing and sides of fuselage. Two built.
- LSh
- Legkii Shturmovik( "light ground attack" ). Light armoured attack aircraft - Modified design byGrigorovich.One built 1930.
- TSh-1
- Tyazheli Shturmovik( "heavy ground attack" ). Heavily armoured ground attack aircraft (6 mm armour) based on R-5, again by Grigorovich. Three prototypes.
- TSh-2
- Refined derivative of Tsh-1 with new lower wings. Ten aircraft built.
- ShON
- Light attack version with folding wings built for counter insurgency operations againstBasmachi rebelsinCentral Asia.30 ordered.
Operators
[edit]
- Spanish Air Force- Post civil war.
Specifications (1930 production)
[edit]Data fromThe Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 - 1995[3]
General characteristics
- Crew:2
- Length:10.56 m (34 ft 8 in)
- Wingspan:15.5 m (50 ft 10 in)
- Height:3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)[12]
- Wing area:50.2 m2(540 sq ft)
- Airfoil:Clark Y(10%)[13]
- Empty weight:1,969 kg (4,341 lb)
- Gross weight:3,247 kg (7,158 lb)
- Powerplant:1 ×Mikulin M-17B V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 507 kW (680 hp)
- Propellers:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed:228 km/h (142 mph, 123 kn)
- Range:800 km (500 mi, 430 nmi)
- Service ceiling:6,400 m (21,000 ft)
- Time to altitude:1,000 m (3,300 ft) in 2 minutes 6 seconds
- Wing loading:64.7 kg/m2(13.3 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass:0.16 kW/kg (0.097 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns:1 fixed forward firingPV-1 machine gunand 1DAmachine gun in rear cockpit
- Bombs:250 kg (550 lb) bombs on bomb racks
See also
[edit]Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
- List of Interwar military aircraft
- List of aircraft of World War II
- List of military aircraft of the Soviet Union
- List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force
References
[edit]- ^abcdА. С. Яковлев.О жизни и о себе (записки авиаконструктора). 2-е изд., доп. М., 1968. стр.159
- ^abDonald 1997, p. 755.
- ^abcdefghGunston, Bill (1995).The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft, 1875-1995.Osprey Publishing Company.ISBN978-1-85532-405-3.
- ^"Легкий транспортно-пассажирский самолет П-5"
- ^ab"Polikarpov Nikolai Nikolaevich."Archived2007-07-27 at theWayback Machineaviation.ru,24 March 2004. Retrieved: 3 July 2011.
- ^Andersson 2008, pp. 83–84
- ^Martin, San."República - Aviones de bombardeo: Polikarpov R-5 'Rasante'".www.sbhac.net(in Spanish).Retrieved15 December2019.
- ^Gretchihine, A. (25 January 1996)."People Pods: Early Soviet Experiments".Archived fromthe originalon 2007-03-11.
- ^Широкорад, А.Б. (2001).Istorii︠a︡ aviat︠s︡ionnogo vooruzhenii︠a︡ (History of aircraft armament).Shirokorad A.B.: Kharvest. pp. 68–69.ISBN985-433-695-6.
- ^Mellinger, George M."Order of Battle Khalkin Gol".www.j-aircraft.com.Twin Cities Aero Historians.Retrieved15 December2019.
- ^Kotelnikov, Vladimir."Nyet spasyeniya lubomu vrazheskomu korablu". Torpedonosec R-5T[ "No salvation for any enemy ship". Torpedo bomber R-5T]. "FlotoMaster" Nr. 4/2003, p. 29-31,(in Russian)
- ^Angelucci, Enzo (1981).World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft.ISBN978-0-7106-0148-3.
- ^Lednicer, David."The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.Retrieved16 April2019.
Bibliography
[edit]- Andersson, Lennart (2008).A History of Chinese Aviation: Encyclopedia of Aircraft and Aviation in China to 1949.Taipei, Republic of China: AHS of ROC.ISBN978-957-28533-3-7.
- Andersson, Lennart (July 1998). "Histoire de l'aéronautique persane, 1921–1941: La première aviation du Chah d'Iran" [History of the Persian Air Force, 1921–1941: The First Aircraft of the Shah of Iran].Avions: Toute l'aéronautique et son histoire(in French) (76): 2–12.ISSN1243-8650.
- Lawrence, Joseph (1945).The Observer's Book Of Airplanes.London and New York: Frederick Warne & Co.
Further reading
[edit]
Media related toPolikarpov R-5at Wikimedia Commons
- Donald, David (1997).The encyclopedia of world aircraft(Updated ed.). Ottawa: Prospero Books.ISBN9781856053754.