New Russian Twin engine.....

[ebfd11]

Petlykov Pe-2 .... Second in inportance to the Tupelov TU-2 the Pe-2 was a superb light bomber...

Pe-2

Type 3 seat bomber

Power plant 2 939-KW (1260 hp) Kilmov 12 cylinder engines

Max Speed 449 kph (278 mph)

Armament 4 100 kg bombs in bay plus 2 in rear engine. 4 250 kg bombs under the center line.

                        2 forward firing 7.62 mm ShKas machine guns.

                        1 Rear firing 12.7 mm machine gun and one in the belly.



Combat Data Max speed 445 kph (278 mph)

                            Service Cieling 9000 m (28,800 feet)

                            Bomb Load 3000 kg (6500 lbs)


http://ww2eagles.blogspot.com/2013/02/petlyakov-pe-2-photogallery.html


It may be great for scenarios and early war but it also would be great for base defense and we know people have been asking for planes from other countries, well here is a good candidate.


LawnDart

[Karnak]

Where'd you get that 278mph from?  It was far faster than that.

[ebfd11]

Where'd you get that 278mph from?  It was far faster than that.

Ok I guess the reference I went by was off.. Maximum speed: 580 km/h (360 mph)

I am sorry bout that

LawnDart

[SmokinLoon]

DB-3 first.  The Russians could really use a level bomber.  I'm sure they're tired of having to rely on lend lease A20's and B25's for their bomber runs.      

I don't even think the Pe-2 could level bomb.  I cant find a source that details its level bombing capability yet there are numerous sources that document it dropping ordnance at low altitudes in a shallow dive.  Supposedly, the Pe-2 *could* level bomb via a rudimentary bombardier sight, but any nomenclature out there has escaped me.   

[Karnak]

Could the Tu-2 level bomb?

[DemonFox]

All the sources I check day that the Tu-2 is a level and dive bomber like the Ju-88
+1 for the Red Air Force!

[TOMCAT21]

+1

[Wmaker]

I don't even think the Pe-2 could level bomb.  I cant find a source that details its level bombing capability yet there are numerous sources that document it dropping ordnance at low altitudes in a shallow dive.  Supposedly, the Pe-2 *could* level bomb via a rudimentary bombardier sight, but any nomenclature out there has escaped me.   

Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol. 2: Twin-Engined Fighters, Attack Aircraft and Bombers (which is still more or less the best "all in one" source for Soviet WWII combat aircraft) by Gordon & Khazanov for example mentions the Pe-2 level bomb sight. It is true though that vast majority of its operational use was use as dive bomber.

[icepac]

Great plane.....been flying it for years elsewhere.

[Volron]

DB-3 first.  The Russians could really use a level bomber.  I'm sure they're tired of having to rely on lend lease A20's and B25's for their bomber runs.      

I don't even think the Pe-2 could level bomb.  I cant find a source that details its level bombing capability yet there are numerous sources that document it dropping ordnance at low altitudes in a shallow dive.  Supposedly, the Pe-2 *could* level bomb via a rudimentary bombardier sight, but any nomenclature out there has escaped me.   

You forgot the Tupolev SB.

[sparky1]

+1

[Krusty]

DB-3 (aka IL-4) and the SB-2 would be good additions to the Soviet planeset. They were replaced later with lend-lease and other more advanced Soviet designs, but up to 1942-43 they were pretty important.

Pe-2 would be a great addition but its bombing was more akin to the Ju87 and 110s of the LW, it was a jabo plane more than level bombing. An important one, though. It didn't have the forward firepower of the 110, but still carried bombs.

We'd need a couple of variants, though. Early models only had MGs, later they added 20mms firing forward. Later models got more and more powerful engines, etc.

We would need an early model and a late model.

[icepac]

PE3 variant started as a night fighter but later did day operations.

[Krusty]

Pe-3 was very lack-luster as a night fighter, if I recall. It didn't even have cannons to begin with. Mostly the Pe-3s were used in daylight photo recon roles. Not sure if that really qualifies as "later did day operations" -- because it wasn't used as a heavy fighter for those operations.

[Wmaker]

Mostly the Pe-3s were used in daylight photo recon roles. Not sure if that really qualifies as "later did day operations" -- because it wasn't used as a heavy fighter for those operations.

Pe-3 was certainly used as heavy fighter at day time. Fighter escort for bombers/transports, ground attack, anti-ship, air cover for the PQ-convoys and so on.