Author Topic: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51  (Read 1385 times)

Offline Ack-Ack

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Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« on: January 04, 2011, 07:32:31 PM »
Found this on another forum and thought it might be interesting to some on these boards. It's a Soviet report on the P-51 (the orginal post mentioned the report was for a P-51B but the P-51 listed in the report is without a model designation) that they received through the Lend-Lease program.  The report is obviously in Russian but somone on the other forum had posted a translated summary of the report.  

Would be cool if a Russian speaker in here could do a better translation than the summary.




Translated summary
Quote
They write something like this.
Test results:
Date: June 1942
Engine: Allison V-1710-39
Take-off power: 1150 hp
Take-off weight: nornal 3880 kg
Wing area, squre meters: 21,98
Maximal velocity: at zero altitude - 459 km/h (483 km/h with boost), 557 km/h at 4400 meters (587 km/h with boost at 4600 meters)
Climb time to 5 km: 10,5 minutes (9,0 with boost)
Bank time at 1 km: 23 sec
Practical maximal alititude: 8 400 meters
Maximal range: 1 620 km in nornmal variant
Armament: 4 7,62 MGs, 4 12,7 MGs
The text says that after the trials which ended in July 1942 Soviet specialists noted that in such essential characteristics as maximal speed (in nominal regime), and especially climb speed and maneuvrability P-51 was inferior to Soviet and new German fighters. In particlular P-51 climbed to 5-km alititide in 9 minutes (using boost), while Yak-7B with M-105PF engine did it in 5,8-6,0 minutes and Bf-109F - in 4,8-5,4 minutes. In a combat turn (no idea what is the correct translation, it's a turn with simultaneous climb) P-51 climbed to 550 meters, two times less than Yak-1, Yak-7B and Bf-109-F/G. However, it's mentioned that perfomance of the new model P-51A with a more powerful engine was better, but it was still not a match for modern German fighters. I't's also siad that Soviet Air Forces didn't realy need fighter-bomber airplanes,and that partly explains the their lack of interest in P-51

ack-ack

« Last Edit: January 04, 2011, 07:39:26 PM by Ack-Ack »
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #1 on: January 04, 2011, 09:51:13 PM »
Allison engine so must be an early bird.  Any B models would have been those left damaged after the shuttle runs.
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Offline dtango

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #2 on: January 04, 2011, 10:15:29 PM »
The Allison V-1710-39 powered Mustang is the P-51/Mustang I & IA.  This is even before the P-51A / Mustang II models.  The pic is definitely of a first generation Mustang not a P-51B.  You can tell by the carb intake on top and the first generation radiator scoop before changes were made per NACA suggestions.
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Offline drgondog

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #3 on: January 05, 2011, 01:11:39 PM »
The Allison V-1710-39 powered Mustang is the P-51/Mustang I & IA.  This is even before the P-51A / Mustang II models.  The pic is definitely of a first generation Mustang not a P-51B.  You can tell by the carb intake on top and the first generation radiator scoop before changes were made per NACA suggestions.

I can't quite tell whether the wing armament is four gun or six gun package.  If four, it is an A-36 with 4x50 in wings and 2x50 in lower cowl, if six it is definitely the 4x30 2x50 wing plus the two 'cheek guns' of the Mustang I. Of course the A-36 had the -87 engine so that removes that possibility - so Tango is dead on.
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Offline KgB

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #4 on: January 06, 2011, 07:55:15 PM »
It looks like those are pages from some aviation history book, not actual testing.
Nowever here it is. My apologies for messing up terminology and grammar. Russian language is frigging complex.

Starts with second half of  sentence-"fight,
 capable to "wrestle" with enemy fighters.
That's why when P 51 was received in USSR from England,
 opinions of Soviet Aviation Specialist were different
 than English. Testing of P-51  by VVS ended in July of 1942.
 Main results listed in graff #3 and pic#2.
With given respect to positive qualifications of that aircraft,
Soviet military specialists noted that in most important fighter
aspects like speed, climb rate and maneuverability P-51 is inferior
to Soviet and newer German fighters. Indeed Soviet Yak-7B with
engine M-105pf has climb rate of 5 kilometers in 5.8-6 min,
German Me-109F 4.8-5.4 min, but P-51 in 9 min. and that is
with using WEP for 5 min. Attack climb with turn? of Mustang
(550 meters) was almost twice less than Yak-1,Yak-7b,La5 and
Me-109F and G. Of course given these characteristics Mustang is
unable to fight with German fighters. Lets not forget that
USSR received the very first model of that machine.
At this time USA is already developing special variant for
ground attack, A-36a. After that follows P-51A(1943).
Those aircraft were equipped with more powerful variants of
Allison engine. Specs of P-51a "Mustang 2" improved but not to the level
of competing  with FW190 and Me109. Mostly Mustang with Allison engines
were used for reconnaissance and as ground attackers."
 
 Other page. Doesn't seem like its continuation of first one.
 "We should mention that Designers achieved their goal,
aerodynamic co efficiency with  minor attack angle is very little.
Its lower than mass produced aircraft of those years, and only
later  that number was lower in P-63 "Kingkobra".
English and American fighters (except P39 and P63) had one thing in common,
 un synchronised weapons located in wings. P51 in the beginning stages of development
 was a rare exception: two high caliber synchronised machine guns
for shooting trough propeller and other 6 were wing mounted.
English specialists familiarised with Mustang and admitted that
so far Mustang was the best of all American fighters.
But due to not powerful enough engine for high altitudes anything out of extraordinary
 in the air was not expected. Some advantages such as high speed,
medium altitude maneuverability, Long range and good armament
(3.42 kilograms per sec), gave Mustang qualities of reconnaissance and ground attacker.
And it was used as such.
Should be mentioned  that English and Americans wildly used fighters as ground attackers.
Part of it is due to unavailability of specialized armored "Shturmoviks" that require
different tactics in air warfare. Sometimes fighters were re equipped for ground attack and
 Bomber hunting. They were well known English "Typhoon", "Tempest", American P-39,
P-40 and others. In USSR that character of action was not the most important.
It wasn't the result of some tactical doctrine. It was necessity of Life.
In 1941-1942 soviet VVS was in need of, firstly air fight".......Sentence ends
« Last Edit: January 06, 2011, 07:58:30 PM by KgB »
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Offline KgB

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #5 on: January 06, 2011, 08:04:22 PM »
Ha! Second page is supposed to be the first one. Just noticed page numbers... duh
"It is the greatest inequality to try to make unequal things equal."-Aristotle

Offline Ack-Ack

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #6 on: January 06, 2011, 08:25:46 PM »
Thanks KgB!

ack-ack
"If Jesus came back as an airplane, he would be a P-38." - WW2 P-38 pilot
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Offline KgB

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Re: Soviet Evaluation Report on the P-51
« Reply #7 on: January 07, 2011, 11:04:58 AM »
 :salute
"It is the greatest inequality to try to make unequal things equal."-Aristotle