Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2

Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2 cover

Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2

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Description

The first dramatic account of the Il-2 Shturmovik's operations by the most famous units of the Red Army Air Force.

Over 43,000 Il-2/10s were built between 1941 and 1955, more than any other combat aircraft in history, making this one of the most important Soviet aircraft deployed in World War II. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time it started to reach frontline units.

Armed with ground-attack rockets, the aircraft proved deadly against Wehrmacht panzers as pairs of Il-2s roamed the frontline at low level. However, the Shturmoviks (armoured attackers) were vulnerable to attack from the rear by enemy fighters, so Ilyushin reverted to the two-seat layout in September 1942. Oleg Rastrenin provides a fascinating account of the complex development history of a plane that was crucial to Russia's defence.

From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the aeroplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front.

Table of Contents

Wartime development and combat tactics
Kharkov turning point
Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of Kursk
Byelorussian offensive
Downfall of Germany

Product details

Published 20 Aug 2013
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 96
ISBN 9781472805522
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 32 col
Series Combat Aircraft
Short code COM 71
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Oleg Rastrenin

Oleg Rastrenin graduated from the Moscow Applied P…

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