IL-2 (1942) (Germany)

Description

The ▀IL-2 (1942) is a premium rank German strike aircraft with a battle rating of (AB), (RB), and (SB). It was introduced in Update 1.51 "Cold Steel".

General info

Flight performance

The aircraft has an inadequate engine and cooling system, and as such, is slow and has a tendency to try to hit the ground. Air speed bleeds off easily, and climbing is close to impossible.

Details

Survivability and armour

Known as the "flying tank" during the Second World War, the IL-2 has a steel "armoured bathtub" around the cockpit and engine, with an average thickness of between 4-6 mm. Its front windscreen however is made from armoured glass, totaling 64 mm, with the side and rear windscreens offering no protection whatsoever. Behind the cockpit is a 12 mm section of steel armour.

German ace Erich Hartmann recalled "a Shturmovik IL-2, which was the toughest aircraft to bring down because of the heavy armour plate. You had to shoot out the oil cooler underneath, otherwise, it would not go down". Receiving damage to your oil or water coolers is usually fatal, as it will cause your engine to under-perform and eventually cause your demise. The tail area is especially weak, and can be ripped off by enemy fire. The aircraft's engine is inadequate, as is the cooling system; as such, using WEP with this aircraft is not recommended.

Modifications and economy

Armaments

Offensive armament

The IL-2 (1942) (Germany) is armed with:

• 2 x 23 mm VYa-23 cannons, wing-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
• 2 x 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns, wing-mounted (750 rpg = 1,500 total)

Suspended armament

The IL-2 (1942) (Germany) can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

• Without load
• 4 x 50 kg SC50JA bombs (200 kg total)
• 2 x 250 kg SC250JA bombs (500 kg total)

Usage in battles

In Air RB, this aircraft can devastate entire columns of enemy tanks and soft targets with ease. The plane's 23 mm cannons' armour-piercing rounds will make easy work of enemy medium tanks when attacking from the sides, and can sometimes from the rear, though this seems to take more ammunition. It's recommended to use bursts when dealing with enemy armour. This aircraft can also excel in head-on attacks against enemy fighters, if needed for defensive actions. If using this plane with a squad of German IL-2s, one could potentially form a makeshift "circle of death", with each plane circling while covering the squad-mate ahead of them. If being attacked from behind, reducing power and flying low to the ground may cause the enemy fighter to overshoot into the player's firing zone.

The main threats to the IL-2 are enemy AAA and SPAA weapons, the occasional Allied attacker (A-36) and once they've arrived, enemy fighters. Most of the time the IL-2 can win a head-on with enemy fighters, however once an enemy climbs, usually the IL-2 player is doomed.

Enemies worth noting:

Yak-2 KABB - Do not think that the IL-2 (1942) (Germany) can confidently outmanoeuvre this plane just because it is twin-engined. The Yak-2 has an amazing turn rate for a heavy fighter, thus the IL-2 (1942) (Germany) must avoid turning with it, if not dogfighting with it in general. It bears a pair of ShVAK cannons that can easily damage vital parts like engine or cooling systems. It has green camo, greatly resembling an Me 410 but with an H-tail like a Bf 110's.

ZSD63 - A dangerous SPAA to go up against in Tank Realistic Battles. Though it is hard to identify specific SPAA vehicles on the ground (especially when they are shooting tracers at the plane), if a ZSD63 is identified, avoid it at all costs and do not attempt head-ons with it, ever. It can easily snap a wing off by casually putting a short burst in the IL-2 (1942) (Germany)'s flight path. Don't even get close to it unless the IL-2 (1942) (Germany) has a bomb. Even ground target belts on your cannons cannot effectively damage it as its hull is overall quite empty, causing your shells to do little to no damage. Some identifying features of the ZSD63 is its rather boxy and tall hull with a geometric turret sitting at the back, slightly similar to a Wirbelwind's. The firing manner is also distinctive: the sound and green tracers are very rapid, much like a buzz saw, but then it will remain silent for half a minute reloading. Note that an experienced ZSD player will hold its fire or shoot in single salvos with long halts between, making it look like that it's reloading.

Manual Engine Control

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Has great armament
• Gets premium rewards
• Armour encases engine and cockpit
• Can be used as a makeshift fighter, so long as the enemy doesn't climb.
• 23 mm cannons can pierce most light tanks, medium tanks and self-propelled anti-aircraft guns (SPAAGs) at its battle rating with armoured targets belts
• Decent ammo supply

Cons:

• Lacks defensive armament
• Inadequate engine + cooling systems
• Stalls at 170 km/h (105 mph)
• Although frontal part of the aircraft is armoured the tail will be shot off quite easily
• No payload consisting of rockets
• Takes some time to get used to bombing without dive brakes or a bombsight
• Little to no rear visibility in the cockpit (important in Simulator battles) - visibility vs. survivability
• Only three payload options vs. the 23 options of the Russian version

History

This particular IL-2 (1942) was originally marked as Red/White 4 of the Soviet Air Force and was captured by the Germans on the Eastern Front. The aircraft's paint scheme suggests it was most likely built at Zavod 18, as it is typical of paint schemes from this particular factory. All weapons were removed (and later reinstalled) and all markings were painted over, with the addition of a yellow band painted in front of the tail section and under the tips of the wings. Of note is the lack of the inclined Swastika which was present on the original.

Media

Skins

• Skins and camouflages for the IL-2 (1942) (Germany) from live.warthunder.com.

Images

• IL-2 (1942) (Germany) in hangar with bombs

See also

• IL-2 (1941)
• IL-2 (1942)

External links

• Official data sheet - more details about the performance
• Ilyushin IL-2
• [massimotessitori.altervista.org] Axis remarked Il-2s