More Po-2/U-2 combat variants?

[Avimimus]

This is mainly for fun... but I'm also curious if people would consider paying for more Po-2 variants? Some of them would make it easier to attack search-lights and others would allow the challenge of dropping smaller bombs onto trucks.

 

With the exception of the VVS most of these would be very similar to the existing 3d model. There also exists photographic evidence for almost all (if not all) of them.

 

Note: I've left out the civilian/medivac modifications and also KA Moskatov's rumoured modification (as there doesn't seem to be photographic evidence to support it).

Flame dampers
- These tubes would hide the flash from the engines

 

Rocket kit:
- Modification with 8xRO-82 or 8xRO-132 rocket racks.
- OP-1 (Aldis) gunsight mounted on the front-right of the cockpit or lines painted on the wing for aiming

 

Wing gun kit:
- Mass produced conversion kit (note: useful for attacking search-lights)
- One or two fixed forward firing machine guns mounted on the wings (500-800 rounds) the guns could be PV-1 or ShKAS.
- OP-1 (Aldis) gunsight mounted on the front-right of the cockpit. Convergence was set to 200 metres.

 

U-2/Po-2VS (Factory 327 Y-2L)
- 1941
- 120 kg of bombs
- Provision for Ro-82 or Ro-132 rocket racks under the wings.
- Radio compasses for VHF navigation

 

U-2/Po-2 VS (Factory 387)
- Used in June 1942
- Fixed forward firing ShKAS with 300 rounds (P-426K)
- 68xAO-2.5 or 48xZAB-2.5 or 16xAO-8 or 8xAO-15 bombs in the fuselauge.
- Defensive ShKAS or Degtyarev DT gun. ShKAS used VU-U-2 mount with 400-500 rounds (instead of the usual 250) but was unable to aim at ground targets.

 

U-2/Po-2 VОМ-1 (vozdushnyi ognemet)
- Five built in early 1942
- 6x260mm tubes each containing 30 litre bags of napalm. They were released in pairs.
- Ability to drop grenades, bombs or supplies in the tubes if needed.
- Fixed forward firing ShKAS on the wing with 300 rounds
- Seat armour for the pilot

 

U-2/Po-2 VS (anti-tank/protivotankovyi)
- Used in the battle of Kursk
- 4xABPK-100 underwing containers with 33 bombs PTAB-2.5 anti-tank bombs each OR 6xBAS-1 containers with 29 PTAB-2.5 each.

 

Special bombing conversion
- 250 kg bomb

 

U-2/Po-2 VVS
- 468 produced in 1935-1936

- No cut-out for bomb aiming (and numerous other changes)

- Synchronised fixed forward firing PV-1 machine gun attached to the fuselauge (200 rounds)
- Degtyarev DA defensive gun with 252 rounds
- Only 6x6kg bombs under the wing.

[angus26]

Personally, I’d just love to see the thing in game, I love it either way, with or without attachments that expand its capabilities. Although I would like to see a forward facing armament. 

[Avimimus]

24 minutes ago, angus26 said:

Personally, I’d just love to see the thing in game, I love it either way, with or without attachments that expand its capabilities. Although I would like to see a forward facing armament. 

 

I made a mod for Il-2 1946 with the forward facing guns... I found they worked pretty well because the low speed allowed longer bursts into trucks etc. Although in practice at night the targets are usually searchlights.

 

If they ever implemented the ability to suppress AAA guns (ZloyPetrushkO made a mod allowing that in Il-2 1946) then the guns might have some use against muzzle flashes seen on the ground at night. One field mod I did not include was a pair of Rs-82 rockets firing downward and too the rear to suppress or confuse anti-aircraft gunners (partly because I did not find photographic references, and partly because it would not be directly useful in the current game).

 

A forward firing gun would also be somewhat useful against the Flying Circus aircraft (the ShKAS in particular has more firepower than WWI guns - so it would allow for some fun - if ahistorical - experiments).

[angus26]

10 minutes ago, Avimimus said:

 

I made a mod for Il-2 1946 with the forward facing guns... I found they worked pretty well because the low speed allowed longer bursts into trucks etc. Although in practice at night the targets are usually searchlights.

 

If they ever implemented the ability to suppress AAA guns (ZloyPetrushkO made a mod allowing that in Il-2 1946) then the guns might have some use against muzzle flashes seen on the ground at night. One field mod I did not include was a pair of Rs-82 rockets firing downward and too the rear to suppress or confuse anti-aircraft gunners (partly because I did not find photographic references, and partly because it would not be directly useful in the current game).

 

A forward firing gun would also be somewhat useful against the Flying Circus aircraft (the ShKAS in particular has more firepower than WWI guns - so it would allow for some fun - if ahistorical - experiments).

If anything a forward firing gun might also be helpful to keep tanks buttoned up, limiting their visibility. Plus I’m sure you have plenty of time to get on target seing the things speed (assuming no anti aircraft guns are nearby).

[Avimimus]

Another even less likely feature would be hand-dropped bombs... scoring a direct hit on a truck with a hand dropped bomb is quite the fun challenge but one feels lucky to take out even one or two vehicles. Historically, even Molotov cocktails were reportedly dropped.

 

There are some nice opportunities for dropping commandos or cargo from Po-2s as well (sometimes without parachutes either)! It should be a fun plane no matter what we get with it.

[Pict]

Don't forget the Vodka para drop's  (allegedly true)

 

More seriously, I'd be happy to pay for it, but just once, not over & over ...and I would expect a decent amount of historic "load outs" to be included

Edited July 12, 2018 by Pict

[LukeFF]

2 hours ago, Avimimus said:

If they ever implemented the ability to suppress AAA guns (ZloyPetrushkO made a mod allowing that in Il-2 1946) then the guns might have some use against muzzle flashes seen on the ground at night.

 

AAA guns can already be suppressed.

[Avimimus]

13 minutes ago, LukeFF said:

 

AAA guns can already be suppressed.

 

Without destroying them? ZloyPetrushkO had it so that the gunners would run from the gun... and then there would be a time delay before the gun reactivated...

[Dakpilot]

Same is happening in BoX

 

Cheers, Dakpilot 

[Avimimus]

Marvellous! Definitely gives a use for the forward firing gun then eh?

[angus26]

I feel that the po-2 might become a favorite of mine. It seems like it’d be quite a good bit of fun. 

[FoxbatRU]

First of all, we need an old modification of 1935, so that we could play in the career of BoM and BoS, and not only in BoK. Other modifications, although interesting, but it is better to send developers' forces to other projects.

[Feathered_IV]

You forgot the wing mounted stretcher pods for medical evacuation.

[Avimimus]

8 hours ago, FoxbatRU said:

First of all, we need an old modification of 1935, so that we could play in the career of BoM and BoS, and not only in BoK. Other modifications, although interesting, but it is better to send developers' forces to other projects.

 

The Factory 327/Y-2L should be around by the time of BoMoscow. The Factory 387 and VOM-1 were around by the BoStalingrad.

 

Really it is only the Kursk variant that is clearly too late for use. The 1935 variant would've been pretty rare I think by 1941.

 

7 hours ago, Feathered_IV said:

You forgot the wing mounted stretcher pods for medical evacuation.

 

That would be neat! I only listed combat variants - but there is an option for non-combat variants - and if you pull together research on several of them I'd be happy to set up a new thread.

[FoxbatRU]

3 часа назад, Avimimus сказал:

The Factory 327/Y-2L should be around by the time of BoMoscow. The Factory 387 and VOM-1 were around by the BoStalingrad.

Ok. Then I gave my vote wrong.  Preferred 327, to be in both BoM and BoS.  

[Avimimus]

4 hours ago, FoxbatRU said:

Ok. Then I gave my vote wrong.  Preferred 327, to be in both BoM and BoS.  

 

Don't worry  The features are probably locked in at this point in development anyway... this is mainly an educational post which also satisfies my curiosity if others would like what I like. So your vote probably isn't critical.

 

It'd be interesting to re-run this poll after we have the experience of flying the Po-2 though!

 

[NETSCAPE]

On 7/16/2018 at 1:34 AM, Feathered_IV said:

You forgot the wing mounted stretcher pods for medical evacuation.

 

If we got that but lack a medivac Ju52 load out...I call HERESY. 

[Lusekofte]

On 7/19/2018 at 5:38 AM, NETSCAPE said:

 

If we got that but lack a medivac Ju52 load out...I call HERESY. 

 

Medivac for JU 52 is already at hand, In PO 2 you need to model it for being believable