


                The IL-2/M3 "Shturmovik"

The designer of the IL series of ground attack aircraft
called it a "flying tank."  The pilots who flew it called it
"the hunchback" and were in love with it's ruggedness, simple
design, and ability to take punishment.  The engine and
cockpit were enclosed in a armored shell (bronekorpus) which
was relatively light but effective.  "In it," wrote A.N.
Yefimov, "you felt protected against all dangers..."

An extremely successful modification to the IL-2 was the
IL-2/M3 "Shturmovik".  It was faster and carried more
weapons, bombs and rockets.  Truly the ground attack
connoisseur's delight <grin>.  The mod faithfully replicates
the IL-2/M3, with an option between the normal VYa-23 23mm
cannon in the wings (200 r.p.g.) and a "tank-buster" version
that had NS-37 37mm cannon instead (80 r.p.g.).  The
Shturmovik could also carry 8 RS-82 rockets, and 440 pounds
of bombs.  The rear gunner had a 12.7mm machinegun with three
70 round clips of ammo.  There was also  2 x 7.62mm
machineguns in the nose with 750 rounds per gun.  The mod
uses Hawker Hurricane external graphics, with a different
camoflage pattern from the P-39Q so as to be able to tell
them apart.
Over 36,000 Il-2 and Il-2/M3s were produced during the war.
Dive brakes activated/retracted by pressing "B".
Access the rear gunner by pressing "G".  Place him on
autofire by pressing "A".







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