Topic: Warbirds of WWII part Six: Polikarpov 1-16 Rata

[Chris SI]

Early Russian fighter

The Russian Polikarpov 1-16 fighter first flew in December 1933. At a time when many nations were still flying biplane fighters the 1-16, or 'Rata' as it became known in the West, was an advanced design and one which incorporated a then-unique feature for a monoplane fighter aircraft, namely a retractable undercarriage. A tail skid took the place of the more conventional tail wheel. It resembled its predecessor, the 1-15, a biplane of similar squat design which, in 1935, established the new world altitude record of 47,818 feet.

The first prototype designed by Nikolai Polikarpov was powered by a Bristol Jupiter engine licence-built by the Russians as the M-22 450 hp radial. There followed in 1934 a second prototype, this time powered by a Wright Cyclone 725 hp radial engine. The latter licence-built engine was called the M-25. Using a slightly up-rated M-22 engine, the Polikarpov 1-16 Mark 1 began to equip Russian fighter squadrons by 1935. Subsequent Marks varied in power plant and armament, using quadruple 7.62-mm ShKAS machine-guns and some two 20-mm wing-mounted ShVAK cannon. Earlier Marks such as the Mark 10 had open cockpits, which must have made operating in the depths of the Russian winter extremely unpleasant at any altitude, while later ones had cockpit canopies. Marks went through 17 and 18 to 24B, the last of the line, and powered by the l,100hp M-63 engine. In this version the Rata was capable of 326 mph a respectable speed considering that ten years had elapsed since the aircraft's first Hight.

Blooded in the Spanish Civil and Russo-Finnish wars, the Rata equipped fighter squadrons until 1943, and also served as a fighter bomber, for which the design proved most suitable. In this role it carried bombs or six 82-mm RS-82 rocket projectiles beneath its wings. Some 20,000 Ratas are reputed to have been produced.

Specifications:
Span: 29ft
Length: 20ft 1 in
Gross weight: 45191bs
Ceiling: 29,500ft
Range: 249 miles
Armament: two 7.62-mm machine-guns between nose and cockpit, one 20-mm cannon in each wing.

[Sirgod]

For some reason, Looking at that Plane , as an Observer, Reminds me of a Flying Bulldog.

It just looks like a one person Flying Tank. Maybe It's The Proportions to the pilot or something, But It just looks slow, But mean as Hell.

Stephen

[Chris SI]

It was quite advanced when designed, but the 30s was an era of rapid development in aircraft design.

[Sirgod]

The more you post these, the more I can see that, Oh of course I went through a few of them on your site, But these are really drawing me in.

Stephen

[oldmanken]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Rata's were quite slow but could turn on a dime right?  I know they weren't a completely even match for the early Bf109's, but they could at least hold their own.

[Chris SI]

They could survive against the 109C in Spain, but the later E and F of the 109 series could destroy them easily, and did in the early stages of the German attack on the Soviet Union.

[oldmanken]

Have you played IL-2 Sturmovik Chris?  They have Rata's in there, as well as a bunch of other more obscure aircraft.  Supposedly they are modelled quite acurately, though who really know unless they've flown them...

The P.11c is pretty sweet as well.  Extremely slow, but very easy to turn over a catch someone with.  Ridiculously fast turn rate.

[Chris SI]

Nope, never tried that.

I hope to include Poland's p11.c at some point in these articles. They shot down almost 700 German aircraft over Poland in only two weeks, (includes AA fire in that total) there story is intersting.

BTW, I also have ships and armor in this series, as well as 'The men who fought WWII' articles.

Any interest in that?

[oldmanken]

I'de be interested in both actually, though moreso in the ships.  Do you have much information on the Canadian corvettes?  I'm specifically interested in action in the Atlantic, as there has been a wealth of material already done on the Pacific theater.

You may not be in to flight sims, but I would suggest you try out IL-2 Sturmovik: Forgotten Battles, and its Ace expansion.  Beautiful looking game, which has about 60-80 aircraft modelled and flyable.  Obviously it deals with the Eastern front.

[Chris SI]

Sounds like fun.

On corvettes, nothing already written, but I could throw something together I suppose.

Canada used British designs if I remember correctly, like the Flower and Black Swan classes.

[oldmanken]

I believe you are correct, though my knowledge is limited in this area.  All I know for certain is that we built a massive amount of these boats, and we had one of the largest navies in the world as a result.

[Chris SI]

I'll look into it, I have some good references at home.

[Byzantine]

For some reason, Looking at that Plane , as an Observer, Reminds me of a Flying Bulldog.

It just looks like a one person Flying Tank. Maybe It's The Proportions to the pilot or something, But It just looks slow, But mean as Hell.

Stephen

Looks like a baby cousin of a P-47 Thunderbolt to me.  And P-47s were a little on the slow side too but not much could catch them in a dive!

These posts are totally great Chris - here is another vote for continuing through army and navy.

[Clark Kent]

I disagree Byz, the P-47 was one of the fastest fighters of WWII, and above altitudes of 28,000 feet was one of the best maneuvering.  The P-47C had a max speed of 433 mph.

[Byzantine]

I disagree Byz, the P-47 was one of the fastest fighters of WWII, and above altitudes of 28,000 feet was one of the best maneuvering.  The P-47C had a max speed of 433 mph.

The weaknesses of the P-47 were that they were low on speed and low on climbing.  But they were excellent on a dive, so if they realized they were being attacked by German fighters and they were diving, you couldn't catch them.
Luftwaffe General Walter Krupinski

That was the quote in my mind but I think the stats I have looked up favor your position CK.

[J. Carney]

I disagree Byz, the P-47 was one of the fastest fighters of WWII, and above altitudes of 28,000 feet was one of the best maneuvering.  The P-47C had a max speed of 433 mph.

The weaknesses of the P-47 were that they were low on speed and low on climbing.  But they were excellent on a dive, so if they realized they were being attacked by German fighters and they were diving, you couldn't catch them.
Luftwaffe General Walter Krupinski

That was the quote in my mind but I think the stats I have looked up favor your position CK.

Yeah- there were even a few unsubstantiated claims of P-47 pilots breaking the sound barrrier in their Jugs during steep dives...

of course they were always ended by 'and he was going so fast that he just couldn't pull her out in time!'

[Clark Kent]

They were fast, to be sure, but their accelration was poor at it's best.  In other words, they were either at full speed, or without a REALLY good dive they were dead.

[Byzantine]

They were fast, to be sure, but their accelration was poor at it's best.  In other words, they were either at full speed, or without a REALLY good dive they were dead.

2,000+ horses with 12ft dia prop 
7 tons 

Now imagine that Polikarpov with 2000HP.  Either twist it into a pretzel or it should scoot, assuming no major aerodynamic flaws.