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Il-2 Shturmovik Guards Units of World War 2 (Combat Aircraft)

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Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
List Price: $22.95
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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 2. Built originally as a two-seater, the Il-2 had lost the rear gunner's position by the time the aircraft 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 (armored 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 defense. From Stalingrad to Kursk to Berlin, this book charts the airplane's vital contribution to the most famous battles of the Eastern front.


DESCRIPTION:

Binding: Paperback
Brand: Osprey Publishing Limited
Dewey Decimal Number: 355
EAN: 9781846032967
ISBN: 1846032962
Label: Osprey Publishing
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 96
Publication Date: 2008-03-18
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: 2008-03-18
Studio: Osprey Publishing


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CUSTOMER REVIEWS:

Customer Rating:
Summary: IL-2 Shturmmovik ! Fighting,Deffenders of Stalingrad,Deccessive,Leading Battle of Kursk, and final voictdor of Berlin !
Comment:





IL-2 SHTURMOVIK GUARDS UNITS OF WORLD WAR 2
IL-2's! Fighting Deffenders of Stalingrad,Deccessive, leading Babttle of Kursk,
and final victor of Berlin !

I am a americcan historian. Now,I intoduce Review of Young Ki Moon, Seoul,korea.
Before WW11,Attack Aviation was considerd as sperahead of Red Army.
The armoured IL-2(2 Seat AM-38 variants) was first purpose-designed Air Attacker.
Sergei Illyushin at Soviet Control Design Bureau(TsKB) produced a new design,
two-seat aircraft designated the TsKB-55 which first flew inDec,1939.
On 22,June,1941,when Germay aattacked the USSR,"Barbarossa",
Soviet AF's main aim was based on Heavily -Armoured, Grount -Attack monoplane's
Soviet Ground supportlng Attackers. Single seat Attacker started from !@,Oct,1940,
By experience of fleud pilot was unfavourable due to vulnerable back side of cockpit
from threre, enemy Fighter like start attack! With one pilot,attacking,measureing,
piloting using Radio transmmissions. They srongly requested 2-seat variant with
operating flexibly mounted machine guns against attacking German Fighters.
one of croiteria of success was it's survivability due to protection of main parts
of body, structures, guarding pilots,engine,fuel tank, bomber bay and cooling system
(Many German Aces disclosed main weak point of famous US p-51Mustang was
vulnerability of liquid cooling system damage with the Merlin liquid-cooled engine
Quoted from P-51 Mustang VS Fw-190. by Martin Bowman,2007)
They like yo use from low --level flight, from 100~200m Altitude,start gentle, 10~15 degree
Glide follwing Bombing with/without 4-Rocket attacking, and Strafing with
determined tlme interval.
They created IL-2 specific techacics like"closed loop","loose circle","Scissor's
Maneuuvr", " Fllattened V-shaped formations,basically keeping "in Pair"Operations.
Close cooperation between IL-2 and ground forces(Radio Target Infor mations) and
HQ of IL-2. Particular attack on German tank was by IL-2with 37mm NS-37 cannon and
PATB-2.5-1.5shaped-charge-anti-tank bomb-great success in Battle of Kursk.
After the experiences ShAK 20mm cannon changed to VYa 23mm cannon which made
more density of fire onthe ground.Also AZh-2 cluster bomb used on enemy Artillery positions.
Most crucial battle of il-2 was Stalingrad,under the severe AAA,extremly low flight,
among demolished building,they hunted weaoon implacement in specifif street, home,
prior to bdestroying them. !









Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Primer
Comment: The IL-2 series was the most successful and numerous ground attack aircraft of WW2. The IL-2 was infact the A10 of it's day. This title while ostensibly about the Guard units actually reads as a battle history of the IL2 aircraft, it's development and the evolution of it's combat roles.

The IL-2 had a reputation for being able to survive serious damage and there are plenty of photos in the book which demonstrate this. One in particular show's how the Pilot's rear head armour stopped two 20mm cannon rounds. From the summer of 1942 the addition of rear gunners also alleviated losses.

The IL-2's effectiveness was also due to it's weapon systems; a mix of cannon, rockets and bombs. The anti armour PTAB bomb's were very effective, especially when used in large numbers.
The Il-2 truly became a nightmare for the Germans from 1943 onwards as the Soviets were able to achieve local air superiority and improvements in pilot training, ground organisation and forward air control took effect.

The IL-2 could also catch out the unwary Luftwaffe fighter pilot who was in danger not only from the rear gunner but also from the IL-2's main guns if the fighter overshot on it's attack run.

Oleg Rastrenin has managed to pack in an incredible amount of information into this 96 page title . He also has a great writing style which is not only informative but also enjoyable to read. Many of the operation's flown by the IL-2 squadron's and tactic's used are described and individual crews named.
While Osprey titles can vary wildly in quality this is definitely one of their very best and I would highly recommend it.

My only minor criticism of the book would be that the plates have a slightly washed out look. An illustration of the revised battle tactics in use would have been nice too.
Also in the line drawings the IL-2 M-82 is shown but no description or use of this aircraft is given. I've not seen this aircraft before and would be interested to know more about it.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Famous IL-2 Units of the Great Patriotic War!
Comment: During WWII, Russian air force units that had particularly distinguished themselves in combat were awarded the 'Guards' title. Oleg Rastrenin's new volume for Osprey, #71 in their 'Combat Aircraft' series, traces those IL-2 units who received this most coveted award. IL-2 SHTURMOVIK GUARDS UNITS OF WORLD WAR 2 really lifts the lid off Russian Air Force combat in WWII to show readers some incredibly brave men in action.

As revealed in Rastrenin's book, it took horrendous IL-2 losses before VVS Shturmovik units developed effective ground-attack tactics. The book is replete with countless missions where poorly-trained IL-2 crews, usually without fighter escort, hurled themselves at Axis forces only to be slaughtered by flak and Luftwaffe aircrews. Initially developed as a two-seater, the IL-2's rear gunner position was dropped due to the design's poor performance, a decision that only increased the IL-2's vulnerability. Nevertheless, as documented in Rastrenin's book, the IL-2 was eventually transformed into an aircraft hated and feared by Axis ground forces, an aircraft labelled 'Black Death.'

'Combat Aircraft #71' certainly offers a fascinating account of IL-2 units - in this case Guards units - in action. You can't help but admire the courage and determination of the Shturmovik pilots and gunners even as you're saddened by the terrible losses they suffered. Rastrenin's books gives endless examples of why Stalin declared that "the Red Army needs the IL-2 as it needs air and bread."

The book features 80 black & white photographs of aircrews, aircraft, destroyed Axis equipment, etc. (Some of the photos that show flak-damaged IL-2s that made it back to base have to be seen to be believed). Along with four-views of various IL-2 models, eight pages of color profiles by Andrey Yurgenson illustrate the Shturmovik in all its glory.

Though I gave the book five stars, I do have two criticisms. First, in too many cases Rastrenin does not present actual German losses suffered in IL-2 attacks as opposed to what the Shturmovik crews claimed. Second the narrative sometimes reads like a textbook, being on the turgid side.

That said, there simply is no other book available offering aviation enthusiasts such an authoritative, comprehensive account of Guards units in action. Highly recommended.
*****

IL-2 fans should check out Yefim Gordon's wonderful IL-2/IL-10 book for Crowood Press and Hans-Heiri Stapfer's earlier book for Squadron/Signal.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Well researched book
Comment: As indicated in the title, this is a well researched, well written book on a fairly little-known subject. As one who's interested in WW2 aviation and the European theater specifically, i found this book to give a great introduction to both the aircraft and the aircrews of the Soviet Union. The book contains a decent intro to the concept of Russia's ground attack theories and preliminary testing of the Il-2s. Many full color drawings of various planes from the course of the war as well as particular pilot's machines are included. There is a nice balance of personal aircrew stories along with tactics and the larger strategic use of Soviet airpower in the defeat of Nazi Germany. The pilots and gunners of these planes suffered terrible losses in their battles but ultimately won the war. This is a great book for those wanting to understand more about the Russian side of WW2 as well as modelers needing great pictures of Il-2's.

Customer Rating:
Summary: IL-2 SHTURMOVIK GUARDS UNITS OF WORLD WAR II
Comment: This unique pictorial book brings to us in detail a largely unknown aircraft of World War II that greatly helped defeat Hitler and his invading armies. The Il-2 Shturmovik was the workhorse of the Soviet Airforce and raised havoc with the German and their allied Axis forces invading the USSR and occupying Eastern Europe. One time during the war it was said that one of the factories in the Soviet Union which produced the famous ground attack aircraft fell behind in its production of IL-2's and Stalin himself issued a final warning to them, ordering them to produce their expected level or numbers of production or face dyre consequences. This aircraft was so versatile and their crews became so experienced they were credited with actually shooting down German and other Axis fighters in dogfights, which in military aviation is a miracle. This ground attack aircraft relentlessly followed the Nazi enemy into their capital Berlin, causing them devastating losses. It was also dubbed "The Flying Tank".
I highly recommend this pictorial book to all military aviation enthusiasts and historians. It shows us in detail this previously little known Russian military aircraft.

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